Well after hearing about huel I did some research and decided to take the plunge. I have a very busy work schedule and have two little boys at home so needed something that was quick and practical.
I put on 5 stone with both pregnancies due to being on bed rest and having massive cravings for scones and muffins!! On top of this I have had major spinal surgery last year with my lower back being fused.
I do exercise but currently abit limited due to flexibility issues. I am working on this. I love my food (probably a little too much ) but I have noticed I have major sugar cravings and comfort eat when stressed or upset. I have tried every diet under the sun but havenāt found anything that works for me.
I have done huel for a week now and it really makes you aware of what you are putting in your body and calories in/out. I have replaced my breakfast and lunch with huel, have had healthier snacks throughout the day and a sensible meal in the evening making sure I stick to around 1400 cals per day. Other than one of the days where all I wanted to do was eat everything in sight (I didnāt!) I havenāt really been hungry or had craving sugar which is amazing.
Great progress already! Iām no nutrition expert but 1400 calories per day sounds a little on the low side, just take care! Keep us updated and good luck
Great progress so far, well done I find Huel is just thing thing for a busy Mum as thereās so little effort involved, plus prepping the Huel in advance means itās there when you get hunger pangs/cravings so it seems to limit me doing the Mummy raid on the cupboards and fridge
If your interested, Iāve been tracking my Huel weight loss journey on the Experiences page under the thread āOver weight sugar addictā
I am Day 3 with huel for breakfast and lunch. Trying to shift baby weight is not easy But it is making my life so much easier not having to think about what to have for those two meals. Husband is doing it aswell so we will see what happens! Good Luck!
Main tip for when starting with Huel for me is drink lots of water, I find it really helps keep you fuller for longer. Also have healthy snacks at the ready because personally I have one Huel between 10-12 and my other between 1-3 and then when Iām home between 5/6pm, I start getting hungry before dinner and naughty snacky bits (biscuits etc) are more tempting than ever. I tend to have either a Huel bar (when theyāre in stock) or Natural nut bar, few sips of a pre made Huel before a fairly healthy normal dinner.
Hi Charlie May.
Thanks for the welcome.
Sorry for the late reply, Iām slowly getting used to the forum and there seems to be plenty of great discussions and debates.
The last few days Iāve only replaced one of my meals with huel but have trying to keep within my daily cals. Iāve Been a bit hungry but think that is because Iām becoming more mobile (my back went again a few weeks back so slowly getting back on my feet). This has caused me to stare at the contents of the food in the fridge and cupboards telling myself not to touch itā¦ I have no willpower so been surprised that I havenāt raided them yet especially as the hubby likes chocolate!!.
I have found that I have been horrendous at not drinking water so will be tackling this over the next few days.
Iāll have a little read of your journey thread once I put the children to bed when I have some much needed peace and quiet .
Iām not sure whether to do a weekly update or monthly as it not sure if anyone would be interested.
Hey Leanne07
Thanks for commenting and Good luck with your journey. Itās great the hubby is doing it with you as you can support each other. My husband is very curious about it and catch him looking at the booklet, he has already nicked the free Tshirt that came in the first order .
Life isnāt easy with small kids so it helps massively not having to think about cooking. I still have to cook in the evening as I have to feed the kids so I have been having a healthy meal with them so they donāt ask questions about why Iām not eating dinner. Keep us updated with how you get on.
Hey The Jackal,
Thanks for the message.
Iāve found Iāve been horrendous at drinking water lately but Tackling that as of today!
Iāve been off work at the moment due to back issues so I havenāt been majorly hungry (apart from the odd days) nor have I had to be organised with snacks etc but Iām sure that will have to change once I go back to work.
I leave the house at 630am and most days I donāt get back home until 730pm. I have also realised that my colleagues are feeders. They always have cakes, donut and chocolates in the office.
Over the last few months I have not really participated in the office shenanigans as I have found that I donāt respond well to gluten and most of the treats contain it. I am curious to try the huel bars. Are there any ideas of when they will be back in stock?
Iāll keep a look out for the bars as it will be nice to try something new.
Well I weighed myself this morning which showed 203lbs on the scale so another loss but keeping Wednesday morning as my official weigh in day.
Iāve Been drinking loads of water today but it isnāt helping my hunger levels. I woke up this morning with hunger pains for the first time in a long time and Iāve been hungry all bloody day so trying to stay out the kitchen.
Has any one tried baking with huel? Iāve seen a recipe for muffins but Iām not the best baker in the world and Iām sure experimenting will go horrendously wrong.
@charliemay I read your journey. Loved how honest it is. Well done, keep up the good work
I have had a few days where Iāve just wanted to stuff my face as I felt so hungry but instead of letting my inner fatty go mad I just had a few extra snacks.
I have also discovered that the bowel issues I have suffered from for years have majorly reduced. I no longer have the bowel pain/cramps or bloating that I usually have. Also instead of going to the toilet 5/6 times a day Iām just going the once which is amazing (TMI for some so apologies).
