Help! Shakes- Where Do I Start?

meadhbh7

I want to incorporate a shake into my daily diet to help with weight-loss but I don't know where to start. I want something low calories, high protein to replace or supplement breakfast (in addition to an apple or the like) that will get me through to lunch.

Anyone have good shakes they use that don't cost an arm and a leg? I'd rather not spend more than $1-$1.75 per shake (or equivalent of powder).

JcVape

check out myprotein, no idea what service is like to the USA but in the UK its quick, decent & cheap, they do also have meal replacement options and loads of special offers, best bet is go for a relatively neutral flavour rather than something fancy as I find those get pretty tiring pretty fast. I use the Iso:Pro 97 because it is low lactose whey, but they have loads of other, cheaper options (like the impact whey or brown rice protein) and they might have some decent offers on something you want.

callsitlikeiseeit

i prefer to eat my food.

careful with the shakes- some of them are pretty calorie heavy

JcVape

callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »

i prefer to eat my food.

careful with the shakes- some of them are pretty calorie heavy

She is right though, where possible eat your nutrition, I just find the whey handy. It isn't a magic bullet that will make you laugh, make you cry & change your life, it is protein, just like there is in legumes, eggs, dairy, fish and meat, try getting some soya/ edamame beans and blending them up with berries bananas and kale/ spinach and you have a complete protein source as well as all the micro nutrients little bit of cashew butter and you have a fantastic breakfast in there somewhere!

JcVape

also get a blender, it makes life easier!

MelaniaTrump

Start with a protein BAR. That way you can see if you can tolerate the taste of protein. Walmart sells a few kinds. You can buy just one at a time.
Don't do shakes like carnation or slim fast. Full of sugar

huango

Not an expert here, but this is what I do 2-3x a week.

I Vitamix:
- 1cup fresh kale/spinach
- 2scoops Optimum Nutrition whey Mocha Capuccino powder
- lots of ice, some water
I take this drink w/ me to the gym, and drink it when I run errands afterwards, so I don't eat my arm off or buy every junk item from the supermarket.

I like the ON vanilla for my green pina colada shake (spinach/frozen pineapple chunks/coconut butter).
or ON Rocky Road with PB2.

Sometimes I replace the kale/spinach w/ frozen chunks of zucchini or summer squash.

I try not to use too much banana/strawberries, fruit ==>> too much sugar/carbs.

I buy the ON in 5# tubs when they go on sale.

Amanda

My_Butt

I get big purple tubs from Walmart for about $20. Two scoops is 150 calories, 25g protein, 3G fiber, and 7g sugar. It's loaded with vitamins too. It's called EAS complete protein powder, and it comes in chocolate and vanilla.

mkakids

My fav...taste wise... is body logix. Both choc and vanilla. Sold at meijer and online...$26 for a large tub. Less than $1 per scoop. 120-130 cals per scoop depending on flavor.

I like it mixed with water, but if i want a meal replacement, i blend it with a bananna (100cals approx), 1 large handfull of spinach or kale (20 cals). Approx 345 cals

i dont generally replace meals with shakes..no matter the calorie count they dont keep me as full as the equivalent calories in food. But i understand the appeal.

To compare that calorie wise...if im doing fast food for breakfast, i eat an egg white delight and a hashbrown for 400, or 315 if i take off half the english muffin.

meadhbh7

Thanks all! I do prefer to eat my calories but I find I do not sit down and eat a breakfast in the morning (even a cereal bar etc). Thought I would give a shake a try to ensure I am getting protein and realizing I need to keep careful watch on the calories /sugar.

I appreciate the feedback!

jafranco

I use http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/hexatein-sr-rich-chocolate-3-lb-powder/vs-2617#.VoiasLYrJdg
I do not always have the luxury of having a good lunch or breakfast because of my work schedule and this has helped me.

lorrpb

I use protein shakes as a filling snack. I like Pure Protein vanilla & add fruit & cinnamon. I also like Atkins ready to drink shakes for when I'm on the ho. Most shakes are not low cal because all protein has 4 cals per gram. A protein shake is not meal replacement because there are no other nutrients in meaningful amounts.

tracie_minus100

i used to have protein shakes for breakfast every morning and now I just have them occasionally. Mine would consist of: 1 cup almond milk, 75g of banana, a big handful of spinach, PB2 (1-2tablespoons), 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (from Costco), and some ice. It was somewhere around 230-250 calories.

