Meal replacement shakes for someone who knows portion control?

Leana088
Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm not sure how to answer this.

I'm al for eating everything in moderation and such, because that's how I lost my own weight.

Now my sister, has gained a few pounds during her birthday. She's never been too much overweight at all. So its not like she has no idea of portion control. She maintains easily without ever learning how to count calories.

She wants to take 2 meal replacement shakes and 1 normal meal a day to lose the few pounds she has gained.

Do you think this is a good idea? Especially since she has no problems maintaining long term?

Replies

  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.
  • mperrott2205
    mperrott2205 Posts: 737 Member
    ... No... Tell her to stop worrying.
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.

    Most likely water retention from sodium and alcohol. You can't gain weight any substantial amount of weigh in a day.
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.

    Most likely water retention from sodium and alcohol. You can't gain weight any substantial amount of weigh in a day.

    I know, it's not in a day... I think she had a few too many outings this month. The birthday thing is just an excuse. :smile:
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Leana088 wrote: »
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.

    Most likely water retention from sodium and alcohol. You can't gain weight any substantial amount of weigh in a day.

    I know, it's not in a day... I think she had a few too many outings this month. The birthday thing is just an excuse. :smile:

    Even so....8 pounds? Not likely.

    She should just go back to her regularly scheduled programming. It will come off. No need for a crash diet. I guarantee it will cause her to be miserable and/or binge.
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.

    Most likely water retention from sodium and alcohol. You can't gain weight any substantial amount of weigh in a day.

    I know, it's not in a day... I think she had a few too many outings this month. The birthday thing is just an excuse. :smile:

    Even so....8 pounds? Not likely.

    She should just go back to her regularly scheduled programming. It will come off. No need for a crash diet. I guarantee it will cause her to be miserable and/or binge.

    I don't think she'll binge. Not like her at all. But she might as well just eat lighter meals instead of drinking her calories.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Leana088 wrote: »
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.

    Most likely water retention from sodium and alcohol. You can't gain weight any substantial amount of weigh in a day.

    I know, it's not in a day... I think she had a few too many outings this month. The birthday thing is just an excuse. :smile:

    Even so....8 pounds? Not likely.

    She should just go back to her regularly scheduled programming. It will come off. No need for a crash diet. I guarantee it will cause her to be miserable and/or binge.

    I don't think she'll binge. Not like her at all. But she might as well just eat lighter meals instead of drinking her calories.

    Until she's starving and misses the taste of real food.

    Shakes are dumb and lazy. She could eat the same amount of calories in food and be more satisfied.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    The obvious question is has she asked your opinion?
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    The obvious question is has she asked your opinion?

    Yes, and I told her I personally wouldn't be able to do it.
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    PRMinx wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.

    Most likely water retention from sodium and alcohol. You can't gain weight any substantial amount of weigh in a day.

    I know, it's not in a day... I think she had a few too many outings this month. The birthday thing is just an excuse. :smile:

    Even so....8 pounds? Not likely.

    She should just go back to her regularly scheduled programming. It will come off. No need for a crash diet. I guarantee it will cause her to be miserable and/or binge.

    I don't think she'll binge. Not like her at all. But she might as well just eat lighter meals instead of drinking her calories.

    Until she's starving and misses the taste of real food.

    Shakes are dumb and lazy. She could eat the same amount of calories in food and be more satisfied.

    I agree. The reason I think she won't binge is not only because she has never binged on anything before, but also because she's very detached from food. Eating takes a backseat in her life so there's absolutely no emotion attached to it.

    Its only on special occations and when she's around others that she relaxes with it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,982 Member
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.
    She didn't gain 8lbs of fat on her Bday though. I see no real harm if she does it for a week. But if it's her "go to" for weight loss every time even if it's NOT her birthday, then I would question her portion control.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • ashleycde
    ashleycde Posts: 622 Member
    You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders, and you understand that these meal replacement shakes are not the most sustainable option for weight loss. Meal replacement shakes in my opinion pale in comparison to good food. I wouldn't use them. That being said, they do work. They're convenient, and you don't have to think much about what you're eating. She doesn't much weight to lose, I'm sure of those 8 lbs half are water weight, so she will likely lose the weight. I wouldn't worry too much; the shakes aren't going to harm her, and she'll likely have no problem sustaining the loss until she gains a couple of pounds back, maybe does the shake thing again, and then sustains for another year. We're probably talking about 5 lbs here. Gaining and losing that in a cycle for someone who doesn't count calories, or even for someone who does, is nothing.
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    edited March 2015
    It's not an awful idea, but I'd heavily research any shake I was going to take in place of a meal to make sure:

    A) I would not be deficient in any nutrients
    B) I would not be overloading on soy, which is bad for you in huge quantities
    C) I would not be relying on artificial flavors and sweeteners to feel satisfied

    I think shakes can be a great resource and a good way to implement some discipline. On the other hand, I think they can be full of crap but branded as a healthy cure-all. So if your sister is going to be ingesting large amounts of something like that on a daily basis, meaning she won't get much variety in her diet (which is usually important), tell her to make sure she's getting everything she needs, vitamin, mineral, and nutrient wise.

    Shakes aren't necessarily lazy. They are convenient. True laziness would be to say "down the hatch!" with any old food, especially without considering its nutritional value, and be done with it.

    If she goes that route, read the nutrition facts and hold her accountable. She better not invest in SlimFast or Herbalife or something. Waste of money and not sustainable. Get her to buy a reasonable protein/nutrition powder, to which she can add food and take on the go.
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    Haha I personally won't be able to do it, but then I'm not emotionally detached from food like she is. She gets so sucked up in her life sometimes, that she forgets to eat a meal.

    I always say humans have teeth to chew food with. But then, my answer to her was my opinion. The choice is still hers.
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Leana088 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    ...... Just tell her to eat normally and poop and drink water. Like ffs it's a normal weight fluctuation :/ UNless her birthday was a 2 week long feast, she did not gain fat and is just holding onto extra water and food/poop weight.

    No she did actually gain a few. She just puts it down to her b-day. She just wants to lose 8lb. But I'm thinking to just tell her to eat lighter one or two meals.
    She didn't gain 8lbs of fat on her Bday though. I see no real harm if she does it for a week. But if it's her "go to" for weight loss every time even if it's NOT her birthday, then I would question her portion control.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    She doesn't diet regularly. Once or twice a year. (Birthday week and festive times.)

    Normally I would suggest for someone like her to just continue eating as normal. Because she would indeed lose the weight again in a few months time, slowly. But the problem is, with both me and her, that we are dwarf sized. So any weight fluctuation above 5lb and our clothes don't fit anymore. That is quite litterally the only reason she wants to diet to get rid of it more quickly.

    And she said it just like that.

    Me: "why?"
    She: "Because my clothes are too tight, my favourite jeans don't fit anymore."
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    Leana088 wrote: »
    She wants to take 2 meal replacement shakes and 1 normal meal a day to lose the few pounds she has gained.

    Do you think this is a good idea? Especially since she has no problems maintaining long term?

    I think shakes replacing meals are generally a poor idea for people to lose weight because most of us need to get used to smaller portion sizes or change habits for life and shakes aren't sustainable.
    I don't think it will harm your sister for the time it takes her to lose 8 pounds to use meal replacement shakes but not necessary either. As you said she could just eat a bit lighter or increase her activity and get there pretty easily.

This discussion has been closed.