Slim Fast: Slim Fast Diet - How Effective?

Losing weight is a matter of burning more calories than you eat. Many diets, like the slim fast diet, follow this general principle -- having a dieter eat less than they normally burn. Let's take a look at this diet to see just how effective it can be.

Before determining the general effectiveness of this diet let's take a look at just how this diet works. Basically it relies on replacing two meals a day with the nutrition shake -- in this case the slim fast shake. The dieter can eat a sensible dinner, and can also eat two pieces of fruit and the slim fast nutrition bar as snacks. In general the plan averages about 1200 calories a day. This is about 500 less than the average female diet and 1000 less than the average male diet. Add exercise and you're sure to lose weight on this diet.

This type of diet is easy to use, that's important. When people can easily follow and easily maintain a diet they're most likely to have success with it. This diet also tells people to drink 6 to 8 cups of water a day - that's a good thing.

One great problem with the slim fast diet is that it is difficult to get needed vitamins, minerals and other nutrients necessary for healthy living. Most of these are found in the average foods that people eat, but not all are found in the slim fast shake or nutrition bars. It's also very easy on this diet, and something that many people have done, to cut out that sensible meal. They want to lose weight even faster. But this is a great danger, because cutting calories to that extent is not healthy. In addition, as already stated, the shakes alone do not provide many of the elements needed in a healthy diet.

Some people have found success with a modified slim fast diet. This is something like eating two normal meals a day and replacing only one with the slim fast shake. That can be very effective, especially if the replaced meal is lunch, which many working people often eat at fast food restaurants.

Like any diet, the this diet can work, but it must be followed with caution. Use common sense.