Has anybody out there tried the NUPO diet?

runawaybishop · 06-12-2013 10:44AM

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 · 06-12-2013 03:37PM

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 · 06-12-2013 09:57PM

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 · 06-12-2013 11:42PM

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 · 07-12-2013 09:53AM

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 · 07-12-2013 03:50PM

Kinky

siochain · 08-12-2013 08:20PM

Aargh here get a room

JJayoo · 08-12-2013 08:34PM

siochain wrote: »

Aargh here get a room

Excellent advice.

Zombienosh · 08-12-2013 08:54PM

Quark bums.

signmeup · 10-12-2013 01:49PM

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 · 10-12-2013 01:58PM

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 · 10-12-2013 02:23PM

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 · 10-12-2013 02:45PM

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 · 10-12-2013 03:07PM

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 · 10-12-2013 04:53PM

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 · 10-12-2013 04:59PM

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 · 10-12-2013 04:59PM

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 · 10-12-2013 05:05PM

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 · 10-12-2013 05:22PM

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 · 10-12-2013 05:28PM

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.

flikflak · 10-12-2013 05:32PM

Just out of interest could you post the ingredients of these shakes you have for breakfast and lunch? Also what is the calorie content of each one?

runawaybishop · 10-12-2013 05:33PM

flikflak wrote: »

Just out of interest could you post the ingredients of these shakes you have for breakfast and lunch? Also what is the calorie content of each one?

118 calories

http://www.nupo.ie/products/diet/diet-shake/diet-shake-strawberry/

Alf Veedersane · 10-12-2013 05:40PM

signmeup wrote: »

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.

You have found a way to avoid food so that it doesn't control you or make you eat lots of it. By that very fact it is controlling you.

signmeup wrote: »

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.

The last person I heard say that was bulimic. I'm not in the least suggesting that you're remotely like that but there's a food issue there for you.

You can't eat a normal balanced diet because you can't control how you eat when you do and then you get anxious because you put on weight.

No one is trying to be negative, or at least I'm not, but I just think there's an underlying issue there that you would be well served to have addressed.

El_Dangeroso · 10-12-2013 05:47PM

signmeup wrote: »

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.

Weight loss will definitely help things like PCOS for sure, I'm talking about longer term, as in over a year, I felt AMAZING when fasting until I didn't. Although I cited my example as an anecdote, there are studies on fasting that show this stress hormone response, can post them if you like. I makes no odds to me what you do, I'm just saying if you run into problems please don't double down and restrict more because that will exacerbate rather than alleviate the situation.

Just a bit of friendly advice!

flikflak · 10-12-2013 05:52PM

Ok so basically a milkshake with close to no natural nutrients. 118+118=236 calories until dinner time. I presume your dinner must be around 1200 calories in order to give your body the basic amounts of fuel to carry out its normal day to day activities?

Surely it’s better to get vitamins, minerals and nutritional needs from real food rather than a ready made powder? From reading your posts it would seem you have no interest in learning about real food and what the body needs to perform on a daily basis and are happy to let an organisation decide what you put into your body each day.

You say you used to have breakfast at 8am then be hungry again at 10am but then in another post you say that being on this diet you learned to accept hunger. Why couldn’t you do that when you were eating real food? Also what were you having for breakfast?

Also why do you think lunch has to be `a sambo or a big burger`? Is that your idea of what lunch should be? If so then another indicator that you have very little food knowledge?

Sadly, as others have pointed out, this is the way most people will go nowadays as they take no responsibility for their own health and would rather some faceless organisation tell them what to eat. The only thing these organisations care about is making money they dont care about your health long term. You don`t seem to be that worried either?

signmeup · 10-12-2013 08:27PM

I take offence to all of your negative comments towards me. I am an intelligent, educated woman. I am not ignorant to nutrition, and I'm as capable as the next person of reading literature , and reports. You say I don't take responsibility for my health, because I dont do what you think is correct. I say this is how I take responsibility for my health. But, really I should not have to explain myself you you people.

