I'd like to start taking Meal Replacement Shakes / Smoothies

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  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
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    I've been using GNC Leanshake 25 made with greek yogurt and milk instead of water as a meal replacement after exercise, because solid foods upset my stomach after exercise. I buy it at Sams club because it is way cheaper. I wouldn't pay GNC prices. It DOES have fiber, but it's a non standard type. And in the mornings, because I have trouble with solid foods, I use regular protein powder and greek yogurt in my cold brewed coffee in place of half and half. If it weren't for the fact that I was having trouble getting enough calories in the day, I wouldn't bother with it in the morning.

    It's obviously not ideal, but I can empathize with not always having time or energy for meal preparation. It would be best to go with real foods, milk, greek yogurt, fruits and veggies (oddly pureed carrots work pretty well in smoothies), nut butters. And you can always add some psyllium or chia seeds for the fiber. Personally, such things weren't filling to me until I started adding greek yogurt.
  • Claire_x90
    Claire_x90 Posts: 94
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    My issue with these is that they are so high in calories! 150 - 350 usually.

    You could eat an entire nice tasting meal for that if you select ingredients wisely.

    For 350 calories I would rather eat a bowl of oatmeal, a banana, a cup of strawberries, and a slice of PB toast, than drink a shake i was going to have again for lunch and dinner for the next few weeks.
  • nataliecarter2
    nataliecarter2 Posts: 24 Member
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    EAS carb control protein shakes 100 calories. They are really good!
  • Claire_x90
    Claire_x90 Posts: 94
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    I have tried going the shake/smoothie route. Not processed shakes but make my own. Doesn't matter what shake I make, I always feel hungry and then I end up taking in too many calories.

    I am not a milk drinker and know I need to consume some dairy products. So my shakes/smoothies consist of

    1 cup milk or juice
    1 cup yogurt
    1 banana
    1 cup fresh orfrozen fruit (any kind)
    2 scoops protein powder

    I don't have a blender so use an immersion blender. Mixes well./

    This tastes great but doesn't fill me up. Leaves me hungry.

    This is my point, if you ate a cup of fruit, then a cup of yoghurt, then a banana, with a drink of juice , maybe each item every 30 minutes or so wouldn't that fill you? instead of all of it at once.....

    thats how I work anyway, I eat all day long every 45 minutes or so, but just spread out my meals so I still only eat 1200 or so a day
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
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    You could check out VEGA One. http://myvega.com/products/vega-one-shake/features-benefits

    I will have this occasionally as a snack, or for breakfast in a smoothie with added banana/spinach/greek yogurt
  • nataliescalories
    nataliescalories Posts: 292 Member
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    You could check out VEGA One. http://myvega.com/products/vega-one-shake/features-benefits

    I will have this occasionally as a snack, or for breakfast in a smoothie with added banana/spinach/greek yogurt

    I second that this is a good recommendation compared to a lot of protein powders on the market. You really don't need to be eating the ones chockablock with chemicals. At the same time, I actually cannot bear the taste of VEGA (sorry), but I do love Tera's Whey which you can get organic and r-BGH-free...oh...and gluten free.

    http://www.teraswhey.com/

    My recipe (this makes two BIG servings because I make it for my husband as well)


    1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil (I prefer vegetarian organic flax)

    2 scoops of whey protein (Also organic without GMOs or hormones)

    1 cup of yogurt (Prefer Greek or other pro-biotic)

    1 cup of coconut water

    1 cup of frozen cherries

    1 cup of frozen strawberries = All of the fruits can be exchanged for others

    1/2 cup of frozen pineapple

    1 to 2 cups of spinach

    All of the frozen fruit can be bought organic as well. I think it completely smokes using room temperature fruit. It's really like having an amazing milkshake or something.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
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    They pretty much are all going to work the same. I had a friend use a $16 one and another friend buy some super expensive one and they both are seeing great results.
  • NCVF
    NCVF Posts: 83 Member
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    You could check out VEGA One. http://myvega.com/products/vega-one-shake/features-benefits

    I will have this occasionally as a snack, or for breakfast in a smoothie with added banana/spinach/greek yogurt

    It's one of the samples I purchased
  • NCVF
    NCVF Posts: 83 Member
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    I have tried going the shake/smoothie route. Not processed shakes but make my own. Doesn't matter what shake I make, I always feel hungry and then I end up taking in too many calories.

