Slim Fast Diet Aids and Yeast Infections

It seems like I've been battling my weight forever. I've tried everything from the Cabbage Soup Diet to Atkins and even dabbled in meal delivery systems like Nutrisystem. In all of these endeavors I have indeed lost weight, never as much as I wanted to because sticking with all of these plans seemed nothing short of impossible. And while Weight Watchers seemed to give me the best results, I grew lazy and didn't always feel like counting up my points every day. Like everything else, I lost and gained it right back.

Something I hadn't tried was Slim Fast. Yes, it's been around for ages but the idea of only being allowed a milkshake for breakfast and lunch wasn't very appealing. I looked into it a bit more and found out that I wouldn't be as limited as I had originally thought. Fruits and vegetables were not only allowed, but encouraged. The more I looked at it the more I thought that this could work. And so when I went grocery shopping that first week I bought enough Slim Fast shakes to get me through the week and also stocked up on lots of fruits and veggies.

In the first week I lost 3 lbs., which I was told was mainly water weight and not to get too excited. It was true that I was drinking a lot more water but even so I was elated at my progress. But as I headed into the second week I felt the unmistakable twinges of an encroaching yeast infection. Having been yeast infection-free for many years, I thought it was a bit odd but headed off to the drug store to see if there was anything new in the world of over-the-counter yeast treatments. After doing a bit of research I found out that many of the one time only treatments often failed and that perhaps it would be better to get a 3 or 7 day treatment. I chose a 3 day over a 7 day, thinking that would take care of it. I also grabbed a bottle of something called AZO Yeast tablets and some Acidophilus tablets. I hate yogurt and this seemed the best way to get the good intestinal juices flowing.

I was wrong. I suffered through the mess and pain that seemed to intensify for three days and adhering to the instructions on the box to call your doctor if there was no sign of improvement after 3 days, I called my OB/Gyn. It was obvious to my doctor that if I had tried all of this and I was still suffering that I needed something stronger. I was prescribed three rounds of Diflucan - normally you only get one but if I was this far gone then it was likely that one wasn't going to do it. I continued to drink my Slim Fast shakes for breakfast and lunch every single day.

After finishing three whole rounds of Diflucan I found a bit of relief but it was obvious that it still wasn't completely gone. Another call to my doctor got me on the fast track straight to her office. A few hours later I had assumed the position and was told that there were indeed some yeast spores remaining, wreaking havoc on me. It seems like at this point I had used up almost everything in the anti-fungal arsenal except one Napalm-like ointment. I was given another three rounds of Diflucan and some pain reliever and sent on my way.

I spent week three of my Slim Fast diet imposing Guerilla warfare tactics on my nether regions. By the end of that week I felt better but STILL not 100%. A call from my doctor confirmed that there was nothing else going on but the Al Qaeda of yeast infections. I was cleared of underlying conditions, such as diabetes. I was given yet another round of Diflucan and instructions to continue with my other yeast supplements. Never in my life have I fought a battle of these proportions. In my entire career as a woman I've only needed Diflucan once and a single pill took care of the whole thing.

As I was popping another morning dose of Diflucan in week 4 I grabbed my Slim Fast shake. Before I had a chance to crack it open, my eyes fell on the nutritional contents. EIGHTEEN GRAMS of SUGAR! The RDA recommends no more then 40g per 2000 calorie diet and I was on something more like 1500. In these two shakes alone I had exceeded the amount of sugar I was supposed to consume in one day. The snack bars aren't much better and I was eating two of those a day, in accordance with the Slim Fast diet plan. I put the shake down immediately and haven't looked back.

5 weeks after this whole ordeal began, it ended with the death of my Slim Fast diet. Coincidence? Perhaps. But after numerous calls to my doctor, an inordinate supply of anti-fungal drugs, weeks of pain and at least one trip to the stirrups, it all came to an end when the diet did. Maybe I'll give it another shot in a few months but for now - Slim Fast is my new enemy. Anyone who is getting recurrent or simply unresolvable yeast infections should definitely take a look at their diet. You never know what's lurking in there!