Walking and meal replacement shakes - will I lose weight?

bluesori · February 2014

[I posted this in another forum by accident, I did get some good responses there but I feel I may get better ones here

]

Whether it takes me weeks to months to half a year - will this work? I'm trying to lessen stomach fat, arm fat and thigh fat in particular, but I know you can't spot reduce.

I'm of Asian heritage, height ~156cm and weighing 54.3 kg at present.

For exercise, I walk on the treadmill a little over 30 minutes a day, sometimes 40 mins if I'm feeling energetic, at speed 3.8km/h and inclination of 8 usually, and then do 30-60 squats (back against the wall) and leg lifts with an exercise ball (between legs) for about 5-10 mins (I don't count because I'm usually watching a TV show while I do them). I do vary the amount of squats and leg lifts but it's always in these ranges.

As for food, I have 2 meal replacement shakes a day (FatBlaster) with fruit and nuts as snacks (if I'm sad on some days I eat other not-so-healthy things but in very very small quantities I promise!) and a reasonable meal for dinner.

Will I be able to lose weight this way? And do you have any suggestions to enhance my workout (such as variations to exercise ball leg lifts and squatting) whilst leaving me in this sort of 'comfort zone' I have going on? :laugh:

Thank you all

psuLemon · February 2014

Drop the meal replacement shakes and eat some real food. With very little food you can actually lose, you want to ensure you get enough calories and protein to sustain your lean body mass. Where you will benefit the most is increasing weight training and having a moderate deficit (1 lb per week). At this point, you should look to lose fat and maintain muscle. This will make you tight and lean

How many calories are you actually eating?

SherryTeach · February 2014

Can you sustain this plan every day for the rest of your life? If so, it will work. If the shake thing is temporary, it is possible/likely that when you go back to regular eating, you will regain.

Why don't you let MFP set your calories (with the help of your own research) and then just eat normal food? I, personally, can't imagine giving up eating in favor of those shakes. It's not sustainable. And it's expensive.

SezxyStef · February 2014

being in a calorie deficet makes you lose weight.

You can eat "real" food and do the same thing...

As for your workout if you like it continue but with the shakes you wont be getting all the nutrition you need and along with fat you will lose muscle.

If I were you I would stop with the shakes, set a reasonable calorie deficet for 1/2lb a week weight loss based on your goal and start with some sort of resistence training...weight lifting etc and make sure you get enough protien so you don't lose muscle and not like what you see when you are done.

bluesori · February 2014

Can you sustain this plan every day for the rest of your life? If so, it will work. If the shake thing is temporary, it is possible/likely that when you go back to regular eating, you will regain.

Why don't you let MFP set your calories (with the help of your own research) and then just eat normal food? I, personally, can't imagine giving up eating in favor of those shakes. It's not sustainable. And it's expensive.

Question...say I stop the shakes after losing weight, that I used the shakes as kickstart, and started eating normal food.

But I'm not gonna go back to my regular ways--I'll control my diet better because I'll be used to eating less. So the right amounts of all foods from the pyramid that correspond to the amount of cals I have to lose.

Would that work?

yarwell · February 2014

Question...say I stop the shakes after losing weight, that I used the shakes as kickstart, and started eating normal food.

But I'm not gonna go back to my regular ways--I'll control my diet better because I'll be used to eating less. So the right amounts of all foods from the pyramid that correspond to the amount of cals I have to lose.

Would that work?

If you gradually reduce the shakes and transition to normal food over 2-3 weeks I can see that working.

bluesori · February 2014

Question...say I stop the shakes after losing weight, that I used the shakes as kickstart, and started eating normal food.

But I'm not gonna go back to my regular ways--I'll control my diet better because I'll be used to eating less. So the right amounts of all foods from the pyramid that correspond to the amount of cals I have to lose.

Would that work?

If you gradually reduce the shakes and transition to normal food over 2-3 weeks I can see that working.

I'm happy to hear that it could work and excited, and also hoping that others will agree. Thank you

LKArgh · February 2014

For your height, I cannot see how you could lose more than 4-5 kilos and still be healthy, and for that amount of weight loss, drastic changes and diets do not seem like the way to go. Slightly reducing your calorie intake and focusing on exercise will be more efficient for the results you are looking for. Your weight is normal to begin with, so I am guessing you are mainly looking for a more toned body, which cannot happen fast, and starving yourself for a few weeks is not going to help, you will just lose whatever muscles you have.

Fitastic14 · February 2014

[I posted this in another forum by accident, I did get some good responses there but I feel I may get better ones here ]

Whether it takes me weeks to months to half a year - will this work? I'm trying to lessen stomach fat, arm fat and thigh fat in particular, but I know you can't spot reduce.

