Has anybody out there tried the NUPO diet?

somegirl2009

The nupo diet is available in Sam Macaulay chemists, if you don't know it consists of shakes, soups and bars(meal replacements) there are different ways of doing it but the one im doing i can have 6 shakes a day, or i can replace one of those with a meal replacement bar.this is a very low calorie diet however all the vitamins , nutrients ect that the body needs is in the shakes.

just wondering if there is anyone out there who has tried this and has any advice to give. or just let me know how you got on and did you get results?

the groutch

avoid diets like these like the plague.
they are incredibly low calorie (usually under 1,000 per day), and although you will lose some weight, it will slow down your metabolism to a crawl and you'll stop losing weight, and as soon as you stop the diet you'll regain all the weight and more.

somegirl2009

i know i am aware of this, however i am just using this diet as a kind of kick start back into losing weight again

Mellor

somegirl2009 wrote: »

.this is a very low calorie diet however all the vitamins , nutrients ect that the body needs is in the shakes.

I know thats what the website says, but its contradiction. The nutrients your body needs includes protein, carbs, fat and by extension calories. The whole premise of weight loss works under under cutting slightly.

The shakes are 115 cals or so each. 115 x 6 is 690. Unless you're tiny, then thats far too little. Your body doesn't need "kickstarting". There's no benefit to that approach. And its kind of mentality that leans to yo-yo dieting. See "losing weight again".


As for the products themselves. It's basically protein powder, some carbs and a multi vitamin. 40% protein, 37% carbs (18% sugar)
And that protein is pretty low quality too. The cost is ridiculous also.
They are 20 euro for 12 servings of protein powder. And works out at over 50 euro/kilo. That's about triple the price of a similar product sold in a large bag.

I don't have an issue with meal replacement shakes when they are used properly. But the above is not even close to getting ti right.
So, the approach is crap, VLCD are crap, and the product is crap.
Easy decision tbh.

runawaybishop

You'd be better off using an app or a website to track what you are eating and adjust that. Dropping your calories from maintenance to say 10% under and work from there is a lot more sustainable than chronically undereating. You'll just be tired, emotional and probably throw all the weight back on again.

dolly2012

I am starting nupo tmrw.? Did u have any luck how did you get on?

somegirl2009

dolly2012 wrote: »

I am starting nupo tmrw.? Did u have any luck how did you get on?

I got on great after, best of luck with it. I drank the 6 shakes a day but replaced 1 shake most days with the meal replacement bar as its nice to actually chew food when all your doing is drinking lol. but i actually felt quite full i enjoyed the drinks and i defiantly lost weight over the 2 weeks.

then at the weekend after the 2 weeks i was away and hand no nupo. I then stopped doing it saying that i would start my own diet 1200 calories per day which has not worked for me. so looks like im going to be starting nupo tomorrow aswell hopefully it really does work. it just takes determination i suppose. and also the money side of it i find you can actually save money it costs 10 euro per day but if i add up the money i spend on food a day it can be a lot more than that..

let me know how you get on

Stench Blossoms

somegirl2009 wrote: »

it really does work. it just takes determination i suppose.

Oh it works does it? Anything you have to go 'back' to isn't something that works IMO.

What are your thoughts on living on shakes for the rest of your life? Because as you said, eating 1200 isn't working for you. You already pointed out that you like 'chewing'.

These shakes are not sustainable in the long run and most people will lose weight when using them but the weight will come back when they start eating 'normally' again.

You are learning nothing about nutrition by having shakes.

Educate yourself on healthy eating.

somegirl2009

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Oh it works does it? Anything you have to go 'back' to isn't something that works IMO.

What are your thoughts on living on shakes for the rest of your life? Because as you said, eating 1200 isn't working for you. You already pointed out that you like 'chewing'.

These shakes are not sustainable in the long run and most people will lose weight when using them but the weight will come back when they start eating 'normally' again.

You are learning nothing about nutrition by having shakes.

Educate yourself on healthy eating.

Hi. i do actually agree with you and i know about healthy eating unfortunately for me i find it difficult to stay eating this way,

however i did not start this thread to argue with anyone, i started this thread to talk about nupo, which has been out for over 30 years to talk to people about it and so on. Not to argue. I know what you are saying and completely understand.

