You guessed it, my lack of updating signifies my failure to adhere to the Slim4Life plan. For me, Slim4Life did not work. This is not to say it may not work for you. When it comes to weight loss, Slim4Life delivered.
Why I Slim4Life did not work for me.
While I was losing weight on Slim4Life, it became harder and harder for me to stick to the plan. My biggest obstacle was flavor. The Slim4Life diet is devoid of all flavor and spices. Forget salt, forget spices, with Slim4Life you are stuck eating bland food. My Slim4Life consultant suggested using Mrs. Dash, this was useless because their seasonings don't really add any flavor. I even tried making my own tomato sauce using their nutritional guidelines. In the end, it got so difficult for me to eat bland food that I would literally gag while trying to eat.
On top of that, I am a very picky eater. I completely dislike the taste of vegetables other than corn. Unfortunately, on the Slim4Life plan corn is a bit of a no no. This means the only vegetable I could really stomach was the occasional slice of tomato and lettuce.
Even though Slim4Life quite cheerful proclaims you can eat what you want, you can't. Forget fast food, and for a guy like me, who is a single father of three, works full time, and goes to school full time there just isn't enough hours in the day to cook every single meal. Cooking multiple meals at one time was becoming a more difficult thing to do as my motivation waned.
Time and cost were also issues. I already told you about all the time you have to invest to prepare your own meals. Beyond that, you also have to go twice a week to counseling sessions that are supposed to help you stay motivated and on plan, to help you over the humps. In reality these sessions are nothing more than a constant shakedown to buy more supplements.
So, here I am 4 years later. In that time I put the weight back on. Went up and down on various plans, spending money to meet with failure after failure. The only thing that has ever really effective for me was Metabolife, but the pharmaceutical companies were able to use the FDA to ban that.
That is until now. Watching a couple friends take on the same plan I now am more than two months into showed me what can and does work. I am proud to say I have reached the exact same weight I was at the time of my last posting, so for me that seemed like a perfect time to jump back in.
Over the next days, weeks, and months I will tell you what I am doing now, how well it is working, and just how affordable it is. Here is a hint, you won't have to buy anything and you can actually eat the foods you want. More than words or some advertising gimmick, it's a reality.
I hope you'll join me on this journey and can learn from my experiences.
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22 comments:
Hi James, I had a nearly identical experience with Slim 4 Life. A few years ago I started it and lost a lot of weight, getting down to my lowest weight ever! But like you, I couldn't stick with it and gained back everything I lost, plus more. I'm currently trying it again, and have lost 45 pounds, which is about half what I need to lose. Unfortunately, now I'm remembering why I stopped going the first time! They've oversold the program so much that the wait for "counseling" takes half an hour. And many times, when the waiting room is full, you can hear "couselors" in the back making SALES calls! It's disgusting:( I've been buying everything online and at the Vitamin Shoppe, which is the only way I can afford it, and using the "fast lane" option so I don't have to lie to them about not eating the boring, nasty food. Eventually I'll begin to resent wasting my time again though, so I'm very interested to see your progress on your new plan! Good luck:)
You have to season your food!!!! or it will be boring and nasty!!!! Use Ms. Dash(all flavors) and onion and garlic powder and the morton light salt. I have lost 105lbs and have maintained for 6 six weeks. It is not easy and you have to have willpower. Once you loose your weight, then you consume the calories for your activity level as James said to maintain your weight loss. It's no way I could have lost the weight if the food was boring, bland and nasty!!! No it's not cheap and you have to spend the money but it's for the time you are on the plan. After your weight loss there are products out there that are comprable, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR RESEARCH. Weight loss is a lifelong process, not a quick fix. You have to change your entire way of eating and living. You can endulge, just not all the TIME!!!
Can you tell me the supplements that you would say are essential in the program? I just don't want to purchase unnecessary supplements, just the ones that I need?
The only "supplement" I'd recommend would be the multi-vitamin (buy it from a store) and the protein bars (find a kind you like at a store). Others may be beneficial depending upon your unique needs (b-vitamin? fish oil? etc) but you'd really need someone trained in diets and health to tell you that - not a Slim4Life counselor.
