Slim-Fast - I'd Rather Fast!
Written: Aug 18 '01 (Updated Jan 19 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Tastes good and has vitamins.
Cons: The sugar content is too high.
The Bottom Line: I can't recommend this product because the sugar content is too high but because it is one of the best of the Slim-Fast line I will give it 3 stars.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Ultra Slim Fast Powders |
It is time for me to write my last Slim-Fast product ever.(I have one more but it isn't listed.) Although I may have once said I would never do Atkins again, you may find me munching on lobster 3 times next week. You will not, I promise, ever find me attempting to lose weight with these products. Again, I must review the product, not the diet, so here it is.
I am reviewing Ultra Slim-Fast Milk Chocolate Powder. There are many flavors from which to choose: including: Chocolate Royale, French Vanilla, Strawberry Supreme, Chocolate Malt, and Chocolate Fudge. I chose the Milk Chocolate because I love chocolate, but based on my reviews of other Slim-Fast products it isn’t the chocolate that is adding the sugar. They are all loaded with sugar.
This 13.96-ounce canister cost me $5.99. There are 12 servings per canister making them about $.50 per drink. The cost to buy the powder is significantly (50% at least) less than the drink in a can, but not as convenient. These you have to make rather than just grab from your refrigerator.
•The shakes, though, are very easy to make and don’t require a blender. The directions say to shake and I was leery of that because many products I have found that say to shake really do need a blender. You put 1 scoop (and the scoop comes inside) into 8-ounces of fat free milk and shake it.
•They suggest putting ice and milk in a blender and blend then adding the powder for a “super cold, thick shake.” I tried this once because the shake above was thin and I thought perhaps these directions would make it thick, thus making it last longer. It really doesn’t. It may be slightly thicker, but the fact is, in my opinion, this is like drinking chocolate milk. You can drink it in a few gulps and if you are lucky enough to be full, you are very lucky. I am not full at all. I would suggest drinking 8 ounces of water before and after the shake to feel full.
The canister claims that the powder (which is artificially flavored – they don’t hide the fact- it is right under the words Milk Chocolate) has 24 vitamins and minerals is high in calcium and 99% fat free (as prepared). They say that because you are told to use fat free milk. If you don’t it won’t be 99% fat free.
•In order to lose weight you are told to replace 2 shakes a day and have a sensible dinner. You should exercise 30-60 minutes each day, drink plenty of water, have 2 fruits a day and one snack bar.
The website www.slimfast.com is excellent and I would highly recommend you look at that if you are on this plan or thinking about it. They tell you that you should be eating (shakes, 2 fruits, sensible dinner and one snack) 1200 – 1500 calories per day.
•With exercise, no matter what you eat, if your intake of calories is 1200 – 1500 calories a day, you will lose weight unless you are already so thin you shouldn’t be losing weight. Sorry, I am not reviewing the diet. I am just showing you that you can eat anything that will give you 210 calories 2 times a day and it can be a lot healthier than this shake. This product does have vitamins so take a multi-vitamin to make sure you are getting what you need if you decide to supplement your dinner with 2 low-calorie meals. Remember you should be eating at least 1200 calories per day!
From their website:
Serving Size 1 Scoop 1/3 Cup (33g)
Servings Per Container About 12
Amount Per Serving Shake Mix with 8 fl oz
Fat-Free Milk
Calories (Energy) 120 210
Calories From Fat 15 20
% Daily Value**
Total Fat 1.5g* 2% 3%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 3% 4%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 5mg 2% 3%
Sodium 140mg 6% 11%
Potassium 200mg 6% 17%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 7% 11%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20% 20%
Sugars 13g
Protein 5g 10% 27%
Vitamin A 15% 25%
Vitamin C 45% 50%
Calcium 20% 50%
Iron 35% 35%
Vitamin D 25% 50%
Vitamin E 100% 100%
Vitamin K 25% 25%
Thiamin 30% 35%
Riboflavin 10% 30%
Niacin 50% 50%
Vitamin B6 30% 35%
Folate 25% 30%
Vitamin B12 35% 50%
Biotin 50% 50%
Pantothenic Acid 40% 50%
Phosphorus 10% 35%
Iodine 10% 35%
Magnesium 25% 30%
Zinc 30% 35%
Selenium 25% 25%
Copper 10% 10%
Manganese 35% 35%
Chromium 35% 35%
Molybdenum 35% 35%
*Amount in Mix
**Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Your daily values may be higher or lower depending
on your calorie needs.
You can see their claims are accurate. It is low in fat (with fat-free milk); high in calcium (with milk) and does have a good percentage of vitamins and minerals. Just for your information, comparing the powder to the shake you would see very similar amounts. The powder has more of some vitamins than the can and vice versa. The powder has a little less fat than the can. In addition, the powder has fewer carbohydrates and less sugar than the can. It also has less protein but only by 5 grams. If the choice was the powder or the can, the powder appears to be a little bit healthier overall.
•I am not a nutritionist or a dietician or doctor so if you are "under 18, pregnant, nursing, following a diet recommended by a doctor, have health problems or want to lose more than 30 pounds, see a doctor before starting the Slim•Fast Plan or any diet. Do not lose more than two pounds per week after the first week. Rapid weight loss may cause health problems. Also, do not use Slim•Fast as a sole source of nutrition and eat at least 1,200 calories per day." (from the website)
The other ingredients are: fructose, maltodextrin, cocoa, dextrose, soy protein, gum arabic, sweet dairy whey, cellulose gel, milk protein concentrate, soy fiber, sugar, soybean lecithin, corn starch, artificial flavor, aspartame and may contain traces of wheat.
•Ounce for ounce, of all the Slim-Fast products I have reviewed (and I believe this is #6) the Ultra Slim-Fast Powder has the least sugar other than the juice-based powder which I’m not including because it made me sick so I couldn’t drink it.
This product does taste very good and if you can stay with 2 shakes a day, one sensible dinner, 2 fruits and one snack, you should lose weight and get your sugar fix at the same time. For some, the sugar will trigger a reaction, but you will have to test that out for yourself.
•I can’t recommend this product because I don’t think it is a healthy way to lose weight. I think your sugar consumption is much too high to call this nutrition in spite of the vitamins.
•The exchange from the American Diabetes Association is 1 1/2 carbohydrates and 1 fat-free milk.
•There is an expiration date on the bottom of the canister.
If you have any questions about this product feel free to e-mail me or visit the website which is very helpful.
Other Slim-Fast reviews you might be interested in are:
Ultra Slim Fast Powders
Slim-Fast Meal on The Go Bar
Slim-Fast Breakfast and Lunch Bars
Slim-Fast Shakes
Slim-Fast Juice Based Shake Mix
Slim-Fast Juice Based Shakes
Recommended:
No
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