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Trying Soylent didn’t go well
- Anderkent 9y ago> The point is, I derive a lot of joy from food because I’m not a sociopath. I don't derive joy from food. Guess I must be a sociopath. Fuck you too.
- kronos29296 9y agoI guess you should not eat candy received from strangers and a one solution to all problems product from a salesman. Hope this stops people from destroying their bodies because of chronic diarrhoea.
- 29052017 9y agoWe are trying to launch a similar product here in my country. The negative publicity that Soylent has generated for itself, hasn't helped our nerves one bit as we come closer to the launch. Unlike US, Bars and drinks are not in fashion here. We have decided to launch in form of Lollipops. Our team is having a hard time coming up with a motto, but we'll get over it. Any advice from the wise HN folks on how to handle the first batches of users ( we'll be giving out the first few hundred lollipops for free on condition that users click a selfie with the lollipop every day and tag us on FB/Twitter ), in case things go wrong!!
- jackcarter 9y agoHow does a meal-replacement lollipop work? How many calories does each lollipop contain?
- 29052017 9y agoWell ... you'll be amazed at the R&D we did to make it work. It took us almost five years to get to where we are today. We'll be releasing detailed documentation of the manufacturing process/In-Lab testing. Our team wanted to open-source the whole design, but we're not there yet. Maybe in a few month's time after the launch.
- opportune 9y agoThis is a troll, right? The url in your profile doesn't even resolve.
- 29052017 9y agoSorry, but that is not the name, will update my profile. We came up with that codename once Soylent started on Kickstarter, but that's only a kind of inhouse joke.
- maxehmookau 9y agoThis post actually had me doubled over in laughter.
- amelius 9y agoIt reminded me of this internet joke: http://future-is-here.com/chilli.htm http://future-is-here.com/chilli.htm
- fredleblanc 9y agoPerhaps the most appropriate use of multiple consecutive stuff coming out of tube GIFs the internet has ever seen. And then she went back for more!
- faitswulff 9y agoI have the same reaction to Soylent...minus the witty commentary. Just the suffering.
- maweki 9y agoIf you're in Europe I suggest you try Joylent. Great many flavors, nice texture, and comparably cheap. I am not on it now but I used it to replace one meal per day for weeks at a time with no adverse effects. But yeah, I've also heared many Soylent-Horror-Stories.
- drakonka 9y agoI hear they renamed Joylent to Jimmy Joy. I have never tried it, but know someone at work who says good things about it. My own meal replacement drink of choice is Keto Chow.
- metafex 9y agoTo make it a sample-size of two, I can also confirm that I did not have any adverse effects, it just tastes funny.
- TeMPOraL 9y agoMake it sample-size of three. Used it instead of lunch for two months. No adverse effects, and I liked the taste.
- collyw 9y agoI live in Spain. We have good food at cheap prices and restaurants everywhere. I see absolutely no reason to try overly processed crap like that.
- blunte 9y agoJoylent/JimmyJoy shakes cost 1.83€ per shake. They provide 45g of protein per shake, 33% of daily vitamins and minerals, and 700kcal. They take about 2 minutes to make, and another 2-3 to consume. I challenge you to find the same benefits any other way.
- DiThi 9y agoNot OP. My meals in Spain cost 1€ on average and it takes me around 5 minutes on average to prepare. Example: Premade spanish tortilla with olive oil, for 1.75€ in Mercadona, 798 kcal[0]. Just heat in the microwave for a minute. (spaniards say premade spanish tortilla is awful but I think the Mercadona one, while not as good as home made, is pretty good) [0] https://www.mercadona.es/detall_producte.php?id=80772 https://www.mercadona.es/detall_producte.php?id=80772
- SideburnsOfDoom 9y agoIngredients are typically listed from highest percentage down. I see: Filtered Water, Soy Protein Isolate, ... Soy Protein I can take a guess where the problem lies. YMMV, but when I try something like this, I for one stick to Whey-based products. Soy doesn't agree with everyone.
- mabbo 9y agoMy wife has some stomach issues that we think are related to allergies (to what? the elimination diet gave us some suspects, but no convictions). After reading this, I think I'm going to stop suggesting she try Soylent as an alternative option.
- Double_a_92 9y agoProbably stress :(
- Dryken 9y agoI have been using Soylent for a month now and have no problem. Although I'm using the powder one you have to mix with water not the bottled one which contain caffeine and is made to replace your breakfast + coffee. Anyway sorry you had such bad experience, living in then toilet is never great :/
- Rooster61 9y ago> not the bottled one which contain caffeine and is made to replace your breakfast + coffee Actually, the base 2.0 (bottled) Soylent doesn't contain caffeine and is intended to replace any meal of the day. What you are referring to is Coffiest, which is only one variety.
- aaomidi 9y agoThey added two more caffeinated varieties.
- OberstKrueger 9y agoThere's multiple kinds of the bottled Soylent, including non-caffeinated ones that are meant to be closer to the powder + water mix. The pictures indicate that she's drinking those.
- zython 9y agoradically changing your diet to a controversial product can lead to unfavourable consequences, who'd've thunk ?
- blunte 9y agoWe have a line of products here in Netherlands from a company now called JimmyJoy (formerly Joylent... and the name change was probably inevitable). I've consumed dozens of their shakes, with banana being my favorite. 700kcal, 45g protein, and about 33% of the usual daily recommended vitamins and minerals. Oh, and vegan. I can highly recommend them.
- Fletch137 9y agoTheir "twennybars" are good too. Perfect for hiking or generally being on the go all day, if a little expensive.
- dna_polymerase 9y agoDid not use Joylent for a while, didn't realize they renamed. I think I should give it a try again. First experiences where good, but it interfered with my diet plans later. Actually Joylent tasted really good.
- TeMPOraL 9y agoPast Joylent customer here as well. Tried out their shakes instead of lunch at work for ~2 months; I was generally happy and I agree the shakes taste well (though the banana one doesn't smell well when you clean the shaker). I also didn't realize they changed the name; thanks for the info.
- dgut 9y agoMy understanding of Dutch culinary customs is that they eat mostly food that is "kant en klaar", either precooked or neatly organized to be quickly prepared (fixed portions). Even meat tends to come with a bag of spices and a manual. Edit: I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just seemed to me like this reduces time spent in the kitchen quite well (part of the idea behind Soylent/Joylent and w/e). The Dutch don't cook more than they need, also (with the implication that if you happen to arrive at dinner time, don't expect an invitation). :P
- flor1s 9y ago
- nashashmi 9y agoThe first time she consumed it, it was too much at once. The second time she took her time drinking the bottle. Sometimes when you take in a load of nutrients, and you are not hungry to death or something, your stomach decides to reject the food because it is more than it can handle. This also happens when you go through rapid temperature changes or when you lose your appetite.
- xori 9y agoThat was hilarious. I say while drinking my chocolate soylent. I haven't had any ill effects since v2.
- kminehart 9y agoI had / am having a different experience. I wish the author did a bit more research and had laid out some more facts; a guy in the comments says it pretty much perfectly: > Of all the articles that have talked about soylent, both positively and negatively, this is one of the least informative. Because, guess what? You didn't actually give soylent a try. You just saw an opportunity to make fun of a product that you don't agree with. Anyone who actually wants to learn something about soylent would gain nothing from reading this. To share my experience: It's been quite the opposite. She complains about the bowel movements, but honestly after I started drinking Soylent exclusively my bowel movements are more healthy and are at a more healthy pace. I don't think I'm too lazy to heat up a corn dog or some ramen noodles, but I do have issues eating healthy, and those quick meals don't have a whole lot of nutritional value. Soylent solves this problem for me.
