What's the deal with meal replacement shakes?

Merkavar
Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
so I have lost 30+kg with out even considering these shakes.

My brother bought some, I gave one a go for breakfast.

They seemed pretty ok. Flavour ok, kept me full as if I had my regular breakfast. Taking 1 min to prepare is a plus.

So what's the downside of replacing one or two meals a day with these shakes?

What should you avoid? What are the risks.

I don't think I will use them but u thought I might ask so I can tell my brother.

Replies

  • Hotshoe1200
    Hotshoe1200 Posts: 46 Member
    Are you talking about something from a can like Slimfast or a powdered base like Shakeology? If you use a powdered nutrition base, the benefit is that you can add all kinds of great things like fruit and vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter, etc. I am not much for veggies, but they are totally cool in a cold shake.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    Hotshoe1200 wrote: »
    Are you talking about something from a can like Slimfast or a powdered base like Shakeology? If you use a powdered nutrition base, the benefit is that you can add all kinds of great things like fruit and vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter, etc. I am not much for veggies, but they are totally cool in a cold shake.

    Powder. I just mixed it with milk. Optifast it's something like that I think.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    They are intended to separate the ignorant from their hard earned money, and they are very good at it. As for weight loss, meh, calorie deficits are free.

    Rigger
  • pollypocket1021
    pollypocket1021 Posts: 533 Member
    I have yet to come across one I find remotely palatable. You've been successful without the shakes. If it ain't broke, why fix it?
  • Zedeff
    Zedeff Posts: 651 Member
    I feel as if you already know the answers to these questions.

    Count calories, eat within your limits. You can eat all green veg or all white sugar or anything in between, including these shakes, as long as you stay within your calorie allowance. The best diet is the version that is most sustainable for you; only you can determine if shakes fit into that sustainable plan.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I like real food that I can chew.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    navyrigger46 wrote: »
    They are intended to separate the ignorant from their hard earned money, and they are very good at it. As for weight loss, meh, calorie deficits are free.

    Rigger
    The ones my brother got seemed cheap. Like 2-3$ a meal/shake. He would spend 4 times that on his regular meal.


  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    I like real food that I can chew.

    Same. But my brother is thinking shakes are more of a set and forget thing. Instead of eating less each meal he can drink a shake and that it, done.
  • Zedeff
    Zedeff Posts: 651 Member
    edited March 2015
    Merkavar wrote: »
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    I like real food that I can chew.

    Same. But my brother is thinking shakes are more of a set and forget thing. Instead of eating less each meal he can drink a shake and that it, done.

    He's not wrong. I'd like a gourmet 5 course chef prepared meal daily, but sometimes (okay, all the time) I settle for what's a balance between desire and convenience.

    Your brother favors convenience, which clearly a pre-prepared meal is.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    While losing weight, it's best to do things you can do forever. That's why small changes are great. If he can do the shakes forever, that's wonderful. It just doesn't really teach someone good habits for the future.
  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
    edited March 2015
    Sometimes maybe oke. But i like real chewing food too
    Personal preference.

    Wrong in the idea...how do you learn portion control and moderation
    Are you going to take that your whole life?

    Don't get me wrong everybody makes their own choices. But i like to eat and learn and stay on track. Cook my food the way i cook my whole life.

    But this is different for everybody. So a very personal choice to make i think.

    And we are not talking here about fad diets because i am against those. Just replacing a meal regular i wont do. Maybe on rare occasions because i would like a kinda smoothie drink...But like i said rare very rare occasions. ( didnt even replaced one meal till now and not thinking of trying it out either lol)
  • Zedeff
    Zedeff Posts: 651 Member
    TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »
    Wrong in the idea...how do you learn portion control and moderation
    Are you going to take that your whole life?

    I mean, maybe. Lots of people have routines like this. I bet lots of people here eat the same breakfast every day, or have a weekly lunch routine that they pack for work.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    People always say having shakes etc don't teach you portion control. But if you stick to your tdee does it really matter?
    For example, I could drink shakes for every meal for 6mths. Then when I'm ready to maintain and go back to eating real food, just weigh and log on here and don't go above my maintenance calories.
    I just don't see the correlation. .
  • bostonultd1
    bostonultd1 Posts: 45 Member
    Food is always a better choice. Protein shakes should be used before and after workouts unless your trying to reach a certain Protein goal.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Is this one of those things where "my brother" just turns out to be yourself but didn't want to look dumb?

    Anyway- if you like them, then they can be okay, but personally I'd rather eat and enjoy my food.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    bostonultd1 wrote: »
    Food is always a better choice. Protein shakes should be used before and after workouts unless your trying to reach a certain Protein goal.

    Sure they have protein in them but I wouldn't call them a protein shake.

    Unless meal replacement and protein shakes are the same thing.

  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Those shakes never keep me full.
  • bostonultd1
    bostonultd1 Posts: 45 Member
    Merkavar wrote: »
    bostonultd1 wrote: »
    Food is always a better choice. Protein shakes should be used before and after workouts unless your trying to reach a certain Protein goal.

    Sure they have protein in them but I wouldn't call them a protein shake.

    Unless meal replacement and protein shakes are the same thing.

    Oops, sorry, Misunderstood. Yeah don't drink those, they're silly. Solid food in my opinion is always a better source.
  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
    christinev297 wrote: »
    People always say having shakes etc don't teach you portion control. But if you stick to your tdee does it really matter?
    For example, I could drink shakes for every meal for 6mths. Then when I'm ready to maintain and go back to eating real food, just weigh and log on here and don't go above my maintenance calories.
    I just don't see the correlation. .

