Slim Fast Diet .... How does it work?

I am just starting to drink the slim fast drinks to hopefully help me lose weight.  How does this diet work?  I know one for breakfast, one for lunch, and then a sensible dinner.....what is a sensible dinner in their eyes and can you snack through the day?  Also, how do get the 2200 calories that I need to eat everyday.  I am supposed to eat 2800 because of my size but since I am trying to lose weight I am trying to only eat 2200 but with the two slim fasts a day that is only 380 for breakfast and lunch combined.

Thanks for anyhelp

I have not done that particular diet, but I would suggest adding fuit or some veggies with your slim fast in the morning. the slim fast drink is supposed to be like a meal replacement, i think.

 If you add some fruits and veggies, you can increase your calories in a good way. maybe add a light salad to your slim fast for lunch, just go easy on the dressing and cheese(if it's added).  Also for dinner, I would suggest about 400-600 calories just make sure it is coming from healthy foods such as lean meats and fresh veggies, fuits, whole grain pasta, or things like that.

In order to keep your metabolism up, you also need to eat a few snacks during the day. I would keep it to 2 snacks, each at about 100-150 calories or so. one between breakfast and lunch, and between lunch and supper. (i am a snacker, so I reduce the calories in my main meals, and I snack many times a day)

I am thinking about having a steak and potato for dinner.  Would this ruin my diet or do yall think I will have enough calories at the end of the day to do this?

Hi! I've followed the Slim Fast plan myself in the past, to a certain degree of success. Basically, as with most weight loss programmes, it works because it reduces your calorie intake. What is good about the diet is that it helps 'train' you to eat less and feel satisifed on less food. What is not so good about the diet is that it is not sustainable and should not be followed for long periods of time, and it doesn't teach you about making healthy choices once you come off the diet, hence a lot of people tend to gain weight once they stop following the programme.

First, which shakes are you making? I have a can in my cupboard as occasionally if I am in a rush I have one for breakfast before I go to the gym. They're about 220 calories each, so you should be getting closer to 440 calories out of your two meals. Second, I believe they recommend that you snack sensibly throughout the day. Depending on your calorie intake you should adjust your snacks accordingly, but if you are aiming for 2200 calories daily I recommend 2-4 snacks of 100 calories (or thereabouts... adjust to suit your needs). Fresh fruit and vegetables are always good choices, as are low calorie soups (they really help to keep you full between meals), wholemeal bread and rice cakes spread with low fat cream cheese etc. I think if you browse the food section here you will find plenty of suggestions for healthy snacks :)

A healthy meal in the evening generally means a balanced one. 400-600 calories is a good ballpark goal. I can't tell you if your steak and potato is a good idea or not because there are a lot of factors to take into account. How is the steak prepared? How big is it? Does the potato have excess butter, is it roasted in fat or mashed with butter and milk? All these things make a big difference. If you have some scales weigh your portions and check using the food diary how many calories are in them, and pay attention to how your food is prepared (this sort of stuff made a really big difference for me).

Overall I think most people will tell you to avoid Slim Fast as it is generally considered to be a quick fix. I think it is great if it helps you lose a few pounds and spurs you into healthier eating and exercise, BUT I do not believe that it should be a lifestyle, and after all, losing weight and changing unhealthy habits is all about making alterations that you can live with. I guess you have to ask yourself if you can live on two meal replacement shakes a day for a loooong time :)

Best of luck!! x

Slim fast optima has only 190 and regular has 220.

As long as you cut back 500-1000 calories from maintenance you will lose 1-2 pounds a week.  Your dinner should be fine.

I do not recommend a steak and potato for dinner.  If you do, make the steak no more than 4 oz., and have some other veggies along with the potato -- such as a good salad, grean beans, beets, carrots, broccoli, -- whatever veggies you like. 

slim fast works with calorie resricted diets because it provides a good nutrition base with lower calories.  For example, the strawberry one I have has 10g of protein, 5 grams fiber and 35% or more of the vitamins/minerals -- all for 180 calories.

If you do two a day, that will give you 20 g of protein, 10 g of fiber, and about 70% or more of your vitamins and minerals.

I am definitely in the minority here, but I don't think you should concentrate on trying to fill calories just for the sake of having a certain number of calories a day -- just be sure you choose foods for dinner and snacks that complete your protein, fiber, and vitamin/mineral needs for the day. 

I actually used the SlimFast to get my stomach used to eating breakfast, as I used to completely skip it.

I found drinking my breakfast easier than eating it for a while, since I just couldn't face food first thing in the morning. It kept me from noshing like a crazy person, since my blood sugar was kept up.

You can 'initially' try slim fast, but as with any fad-diet, the long-term success is not good.

Can you see yourself drinking/eating slim-fast for the rest of your life? That's how your 'diet' should be structured; something you can see yourself doing FOREVER.

i've never officially done the slimfast diet but i am NOT a morning person and use the premade shakes when i'm in a rush in the am and just factor it in w/ calories--if you decide that you don't want to do slimfast you can still use the shakes for a meal :)

Ok I would like to thank you all for all of your advice.

BTW, I don't see myself drinking slimfast for 2 meals a day but I am using it to get started cause I don't eat breakfast and I figure since I am about to start the spring sememster at college it will be easier to carry a SlimFast to class and drink that.

Also, I plan on baking the potato and grilling the steak so hopefully I can make it fairly healthy.

Anyway thanks for all the help and I am glad I have a place to go to ask these questions and find all of this information.

Also, I have a final question....Since I am starting semester in two days I have a meal plan for lunch since I am at school almost all day....what advice can yall give me to make good choices for lunch in SAGA (the college cafeteria).  They always have a healthy choice but it always looks and smells diguesting and it is always something like black bean jumbelia or something like that.

Thanks again