HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Slim Fast Drinks

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted Today 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everybody,

I was wondering if anyone has or does use Slim Fast drinks as a way of helping to losing weight? My other question is are they safe for UC users?

Thanks

Posted 11/30/2008 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Slim fast is designed to "run" right through you, and not likely good for IBD or IBSers... I would find a healthier method than that to lose weight, good old diet, portion control and exercise.

:)
Posted 11/30/2008 9:28 AM (GMT 0)
Um, actually, slim fast is reasonably well balanced for nutrients. I was using it as a diet supplement having lost so much weight from a major flare, and suffered no ill effects from it at all.
Posted 11/30/2008 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
I used to drink the stuff by the gallon, years before I was diagnosed. I thought it was pretty high in sugar, no? I know the ingredient list is huge, lots of chemicall-y stuff. I'd personally use Ensure- just swap out a couple meals for a couple Ensure's. Plus, I remember making my Slim-Fast shakes with milk, which can be troublesome. Most Ensure is lactose free, dairy free.

Posted 11/30/2008 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
If you can tolerate milk products...I'd suggest you use them between meals rather than instead of a meal. When your metabolism is reved up from eating more protein, that'll help you lose weight.

Eating more of the good stuff will also help (as well as exercise...do walking).

quincy
Posted 11/30/2008 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had been making slim fast shakes when I was on a liquid diet. I would use the powder and mix it w/ yogurt/bananna/soy milk etc. Recently I went to buy some and all they had was this "ultra" kind. The "ultra" made me super sick. But I used to drink the regular all the time w/ no problems. I was drinking it to maintain my weight rather than lose weight.

Pb4 - its not made to run right through you. That would defeat the purpose. It is supposed to fill you up and keep you fill w/ minimal calories but lots of nutrients.
Posted 12/28/2008 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
I DRINK PROTIEN SHAKE DAILY FOR BREAKFAST MADE WITH RICE MILK... GIVES ME ENERGY FOR THE DAY, PLUS ALLOWS ME LESS CONSUMTION IN THE MORNINGS.. I FIND IT HELPS ME KEEP MY WEIGHT DOWN  :)  PLUS I BUY CAPPUCINO FLAVOR SO IT IS DELICOUS...WITH VITAMINS... I FIND ITS IMPORTANT TO ENJOY LIFE :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29 YEARS OLD
UC SINCE 19
6 PILLS OF ASACOL DAILY (SORRY DONT KNOW MGS)
FOLIC ACID
FISH OIL DAILY
FLARE UP ONCE A YEAR DURING AUGUST, LASTS about TWO MONTHS WHICH I NEED TO TAKE PREDNISONE, HAIR FALLS OUT AROUND WINTER  LOL ( PRESENTLY IN THAT STAGE).
HAVE A WONDERFUL BOYFRIEND FOR THREE YEARS WHO IS VERY SUPPORTIVE
PLANNING ON GETTING PREGNANT :)

Posted 12/28/2008 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with PB4, the best way to loose weight is a healthy diet and exercise. Pumping a body full of chemicals is not what is needed to heal and not what nature intended for humans to consume.
Posted 12/28/2008 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Sunshine I think the first question to ask is are you really overweight? Not that I doubt you, I just want to find the measure of the situation here. Like is it 20 pounds that you are concerned about, or is it 150 lbs? Are you looking for short term or long term weight loss and how hard are you willing to work?
Posted 12/29/2008 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Well my sister has IBS and she drank slim fast and it "ran" right through her so take your own risks.

:)
Posted 12/29/2008 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
     Slim fast ran right thru me too when I wasn't even flaring!
Posted 12/29/2008 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Geez, I'm drinking shakes to help me keep weight on...
Posted 12/29/2008 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad this topic was started...I had been contemplating a Slim Fast diet as I have gained so much weight with the prednisone! However, I was very scared b/c of all the chemicals and diet suppliments. I like the idea of the protein shake in the mornings...I too use rice milk, so I may have to swap that thought and go for the shakes! Yum!!!

: ) Robin
Posted 12/29/2008 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
personally I think HMR (Health Management Resourses) is a safer Doc approve option. But it is about 18 bucks for the dry shake container.
Posted 1/4/2009 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
I remember a while back, someone mentioned Muscle Milk in the supermarket so I bought a small package of premixed stuff. It tasted "ok" and I never had any issue because it was lactose free. Unfortunately the package I bought was pretty expired so I'm going to exchange it and try again. I'll give it a good long try and see what happens. I'm not overweight. I'm actually at a good weight that I like. I had to work hard to gain this weight back after a serious flareup last year.
Posted 1/4/2009 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
The "ultra" slimfast (and generic) drinks have some fake sugars in them. Yuck. Tried it (only a few sips) and didn't like the results - tummy aches!

