Meal replacement shakes? good or bad?

I used them, lost a stack of weight, am now successfully maintaining having changed my eating habits (using meal replacements broke the bad eating cycle for me). I don't use them at all now but I haven't ruled out using them on occasion again if I need to lose in the future. I wouldn't use Slimfast though as they're full of sugar. The ones I used were much lower carb / higher protein.

Not my cup of tea - I like that act of chewing and swallowing my food too much lol

Do you feel they give you enough nutrients, and energy throughout your day.

And what meal replacement/shake do YOU drink.

This all depends on what you're looking for. If you're using MRS as a quickfix weight loss method, then, it's bad. You'll prob lose weight at the beginning. Then, if you go back to your bad eating habits and sit on your butt again. You'll gain back the weight and prob more.

If you understand nutrition, do your research, and use it as an aid for days when you don't have time or option for a healthy meal, then, yes, it's fine. The key is this do your research and educate yourself. Most of the MRS out there contains LOTS of sugar and not enough nutrients. There are some that will be have enough nutrients without the added junk like sugar.

I believe that education and willpower is key. I don't believe in "bad" or "good". I believe that everything has its place. The difference is knowledge and education to make the right choices to go where you need to get to.

If you go back to your "bad eating habits and sitting on your butt" whether using a MRS or not you'll gain the weight back. You're correct that you need to do the proper research on whichever MRS you are going to use. If it's too high in protein, while it will be filling, I cannot recommend super high protein shakes as a true MRS for weight loss. They are protein shakes/drinks, NOT an MRS. A good MRS (or health shake) will be all natural, no preservatives, no artificial sweeteners, non-GMO, organic, AND will provide you a great source of all natural multi-vitamins from the super foods in it. High protein diets AKA Atkins, are a thing of the 80's or 90's TBH. For optimum health you should be taking in a good amount of veggies, very lean meats and good fats. Most people don't realize that there are tons of veggies with protein in them and you don't have to eat loads of red meat, whey protein shakes etc to get enough protein.

So many people mistake high protein content in a supposed MRS for being "good". Yep it helps you feel a little full for a little while, but in the long run you really aren't learning how to eat properly. I've had to learn this via trial/error over the past 2 years. My nutrition now fuels my body and gives me energy instead of making my body work harder to digest meat protein. Carbs are our bodies preferred fuel source, not protein. Carbs digest quickly and replenish glycogen stores after a workout. Hence the science showing that a 4:1 (carb:protein) ratio is needed after a workout, not a 30-60g protein drink.

I also agree that if you use a MRS it should be as a supplement and you should not "need" to use it more than once a day unless you are just in a super pinch or hurry. I would also argue that instead of a MRS you should look for a health shake instead. That way you could use it as a MRS and continued use for overall 100% Health shake that even after you lose your weight, you can continue to use for continued good health because of the huge amount of nutrients that it provides your body that you cannot get just from eating enough food. There is only one shake that I know of that will fit what I just described.

www.70superfoods.info

The Bolthouse smoothies are very healthy AND they're very filling.

I also do Shakeology I love it keeps me full and makes me feel so much better.

I've tried the meal replacement shakes so many times, Slim Fast, Special K, Herbalife, even homemade, and they always worked great for a few weeks until I couldn't stand the feeling of that texture anymore. I missed my food!

So now I just make a smoothie if I'm in a hurry and can't get a real meal in, or for post-workout. Now when I make one, though, I just make my own. Greek yogurt, almond milk, various fruits, sometimes a tablespoon of peanut butter or some cocoa powder. If I'm in the mood for a treat I add a bit of sugar free, fat free pudding mix and it gives it a yummy thick, pudding taste to it.

I feel hungry as soon as I am done with a meal replacement shake. I need texture. I need to chew. Although I was actually at a Costa rican restaurant and had this amazing oatmeal shake. WOW! SO YUMMY. I actually ordered it before my meal and couldn't eat my darn food when they brought it to me. Had to pack up my food for later. First time a shake staved off my hunger.

At a coffe shop I had a oatmeal latte- sounds weird I know but it was delish!(not a meal replacement shake but it ended up working like one!) and bough a bagel to go with it. Well, again, I couldn't eat after finishing my drink.

So not a fan of meal replacement shakes...although if it has something chewy added to it, it works for me. Might be gross for some people though.