Protein shake for breakfast good or bad?

I usually don't eat breakfast which I know is really bad so ive been having a protein shake(just water & powder) but have seen both good and bad things about having protein shakes & now im not sure weather it is good or bad to have protein shake for breakfast and how it will affect my weightloss?

Replies

  • Seefylol
    Seefylol Posts: 197
    Makes no difference what time of day you have a protein shake. As long as you're meeting your daily calorie needs it will not effect your weight loss.
  • MG_Fit
    MG_Fit Posts: 1,143 Member
    Makes no difference what time of day you have a protein shake. As long as you're meeting your daily calorie needs it will not effect your weight loss.

    Yup!
  • riacassandra
    riacassandra Posts: 6 Member
    Does protein shake help weightloss??
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Does protein shake help weightloss??

    Protein shakes help you get more protein in your diet. Calorie deficit helps with weight loss.
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    A high quality PROTEIN shake is going to be low calorie and high protein, with very little in the way of carbs or fat. Protein can help keep you feeling fuller longer, so if you have a tendency to snack on crap in the morning at the office, a protein shake beforehand might help.

    You can also find "meal replacement shakes" that will be higher in fat and carbs, and lower in protein. Also, it'll be higher in calories. Which you chose will be dependent on your macro/calorie goals.

    That said - not having breakfast isn't the end of the world! If you are not hungry in the morning, don't force yourself to eat! Save those calories for later, when you are hungry. Eating/not eating breakfast isn't going to make or break a diet - it's the number of calories you take in over the long haul that will decide that.
  • Do what works for you! If your feel good with no cravings or hunger and increased energy, then the protein shake works well for you. If you feel fine not eating, or like myself eating 700 calories for breakfast it doesn't matter. Do YOU!!
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    i always drank a milkshake growing up. i was never a breakfast person.

    i have some good ones:

    If you like gingerbread, Oxygen magazine has a recipe for a delicious Gingerbread cookie shake: 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1/2 cup vanilla enriched Rice Dream, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 T molasses, and ice cubes. Blend and drink ! Mmmmmm

    I also like a Creamsicle, which is a cup of orange juice (I get the Healthy kids kind with extra calcium and vitamins), half a scoop of vanilla protein powder (I’ve been getting spirulina), and a lowfat vanilla yogurt. Blend and drink.

    The Protein Packed Pina Colada smoothie is blended with the following ingredients: Cup cottage cheese, cup canned pineapple or cup pineapple juice, half a frozen banana, half a cup of milk, 1 T coconut, half a scoop vanilla protein powder, and a cup of ice cubes.

    The Key Lime Protein Shake is blended with half an avocado, juice of a lime, 2 tsp lime zest, 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder, 1 T coconut, a cup of milk, and 1-2 packets of Stevia (optional).

    The Chocolate Maple Shake is made by blending a cup of milk, 3 T protein powder, 1 T cocoa powder, and 1 tsp maple syrup
    Last but not least, for a change, I blend a cup of orange juice (I get the Healthy kids kind with extra calcium and vitamins), half a scoop of chocolate protein powder (I’ve been getting spirulina), and a lowfat coffee yogurt. Also good!
  • Definitely good, so long as you are getting protein AND some sort of vegetable or fruit.

    Ideally two or three servings. Add a cup of spinach or kale to fruit smoothies for an easy serving of vegetables. Doesn't affect the taste, promise.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    First of all, there's nothing wrong with not eating breakfast. If you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat.

    Second of all, there's nothing wrong with protein shakes any time of day. They will help increase your protein intake, which is generally a positive thing. They will not necessarily "help" with weight loss but they won't hinder it either. Weight loss is all about calories.
  • TheFitnessTutor
    TheFitnessTutor Posts: 356 Member
    Neither good nor bad. It doesn't matter. Get in what you need for the day, for the next day, and after that, and for the week. WAAAAAAAY more important.
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    If you don't like breakfast you don't have to eat one, protein shake or no.
  • TheFitnessTutor
    TheFitnessTutor Posts: 356 Member
    Does protein shake help weightloss??

    It certainly helps if you don't get enough protein, which is metabolically what you want.
  • 1yoyoKAT
    1yoyoKAT Posts: 206 Member
    I've been having a protein shake for breakfast every day for months and it's working great for me. I like getting the big boost of protein in the morning after a walk and I'm not much of a breakfast food person. I use EAS protein and mix with water and a tablespoon of chia seeds.
  • I read that protein for breakfast is a good thing. If you have carbs, your body produces insulin, and once it starts it drives hunger and sugar craving. Once this starts your body starts to store calories as fat straight away. Search on google for a chap called paliquin
  • florentinovillaro
    florentinovillaro Posts: 342 Member
    In regards to Intermittent Fasting, no, it's bad for me.
  • keithnphx
    keithnphx Posts: 14 Member
    Whey Protein WITH some good carbs is a great meal anytime of the day. Need to add more green veggies? Simply add a handful of fresh spinach to your shake. Be sure to add some fruit, frozen works best and/or some raw oats (great for fiber and very filling). Make sure you are adding carbs with your protein powder to make it balanced. Almond milk works great in protein smoothies.