Stench Blossoms

somegirl2009 wrote: »

Hi. i do actually agree with you and i know about healthy eating unfortunately for me i find it difficult to stay eating this way,

Try find the root of this problem. Shakes will not help you find it.

somegirl2009 wrote: »

however i did not start this thread to argue with anyone, i started this thread to talk about nupo, which has been out for over 30 years to talk to people about it and so on. Not to argue. I know what you are saying and completely understand.

Who's arguing? I've just pointed out that it's not healthy or sustainable and you will more than likely put back on any weight that you lose.

Waste of time in my opinion.

Either address the root cause of your weight issue or be comfortable with who you are.

All the best.

somegirl2009

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Try find the root of this problem. Shakes will not help you find it.



Who's arguing? I've just pointed out that it's not healthy or sustainable and you will more than likely put back on any weight that you lose.

Waste of time in my opinion.

Either address the root cause of your weight issue or be comfortable with who you are.

All the best.

i agree with you.

Thanks

runawaybishop

somegirl2009 wrote: »

however i did not start this thread to argue with anyone, i started this thread to talk about nupo, which has been out for over 30 years to talk to people about it and so on. Not to argue. I know what you are saying and completely understand.

"Eat less food to lose weight" has been out for a lot more than 30 years and that's all that this is really. Eating too little is counter productive though and 1200 calories is a pretty small amount.

Heat_Wave

A few friends of mine have done the NUPO diet and in fairness to 'somegirl2009' it does work, temporarily. So if you have a wedding or a special occasion coming up soon and you need a 'quick fix' then judging by my friends results, I'd say go for it.

However 'Stench Blossoms' is also right because you will definitely put back on the weight, plus more.

My friends eat rabbit food now with no nutritional value whatsoever and they are constantly struggling to maintain/lose.

I on the other hand eat far more than 1200 calories a day and am never left feeling hungry or deprived.

Eat clean. Eat less. Moderation.

It's that simple.

runawaybishop

Heat_Wave wrote: »

it does work, temporarily.

That's not exactly a classic definition of working though :pac:

Heat_Wave

runawaybishop wrote: »

That's not exactly a classic definition of working though :pac:

It works because you do get results.

It lies because they don't last.

:pac:

somegirl2009

drinking the shakes alone per day i think its around 700 calorie intake! which i know is extremely low however it will create weight loss.... i agree with you all it may be very hard to sustain... there is no way you could drink this forever.. but for me it gave me the kick start i needed to loose weight

runawaybishop

somegirl2009 wrote: »

drinking the shakes alone per day i think its around 700 calorie intake! which i know is extremely low however it will create weight loss.... i agree with you all it may be very hard to sustain... there is no way you could drink this forever.. but for me it gave me the kick start i needed to loose weight

Not hard to sustain, dangerous to sustain. If you are only consuming 700 calories a day on a regular basis please contact a doctor as soon as possible.

Oryx

somegirl2009 wrote: »

drinking the shakes alone per day i think its around 700 calorie intake! which i know is extremely low however it will create weight loss.... i agree with you all it may be very hard to sustain... there is no way you could drink this forever.. but for me it gave me the kick start i needed to loose weight

So what are you doing after the kickstart? Are you managing to continue your weight loss?

somegirl2009

runawaybishop wrote: »

Not hard to sustain, dangerous to sustain. If you are only consuming 700 calories a day on a regular basis please contact a doctor as soon as possible.

its not recommended to do that particular diet for more than 3 weeks without getting medical assessment.

somegirl2009

Oryx wrote: »

So what are you doing after the kickstart? Are you managing to continue your weight loss?

well im not sure as i have to buy myself a good weigh scales...but i think the answer to that question is no !

runawaybishop

somegirl2009 wrote: »

its not recommended to do that particular diet for more than 3 weeks without getting medical assessment.

Yes, because its dangerous. Does that not say something to you about it?

Oryx

somegirl2009 wrote: »

well im not sure as i have to buy myself a good weigh scales...but i think the answer to that question is no !

So as a kickstart, it's a bit of a fail, right?

This kind of diet is popular because it removes the need to make food choices. The choice is made for you, you don't have to think about what to eat. You eat your bar, or shake, job done. But you dont learn anything, and your body is being yoyo'd between a poor normal diet and a wierd starvation diet.

