If you have a few pounds to lose, and you're considering following the Slim Fast diet, read on to find out if this plan is for you.

When the Slim Fast diet first came out, it was a very basic plan. Two meals a day were replaced with a shake made by adding some Slim Fast powder to a glass of low-fat milk. There were three flavors to choose from: strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. You would drink one shake at breakfast and another at lunch, and then have a sensible dinner of about 600 calories.

Today, there are several more products in the Slim Fast line-up. You can get pre-mixed canned shakes, snack bars in a variety of flavors, and soup mixes. You are allowed these products about three times a day. And a recommendation was added that you drink eight glasses of water every day.

That's the short version of the Slim Fast diet. Next, we'll take a look at the pros and cons.

Pros: Perhaps most importantly, you can lose quite a bit of weight on the Slim Fast diet if you combine it with an exercise program. It's not difficult at all to follow the program. The shakes are quite portable and you can take them with you anywhere. You won't have to pack a lunch for work. You don't have to count your calories or go to meetings.

Cons: The Slim Fast shakes don't fill you up, and you might find yourself craving some actual food at mealtimes. For this reason, it's hard to stick with this diet. Vegetables and fruits aren't plentiful on this plan, so you'll be missing fiber and some important nutrients (although the shakes contain vitamins and minerals).

There's no doubt you can lose weight on the Slim Fast diet, but given the disadvantages, you might want to use the Slim Fast products to replace a snack instead of a meal. The shakes are flavorful, but you won't get the satisfaction that you do from eating a real meal.

As a final comment, regaining the lost pounds is not unusual for people who follow the Slim Fast plan. One woman lost 60 pounds in a year on the Slim Fast program, combined with moderate exercise. The next year, she gained it all back. The key to weight maintenance is to change your eating habits for the better. If you've been relying on the shakes for your meals, and then you stop taking them, you'll be back to your old unhealthy habits in no time.

Recommendation: Because it's not easy to stay with this diet for the long term, the Slim Fast plan is most suited to people who only have a few pounds to lose. Someone who wanted to lose a considerable number of pounds could start with this diet to shed some weight quickly, and then switch to a healthy food plan and continue to lose a pound or two a week.

With all the weight loss plans being promoted these days, it's difficult to pick just the right one. When you're considering the various diets, keep in mind that some quick-loss diets will work in the short run, but are not necessarily sustainable or as healthy as changing your eating habits for the better.

About the Author:

Kim Archer writes about women's wellness, and is publisher of The Internet Spa, where you'll find the information you need to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit. Glyconutrients.

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