    A lot of people go back to old habits that's the problem...and this is not only after taking meal replacements. So that is why i say its not even really taking a shake it is the habits to get into what is important.

    losing weight by eating what your normally and the rest of your life would eat is the bet way ( IMHO)

    But dont get me wrong for some people it seems to be the way to go.

    i rather eat healthier, make wiser choices And sure i will eat a pizza of whatever else too. Thats life.


  • Pootler74
    Pootler74 Posts: 223 Member
    edited March 2015
    Personally I think we have a knee jerk reaction to anything that's not a real meal. Like most things, if you use your noggin, you can certainly incorporate weight loss shakes into your diet.

    Used as a replacement for two meals a day, I'm not sure that they will give a sustainable weight loss, because of all the things we talk about on here - not learning good habits, going back to old ones when you're done.

    Used in a pinch when you're pushed for time and the alternatives are higher calorie, or as a snack at the end of the day to hit your calorie goal, then I don't see a problem with them. IF you're taking care of all your other meals the smart way. I've certainly used them when I've been in a rush away from home, and know that its the 'safest' thing to buy to tide me over until I can eat a proper meal.

    Protein shakes are a different thing, IMO. I have one most mornings. I add extra fibre and fruit to mine. It feels like a treat, and helps me hit my macros, especially keeping the carbs lower and the protein higher. I shop around for powder and bars and they work out cheaper than getting the same amount of protein from meat.

    All my other meals are carefully composed to hit macros, and keep me feeling full and healthy. Personally I love the idea that something sweet and yummy is also helping me reach my goal without being a crutch.
  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
    edited March 2015
    I started with meal replacements, and lost weight. After a few months, I switched to a standard CICO diet, and lost weight. There's no magic in the meal replacements, but they did help me learn that I could function just fine on far fewer calories than I had been eating. Once I had that confidence, it was easy to transition to the "rest of my life" diet.
  • melodyesch
    melodyesch Posts: 49 Member
    I have a shake for breakfast because I don't like food early in the morning. So I have a shake at my desk. But then I have regular food for my other meals. It works for me, but there is no way I could replace all meals.
  • Hotshoe1200
    Hotshoe1200 Posts: 46 Member
    My husband has been doing Slimfast shakes for about 5 years now. On the weekdays, he has them for breakfast and lunch. For him, it's all about convenience. His idea of a good breakfast is a meat and potato skillet, so for him a shake is a much healthier alternative. I'm an oatmeal person, myself, but I'll grab one of his shakes if I'm running late in the morning and I will keep one at work just in case I stay late and want to avoid the inevitable garbage that we always seem to have in the breakroom. (Right now, it's pecan sandies and tortilla chips!) I am using the 310 Nutrition shake mix for dinners and, frankly, it has saved me. It's convenient and tasty and I can include just about anything in it. I have started adding vegetables that I would normally never eat. Plus, I don't have to come home and wonder what the husband has made for dinner that will be the devil incarnate or try to scrounge up something healthy and quick. Seriously! I think if shakes work for you, then go for it.
  • hsmith0930
    hsmith0930 Posts: 160 Member
    There is nothing inherently wrong with drinking a meal instead of chewing it. A lot of people have a smoothie for breakfast every day and don't eat solid food until a morning snack or lunch. Think of the powdered shake-thing a calorie controlled smoothie. If it's the kind of thing he wants to do for the long haul, go for it.
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    I personally like the Herbalife shakes, they taste good and are nutritious. I usually take one in the morning and at night but I do eat regular food during the day too.
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    I could never do meal replacement shakes. I would still want food I can chew and then would be actually consuming more than i would have been had i just eaten anyway. sorry i like the actual act of eating!
  • Leana088
    Leana088 Posts: 581 Member
    They are a lazy way to create a caloric deficit. And they cost more money than an actual meal.

    The only benefit I can think of is that it might be good for someone on the go. But then, you can also just pre-make your meal, place it in an airtight container and grab it before you rush out the door.

    Personally I'd rather chew my food. Solid food keeps you full longer as it takes longer to digest than liquid. And also the actual chewing helps you feel more satiated.
  • Amanda4change
    Amanda4change Posts: 620 Member
    I have one for breakfast everyday and sometimes lunch. I use the GNC lean 25, add a cup of almond milk, a banana (sometimes frozen fruit depending on my morning glucose levels) ice and water. Food for several hours after I wake up makes me nauseous but if I don't eat my sugars are too low (thanks hypoglycemia). If my day is super busy I'll make one for lunch as well, the rest of the day I eat "real" food. For me it's more about keeping my sugars steady (by eating at regular intervals) than losing weight using them (though I am losing weight since they fit in my calorie goals).

    I personally don't think there is anything wrong or bad about them, if it works for a person great, if they don't like them that's also great.
  • carakit
    carakit Posts: 126 Member
    I use meal replacement shakes for breakfast. I have used Shakeology, Advocare, and Atkins and like them all. Its just easier for me in the morning. Some are full of sugar so you have to watch it, but its all about caloric deficit in the end. Its all personal preference.
  • Charliecatesq
    Charliecatesq Posts: 100 Member
    I tried MRS's last year, got three days in and felt awful, over sweet, not filling and a waste of money. I thought it was a good "cheat" way of not having to think too hard about food during the day but ended up miserable and quickly went back to eating actual food.
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