Slim-Fast Diet

If you watch television, read magazines or newspapers, or visit your local supermarket, you have most likely heard about the Slim-Fast diet. Perhaps you or someone you know has utilized Slim-Fast products, either successfully losing weight or not. The following information may help you determine if this plan is right for you.

Basics of the Slim-Fast Diet

The Slim-Fast approach to losing weight is basically structured on eating two of their meal replacements, preferably breakfast and lunch, and one "sensible" dinner meal each day. Slim-Fast prepackaged snacks and fresh fruits and vegetables are allowed as snacks in between meals. The guidelines also highly recommend physical activity on a regular basis, optimally every day.

Nutritional Value

Slim-Fast products are made in a factory, not pulled off a tree. This analogy is made simply to describe the extent of processing the prepackaged shakes and bars go through. Unlike a whole food, such as an apple or orange, the products need to have a long shelf life in the stores and warehouses, hence there are many preservatives added, as well as flavorings and stabilizers to make the products look and taste good. This is not say that the little cappuccino delight shake is not chock-full of essential vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. In fact, the company prides itself on its balanced blend of nutrition in each of its items. If you need to get your eating balanced toward proper nutrition, the Slim-Fast products will do that for you.

Types of Products

Since its inception over 25 years ago, Slim-Fast has made numerous adjustments to its food formulas to meet the needs of its customers and potential customers. Today, there are five basic product lines from which to choose. They include:

Optima – claims to control hunger for 4 hours

High Protein – food items contain 15 or more grams of protein each

Original – includes the ready-to-drink shakes, lunch bars and meal-on-the-go bars

Low Carb – contains 2 -3 grams of carbohydrate per item-may be suitable for diabetic meal planning

Benefits of Slim-Fast

Indeed, there are many advantages to hopping on the Slim-Fast diet wagon. Here are the major pluses to consider:

• No counting calories or points
• Meal plans created to fit your caloric and nutritional needs
• Morning meal replacement strongly encouraged-this simple habit is proven to help reduce daily calorie consumption
• Little or no food preparation
• Convenient
• Easy to follow
• Able to incorporate favorite foods into your day to an extent
• Balanced nutrition
• Products widely available at most supermarkets or online

A Look at the Disadvantages

As with any diet program, irrational restriction leads to the feeling of deprivation. This deprived state can and will often lead to a destructive outcome. Consider this scenario: A woman has been disciplining herself for over two weeks: no junk food and no desserts. Now her birthday arrives, and the cake too. She decides to have a piece, and boom, her guilt level rises and she begins to feel less and less successful with her accomplishments of the last two weeks. She begins to binge on all the foods she so adamantly "gave up". The four pounds she struggled to lose suddenly reappear. And, the cycle has begun.

To combat this situation, it is best to allow yourself treats on a daily basis. Unfortunately, Slim-Fast may not allow this. The plan attempts to offer you delicious rich chocolate flavor in its snack bars and shakes, but they are a far cry from a mint truffle or brownie. For this reason, it is important for the Slim-Fast follower to learn about portion control on his or her own. Without this chief habit set in place, yo-yo eating and dieting may never be concluded. You can find several resources for learning about portions and serving sizes, including the food guide pyramid.

Does It Work?

Following the Slim-Fast diet will work. However, it is critical to individualize the plan to your needs, upcoming events, and lifestyle. Most importantly, be flexible with yourself. These types of plans can often present a highly structured strategy that, when broken, can lead you in the wrong direction. Long-term clinical trials have proven the plan to result in weight loss. Be sure to use the online tools at the company’s website such as the nutrition log, weight chart, activity tracker, body mass index calculator, special event calculator, advice and support contacts, and daily tips for optimal success.

Marketing Advisory

The Slim-Fast products are produced by the Unilever Corporation, the world’s largest company of consumer products. Besides the Slim-Fast product line, they are responsible for Lipton teas and soups, Wishbone salad dressings, Promise and Country Crock spreads, Hellmann’s dressings, Bertolli pasta and sauce, Ragu sauces, Klondike and Breyers frozen items, and several laundry detergent, soap, face, and hair products. For this reason, be aware of the intense marketing and advertising tools that the company may present. Ask questions if a claim sounds too good to be true by either email or phone (1-800-SLIM-FAST) directly to the company.