Replacing breakfast with protein shake?

DohnutHead
DohnutHead Posts: 78 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been thinking of replacing breakfast with a protein shake in workdays for the convenience a d purely because it allows me to have consistent, trackable calories while I'm busy.

I'm wondering did anyone else had done this and what sort of results you had?

Replies

  • Marykaylady2010
    Marykaylady2010 Posts: 69 Member
    I’ve been doing this for a while now if I don’t do a shake I skip breakfast cause if time. It keeps me full so I don’t binge on snack or a high calorie low nutrition lunch. Just make sure your shake is a meal replacement not just a protein shake
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Protein shakes and meal replacement shakes don't keep me full very long. I leave my house at 5am on work days and sometimes can't eat until 1pm. I personally found that eating a fiber one bar on the way to work is enough to hold me over no matter how long I have to wait to eat. A protein shake might work for you though, it's worth a try.
  • DohnutHead
    DohnutHead Posts: 78 Member
    Similar situation here, I leave about 5 and cant eat properly until at least 12. I'll look into that, not sure we have those bars here in the UK but I'm sure I could find an alternative. Or maybe both once it keeps the calories at a good place earlier in the day.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I kind of like work days because it saves a bunch of calories for bigger meals later in the day. I would do intermittent fasting, but I'm hangry when I wake up and must eat.
  • DohnutHead
    DohnutHead Posts: 78 Member
    Lol tell me about it. I'm so unreasonable and generally a nightmare when I'm up early and without eating right.

    The same goes for my coffee!
  • BubbandBatspud
    BubbandBatspud Posts: 4 Member
    I switched to a protein shake at breakfast a few months ago and have been very happy with it. I find that plus a banana or two typically keeps full till lunch. It also helps me hit my protein targets.
  • DohnutHead
    DohnutHead Posts: 78 Member
    That's another plus. I've kind of neglected macros and focused on calories. This would bring me closer to getting more consistent on macro / protein goals too. I could even pre log.
  • J_Fairfax
    J_Fairfax Posts: 57 Member
    I find that oatmeal with some dried cranberries sorts me out, a 1/2 cup of oats is 150 calories and I find that with some dried cranberries is a delicious way to start the day. I usually have my protein shakes after working out.

    The slower release of energy from oatmeal is real good for mornings.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    I soak steel oats in a protien shake overnight.

    Not only does it keep me full for my 2-3 hour gym session it has a good amount of energy with the carbs.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I have done this because I’m lazy. It doesn’t really make me feel any fuller though.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    I’ve tried shakes but find that liquid calories just don’t fill me up. That said, I keep breakfast really simple for convenience sake - two string cheese and maybe a piece of fruit. So long as you’re happy with whatever you choose to do and don’t consider it a huge deprivation, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple.
  • tess5036
    tess5036 Posts: 942 Member
    I do it sometimes, it works for me, but everyone is different
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    I've been doing it for a year.

    But I make it differently.

    I use green bananas (1 per shake) from the fridge, 2 balls frozen spinach, 150ml cold almond milk and one scoop flavoured protein. Because of the low temperature and the fact that the bananas aren't ripe it gets thick like icecream. It also fills with air bubbles during blending and it's volume gets around 500-600ml. So basically I eat every morning a huge bowl filled literally to the brim with super yummy creamy fluffy icecream with my table spoon for 280cals! Unbelievable! Gets me full to bursting and satisfied until lunch. I used to eat hot porridge but now I wouldn't give this cold freshness for anything in the world. (Not to mention the portion of porridge for the same calories is pathetic in size in comparison and I barely made it until lunch.) That's my favourite meal of the day!
    Might need a bit of trial and error until you learn to do the correct texture.

    There are so many different flavours by Myprotein that I've been eating new flavours every several weeks since I started and haven't even tried half of all available yet!
    At the moment it is 'chocolate nuts'.

    Yum yum yum!
  • StevefromMichigan
    StevefromMichigan Posts: 462 Member
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    I've been doing it for a year.

    But I make it differently.

    I use green bananas (1 per shake) from the fridge, 2 balls frozen spinach, 150ml cold almond milk and one scoop flavoured protein. Because of the low temperature and the fact that the bananas aren't ripe it gets thick like icecream. It also fills with air bubbles during blending and it's volume gets around 500-600ml. So basically I eat every morning a huge bowl filled literally to the brim with super yummy creamy fluffy icecream with my table spoon for 280cals! Unbelievable! Gets me full to bursting and satisfied until lunch. I used to eat hot porridge but now I wouldn't give this cold freshness for anything in the world. (Not to mention the portion of porridge for the same calories is pathetic in size in comparison and I barely made it until lunch.) That's my favourite meal of the day!
    Might need a bit of trial and error until you learn to do the correct texture.

    There are so many different flavours by Myprotein that I've been eating new flavours every several weeks since I started and haven't even tried half of all available yet!
    At the moment it is 'chocolate nuts'.

