Anyone on MFP drinking meal replacement shakes?

Good day MFP community.I am new to MFP,I am finding it so hard to lose weight and stay focused and motivated.Is there anyone that uses or used meal replacement shakes and has had success losing weight and keeping it off?I would really appreciate your input.Thank. You
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Replies

  • JustANumber85
    JustANumber85 Posts: 644 Member
    I have drank a Slim Fast shake before but it should be used more as a supplement than a replacement. You want to eat healthy foods rather than replace them with a shake.

    If I drink one, I drink it in between dinner and bed because thats my trouble spot when ill gorge.
  • lose3stone
    lose3stone Posts: 76 Member
    I have lost weight using meal replacements and I did keep the weight off until my last 2 pregnancies but my advice would be to eat a healthy and balance diet and re teach yourself how to eat properly. Mayb have a handful of shakes/bars to hand and use them on those days where you just run out of time as they are much better than chocolate or junk food :)
    Good luck
  • I know plenty of people who've lost weight on the shakes (the replace 2 meals diet). My mum lost about 15kg over about 6mths. But low and behold, she has put it back on when she started eating proper meals again.

    I tried them, biggest loser shakes, slimfast, ultraslim- but I anything I lost I put straight back on because I don't have the commitment to just drink my meals day in and day out. I REALLY REALLY like chewing and enjoying my food!

    It's another quick fix- you'll hear it again and again on here- you need to commit to a healthier lifestyle and exercise exercise exercise! I'm 11kg and counting and eat WHATEVER i want in moderation!

    In saying that I have slimfast in my cupboard for those mornings or nights when I need to consume calories but I don't feel well or I'm in too much of a rush! They are a good filler! :happy: hope that helps!
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    I only use a meal replacement shake if my schedule gets me in a squeeze and never more than one a day. In the course of the last 11 months on my new healthy lifestyle I have had maybe 20 spread out over those months.

    When I do drink them, I drink the carb free protein powder with water and throw in frozen fruit in my blender.

    I get in a very hectic schedule with work, my music ministry and holiday stuff. I carry a protein shaker tumbler, enough powder for a serving in my car in case I need a meal. Most of the time I can eat on my plan without needing to do so.

    Many people are successful with meal replacement shakes - I just use them sparingly
  • Thank you to everyone for your input.Much appreciated
  • buckleten
    buckleten Posts: 205 Member
    Hi, I am doing slimfast, most days I have a shake for breakfast and lunch, and because I really like them I find it easy to stick to. It has always worked well for me, it helped me to lose 3 stone after the birth of my second daughter!
  • witchy_wife
    witchy_wife Posts: 792 Member
    I lost about 45lbs in 10 weeks on the Cambridge diet sole source plan. Soon as I started eating food again I found it extremely difficult to control my hunger and struggled to even maintain the weight. I ended up gaining it all back over the course of about 6 month.
  • Mad_Dog_Muscle
    Mad_Dog_Muscle Posts: 1,251 Member
    NO, for me personally I eat real food, try to avoid as much processed foods as possible, yes, even the so called healthy frozen foods like Lean Cuisine, they are processed as well. I do drink whey protein shakes after workouts. But not as a meal replacement. They can work in a pinch, it's not for me. Do your research as you seem to be doing, and if you decide it's for you, give it a go. Good Luck!
  • Yep, I was on exante diet food replacement with occasional ketogenic meals for the first 3 months to make a big dent in my weight. I transitioned gradually to more and more healthy foods and fewer replacements, maintained for a while on just food, and am now back on the weight loss wagon with just food. 16lb to go so it's going to be slow, and I'm going to have to eat like this most of the time forever now that I've found out how to maintain. MFP is a massive, massive help in the re-education process of how much certain foods are worth, and how much exercise it takes to cancel out a splurge - I maintained without tracking for about 6 weeks.

    The first time round a few years ago I lost weight on lipotrim - I didn't do the proper re-feeding, I had an unsupportive partner & then a crap break up, but even so after putting a stone or so back on I then maintained most of my loss for a while until depression came back and my diet consisted almost entirely of carbohydrates & caffeine - it didn't take long for me to balloon.