Ultimately unless you learn to make good food choices, that you can maintain as part of everyday life, you will end up going from your normal diet to these packet diets and back again because neither work for you. Its no way to live, to be honest. Changing to a clean diet is very hard, I wont lie. But once you are clear of 'bad' foods a while, it gets remarkably easy.

dolly2012

Thanks some girl,;) some ppl just need a kick start its personal decision of what that kick start is , I'll be doin one meal per day

Alf Veedersane

Once upon a time I'd have liked the idea of a diet like that. Mind you, I could never have gone through with it cos it's not eating. There's a perception that eating clean means that you get no enjoyment out of eating. I like to enjoy eating, not just see it as a means of taking fuel on board. But eating good, decent (aka clean) food is enjoyable. You just need to educate yourself on what good food is rather than rely on kickstarts that don't actually kickstart anything other than a short-term 'diet' that ultimately fails. People need to stop looking for a quick fix. You've a lot of life ahead. I believe it was Plato who said "Three week 'diets' are bollocks". And on that note, take care of yourselves...aaaaaaand each other.

ezra_pound

If you want to lose weight eat proper food and cycle every day.

Easy

runawaybishop

dolly2012 wrote: »

Thanks some girl,;) some ppl just need a kick start its personal decision of what that kick start is , I'll be doin one meal per day

"doing" one meal per day will achieve what exactly? Your meals don't exist in a vacuum, you need to look at your total intake a work out what you should be eating - its not even hard these days with all the websites that will assist you.

Some people need to use their heads and realise there is no magic tapeworm you can buy to make you lose weight - you just need to eat correctly. I don't understand why people set out to sabotage themselves with stuff like this tbh.

All the best anyway, let us know how it turns out.

Stench Blossoms

Ya know, just as an experiment I might actually try one of these fad diets and see how long it takes before I crack.

Mellor

I think "kickstart" is my new least favourite health and fitness buzz words.
It's utter tripe.


To any would be kickstarter, what do you expect will happen when you go back to being clueless about food choices in 3 weeks.

LeinsterDub

Mellor wrote: »

To any would be kickstarter, what do you expect will happen when you go back to being clueless about food choices in 3 weeks.

Convince yourself you tried to diet but it's just too hard /my body doesn't work like that /it's genetic.

marizpan

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Convince yourself you tried to diet but it's just too hard /my body doesn't work like that /it's genetic.

:-)
Don't forget:

I'm big boned, my whole family are.
I must have thyroid problems.
My body wants me to be this size.
It's easier for you skinny people!

littlemsfickle

While I agree 100% that adopting a healthier lifestyle is about making sustainable choices and am in no way in favour of fad diets....I don't think it's fair to keep putting people down. The OP started this thread as a means of communicating with other users of the NUPO diet - he/she wasn't asking for advice on nutrition.

Just sayin'.

runawaybishop

littlemsfickle wrote: »

While I agree 100% that adopting a healthier lifestyle is about making sustainable choices and am in no way in favour of fad diets....I don't think it's fair to keep putting people down. The OP started this thread as a means of communicating with other users of the NUPO diet - he/she wasn't asking for advice on nutrition.

Just sayin'.

Probably should have blogged about it instead of posting on a discussion forum so :pac:

We aren't doing this to be dicks though, i feel these diets do more harm than good and people use them due to a lack of education and sharp advertising.

Alf Veedersane

littlemsfickle wrote: »

While I agree 100% that adopting a healthier lifestyle is about making sustainable choices and am in no way in favour of fad diets....I don't think it's fair to keep putting people down. The OP started this thread as a means of communicating with other users of the NUPO diet - he/she wasn't asking for advice on nutrition.

Just sayin'.

I didn't see it as anyone having a go at the OP. Just pointing out the obvious dangers in such a diet and how the OP would be better served be trying to instigate a more sustainable diet that they'd be happy to continue long term rather than a quick fix that will end up resulting in the need for a quick fix a couple of times a year.

siochain

This is a sub section of a health and fitness forum. If someone is doing something unhealthy or bogus it will be highlighted and when it's highlighted people who believed the marketing get upset. Just human nature.

JJayoo

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Ya know, just as an experiment I might actually try one of these fad diets and see how long it takes before I crack.

