Meal Replacement?

NAMsMommy
NAMsMommy Posts: 132 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
My personal trainer is recommending a meal replacement, not sure if she is just trying to sell me what the gym is selling or if it is a legit good idea. Thoughts?
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Replies

  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I would never buy a meal replacement from a person. If someONE is profiting, it is in their best interest that they make me think I need it. I bought muscle milk once from costco to try it out as a good source of protein. It was meh and I didn't like the heaviness of it. I bought soylent to try out/use in a pinch when I have a hectic weekend of events/competitions. It's okay.
  • NAMsMommy
    NAMsMommy Posts: 132 Member
    You guys are saying what I was kind of thinking. My husband is really wanting to follow what the trainer is saying so we are going to end up buying it anyway.
    I think what I am going to do is eat it for my breakfasts. Breakfast isn't really a meal I am used to eating so it's been tough for me. Maybe this way I can get the well rounded breakfast on the go. Then when I am ready I can start eating a real breakfast.
    The meal replacements are offered by my gym, they are part of the nutrition program they have available for sale on site. They have a line of vitamins and supplements and such.
    Thank you all for your input!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    NAMsMommy wrote: »
    You guys are saying what I was kind of thinking. My husband is really wanting to follow what the trainer is saying so we are going to end up buying it anyway.
    I think what I am going to do is eat it for my breakfasts. Breakfast isn't really a meal I am used to eating so it's been tough for me. Maybe this way I can get the well rounded breakfast on the go. Then when I am ready I can start eating a real breakfast.
    The meal replacements are offered by my gym, they are part of the nutrition program they have available for sale on site. They have a line of vitamins and supplements and such.
    Thank you all for your input!

    You don't have to have a meal first thing in the AM. Many people like to have more calories later in the day, and skip traditional breakfasts.

    That said, I do like smoothies in the AM. I make them myself by adding things to protein powder. They have a good mix of carbs, protein, fat, and fiber. My warm weather smoothies have fruits and veggies and are about 400 calories. My cold weather smoothies are coffee, protein powder, chia seeds, and dried coconut and have 215 - 258 calories.

    Can you link to something that has the nutritional info for the meal replacement brand your gym is selling?
  • MissyCHF
    MissyCHF Posts: 337 Member
    toxikon wrote: »
    NAMsMommy wrote: »
    You guys are saying what I was kind of thinking. My husband is really wanting to follow what the trainer is saying so we are going to end up buying it anyway.
    I think what I am going to do is eat it for my breakfasts. Breakfast isn't really a meal I am used to eating so it's been tough for me. Maybe this way I can get the well rounded breakfast on the go. Then when I am ready I can start eating a real breakfast.
    The meal replacements are offered by my gym, they are part of the nutrition program they have available for sale on site. They have a line of vitamins and supplements and such.
    Thank you all for your input!

    Just an FYI - there's no reason you NEED to eat (or drink) breakfast if you don't want to. Meal-timing is pretty irrelevant when it comes to losing weight. I personally haven't eaten breakfast regularly in years and I love that it gives me more calories for a large, filling dinner.
    Nor me. :)

  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    I agree with toxikon. I don't eat breakfast. And I exercise before lunch. It's worked out well for me.
  • deeblues13
    deeblues13 Posts: 84 Member
    I dont recommend them i have a few boxes of the stuff sitting around ... but to use them up ill make one if im in a rush in the morning instead of skipping breakfast i cant imagine doing them long term
  • melissawill2017
    melissawill2017 Posts: 1,131 Member
    Meal replacements aren't necessary for weight loss. Most of the time they are marketed as a good alternative to meals but most I've tried and looked at aren't that great for you. They are typically too low in calories to fully replace a meal or they are high in sugar. I think it's ok to eat them on occasion out of convenience, but there is no reason to specifically buy a product that "replaces a meal".. just eat the meal and adjust it to fit your needs.
  • Marykaylady2010
    Marykaylady2010 Posts: 69 Member
    I use the Herbalife meal replacement shakes. I love them but it is simply for convenience. I’m too rushed in the mornings to make breakfast and so I skip it and then binge on lunch the shake keeps me full for the morning. I will also have the shake after a strenuous workout cause of the protein content. It allows me to plan less meals but you don’t need a replacement to loose weight and it’s not going to get you there any faster if at the end of the day you calories total the same.
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,795 Member
    we make our own smoothies. I only have them once in a while during the winter but in the hot summer, I often replace food at lunch with it
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,795 Member
    I use the Herbalife meal replacement too, since my dtr in law uses/sells it & gives it to me for free. I also put them in my yogurt sometime
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Why would you want to replace a meal?

    I love meals.

    Dieting is derp. Just eat what keeps you happy and healthy and CI<CO.
  • Momepro
    Momepro Posts: 1,509 Member
    edited January 2018
    She is just trying to sell you what the gym sells. She probably has a quota, and is expected to get all of her clients on the stuff. She might honestly believe in it too, but mainly ir's because she gets yelled at if she doesn't.

