Protein Shakes

Good Morning,
I usually take a Herbalife or Slimfast shake as a MEAL replacement. I have noticed, however they don't seem to have much protein. I prefer to have a low calorie/carb meal and then add a protein shake (apex whey protein) if I am going to the gym or workout....When I was purchasing my Apex Whey shake mix I did notice that they have Meal Replacements as well, check out the protein content in those if you would like. Also, the Apex Protein taste great with Soy Milk. I hope this helps..

I have just started taking shakes. But as aforementioned I drink them as a supplement. Or when I am busy in the morning on occasion but I add things to it..

I usually do a protein shake in addition to my breakfast. It sounds strange but stay with me for a second, I do 4oz of chicken (I prepare it for a week and add chicken to breakfast and lunch), lately I have been doing sliced turkey though. Anyway so I do meat, a yogurt usually and then a protein shake. I eat a higher calorie breakfast because I usually run in the mornings and I feel like if I don't have the extra breakfast calories I am starving by lunch. It's been working for me, I've dropped more fat than weight but I feel so much stronger with the added protein.
Hope this helps.

consider the source of the protein in the shake.

research that, and see if you really still want to partake.

there are several vegan rice and etc. protein shakes out there, but, um, when you look into how and where they get the protein from in non-vegan shakes...ew.

i am not a vegan, btw.

I do have to disagree with this. Even Dr. Oz recommends starting your day with a shake vs a meal. The body by vi shakes are VERY good for you, and full of protein. Def something you might want to to look into!! You of course still do healthy snacks, and 1-2 well balanced meals a day. Visalus shakes are 2pts for the powder (weight watchers) and 4pts with skim milk. Also, the visalus products are in myfitnesspal. Might be something to consider.

You shouldn't replace any meal with a shake. They should be used as supplements, to supplement a healthy diet. Your never going to get the same nutritional profile from a shake then eating a varied diet.

That said, if I'm in a rush or don't have time with work etc, I'll take a shake. You shouldn't be planning to take them though.

Anyone who tells you otherwise has been spoon fed marketing rubbish or trying to sell you something.

I eat 6 - 8 meals a day...and yes...one of them sometimes 2 are PT shakes...

I do have to disagree with this. Even Dr. Oz recommends starting your day with a shake vs a meal. The body by vi shakes are VERY good for you, and full of protein. Def something you might want to to look into!! You of course still do healthy snacks, and 1-2 well balanced meals a day. Visalus shakes are 2pts for the powder (weight watchers) and 4pts with skim milk. Also, the visalus products are in myfitnesspal. Might be something to consider.

Dr. Oz' advice doesn't always seem particularly solid, so I'm going to have to vote against replacing food with a shake just because he said to. I only drink a shake if I need it to hit my protein macros for the day.

I use New Lifestyle shakes.

Just picked up some Premier Nutrition ready-to-drink protein shakes. 160 calories, 3 grams fat, 6 carbs (3 fiber), and 30 grams of protein. They are quite tasty too. You can get a pack of 18 for about $25 at Costco.

I drink them post workout though; not as a "meal replacement".

You shouldn't replace any meal with a shake. They should be used as supplements, to supplement a healthy diet. Your never going to get the same nutritional profile from a shake then eating a varied diet.

That said, if I'm in a rush or don't have time with work etc, I'll take a shake. You shouldn't be planning to take them though.

Anyone who tells you otherwise has been spoon fed marketing rubbish or trying to sell you something.

This is nonsense! What does it matter if the macro make up of the shake is the same?

I often times have a shake for breakfast. It looks something like:

1 cup 2% Milk
2 Scoops Vanilla Whey Protein
1 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Sliced Apple w/ skin
1 Tsp Cinnamon

Don't drink a protein shake alone as a meal replacement unless you're getting plenty of nutrition from your other meals a day. If not eating like Mercenary1914 describes, then you'll be doing more harm than good. You may even be getting into a starvation diet, which isn't going to help at all. But if you're eating like Mercenary1914 describes, a shake as a meal replacement might not be bad. Or adding a shake to your current meals might also be ok. You also need to consider whether you need a major boost of protein in your diet. Generally, you only need .77 grams per pound of body weight a day. Now, that changes based on whether you're doing a lot of muscle building exercises. Just be careful to not overdo it because too much protein can put stress on your digestive system. See http://www.myfitnesspal.com/post/new/583245-protein-shakes.

With that said, be careful of any meal replacement or protein powders. Almost all of them have a lot of sugar and in some cases a lot of unhealthy fats. Essentially, the manufacturer is processing the hell out of a protein source and then adding things back in to make it work in the body. You're paying someone to do a ton of processing on something you can get out of foods readily available. I ultimately switched over to dried egg whites and it's been great. I mix 4 tablespoons worth of dried egg whites into a morning smoothie of veggies and fruits and I'm good to go. I make similar smoothies to dring right after a heavy workout too.

I get my egg whites from Rose Acre Farms--they have a great product for a great price. http://www.sportprotein.com/. Get the instant variety since it mixes in smoothies a lot faster/easier. You can also use the whites in baking and to make omelettes. The shelf life of the powder is quite long.

Note, these aren't flavored. They taste like egg whites, but you're not going to get a slimy mix like you would if you used fresh raw egg whites. You might taste a hint of them in a smoothie, but it won't change the texture unless you whip the whites into a massive foam. It took me a couple weeks to get used to the lack of sugar and flavorings, but at this point it doesn't taste odd at all. If you want to get the flavoring or sugar back, add some honey, agave nectar, or natural vanilla extract (alcohol free). A tiny drop of alcohol free vanilla extract hides any hint of egg whites.

I use the shakeology for breakfast or for lunch sometimes. I replace a meal or a snack everyday with it. It's much more then a protein shake though. Message me or send a friend request if you want more infor.

I'm currently taking Rival Us Promasil. It has a lot of protein and few calories. It's 90 calories and 20 grams of protein per scoop. Also another protein that's low in calories and high in protein is GNC Wheybolic. I have also noticed a lot of people drinking lean shake but I don't know much about that one.

I recommend Dymatize French Vanilla flavor (Whey and Casein). I have tried other protein powders and I am coming back to Dymatize. It is delicious.
I like to have it for breakfast. Here is one recipe I like: 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 2 tablesppons of low fat vanilla yogurt, and 2 teaspoons of ground flaxseed. Very nutritious and filling.