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Slim4Life Diet: Slimgenics
The Slim4Life program is a holistic approach to weight loss and weight management, available at a chain of weight loss clinics in Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Slim4Life has been enabling people to lose weight and learn new eating habits for over 25 years.
Note: The Slim4Life diet program is not the same as the UK-based The Juice Master’s Slim 4 Life books, health & fitness program – see comment below.
Slim4Life operates as SlimGenics in Colorado, California, and Minnesota but are two separate companies.
Background
Slim4Life offer comprehensive weight reduction programs for men, women and children from age 10. The programs are professionally supervised and nutritionally designed to develop proper eating habits for long term success. The Slim4Life Weight Loss Center with which you enroll provides a program which is individualized, monitored and supervised with one-on-one counseling. Existing medical conditions are taken into account when developing your personal weight loss program. The diet employs a
well-balanced food program (based on regular food from the supermarket), supplemented with proprietary weight loss aids.
Slim4Life Diet Program
Weight loss plan
The Slim4Life program provides up to 1,500 calories daily (depending on the degree with which you are overweight or obese, your health profile, and age) in a
carefully balanced nutritional diet rich in vitamins and minerals and low in refined carbohydrates, fats, and sodium. The diet consists of fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, starches, dairy and fats, plus a range of supplements, and there is a vegetarian program for those who do not eat meat. Some foods and beverages are restricted during the weight loss period,
and gradually added back once the goal for
weight loss is achieved. The nutritional plan is individualized for you, and is completely flexible with room for individual choices of food selection.
Exercise
Slim4Life program participants are strongly encouraged to increase their physical activity level as part of leading (or gaining) a healthy
lifestyle. Slim4Life claims that you can lose 3-5 pounds/1.3-2.3 kg per week (on average 3.3 pounds/1.5kg), eating grocery-store food and without pre-packaged meals.
Weight maintenance
On successful completion of the Slim4Life weight loss program, there is a post-reduction maintenance program to reinforce the learned behavioral changes. Overall, with Slim4Life you may expect to have developed ‘the tools, knowledge and the efficient metabolism to manage your new healthy body weight for a lifetime!’
Cost
It appears to cost over $600 to start the Slim4Life program, although if you don’t meet your goal as initially expected, there are further costs in order to continue. Also, the programmed supplements, vitamins, snacks, etc are an additional cost to you.
Some perceptions of the Slim4Life diet program
These are some of the reactions of Slim4Life participants
- My personal Slim4Life plan tells me what to eat and when, which helps tremendously with meal planning. For example, I eat 3 meals a day plus 2 ‘nutrients’ (a shake and a candy bar). Each meal includes a protein, a starch and fruit. For breakfast add milk, and for lunch/dinner add 2 vegetables. The plan is easy but also requires me to prepare the ‘limited food’ items which I’m allowed.
- 5th day on Slim4Life, and now off the ‘preparation’ stage. Today’s menu: breakfast 2 eggs and an orange, lunch a cup of raw cauliflower (dipped in fat free ranch dressing) and an orange, supper 4oz grilled chicken, shredded, in a 6″ corn tortilla with ½ cup lettuce and some fat free ranch dressing – actually pretty good.
- Finally at the end (11 weeks on) and am very excited. My Slim4Life diet consists of a strict food regime, only eating a certain amount of vegetables, lean proteins, fruit, and 80oz of water a day, combined with vitamins, herb supplements and essential fatty acid pills. I was not allowed to drink alcohol, eat sugar, dairy, oils, or preservatives. I’ve officially lost the 20lbs I set out to (I lost 11¾in. in my waist alone!), and have now begun the ‘stabilization’ phase. Slowly, over a 6 week period, they begin to reintroduce food into my diet. My weight will be monitored for one full year.
- I signed up for Slim4Life, and paid $800 for personal counseling 3 times a week for 34 weeks. It’s really a very restrictive, prescribed diet, designed for fast weight loss. I still don’t know if fast weight loss is really the healthiest solution, but considering that I have yo-yo’d the same 50 lbs 5 times in eight years, I think it’s the only thing that’s going to keep me going.
