Making my own meal replacement shake diet

buba2006
buba2006 Posts: 1
in Food and Nutrition
Hi

I'm needing to lose some weight and although i want to do it through a balanced diet i need something to kick start it. I've seen amazing results at work using lighter life but there is no way i could do that, it seemed so restrictive and the women i know that has lost all the weight eats quite regimented.

So i need advise on where to buy a complete nutrition protein shake and then do i need to take vitamin supplements?

Any advise would be appreciated. if that fails i think i'm leaning toward juice plus.

thanks

Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,230 Member
    There is no "kick start". Start exactly the way you intend to continue. Shoot for a deficit, hit your macros and for gods sake, avoid shake diets.
  • prima073
    prima073 Posts: 93 Member
    Eat well, eat right, measure everything and be more active. If you do this then you'll touch all bases and the weight will come off.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    You don't need to kick start it, I promise you. You just need to start. All those meal replacement diets do is provide you with a calorie deficit, without teaching you anything about nutrition, food, food choices, moderation, self restraint etc. It's a lot easier just to drink a shake and not have to make decisions about what you want to eat, or "should" be eating or whatever, but the trouble is, once you stop doing the shakes, you're still faced with those decisions several times a day. You still have to learn to eat moderately.

    You can create the calorie deficit you need just by eating food - real food - food that you actually enjoy eating. That way, it's not a temporary diet either. You learn to eat now how you're going to eat for the rest of your life. Once you reach your goal weight, there's no adjustment, no going off the diet, no yo-yoing back up, you simply add in the extra calories you need to maintain your weight.

    Stop seeing the process as a temporary thing, a short term diet to get the weight off, something that needs to be "kick started", presumably so you can get it over with as soon as possible. To work, this needs to be a permanent change, a way of living and eating that you can sustain indefinitely. It's not a quick or short term process, and to be honest, it doesn't even finish when you reach your goal weight.

    (And looking at your profile - you're looking to lose 22 lbs? There's even less reason that you should be looking at extreme weight loss methods. Just learn to eat sensibly, moderately, the foods you love, in appropriate portion sizes for your energy needs. Then, the weight will come off, and you'll keep it off.)
  • jules1506
    jules1506 Posts: 22
    My cousin is doing fantastically on herbalife and I done it last year with brilliant results but I'm doing my own now with protein works. Not sure if you are in the UK or not so don't want to bore you with what all I get thru, but its a lot cheaper.

    For those that disagree with shakes......no point in saying so when the person posting has expressed their interest in doing them!! I have done both eathing clean/training clean and also just doing shakes. I get MORE nutrition from the shakes, don't have to think about clean foods and have more time. Plus they work out cheaper than food so its a win all round for ME (migth not be the same for others).
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,230 Member
    My cousin is doing fantastically on herbalife and I done it last year with brilliant results but I'm doing my own now with protein works. Not sure if you are in the UK or not so don't want to bore you with what all I get thru, but its a lot cheaper.

    For those that disagree with shakes......no point in saying so when the person posting has expressed their interest in doing them!! I have done both eathing clean/training clean and also just doing shakes. I get MORE nutrition from the shakes, don't have to think about clean foods and have more time. Plus they work out cheaper than food so its a win all round for ME (migth not be the same for others).

    So there's no point in telling people that something they're considering is a bad idea and/or unnecessary? There would be a lot more stupid decisions carried out in the world if people took that advice. Fact is, you don't NEED shakes, or 'clean' food, you just need a calorie deficit, and you're more likely to keep it up and actually learn something about nutrition if you don't buy into the fad diets.
  • jules1506
    jules1506 Posts: 22
    No there really is no point in expressing that you disagree as that is just your opinion. How is it a bad idea? And its certainly not a stupid idea. So your concept that you don't need clean food means that you believe that a calorie defecit obtained via eating junk food is ok???? Its not lol. I know more now about nutrition now than I did, and depending on the plan, nearly all meal replacement plans SHOW people how to choose correct foods, show alternatives, etc. Its a personal choice thing, and the person who wrote the post wanted help on their choice of doing MRD. I'm hoping to help, not make judgements or tell them what to do
  • TheNewMe93Chicago
    TheNewMe93Chicago Posts: 37
    Having one shake for a meal during the day is fine but you really shouldn't do it for every meal.