I was directly responding to the OPs question

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?

I tried to bring this conversation back to the OP, but you people continue to try to shove your own ideas, and beliefs down peoples necks. I never disagreed with any of your theories or opinions, I only offered mine.

The OP asked for direct experience with something. NOt one person who has knocked it here has direct experience with it. I have experience taking the product, and wrote about that, while emphasising that it was ONLY MY experience, and MY results.
Bottom line OP is I found / find it good, and helpful for weight loss.

The rest of you can crawl back into the woodwork, and keep trying to convince yourselves that yours is the only right opinion.

JJayoo · 10-12-2013 08:30PM

I saw a badger earlier.

runawaybishop · 10-12-2013 08:32PM

signmeup wrote: »

I take offence to all of your negative comments towards me. I am an intelligent, educated woman. I am not ignorant to nutrition, and I'm as capable as the next person of reading literature , and reports. You say I don't take responsibility for my health, because I dont do what you think is correct. I say this is how I take responsibility for my health. But, really I should not have to explain myself you you people.

I was directly responding to the OPs question

I tried to bring this conversation back to the OP, but you people continue to try to shove your own ideas, and beliefs down peoples necks. I never disagreed with any of your theories or opinions, I only offered mine.

The OP asked for direct experience with something. NOt one person who has knocked it here has direct experience with it. I have experience taking the product, and wrote about that, while emphasising that it was ONLY MY experience, and MY results.
Bottom line OP is I found / find it good, and helpful for weight loss.

The rest of you can crawl back into the woodwork, and keep trying to convince yourselves that yours is the only right opinion.

You can be as offended as you want, it doesn't entitle you to anything :pac:

This is a discussion forum, i will discuss your post if i choose.

El_Dangeroso · 10-12-2013 08:32PM

signmeup wrote: »

I take offence to all of your negative comments towards me. I am an intelligent, educated woman. I am not ignorant to nutrition, and I'm as capable as the next person of reading literature , and reports. But I really should not have to explain myself you you people.

I was directly responding to the OPs question

I tried to bring this conversation back to the OP, but you people continue to try to shove your own ideas, and beliefs down peoples necks. I never disagreed with any of your theories or opinions, I only offered mine.

The OP asked for direct experience with something. NOt one person who has knocked it here has direct experience with it. I have experience taking the product, and wrote about that, while emphasising that it was ONLY MY experience, and MY results.
Bottom line OP is I found / find it good, and helpful for weight loss.

The rest of you can crawl back into the woodwork.

Sorry if it seems like people are targeting you but you were saying that this awful unhealthy diet was great, that is directly against the charter of this forum:

There will be zero-tolerance of any pro-ana topics, discussions of pharmaceutical weight-loss aids or crash dieting

A crash diet is exactly what this is, and because a lot of vulnerable readers browse this forum looking for weight loss tips, we have a duty to this community to counter your promotion of an what amounts to a very unhealthy lifestyle.

You can do what you want, you just can't promote unhealthy practices on a public forum and not expect to be refuted.

signmeup · 10-12-2013 08:52PM

Definition of crash diet
noun
a weight-loss diet undertaken on an urgent, short-term basis with the aim of achieving very rapid results.

Once again, it is your definition of what is healthy, and what is a crash diet.
My diet is a sustainable (for me) , and as stated I've lived like this for nearly 3 years (but maybe you consider 3 years short term too?)

I am only putting another point of view across. I visit the doctor every 6 months and have blood tests, and a full check up. I was there just last weeks, and my doctor said I was in 100% healthy, better than I have been at any point in the past. I believe ( and have read much published research on the matter) that keeping a low body weight in one of the most important factors to long term health. There are MANY different theories as to what is healthy , and what is not. And lots of published material to defend different opinions. It is not an exact science.

I have never, and would never promote what I consider to be an unhealthy lifestyle. My point is that just because my opinion and experience does not conform to your idea of what everyone should be doing , it does not make my opinion wrong. Its an alternative.

Has anybody out there tried the NUPO diet?

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