I'm of Asian heritage, height ~156cm and weighing 54.3 kg at present.

For exercise, I walk on the treadmill a little over 30 minutes a day, sometimes 40 mins if I'm feeling energetic, at speed 3.8km/h and inclination of 8 usually, and then do 30-60 squats (back against the wall) and leg lifts with an exercise ball (between legs) for about 5-10 mins (I don't count because I'm usually watching a TV show while I do them). I do vary the amount of squats and leg lifts but it's always in these ranges.

As for food, I have 2 meal replacement shakes a day (FatBlaster) with fruit and nuts as snacks (if I'm sad on some days I eat other not-so-healthy things but in very very small quantities I promise!) and a reasonable meal for dinner.

Will I be able to lose weight this way? And do you have any suggestions to enhance my workout (such as variations to exercise ball leg lifts and squatting) whilst leaving me in this sort of 'comfort zone' I have going on? :laugh:

Thank you all

This topic is TOO controversial, so I'll say this:

Stick with the bottom line. Eat to nourish your body (properly) whether you're using meal replacement shakes or not. I know they're beneficial with the nutrients some possess. My bf's been into fitness / cutting body fat / weight lifting for 7-8 yrs and he swears by them.

Cut calories -- move more.

That's all it takes. Good luck!

auddii · February 2014

Can you sustain this plan every day for the rest of your life? If so, it will work. If the shake thing is temporary, it is possible/likely that when you go back to regular eating, you will regain.

Why don't you let MFP set your calories (with the help of your own research) and then just eat normal food? I, personally, can't imagine giving up eating in favor of those shakes. It's not sustainable. And it's expensive.

Question...say I stop the shakes after losing weight, that I used the shakes as kickstart, and started eating normal food.

But I'm not gonna go back to my regular ways--I'll control my diet better because I'll be used to eating less. So the right amounts of all foods from the pyramid that correspond to the amount of cals I have to lose.

Would that work?

What makes you think that you will suddenly be able to change your eating habits after you lose the weight? Typically it's the hardest part for people, the long term changing of their diet. That is why it's often recommended that you lose weight by eating all the foods you want to eat for the rest of your life at a calorie deficit. Then, when you achieve your goal weight, you eat the same thing but at maintenance level. The weight loss period becomes training for the rest of your lift. What you suggest may work, some people can just up and change how they eat with no problem. I know I wouldn't be able to do it.

Good luck with your weight loss.

GothyFaery · February 2014

Even with exercise and your meal replacement shakes, if you're taking in more calories than you are burning you will not lose weight but gain it. Just because you're eating healthy snacks doesn't mean you will lose weight. Nuts are very good for you but very high in calories. If you are dead set on using meal replacement shakes, just make sure you are taking in less than you are burning but you are still taking in enough to keep your body going. Work you TDEE out and subtract 20%, that's what you should be eating in a day. IMO real food is better than shakes because shakes are not going to be sustainable in the long run. Do you plan on drinking shakes every day for the rest of your life? Just keep track of your calories, eat TDEE-20% and you will lose weight.

KarenTbone · February 2014

I've lost weight this way. Kickstarted with 3 shakes a day and small snacks of salad and nuts. For just a week or so, then started to add in HEALTHY foods. I use the guide lines on this site to watch the calories. But I love the slimfast cappachino shakes and could go on drinking those forever. I have never liked breakfast so coffee in the morning, then to the gym to burn off FAT because there is nothing in my stomach. But I do some fast paced cardio on the elliptical and heavier weights than most of the women I see. Weights are pretty important. You keep burning fat while your muscles are recovering throughout the day. i looked at body building sites to get hints on what to eat/not eat. And I SPLURGE on weekends. No shakes, but lots of protein and veggies. I basically gave up bread and pasta and starch(always my downfall) except some weekends. I stick to meat, veggies, nuts, dried fruit. Ideally. I can now wear my daughter's middle school clothes! I'm just trying now to get and sustain a toned look, I like the runners look, but can't run enough to get it because my knees are shot.

psuLemon · February 2014

Question...say I stop the shakes after losing weight, that I used the shakes as kickstart, and started eating normal food.

But I'm not gonna go back to my regular ways--I'll control my diet better because I'll be used to eating less. So the right amounts of all foods from the pyramid that correspond to the amount of cals I have to lose.

Would that work?

If you gradually reduce the shakes and transition to normal food over 2-3 weeks I can see that working.

If would work the same if she replace the shakes today with equivalent amounts of food.

Walking and meal replacement shakes - will I lose weight?

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