Back on the wagon...

[Lisa0825]

Over the course of last year, I lost 30 pounds and kept off 20 of it. Now I am getting serious again.

A friend was doing some meal replacement shakes and started selling them (dreaded MLM). I asked her to tell me HONESTLY if they tasted good, because I have wasted a lot of money in the past on various brands at GNC that tasted like liquid cardboard. She said she really liked the flavor and they had a $ back guarantee if I didn't.

The brand is Visalus, and I actually REALLY like them. They come in a base flavor called "sweet cream" and you can add flavorings if you want. I drink them plain. The mix smells just like cake mix.

Now if you go and google Visalus, 99% of what you get will be MLM marketing. I told my friend I wanted a diet, not a job, so she isn't pushing it on me.

It is really, REALLY hard to find any info other than marketing out there for them, but here is one link I did find, in case anyone is interested.

http://www.mealreplacementshakereviews.com/visalus-vi-shape-shake-review/?gclid=CMiaj_HAxK0CFQR5hwodVwOn_g

I did lose 3 pounds on the first full week, which is good. I don't think this is a wonder shake by any means; but it tastes good and is convenient for me for breakfast and lunch at work.

[auntAgonist]

1. Congratulations on keeping off 20lbs. I'm curious

to know how you lost the 30 in one year. Whatever you were doing seems to have worked and I'm wondering why and for what benefit you'd replace 2 meals a day with a shake.

I couldn't find any nutrition info on the visalus shakes but I'll keep looking.


aA


edited to add this link. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/nutrition-facts-calories/visalus

[Lisa0825]

2. I like to change up my routines when I get stuck.

I have been on and off meal replacement programs. There are good nutritious ones out there, and it helps me to keep on track by preventing me from going for convenience foods, vending machines, fast food, etc. I get more calcium and more fiber when I do shakes than when I bring food from home for breakfast and lunch. Also, I feel it gives me a little more freedom and flexibility for dinner. I don't feel as compelled to count calories on the ingredients in a recipe for dinner when I know exactly what I had for half the day.

The shakes taste good, have a good nutrition profile, and they are easy and convenient, so to me, it is more like, "why not?" rater than "why"?

When I lost the 30 pounds, I was meticulously logging calories, fat, carbs, protein, and servings of fruits and vegetables. I was also exercising very consistently. Then I had a bad cold, and then a minor injury, and stopped working out for a while. I continued being very good on my eating plan. I lost about 15 pounds, and then hit a plateau for about 4 months. I found out that my thyroid levels (which had been stable for 15 years) were low again, so I started on synthroid. After about 6 weeks on synthroid, I finally started to lose again. Once I got to 30 pounds, the progress leveled off, and I started to get bored with the plan.

I started trying to just watch portions but eat what I wanted, but I wasn't making any progress. But I was so sick of salads and sick of counting, that I dreaded going back on plan. I needed a break, and then I needed a change, so here I am.

I plan to do the shakes for about 3 months. Then I might still have them for breakfast, but go back on "real food" for lunch.