The Milkshake Diet: Too good to be true?

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Nov 8th 2007 9:35AM

Last week I told you about some crazy diet ideas, including the burrito diet. Here's another seemingly crazy diet idea: The milkshake diet. Um, yeah. It's called Slim Fast. But no, these are real milkshakes, the kind with tons of calories. Congressman Chris Cannon swears by it, according to this article.

Seriously. Cannon claims to have lost a lot of weight from drinking milkshakes. Here's why: the milkshake kept him full for long periods of time, longer than any other quick snack would. He got the idea from a book called The Ice Cream Diet, which formulated a weight-loss plan that allowed for a daily indulgence of ice cream. For Cannon, it works because his busy schedule includes lots of travel, and he needs something he can rely on to provide energy when he's in a rush.

I can see the logic here -- milkshakes and ice cream can fill me up too -- but they don't seem to be the healthiest meal alternative. If you're thinking of following a milkshake diet, I would suggest relying on smoothies instead -- at least then you can get some fruits and veggies in. What do you think?

Wacky diet ideas -- do they work?(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Source

Comments (30)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ray 11-08-2007 @ 4:26PM

Milkshake diets are just a variation on liquid diets. Liquid diets can be very good for your health, high in water which your body craves (satisfied biological cravings=lower appetite).

What has worked best for me recently is targetted dieting which is finding my worst habit and making it healthy. For me ti was cereals. I have always eaten raisin bran and I simply replaced this two bowl a day habit with Total and sliced apples.

It cost more and is more work to slic up an apple and shop for good crisp apples but this one change has made a tremendous difference for me. the other half of the equation was doing 60 minutes per day on the exercise bike. 15 lbs in three weeks so far with 15 to go. Very simple changes work best. Make a calendar and log your time on the bike and stick to it.

Try it and you WILL see an immediate improvement! of course you still also have to say no to candy cake and all that obvious ways to circumvent any weight loss diet plan.

zeroteque 11-08-2007 @ 4:30PM

While I love smoothies, and would agree that they are, perhaps, better suited for the task . . . milkshakes certainly ARE tempting.

I wouldn't do it, though. I'm too health conscious for something so risky.

Janet 11-10-2007 @ 7:22AM

If you use No Sugar Added ice cream, and skim or 2% milk, a 'Milkshake Diet' could actually work!

John F.C. Taylor 11-10-2007 @ 7:42AM

Smoothies? I don't think they would be half as filling as a milkshake. As for healthy, you can add fibre suppliments for bulk and take a vitamin suppliment.

Rudy 11-10-2007 @ 7:50AM

Yes, these shakes work if they are low calorie and that's all you ingest all day. But when you've lost the weight and go back to your normal eating pattern the weight is regained. In my experience and those in the weight loss support group over 95% of all particapants regain the weight they lost even with behavior modification training. At present, the only solution for real long-term weight loss for the significant obesity is gastic bypass surgery.

Timmay 11-10-2007 @ 7:58AM

What?

Chakrahealer7 11-10-2007 @ 8:42AM

I lost 90 pounds and kept it off 2 years using daily exercise and good nutrition taught to me by a licensed, educated nutritionist. My daughter lost nearly 50 and has kept it off.

I suggest we STOP looking at "fad" and "quick" diets and get back to healthy, nutitious food

suzanne 11-10-2007 @ 8:43AM

STILL WAITNG FOR THE CHOCOLATE DIET !

donna 11-10-2007 @ 8:48AM

My sis started a progam at a hospital called HMR. It uses shakes as a meal replacement - these are high in protein and vitamins, lo-cal, lo-fat. The program also includes entrees and veggies in controlled portions. Nutritious but also very tasty. She has lost 30 lbs so far and can keep doing it due to ease of use, variety, flavor, success. Most participants can maintain after participation whereas regular milkshakes may keep you from eating for awhile but will cause nutritional imbalance and fat storage.

carole 11-10-2007 @ 8:53AM

I use Kashi Go Lean Energy Shake Mix, for lunch and sometimes for breakfast, however I do not use two scoops of the mix, I do use Skim Milk, Fat Free, lots of Ice and of course I use chocolate!

carol 11-10-2007 @ 9:01AM

I could not eat any food due to a surgery and was liquid only diet for months. No nutrition in regular shakes. Carnation breakfast drink nutrients were closest to Boost and tasted much better. Added with a banana and peanut butter for a twist it was very filling and I did loose weight.