    Yum yum yum!
    Mmmm...sounds good!
  • J_Fairfax
    J_Fairfax Posts: 57 Member
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    I soak steel oats in a protien shake overnight.

    Not only does it keep me full for my 2-3 hour gym session it has a good amount of energy with the carbs.

    that sounds like a good idea.

    I tried mixing my chocolate protein powder into a bowl of oats after I had made them.

    it was not a good idea.
  • Okiludy
    Okiludy Posts: 558 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    I kind of like work days because it saves a bunch of calories for bigger meals later in the day. I would do intermittent fasting, but I'm hangry when I wake up and must eat.

    I started IF last month. Not to lose weight or anything just to simplify life. It took me about 2 weeks to not get hangry. I fast from 8pm-11am. I lift at 4am so right in the middle of fast and it’s not too bad.

    Oh I only do it on work days and eat normally on weekend. I made sure to plan high intensity days for weekends. Doing 5x1 just does not go well when running on empty.
  • ZoneFive
    ZoneFive Posts: 570 Member
    edited January 2018
    J_Fairfax wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    I soak steel oats in a protien shake overnight.

    Not only does it keep me full for my 2-3 hour gym session it has a good amount of energy with the carbs.

    that sounds like a good idea.

    I tried mixing my chocolate protein powder into a bowl of oats after I had made them.

    it was not a good idea.

    I tried that, too, only with vanilla protein powder. It tasted so strange that I wondered if I just had used an incompatible brand of protein. So many people on the boards here swear by it, I thought it'd be a great addition to my repertoire. I'm just sticking with grated apples and cinnamon in my oatmeal, and I'll save the protein shakes for a snack.

    edited because apparently I cannot brain today
  • Lammerchops
    Lammerchops Posts: 68 Member
    If it works for you, go for it. Ultimately, the plan that works is the plan you can stick to. There are people who'd die if they didn't eat as soon as they woke up. There are ppl who don't eat until 12pm. Everyone is different.

    Protein powder is a pre-digested form of protein, meant to shuttle to the muscles quickly. Many ppl find that it doesn't fill them up because it's a supplement. Even meal replacement shakes can be under-satiating because they're liquid (and therefore a version of pre-digested themselves).
  • karynclarke
    karynclarke Posts: 184 Member
    ZoneFive wrote: »
    J_Fairfax wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    I soak steel oats in a protien shake overnight.

    Not only does it keep me full for my 2-3 hour gym session it has a good amount of energy with the carbs.

    that sounds like a good idea.

    I tried mixing my chocolate protein powder into a bowl of oats after I had made them.

    it was not a good idea.

    I tried that, too, only with vanilla protein powder. It tasted so strange that I wondered if I just had used an incompatible brand of protein. So many people on the boards here swear by it, I thought it'd be a great addition to my repertoire. I'm just sticking with grated apples and cinnamon in my oatmeal, and I'll save the protein shakes for a snack.

    edited because apparently I cannot brain today

    The powder you use definitely makes a difference. I've tried 3 or 4 different ones, but the one I stick with is the chocolate SciMx with some powdered peanut butter. It's like fudgey Reese's oatmeal and so yummy! The others just aren't a nice texture.
  • temazur
    temazur Posts: 76 Member
    This may not be the same for everyone, but I've noticed that adding protein powder/shakes in the morning meant I needed to add more fiber into my diet overall, or it clogs up the works. :(
  • orangegato
    orangegato Posts: 6,572 Member
    I do this a lot, when I have time to. I like it. No issues w/ it.
  • KrystinaMTL
    KrystinaMTL Posts: 1,338 Member
    Yup !
    Same here. I've been doing it for a couple years now on work days. Works great for me !
  • mjohemme
    mjohemme Posts: 356 Member
    I've found that overnight oats work better for me for a quick grab and go breakfast and are way more filling (for me). Plus I can make them on Sunday evening and not worry about breakfast the rest of the week. I'm also eating less at lunch this way, as I'm still pretty full by lunch time.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    I drink one most days before I train. It's not my entire breakfast, though. The days I'm super rushed, I drink chocolate milk.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I couldn't do it for breakfast...at least not without something else. My whey shake only has 150 calories...not to mention that it doesn't have the other nutrition required to actually replace a meal. Beyond that, I don't find them satiating in the least.

    I often have one with breakfast, but not for breakfast.
  • darrenbeckworth
    darrenbeckworth Posts: 64 Member
    This is my weekday breakfast lately

    1 cup active fiber cereal, 8 ounces of water mixed with protein powder instead of milk. Getting the day started off right.
  • Enjcg5
    Enjcg5 Posts: 389 Member
    I often use the trinity of- protein shake, cheese stick, serving of fruit as a meal on days I’m not in the mood for leftovers, or I don’t feel like cooking, or I’m on the go
This discussion has been closed.