New to Huel - Weight-loss journey

Hi all,

I’m a new Huel user and am trying it for weight loss. I am currently suffering with long Covid (since Dec 2023) which is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever been through. I’m mainly housebound and not able to exercise, which is extremely frustrating as I love to go to the gym, go swimming and get out for long walks. I’ve put on about 2.5 stone so I’m trying Huel black edition chocolate for breakfast and lunch, then Mac and cheese for dinner. I’ve also purchased the daily greens but am a little nervous to try it. Today is my first day. I like the taste of the shakes and look forward to trying more flavours. I’ve prepared my lunch and popped it in the fridge to keep it cool. Is there a good time of day to take the daily greens? I’ve got a tumultuous stomach but hoping it is because I’m getting used to the mix of protein and fibre, etc. Also on anti-histamines from doctor due to long covid and perimenopause (I am 48)

Sorry to hear about your issues with long covid. Hopefully things get better eventually.

Re greens, for me at least, it hasn’t mattered what time of day I take it. I used to have it last drink before bed. Now I have it as part of my breakfast. I haven’t noticed any difference between the two.

It took my body about 6 months initially to adapt to the change in diet. Initially I suffered with heartburn and gas but now years later neither are an issue with Huel.

@Bon Welcome to the Forum!

Firstly, I’m so sorry about the long COVID; I can imagine that’s really causing an issue, so I’m sorry you’re still going through it.

It sounds like you’ve got a good routine going, which is great! As for when is good for greens, we always recommend you consume them with food. I don’t imagine that the anti-histamine will cause an issue with the greens but we always recommend with any change to diet along with medication/conditions to consult your doctor to make sure that things like Huel would be suitable for you.

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Thank you, Mark. It’s been tough. I was doing really well with consuming lots of protein and lifting weights 3 or 4 times a week, in preparation for the menopause, and long Covid has scuppered all of that. However, I am excited to try Huel and see if that can help me lose some of the weight I’ve gained. I’m really enjoying the black edition chocolate shakes and the Daily Greens was perfectly fine. I just downed it with 100ml of water. I’m aiming to drink 3 litres of water a day (in addition to the shakes), in order to stay full.

Due to the long Covid I am no longer able to work, volunteer or study (all of which I was doing prior to the illness) and, as I mentioned before, I am 90% housebound so I can’t even get out for a walk. Therefore, should I deduct 500 calories from my Basal Metabolic Rate? I was going to aim for 1,200 calories but my BMR is 1,876 so I’m thinking that might be a bit low. Could you advise me on that please?

I really appreciate your message.

Hi Coup,

Thank you for your message, that is much appreciated.

I had the daily greens as a bit of a morning snack but, following Mark’s advice and your message, I think I might have them with my breakfast each day.

I think it might take a while for my digestive tract to adjust but it seems all good so far.

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Hi Mark,

I’m enjoying my new Huel diet plan and lost 5lbs in the first week. My husband loves the huel black edition shakes too and we decided to order some of the complete protein bars. They are great as a snack and we often cut them in half so that we can enjoy one after lunch and one after dinner, however, they seem to be creating a lot of gas and bloating. Is this normal? Will it settle or is there an ingredient that can be troublesome for certain people?

Other than that I’m finding the hot and savoury meals manageable and the banana, chocolate and salted caramel black edition shakes lovely.

I started my weight loss regime about 6 weeks ago now, with Huel being fundamental to that. I have a black shake every morning for breakfast, and that fills me until lunch. I have a protein rich lunch, and same again for tea. I now go to the gym 3 times a week too, mainly on the weights. I’ve lost 1st 8lbs now, and enjoying the journey. Good luck with your weight loss journey, and i’m sure you’ll find, as I did, that the Huel shakes really help with that.

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Incredible!

Keep us posted how you continue to get on :heart:

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So as this is change to your diet, you can go through a little bit of a period where your body adjusts to Huel. The best bit of advice for this is to make sure that you are consuming water with Huel :heart:

Hey! Thank you! Congratulations on your weight loss, that’s fantastic! You can be my inspiration :smiley:

I am having a black edition shake for breakfast and one for lunch, then a hot and savoury Huel meal for dinner. If I feel hungry in the afternoon, I have a complete protein bar. I aim for 3 litres of water a day, in addition to the water I put in the shakes and meal. I have long Covid, and have done for over 20 months now and cannot exercise. I’ve lost most of the tone I’d formed going to the gym but I’m trying to get some weight off, eat really healthily and drink lots of water in the hope of improving my general health. I do feel a little better having been on Huel for a couple of weeks now :partying_face: Plus it’s so convenient when I am severely lacking energy to cook. My diet is 100% Huel at present but I will have a meal off for special occasions, for example, it’s my wedding anniversary this month so we’ll have a treat meal for dinner and then straight back to it.

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I’m having about 3 litres a day and I’m getting used to the meal plan. It’s the easiest plan I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried a lot!) :smiley:

Just can’t wait to be able to exercise again!

Hi I’ve just got the black edition huel. But I was going to dunk on for breakfast and lunch then like chicken and vegetables for tea. My fitness pal says I can have 1570 calories. I do get fit with Rick on you tube trying to aim for 10000 steps a day. Is this going to work. I’ve read huel is not for weight loss I’m gutted as it just turned up this morning. I’ve not brought the vitamin green packet

Hi Pretty,

I have been having Huel black edition for breakfast and lunch, then a hot and savoury pot or sachet for dinner. I also have daily greens after my lunch and, if I still feel hungry, I have one of the complete protein bars. I started about a month ago and I’ve already lost 11lbs, which I am happy with. It is approximately 2lb per week which is optimum for me. I cannot exercise at all at the moment, due to a chronic illness that causes post-exertional malaise, so I’m purely trying to manage my diet until I’m recovered. I just make sure I’m approximately 500 calories below my basal metabolic rate. I do about 5 very basic yoga stretches each morning just to keep me mobile. I hope this helps. Best of luck with your journey.

Huel is not a ‘weight loss product’, but this doesn’t mean it cannot be used as part of a lifestyle to lose weight. Many of us, including myself have lost significant weight (more accurately body fat) with Huel products at the core of our diet.

Losing weight (for most people) is a simply equation of your body using more calories than you consume. For most people, if you maintain a calorie deficit of 3,500kcal per week you will lose 1-2lbs of body fat per week.

Therefore Huel is perfect for losing weight as part of the correct lifestyle as it is very easy to calorie count and control portion sizes with Huel products.

Remember that Huel is just food.

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