Gail Galin 11-10-2007 @ 9:02AM

6. I am a nutritionist and have to say, you can always make a smoothie into a delicious chocolate shake! I had one a day for lunch to lose the 30 to 50 lb I gained from having three babies. 1% milk, (Nestly Quick's)no added sugar chocolate powder with added calcium, 1 packet splenda, 1/4 cup frozen blueberry, 1/2 banana, 1T ground flax, crushed ice and whip... If you want it more chocolaty, you can add real cocoa, 1T has 20 cal. Hershey's light syrup has 50 cal. for 2T. Or if your in a hurry you can open a can of Slim Fast or any brand you like and add some fruit. If you incorporate exercise into your life style and eat in moderation you can keep your weight off! I don't believe in bypass surgery, I'm not sure what group or study your talking about but 95% of people who lose weight thru having nutritious shakes do not gain the weight back. To stay at a healthy weight you can always use this as a tool to stay there. We are talking about average healthy people who have let themselves go for whatever reason. If your talking about morbid obesity they have many more issues and would be delt with by profesionals who would never put them on shakes to begin with. Hope this helps those who are trying to lose those extra pounds that seem to creep up on us, like age...

carol 11-10-2007 @ 9:05AM

I use 1 scoop of Slim-fast's Vanilla flavored powder shake mix and then add fat free milk along with frozen strawberries and a banana. Tastes great and is creamy like a milk shake. YUM

Charles 11-10-2007 @ 9:09AM

I was on a diet similar to this when I had my Jaw wired shut from TMJ surgery. Was honestly the healthiest I had ever been. I lost around 40 pounds over a few months. Actually when I returned to eating regular things I put on weight like crazy due to eating more. If I substituted a milkshake for breakfast and dinner I found that I ate a much smaller lunch. Or any other variation. Really was probably the healthiest and fittest I have ever been. Funny to see this now because I have actually been trying this again. Lost around 15 pounds so far drinking them and eating soups and other things to get veggies.

Its no fad at all....to be honest if you watch it and actually follow it you will find you have more energy and your body will change.

qpowell 11-10-2007 @ 9:07AM

Milk shakes are calcium

Georgie 11-10-2007 @ 10:00AM

I agre with the milkshake diet. In my early twenties I worked a lot and had school so there was very little time for cooking healthy meals. I drank a Milshake from McDonalds in the morning and then another one mid-day as they are made with yogurt. Then in order to get the other nutrition I needed i took vitamin supplements and at diiner it was all about portion control and I never ate after 6:00pm. I also walked every day for at least one hour and I would park farther away in shopping lot's, take the stairs instead of the elevator etc and I went from 210lbs to 155 in about 9/10months. I also drank PLENTY of H2O!!!!! Every body is different so what may work for one person may not work for another but if nothing else a good brisk walk and drinking plenty of water is a step in the right direction and you will seee a difference....and I only had breads, candy etc on a very limited basis and NO BEER, LOL GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!

Colorado person 11-10-2007 @ 11:33AM

didn't ben or jerry need triple bypass surgury from eating Ice cream?
Also one of the founders of 31 flavors I'm pretty sure died of a heart attack. I don't think you can eat ice cream dailey. but I'm no expert.

Michelle 11-10-2007 @ 1:09PM

When I had to drop weight to get into the Army years ago (hey, I was 19 and drinking too much beer at the time, what can I say?) I used Carnation Instant Breakfast for breakfast, a snack during my work day and lunch, then had lean meat and veggies for dinner, along with a LOT of exercise for dessert. Worked great, and every time I get into the "yellow zone" I do the same thing. Keep the stuff in a thermos and sip as needed so you don't get too hungry then overeat. I'm sure the milkshake diet, which is actually supported by the fact that people who consume dairy products DO lose weight faster than those who don't, very well could work for many people. Smoothies have just as much sugar, but are not satisfying for any length of time...at least not for me...but to each his own. As my life motto goes, "Whatever Works!"

Michelle, RN

Shannon 11-10-2007 @ 1:16PM

Of course you can lose weight drinking milkshakes. You can also lose weight eating McDonald's and chocolate cake. The only thing that matters in weight loss is that you expend more calories than you take in. It doesn't matter what you're eating. Of course, if you eat nothing but junk food, you'll wind up with a vitamin deficiency. But as long as you eat under your allotted calories for the day, you'll still drop pounds.

William 11-10-2007 @ 1:42PM

This is ridiculous. To all of you that think there is some magical diet out there that will cure all your ails, wake up! First off a diet like this you are essentially starving yourself. You may lose wieght, but you are losing muscle and essential carbs, you are not losing fat. Then when you go off the diet and the wieght comes back, you wonder why? Because you have destroyed your metabolism and put on more fat wieght, because with the lack of carbs the body has consumed its own muscle and essential carbs. The metabolism is just like a muscle in the sense you need to keep it in shape. That means eating 6-8 meals a day, breakfast being the most important, and it should also be the biggest meal. Then taper down as you go, something small between breakfast and lunch, moderate lunch, something between lunch and dinner, and a moderate to small dinner, as well as always eating after a workout. These stupid fancy diet plans do not work, and they are unhealthy. and these people are getting rich off of peoples lack of knowledge. Nutrition is honestly a royal pain sometimes, but what is the cost of your health? Stay smart people and don't swallow crap like this. Oh yeah, don't forget ya got to exercise too. :)

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments