Losing weight with smoothies?

Peaceful_

Hello thanks for reading.....I bought a blender about a week ago and ive started drinking smoothies for breakfast .... a banana, mix of berries with some vanilla almond milk with acouple hand fulls of spinach/greens. I was wanting to know if anyone is also doing this and how there progress is?? Also ive been wondering about protein powder? would it be a good idea to add? or something that really isent necessary... also if anyone has some ideas they'd like to share that'd be awesome

Sued0nim

how many calories in it?

do you like them better than porridge / scrambled egg on toast / yogurt / cereal or whatever breakfast you've replaced it with

losing weight is about calorie defecit .. and that's it

so if they fit your calorie goals you will see progress

mymodernbabylon

I'm trying to up my protein (protect muscles) so when I make smoothies I add protein powder (myprotein.com). I don't use it as a 'weight loss' thing but more as something I enjoy having once in a while. As rabbitjb said, losing weight is about a calorie deficit, so if you are having them and they're helping with that deficit, then cool!

One place I've found recipes is http://www.blenderbabes.com

Liftng4Lis

If you're in a deficit, you'll lose weight, doesn't matter how you get there.

psuLemon

My problem with smoothies are they don't fill me up. I would rather eat eats or a protein bagel. But if you need something quick, just make sure you account for the calories as weight loss is about calories in vs out. Just note, that smoothies, meal replacements, juicing or etc.. won't help you lose weight if you aren't in a deficit.

badar1653

Actually I have been doing smoothie diet for 2 months now. It helped me break the year long plateau i had. Its tastes good so you don't get bored of it.
I generally make smoothie with Oats because it makes it filling due to high fiber. Rest is same like skimmed milk, frozen berries, chia seeds and banana. You can use any ingredient you like as long as you remain within your calorie goals.
I also do Intermittent fasting for 16 hours. So, just 2 meals of smoothie and a little snack like nuts make my day complete.

TimothyFish

I'm not much for smoothies because I hate cleaning the blender. A smoothie one in a while isn't a bad thing, but getting most of your calories from liquids is a bad idea. They don't stay in your stomach as long, so you get hungry sooner. They are pre-chewed, so you don't burn as many calories digesting them. But as long as you limit your calorie intake, you can lose weight, even on a smoothie diet.

Unknown

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trisH_7183

I have a smoothie for breakfast when tired of most breakfast food.Mine is around 250 cals,good protein using Greek Yogurt.

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47Jacqueline

I have a smoothie for breakfast when I'm in a hurry or if I've run out of eggs, but it never seems to last as long as a "chewing" breakfast. I use protein powder, milk and fruit.

CarrieCans

TimothyFish wrote: »

I'm not much for smoothies because I hate cleaning the blender. A smoothie one in a while isn't a bad thing, but getting most of your calories from liquids is a bad idea. They don't stay in your stomach as long, so you get hungry sooner. They are pre-chewed, so you don't burn as many calories digesting them. But as long as you limit your calorie intake, you can lose weight, even on a smoothie diet.

Me too, the blender is a PITA but i make my smoothies in a mason jar then i flip it and drop in a straw. One less bulky dirty dish.

My 2 biggest problems are protein and fiber so i have been adding both to my smoothies and it really helps. Adding fiber also makes the smoothies a little thicker and helps me feel fuller for longer.

logg1e

Smoothie every morning for breakfast here (and a dishwasher).
Almond milk, banana, oats and protein powder. On a day I'm lifting I increase the calories I spend on oats and decrease that spent on protein. On a rest day, it's the other way 'round.

4bettermenow

logg1e wrote: »

Smoothie every morning for breakfast here (and a dishwasher).
Almond milk, banana, oats and protein powder. On a day I'm lifting I increase the calories I spend on oats and decrease that spent on protein. On a rest day, it's the other way 'round.

I've recently started adding in smoothies for one meal. When you say oats...you mean raw oatmeal oats? How is the taste? And how much do you add? I need more fiber in my diet so that may be a good way to get some. Thanks

Sued0nim

4bettermenow wrote: »

logg1e wrote: »

Smoothie every morning for breakfast here (and a dishwasher).
Almond milk, banana, oats and protein powder. On a day I'm lifting I increase the calories I spend on oats and decrease that spent on protein. On a rest day, it's the other way 'round.

I've recently started adding in smoothies for one meal. When you say oats...you mean raw oatmeal oats? How is the taste? And how much do you add? I need more fiber in my diet so that may be a good way to get some. Thanks

may I suggest raspberries for your fibre - it's how I'm boosting mine

WickedPineapple

I like smoothies. They help me get in my fruits. I'm now experimenting with green smoothies in an attempt to get more veggies in. I agree with all the sentiments above. If you're not in a deficit, it won't do anything for weightloss. I also hate cleaning the blender and agree that they aren't particularly filling. I tried doing them for breakfast, but found them to be too much effort for first thing in the morning (I'm not a morning person), and I got hungry right after having one. I usually have them if I'm only a little hungry, and am also short on calories/protein/fiber for the day.

4bettermenow

Oh...I bought some raspberries yesterday...well a mix of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. That sounds much better than oats. LOL I did add them to my smoothie yesterday with my normal kale and spinach combo...as well as almond milk. Perhaps that would be enough.

RJAgeo

*based on my own experience*
I've been counting calories to maintain weight for many years, and I recently purchased a Nutribullet. Although the calorie counts are relatively high with the 'nutriblasts', I'm definitely experiencing a small increase in my metabolism (a little more energy). My typical blast is almonds, spinach, pineapple, blueberry, banana, turmeric, green tea, and coconut water (no protein powder). My weight has not been affected.
p.s. that Nutribullet is super fast and easy to clean. The only thing I need to figure out is how to satisfy my need for some texture!

4bettermenow

I inherited a nutribullet...it is awesome and so easy to clean up.

icrushit

I sometimes use a smoothies as a meal replacement, usually when I don't have the time or can't be interested in preparing something more involved.

My smoothies tend to be quite filling, but then they are not your typical low cal fruit ones, but rather 6- 800 calorie ones made from full fat yoghurt, a banana, a good handful or berries, some coconut oil and nut butter, a hefty portion of mixed nuts and seeds, and often a scoop of protein powder if I feel my protein intake is trailing that day.

Such a smoothie usually has 20 odd grams of fibre, a load of healthy (and filling) fats, and with the protein powder about 40g of protein, so I usually don't have a problem with them not being filling, lol.

ETA: my daily maintenance calorie level tends to be between 2600 & 3000 calories on a given day, so a 7/ 800 calorie smoothie in place of a meal fits in nicely. If your maintenance calorie level is lower, I am sure a smaller portion of the same smoothie would be just as filling

purplishblue

Yep! Like the others said, I lose weight due to calorie deficit, not specifically cause of smoothies. But I make them almost every morning, they help me get more protein in and cause the ones I make taste super good

I make either a chocolate shake: 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 a frozen banana, 1 tbs natural peanut butter, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, a shake of cinnamon. Then add some ice and blend.... sooo delicious!

I also make a fruit/green smoothie, which I use half a banana, 1 tbs peanut butter, 1/2 scoop of plain or strawberry banana flavored protein powder, then add whatever mix of frozen fruit I feel like (strawberries, cherries, mango, grapes), and add some kale. Add 1 cup of water and ice... yum!

trisH_7183

Sorry for double post
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Sabine_Stroehm

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

If you're in a deficit, you'll lose weight, doesn't matter how you get there.

This is true. Granted, only logically wants to eat a balanced, nutrient dense diet while doing it, so a smoothie can be a part of that. It's a better breakfast than many I've seen on here.

emdeesea

Meh. They don't work for me. As soon as I drink a smoothie I'm hungry again in like 20 minutes, so they're not worth it to me.

joseccastaneda

I like the smoothies if i'm running late, but prefer a regular meal. But when using smoothies, i defenitely use protein powder. I've been using Jym Pro smore flavor, and i dont even like chocolate.

TopazCutie

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SMOOTHIES!!!!!!

I usually do a banana, greens, mixed berries, and vanilla soy milk. Lately I've been trying frozen mango to change it up a bit. Throw everything in the blender with some vanilla soy milk and enjoy. I like to freeze individual portions in sandwich bags so no ice needed!!!

There's a book called 10 day green smoothie cleanse by JJ Smith. Awesome book and extremely inspiring facebook page, run it by ur doc before trying. I'm not SUPER into it but it's what rekindled my love for smoothies again.

You just feel SO GOOD... like it's kinda hard to explain lol but honestly I can see myself making and drinking smoothies for the rest of my life. Especially since I discovered that bringing them to the office isn't as hard as I thought!

Hornsby

I drink smoothies every day because............I like them. They have 0 effect on weight loss though as that is all about a deficit. I have a 550 calorie/protein bomb around 9pm nearly every night.

TopazCutie

I don't add protein powder but I add chia seeds for fibre. I also want to try adding bran buds in it for extra fibre. But one day I'll add protein powder!

Sabine_Stroehm

TopazCutie wrote: »

I don't add protein powder but I add chia seeds for fibre. I also want to try adding bran buds in it for extra fibre. But one day I'll add protein powder!

This, I add chia seeds and pumpkin seeds.

zipa78

TimothyFish wrote: »

I'm not much for smoothies because I hate cleaning the blender.

Rinse, fill halfway with hot water, blend for 15 sec, rinse again. Leave to dry. I can't think of anything in my kitchen that is easier to clean than the blender.

cwolfman13

Peaceful_xoxo wrote: »

Hello thanks for reading.....I bought a blender about a week ago and ive started drinking smoothies for breakfast .... a banana, mix of berries with some vanilla almond milk with acouple hand fulls of spinach/greens. I was wanting to know if anyone is also doing this and how there progress is?? Also ive been wondering about protein powder? would it be a good idea to add? or something that really isent necessary... also if anyone has some ideas they'd like to share that'd be awesome

If it were me I would throw in some Fage Greek Yogurt for protein. I drink smoothies primarily as a fast acting recovery drink after a long ride...and sometimes for breakfast.

Keep in mind that there's nothing magical about a smoothie...it can be a good way to pack in some nutrition...but ultimately your weight loss will be dependent on your overall energy (calorie) consumption. When you consume more energy (calories) than your body requires, that energy gets stored for later use as body fat. When you consume less energy than your body requires, that energy deficit has to be compensated for...so you burn body fat to make up that difference and thus lose weight. When you consume a balance of energy you maintain the status quot.

My favorite smoothie is 1 cup Fage Greek Yogurt, 1/2 cup egg whites from carton, 1 banana (preferably frozen), 100 grams of frozen mixed berries, and 1 ounce of almonds. It clocks in around 700ish calories and is perfect after a nice long ride.

TopazCutie

zipa78 wrote: »

TimothyFish wrote: »

I'm not much for smoothies because I hate cleaning the blender.

Rinse, fill halfway with hot water, blend for 15 sec, rinse again. Leave to dry. I can't think of anything in my kitchen that is easier to clean than the blender.

THIS.