Protein Shakes

brittbergh
brittbergh Posts: 130 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am trying to have two protein shakes a day, rather smoothes with whey protein in them keeping under 400 calories each shake and eating a healthy dinner.
Now I have never had to lose weight before and now I have a lot to lose so Im not sure how this will be effective for me. I also strive for at least 30mins of workout a day.
Some days one shake and dinner is enough for me but I end up hardly eating many calories at all, is this bad? Do I need to make sure I have the second shake? I want to work ym way up to more than 30mins workout a day but Im so out of shape :-(

and also does anybody have really good tasting shake recpies? Im getting bored with the same 5 and its only been 11 days now...

Replies

  • INSANITY43
    INSANITY43 Posts: 142
    I entered a recipe callled BEAUTY SMOOTHIE into MFP's recipes.....guess you could look for it and see if you can bring it up. I've never tried so I guess you can find out if I knew what I was doing when I entered it. :-)
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    Why not mix it up with other lo-cal meals sometimes. Try a sandwich with lofat meat, some lettuce, and some fruit. That should come in under 400 cals. Also some soups, both canned and homemade, come in well under 400 cals a serving, and you could add some fruit and still have a low cal meal. There are some good frozen entrees out there as well, just watch the sodium.

    As for smoothies, I just did a pina colada one today for a snack:

    This recipe makes 2 smoothies, about 200 calories each.

    3 pineapple rings
    1 banana
    1/3 cup sweetened coconut
    1-6 oz. plain greek yogurt
    1/2-1 cup crushed ice
    2 TBSP splenda, or whatever lo cal sweetener you like
    1 scoop vanilla protein powder

    Blend fruit, then add yogurt, then ice, protein, and sweetener and blend more.
  • pauterson
    pauterson Posts: 65
    I really like the BSN lean dessert protein (whipped Vanilla) and can make so many different recipies with it. :-) Here are some of the ones I've used:

    1/2 Banana, water, ice, 1 scoop protein, 1tbsp low fat peanutbutter

    or

    3 chuncks of frozen pineapple, ice, water, 1 scoop protein, 1/2 banana

    or

    strawberries, almond milk, ice, water, 1 scoop protein


    The Lean shakes are the way to go because they're less in carbs which I tend to respond well to lower carb higher protein diets.

    Also, if you're not getting in enough calories you could be damaging your metabolism. Try indulging yourself in a small breakfast, then a shake, then a small lunch, then a shake, then a small dinner. This'll keep your energy up for your workouts too. :-)

    Good luck.
  • demeka
    demeka Posts: 1
    Hi Britt,
    I tried the Lean Shakes from GNC. They are really good, low in carbs and have plenty of fiber. The only down-side to the shakes is that they are about 200 calories, which is pretty much the meal. But I was full. How many calories are you counting a day?

    DeMeka
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I would say a homemade smoothie is just fine for 1 meal replacement per day. I would not suggest it for two. I'm a firm believer in eating *real* food and as cleanly and naturally as possible. Just make sure the stuff you are adding in is all natural and not full of chemicals or silica (silica cannot be broken down by the body and is harmful for you).

    If you're looking for healthy alternatives to the smoothie check out www.snackgirl.com or Everyday Food magazine.

    Typically doing this type of diet (shakes instead of meals) is not sustainable long term. What I mean by that is it's one of those type of diets that the minute you stop the weight sneaks back on quickly. (like the Special K diet as an example).

    Plus, a shake or smoothie that is made without real fruit or veggies is not a 'replacement' or adequate substitute at all. No amount of powder that you put in there is fooling your body that it is getting the real thing.

    You've got the right idea, and the groundwork for good habits--but just think about what will work long term for you. (plus, that powder can be expensive).
  • apmemo
    apmemo Posts: 43
    I like to mix 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder with about 16 ounces of hot coffee in the blender with two stevia packets. Blend for a minute (take the lid off after it starts so the heat doesn't make it explode) and you have a hot foamy latte-ish drink with no carbs!

    Frozen fruit is good to add. Strawberries, orange juice, and vanilla protein powder taste really good together. Sometimes I make fruity ones then add about 8 ounces of sparkling water for a more refreshing drink.

    Chocolate almond or soy milk, vanilla protein powder, and 1 tbsp of instant coffee, and some ice cubes in a blender and you have a frappucino-ish drink.
  • brittbergh
    brittbergh Posts: 130 Member
    Im trying for around 1200 calories a day but in the past few days I have been netting under that...and having like 300-600 left over :ohwell:
    I was going to do the two shakes a day until I lost 15lbs and then went to just a breakfast shake plus lunch and dinner. I normally add soy milk, tropicana50, lowfat yogurt, ice, frozen fruit, banana, and peanut butter (just not all at once) into the shakes. I have one for a chocolate milkshake using sugar free syrup too.
    I will have to look into those other shakes you messaged me about. Yes the powder is expensive but Im so lost with my weight and sick with myself. I really good friend of mine lost lots of weight doing this and now she is sort of my role model as she is hot now! ha ha!
  • Lunachic77
    Lunachic77 Posts: 434 Member
    I make my own protein shakes for breakfast. They are about 190 calories and have 20g of protein plus antioxidants. I just use the following ingredients in a blender for about 35 seconds:

    -GNC Performance Amplified Wheybolic Extreme Vanilla - 1 Scoop

    -1/2 c. frozen blueberries

    -1/2 c. frozen strawberries

    -1c. Unsweetened Almond milk

    Makes a delicious, filling smoothie/shake and it will keep you full until lunch or as a part of dinner.

    Hope this helps :)
  • INSANITY43
    INSANITY43 Posts: 142
    OK ... guess MFP is just collecting recipes at this time...Heres the BEAUTY SMOOTHIE recipe. It's called BEAUTY because it is full of antioxidants!

    2 cold oranges
    1/2 cup chopped Mango *I use frozen*
    1 med carrot peeled and shredded
    1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt (I use Greek to up the protein)
    2 tbs wheat germ
    2 tbs ground flaxseed
    1 tbs lemon juice
    1 tbs sugar
    Blend until smooth.

    Makes 2 servings
    Calories 250
    Protein 9 gr (more if you use greek yogurt)
    Carbs 48 g
    Total fat 4 g
    Sat fat 0
    Sodium 72 g
    Fiber 9 g
    Adjust recipe as you wish....is wonderful without the flax and wheat germ if you don't have it on hand.
  • Davie_ege
    Davie_ege Posts: 14 Member
    Is your goal weight 1200 cal? So long as you eating only a couple of hundred cals under you should be doing fine. MFP will tell you if you haven't eaten enough that day. I personally think that if your not hungry you shouldn't eat. Occasionally if I accidentally miss a meal or something MFP kindly point out that I'm like 1000 cals under and haven't eaten enough, then I have a handful of nuts to give myself 200 cals extra. But otherwise if you aren't hungry don't eat, your body knows when it needs food, and as long as your having plenty of water to counter-act the "hungry dehydration", you should be doing fine! :)
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