    I have a protein/meal replacement shake every morning.

    I use Optimum Nutrition Rocky Road protein powder
    Some Almond Milk
    Peanut butter
    and a banana
  • PurpleCupcakes01
    PurpleCupcakes01 Posts: 141
    I just started doing shakes and I love them. It takes care of my sweet tooth as well. There's plenty on the market, you just have to find the one that's best for you. Yes, I take a vitamin supplement but I'm also breastfeeding.
  • asciiqwerty
    asciiqwerty Posts: 565 Member
    Many people have success with shakes, as they are an 'easy' way to restrict calories.

    However, becasue they are an 'easy' way to restrict calories, folks don't really get a chance to re-learn how to eat helthily and assess portions without them, so many gain weight when they come off the shake diets becasue they revert to their previous eating habits.

    The advantage of going slower, and logging real food accurately, is that you do make mistakes, but slowly you get to learn for yourself how to do portions properly and to balance your meals. You also get to learn not to demonise specific food groups, that it is fine to include a variety of treats and luxuries into a balanced macro+micro targetted diet.

    Shake diets are also very expensive.

    So use them, or don't use them - well that's your choice. But those folks telling you that they're a bad idea are trying to help, by informing you that they are expensive and unnecessary if you are willing to do the work to track and log your calories accurately.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    the key is that while the principle of weightloss is simple :: weightloss <> calorie deficit
    in practice, it is very difficult and takes a lot of effort to se weigh consistently on a calorie deficit, because consistency in logging is hard and takes time and effort.
    most "kick start', 'quick fix', just force teh deficit temporarily, leaving you out the other side a few pounds lighter, but none the wiser as to how to continue the journey without the expensive 'help'

    good luck with your journey
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,230 Member
    No there really is no point in expressing that you disagree as that is just your opinion. How is it a bad idea? And its certainly not a stupid idea. So your concept that you don't need clean food means that you believe that a calorie defecit obtained via eating junk food is ok???? Its not lol. I know more now about nutrition now than I did, and depending on the plan, nearly all meal replacement plans SHOW people how to choose correct foods, show alternatives, etc. Its a personal choice thing, and the person who wrote the post wanted help on their choice of doing MRD. I'm hoping to help, not make judgements or tell them what to do

    Actually, if you burn more than you consume, you lose weight. That's called science. It doesn't matter if you're eating Broccoli or Peanut Butter cups. You will also note that I suggested eat at a deficit AND hit your macros. It's incredibly hard to hit macros without a variety of food, some of them nutritionally more beneficial than others. But as for a deficit hit bu only eating 'junk'? Yup - you'll lose weight.

    I'm also hoping to help, but by offering a view that the OP does not need to 'jump start' with a temporary, unnatural fad.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    No there really is no point in expressing that you disagree as that is just your opinion. How is it a bad idea? And its certainly not a stupid idea. So your concept that you don't need clean food means that you believe that a calorie defecit obtained via eating junk food is ok???? Its not lol. I know more now about nutrition now than I did, and depending on the plan, nearly all meal replacement plans SHOW people how to choose correct foods, show alternatives, etc. Its a personal choice thing, and the person who wrote the post wanted help on their choice of doing MRD. I'm hoping to help, not make judgements or tell them what to do