I have been on the Slim4Life program since February of 2013, almost a year now, and it is the ONLY plan I have ever tried that worked and that I know I can keep up with (not gaining weight back). With that said... this is NOT for really picky eaters. You must like vegetables, I LOVE them. I found supplements that were more affordable after the first 5 months... Triple Omega (you can buy anywhere), a good multi-vitamin, Green Tea fat burner (I get at Costco), and either Zone Perfect or Pure Protein for the protein bar replacement. I also take a probiotic daily to help with digestion, especially when I eat beef, which I couldn't do at all before. I do still use S4L drinks some. To date, I have lost 65 pounds, a whopping 15 inches off my waist and dropped my cholesterol 75 points. No more prescription drugs for me!! My doc is THRILLED with my progress and, at 48 years old, I feel better than I did at 28 when I was the size I am shooting for now. I am 15 pounds away from my goal to lose 80 pounds in a year, MY goal not theirs.
This is NOT a plan for everyone and no all the counselors are the same, mine are AWESOME!! Having tried lots of things over the years, I can say that you just have to find the one that works for you and that you can make a life plan out of.
I am so upset!! I am just now finding this website.
I just started slim for life on Sunday. HOLY CRAP its hard. 2-3 lbs of meat? Are you freaking kidding me.
Since I have already paid these suckers 400$ I am DONE. I am going to follow the program on my own. I can afford these people. Not only that but I cant go to all those meetings and I am tired of feeling bad about it.
UGH.
I totally agree with Whitney Michael. I could not stomach 2-3 lbs of meat for 3 days. Then on day 4 it goes down to 5oz of meat twice daily plus all of the supplements and protein drinks. I only joined because my 13 year old daughter was depressed about her weight. When I first joined I knew I made a mistake and asked for a refund the very next day. They said no way. I did not open any of the vitamins and supplements. They said once they leave the store it becomes a safety issue. I feel so stupid. This is not the lifestyle of living and eating for me. I am out of $400 and I could just cry. I was so desperate for my daughters sake. We're both 5'4" and weigh 153. This is a big lesson to learn. I've never paid for a weight management program and this is the reason why. I feel so stupid. Now I know how smart people make stupid mistakes out of desperation.
I to tried slim4 life. After all the pills, meat and bland food keeping nausea in the first 3 days I ended up in the ER from dehydration from throwing up so much. This plan was a shock for my body all at once and was too much. Even after letting my "counselor" know on my first day how I was starting to feel they just told me to hang in there and keep going while trying to push more products on me. So now I have an ER bill in addition to the $600 I gave them. It took 2 months for someone from slim4 life to call me after telling them what happened. Even though my doctor and the ER doctor told me not to go back i took a few months off and tried again hoping if I started gradually things would go smoother...wrong! This program kept me sick and in bed from no energy from not being able to keep anything down. When I let the counselor know how it was going they told me to eat an orange when I started feeling bad, that couldn't happen when I couldn't keep anything down and the thought of any food made me nausea. At this point I was scared of what I was putting my body through and quit. Glad it works for some but definitely not for everyone!
Wow. So you never got passed the first 3 days? Sounds like you didn't give it much of a chance. And the reason they say to come in for counseling is to help YOU. If you don't come in, you're wasting your money. At least make the attempt to be successful. I mean after all you already paid some good money. You don't have to do the supplements. The food is actually the main part. The supplements help guarantee the 3-6 #'s a week. So if you're okay not losing that much ... And okay with going slower, you can still do it without the supplements. They'll suggest that you do but it's because they actually help. I still use some of them. Like the EFAs, slim snacks, vitamin & on occasion a boost (helps me stay away from dr pepper)
Ya. So if you still have weeks, go in for the counseling. They aren't out to make you miserable
They want you to get close to the 2-3 lbs. they're not stupid they know how hard it is. That's why they say to come in every day during those three days. Ask them for tips. They know ways to make it a little easier.
A lot of the times it's about trying your best! If you fall, just get back up. Ya mistakes hurt but you can still lose the weight and use the accountability
You don't have to be perfect. You know how many of those clients they have that don't follow it to a T but still lose? Yes, it goes a little slower, but It's still obtainable. Find a counselor who gets it. Who has done the plan or tried out the plan even. There are lots of counsellors who may not have to lose the weight but still try what they tell you to try just to get a better understanding of what it's like for the client.
