Shakes or other food "suppliments" - Yay or Nay?

loserbaby84

I'm rather new to MFP and have recently started another chapter of attempted weight loss in my life.

Before touring around the site and seeing all the tools and support available I was confronted by one of my aquaintences regarding a shake suppliment product that would help me lose weight. I did some research and the product looks legit but like every "miracle cure" it came at a heafty price tag.

Just curious if anyone else has tried a product out there and if you suggest doing so or keep with the basics of eating healthy?

I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not like most people out there looking for a "quick fix" but I ultimately respect my body too much to put it in harms way!

I look forward to your input and thank you for reading!

Im_NotPerfect

Personally I'm not a fan of any of them. For a few reasons:

1. I already spend so much on groceries, I don't want to add to it
2. I don't believe in "quick fixes" (I'm too cynical)
3. *My most important reason* I'm in this for the lifestyle change. I want to learn how to eat right for the rest of my life. I have slip ups because hey...I'm human! But I don't want to learn how to lose weight on supplements and then try to RELEARN how to eat in order to maintain. I have the same feelings about programs like Jenny Craig. What do you when you start eating real food again??

steadk

to be honest, i'm on Body by vi, and have seen some awesome results. But i'm also doing what i can to eat clean the rest of the time. Focusing more on portion control and the fresh foods rather than processed is a big thing for me. either way, do what ever you feel you can do the rest of your life, to make this a lifestyle change versus a "diet" phase youre going through

Dorkaleena

I drink 2 Herbalife Meal Replacement Shakes. I LOVE them. I feel soooo much better when I drink them regularly and it makes eating healthier foods easier for me. When I drink the shakes my body seems to crave salads and fruits and healthier stuff. (Now, how much of that is mental and how much of it is actually my body talking to me? God. Only. Knows. LOL)

NewChristina

I don't think processed foods are the way to go. They are usually full of sugar and sodium, making it harder to lose weight and often making you gain weight (in water retention). With that being said, I have Ensure or Adkins shakes in my refrigerator for emergencies. If I'm going to run out the door with no time to eat, I know I can grab a shake to tide me over.
It's not something that I do on a regular basis.

erickirb

Only if you cannot get your required nutrition (macro and micro nutrients) from "real" food.

zakkthebear

MRD's are a fact of life for me, no other way to transport 40+g of protein at under 300 cals. seem to rely on one every other day or so.

dida0721

whey protein is the only "food replacement" I use. I mix it in with my cereal to give me extra grams of protein and keep me full.

chivalryder

Only if you cannot get your required nutrition (macro and micro nutrients) from "real" food.

Which, if you plan ahead, shouldn't be an issue at all. Check out my diary.

allisona28

Personally I'm not a fan of any of them. For a few reasons:

1. I already spend so much on groceries, I don't want to add to it
2. I don't believe in "quick fixes" (I'm too cynical)
3. *My most important reason* I'm in this for the lifestyle change. I want to learn how to eat right for the rest of my life. I have slip ups because hey...I'm human! But I don't want to learn how to lose weight on supplements and then try to RELEARN how to eat in order to maintain. I have the same feelings about programs like Jenny Craig. What do you when you start eating real food again??

So True!!!! GREAT ADVICE!!!!

petite_boleyn

I drink the Muscle Milk lite shakes before my workout. They're loaded with protein, and I generally use them as a meal replacement. I think they're great in the short term, but I definitely wouldn't add them overall to my lifestyle.

ninerbuff

Unless you're willing to "supplement" the rest of your life, it's unnecessary. Supplements will usually only account for 1% of your total weight loss. Learn an eating lifestyle you can do forever.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Sharyn913

It depends on the shake. They are often times part of a MLM pyramid scheme and are completely over priced. Often, you can go to the market and purchase your own whey and vitamins and make your own shakes for 1/3 to 1/2 of what you would pay for these.

KyleB65

I am a partial "nay".

As a general rule I do not take supplements or shakes.

However, I do from time to time add whey protein to my home made smoothies. Usually after a strenuous workout. Aside from this, I prefer lots of fruits, veggies and lean meat protein.

simplydelish2

I believe this is a lifestyle change. To me it's all about eating healthy now and eating a sustainable lifestyle. Shakes, pills, "formulas", etc. don't provide that sustainability and more often than not, when we stop using them the weight comes back.

