Special diets, miracle weight loss programs, and quick-fix products are constantly bombarding us. With so many ads coming from so many directions, it can be hard to remember them all. But everybody knows SlimQuick and SlimFast.
Although you have seen the names a million times, you might not know what these fat-loss programs are really about. So what exactly are these products? Do they even work? Are there differences between the two? Let’s explore the facts to find out in this SlimQuick vs. Slimfast review.
Table of Contents
A Quick Dive into SlimQuick
What is SlimQuick?
SlimQuick is an herbal weight-loss supplement designed for women’s unique dieting challenges. The SlimQuick product line includes multi-flavor protein powders, drink packets, chewable gummies, and caplets. SlimQuick claims their groundbreaking formula SLIMQUICK® Pure is clinically proven to help women lose 3 times the weight in 13 weeks.
The key ingredients in essentially all SlimQuick supplements are caffeine and concentrated green tea. One serving, which is three caplets, contains 100 milligrams of caffeine. That’s roughly the amount in one cup of coffee. The SlimQuick protein powder also contains a protein blend of whey protein concentrate with pea protein isolate, as well as probiotics.
SlimQuick’s mission statement is “weight loss designed for women.” Their products are sold in many major retailers, including: Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, KMart, Publix, Target, and Walgreens.
How does SlimQuick work?
SlimQuick says they have isolated the fat-burning components in green tea thought to speed up your metabolism. The company reports their products allow for three times the absorption of fat burning agents called catechins, which can help you lose three times the weight.
To support these claims, SlimQuick cites a study from 2009 published in Alternative Medicine Review that investigated the effects of green tea extract on weight loss. In the study, 100 obese people followed the same low-calorie diet (1,850 and 1,350 calories daily for men and women, respectively). Half the group took a green tea supplement twice daily while the other group did not.
After three months, the green tea group lost more weight than the group not taking the green tea supplement (30 pounds versus 11 pounds, on average). In addition to the weight loss, the researchers also reported a reduction in “bad” cholesterol (LDL), an increase in “good” cholesterol (HDL), and lowered insulin levels among both groups.
The data in this study makes a strong case for green tea as an effective weight loss supplement. However, the study population was statistically very small and comprised of obese patients only. Green tea is one of the most evidence-backed fat burners, so it is a good ingredient to include in SlimQuick supplements.
SlimQuick Products
SlimQuick Products come and go, but as of this review published in 2017 – 2018, they offer eight main fat loss supplements:
- SlimQuick Pure Regular Strength
- Caplets taken by mouth that contain AlloPure Green Tea™, an isolated fat-burning component that can help you lose 3x the weight
- 455 mg of the “SlimQuick Pure 6 Ways Complex”
- SlimQuick Pure Extra Strength
- Caps again, also with AlloPure Green Tea™, an isolated fat-burning component that can help you lose 3x the weight
- 505 mg of the “SlimQuick Pure 6 Ways Complex”, a dosage upgrade that explains “Extra Strength.”
- SlimQuick Pure Caffeine Free
- Caplets taken by mouth, claimed to have same benefits as the above but without stimulants
- Main ingredient is 5-Hydroxytryptophan, a naturally occuring amino acid used as an appetite suppressant, antidepressant, and sleep aid.
- SlimQuick RX-8
- Caplets with a unique combination of sensory-stimulating ingredients, which are popularly used in pre-workout supplements
- SlimQuick’s most advanced and powerful combination of ingredients for cognitive weight loss support, like Ginkgo Biloba and Teacrine®.
- SlimQuick Pure Protein—Chocolate & Vanilla
- Protein powder that can be mixed with water or added to smoothies
- Along with the SlimQuick signature green extract, contains a protein blend of whey protein isolate and pea protein isolate
- Also contains probiotics to support digestive health
- SlimQuick Pure Men
- Caplets taken by mouth that are engineered specifically for men’s bodies
- Main ingredients are green tea extract as well as other tea extracts, like oolong and matcha.
- SlimQuick Pure Extra Strength Mixed Berry
- Drink packets you mix with water, 10 calorie per packet, comes in berry flavor
- Contains natural ingredients like antioxidants, calcium, vitamin D, and AlloPure Green Tea™
- SlimQuick Pure Extra Strength Gummies
- Tasty gummies free of artificial coloring
- 35 calories per serving (2 gummies)
- Made with a good amount of green tea extract
SlimQuick Benefits
We all know that it’s physically more difficult for women to lose weight compared to men, mostly due to hormones, slower metabolism, stress, low energy, appetite, and water retention. SlimQuick claims to be the only weight loss supplement designed specifically for a woman’s body to combat the six ways women’s bodies work against them. SlimQuick does this by:
- Increasing metabolism
- Reducing appetite
- Boosting energy
- Reducing excess water
- Supporting hormone
- Reducing stress
The way in which SlimQuick addresses each of these areas is a bit vague and unsupported clinically. However, green tea and caffeine are both linked to increasing energy and boosting your metabolism.