- This is what my diet consists of each day:
a TON of supplements: vitamins, metabolizing herbs, essential fatty acids, carb blockers
I can eat 2 servings of protein a day: lean meat (limited red), chicken, turkey, fish, limited eggs
2 servings of starch a day: diet bread, brown rice, or 2 tbsp bran flakes
2 small fruits
basically unlimited green veggies, ½ raw, ½ cooked
2 tbsp of fat free salad dressing
1 serving of “lite” fat: mayo or margarine
herbal tea
diet seven up
80 oz of water per day
2 specials made from the program supplement foods: one is sweet, the other a soup or juice
2 cups coffee, with just skim milk and nutrasweet (only 2 pkts of that per day)
½ tsp low sodium salt (nothing else can have salt in it)
unlimited apple cider vinegar (salad dressing)
the juice of 1 lemon
Is Slim4Life Successful?
The Slim4Life diet program appears to be a sensible plan with plenty of personal support and encouragement, and has brought successful weight loss for many overweight people, although the cost needs to be evaluated before enrolling.
The Juice Master’s Slim 4 Life book, health & fitness program
Slim4Life is not to be confused with The Juice Master’s Slim 4 Life book, Freedom from the Food Trap, and other related publications. This book promotes the program in the UK to ‘get slim, get fit, and get energised – or “juiced” ‘ by Jason Vale (the Juice Master), a successful health and lifestyle coach. The Slim 4 Life book is not about dieting, juicing, or about what’s good and bad for you. Rather, it helps to change the way you see food. Slim 4 Life majors on these points:
- Quit so-called “drug foods” – nutritionally worthless addictive substances (eg sugar and caffeine) – and return to a fresh diet
- Eat the freshest plant ingredients and feel the health benefit of raw juice which is full of healthy enzymes
- Reject the food industry’s ‘brainwashing advertising’
- Use food combining to help your digestion
Resources
Home of the Slim4Life Diet Program
The book – The Juice Master’s Slim 4 Life: Freedom from the Food Trap
I joined S4L March 2009, and as of now, 5 months later I have lost 15lbs. I do get depressed with this diet and try to get back into it. I can’t take the pills they have you use and I don’t know if that is going to let me lose as fast. The carb blocker and efa don’t mix with my med’s. The vitamin is ok but I think over the counter would be fine too. I’m glad this website is here to let off some steam!
Can anyone tell me what the maintenance program looks like? Do you still have to take the supplements during that time? I can’t aford much more money even though I have lost weight. Also, they don’t seem to be making any adjustments for my starting menopause. Has anyone else done this diet during menopause? Have they made any adjustments or put you on a different plan? I have been on plan 2 the whole time and after I lost 27 pounds they took away two of my 4 vegetable servings. What a reward! Anyway, I just need to know what lies ahead so I can keep going.
Here’s my story. My friend had great success so I started Slim4life. I knew it was going to be spendy, but wanted to do it anyways. The gal who signed me up didn’t consult me very well and now that i think about it of course, she is selling a plan. The goal weight I selected was unrealistic even for this plan. So now I’m a year into this (lost 40 pounds) and at least $3500. And because I haven’t hit my “goal” they won’t put me on the stablilaztion part of it. They want me to keep buying the stuff and it’s a very limited food selection. I have found that if I don’t stay on this limited selection of food, I gain weight. Anyone else experience anything like this.
I’ve been on the program for two years.
I lost 144 pounds in 8 months.
I went on the maintence plan and gained back about twenty.
I went back on the program and am back to my low again.
I will be much more careful this time
Slim 4 life is the best, I lost 63 pounds in 4 months!!! and the food that u eat is everyday food and yes is expensive but worth it .
I joined S4L today. I didn’t go for the year for $599. I’m retired, living on SS and that was just too much to drop in one day. I did let them pressure me into a lesser plan for $299 where I paid $100 today and will pay the balance in a couple of weeks and then we’ll begin the program. Sure wish I had read all these comments BEFORE I went in for the initial consultation. They really did pressure me to give them money today. I was a little angry by the time I left. Anyway, now I’m worried about the add’l cost of all their products. Guess I’ll find out soon. I’ll come back to post for you people who are smart enough to do your research FIRST.