I am a firm believer in not drinking your calories - 8 oz of a shake isn't going to provide the satiety value that real food will. I've lost over 100 lbs (reset my ticker in May) eating healthy (with some splurges along the way).

My vote - save your money and use it to buy whole foods that serve your health (and weight loss) goals! Good Luck!

chivalryder

MRD's are a fact of life for me, no other way to transport 40+g of protein at under 300 cals. seem to rely on one every other day or so.

It's easy to do that. Eat a chicken breast. 100g of chicken will get you 31g of protein with a mere 165 calories.

thetealappeal

Personally, I nay. I'm sure they're good, but mentally that isn't a meal to me so I know I would drink one and then want to eat later.

akaOtherWise

I don't think processed foods are the way to go. They are usually full of sugar and sodium, making it harder to lose weight and often making you gain weight (in water retention). With that being said, I have Ensure or Adkins shakes in my refrigerator for emergencies. If I'm going to run out the door with no time to eat, I know I can grab a shake to tide me over.
It's not something that I do on a regular basis.

I don't agree with this at all...No matter what kind of food you eat, processed or not, as long as you are in a calorie deficit you'll lose weight whether you're taking in a bunch of sugar or salt a day. Eating less than your body burns a day = weight loss. According to NASM, calories are calories. There is no need to place foods in to these bad vs good categories.

manderson27

I think most people will advise keep your money in your pocket. Use the tools on MFP, eat your calorie goal and excercise. You will lose weight healthily.

Check out the search function on Community and you will get a lot of answers to your question.

Nothing wrong with protein shakes to supplement your protein but I use them alongside a healthy diet not instead of one.

paint_it_black

Depends on what you mean by supplement, i also had someone quietly recommend that i use a daily shake to up my protein, but i'm a bit fussy when it comes to processed stuff, so i found out how to make my own. I think homemade shakes will be a daily feature for the rest of my life now, they taste soooooo good and are simple to make.

katscoots

In my opinion and experience the only permanent fix to weight loss is to eat healthy and move more. It is a mindset and lifestyle change. Quick fixes are just that - quick; but rarely can one maintain the results.

chivalryder

I don't think processed foods are the way to go. They are usually full of sugar and sodium, making it harder to lose weight and often making you gain weight (in water retention). With that being said, I have Ensure or Adkins shakes in my refrigerator for emergencies. If I'm going to run out the door with no time to eat, I know I can grab a shake to tide me over.
It's not something that I do on a regular basis.

I don't agree with this at all...No matter what kind of food you eat, processed or not, as long as you are in a calorie deficit you'll lose weight whether you're taking in a bunch of sugar or salt a day. Eating less than your body burns a day = weight loss. According to NASM, calories are calories. There is no need to place foods in to these bad vs good categories.

So what you're saying is that 100 calories from baby carrots is the same as 100 calories from a soda? That the calories from each don't matter, you'll get the same results, involving overall health?

I'm sorry, but I'm calling BS.

LoraF83

I drink protien shakes and eat protien bars on days I have really intense workouts.

But, they are as a snack after a workout or maybe a bar for breakfast sometimes (following a run).

As a rule, I don't substitute them for meals.

I think it's important for us all to learn about portion control, macros, nutrients, etc, and it's hard to do that when your meals are being replaced with something else.

Good luck!

FitBunnyEm

Ive tried them all from shakes to bars...it worked for a few weeks but i put the weight back on..
i lose the most weight just being healthy and exersizing...the easiest option.

contingencyplan

Supplements are no substitute for real food. Nothing beats whole food. There are certain supplements, though, such as a multivitamin and fish oil, that should be necessities.

Regarding protein shakes, I do take one post-workout, and I do use shake mix as an ingredient in some meals (mix with oatmeal, good and healthy!)

I also do use a pre-workout.