Possible SlimQuick Side Efffects
Caffeine: According to the National Institute of Health, it is not harmful for people to consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day. But if you eat or drink too much, it can cause health issues and side effects, such as:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Rapid or abnormal heart rhythm
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains between 95 and 200 mg of caffeine
One serving of SlimQuick contains 100 milligrams of caffeine.
So, if you drink several cups of coffee a day or drink other caffeinated beverages while taking SlimQuick, you may end up going overboard with your caffeine intake, and end up with related jittery side effects. Just keep it in mind if you end up taking this product.
A wrap on SlimQuick
In short, SlimQuick is meant to supplement a healthy diet rather than act as a total meal replacement. The main ingredients in SlimQuick products, caffeine and green tea, are generally safe and natural, with good research backing their use as a complement to weight loss programs.
Ok, but does SlimQuick actually work? From reading customer reviews, before and after photos and testimonials, it would seem as though the products have worked positively for most people. But theoretically, any healthy diet supplemented with everyday sources of caffeine and green tea should yield weight loss regardless.
Buying SlimQuick products may be unnecessary unless you don’t normally ingest caffeine or the placebo effect is what you need to rev up your diet.
The Facts About SlimFast
What is SlimFast?
When you think of weight-loss systems, the SlimFast Plan is probably top of mind. The company has been a favorite among dieters for over 40 years. Unlike SlimQuick, SlimFast offers an entire line of meal replacement products that are simple, flexible, and “clinically proven” to help you lose between 1-2 lbs per week.
The basic gist of the SlimFast Plan is you can eat six times a day, replacing nearly all your meals with SlimFast products.
The daily SlimFast plan includes: two SlimFast protein shakes or smoothies, three SlimFast 100-calorie snacks, and one “sensible” 500-calorie meal of your choice.
The SlimFast Plan is part of a reduced-calorie diet, and should be supplemented with regular exercise. Like SlimQuick, SlimFast products are available at many major retailers, including: Amazon, Target, Jet.com, Walmart, and Walgreens.
The SlimFast Meals
The SlimFast meal replacement line is quite extensive, ranging from shakes and smoothies to snacks and cookies. Of their product offerings, the company says ‘nobody gives you more ways to lose weight fast than SlimFast!’
SlimFast products generally fall into seven main categories.
- Original Shakes & Shake Mixes
- The signature SlimFast product
- Each shake has 10g of protein, 5g fiber, 24 vitamins & minerals
- Available in many flavors: milk chocolate, strawberries & cream, rich chocolate royale, cappuccino delight, french vanilla
- Very high in sugar, on average 19g per serving
- Advanced Nutrition Shake & Smoothie Mixes
- Winner of the 2016 Chef’s Best Taste award
- 20g of protein, 1g sugar, 5g fiber, 24 vitamins & minerals
- Lactose and gluten free
- Advanced Energy Shake & Smoothie Mixes
- Same nutritional values as Advanced Nutrition shakes and mixes
- Contains as much caffeine as a cup of coffee
- Bake Shop Cookies
- Oven-baked cookies with 10g of protein and 5g of fiber
- Comes in peanut butter chocolate chip and double chocolate chip
- Bake Shop Bars
- Can help you stay full for 4 hours while curbing sweet tooth
- 15g of protein, 5g fiber; low in sugar, but high in sugar alcohol
- Comes in chocolatey crispy cookie dough and chocolatey peanut butter pie flavors
- Chips
- Low calorie, savory snack
- 100 calorie per bag, 2g protein, 5g fiber
- Baked and gluten free
- Comes in mesquite BBQ and sour cream and onion
- Crisps
- Low calorie, sweet snack
- 100 calories per bag, 3g protein, 6-7g sugar
- Crisp flavors: cinnamon bun swirl drizzled and s’mores drizzled
SlimFast has a recipe page on their website featuring many smoothie and drinks that can be made incorporating their shakes and mixes. They sound pretty tasty—like a peanut butter banana smoothie, pina colada shake, kale apple smoothie, and many more.
What are the benefits of SlimFast?
The SlimFast program says you can lose a safe 1 to 2 pounds per week following their regimine. Aside from weight loss, one benefit of the program is that nothing is totally off limits in terms of the one 500-calorie meal of your choice. However, the SlimFast meal replacement choices do not leave much room for variety.