You would love the Quark diet.

Stench Blossoms

JJayoo wrote: »

You would love the Quark diet.

I'd say i'd love it as much as you'd like my fist up your bum.

JJayoo

Kinky

siochain

Aargh here get a room

JJayoo

siochain wrote: »

Aargh here get a room

Excellent advice.

Zombienosh

Quark bums.

signmeup

OK Back on topic.

I have tried Nupo, and other 'fad' diets like 16/8 ect. And I find they worked FOR ME.

I like the nupo shakes. I use them

Background - 3 years ago, I was overweight (pushing on 11 stone). This was from over eating and portion size. I find it very difficult to stop eating when I am full and I needed to retrain myself.
So I did a 'crash diet' which included fasting for between 16 and 20 hours a day, and ate my dinner in the evening, eating enough until I felt full which meant I didn't go to bed hungry, or wake up starving. I also found it easier to eat nothing, then eating in moderation. Again, this is what worked for me, after years of trying to track calories, and living in a constant state of hunger and feeling deprived because I was only allowed a little bit. Fasting worked for me. I like my food a little too much, and it was a case for me of once I started eating in the morning, I wasn't able to stop.

I uses to take a protein shake around 3pm (first 'meal' of the day) it would fill me up and keep me from getting dizzy, but they also make me very constipated (sorry tmi)
Then I discovered Nupo - I now have one of those shakes. They are delicious and fill me up, while keeping daily calories low, and not making me crave more food.
I have kept this routine up, and I've been a constant 9 stone for over 2 years. (it took me about 3 mts to loose the 2 stone) I sometimes do the strict Nupo only diet if I want to loose a couple of pounds that I gained (eg after 2 weeks holidays eating out all the time), but mostly I have 2 shakes during the day , and my main dinner at night. This calorie deficit then lets me to have treats when visitors are over or if I just feel like it. I also go out for dinner with hubby most weekends.
I'm sure most people would think i'm nuts, My hubby still tells me every morning that I should have breakfast. But it is what has worked for me, and I have kept weight off, and more importantly I feel in control of my weight. I never felt in control before. Learning 'not to eat' was the best diet tip ever for me. Every diet tells you want you can eat - only protein, limit carbs , ww points etc.
I lost weight by NOT EATING, and learning that hunger is not a bad thing.
Sounds simple, but its true.

I think a 'kickstart' is not a bad thing, somepeopple like me need it. I liked how everyone commented how well I looked initially and it really gave me the motivation continue. I didnt realise how bad I had got.

I'm planning on doing the strict NUPO shake diet in the run up to xmas during the week, which will allow me to go out at the weekends and wine and dine myself without piling on the pounds. My friend did it for her wedding and lost about 8 lbs which she was delighted with for her big day.

I think everyone has to find out what works for them. Personally I dont want to go to the gym (but I do run a couple of times a week for health reasons) and I dont want to 'eat clean'. I want to enjoy life the way I want to live it, and this works for me!

runawaybishop

There is so much wrong with that post Still, its your life and you can do what you want, all the best with your diet. Just don't expect anyone to agree with you that it is healthy or sustainable.

Sangre

16/8 or other methods of intermittent fasting is not comparable to NUPO as with the former you are still ingesting a healthy amount of calroies and macro/micro-nutrients albeit in a smaller window.

Alf Veedersane

It's startling how much people are controlled by food even when they think they aren't and the lengths they will to do circumvent that truth.

El_Dangeroso

signmeup wrote: »

OK Back on topic.

I have tried Nupo, and other 'fad' diets like 16/8 ect. And I find they worked FOR ME.

I like the nupo shakes. I use them

Background - 3 years ago, I was overweight (pushing on 11 stone). This was from over eating and portion size. I find it very difficult to stop eating when I am full and I needed to retrain myself.
So I did a 'crash diet' which included fasting for between 16 and 20 hours a day, and ate my dinner in the evening, eating enough until I felt full which meant I didn't go to bed hungry, or wake up starving. I also found it easier to eat nothing, then eating in moderation. Again, this is what worked for me, after years of trying to track calories, and living in a constant state of hunger and feeling deprived because I was only allowed a little bit. Fasting worked for me. I like my food a little too much, and it was a case for me of once I started eating in the morning, I wasn't able to stop.

