Meal Replacement Recommendations
mamakay16
Posts: 5 Member
I’ve tried Herbalife before and liked it but did not use it long term. so I’m looking to see if anyone has some recommendations on meal replacements that will give me energy, leave me feeling full and help me kickstart my weight loss!
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Replies
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I recommend real food. If you don't know how to cook, enlist a friend or family member to teach you the basics.
Stir frying is a great choice, lots of fresh veggies and proteins and very quick.
Another good and easy choice is baking proteins and roasting veggies. Use any spices you want. Easy clean up.25 -
^ That, or order food from a meal delivery service. There are plenty of those nowadays. Some of them specialize in healthy, fresh food and most are geared toward dieters, with precise, calorie-appropriate portions and full food labels that are conveniently already in the MFP database. I started with one four months ago because my own cooking was hard to control calorie-wise and I needed some enforced portion control, and have stuck with them while losing > 40 pounds. It can easily be done, and the food can be as good as anything you'd make at home if you find the right provider.10
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Herbalife, aside from being a scummy, predatory pyramid scam, has put people in the hospital. So has many of its counterparts.
Meal replacement shakes are not well regulated (or at all regulated?) You have no idea what crap is in them. They frequently give you "energy" by loading you up on caffeine and B12, plus who knows what. You can do better for yourself and have a real kickstart by having a coffee, a B12 supplement, and actual real food.
Or at least make your own. You can fit a surprising amount of broccoli into a fruit smoothie before you affect the taste, and fruits/veg are great for energy and fullness.21 -
I recommend real food. If you don't know how to cook, enlist a friend or family member to teach you the basics.
Stir frying is a great choice, lots of fresh veggies and proteins and very quick.
Another good and easy choice is baking proteins and roasting veggies. Use any spices you want. Easy clean up.
A-FRACKING-MEN! PREACH THE WORD TO THE CONGREGATION SISTER! LOL5 -
@Terytha Frozen broccoli? I've read about using frozen cauliflower but haven't tried it yet. I've gone a little smoothie crazy since buying my new Breville blender. Had one today with beets, cocoa, banana, and mango - I start every smoothie with a base of skim milk, Greek yogurt and protein powder.3
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I’ve tried Herbalife before and liked it but did not use it long term. so I’m looking to see if anyone has some recommendations on meal replacements that will give me energy, leave me feeling full and help me kickstart my weight loss!
If you replace a meal with some other food...…...it's still a meal. I hate the term "replacement". Sometimes my "meal" is a protein smoothie, but I'm not looking to do that just to replace other food. I have them because they have the nutrients I want and I like them.
You don't need a kickstart. Just start.
Read the stickies and start the process thinking long-term.11 -
I don’t like the taste of those shakes, but when I first started, I had tuna salad a lot when I didn’t know what to eat. Quick, easy, cheap, high protein, low calorie. You probably have a couple of meals in your diary that you could make work often. Look it over, and look at your friends’ diaries for ideas, too.
There are 2 places near me that sell basic meals that check all those boxes except cheap. But I use them a lot and would definitely recommend them highly to others. Do you have something near you?
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...You can fit a surprising amount of broccoli into a fruit smoothie...
So true! Kale, spinach and chard also go nicely.
Protein powder, a little ice, some cocoa powder unsweetened if you are in the mood, frozen fruit, half a banana, ice cubes. It's delish, the texture of soft serve ice cream, and mine comes out about 330 calories for 16+ ounces of yum.1 -
As someone who has personally done the meal replacement shake thing, I found it was not something I could stick to long term, as it got old, fast. Plus yes they're loaded with tons of who knows what. Eventually you will need to learn how to eat healthy anyways, might as well start now. Though I will say, if I am running out the door and don't have time to make something, I will occasionally grab a protein shake or protein bar, nothing fancy just whatever sounds good at my local supplement store1
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Silentpadna wrote: »I’ve tried Herbalife before and liked it but did not use it long term. so I’m looking to see if anyone has some recommendations on meal replacements that will give me energy, leave me feeling full and help me kickstart my weight loss!
If you replace a meal with some other food...…...it's still a meal. I hate the term "replacement". Sometimes my "meal" is a protein smoothie, but I'm not looking to do that just to replace other food. I have them because they have the nutrients I want and I like them.
You don't need a kickstart. Just start.
Read the stickies and start the process thinking long-term.