Unless you don’t mind fulfilling most of your daily meals with shakes or snacks, SlimFast may leave you feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, SlimFast products are made with some hard-to-read, artificial ingredients. If you’re concerned with eating mostly real, whole, natural foods, the SlimFast plan probably isn’t a good fit.
According to some doctors, SlimFast can work to help meet your weight loss goals. Unsurprisingly, studies show that people lose more weight when they eat portion-controlled meals or meal replacements.
But that’s not to say there’s anything in particular about SlimFast that accelerates weight loss. Low-calorie diets in general promote weight loss and can help you keep the pounds off long term.
Are there side effects of SlimFast?
SlimFast Weight loss in general can have a number of mild side effects including dizziness, headaches, and feeling cold. These side effects are generally short term, and be easily remedied. If you feel any gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea or flatulence, it’s important to rule out lactose intolerance. Slim Fast products are also high in fibre and may cause flatulence in people who are not used to high fibre intake. If this occurs while taking SlimFast, speak with your healthcare professional.
SlimQuick and SlimFast together: A Superpower Diet Stack?
So we’ve discussed the benefits of SlimQuick and SlimFast individually and now you may be wondering, what would happen if you followed both plans at the same time? Would your shed weight quicker and faster than ever? Would you find yourself auditioning for America’s Next Top model?
Chances are, not exactly. Because both diets have not been strongly proven clinically, taking them together may not have an effect. But in theory, both SlimQuick and SlimFast plans can be done in tandem. Since SlimQuick supplements a low-calorie meal regimen and SlimFast is, in fact, a low-calorie meal regimine, you can adhere to both at the same time.
SlimQuick vs. SlimFast: Who’s got the better shake?
Since these two lines are different, it’s hard to find an apples-to-apples supplement facts comparison. The closest we found was SlimQuick Pure Shake vs. Slimfast Chocolate Shake:
SlimQuick Pure Shake vs. SlimFast Shake |
||||
One Serving | One Serving | |||
Ingredient | Amount | Ingredient | Amount | |
Calories | 60 | Calories | 190 | |
Total Fat | 1 g | Total Fat | 6 g | |
Saturated | 0 g | Saturated | 2 g | |
Polyunsaturated | 0 g | Polyunsaturated | 0 g | |
Monounsaturated | 0 g | Monounsaturated | 0 g | |
Trans | 0 g | Trans | 210 mg | |
Cholesterol | 30 mg | Cholesterol | 10 mg | |
Sodium | 5 g | Sodium | 600 mg | |
Potassium | 3 g | Potassium | 25 g | |
Total Carbs | 1 g | Total Carbs | 5 g | |
Dietary Fiber | 10 g | Dietary Fiber | 18 g | |
Sugars | 1 g | Sugars | 20 g | |
Protein | 10 g | Protein | 10 g | |
Vitamin A | 0% | Vitamin A | 35% | |
Vitamin C | 0% | Vitamin C | 100% | |
Calcium | 5% | Calcium | 50% | |
Iron | 4% | Iron | 15% | |
This comparison seems to validate our other observations about these two brands.
- The SlimFast shake is more satisfying and nourishing, like a “food” meal replacement.
- SlimQuick Pure on the other hand has far fewer calories. It probably doesn’t taste as good, but has a superior nutritional profile for losing weight.
You could see how there is potential to stack these products together, but when you are ready to buy, remember SlimQuick vs. SlimFast ultimately depends on which product is best for your unique needs, and what kind of weight loss and exercise program you are following.
The Verdict: SlimQuick vs. SlimFast
After crunching the research, it’s quite difficult to say which plan is more effective for losing weight. Will either plan be a quick fix to your weight-loss woes? Most likely, no. Theoretically, both plans can work if you strictly adhere to their low calorie diet. To determine which is best, it’s prudent to determine what type of person you are and pick a plan that fits accordingly.
For instance, if you’re a woman who is seeking supplemental support to addresses the unique challenge for female weight loss, then SlimQuick is probably better for you. If you’re a person, man or woman, who struggles with cravings and appetite control, then the food-oriented approach of SlimFast might be a better fit.
It’s important to note that both plans require sticking to a low-calorie, healthy, diet and living an active lifestyle—which, at the end of the day, is the key to losing and keeping off weight.
References
DiPierro F, Menghi AB, Barreca A, et al. GreenSelect® Phytosome as an Adjunct to a Low-Calorie Diet for Treatment of Obesity: A Clinical Trial. Alternative Medicine Review 14, (2) 2009
Goldstein ER et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010 7:5.
Maki KC et al. Green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced abdominal fat loss in overweight and obese adults. J Nutr. 2009 Feb;139(2):264-70
Dr. Purple says
Thanks. Very helpful, objective, insightful reviews of both products. You provide sufficient, unbiased information to make an informed choice.