special k & me :)

there are quite a few threads on this but i wanted responses from people more recently. i dont know if this is a bad diet, or what.. my roommate has done it before & she lost 6lbs and she mentioned she wanted to do it again. we have both been working out, and eating better. i decided about a month or so ago i was going to eat better, lots of veggies & fruits, and no processed foods.. that and i started to work out. which i apparently influenced her, so now we kind of motivate eachother. i have really only lost 5 lbs. which is better than nothing. but still.. i would really like to loose 6 lbs or so by halloween weekend. like i said i started a month ago. i do binge drink on the weekends, and im sure thats not helping but during the week i dont drink & i work out 4 times during the week at the gym. any input would be appreciated :)

im sorry but special k products are a joke.. barely any fiber and protein and plenty of sugar.. i was curious when the protein shakes came out and there is a ton of sugar! no thank you.. all processed crap.

I eat Special K cereals for breakfast often and always keep the Special K crackers in my cupboard.  Lower calories than most cereals and crackers, and that's what I'm primarily concerned with.  They help me stick to my diet, though NOT to the exclusion of other foods. 

Original Post by brittywitty044:

im sorry but special k products are a joke.. barely any fiber and protein and plenty of sugar.. i was curious when the protein shakes came out and there is a ton of sugar! no thank you.. all processed crap.

 agreed. Spend your calories on real food.

Excuses excuses. There's plenty of young people out there and they don't "have" to drink just because they're 22 or however old you are. If you are REALLY concerned about losing weight and having a healthy lifestyle (which you don't seem like you are) then you should cut back on the drinking (5 drinks a night 2x a week IS a lot hello? You yourself even called it BINGE DRINKING. Not healthy.) and actually EAT healthy clean foods, and enough of them because you're acting like an unintelligent young person, who is giving all of us young people a bad name. So stop please.

Bottom line, EAT REAL FOOD and limit the drinking to special occassions! Done and done.

Original Post by nicolek6:

Excuses excuses. There's plenty of young people out there and they don't "have" to drink just because they're 22 or however old you are. If you are REALLY concerned about losing weight and having a healthy lifestyle (which you don't seem like you are) then you should cut back on the drinking (5 drinks a night 2x a week IS a lot hello? You yourself even called it BINGE DRINKING. Not healthy.) and actually EAT healthy clean foods, and enough of them because you're acting like an unintelligent young person, who is giving all of us young people a bad name. So stop please.

Bottom line, EAT REAL FOOD and limit the drinking to special occassions! Done and done.

excuse me but i find your post rather offensive. have you ever gone to college? binge drinking is NOT considered 5 drinks twice a week. & seriously if it is for you, then maybe you never really went out and socialized. I give young people a bad name?

the reason i dont post on this website are because of people like you. you want to tell me that i dont have a healthy lifestyle etc. I WORK OUT 5 TIMES A WEEK AND I EAT HEALTHY FOOD. DRINKING 2 NIGHTS OUT OF THE WEEK IS NOT GIVING "YOUNG PEOPLE" A BAD NAME. get over yourself.

Original Post by sillysillygoose:

Original Post by nicolek6:

Excuses excuses. There's plenty of young people out there and they don't "have" to drink just because they're 22 or however old you are. If you are REALLY concerned about losing weight and having a healthy lifestyle (which you don't seem like you are) then you should cut back on the drinking (5 drinks a night 2x a week IS a lot hello? You yourself even called it BINGE DRINKING. Not healthy.) and actually EAT healthy clean foods, and enough of them because you're acting like an unintelligent young person, who is giving all of us young people a bad name. So stop please.

