Can you really lose weight from replacing a meal with a bowl of Special K cereal? Or from consuming SlimFast for breakfast and lunch? Probably.
But the secret is, you will not lose weight because Special K or SlimFast have each discovered some secret weight loss formula.
There is no special weight-loss food or drink.
If you do lose weight it will because of one simple equation. Not good at math? Don’t worry. It’s simple.
Calories Burned > Calories Consumed = Weight Loss
Here is the one simple equation anyone interested in weight loss should know. When you burn more calories than you consume, you lose weight. Is it really that simple? Yes. No secrets, no special formulas, no chemicals required. Just the knowledge and implementation of that fact.
Burn more calories through exercise than calories you consume with food and you will lose weight.
Special K as a Meal Replacement
The Special K diet is simply about about eating less than you normally would. With the Special K diet you accomplish this with meal replacement. The same kind of meal replacement touted by SlimFast.
If you replace any one meal a day with a meal or meal replacement that is 200 calories or less you will most likely lose weight.
Chances are your typical lunch or dinner has at least twice as many calories than 200.
So of course, replacing a higher calorie meal with a lower calorie meal over a course of time will result in weight loss. As long as you exercise and don’t eat extra snacks.
There is nothing special about Special K except their savvy marketing campaign. Nutritionally, Special K is okay, but not the best option in thecereal aisle.
A much better choice than Special K is Whole Wheat Total.
A one cup serving of regular Special K cereal is 117 calories. They advise adding 2/3 cup of skim milk, which is not even a full serving of milk. One cup of skim milk is 83 calories.
3/5 cup of Total has 100% of many major vitamins and minerals.
SlimFast as a Meal Replacement
SlimFast does provide vitamins and minerals, but it also acts like a diuretic and makes you even hungrier with an hour to two hours after it is consumed. One can of SlimFast (milk chocolate) is 190 calories. It also contains 18 grams of sugar.
The new SlimFast Optima claims to curb hunger for up to four hours. The SlimFast Optima diet “encourages healthy eating habits such as eating more fruits and vegetables.” You don’t need to purchase or consume SlimFast to make that sensible diet change.
200 Calories
There are other 200 calorie portions of food you could substitute any meal with, if you were so inclined. Some are healthy choices, others are not.
Wondering what other portions of 200 calories looks like?
The web site Wise Geek has complied visual guide to 200 calories. Some of the healthier selections include about 20 ounces (588 grams of broccoli, 50 ounces of celery, and 11 and a half grams of Kiwi fruit.
Other not so healthy 200 calorie portions range from 4 Tootsie Pops, 1.4 ounces of M&Ms;, and a little over one ounce of bacon.
The bottom line is, Special K and SlimFast are simply meal replacements. By following a healthy diet, exercising, and burning more calories than you consume, you can control your weight.
If you want to try meal replacement, you could replace breakfast or lunch with any other 200 calorie meal, like the vegetables listed above, or a bowl of multi-grain cheerios with skim milk.
There is nothing special about Special K or optimum about SlimFast.
