So, I gained some weight over C19 and I’m losing it slowly now since I walk an average of 5-6 miles a day, but I’d like it to go quicker. (rn I’m about 230lbs and I want to move down to 170. I was 180 before lockdown. I am 6’3, for height)
Do you guys know if it’s possible to go 100% on meal substitutes? For example, Huel.
I also have a friend/potentially more than friend moving over to the UK in January, so that’s the impetus to try and move faster than losing it slowly via lots of walking and my normal diet.
With Huel and similar, yes. Because they’re not meal substitutes as such. They’re actual meals. Food.
Huel don’t actually recommend that though. But I’ve been thriving with these things making up 75% of my diet for well over two years. I’m no longer anaemic (iron deficient) thanks to these.
Now I’m not a big eater, and don’t have a varied appetite, among other struggles, so this change to my diet was absolutely for the best, and easy for me to make. But that definitely won’t be the case for everyone.
Personally I never got on with them too well. The taste and texture just wasn’t palatable enough to completely consume for me.
I get on much better with Yfood (lactose free milk) and Saturo (soy). Soylent was alright when they had a stint in the U.K., but they had too many off batches for me, that were reminiscent of the same issues I had with Huel.
I think you won’t stick to something that isn’t good, but as mentioned a by @anon62610374, they’re meal’s. Not a SlimFast Shake diet that tastes like arse. I had one earlier, they taste real good.
I am also very energy deprived thanks to my general mental state / some stuff that I’m waiting on help with from NHS, so something as easy as a shake is superior to food I have to cook and even easier than walking outside to collect a takeaway.
Tl;dr I don’t have the food to binge nearby and I don’t have the energy to get it
My two penn’orth… there are loads of things that might get some quick results, but most of them aren’t sustainable. IMHO, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is simple calorie counting - track what you eat and try to stick to a daily calorie limit. That limit depends on a number of factors but, in simple terms, every 500 calories per day that you cut equates to a pound lost each week. If an average man needs 2,500 calories to maintain their weight, then 1,500 a day would lead to a 2lb weekly weight loss, which is considered a safe, sustainable amount.
Don’t be tempted to go below around 1,200 calories - once your daily allowance gets that low, adjust your weight loss goal to 1.5lbs/week. Later, you can adjust to 1lb/week as you get nearer your goal weight.
I’ve been doing this since January and have lost 5st. In general, I’ve been eating much healthier. That said, I’ll still have the odd burger or dessert - personally, I find that depriving yourself completely of certain foods just leads to failure.