Bottom line, EAT REAL FOOD and limit the drinking to special occassions! Done and done.

excuse me but i find your post rather offensive. have you ever gone to college? binge drinking is NOT considered 5 drinks twice a week. & seriously if it is for you, then maybe you never really went out and socialized. I give young people a bad name?

the reason i dont post on this website are because of people like you. you want to tell me that i dont have a healthy lifestyle etc. I WORK OUT 5 TIMES A WEEK AND I EAT HEALTHY FOOD. DRINKING 2 NIGHTS OUT OF THE WEEK IS NOT GIVING "YOUNG PEOPLE" A BAD NAME. get over yourself.

 I limit my drinking to once a week, and my heavy drinking (anything more than 3 drinks) to around once every other week to once a month.  I don't see a problem with having some fun, especially if you are careful and watch yourself.  I don't think you're giving young people a bad name.  At least you've cut back.

Though I will say I'm concerned with a lot of the rest of the information you're giving.  500 calories a day is nowhere near what you should be living on!  Bump that up by at least 1000 calories (especially with the amount of activity you have), make sure to get in tons of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Also, 6 lbs in 10 days is not a realistic expectation.  You should only be losing around 1-2 lbs a week.  Give yourself a little more time and do things the proper and healthy way!

Original Post by sukibahsoun:

Though I will say I'm concerned with a lot of the rest of the information you're giving.  500 calories a day is nowhere near what you should be living on!  Bump that up by at least 1000 calories (especially with the amount of activity you have), make sure to get in tons of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Also, 6 lbs in 10 days is not a realistic expectation.  You should only be losing around 1-2 lbs a week.  Give yourself a little more time and do things the proper and healthy way!

Agreed. Eating healthy foods is not necessarily being healthy. You still need to eat enough. Undereating is not healthy by any means.

Original Post by nicolek6:

Excuses excuses. There's plenty of young people out there and they don't "have" to drink just because they're 22 or however old you are. If you are REALLY concerned about losing weight and having a healthy lifestyle (which you don't seem like you are) then you should cut back on the drinking (5 drinks a night 2x a week IS a lot hello? You yourself even called it BINGE DRINKING. Not healthy.) and actually EAT healthy clean foods, and enough of them because you're acting like an unintelligent young person, who is giving all of us young people a bad name. So stop please.

Bottom line, EAT REAL FOOD and limit the drinking to special occassions! Done and done.

So true, Nicole.  What's really sad is people (of ANY age) who think they can't have a good time unless they drink.  I suppose I'm just more sensitive to it than many, since my alcoholic husband died at the age of 46.  It does NOT mean that every person who has a few drinks on the weekend is an alcoholic or will become one, but when someone says they binge drink, it just sends up a red flag, in my opinion.

Original Post by sukibahsoun:

 I limit my drinking to once a week, and my heavy drinking (anything more than 3 drinks) to around once every other week to once a month.  I don't see a problem with having some fun, especially if you are careful and watch yourself.  I don't think you're giving young people a bad name.  At least you've cut back.

Though I will say I'm concerned with a lot of the rest of the information you're giving.  500 calories a day is nowhere near what you should be living on!  Bump that up by at least 1000 calories (especially with the amount of activity you have), make sure to get in tons of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Also, 6 lbs in 10 days is not a realistic expectation.  You should only be losing around 1-2 lbs a week.  Give yourself a little more time and do things the proper and healthy way!

i have seriously cut back a whole lot. which may be why the other poster offended me.

i do eat a lot of fruits & veggies. actually. i dont eat fast food. i eat a lot of soups also. i eat tuna. i pretty much live off salads and boiled eggs w/out the yolk.. i think what keeps my calories down, is because i eat so many salads, but also because i dont use a creamy dressing. sometimes i will just use lime. the only time i will not eat the stuff ive mentioned above is when i go to my parents house for dinner. which you never know what my dad is cooking. sometimes tilapia, salmon, meatloaf, steak.. its always something different. my dad is on a diet recommend by his doc, so whatever he cooks ends up being healthy also.