    I think for YOU it is what works, but for the OP they were asking or maybe that squiggly line with a dot below it isn't a question mark. OP if you want to supplement protein in a snack or meal, making a protein shake is simple and easy. Do you have to do it....no. Are there many folks out there who've had short term success with Herbalife or similar products, sure. But, if you have a goal which encompasses a longer timeframe I'd suggest learning to eat for your goals and not a quick fix or jumpstart. Best of luck with your goals OP.
  • jules1506
    jules1506 Posts: 22
    Think you are missing what I said. A calorie deficit from eating junk food is NOT HEALTHY and will lead to things like heart attack and diabeties. I never said that you couldn't lose weight!! Instead of saying that you disagree on something on here, why not just skip reading it and go onto another post that you have insight into or that interests you. Or if you feel the need to reply, then instead of saying that the person is making a stupid move, give them insight to what you do. MRD is scientifically produced and regulated (well it is here in the UK). Doctors prescribe it so there is no point is saying its stupid when there is more than enough documentation to prove that it works for some. I LIKE it and it works for me and thus that is why I replied to the author. Everyone is already aware that the less calorie they consume plus expenditure means they can lose weight. Giving help in the way of explaining what you do is far more helpful than what you have come out with so far.
  • jules1506
    jules1506 Posts: 22
    Did you notice what the OP actually asked???? They didn't ask for an opinion, they asked where to buy!!!
  • jim180155
    jim180155 Posts: 769 Member
    You don't need to kick start it, I promise you. You just need to start. All those meal replacement diets do is provide you with a calorie deficit, without teaching you anything about nutrition, food, food choices, moderation, self restraint etc. It's a lot easier just to drink a shake and not have to make decisions about what you want to eat, or "should" be eating or whatever, but the trouble is, once you stop doing the shakes, you're still faced with those decisions several times a day. You still have to learn to eat moderately.

    You can create the calorie deficit you need just by eating food - real food - food that you actually enjoy eating. That way, it's not a temporary diet either. You learn to eat now how you're going to eat for the rest of your life. Once you reach your goal weight, there's no adjustment, no going off the diet, no yo-yoing back up, you simply add in the extra calories you need to maintain your weight.

    Stop seeing the process as a temporary thing, a short term diet to get the weight off, something that needs to be "kick started", presumably so you can get it over with as soon as possible. To work, this needs to be a permanent change, a way of living and eating that you can sustain indefinitely. It's not a quick or short term process, and to be honest, it doesn't even finish when you reach your goal weight.

    (And looking at your profile - you're looking to lose 22 lbs? There's even less reason that you should be looking at extreme weight loss methods. Just learn to eat sensibly, moderately, the foods you love, in appropriate portion sizes for your energy needs. Then, the weight will come off, and you'll keep it off.)

    Good advice, Jester. I'd add just a couple things to that:

    All calories are not equal. The more processed a food is, the fewer calories your body will burn in the digestive process. In other words, the net calories for eating a 500 calorie salad are lower than the net calories for eating a 500 calorie cupcake. I'm assuming the same thing is true for a "pre-chewed" salad that you run through a blender, but I could be wrong on that last part.

    Also, research has shown MOST people get no benefit from vitamin supplements and in some cases are harmed by them. Vitamins (micro nutrients) should be consumed as whole foods, not pills from a bottle or factory add ons to manufactured foods.

    I don't think shakes are BAD for you. I start each day with a protein shake and will usually have a green smoothie later in the day. But I think it's a bad idea to get most or all of your calories from shakes and smoothies, whether made at home or in a factory.
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    Eat well, eat right, measure everything and be more active. If you do this then you'll touch all bases and the weight will come off.

    There's no magic/quickfix formula. Just hard work, and commitment. However, try and detox for a week, i.e. no sugar, caffeine, bread, and wheat, and see if you can stick to 'clean' eating for that long. It's not all about what you eat, as being active every day plays a big part, in preventing loose skin, and promotes a healthy heart. Feed your muscles, with protein after each work out (even a short walk), and drink plenty of water. Water, helps to increase oxygen in the blood, which is paramount for performance. Also, log everything on MFP, it will help you to be accountable. I could go on, but I think I've covered the basics. Good luck on your journey to sensible weightloss.

    www.fitnessfrog.com
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    Having one shake for a meal during the day is fine but you really shouldn't do it for every meal.

    I have a protein/meal replacement shake every morning.

    I use Optimum Nutrition Rocky Road protein powder
    Some Almond Milk
    Peanut butter
    and a banana

    Hey, look who's here (The Aloe Vera salesrep). What luck...oops wrong leaf symbol...
  • mcatp
    mcatp Posts: 1 Member
    I do think some of the pre-made shakes aren't as useful as food as making your own. I do a smoothie/shake every morning with protein powder, almond milk, spinach, and fruit (typically frozen 1/2 banana and blueberries). I love getting in some greens and fruit early in the morning. Plus with exercising in the morning and the weather warming up, it is nice to have something cool to eat.

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