I tried to take a āscientificā (or maybe āmindfulā?) approach to hunger in my first few weeks on Huel, trying to analyse how I was feeling, whether it was actually ābelly deep hungerā or cravings. I found it really interesting as I began to realise that previously I wasnāt really ever properly hungry, just craving food and/or tired and cramming food in just because! Iāve also found that whereas before I would still have a full belly at bedtime, now Iām often on the empty side. Before I would have been almost fearful of being hungry and would have had a late night snack to avoid going to bed hungry, now I just try to drink a glass of water, or a piece of fruit and a glass of water and go to bed (earlier if possible!). My body has been thanking me for removing itās previous nighttime workload I think. I do sometimes wake up ravenous, but thatās when the pre-made Huel sat in the fridge helps! Other times Iāve woken up surprisingly not hungry as if my bodyās gone, āah ok, no late night snack? Fine Iāll just munch on a piece of thigh fat tonight!ā
Iāve got a Huel bar and a half in my cupboard because I got a couple of free ones with orders when they first came out. I think they may end up staying there as I found them pretty meh. They are not enough calories for a meal, so for me I canāt use one to replace a Huel (even one of my usual 2 scoop Huels), but then their calories are pretty high for a āsnackā and quite frankly Iād choose a whole host of healthy snack option for less calories before Iād struggle through a Huel bar - they are very dry and powdery
Have you tried a hot drink to stave off hunger? My absolute favourite is Nettle Tea (I drink Clipper nettle tea, but there are several brands). I find a nettle tea after my Huel really helps my hunger satisfaction level, as does eating a small snack followed by a nettle tea. Itās as if the warmth and volume of the nettle tea tricks my body into thinking itās had a bigger meal than it has!
Iāve not tried baking with Huel because itās not what Huel is about for me, I like it simple and easy. If I had time to bake I think Iād prefer to bake something I really like and then eat a small portion within my calorie allowance, rather than bake something I know wonāt be as good with Huel (I really love bakingā¦). For me Huel is kind of about not eating or thinking about eating, if that makes sense. I feel hungry, I drink my Huel, I donāt feel hungry, but itās not really an āeatingā experience. Itās almost like a mental break from eating and thinking about food for me and Iāve found that quite freeing.
Itās been a pretty good week.
Again Iāve had a few days where Iāve been abit hungrier than usual so I have had a few hot drink which seemed to control it.
Iām trying to break my evening habit of eating a snack once the kids are in bed but itās hard as the inner fatty wants to escape. Instead of the usual crap Iāve been having rice cakes and pukka detox tea. Iāve started getting used to waking up with hunger pains.
Iām still off work at the moment so only having between 1400-1600 cals a day but this will change once I go back. Iām trying to work out how I will fit huel into my hectic work schedule but Iām sure I will find a way.
So far Iām loving it. Iāve had a few people commenting that Iāve lost weight and my skin looks better.
To the ladies out there, have you found that huel has helped your monthly visits?
I found this month I have not been snappy at all, havenāt had the usual breakouts and Iām not bloated. I also havenāt had the usual cravings to eat all the crap I can find which is a bonus.
We had a family meal out last week and I decided to order half the menu like I used to do before starting huel but found I couldnāt even finish my starter, mains or dessert (my favourite cheese cake!!).
I also ordered a Diet Pepsi but couldnāt drink it as it tasted vile so stuck with a jug of water!!!
Had a read over your post and it looks like you are doing the same as I am. Trying to replace 2 meal now with Huel. I had planned to go full Huel but not sure I can manage it. Upped from 1 shake for breakfast for a while to 2 last week and this is week 2.
Week 1 I managed to gain 1.4 lbs but I put that down to not drinking enough water at the weekend. Hoping for a better week 2
Hey Natasha
Thanks for reading my post.
I had planned on replacing all 3 meals with huel but knew I would struggle with it plus I have on going bowels issues and didnāt want to spend all the time on the toilet.
I have found that Iāve coped with huel pretty well and havenāt had any adverse affects. My bowels seem to be a lot better whilst on huel.
My breakfast and lunch is huel (so each meal consists of 2 scoops with 400mls water and some fruit). I also have snacks during the day and a healthy dinner in the evening.
I track my calories using fitness pal and trying to stick within 1400-1600 cals a day but will up it once Iām more active. Itās fab keeping track of what Iām eating as some of the stuff I thought was a better option was full of calories .
Iām trying to cut down on my tea consumption so have been drinking herbal tea which helps when Iām feeling abit peckish. Iām rubbish at drinking water at the mo but I am trying to make more of an effort.
Fingers crossed for week 2. Im sure youāll smash it. Let me know how you get on.
Another good week. Have eaten out a few times but chose healthier options.
I Havenāt been majorly hungry and Been keeping within the calorie allowance.
I purchased a Fitbit blaze on Monday after looking at it for sometime and all I can say isā¦it is amazing!!
I have also synced it to my fitness pal so its been updating the energy used and automatically adjusting my calories which is making me slightly happier as it is giving me slightly more calories (=more foodāŗļø).
) but I have noticed I have major sugar cravings and comfort eat when stressed or upset. I have tried every diet under the sun but havenāt found anything that works for me.
.
I find Huel is just thing thing for a busy Mum as thereās so little effort involved, plus prepping the Huel in advance means itās there when you get hunger pangs/cravings so it seems to limit me doing the Mummy raid on the cupboards and fridge 
But it is making my life so much easier not having to think about what to have for those two meals. Husband is doing it aswell so we will see what happens! Good Luck!
.