Original Post by robin9395:

Original Post by nicolek6:

Excuses excuses. There's plenty of young people out there and they don't "have" to drink just because they're 22 or however old you are. If you are REALLY concerned about losing weight and having a healthy lifestyle (which you don't seem like you are) then you should cut back on the drinking (5 drinks a night 2x a week IS a lot hello? You yourself even called it BINGE DRINKING. Not healthy.) and actually EAT healthy clean foods, and enough of them because you're acting like an unintelligent young person, who is giving all of us young people a bad name. So stop please.

Bottom line, EAT REAL FOOD and limit the drinking to special occassions! Done and done.

So true, Nicole.  What's really sad is people (of ANY age) who think they can't have a good time unless they drink.  I suppose I'm just more sensitive to it than many, since my alcoholic husband died at the age of 46.  It does NOT mean that every person who has a few drinks on the weekend is an alcoholic or will become one, but when someone says they binge drink, it just sends up a red flag, in my opinion.

sorry about your husband, but you are right. just because he had the problem, does not mean everyone that drinks will become an alcoholic. i apparently used the WRONG term. i DO go out without drinking. the weekend is not the only time i go out, its the only time that i allow myself to drink. AND i have a good time. i never said that i cant have fun, without drinking. i dont work weekends & if i want to drink, then im going to drink. people seem to over react about this.

What's with all the judgement on the drinking? Some people do, some people don't...who cares? She know's it's not the healthiest thing in the world, and has cut back as a result. I also drink about once a week (used to be more), and while I know it is not the best thing for me, I know there are many many things I do everyday that do benefit my health. Plus, it is something I really enjoy as a way to unwind after stressful week and just be social with friends. Also, I have lost about 50 lbs overall.

The Special K diet however OP, I don't agree with. You aren't eating enough and you aren't eating the right things. You have to learn how to encorporate real foods into your diet if you are ever going to be successful long term.

Original Post by delaney86:

Original Post by sukibahsoun:

Though I will say I'm concerned with a lot of the rest of the information you're giving.  500 calories a day is nowhere near what you should be living on!  Bump that up by at least 1000 calories (especially with the amount of activity you have), make sure to get in tons of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Also, 6 lbs in 10 days is not a realistic expectation.  You should only be losing around 1-2 lbs a week.  Give yourself a little more time and do things the proper and healthy way!

Agreed. Eating healthy foods is not necessarily being healthy. You still need to eat enough. Undereating is not healthy by any means.

i am going to try to consume more calories. yesterday i did actually. i consumed i think 700 before my workout, then 300 after my workout. my workout burned 500 calories.

Original Post by sillysillygoose:

i am going to try to consume more calories. yesterday i did actually. i consumed i think 700 before my workout, then 300 after my workout. my workout burned 500 calories.

That's still drastically undereating. Again, the 1200 is the minimum for a SEDENTARY adult woman. With your exercise, you need to be eating more.

Original Post by trikki:

What's with all the judgement on the drinking? Some people do, some people don't...who cares? She know's it's not the healthiest thing in the world, and has cut back as a result. I also drink about once a week (used to be more), and while I know it is not the best thing for me, I know there are many many things I do everyday that do benefit my health. Plus, it is something I really enjoy as a way to unwind after stressful week and just be social with friends. Also, I have lost about 50 lbs overall.

The Special K diet however OP, I don't agree with. You aren't eating enough and you aren't eating the right things. You have to learn how to encorporate real foods into your diet if you are ever going to be successful long term.

hi trikki. thank you for your post! i think your one of the few who ARENT judging me for drinking while i socialize. my dad has a drink almost every night at home to just wind down from his day & hes also lost 50lbs. he says if you collaborate it into calories for the day then there wont be a problem with weight gain.. HIS DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT, for all of you who are about to judge my dad as well.

as of eating real foods, what do you consider real foods? when i eat with my dad he cooks meals. for example, he will make a meat, a veggie and a carbs/starch. like tilapia, green beans & pasta. i dont know how to cook, therefore its hard for me to eat "real foods"

Original Post by sillysillygoose:

Original Post by trikki:

What's with all the judgement on the drinking? Some people do, some people don't...who cares? She know's it's not the healthiest thing in the world, and has cut back as a result. I also drink about once a week (used to be more), and while I know it is not the best thing for me, I know there are many many things I do everyday that do benefit my health. Plus, it is something I really enjoy as a way to unwind after stressful week and just be social with friends. Also, I have lost about 50 lbs overall.

