Meal replacement shakes

I've tried things like that over the years but, for some reason, unless I actually chew something I don't feel that I've had a meal.

Yes Tegan I can understand that. I just want something simple though. I don't want to count points or calories so just thought this might be worth a try.

I do sometimes make a lot of chicken soup and have that as my main meal [with rice added to make it more filling]. Put lots of garlic and herbs and turmeric etc in it. It's healthy and nutritious and filling [and it lasts for a few days although I obviously have to add fresh rice each day]. I find that, if I'm trying to lose weight, cooking and thinking about planning meals just makes me think about food all of the time, so I can see where you're coming from. When I was young I sometimes lived on milky coffee for a week [but I wouldn't advise that now; I did some real crackpot diets in my youth].

The shakes are one of the most successful weight loss diets I have tried. I have added extra fibre to them however and they then work. No however I am worried about the amount of sugar in Slimfast.

I am struggling with my weight at the moment- but I have to say, for me personally, that replacement milk shakes seem to emboy all that is wrong with our modern relationship with food. What happens when someone stops taking them and go back to 'normal' food- without making the necessary changes? All the weight comes back- leading to yoyo dieting, which seems to be quite dangerous?

I agree, granjura. Drinking a milk shake, with added vitamins, as a so-called replacement meal is nonsense. It might work in the sort term, if you can stick to it, but it's not a long-term solution and doesn't address the basic problem of overeating.

I have read research which shows people are not regaining the weight, so that is encouraging.
Ive heard other comments about the amount of sugar in Slimfast, so I am reluctant to use them. If I eat something very sugary then when my blood sugar eventually crashes I get migraine.
I'm trying to discover the content/ingredients in Herbalife but it's difficult. I'm waiting for an email from them.
I suppose you have to be careful when reintroducing food. It seems that initially you replace two meals then as you get to your goal just replace one meal.
I'm waiting for my appointment at the hospital to see an Endocrinologist as I have symptoms of hypo/under active thyroid, so not sure if this has an effect on my weight.

The most weight I ever lost was in the weeks before my final exams. I lived on scrambled eggs and Granny Smith apples. I was a very nice size 10 by the time I graduated and also had a liver infection. Or that's what the doctor diagnosed!

I sometimes use them for lunch if I'm pushed for time and haven't made anything myself. They are expensive for what they are BUT one good thing, apart from sheer laziness on my part simplicity and convenience is that they 'educate' your stomach to expect less. And secondly they do contain added vitamins that might help if you're cutting back on food.

Whatever works for you

Freda I read somewhere that they can cause Gall Stones, I was going to try them but wanted to research it first and that's when I fond out that they do cause Gall stones

No, I don't think that on their own they actually cause gallstones. As far as I can see, after an operation to remove gallstones, you are advised not to eat a diet high in fat, presumably because you might be someone whose body is inclined to make the stones. If you don't have gallstones and are not inclined to get them, you would not then be at risk. Semiskimmed milk would be the answer, if you were worried.

The prediction for someone likely to get gallstones used to be "fair, fat and forty" Does this apply to you, tcherry ?

That's what me old Scottish granny used to say Elegran "fair, fat and forty" I'd forgotten until I read your post

I had gallstones - they remove your gall bladder along with the stones these days so you can pretty much eat normally afterwards - though there are some people who have diarrhoea if they eat too much fatty/rich food.
I'm beginning to wonder if that might include me - after a few dinners out which have left me feeling distinctly unwell. Alternatively it could be my poor tortured and obese body, protesting its bad treatment!
I wouldn't go for shakes. Losing weight is best if you re-educate your eating habits. I'm on the 5/2 diet and struggling due to medication which makes me gain weight, but I am convinced by the principles behind the diet and will be sticking with it indefinitely.

Thanks for the comments. I'm fair, female, fat and fifty but I don't think this saying really applies nowadays!
I agree it would be better to stick to a balanced diet and I have tried to do that using My Fitness Pal, but I'm too inclined to cheat! My will power is non existent! So if I have food around I'm tempted.
Thanks for the gallstone info. My sister had hers removed and I do get a niggling pain in that area.
Mmmm... Eggs and apples, not heard of that diet before!
Thanks

Freda if I can be totally honest do not waste your money on replacement meals. If you do lose weight with them as soon as you go back to proper food you will pile it back on.

This is what I did 10 years ago and lost 3 stone over 18 months. I call it my 'Eat less, walk more diet'.

I ate everything I wanted but cut the portion size down.
I watered down all my soft drinks.
I walked for 10 mins a day, then kept upping it as soon as I felt able.
If I went out for a meal I ate normally but didn't finish everything on the plate.
If I had a bad day I just forgot about it and started the next day.
In the evening I prepared a small tray of fruit, nuts and sultanas and just nibbled at it.

Whenever I feel the pounds are creeping back up I revert to the above, but to be honest it has now just become a way of life.

Good luck.

The NHS Choices website gives you the low down on all the various popular diets. MY daughter did Lighter Life - cost a fortune - worked, she lost four stone but was very boring and constipating. unless its for a rare occasion when you cant get anything else I wouldn't do it- I like a good home made soup with only pulses or pasta for thickening that I can have a cup f throughout the day to prevent hunger.

nanakate that is such good advice!!

No Elegran I am nether fair fat or forty are you?

I am grey fat and seventytwo.

(A little on the plump side )

No, tcherry I am darkhaired (undyed), fat and 75.

If you are not fair fat and forty, then you can drink milk shakes without worrying tha tyou will get gallstones.

Thanks Nan Kate, I did try a bit of what you advise. I started eating 1/2-3/4's of what was on my plate, but didn't see any difference in my weight! I'm at a loss what to do really! I have a few health problems and am finding it difficult to walk any farther when I take the dog out. I got the dog so I would have to go out walking.
Hi Sue, I am familiar with NHS Choices, I used it frequently when I worked with the NHS recently, I will have a look re diets.
I guess I will wait until my hospital appt in August n see if they come up with anything. I just don't recognise how my body is working or should I say not working just now!
Unhappy and fat, Freda

Sorry Freda you are feeling down, health problems and weight can be depressing.

Back to diets. In my opinion even if diets work initially the are hard to maintain, so I have banished the word diet and now say 'healthy eating plan for life'.

As soon as I realised that I needed to rethink my eating every day not just for a few weeks all became clear. When we go out to Costa for coffee I always have the skinny cappuccino and one third of the cake. At first I felt deprived, but no longer it just seems the right amount now.

I do have the occasional 'pig out' day and enjoy it.

Anyway everyone to their own method .

Best of luck.

Meant to add Freda it took me months to lose the weight, some weeks only half a pound, but as long as things went down I was happy. It is unrealistic to say lose half a stone in a couple of weeks IMO.

Freda listen to what NanKate is saying. This is going to take a long time and means you will have to learn to say 'no' and cut down your portion size.

It's all down to you, the hospital is not going to 'come up' with anything you've not heard on here.

If you only lose 1/2 a pound a week that's 26lb gone by next July.

Don't get dispirited and depressed, get determined instead