- fredleblanc 9y agoBut what if this was just… entertainment? Check out the about page of her blog — http://www.everywhereist.com/about/ http://www.everywhereist.com/about/ — this isn't a foodie's journal cataloguing the world of all things edible, this is a copywriter that took up blogging while traveling. She found something to write about, and wrote about it. (In a style that was funny while not being cringe-inducing, which I find rare these days.) Side note, though — awesome to hear that Soylent works for you. Because, as you said, this _is_ the story I've heard most of the time. I don't like in an area where I'd ever stumble into someone that even knows what Soylent is, so a flip side to these stories is always good to know.
- kminehart 9y agoFair enough; this is the apparently kind of storytelling I don't enjoy. I misinterpreted and assumed that this was supposed to be informative, and not entertaining.
- ckastner 9y agoSoylent takes its name from a 1960s sci-fi thriller starring Charlton Heston (the website maintains they actually got the idea from the book on which the film is based. Sure, guys. Sure.) In the movie, there’s a massive food shortage, and Soylent is the food replacement that everyone eats And the story behind Soylent™ is basically just s/food shortage/time shortage/, no? Or what else is the point?
- OJFord 9y agoThat's really strange; says far more about the author that they don't believe someone could possibly have read a book before seeing (or not have seen) a derivative film.
- rolal 9y agoI think she is pointing out that the makers of soylent say they don't have the time to prepare ramen, but they had the time to read the book instead of watching the film.
- noxToken 9y agoI think you're reading too far into it. This doesn't seem like a super serious blog. It's just taking the low hanging fruit and making jokes out of them.
- Spooky23 9y agoReplacing a normal diet with a soy based liquid diet isn't going to go so well. Soy mimics estrogen and long term overconsumption can contribute to endocrine issues that are hard to diagnose and poorly understood.
- Rooster61 9y agoHmm, well, I think the problem is right there in the first part of the article. If you have a diet where you wake up and eat cookie dough and pie, you are most likely not making choices that put enough dietary fiber into your diet. Those who don't eat enough fiber, then suddenly start consuming a healthy amount usually experience the kind of gastrointestinal distress she experienced. That's pretty much what fiber is SUPPOSED to do. The bacteria in your gut all of the sudden have a smorgasbord of stuff to break down and it releases a ton of gas as part of the process. Not judging her, she can have all the cookie dough and pie she wants. But don't blame the food you are eating when something with a little fiber blows up your digestive track.
- princekolt 9y agoHow is a diet of ramen and corndog much better than that? That is, I'm supposing the founders take the damn thing.
- Rooster61 9y agoIt isn't, and exactly why the founder decided to make Soylent in the first place. She oversimplifies the story of how Soylent came about, but its alright as this clearly isn't meant to be a serious critique of the stuff. Half the article is poop gifs lol. Not to mention the founder DID have some gastrointestinal distress when he started (not to mention one batch that lacked a certain vitamin which caused him to get into some serious health trouble briefly).
- danpalmer 9y agoThere is quite a difference between fibre making going to the toilet easier, and explosive diarrhoea.
- Rooster61 9y agoNot if it's a drastic, sudden increase. A secondary side effect of that much fiber quickly is it temporarily causes you to not absorb various minerals as you normally would. And if minerals aren't absorbed, then out they go, rather quickly. I'd post references to support it, but a quick google of sudden fiber introduction and distress will quickly show multiple results to that effect. I'll leave that up to you. Nevermind, here's a simple one right from UCLA's dining entity: http://www.dining.ucla.edu/housing_site/dining/SNAC_pdf/FactsOfFiber.pdf http://www.dining.ucla.edu/housing_site/dining/SNAC_pdf/Fact...
- mr_isomies 9y agoI think it was in Chapo Trap House a couple of weeks ago, that they were talking about UBI and the subject of soylent came up in passing (ah) Essentially, the point is that all of these initiatives to become more productive are spearheaded by the tech world, not for the benefit of the people but rather to probe "what is the absolute, absolute minimum someone needs to continue working and not revolt" in an era on the cusps of bearing trillionaires Obviously, things are more complicated than that but it was to first time I saw any connection from UBI, soylent, and other convenience/pseudo-social policies heavily backed by tech giants. Work from home, out of your bed, drinking the sludge, order everything with Echo, etc. In other words, it's part of the whole convenience vs control dichotomy
- shadowmint 9y agoTo be fair, a negative experience probably leaves you writing a negative review, and it sounds like she had a pretty rubbish experience. So, fair enough. > The point is, I derive a lot of joy from food because I’m not a sociopath. etc. Oh come. This is just trolling for page views. If you engage, you're just feeding the troll. Don't bother.