    I am not a milk drinker and know I need to consume some dairy products. So my shakes/smoothies consist of

    1 cup milk or juice
    1 cup yogurt
    1 banana
    1 cup fresh orfrozen fruit (any kind)
    2 scoops protein powder

    I don't have a blender so use an immersion blender. Mixes well./

    This tastes great but doesn't fill me up. Leaves me hungry.

    This is my point, if you ate a cup of fruit, then a cup of yoghurt, then a banana, with a drink of juice , maybe each item every 30 minutes or so wouldn't that fill you? instead of all of it at once.....

    thats how I work anyway, I eat all day long every 45 minutes or so, but just spread out my meals so I still only eat 1200 or so a day

    You make a good point. lol. But one of these items wouldn't be enough for me AT the moment. I'm hoping smoothies will help me get to that point. Which is why I'll be snacking on fruits and veggies in between the smoothies. But what you say makes good sense. For breakfast I can toss all these snacks in a bag quickly and take them to work. But mixing them all together helps flavor all the other add ins like greens or flax seed (some of the things I will be adding).
  • ukjessi
    ukjessi Posts: 169 Member
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    I love the 14 oz. GNC Total Lean (premixed not powder) ~ 170 cal, 6g fat, 25g protein, 6g carbs and a ton of other great vitamins/nutrients.

    These are perfect for when I'm running late in the morning or need a quick snack to fill me up. Strawberry is my favorite.
  • Desdemina
    Desdemina Posts: 150 Member
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    I make my own smoothies sometimes for meal replacements, especially when I'm working hard (I'm working on my dissertation) and I want something I can eat (drink?) with one hand! But I make my own so I can control what goes in, though I do use protein powders tp increase the protein in them.
  • DaniAni19
    DaniAni19 Posts: 91 Member
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    I have been using Vega One for awhile now. What I like about it is that it is a whole foods, plant based, protein supplement with probiotics. It is full of greens and I use it as a smoothie base with fruit and almond milk. Check it out: http://myvega.com/products/vega-one-shake/features-benefits
  • chellebublz
    chellebublz Posts: 568 Member
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    I have been making my own, but I already know about nutrition and using this temporary. I just got an upper denture and I am still struggling to learn how to eat real food. I think it's ok in certain situations
  • erinsueburns
    erinsueburns Posts: 865 Member
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    For some people that may be true, but for me, I just dont have the time. If I planned to eat every hour or two, it would never happen. I'm going to bolt something down before I see my first patient, so rather than a high sugar and fat coffee drink, I opted for a healthier greek yogurt protein coffee. If I'm lucky, I'll have time for a sit down lunch. Then when I get home I exercise and bolt something down before settling in to prepare a real dinner. I figure the shake is better than the package of cookies or easy cheese and chikin-n-biskit crackers, or the frozen pizza I used to have. And trying to get up to 1600 calories plus exercise calories can be grilling when you are trying to look at real food. I mean theres only so much time and energy in a day. You've just got to prioritize.
    I have tried going the shake/smoothie route. Not processed shakes but make my own. Doesn't matter what shake I make, I always feel hungry and then I end up taking in too many calories.

    I am not a milk drinker and know I need to consume some dairy products. So my shakes/smoothies consist of

    1 cup milk or juice
    1 cup yogurt
    1 banana
    1 cup fresh orfrozen fruit (any kind)
    2 scoops protein powder

    I don't have a blender so use an immersion blender. Mixes well./

    This tastes great but doesn't fill me up. Leaves me hungry.

    This is my point, if you ate a cup of fruit, then a cup of yoghurt, then a banana, with a drink of juice , maybe each item every 30 minutes or so wouldn't that fill you? instead of all of it at once.....

    thats how I work anyway, I eat all day long every 45 minutes or so, but just spread out my meals so I still only eat 1200 or so a day
  • fresh_start59
    fresh_start59 Posts: 590 Member
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    I must confess that I drink the prepackaged diet shakes first thing every morning, but not because I think they are more filling than 200 calories in real food. Personally, I don't find them to be more filling than real food and a glass of water.