I am a 30 something male and I have been on thie S4L plan for 13 week and I am down 70 pds and this is a life saver, the best plan and approach ever created and it has changed my life like nothing else. Thank You S4L
I looked into this because my neighbor had huge success, it was going to cost me 800.00/ year if not more. I would have done this but my neighbor gained every single pound if not more back. It is thermogenics, everyone who has done thermogenics has gained back the weight if not more!
I joined S4L back in Dec. 2008 and have lost 32 lbs to date.
That’s 32lbs even with cheating every weekend. The girls at my clinic aren’t pushy with the supplements & snacks. But I do agree with others when they say there is a large turn over of employees. The supplements & snacks are rather expensive. But I’ve discovered that I can do without most of the supplements. I only take the daily vitamin and the EFT’s. I’m 5 lbs away from my goal and a little worried about not eating their snack etc. I hope that quitting them doesn;t cause me to gain weight back. But I certainly can’t afford to continue buying them forever.
Yes they ARE expensive but if you can afford it and you feel that you’re worth it you will see that it WORKS!
SMH – Denver, CO
I have been on Slim4life for 2 weeks and have lost 20 pounds. I joined because I saw it work with 2 people i know in MN and in CO. I saw a women lose so much and she was not all that big she looks like a teenager now, and a man in CO weighed 290 pounds ans is 200 now. I am a big fella and needed this. It works if you follow it and i love the simple menu and the snacks that you buy are so good. The protein bars are like candy and thats good with my sweet tooth. I have a bunch to lose but am bringing sexy back in about a year. I am a big boy but sexy as hell and will be even better soon.
This is my 5th week on the program, and I have lost 8 lbs. which I lost my first two days of the program. They are at a loss why I can’t lose, and have no other suggestions. You are guaranteed to lose 3-5 lbs. per week. This does not happen. Their vitimins and snacks are way out of line expensive, plus I see no advantage. I will give it another 4 weeks, but if I do not see a change, I will chalk it up to another program that makes promises that don’t work, plus I am out $1,000. Do your homework before you commit to this plan.
S4L really works I was a member of the program years ago but due to financial problems had to stop. I lost 30 lbs in 2 months. I am a very large lady I weigh 380 lbs and I am considering rejoining again. But I just wish it was another way or even if they had some kind of payment plan. Trust me people it really works. And for those who don;t exercise I was one of them and still lost the weight. If you have the money this is a great program to join.
I joined last year to lose 150 pounds. I spent almost $6000 on their supplements and food. I was told that the smaller price was only good on the day I signed up. Hah, they offer the same low prices on a monthly basis. I lost 32 pounds in about 3 months. And then it stopped.
I wasted a lot of money and tears. Also, the staff keeps changing at the one in Maplewood, MN. You have to reacquaint yourself every other week with new staff.
I personally don’t think that they should take on patients like me with major weight loss needs. jmho
I started Slim4life in Sept. and I have lost over 50 lbs in just over 3 months. I have had a fair amount of success in the past with WW but I’ve also failed a lot on that program. With S4L, there is so much accountability with the 3-time weekly weigh-ins and attention paid to salt intake that this program turned out to be exactly what I needed. I think I knew a great deal about food and weight loss, but I still learned a lot that I didn’t know. I don’t have a lot of extra money to throw around, but I can tell you, this program is worth every cent. I would have paid more if I had known how effective it is. I was sceptical at first, but now I would recommend this program to anyone.
I started Slim4life in Sept. and I have lost over 50 lbs in just over 3 months. I have had a fair amount of success in the past with WW but I’ve also failed a lot of that program. With S4L, there is so much accountability with the 3-time weekly weigh-ins and attention paid to salt intake that this program turned out to be exactly what I needed. I think I knew a great deal about food and weight loss, but I still learned a lot that I didn’t know. I don’t have a lot of extra money to throw around, but I can tell you, this program is worth every cent. I would have paid more if I had know how effective it is. I was sceptival at first, but now I would recommend this program to anyone.
I am on this diet and am doing good except that my heart rate has dropped to between 48-55, mostly stays right around 50. Has anyone else experienced this? I am calling my doctor tomorrow. I fel tired, cold and a little light-headed.