Carofab16

I tried protein shakes in the past and they made me feel nauseous. So decided to stop them and have clean stuff. As I'd rather know what I put in my body....

lanettamoore

GOOD MORNING HEALTHY EATING IS A MUST..I LOST 24 POUNDS FROM MAY TILL JULY..EATING BREAKFAST SNACK LUNCH SNACK AND DINNER..BAKED SALMON,BAKED BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST,SALADS,FRUITS,VEGGIES,LOW CAL SALAD DRESSINGS,I CUT OUT SODAS AND JUICE COMPLETELY I ONLY DRINK WATER WITH LEMON 94OZS EVERY DAY..I BEEN WORKING OUT FOR TWO WEEKS JUS THREE DAYS A WEEK..ALMONDS ARE GOOD PROTEIN FOR A SNACK..I HAVE A FRIEND WHOS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR HERBALIFE SO IM TRYING HER PRODUCT SHAKES AND ITS WORKIN I ENJOY THE SHAKES YOU DRINK TWO A DAY AND ONE HEALTHY MEAL..YOU CAN EAT FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR A SNACK..BUT THE KEY IS WHEN YOUVE EXHAUSTED ALL THESE SHAKES AND QUICK WEIGHT LOSS YOU CAN FALL BACK ON HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISING TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF...I FEEL BETTER AND ENERGIZED EATING HEALTHY..YOU CAN DO IT..

DPernet

Chocolate Milkshake after a weights workout is the only time I'll really drink my calories. Real food tastes so much better!

chivalryder

GOOD MORNING HEALTHY EATING IS A MUST..I LOST 24 POUNDS FROM MAY TILL JULY..EATING BREAKFAST SNACK LUNCH SNACK AND DINNER..BAKED SALMON,BAKED BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST,SALADS,FRUITS,VEGGIES,LOW CAL SALAD DRESSINGS,I CUT OUT SODAS AND JUICE COMPLETELY I ONLY DRINK WATER WITH LEMON 94OZS EVERY DAY..I BEEN WORKING OUT FOR TWO WEEKS JUS THREE DAYS A WEEK..ALMONDS ARE GOOD PROTEIN FOR A SNACK..I HAVE A FRIEND WHOS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR HERBALIFE SO IM TRYING HER PRODUCT SHAKES AND ITS WORKIN I ENJOY THE SHAKES YOU DRINK TWO A DAY AND ONE HEALTHY MEAL..YOU CAN EAT FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR A SNACK..BUT THE KEY IS WHEN YOUVE EXHAUSTED ALL THESE SHAKES AND QUICK WEIGHT LOSS YOU CAN FALL BACK ON HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISING TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF...I FEEL BETTER AND ENERGIZED EATING HEALTHY..YOU CAN DO IT..

Your caps is on...

treblemaker90

If you really look into the "miracle" diets all of them only work in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise. So why pay for a supplement that's going to force you to do what you can do for free?

I do drink the walmart brand of slimfast shakes for breakfast because its quick and easy but I don't feel like that is the key to my success. I could just as easily eat another type of breakfast with the same calories and nutrients and still lose weight.

DPernet

GOOD MORNING HEALTHY EATING IS A MUST..I LOST 24 POUNDS FROM MAY TILL JULY..EATING BREAKFAST SNACK LUNCH SNACK AND DINNER..BAKED SALMON,BAKED BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST,SALADS,FRUITS,VEGGIES,LOW CAL SALAD DRESSINGS,I CUT OUT SODAS AND JUICE COMPLETELY I ONLY DRINK WATER WITH LEMON 94OZS EVERY DAY..I BEEN WORKING OUT FOR TWO WEEKS JUS THREE DAYS A WEEK..ALMONDS ARE GOOD PROTEIN FOR A SNACK..I HAVE A FRIEND WHOS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR HERBALIFE SO IM TRYING HER PRODUCT SHAKES AND ITS WORKIN I ENJOY THE SHAKES YOU DRINK TWO A DAY AND ONE HEALTHY MEAL..YOU CAN EAT FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR A SNACK..BUT THE KEY IS WHEN YOUVE EXHAUSTED ALL THESE SHAKES AND QUICK WEIGHT LOSS YOU CAN FALL BACK ON HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISING TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF...I FEEL BETTER AND ENERGIZED EATING HEALTHY..YOU CAN DO IT..

Your caps is on...

lol