    I actually think like them occasionally, usually if my stomach is feeling dodgy, or I need something at bedtime. I uswd to deink Slimfast all the time,I but apparently they changed the recipe and now it really upsets my stomach. Probably added more soy, sadly my stomavh doesn't do soy well.
  • MissyCHF
    MissyCHF Posts: 337 Member
    Momepro wrote: »
    She is just trying to sell you what the gym sells. She probably has a quota, and is expected to get all of her clients on the stuff. She might honestly believe in it too, but mainly ir's because she gets yelled at if she doesn't.

    I actually think like them occasionally, usually if my stomach is feeling dodgy, or I need something at bedtime. I uswd to deink Slimfast all the time,I but apparently they changed the recipe and now it really upsets my stomach. Probably added more soy, sadly my stomavh doesn't do soy well.
    I like Slimfast Café Latte bottled, the rest are rather sweet and leave an after taste.

  • ruthlessflower
    ruthlessflower Posts: 30 Member
    MissyCHF wrote: »
    Momepro wrote: »
    She is just trying to sell you what the gym sells. She probably has a quota, and is expected to get all of her clients on the stuff. She might honestly believe in it too, but mainly ir's because she gets yelled at if she doesn't.

    I actually think like them occasionally, usually if my stomach is feeling dodgy, or I need something at bedtime. I uswd to deink Slimfast all the time,I but apparently they changed the recipe and now it really upsets my stomach. Probably added more soy, sadly my stomavh doesn't do soy well.
    I like Slimfast Café Latte bottled, the rest are rather sweet and leave an after taste.

    Ive just ordered the cafe latte ones so hoping they’re a decent taste.
  • kehillig
    kehillig Posts: 3 Member
    Replacing a meal seems to only be ideal if you are in a time crunch most days. A meal replacement should be something that is well-rounded and not directly aimed at weight loss. I've tried a few different products. When I was running a lot, training, I would typically go with a whey/soy protein shake after a morning run as breakfast, but pared it with something like a banana to ensure I had enough calories to wait for the meal. There are also things like casein powder that digests slower and keeps you fuller longer, if it is snacking that gets you down. The problem with a meal replacement, especially liquid ones, is hitting that satiation level we would normally get from a larger meal. Slim fast did not work for me, and it was also quite sugary. Gold Standard casein powder was my next favorite, and if I were hitting the gym like I should, I would still be using it. Right now I am using Soylent, which has worked out quite well from a lazy-breakfast-maker's perspective. It is a bit more well-rounded than the casein powder, and I do not have to intake additional fruit/veggies to round out the meal with additional calories. Going back off of a meal replacement can be hard. I have found that each time I have done so, I tend to under-measure and overeat as a result. Try different things, don't be afraid to change if it is not working, and do not put any stock into them aside from them being a quick on the go choice.
  • jfan175
    jfan175 Posts: 812 Member
    I'll go against the grain here. I have an HMR meal replacement shake with coffee instead of water every morning before working out. It's like an energy drink.
  • StevefromMichigan
    StevefromMichigan Posts: 462 Member
    toxikon wrote: »
    You mean meal-replacement shakes?

    No thanks. I don't find liquid calories satiating at ALL, I would be ravenous all day. You can lose the weight with solid foods just as easily.

    This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  • ghudson92
    ghudson92 Posts: 2,061 Member
    The only time I have used meal replacement shakes is when I was doing 14 hour days with only 15 minute breaks. I would have a shake, a boiled egg and some veggies. All because I was too damn tired to prepare a proper meal. Now I have a more flexible schedule I choose to eat proper food because it is more satisfying.
  • MissyCHF
    MissyCHF Posts: 337 Member
    ruthlessflower wrote: »
    MissyCHF wrote: »
    Momepro wrote: »
    She is just trying to sell you what the gym sells. She probably has a quota, and is expected to get all of her clients on the stuff. She might honestly believe in it too, but mainly ir's because she gets yelled at if she doesn't.

    I actually think like them occasionally, usually if my stomach is feeling dodgy, or I need something at bedtime. I uswd to deink Slimfast all the time,I but apparently they changed the recipe and now it really upsets my stomach. Probably added more soy, sadly my stomavh doesn't do soy well.
    I like Slimfast Café Latte bottled, the rest are rather sweet and leave an after taste.

    Ive just ordered the cafe latte ones so hoping they’re a decent taste.
    Best straight out of the fridge. :)

  • sommerrosee2
    sommerrosee2 Posts: 31 Member
    i use quest protein powder as a base, and then add whatever in to help make it more of a meal "replacement"(fruits, veggies, chia seeds, etc) usually ends up being around 260-275 depending on what i do or don't add. i do this because it's an easy way for me to get more protein in and not eat as many carbs, plus it is super filling for me. not everyone likes "drinking" their food. everyone says meal timing doesn't matter, but i am usually hungry about an hour or so after i wake up, so i need something, but eating actual food isn't that appealing to me that early...plus i end up eating wayyy more later in the day if i do not have something in the morning. i really just think that it's personal preference.
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