I have been a healthy eater and dieter my entire life. I joined S4L in September and I have only lost 21 pounds(it is December). They only stated I would lose 2 pounds a week. I can loose that amount of weight by exercising and limiting my calories. I have refused to purchase their supplements which contain caffeine,and guarana (more caffeine). I have been hungry most days and also have had headaches. Low carbohydrate diets cause these headaches. I was limited to 1200 calories to start. I have found the counselors less educated than I am in the healthy life process. They have done no education about eating healthy for life and they do not put any emphasis on exercising (proven method to keep weight off). I feel pressure to buy everything and the diet seems to be geared to those who need to take off large amounts of weight.
I have not met anyone who reached their goal, whom has maintained the loss. I find the repetitive nature of the food boring and I am returning to what I know works, weight-watchers. I will continue using them to monitor my weight and I am adding exercise back in to my daily routine. BTW, that is why I gained, a lifestyle change did not allow me to work out on a consistent basis.
I am in S4L in Kansas City. Today ended my 5th week and I have lost 25lbs! It is expensive and some times I have trouble eating so much protein; but it works! I have 35 more pounds to lose and am geared up to stay on the program and get it done! I don’t feel hungry or like I am missing out on the non-plan food. Most days are pretty easy.
I’m Thinking about getting the Bypas I was on researching Slim 4 life its out of my buget, I’m on a very special diet because I have kidney disease and I’m on dailysis (non Diabetic). Im on the Renal diet which calls for low protein, low Potassium, low Phosphorus, sodium and fluid Restrictions but because i’m on dialysis I have to eat more protein even though the renal diet calls for low protein. I can’t eat a lot of processed foods those supplement,items that they give you may have me in the hospital. For those that don’t know all food has some Phosphorus in it but some foods that are high in it I can’t eat like whole grain, dried beans, dairy, peanuts, and some meat like liver. Any kind of processed foods that use the preservative Phosphorus Acid or any other form of Phosphorus. I can’t take over the counter Vitamins. I cant eat less that 1800 calories a day. I have to make my own meal plan. Protein shakes and Protein candy bars I bet have tons of Phosphorus in them. the best result is to stick to a well balanced diet and excercise. I have to lose weight so I can get my kidney transplant. The bypas will get me down to the size i want to be, but I’m also afraid to get that by my nephrologist, thinks it best that i do that. anyone thats in the same boat that I’m im Slim 4 life is not the best way to go. Anyone that wants to know anything else Email me at Angiecrib@aol.com I’m thinking about calling slim 4 life and ask them question about there plans. I am in the St Paul and Minneapolis area.
I lost 37 pounds on the slim 4 Life program in 10 weeks. I ate regular food and ate out in resturants. I love the program. My counselor told me they have 5 different programs they work with for fast results. I lost my weight 10 years ago in Kansas City and the best part Have kept it off. Thank You Slim 4 Life.
I joined Slim4Life and had mixed results. It does cost a lot, but you can push and negotiate to get the sign-up fees reduced. There are a LOT of supplements that they encourage you to buy. I can’t handle much caffeine, so I wasn’t able to take some of the supplements which were loaded with caffeine.
The two problems I have with this approach:
1) they encourage supplement use. They want you eating their protein shakes and protein candy bars every day. I would rather they encourage getting away from processed food. The protein bars taste good, but should you really be telling people that they should eat sweet processed food everyday?
2) As another comment noted, they do not take into account that some people exercise a lot. They don’t raise the caloric intake to account for exercise. I was training for a mini triathlon while going to the centers. There were days that I was running 4 miles and biking 20 miles all in one day. But they kept my calories at 1100. Yeah, I lost weight, but it was rough.
If you work out and/or don’t like processed foods, I would not recommend Slim4Life.
I joined Slim4life 2.5 weeks ago and have lost my first 10lbs! I am very excited about this program. I do agree that it is very expensive! I do enjoy the foods, you just have to get creative in your cooking not to get bored of the same stuff. I have 41 more pounds to go and will follow this plan to the fullest. It’s great!!!