I uses to take a protein shake around 3pm (first 'meal' of the day) it would fill me up and keep me from getting dizzy, but they also make me very constipated (sorry tmi)
Then I discovered Nupo - I now have one of those shakes. They are delicious and fill me up, while keeping daily calories low, and not making me crave more food.
I have kept this routine up, and I've been a constant 9 stone for over 2 years. (it took me about 3 mts to loose the 2 stone) I sometimes do the strict Nupo only diet if I want to loose a couple of pounds that I gained (eg after 2 weeks holidays eating out all the time), but mostly I have 2 shakes during the day , and my main dinner at night. This calorie deficit then lets me to have treats when visitors are over or if I just feel like it. I also go out for dinner with hubby most weekends.
I'm sure most people would think i'm nuts, My hubby still tells me every morning that I should have breakfast. But it is what has worked for me, and I have kept weight off, and more importantly I feel in control of my weight. I never felt in control before. Learning 'not to eat' was the best diet tip ever for me. Every diet tells you want you can eat - only protein, limit carbs , ww points etc.
I lost weight by NOT EATING, and learning that hunger is not a bad thing.
Sounds simple, but its true.

I think a 'kickstart' is not a bad thing, somepeopple like me need it. I liked how everyone commented how well I looked initially and it really gave me the motivation continue. I didnt realise how bad I had got.

I'm planning on doing the strict NUPO shake diet in the run up to xmas during the week, which will allow me to go out at the weekends and wine and dine myself without piling on the pounds. My friend did it for her wedding and lost about 8 lbs which she was delighted with for her big day.

I think everyone has to find out what works for them. Personally I dont want to go to the gym (but I do run a couple of times a week for health reasons) and I dont want to 'eat clean'. I want to enjoy life the way I want to live it, and this works for me!

Of course it is your life but just be aware that fasting long term for women has a very bad effect on hormones.

I just know anecdotally when I was fasting I'd feel great for a while, then my hormones would go all over the place and also my hair started greying much faster.

Fasting releases a cascade of stress hormones that are beneficial when done intermittently, say once a week, but become harmful when chronically fasting in the long run.

Just keep it in mind if you start experiencing any untoward symptoms.

signmeup

I wasn't expecting a positive response to my post. But as I said it was what worked for me and each to their opinion and all that.

To address some comments
1. What would you consider sustainable. I've been living like this for over 2.5 years now using meal replacement shakes as part of my diet. If I continue for another 2 / 5 /10 years will you accept its sustainable??
Also I'm a lot healthier now then I was when overweight!

2. I felt far more controlled by food when I was ove eating and obsessing about what I could and couldn't have. Now I have my shakes , and what ever I want for dinner without having to worry about piling on the pounds. I can go out for dinner and don't worry about that either. I just don't stuff my face all day long. I also don't have to worry about finding 'healthy' lunches when on the go. I have my shakes! It's so easy.

3. I actually had lots of problems all my life with hormones. Pcos and thyroid issues. Since I've started with the intermittent fasting and limiting my calorie intake, and also loosing the weight, my hormone problems have regulated themselves. I get regular blood tests so and this is backed up by medical evidence, as opposed to anecdotal.

As I said it works for me. I get to live the life I want and I'm much healthier as a result.

Alf Veedersane

signmeup wrote: »

2. I felt far more controlled by food when I was ove eating and obsessing about what I could and couldn't have. Now I have my shakes , and what ever I want for dinner without having to worry about piling on the pounds. I can go out for dinner and don't worry about that either. I just don't stuff my face all day long. I also don't have to worry about finding 'healthy' lunches when on the go. I have my shakes! It's so easy.

You can't control what you eat so you avoid eating for most of the day.

You don't have to obsess about what you can and can't have. Just don't overeat anything. If you have had to find a 'diet' that means you don't have to eat for most of the day in case you overeat, then food controls you.

That's all I'm saying.

Good luck to you and all that. I would just hope that you don't do any long term damage to yourself.

runawaybishop

signmeup wrote: »

I wasn't expecting a positive response to my post. But as I said it was what worked for me and each to their opinion and all that.