In any place, you'll find employees who aren't as committed to their job. So ya you'll get some bad apples. But there are some great counsellors in the mix. I promise.
I've done the program and it works wonders for me. I feel so much better. Anything worth having isn't easy.
I am currently on Week 1 of my program with Slim4Life and I can definitely see some change. During the 3 day cleanse where you are asked to eat that much meat, I lost 7 lbs. So far from officially starting the week on Monday and today (Wednesday) I have gone down another 3 pounds. Yes it is pricey but so far it's going good. I meal prepped earlier this week which has helped me know what is going into my body. If you do not prep, you are setting yourself up for failure. The snacks actually help me remember to eat a snack. Without this plan, I would forget to follow a plan. I am headed in today to get weighed and to speak with a counselor about how things are going. The counselors at my location do ask very detailed how everything is going and what challenges I'm facing. They have told me ways to make my food taste better and the only time buying products have been talked about is when I have brought it up. Granted, this is only week 1. I'm sure I will get tired of eating only chicken/fish for most of my meals and I know I'm going to miss eating pasta, but I was headed down the path of having to be put on medication because of my health and I didn't want that. Again, yes everything is pricey but when you factor in how much surgery costs or how much eating out all of the times costs, it evens out at the end.
We just joined as a couple to keep each other in check. As we sat waiting for our first consultation a couple walked in and I asked how it had been. They'd been on the plan for a year, both lost weight and kept each other uplifted. That's what I needed to hear.
It's expensive, yes.
The 3 day prep really was gagging specially because I eat healthy (not counting the sweets). I kept telling myself.. another day and we're done.
The first day was very energizing. I'm excited to see the results. Already lost 1 pound first day.
Women loose slower than men.
If you already paid.. do it. Follow the instructions, and yes, go weigh in for the accountability. That is the key!
thank them for the offers to buy more and keep going, although several products are interesting. Keep mixing it up.
and yes.. PREP is key - good note
Thanks~
So I started today. I am unable to do the 3 day prep because I only have 1 kidney and I only get 1 slim snack a day. I'm a little worried about getting hungry! I anticipate starting off a little slower, but I think in the end I'll have a steady weight loss. So far today I've made chicken salad and had a tossed salad with spinach, tomato, scallions and grilled chicken on top... No bland food here!
DO they have new meal plans, different/additional protein options?
I agree, I have seen several comments about blank food and I think "do you people not know how to season food". Slim 4 Life allows you to usee any seasinine that does not have salt in it. Therefore you can add garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper, cumin (great on turkey), rosemary and the list goes on. I have lost 65 of the 80lb I am trying to loose and not once have I eaten anything blan. People are just making excuses for their own weaknesses, the same excuses that put the weight on in the first place.
Can we drink protein shakes other than theirs?
Can we drink protein shakes other than theirs?
S4L worked for me. Went in at 204 lbs. I had no energy for my children; there were days I could not walk because my back hurt so much. I also snored a lot. After 9 months on the program, I was 125 lbs (I'm 5' 1"). All was done by following the plan. The last 3 months I had so much energy, I started doing 1 hour of cardio 5 days a week. I haven't had an episode of not being able to walk and I sleep better now. My husband did not want to do the program. After 6 weeks of seeing my results, he quickly changed his mind. He loss about 50 lbs. himself. It is the best investment I've made. I wish this was taught in school. I'm more disciplined and meal prep for the week each Sunday. This has also helped me save a lot of $$$. I eat out less. Eating well for so long, I can't eat greasy food (wings) or tamales without feeling horrible after. I don't mind this because it makes me go back to be good. I did go slightly off course and gained about 25 pounds; I got lazy at preping meals and I stopped working out for a few months. I'm back in the swing of things and am 13 lbs. away from my goal. Yes the product is expensive. BOOST is a must for me. LIKE SOMEONE SAID, IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH, you will actually find similar products for less. I buy Atkins day break protein bars, Muscle Milk protein shakes, and Kay's Naturals protein chips. I buy generic vitamins, omega/fish oil pills, Natures Bounty Probiotic. READ the ingredients to Slim4Life products and compare them to similar products. This literally took me a few hours. I coached my mom, mother-in-law, and sister and they loss weight too. They didn't do any S4L products either. BEST INVESTMENT I EVER MADE! I love SLIM4LIFE!
