The Slim Fast Diet Plan

The Slim Fast Diet plan of two shakes and a "sensible dinner" has been around for years. This newly revised plan offers more ideas, support, and increased choices. The online plan offers free meal plans, exercise programs, and tips to help you work towards maintained weight loss.

The major focus is on helping female dieters create balanced, simple, flexible, and convenient meals and snacks to reach goals for safe and effective weight loss, help prevent disease, and encourage healthy eating habits.

By providing information on weight, height, and activity level, you are offered specialized and individualized meal and activity plans to follow as long as necessary. In addition to the new Optima shakes, the Slim Fast Diet plan has created a variety of bars and snack foods to incorporate along with smaller portions of favorite foods. This provides a lot more variety and fewer food restrictions.

What makes the the Slim Fast Diet a different weight loss plan?

This is essentially a low-fat, low-calorie, portion control plan. Replacing meals with Slim Fast products makes planning easier. The online tools are interactive, realistic, and easy to use. You also get access to nutrition professionals as well as other dieters to answer questions, share information, and give support.

What is the Slim Fast Diet?

You select a plan on the Slim Fast website. Choose from Optima, low-carb, or vegetarian plans (additional plans can be made for women who are breastfeeding or have special dietary needs). You have to spend some time navigating the site to familiarize yourself with all the information offered.

The Slim Fast Diet plan presents four keys to success:

• A personalized balanced diet (where you mix and match foods according to your preferences)
• Individualized activity program
• Support and advice from nutrition professionals and fellow dieters via e-mail and telephone
• Tracking success with logs and weight charts

Meal plan guidelines are simple:

• Replace breakfast with Slim Fast Meal On-The-Go shakes or bars
• Combine a Slim Fast Meal On-The-Go with 200 calories of your favorite foods at lunch
• Dine on a sensible meal at dinner (recipes and portion size recommendations included)
• Enjoy snacks, fruits, and vegetables between meals

Other weight loss tips include recommendations for quick family meals, cooking tips, and healthier options at fast-food restaurants. You are also encouraged to have fun, drink more water, use smaller dishes to help reduce portions, and avoid fat-free foods. You can receive new advice daily from e-mail newsletters and "tips of the day."

Alcohol consumption is not discussed on the website, but if you ask a dietitian on the plan, they will say that it is not recommended for weight loss but "it's ok to have a glass of wine once in a while."

Meals average 500 calories each and most days average 1500-2200 calories, depending on weight, age, height, activity level, and how much weight loss is desired. Typical snacks include Slim Fast granola bars, crackers and carrot sticks, yogurt and fruit, or baked chips and salsa. Dinner suggestions include fish, salads, steak, or small portions of pasta. Serving size recommendations are also included to help dieters make choices when dining out.

You can log in to view your week-long meal plans. There are recommendations for portion sizes and food intake, and activity logs on the Slim Fast Diet plan.

The computer program will keep track of calories consumed from food and calories burned through exercise.

You can also send an e-mail to a nutrition professional with questions or concerns. E-mail replies are given within ten to twelve hours and include thoughtful and useful information and Internet resources. Telephone calls can be made Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm EST. There is also a chat room where dieters all over the country can share stories, questions, and give support.

What are the weight loss expectations?

Weight loss is specific to the dieter, but the plan suggests about 1-2 pounds a week. There is also an optional "special event calendar" where you can determine how much weight you can realistically lose in time for a special party, wedding, or

Is exercise promoted?

The major focus of the Slim Fast Diet is the meal regimen, but exercise is also an important component. You can organize your own plan and find detailed information on types of exercises, how to do them, and how to avoid injury. Recommended exercises include walking, running, yoga, and swimming. You can track your progress with online diaries and activity logs.

Are supplements recommended?

No specific supplements are recommended on the Slim Fast Diet plan. Shakes and bars contain no herbs, stimulants, or appetite suppressants, but do contain some supplemental vitamins and minerals. Nutrition professionals can make suggestions for additional supplements such as calcium or a multivitamin via phone or e-mail.