Meal Replacement Shakes?

xcheyxo18
xcheyxo18 Posts: 36 Member
edited November 23 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm wanting to start using meal replacement shakes only because I have a lot going on right now and have very little appetite and wanted to know if meal replacement shakes actually work in losing weight.

Replies

  • duskyjewel
    duskyjewel Posts: 286 Member
    These are good, my husband and I have used them for months at a time, mostly for maintenance and not losing, but I could do a whole morning at work after one of these. I like the nutrition in them. I mixed mine with unsweetened almond milk.

    https://shop.oxyfresh.com/collections/nutrition/
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    Meal replacement shakes tend not to be very filling, so keep that in mind - you'll probably find that your hunger will increase while consuming the same amount of calories.

    I've heard good things about "Soylent" - it's a nutritionally complete drink that comes in some different flavours.

  • brittneyalley
    brittneyalley Posts: 274 Member
    I like slim fasts (more specifically the chocolate ones). I rarely drink them, but if I'm in a hurry and hungry I will. They're a little less than 200 calories and have a good amount of vitamins and minerals in them.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Eating less than you burn, consistently, for real, and for a long time, makes you lose weight. Whatever makes this happens, "works". Meal replacements are famous for "not working" - you'll lose some weight initially, but then you'll be hungry, bored and miss food, and then you stop, and go back to old habits, and then you regain. If you need to lose weight, having little appetite sounds ideal, because your goal would be to not eat too much. The way meal replacements work, however, they can be ideal to help you get your appetite back.

    But that can set you up for yoyoing. A better approach for weight management, appetite and general health, would be to choose food, any food, you find appealing, and aim to hit your calorie target every day. When you're bored of those foods, pick something else. This a normal, natural and healthy way to eat, and it will lead to a normal, healthy weight and optimal health.
  • lauracups
    lauracups Posts: 533 Member
    I prefer my "heavy" meal mid day and at dinner time when the rest of the family is having a big meal I'll have a shake. I like quest no flavor added powder or Paleo egg white powder , mixed frozen berries , almond milk and to really thicken it I'll add fiber powder. Another yummy shake, powder, almond butter, cinnamon, cashew milk.
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  • nickbullett
    nickbullett Posts: 44 Member
    It works as part of a calorie deficit diet. I buy the kirkland brand at costco as it's MUCH cheaper than other options.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    As others have said... it's all about the deficit. If they help you get into and stay in a deficit, then yes... they will help with weight loss. If not, then no.

    Also... on a side note just so we're all talking about the same thing... a meal replacement shake should generally be higher calories and higher nutrients than a protein shake. A meal replacement shake replaces a meal, and should do so appropriately. A protein shake is a supplement to help with protein intake.
  • kittybenn
    kittybenn Posts: 444 Member
    Every time I think about meal replacement shakes I think about how much tastier a smoothie I can make for the same cals would be, and that's including protein powder. Realize pulling together a smoothie is more work than the replacement shakes, though.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    kittybenn wrote: »
    Every time I think about meal replacement shakes I think about how much tastier a smoothie I can make for the same cals would be, and that's including protein powder. Realize pulling together a smoothie is more work than the replacement shakes, though.

    Another vote for smoothies. Cheaper and tastier.
  • Rickster1967
    Rickster1967 Posts: 485 Member
    kittybenn wrote: »
    Every time I think about meal replacement shakes I think about how much tastier a smoothie I can make for the same cals would be, and that's including protein powder. Realize pulling together a smoothie is more work than the replacement shakes, though.

    a bit more work yes

    but the benefits are enormous, not least - variety. You can change your smoothie every day for a start
  • duskyjewel
    duskyjewel Posts: 286 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    Meal replacements are famous for "not working" - you'll lose some weight initially, but then you'll be hungry, bored and miss food, and then you stop, and go back to old habits, and then you regain.

    This is why I only use them for breakfast. It's the meal I'm least likely to miss variety with, and usually the one I am most rushed in getting to. I often drank my shake in the car on the way to work.


  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    thecharon wrote: »
    Take a look at protein shakes at your store since they tend to be lower in calories.

    A protein shake isn't a meal replacement...a protein shake is just a protein supplement. An actual meal replacement shake will have contain a variety of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and will have a calorie content similar to eating an actual meal.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    xcheyxo18 wrote: »
    I'm wanting to start using meal replacement shakes only because I have a lot going on right now and have very little appetite and wanted to know if meal replacement shakes actually work in losing weight.