S4L worked for me, too. AND for the wife -- it's much easier if you both do the plan because you're cooking once, shopping once, holding each other accountable, collaborating on spicing up the food by making full use of the spice rack :)... I started because she encouraged me to enter a weight-loss contest, because the contest required you had to want to lose at least 60 lbs and she's not that big. I entered and they picked me, so now I HAD to do it :) I'm down from 241 on 1/22 to 159 on 7/13 (maxed out at 87lbs lost at about 5 months) and my doctor's already told me twice now that if I shared my secret he wouldn't have any business. Not only are we digging WAY back into the closet (nope, couldn't find those parachute pants from the 80s, must have sold them!) and can do ANYTHING we want physically (when was the last time you bent over at the waist to tie your shoes without coming back up red in the face!?) and both look like we did when we married 26 yrs ago, but the blood work is all back in the normal range. I had gone from annual checkups to every 6 months because my blood sugar and cholesterol were borderline high (read: pre-diabetic) but my numbers are all back in the normal ranges (or better!) after 5 months on the S4L plan. 4 months of weight-loss and just finished week 6 of 'stabilization' and entering 'maintenance', and my triglycerides went from 197 to 67, good cholesterol went from very low to back up in the 'good' range, bad cholesterol & total cholesterol are way down. Blood sugar went from borderline diabetic to the middle of the normal range. AND we won the contest because the plan works so well and so quickly!!! I've got 2 family members doing the same thing or a modified version per doctor's orders, and they're both down substantially as well. 2-3 lbs of meat for 3 days for the 'quick start': I was in heaven... steak for breakfast, steak for lunch, steak for dinner, with green veggies, oranges, and the "pop rocks" (caffeine / sugar substitute, kept me from having ANY caffeine headaches even though I went cold-turkey from 100+ oz per day of Arnold Palmer and/or diet Cokes to zero) thrown in for good measure, and I feel like I'm 18 instead of 53. Back to my high school weight, and back to my high school levels of energy. No more snoring, no more foot pain, EVERYTHING just works better now. Granted, maybe not everyone can make the S4L plan work but I'm here to say it's the easiest thing I've ever done, bar none. In my case it was definitely a "God-thing" because my will-power muscle hadn't been exercised in decades, and with the supplements, tasty snack bars & drinks, ability to cook & flavor our own food, and fairly wide variety of stuff to choose from, the cravings I used to have for "junk" (chips, ice cream, cookies, chocolate, pizza(!!!), cheese...) have virtually disappeared and I love having those 2-3 fruits and 4 veggies per day now. Yes, it can be pricey, but what price do you put on your health, being around to see (and play with!) your grandkids, etc? Full disclosure: I am NOT an employee or investor in S4L, although I must admit that halfway through my weightloss I did inquire as to whether it's a publicly traded company! I am just one happy camper and could not possibly be more pleased with the counselors' knowledge and the way the plan simplifies the way we eat. To top it all off, we are saving TIME & MONEY now because we meal-prep most of the time instead of eating out, and we are buying fresh, non-processed foods for the most part and able to get most of it when it goes on sale. If you try S4L and actually STICK TO THE PLAN, you will lose as much as you want to lose. It just takes a long obedience in the same direction, and anyone can do it given the right tools & knowledge.
I did Slim4Life for 7 months and lost 55 lbs., however, at a cost of thousands and I mean thousands of dollars. Their ads are deceiving on the cost. I was hungry all the time. I hate vegetables and it was all I could do to choke down 2lbs of ground beef PER DAY and all the vegetables I could eat the first week. After losing the weight, I told them I wanted to wean off their very expensive products to no avail. They kept shoving them at me. I have gained 25 of it back. Their products work, but the cost is horrendous.
Which ones of their products are helping you lose weight?
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