I joined the slim4Life program, you must have a lot of Discipline to do this diet, because it can get a little boring eating the same food. BUT, if you stick to plan the weight will come off and I do a lot of walking for my exercise and it works!!!! I have cheated a few times, but I always tell myself, I can have a bite of chocolate cake, just not the whole piece and I still manage to lose weight. Yes, it is expensive and I am on week 8 and have spent well over 1100.00 dollars.
Everyone wants to know how much is this going to cost. I will be glad to share my current experience. I joined almost 2 weeks ago and I have already dropped a whopping $1091.00.
($621.00 first visit of counseling, then food meeting 2nd visit another $374 to get bulk pricing on my protein supplements. Then to get a price break on 5 boxes of the thermoboost that you need to drink 2 times a day that was another $96.00.)
I only want to lose 35 pounds. I know they are so nice on the phone to get you there never telling you the startup price and those ads on TV claiming only $7.00 a week. There are so many hidden cost to be aware of. Then they say GUARANTED to lose 3-5 lbs. a week? This is what they claim, guarantee to me me means you get your money back if it doesn’t work. NOT HERE you dont.
They have you pay for a years counceling on the first visit then their explanation of a guarantee is they will continue to work with you till you lose the weight. I am set up for a 12 week plan to get the 35 off then 6 weeks of stabilazation then 34 counceling. So I should be able to get it off by then so dont think they will out anything. Just beware this is a GIANT commitment both diet and financial……
I have seen it work for others so that is why I joined…….
I agree with Becky … I tried the program about a year ago and was very disappointed. I’m an active person whoSince I’m somewhat a picky eater, I was hoping the staff would help me find alternatives to some of the foods on their list. They didn’t come up with anything and when I asked if I could sub one food for another, they said they would check into it, but never got back to me. (for exampe a nectarine for a peach) They were very pushy about whether I needed to purchase supplements every time I came in, in fact it was the first question they always asked me. I some research on contents of some of the supplements and found that there could be some concerns, similar to those with ephedra, do your research if you’re going to use their supplements. What a waste of money!
I did Slim4life wanting to lose 25lbs. I am VERY active and have a lot of muscle, if you are like me this plan IS NOT FOR YOU! I work out 4-5 times a week, run, bike, weights and with only 1400-1500 callories I burn more than I consume. The staff is not educated to help healthy people but more geared for the ones who need to shed at least 50 lbs and never work out. I would not do it again if I had the chance, it was a horrible waste of money. They are also very “pushy” on their very expensive suppliments and food that they have in the diet plan. Good luck for anyone willing to spend the money and may not get results, it was a real bummer… but the girls are “great sales people” they can talk you into just about anything!
Years ago when I first began doing clientwork in weight loss and management very few opportunities existed to work in a clinical setting with proven thermogenic weight loss methodology. At that time the ‘T-factor’ diet was all we had as a resource for food physiology and its relevance in weight loss. My first clientwork began in a hypnosis center also using NLP, followed by virtual clientwork at NordicTrack as a fitness counselor. Exercise related to weight loss with dietary supplementation were strategic components of the American College of Sports Medicine were the success strategies.
As a weight loss counselor in several of the Twin Cities S4L centers I have seen tremendous success with clients who accept the wholisitc approach to weight loss and realize that they are given multiple strategies wo control their weight that do not make them dependent on one methodoloy only, and do not create reliance on pre-packaged, enzyme-depleted frozen meals.
I noticed that this site states that they only have locations in Denver and the twim cities. I’m a member of a slim4life in Overland,KS. I been going there for about 3 months I’m down 36 lbs as of today. I’m not sure if it’s they same places if it is I recommend it.
I have about 80 pounds to take off. I’ve dieted my whole life and I’m over 40, and tried them all. I’ve taken off 23 pounds in 7 weeks following this program. Nothing else has worked for me but this is working! It’s expensive but the quick loss is keeping me motivated and on program. I highly recommend it. I’m not hungry and the supplements, vitamins and herbs keep you from going through sugar and carb withdrawl. My blood pressure is much better as well.
Show me a plan and how many calories we eat per day.
I really want to enjoy the program but I need more details about it. Sorry but I don’t trust programs so easy. I invest to much in trying so many things that nothing really works.