Having a smoothie (or shake) for a meal is perfectly fine and can 100% be as much a part of a long term approach as any other meal choice. but, it isn't the same as a meal replacement.
A meal replacement is where you temporarily 'replace' 1 meal (or more) as a temporary measure. It's an artificial approach which undoubtedly isn't a part of a permanent long term change and will more likely than not yield results that will disappear the minute the meals are no longer replaced.5 -
I recently started eating a 30g 'meal replacement' bar. It has 114 calories and 7 grams protein. It takes away my hunger and I can happily then train hard at the gym etc with the energy I get. I'm under no illusions that this is largely sugar related energy boost. However this low calorie protein is a good fix for me. Stops me in my tracks needing to eat for a while.1
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I recently started eating a 30g 'meal replacement' bar. It has 114 calories and 7 grams protein. It takes away my hunger and I can happily then train hard at the gym etc with the energy I get. I'm under no illusions that this is largely sugar related energy boost. However this low calorie protein is a good fix for me. Stops me in my tracks needing to eat for a while.
I will add, this in my mind is a small meal. I frame it as that not a snack. So for me it's not replacing a meal, it's a small meal on the go to keep me from hunger, over eating later or snacking.1 -
atkins shakes,equate protein shakes, nutrisytem shake (powder)0
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There are a zillion different options out there, depending on what you're looking to accomplish with your shake. I actually keep several different types of mix and protein powder in the house to help me accomplish my goals - but I subscribe to nothing because it's almost too much for *me* to keep up with what my body needs, and a subscription service doesn't even *care* about that.
If I just need to hit calorie targets and I've had a pretty balanced day over all, I like the Orgaine product for a decent balance of fiber, protein, and vitamins. If I need a bump on my protein to balance a day when I tried to put down the entire contents of a salad bar, I go after straight whey protein.
And maybe this is a little weird, but I am not a person who really likes *sweet* things all that often, so I also keep V8 and a few different cans of soup in the same cabinet with my shake mixes, because sometimes I need something easy, but I want easy & salty.1 -
Is there a reason you're looking at meal replacements?
But to some of your needs/wants...- Real food is almost always a better option. In most cases, it will take longer to digest and thus leave you feeling full for longer.
- If you're feeling sluggish/lethargic, get more sleep, have a bit of caffeine, or workout.
- Weight loss doesn't come from shakes vs food. It comes from correctly managing your diet. Unfortunately there are no short cuts here.
I know you didn't specifically ask this, but if you chose to use/try meal replacements... make sure they are actual meal replacements and come with a reasonable balance of fats, carbs, protein, vitamins and minerals.4 -
As a nurse working in surgery, it's hard for me to eat breakfast and lunch. Right now, I'm skipping a lot of meals.
My morning starts at 5 a.m. and ends by 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It's a long day and I don't always get the breaks to eat a meal. I'm thinking that a drink would be a better way for me to manage my weight. Any advice is greatly appreciated.1 -
I'm looking at order 4-week Extante plan to kick off our new year. Anyone had Extante meals and shakes before?0
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I have been drinking Shakeology for a couple years and absolutely love it. It's delicious and more nutritious than most shakes out there. I have one in the morning with a banana and kale then a small snack shortly after. I just love the way it tastes and how easy it is when I'm rushing out the door in the morning. True it's expensive but to me it's worth it because of how it makes me feel.
**I wouldn't replace lunch or dinner with a shake though. That's just me. I need real food0 -
Iuse ProteinWorks meal replacement powder for my first meal. I find it helps me get the nutrients I lack and I can neck it plus feel full.0
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I often have a Juice Plus complete shake made with either soya or almond milk blended with frozen fruit and veg.
As a school nurse I start work at 7am ( leaving the house at 6) and don't get an official "break" until 1pm so this is enough to keep me going until I can have my lunch.
Like a previous poster I couldn't replace lunch or dinner with a shake.
And it is expensive - I take their capsules too - but I find the benefits are worth the cost - each to their own I suppose.1 -
Isagenix shakes are great, taste great, 24 grams of protein, also has a choice of a very healthy drink to take on an fasting day, if you choose to fast once a week. This shake program removes toxins and increases energy. Message me if interested.-4
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Isagenix shakes are great, taste great, 24 grams of protein, also has a choice of a very healthy drink to take on an fasting day, if you choose to fast once a week. This shake program removes toxins and increases energy. Message me if interested.
If you have toxins in your body that need removing you need a doctor not an overpriced shake.
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