To address some comments
1. What would you sustainable. I've been living like this for over 2.5 years now using meal replacement shakes as part of my diet. If I continue for another 2 / 5 /10 years will you accept its sustainable??
Also I'm a lot healthier now then I was when overweight!

2. I felt far more controlled by food when I was ove eating and obsessing about what I could and couldn't have. Now I have my shakes , and what ever I want for dinner without having to worry about piling on the pounds. I can go out for dinner and don't worry about that either. I just don't stuff my face all day long. I also don't have to worry about finding 'healthy' lunches when on the go. I have my shakes! It's so easy.

3. I actually had lots of problems all my life with hormones. Pcos and thyroid issues. Since I've started with the intermittent fasting and limiting my calorie intake, and also loosing the weight, my hormone problems have regulated themselves. I get regular blood tests so and this is backed up by medical evidence, as opposed to anecdotal.

As I said it works for me. I get to live the life I want and I'm much healthier as a result.

1) You are not sticking to it as you are putting on weight periodically. If you are not able to stick to it it is not sustainable. Do you really call that diet living btw?

2) If you are worrying about food that much and feeling controlled you have some other issues you need to address. You shouldn't be stressing about it, eating should be fun and tasty. Once you know what to put into you you'd be surprised how much you can eat and still keep healthy.

3) That's just anecdotal, sorry. Unless a doctor has come out and specifically stated that NUPO is the reason for this you cannot claim it. The very fact that you link intermittent fasting and NUPO indicates that it is not correct anyway.

Honestly, do you really want to live on shakes for the rest of your life catching up to your diet by starving?

Oryx

signmeup, I realise this is your choice and it does work for you. But this sentence:

Personally I don't want to go to the gym (but I do run a couple of times a week for health reasons) and I don't want to 'eat clean'.

is what is really going on. What you are doing may be effective, but it is not healthy nor an ideal choice for most. Unfortunately it is becoming a common choice because the diet we are presented with everywhere (shops, restaurants) is so bad for us, and eating badly is far easier than eating clean.

signmeup

Ok to clarify,

I am very happy. I dont obsess over food. I used to. But I dont anymore. I do eat what I want, but not all the time because thats how I got fat. Now I just eat what I want in the evenings and at weekends. Its simple.
Previously, I have breakfast at 8am,and be hungry again at 10, and for most of the day. Since I started intermittent fasting, i actailly dont feel hungry until around 3pm. I cant really explain it other than I had food cravings all the time before and now I dont. I have the shakes as a late lunch, as I dont want to be eating sambo, or a big burger, as I want to have my main meal with my family in the evening.

I dont put weight on 'periodically' . I mentioned holidays as an example. I put on a couple of extra pounds because we were going out eating 3 course restaurant dinners for 2 weeks. And enjoying a few drinks also. I have found a way I dont have to deprive myself the luxury of living well and enjoying myself, because I am watching my weight creeping up. I just know I can loose the couple of pounds again in a week, and then back to my routine after that. It works FOR ME. And is sustainable for me.

I have never been happier, or healthier. And I am not putting all of that down to Nupo (and similar products) but they have helped me to get where I am! Over and out

runawaybishop

signmeup wrote: »

Ok to clarify,

I am very happy. I dont obsess over food. I used to. But I dont anymore. I do eat what I want, but not all the time because thats how I got fat. Now I just eat what I want in the evenings and at weekends. Its simple.
Previously, I have breakfast at 8am,and be hungry again at 10, and for most of the day. Since I started intermittent fasting, i actailly dont feel hungry until around 3pm. I cant really explain it other than I had food cravings all the time before and now I dont. I have the shakes as a late lunch, as I dont want to be eating sambo, or a big burger, as I want to have my main meal with my family in the evening.

I dont put weight on 'periodically' . I mentioned holidays as an example. I put on a couple of extra pounds because we were going out eating 3 course restaurant dinners for 2 weeks. And enjoying a few drinks also. I have found a way I dont have to deprive myself the luxury of living well and enjoying myself, because I am watching my weight creeping up. I just know I can loose the couple of pounds again in a week, and then back to my routine after that. It works FOR ME. And is sustainable for me.

I have never been happier, or healthier. And I am not putting all of that down to Nupo (and similar products) but they have helped me to get where I am! Over and out

You aren't really healthy though, that's kind of the point.