The Special K diet however OP, I don't agree with. You aren't eating enough and you aren't eating the right things. You have to learn how to encorporate real foods into your diet if you are ever going to be successful long term.

hi trikki. thank you for your post! i think your one of the few who ARENT judging me for drinking while i socialize. my dad has a drink almost every night at home to just wind down from his day & hes also lost 50lbs. he says if you collaborate it into calories for the day then there wont be a problem with weight gain.. HIS DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT, for all of you who are about to judge my dad as well.

as of eating real foods, what do you consider real foods? when i eat with my dad he cooks meals. for example, he will make a meat, a veggie and a carbs/starch. like tilapia, green beans & pasta. i dont know how to cook, therefore its hard for me to eat "real foods"

 Well it sounds like your dad knows how to cook and he is cooking healthy meals, so why not ask him to help you learn a few easy things you can do on your own? I basically just mean not eating Special K for 75% of your calories throught the day, even if you are supplementing it with veggies, it's really just not good enough.

Something easy and healthy would be to cook up some ground turkey, throw in some tomato sauce, and put it over some whole grain pasta. Salad or veggies on the side. I'm sure you could manage something like that, no?

Overall, you need to be eating A LOT more calories. You are going to destroy your metabolism. I think somebody put the phord calculator in here already, but here is again just incase. Use it. You will probably gain a few pounds at first because you are durastically undereating, but it will go away, and you will be MUCH better off in the long run. 

Original Post by trikki:

Original Post by sillysillygoose:

Original Post by trikki:

What's with all the judgement on the drinking? Some people do, some people don't...who cares? She know's it's not the healthiest thing in the world, and has cut back as a result. I also drink about once a week (used to be more), and while I know it is not the best thing for me, I know there are many many things I do everyday that do benefit my health. Plus, it is something I really enjoy as a way to unwind after stressful week and just be social with friends. Also, I have lost about 50 lbs overall.

The Special K diet however OP, I don't agree with. You aren't eating enough and you aren't eating the right things. You have to learn how to encorporate real foods into your diet if you are ever going to be successful long term.

hi trikki. thank you for your post! i think your one of the few who ARENT judging me for drinking while i socialize. my dad has a drink almost every night at home to just wind down from his day & hes also lost 50lbs. he says if you collaborate it into calories for the day then there wont be a problem with weight gain.. HIS DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT, for all of you who are about to judge my dad as well.

as of eating real foods, what do you consider real foods? when i eat with my dad he cooks meals. for example, he will make a meat, a veggie and a carbs/starch. like tilapia, green beans & pasta. i dont know how to cook, therefore its hard for me to eat "real foods"

 Well it sounds like your dad knows how to cook and he is cooking healthy meals, so why not ask him to help you learn a few easy things you can do on your own? I basically just mean not eating Special K for 75% of your calories throught the day, even if you are supplementing it with veggies, it's really just not good enough.

Something easy and healthy would be to cook up some ground turkey, throw in some tomato sauce, and put it over some whole grain pasta. Salad or veggies on the side. I'm sure you could manage something like that, no?

Overall, you need to be eating A LOT more calories. You are going to destroy your metabolism. I think somebody put the phord calculator in here already, but here is again just incase. Use it. You will probably gain a few pounds at first because you are durastically undereating, but it will go away, and you will be MUCH better off in the long run. 

oh.. yes i just did that phord calculator. it says i should be eating 1371 calories a day and thats if im working out 2-4 times a week.

i will ask my dad for some ideas. i know how to cook ground turkey & boiling pasta is pretty simple. so yes. i can definitely manage that. thanks again for your post! i appreciate your input!!!

I see nothing wrong with the drinking.  When I was 22 and had no children or responsibilities I drank every weekend...of course I understood that there are calories in those beverages.  I am now a 29 year old mother to a beautiful 4 year old daughter, with a great job and incredible friends.   I drink maybe once a year now. 

I dont think beating this girl up over her drinking is going to help her any.  She seems to know that it is not ideal for weight loss.  Any other opinion you may have on it is strictly your own moral standard...and she didnt ask for any MORAL opinions on how she lives her life. 

My advice is this...if you are drinking you can do it at a club, that way you can dance some of it off.  I used to dance for 4 hours straight at the club...so the drinks didnt put as huge a dent in my figure.  Back then I was a size 4...and I ate constantly. 

Extra calories are extra calories.....whether they come from piece of cake or a glass of wine.  If you know this and are making sure you are working out enough to burn those extra calories off...then it isnt a problem. 

However....you are undereating.  You should consider seeing a nutritionist. They may be able to help you put together a more balanced meal plan.   Special K is one of those plans that I just can not give my support to. If you dont get any variety this diet is bound to fail.

Original Post by jennmary00:

I see nothing wrong with the drinking.  When I was 22 and had no children or responsibilities I drank every weekend...of course I understood that there are calories in those beverages.  I am now a 29 year old mother to a beautiful 4 year old daughter, with a great job and incredible friends.   I drink maybe once a year now. 

I dont think beating this girl up over her drinking is going to help her any.  She seems to know that it is not ideal for weight loss.  Any other opinion you may have on it is strictly your own moral standard...and she didnt ask for any MORAL opinions on how she lives her life. 

My advice is this...if you are drinking you can do it at a club, that way you can dance some of it off.  I used to dance for 4 hours straight at the club...so the drinks didnt put as huge a dent in my figure.  Back then I was a size 4...and I ate constantly. 

Extra calories are extra calories.....whether they come from piece of cake or a glass of wine.  If you know this and are making sure you are working out enough to burn those extra calories off...then it isnt a problem. 

However....you are undereating.  You should consider seeing a nutritionist. They may be able to help you put together a more balanced meal plan.   Special K is one of those plans that I just can not give my support to. If you dont get any variety this diet is bound to fail.

You're absolutely right in that there's nothing wrong in moderate drinking.  I used to enjoy an occasional drink myself.  However, if you will read her initial post, you will notice she referred to "binge" drinking, and THAT is what the follow-up responses were referring to.  Evidently, it was just a poor choice of words on her part, which she later clarified.  It wasn't a matter of beating her up, as you put it, it was concern for her health and well being, and isn't that part of what we're all here for?

Original Post by robin9395:

You're absolutely right in that there's nothing wrong in moderate drinking.  I used to enjoy an occasional drink myself.  However, if you will read her initial post, you will notice she referred to "binge" drinking, and THAT is what the follow-up responses were referring to.  Evidently, it was just a poor choice of words on her part, which she later clarified.  It wasn't a matter of beating her up, as you put it, it was concern for her health and well being, and isn't that part of what we're all here for?

 This...  using the word binge  then bringing it up with I eat 500 cals a day... come on... people are going to react to that. 

Original Post by nanny317:

Original Post by robin9395:

You're absolutely right in that there's nothing wrong in moderate drinking.  I used to enjoy an occasional drink myself.  However, if you will read her initial post, you will notice she referred to "binge" drinking, and THAT is what the follow-up responses were referring to.  Evidently, it was just a poor choice of words on her part, which she later clarified.  It wasn't a matter of beating her up, as you put it, it was concern for her health and well being, and isn't that part of what we're all here for?

 This...  using the word binge  then bringing it up with I eat 500 cals a day... come on... people are going to react to that. 

That's it in a nutshell, nanny.    (Incidentally, terrific profile!!)