    Get creative. mango orange ? banana strawberry ?
  • enipla
    enipla Posts: 46 Member
    These are some good ideas.
  • wellz6
    wellz6 Posts: 81
    I've read good arguments both for and against eating breakfast. If you ask 10 different supposed experts on a particular health topic you are going to get 10 different opinions most likely. I've personally found it's all about trial and error, experimenting yourself and finding out what does or doesn't work for YOU. You can read all the books and science you want but I believe you will only truly find the answers you are looking for from personal experience.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    There is nothing wrong with protein shakes, or with skipping breakfast.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I read that protein for breakfast is a good thing. If you have carbs, your body produces insulin, and once it starts it drives hunger and sugar craving. Once this starts your body starts to store calories as fat straight away. Search on google for a chap called paliquin

    Protein is insulinogenic.

    Also...http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319

    Also...necrothread anyone!
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Whey Protein WITH some good carbs is a great meal anytime of the day. Need to add more green veggies? Simply add a handful of fresh spinach to your shake. Be sure to add some fruit, frozen works best and/or some raw oats (great for fiber and very filling). Make sure you are adding carbs with your protein powder to make it balanced. Almond milk works great in protein smoothies.

    Get creative. mango orange ? banana strawberry ?

    Balanced would also include fat, wouldn't it?

    I wouldn't have a protein shake for breakfast as I like breakfast, and I like eating - chewing my food makes me feel more satisfied than if I was to drink the same amount of calories/macros. If I was going to have a liquid breakfast , it would have greens, fruit, fat and protein.

    You do what you like though!
  • Microfiber
    Microfiber Posts: 956 Member

    Protein is insulinogenic.


    I looked up insulinogenic :embarassed: and got
    Definition of INSULINOGENIC
    : of, relating to, or stimulating the production of insulin

    So protein stimulates the production of insulin?? I'm still not getting it. Can someone please explain, thanks :flowerforyou:
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member

    Protein is insulinogenic.


    I looked up insulinogenic :embarassed: and got
    Definition of INSULINOGENIC
    : of, relating to, or stimulating the production of insulin

    So protein stimulates the production of insulin?? I'm still not getting it. Can someone please explain, thanks :flowerforyou:

    People go on about carbs spiking insulin, but so does protein. However, even if it really mattered, you just need to eat a mixed macro meal (i.e. include fats) and it blunts it...for carbs and for protein.
  • Microfiber
    Microfiber Posts: 956 Member
    Thanks Sara :smile:
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    I'm not sure its a good/bad dichotomy. I do every day. It boosts my protein macro for the day, quite filling and better than the fry up which is on offer at the canteen where I work :-)
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    Does protein shake help weightloss??

    I've lost 40 lb doing it. For me its not a way to go onto a VLCD though. I use Its a supplement. I still keep a 1000 cal per day deficit :-) It allows me to meet my protein macro easily without having to take on a load of fat or carb while doing so
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Apparently they are twice as bad on bank holidays....
  • martinastrong
    martinastrong Posts: 2 Member
    That said - not having breakfast isn't the end of the world! If you are not hungry in the morning, don't force yourself to eat! Save those calories for later, when you are hungry. Eating/not eating breakfast isn't going to make or break a diet - it's the number of calories you take in over the long haul that will decide that.

    Wow thats some bad advice right there. Skipping breakfast puts your body into starvation mode which means its going to hang onto that fat with everything its got. If you force yourself to eat a little in the morning, soon you'll find yourself waking up hungry which means your metabolism is working! YAY!
  • That said - not having breakfast isn't the end of the world! If you are not hungry in the morning, don't force yourself to eat! Save those calories for later, when you are hungry. Eating/not eating breakfast isn't going to make or break a diet - it's the number of calories you take in over the long haul that will decide that.

    Wow thats some bad advice right there. Skipping breakfast puts your body into starvation mode which means its going to hang onto that fat with everything its got. If you force yourself to eat a little in the morning, soon you'll find yourself waking up hungry which means your metabolism is working! YAY!

    Wow that's some bro-science right there. Skipping breakfast in no way puts your body into "starvation mode". True starvation mode, where the body stop burning fat in cases of famine only happens, get this, after a famine. If you didn't eat, or ate extremely little (a few hundred calories) every day for weeks on end, and you got down to very little body fat that way, only THEN would your body start to hang on to its last reserves of fat. Your fat reserves are there for just that reason, and your body suddenly going "HOLY CRAP! EVERYONE STOP USING THE FAT!" whenever you missed a meal would make us pretty unsuccessful, as a species.

    That said, true starvation diets where you eat very little for long periods of time will burn muscle as well as fat. The point of a low-slow burn of a few hundred calories a day under your TDEE is to reduce muscle wasting while still burning a little fat. But skipping one meal a day still make no difference. Many people are successful using leangains style 6-8 hour eating window, and many people skip an entire day once a week for fasting. Everyone's different, but nobody without hypoglycemia or diabetes or some other metabolic disorder is going to go haywire from missing a meal now and then.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    That said - not having breakfast isn't the end of the world! If you are not hungry in the morning, don't force yourself to eat! Save those calories for later, when you are hungry. Eating/not eating breakfast isn't going to make or break a diet - it's the number of calories you take in over the long haul that will decide that.

    Wow thats some bad advice right there. Skipping breakfast puts your body into starvation mode which means its going to hang onto that fat with everything its got. If you force yourself to eat a little in the morning, soon you'll find yourself waking up hungry which means your metabolism is working! YAY!

    This is absolutely wrong. Your body does not go into starvation mode by skipping breakfast in the slightest.