SherryTeach

Why do you think that blending up your food and drinking it would help with weight loss?

Orphia

callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »

i prefer to eat my food.

careful with the shakes- some of them are pretty calorie heavy

This.

Those breakfast biscuits they do now are good for a breakfast on-the-go.

Or a quick tub of Greek yoghurt if you need more protein.

meadhbh7

SherryTeach wrote: »

Why do you think that blending up your food and drinking it would help with weight loss?

I don't prefer to "blend up my food" but sometimes I think a change of pace is what I need to refocus. Thanks for your helpful feedback! I understand not everyone wants to go the same route

MKEgal

The body doesn't recognize liquid calories the same as solid food.
I don't know all the technical reasons, but you can browse PubMed for supportive studies.
Better to eat the fruits & vegetables, as well as the eggs, peanut butter, chicken, etc.

If you really want a healthy shake, use frozen fruit instead of ice cream, regular fruit, maybe peanut butter or an
egg or 2 for protein, flax meal ... basically healthy things that taste good together.
Fiber is good both for slowing absorption & helping intestinal motility (did I put that delicately enough?), so do
NOT juice things, just throw them in the blender.

soozey1

meadhbh7 wrote: »

I want to incorporate a shake into my daily diet to help with weight-loss but I don't know where to start. I want something low calories, high protein to replace or supplement breakfast (in addition to an apple or the like) that will get me through to lunch.

Anyone have good shakes they use that don't cost an arm and a leg? I'd rather not spend more than $1-$1.75 per shake (or equivalent of powder).

I hope this helps, I just make my own for breakfast, to take to work after the gym.
I have a Nutri-bullet.
1 cup almond milk unsweetened
1 cup water
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 frozen banana
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 cup oats
handful baby spinach
1/2 tablespoon cacao
1 tablespoon coconut oil.

All the goodness protein you need to start your day, I make mine the night before and eat with a spoon. I got the recipe from my Nutritionist, as all the packet one had ingredients that upset my stomach.
The ingredients are not cheap but they will make a tonne of shakes and your body will love you for it.

Asianbutterflies

JanetYellen wrote: »

Start with a protein BAR. That way you can see if you can tolerate the taste of protein. Walmart sells a few kinds. You can buy just one at a time.
Don't do shakes like carnation or slim fast. Full of sugar

I've recently bought a few slim fast meal replacement shakes to supplement as my lunch because I work in a fast-paced environment and they are one gram of sugar.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I'm a fan of PHD diet whey, the cherry bakewell one tastes amazing and is under 100 calories a serving. It helps me on the days I haven't hit my protein goal.
Also if you don't like doing breakfast you can skip it and it won't harm you.

yesimpson

I use the Phd Women Whey formula (available from Boots if you're in the UK - the only reason I pick the women's formula over the men's is it contains more iron which I am deficient in) in the Vanilla flavour. On mornings I'm rushing because I've been to the gym or for a run before work I mix up a serving of that with semi skimmed milk and fruit (usually a banana or berries) in my blender and drink in the shower/car/whilst trying to sort out my hair. They normally tide me over from about 7 until 10 or 11, usually by which time I can have a slice of toast or something at work. My shakes range from about 250-400 calories depending on what I stuff in them, and sometimes I make them the night before for convenience. I'm rarely hungry right after exercising so they just help me to save time and make sure I've had something substantial - there's no magic in the shakes themselves.

kommodevaran

Just a few thoughts:
Nothing else than reducing your calorie intake will help with weight loss. This applies to everybody and is very predictable (CI < CO = weight loss). Eating or drinking your calories doesn't matter for CI, but it may impact satiety and thus how easy it is to stick to your CI; how satiety works, is somewhat individual and somewhat unpredictable.

High protein can not be low calorie; each gram of protein equals 4 calories.

Maybe sitting down to eat breakfast can give you the change of pace you need to refocus?

Dreysander

I will occasionally have a shake instead of my usual morning oatmeal when I've eaten a really heavy meal before bed (like I did yesterday) and I still feel kind of full. Shakes don't make me feel as full as oatmeal. The shakes that I have are super simple - 1 scoop protein powder (which I weigh), a banana and some unsweetened almond milk or 1 scoop protein powder, some berries and some almond milk.

I use ON gold standard whey protein or GNC's equivelant.