    VLCD/food replacements are a tool just like any other diet, they are great to give a boost and an incentive to keep with the programme as fat loss is so rapid and hunger isn't an issue after the first few days. If people eat a healthy maintenance diet afterwards, they will not pile weight back on. Most diets have a high failure rate - no matter how you lose the weight, if you go back to your old eating habits that caused you to pile it on in the first place, you will put weight back on.
  • lovelyladyJ21
    lovelyladyJ21 Posts: 246 Member
    I would try to stay away from the meal replacement shakes!!!
    They'll help you loose weight but not in a good/healthy weight.
    My mom has tried them from slimfast to biggest loser shakes and she looses but as soon as she stops drinking them she gains all that weight right back!!

    One thing I do drink is Shakeology;
    http://shakestore.net/

    I don't get hungry like I do when I drink those other shakes.
    It's curbed ALL of my sweet tooth cravings and when I first started drinking it I lost about 10 lbs without really trying hard!
  • kittyraj
    kittyraj Posts: 129 Member
    I tend to have a protein shake when I have my sugar dip at about 2pm and the cookie jar in the office looks fabulous.

    Also if I'm travelling, I carry protein powder serving in my purse and and shaker bottle for on the run so I am not tempted with drive thru McDonalds, KFC or whatever.

    I recommend sticking to real food unless you're on the run, no time for decent food or just in a rut.

    Slim fast is not bad, their soup pouches are pretty OK too.
  • Back2MeDiva
    Back2MeDiva Posts: 24 Member
    I drink them for breakfast daily. It allows me to have something in the am instead of skipping and feeling like I'm starving by lunch time. I like them, but wouldn't use them to replace any other meals during my day.
  • Hi Folks, I have been drinking Shakeology Shakes and they have been great. I love them. They give me so much energy and regulate my metabolism. I have seen great weight loss as a result. Lately, I haven't been consistent with drinking my shake and I can feel it, I get tired quickly, I'm sleepy, so I'm actually about to get myself back on track with them, but yeah, there great!
  • ChantelleFowler
    ChantelleFowler Posts: 208 Member
    Like a few other people have mentioned, I drink Shakeology daily. Its a bit different from most other meal replacement shakes (like Body By Vi and Slimfast) because it is packed full of nutrients that those other shake brands don't offer. :)
  • I do sometimes, I like the total lean from GNC, they work with the lower carb South Beach diet that I am working.
  • Chrissie_R
    Chrissie_R Posts: 224 Member
    i really like them especially for breakfast when i struggle for time to have a big healthy breakfast BUT i wouldn't do them solely maybe just a few a week x
  • I try the Right Size Smoothies... and it work the first time ... the second time it didnt do anything for me ... you should try to plan your meals... 6 small meals a day is helping me ... good luck
  • nancybuss
    nancybuss Posts: 1,461 Member
    I am also a shakeology fan and it IS full of nutrition, more so than I would eat for breakfast. I've been having one for breakfast daily for a year and Love it!

    overall, to lose weight this should only be Part of your plan. you still need good nutrition and snacks the rest of the day, and some exercise. Even if you start very slowly with a 5 minute walk.

    You can do this! It takes dedication, and a new way of looking at food. Food is Fuel for your body, help your body by giving it good fuel.
  • junebaby21
    junebaby21 Posts: 260 Member
    As a non-fan of breakfast food items, I do a Slim fast shake for breakfast. I buy the powder and mix it with warm milk, so it tastes like hot cocoa. Keeps me full until lunch.
  • graywi123
    graywi123 Posts: 19 Member
    I have a Six-Star-Protein (bought it at walmart) shake every morning. It has 30g of Protein and I add berries and/or a banana. It's about 240 kalories and it keeps me going until lunch. I found it to be a great meal replacement. I have a little smoothie maker and the shake is very creamy and filling.
  • dawson55510
    dawson55510 Posts: 197 Member
    10 egg whites, 500ml semi skimmed milk, 100g oats and one scoop of protein to flavour.. Yum Yum

    ohh and blend lol
  • sjiphone
    sjiphone Posts: 67 Member
    Good day MFP community.I am new to MFP,I am finding it so hard to lose weight and stay focused and motivated.Is there anyone that uses or used meal replacement shakes and has had success losing weight and keeping it off?I would really appreciate your input.Thank. You

    I usually drink a protein shake in the morning made from frozen blueberries, whey powder and coconut water. It fills me up and I don't eat a big breakfast. I think that all shakes have the same thing in common, they contain less calories than a full meal. If drinking a shake helps you lose weight then go for it. But remember that it takes time to shed the pounds put on by years of bad eating. It took me about 18 months to shed 60 lbs and I've been able to maintain my weight for the past few months.

