Thursday, January 24th, 2008...4:36 am

How I Am Using Slim-Fast Optima as Part of my Diet Plan

I have decided to introduce Slim-Fast into my diet plan. I’m not going on the Slim-Fast diet, I’m just using the shake powder to augment the good habits I’m already building.

I used Slim-Fast many years ago in a similar way and saw good results.   Here is how I am using it:

As a Meal Replacement
I often get home from work after the family has had dinner, sometime after 7:00PM. I have found this to be a very dangerous time for me and not having a planned meal makes it even worse. Even if I am left leftovers it won’t be enough for me and I will graze. I have to try very hard, and usually fail, to stop eating once I start at this late time.  If I get home late enough I can sometimes go to bed hungry, but otherwise I have to eat.  What I have started doing in that situation is to make a Slim-Fast shake and have a protein bar as my meal.  It adds up to about 400 calories, but better yet the rigidity of the fixed meal makes me less likely to graze.  I don’t plan to do this every night; most of the time I will be eating a normal dinner.  But when faced with the prospect of a late night dinner that could easily turn into a grazing fest, I will be choosing the Slim-Fast.

As a Snack
I don’t plan to use the shake as a snack too much, for one because at 200 calories its about double what I want my snacks to be.  But I have used it a couple of times when I have found myself craving something between meals.  Usually when I can tell my little snack could turn into something worse.  I’m getting pretty good at gauging that and what I have learned is that if I eat 200 calories of cheese, nuts or fruit, for example, I will easily slide into grazing some more.  When I have a 200 calorie shake, which takes a little effort to make and reminds me I am on a diet, then I usually can stick just to that.  Very mental.

As a Bridge
Do I intend do drink Slim-Fast shakes the rest of my life? Of course not. This is serving as a bridge to better habits; a bridge to a time when I don’t need the help to not eat when I am not hungry, or not graze, or eat better. This is sort of like how when I first started my diet the first thing I did was stopped eating two Sausage Egg McMuffins at McDonalds and cut down to just one. So just one value meal.  Some diet, huh? But it was a bridge, a bridge on my journey to better decisions and better health. Eventually I was able to stop going to McDonald’s for breakfast and eventually I’ll stop needing Slim-Fast.

Here’s the recipe for my shake:

1 cup Skim Milk
2 cups ice cubes
1 scoop Slim-Fast Optima Milk Chocolate Shake Mix
Blend all together until ice cubes are all broken up.

I used Slim-Fast because I am familiar with it, I have had success with it, and I like the taste. I have no doubt there are other protein, energy, or meal-replacement shakes that would do equally as well. This is very much a personal preference thing, both in what you use and how you use it.

What do you think? Have I sold out?

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12 Comments

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12 Comments

  • MyAvatars 0.2 IAAdmin
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
    Although I’m not too familar with Slimfast, and don’t know much about their flavors; an idea you might try is to have vanilla and mix in some fruit, a banana or even replace the ice with frozen berries.

    If you try it, please let me know how well it works…………………:)

  • MyAvatars 0.2 Cammy
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
    Fwiw, it sounds like a pretty good coping strategy to me. A great manager I once worked for used to say, “Don’t let ‘best’ get in the way of ‘better’.” I have no idea if he originated the quote, but I loved it. Sometimes we have to go with the ‘better’ option, when the ‘best’ one is outside our reach just then. I agree that Slimfast may not be the best, but it’s better than the grazing thing. Good luck with it–I hope it does the trick!
  • MyAvatars 0.2 Sweet Mummy
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
    I’ve heard of lots of folks doing this kind of thing. I think it makes sense.

    Totally different topic altogether - I’ve tagged you with a meme. Not just any ordinary meme (at least for me it was more of an honor than just a tag)… ENJOY!

    http://sweetmummy.lifewithchrist.org/page/eight-great-sites.html

  • MyAvatars 0.2 Diana the Scale Junkie
    January 24th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
    I don’t think you’ve sold out at all. I think Slim Fast is a tool, I don’t think its something you’ll stick to forever but even if you did, so what? If its giving you nutrition and helping you reach your goals, I don’t see it as a problem. I do have a problem with people who use it for 2 or more meals and crash off the weight and then go back to their old eating habits as soon as they reach goal and then cry when they gain 50 pounds in 2 months.

    Good luck with it! I’ve been thinking of adding an occasional shake with fruit for lunch but I need to check out the nutritional content and sugar content first. I’ll be watching to see how it works out for you.

  • MyAvatars 0.2 Andrew
    January 24th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
    It’s got to be better than junkfood right?
  • MyAvatars 0.2 TB-Milwaukee
    January 24th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
    I was going to suggest adding fruit as well. Weight Watchers sells their on smoothies, which seem a lot like slim fast. I’ve tried them, but after I add fruit and yogurt and the smoothie mix, it gets to be a mega point buster.
  • MyAvatars 0.2 Frugal Dad
    January 24th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
    I don’t think this is a bad idea at all, in fact you may see good results by not adding a lot of empty carbs late at night when you are more likely to store them.
  • MyAvatars 0.2 Kyle
    January 24th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
    I love Slim Fast shakes. They are delicious and they keep you filled up for quite a while, I’ve found…
  • MyAvatars 0.2 GeorgieGirl
    January 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
    You haven’t ’sold out’. Several years ago, my aunt started having a slim fast shake for her lunch. She dropped weight slowly over time. Years later, my slim auntie continues to reach for a slimfast shake every once in awhile. Not daily… It’s her go-to snack when she’s craving more than a fruit or some other healthy snack. My aunt is in her 80s…
  • MyAvatars 0.2 Steve v4.6
    January 26th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
    Effective and sustainable- what’s not to like?
  • MyAvatars 0.2 Donna
    January 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
    You didn’t sell out… instead one might wonder if you are working toward your goal and, still in the back of your mind, hoping for help with a magic pill (shake)?
    I would say it is kind of comical to use these words in the same sentence: “I’m just using the shake powder to augment the good habits I’m already building.”
    Slim fast is NOT a good habit. It is a toxin - when all is said and done. Look at the ingredients.
    I think it is awesome that you are working toward your goal. When you take that next step and want to remove the slimfast from your diet - I highly recommend a magic bullet (instead of the magic shake) and mix in it: One banana, two strawberries (frozen or not), handfull of blueberries, sprinkle of spinach and then fill half way with water.
    Much peace,
    Donna.
  • MyAvatars 0.2 Daissy
    January 29th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
    Hi John,
    I think what is important for diet is to consume the right food with the right amount. But, sounds Slim-Fast Optima is good diet suplement. I will recommend it to some of my friends…

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