    If it meets your calorie and nutritional requirements, and you find it satiating and can stand drinking them for more than a few times, then yes. Drinking your calories often doesn't provide much satiety though. It'll work better for any meals that you don't have time for and will be busy afterward (something like breakfast on a workday). You'll probably be able to find tastier, cheaper, more filling instant items at the grocery. (things like yogurt, cottage cheese, food bars such as Clif,Lara,etc (a lot of these have added fiber in addition to some added protein), cheese sticks, microwave meals,..)
  • TrudyPepparstrom
    TrudyPepparstrom Posts: 4 Member
    Soylent works great for me, especially the caffeinated ones for the morning. I have three a day and cook a light dinner and I feel full if I have half a bottle every two hours, which basically means 200 calories 8am, 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm. Then a roughly 400 cal dinner of real food at 8pm and I'm good for the day. If I have the entire bottle (400 cal) at 8, noon, and 4 it doesn't work as well for appetite management in my case, but splitting it up works well for me.
  • myfavoritealpha
    myfavoritealpha Posts: 44 Member
    nickbullett wrote: »
    It works as part of a calorie deficit diet. I buy the kirkland brand at costco as it's MUCH cheaper than other options.

    Huh. Didn't know Costco had any. I'll check them out tonight. Thanks!
  • Laruto
    Laruto Posts: 23 Member
    edited January 2018
    Vega one nutritional shake is very versatile and gives u a good replacement and can mix with almond milk or veg ice cream or frozen berries. Yum!
  • ledgey91
    ledgey91 Posts: 17 Member
    I used USN Diet Fuel at the start of my diet and shed weight very quickly over the course of the year. I did stick to it 2x a day for about a year then 1x a day for about 6 months before coming off completely. I did buy into the "magic" of it at first but people are right, it just puts you into a caloric deficit so long as you don't eat ridiculously around it.

    One benefit is that they're generally higher in protein and have a high amount of nutrients but they only really killed my hunger cravings when I got into the swing of them.

    Generally you can get a nice bowl of porridge and yoghurt for around the same amount of calories and depending on how you deal with your food might be more satisfying. I think the best thing about diet replacement is the routine it places you in.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    Echoing all of the above. I enjoy shakes occasionally for breakfast or as a snack. Do they work? As long as you are within your calorie goal, yes. There is nothing magical or transforming about the shakes that causes weight loss, though.
  • Live_life_well
    Live_life_well Posts: 86 Member
    I was on a 85% Soylent (meal replacement brand) diet for 8 months. My experiences were as follows - liquid diet did not signal to my brain that I had eaten so always hungry, missed 3 days of work because of stomach pain, other personal health issues I would rather not discuss.

    I don't recommend that anyone try to sustain themselves on these diets. But will Soylent work as an occasional meal replacement? Maybe, but given my bad experiences I will be staying far far far away from meal replacements unless I am in a hospital bed.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    toxikon wrote: »
    Meal replacement shakes tend not to be very filling, so keep that in mind - you'll probably find that your hunger will increase while consuming the same amount of calories.

    I've heard good things about "Soylent" - it's a nutritionally complete drink that comes in some different flavours.

    Isn't the Soylent Green made of ... people?!
  • gooz71
    gooz71 Posts: 97 Member
    Costco sells 18 pk of Premier Protein shakes. Really low in sugar and high in protein.
  • Marilyn0924
    Marilyn0924 Posts: 797 Member
    I liked the Labrada carbwatchers chocolate. High protein, good nutrition macros and very filling. Great when I'm out the door in a rush.
  • ash89w
    ash89w Posts: 1 Member
    Instead of meal replacement shakes, have you considered just getting a protein shake? I use Gold Standard whey protein, about 120 calories per scoop and comes in lots of flavours. Can add some chopped fruit and coconut water instead of milk. Much more nutritious and filling than many of the meal replacement shakes on the market :)
  • A1mylover
    A1mylover Posts: 51 Member
    duskyjewel wrote: »
    These are good, my husband and I have used them for months at a time, mostly for maintenance and not losing, but I could do a whole morning at work after one of these. I like the nutrition in them. I mixed mine with unsweetened almond milk.

    https://shop.oxyfresh.com/collections/nutrition/

    I agree, I use them and go from breakfast through to lunch with no snacking. ❣️
  • grinning_chick
    grinning_chick Posts: 765 Member
    Vega one nutritional shake is very versatile and gives u a good replacement and can mix with almond milk or veg ice cream or frozen berries.

    Just be wary of Vega One if you have any known sensitivity/intolerance/allergy to spirulina or chlorella. They use both liberally in their products.
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