Whey Protein Shakes as a Meal Replacement?

Sjenkins1009

Trying to jump back on the wagon now for the third time to lose weight and one of the things I came across was from a friend whom did the bariatric surgery. During surgery prep they have the patient essentially on just protein shakes to lose weight before the surgery. It is something I have been thinking about trying as nothing I have tried has successfully helped me. Tried cutting calories, going to the gym more, and it just hovers around my current weight. So I wanted everyones thoughts on this meal plan below:

Breakfast: Whey Protein (Flavored with some fruit and non-fat milk) Shake
Lunch : Shake
Dinner: Normal Dinner (usually encompassing some kind of chicken, and veggies and rice)

Thoughts?

TonyStark30

I have a shake for breakfast every morning with flaxseed.

The diet you're suggesting is essentially how I eat on Sundays, but i don't know what would happen if you did this every day, but if you hit your macros and got all your vitamins and minerals can't see why it would be a problem healthwise, just don't know how it would feel!

Francl27

Eat food! No way you'd get enough nutrients and calories with two shakes a day.

cmcollins001

I have shakes for breakfast most mornings during the week for the protein level and because it's easy...and like really like chocolate milk so it's almost the same. It's something I know I can do for a lifetime if I wanted.

Now if you're in a hurry to lose weight because of some surgery and your doctor gave you this advice, then it's something you may want to look into. Otherwise, replacing one meal isn't bad, if it's what you want to do .... but not if you feel you have to do it.

You say you tried cutting calories and going to the gym...what do you mean by "tried?" Replacing a meal with a shake is in essence cutting calories...that's it.

How long did you "try," did you log everything, where you consistent, did you eat enough or were you trying to eat too little to lose faster? What happens when you reach your goal weight...will you know how to eat at maintenance or will you gain the weight back...which is what happens to most of the people who try to lose weight in this fashion.

It's really simple...cut calories, track and log your food at least 90% of the time, allow yourself to live life with holidays, birthdays, lunch meetings, get togethers...whatever comes up...but 90% of the time, log and be faithful to your goals...calories, carbs, proteins and fats. Exercise for body composition and to help with calorie deficit...and to eat more. If you use MFP the way it's designed, log your food and exercise and eat back your exercise to maintain a healthy deficit...keyword on healthy. Lift heavy to maintain muscle and to build muscle and body composition....cardio for endurance and improved cardiovascular health. Do what you enjoy, eat what you enjoy, track and log and when you're stuck for a month or two...then make some small tweaks...give it time to see if you break through. Don't be in a hurry.

raykitchener

cool answer, you sound like you really have it together