    Exercise more and eat less is my mantra. The weight will come off - maybe a bit more slowly than we would like, but keep at it. You'll get there. :smile:
  • Cyngen
    Cyngen Posts: 557 Member
    I have a protein shake for breakfast most days instead of oatmeal that I used to have. I've reduced carbs per my endo and dietician guidance. Doing this change, plus my weight drop allowed me to drop one med I took for diabetes.

    I take the protein shake, add almond milk, some cinnamon for flavor and some organic peanut butter. it keeps me full at about 260 calories for the morning
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I haven't and I must say I'm too keen on the idea (for me personally), but I just won a box of Shakeology samples so I guess I'll give them a try. I doubt I'll like them enough to choose them over food, but you never know. I just got them last night so haven't tried them yet.
  • d3nise
    d3nise Posts: 25 Member
    Like a few others on here, I drink the GNC total lean shakes (good protein and vitamins/minerals) every morning and sometimes i'll have a piece of fruit. I am not a big breakfeast person during the week, so like someone else mentioned it stops me from overeating at lunch time. Occassionally, will have as a snack if in a hurry.
  • bjmcq
    bjmcq Posts: 305 Member
    I do use a protein, but not a meal replacement, drink. I find it hard to keep my carbs and protein in balance, (very carb sensitive, allergies to wheat and grains) . I eat normal meals, protein, lots of veg, carb, etc...I can barely make a 1200 calorie day and keep a lower fat portion. These drinks ( I use Oh Yeah for the taste) save my day each day, I can manipulate how much I drink, and fill up my protein quota depending upon my food schedule.

    The best tasting, low fat ones come from a GNC, or a health food store, or a body builder's supply. While I don't follow a body builder's regime so to speak, they do know how to decrease fat/bmi and increase muscle...and I have learned that when you lose 'fat' you automatically are losing muscle. So they work at keeping the protein in the system (and excercise), to keep the much needed muscle ( which burns fat); protein builds muscle, and that is how I look at it. Whew!

    Long response, thought sharing this with you might help you look at how to use these kinds of supplements without becoming reliant on them.....
  • Reubinski
    Reubinski Posts: 37 Member
    I use the Slimfast meal replacement shakes for breakfast (as I drive to work), then have a small lunch and a decent meal for dinner. This, in addition to exercising, has been good for me. Nothing really beats a well-planned meal, but the meal replacement shakes are good if you are a bit short on time.
  • tinytasha7
    tinytasha7 Posts: 86 Member
    I use the Visalus shakes. I have at least one per day (made with milk or almond milk and frozen berries). The first one I have in the morning and if I have a second one, It's usually mid afternoon if my lunch doesn't fill me up. The nutrition is excellent so they are great as a supplement and can be used to keep up fitness when at good weight (I know body builders who drink them too).

    If I didn't have a shake in the morning it would be too long from when I woke up to when I get a chance to actually eat anything. So far, 12 lbs in 2 weeks.
  • Exercise more and eat less is my mantra. The weight will come off - maybe a bit more slowly than we would like, but keep at it. You'll get there. :smile:

    ^^^^^^This is on the money and whilst it sounds easy enough. it's not, it takes time and patience. About four month ago I used protein meal replacement for lunch. I mixed it with Alpro Soya milk and fruit (banana, blueberries or the like). This filled me up and I could last to dinner easily.

    However 2 scoops were around 450 cals and I wanted to cut down on those, so changed to mixing with water only and that's how I take my shake these days. I now have tuna or chicken for lunch (both high in protein) whilst using protein drinks after workouts (1 scoop) to help repair those tired limbs.

    You need to find what works best for you, that normally means following a routine for 4 weeks and monitoring progress. Personally I only want to drop 1lb per week anything more will not give me the body shape I'm working on. Shakes are less cals than a normal meal so can help with losing weight faster but for me that's a no no.

    I think shakes are great if you're in a jam and need something quickly and high in protein, but I wouldn't use them as a meal replacement for any length of time. Maybe as a kick start they can be useful but long term as breakfast, lunch or dinner - hmm I think not. What's your thoughts on the opinions given so far.
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
    no