I use the Carnation Instant Breakfasts when I feel like I need to supplement my diets - especially when I am doing a low residue diet and feel I need better nutrients/vitamins. I have in the past kept the regular slim fast premixed drinks at work for when I was too nauseated to keep solid food down.

I found when I was on pred, my main source of weight gain was forgetting about portion control. The pred made me so hungry that I just ate and ate and ate. So after I was off, I would make sure to watch my portion sizes and then make sure I was eating a well balanced diet. Within a couple of months, the extra water weight and extra calorie weight was gone.

Good luck.
Posted 1/4/2009 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Robinbyrd, as you taper off the pred did you loose the weight accordingly or is it taking long to get the weight off?
Posted 1/4/2009 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
Losing pred weight varies from person to person and even from one time to the next for the same patient, sometimes the pred weight will come off easier/quicker than other times that you're on it and sometimes you may not even gain any weight from it...it really can be a fickle drug.


:)
Posted 10/6/2015 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have recently been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and I am currently having a minor flare up that just won't go away. I have been eating a lot of Activia yogurt, toast, rice, bananas, water, and kombucha teas, which has been helping but i cannot seem to kick this on my own. Talking with doctor about using steroids, but I was considering trying a liquid diet before that to see if it helps. I am wondering if it can be helpful to use SlimFast or Ensure meal replacement drinks to help the healing process. Any suggestions/tips?
Posted 10/6/2015 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't delay on the steroids, flares get progressively worse the longer you wait.

I drank too ensure when flaring badly. It's a lot of calories and nutrients in an easier to consume format (food sat heavy in my gut causing discomfort). It does have a lot of junk (non natural ingredients and fillers) in it though. You need to consume calories one way or another... Otherwise rapid weight loss accelerates during flare.
Posted 10/6/2015 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I saw in another thread you were taking 2400 mgs of Asacol. You should really up that to 4800mgs while flaring and only go down to 2400 when in remission. You should also take rectal meds since you have Proctitus, because Asacol will not reach down in the Proctitus area. In doing this you may be able to avoid steroids but you can't afford to let your condition get worse by playing around and experimenting too long. Once colon damage occurs it gets harder and harder to treat so you want to cut it off at the pass before that happens.

UC is an autoimmune disease so it is not a question of healing your colon and then you're done. Even when your colon is completely "healed" your immune system will continue attacking it. That's why it is a chronic disease. Store bought yogurt and meal replacement drinks often come with added ingredients that can make your UC worse. Certain breads and bananas can make some worse, as well as kombucha teas, unless you know for sure that they help you. Everyone is different when it comes to foods.
Posted 10/7/2015 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely do not recommend Slim Fast because of the fake ingredients. It made me pretty sick the last time I tried it.

You'd be better off with a bland, low residue diet. And consider whether what you're eating now could be problematic. Reading the words kombucha and Activia made me queasy and I'm not even flaring. But everyone is different as to what foods are ok. However, don't assume that healthy foods are the right choice when flaring. For example, I love beans and eat them often but won't touch them while flaring.
Posted 10/7/2015 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Definite no no on Slimfast and a no on Ensure. Both contain so many sugars and artificial flavors that it can cause havoc on the gut. At my weakest I tried Ensure, all it did for me is make me run to the bathroom double time.

As suggested above, do a bland diet - no raw fruits or veggies, fried or spicy foods, try to avoid caffeine and alcohol. Basically the white diet - fish, chicken, rice, potatoes etc. As well as sticking to whatever medicine you have been prescribed.
Posted 10/7/2015 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Liquid diets have always helped me in general. But I made my own until recently when I ran into the owner of this company and spoke with him at length.

www.n8kedbrands.com/products

Honestly, I cannot say enough about this product. It's very well made and more so well tolerated by my gut. Just want to make people aware it is out there. No sugar rush or sugar high or anything along those lines whatsoever.

One could use this in place of Slim Fast I'm sure. Alternatively one can use it as I do to maintain weight. It works amazing for this.
Posted 10/7/2015 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Junk junk junk junk. I wouldn't drink this stuff.

First of all, the ingredients aren't pure, and it's filled with sugar.

Instead, look for Orgain products -- they make a delicious and protein-packed shake for $3.00, 20g of protein + vitamins and minerals. Orgain as in Organic. I used to buy those daily for work and now get the large protein powder they offer.

For electrolytes, I would suggest pure Coconut water and water with lemon, honey and salt.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12