- SideburnsOfDoom 9y agoIt is a mystery why people in tech thought that "meal replacement liquid" was a fundamentally new product. It's not http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/weight-management/meal-replacements/meal-replacement-shakes/ http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/weight-management/meal... https://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/browse/default.aspx?N=4293437894&Ne=4294793660 https://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/browse/default.aspx?... Perhaps, a victory of marketing over experience and existing knowledge of nutrition?
- lobster_johnson 9y agoWhat was "new" about Soylent and subequent imitators is that it's marketed as a meal replacement product for "normal" people. Earlier meal replacement products were either marketed for weight-loss purposes or medical purposes, mostly as supplements for people who, for various reasons, can't consume their full daily recommended intake of calories and nutrients. They were typically to be found in pharmacies and health-food stores. Not sure what your purpose is in rallying against this, anyway. Soylent has been around for a while now. It's no longer a new product.
- SideburnsOfDoom 9y ago> Not sure what your purpose is in rallying against this, anyway Just one question - why would tech people be best placed to do this, not you know, nutritionists who have successfully, established products in an adjacent niche?
- pwinnski 9y agoAs GP said, the difference is marketing. This was marketed to "normal" people, which works best when created by a "normal" person. Of course, now that "normal" people are aware that liquid meal replacements are a thing, there are other options.
- SideburnsOfDoom 9y agoI wonder if Soylent would have been even more successful if instead of trying to "develop" a food from scratch with software engineer skills, they had instead simply rebadged or varied an existing NutriSlim-type product.
- fallingfrog 9y agoDid anyone else notice that the ingredients in soylent are almost exactly the same as the ingredients in baby food, except without the dehydrated milk?
- spearmint 9y agoWhat an absolutely terrible "review". Over half of it is filled with her millenial look-at-my-silly-millenial-face selfies or "hilarious" tumblr gifs. Another quarter-"review" is dedicated to (almost literally) going LIKE OH MY GOSH THERE'S SO MUCH LEFT! I HAVE TO DRINK ALL OF IT LOOK AT ME LIKE OHMAGAWD I'M SO BRAVE FOR DOING THIS! EVERYONE!! LOOK AT ME!!!! also here's a shot of my incredibly-effeminate husband xDD btw I only drank 2 bottles in 4 days even though I bought 12 :( but I bet you want to know about my "Emotional state" now because consuming a food product is an incredible endeavor!!!! By her own self-reporting, she clearly has no clue about living healthy since she reports going on meme diets and workout routines. So what exactly is it that makes her qualified to "review" this product?
- je_bailey 9y agoI have two thoughts about this submission. First, this is a funny and well written blog entry about someone trying Soylent. Second, Hacker News is not the right place for this. This is humor and viewpoint. HN wants, or at least pretends to want, analysis and figures. Maybe if they stripped all the CSS from the site and made the blog look like it was made by a dysfunctional highschooler in the 90's it would get a bit more respect.
- wink 9y agoOh I'm getting nearly as much amusement out of reading the comments that solely focus on soylent as a product as I got out of reading the (excellent, imho, but not very objective) post.
- forgottenpass 9y agoI think Soylent is stupid, but I stopped reading after I saw the article was front-loaded with a review of Soylent's marketing image and some bland musing related to the way modern labeling is scary because of it's inaccessibility. I'm sure if I followed her as an author - rather than for the subject matter - I'd feel differently. But I didn't go into this blog looking to read someone talk about whatever while being quirky and making it about themselves. So I just found her personality really grating.
- KiDD 9y ago+1
- NKCSS 9y agoVery funny and a great writing style.