The classic meal-replacement plan, Slim Fast is one of the most well known and popular diets on the weight loss market. The old Slim Fast slogan is probably still familiar: “a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner”. That mantra has changed little over Slim Fast’s 25 year life span, adapting only to accommodate new Slim Fast meal and snack bars.
Slim Fast has been the subject of many clinical tests and trials-many funded by Slim Fast itself-and the results of such trials appear to be promising. Many people tout its effectiveness and proudly back up any doubts with clinical trial data. Literally millions of people are on the Slim Fast diet at any given time. Slim Fast’s convenience and weight loss promises are most likely the reason for their huge following.
How Slim Fast Works
Slim Fast is, essentially, a meal replacement plan that restricts calorie intake and encourages physical activity to promote weight loss. This is how the Slim Fast diet works:
1. Eat one nutritiously balanced 600-700 calorie meal a day, ideally dinner;
2. In place of the other two meals, drink a Slim Fast shake or eat a Slim Fast meal bar;
3. Engage in 30 minutes of physical activity everyday.
Meals, Shakes, and Bars
Once on the Slim Fast diet, daily eating is whittled down to a few options: a balanced meal, a shake, or a bar. The resulting limit on calories results in weight loss, and the shakes and bars make for convenient eating. Each “real” meal should be approximately 600 to 700 calories, and contain lean meat, starches, vegetables, and fruit.
Slim Fast Shakes
The most popular meal-replacement option on the Slim Fast diet is the Slim Fast Shake. These shakes are ready-to-drink milk based beverages widely available for purchase at grocery stores and on the internet and normally come in packages 6.
– Each shake is 11.5 ounces and contains 225 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 35 grams of sugar. The shakes are fortified with a variety of essential vitamins and minerals (and some not essential) in the range of 15% to 35%, with 100% daily value for vitamin C and vitamin E.
– Shakes are available in 4 flavors: Chocolate Royale, Creamy Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla, and Strawberries `n Cream.
Slim Fast Bars
Slim Fast now offers bars as part of their meal-replacement plan: Meal Bars, and Meal-on-the-Go bars. Both bars are widely available at grocery stores and on the internet, but both have varying characteristics.
– Meal bars are available in packages of 8. They contain 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 12 grams of sugar, and are fortified with 20% to 25% daily value of some vitamins. They are available in 2 flavors: Dutch Chocolate and Peanut Butter.
– Meal-on-the-Go bars are available in packages of 6. They contain 220 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 19 grams of sugars, and are fortified with 25% to 35% daily value of some vitamins. They are available in 2 flavors: Milk Chocolate Peanut and Chocolate Cookie Dough.
The Slim Fast plan suggests consuming meal bars with 8-ounces of fat free milk for more complete nutrition.
Slim Fast also offers products to coincide with their Optima diet, products for those who have trouble digesting lactose, low carbohydrate products, and high protein products.
The Slim Fast Optima plan allows more variation for customized weight loss, and Optima products can replace one meal, as long as one of the other is a 200 calorie meal.
Those considering the Slim Fast diet should, as with any new diet, consult with their doctor.