    For years, I've avoided eating breakfast. The idea of solid food first thing in the morning makes my stomach lurch. The shakes go down easy and stay down. And they have fewer calories and (I think) more nutrients than chocolate milk.

    I'm trying to create healthier eating habits, something that will last me for the long term. Since Christmas, I've been drinking a diet shake every morning, right after stepping out of bed. Come Feb. 1, the goal is to start eating some sort of protein (chicken, sausage, cheese) in place of a shake for at least two or three breakfasts a week and, hopefully, work up to a bit of protein and a piece of toast with a bit of sugar free jelly every morning.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
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    Try Shakeology from Beachbody. High fiber, pro-biotic, and packed with nutrients. Changes your entire digestive system.

    Lol what does it do to your digestive system?
    Maybe it makes it go backwards, or turns it upside down?
  • runfreddyrun
    runfreddyrun Posts: 137 Member
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    The OP asked for suggestions on what to try, not for a lecture/sermon on why they are bad. Try Walker Diet Shake. I buy them at vitacost. They are about $1 a serving, have twice as much protein and vitamins as slimfast and are low sugar/low carb. Now if you look at the ingredient label you will see a long list, which isn't ideal. I might get a vitamix and start making my own shakes but these have been working for me for the past few months. I drink 2 a day and then eat 4 other meals.
  • Medic911ETH
    Medic911ETH Posts: 31 Member
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    I use a ViSalus Sciences shake product, usually with unsweetened almond milk (120 calories), for several reasons. First, it's the best-tasting product I've tried to-date, it's quick and convenient, it's a nutritional meal substitute, and finally, it saves me money.

    I'm a truck driver. I haven't the room or cold-storage space I'd have if I were doing this at home. I also can't afford, health-wise and money-wise, to eat a restaurant breakfast every morning I'm out on the road. For around $2.00 a day, I can get a healthier and quicker start on my days, particularly when you consider the alternatives.
  • spamantha57
    spamantha57 Posts: 674 Member
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    I like to think of meal replacement shakes more as a supplement instead of a replacement. I don't really think that real food should be "replaced." If/ when I decided to have something like this, I think of what I want to add more of in my diet (protein, fruits for more vitamins, etc.) & have it because it's easier or more convenient at the time.

    I used to drink Slim Fast shakes back in 2006 before I started learning about nutrition. I didn't lose weight, I actually gained. Then I began learning about food & read what's actually in it - basically milk & sugar. Haven't had one since.

    I like having Odwalla smoothies - Blueberry B & Vanilla Protein are my 2 favorites. I don't look at them as replacing a meal though, I think of adding something specific to my diet.
  • Muslimah1218
    Muslimah1218 Posts: 65 Member
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    DONT DO SLIM FAST... IT IS EXTREMELY HIGH IN SUGAR CONTENT... NOT GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!

    Ive been drinking Slim Fast 3-2-1 Drinks in the morning and sometimes in mid afternoon to suppliment any snacking that I would ordinarily do. When they say "They curve the appetite for several hours", I have found that they do. I eat a cerial or hot breakfast every morning at around 7 Oclock , however, I start getting hungry around 10:00am, so I will have a slim fast to get me through to 12:30 when I have lunch. I also have nutrition bars and Almonds that give me an afternoon snack so I dont eat junk. By the end of the day, if Im lucky, I have about 400 caleries that I can use for dinner, inwhich I dont want dinner to be my biggest meal anyway. I am losing weight moderately and I feel great!

    The thing about Myfitnesspal is that as you enter everything you are eating/drinking, you can also monitor area's that you could be lacking in and suppliment whatever it is. I agree with one writer on here that commented that the key is learning to eat right. Right now, Im working on shedding off the weight, feeling better and staying healthy. These shakes help you stay in line with what you are trying to accomplish without feeling like you are starving, yet your getting the nutritions through your shakes and your regular meals, like salads, 3 course meals. Dont substitue for your regular meals, however, use them as a suppliment between meals. The ones that I drink are 110 cals.

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