Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss. If you are eating 5 – 6 small meals per day and/ or following a low carb diet/ high protein diet, it may not always be possible or practical to prepare or eat low fat meals consisting of protein and complex carbohydrates. Although whole food should always be your first choice, when the situation does not allow, a meal replacement/ protein shake is healthier than filling up on junk food or skipping a meal altogether. If you can have a chicken salad or tuna sandwich, it is better to choose these options.
- Will drinking Slimfast shakes help you lose weight and keep it off? Read WebMD's review to find out.
- Weight loss shakes are a convenient form of meal replacement. They are usually part of a Meal Replacement Programme, which is a flexible weight loss plan designed to.
Her work has been. I have received many e-mails from readers asking whether they should take protein supplement. If they do, how much protein should they consume and which brand should. What is Protein? Protein is a vital nutrient that your body needs every day. Protein helps you maintain and rebuild your muscles after exercise.
When going for a meal replacement, limit yourself to shakes, since meal replacement (MRP) and protein bars tend to be high in sugar. Note: It is not advisable to replace more than 2 of your 5/ 6 meals with protein shakes. To find out which are the 7 best meal replacement shakes go here or to make your own check out how to make a meal replacement shake. ADVANTAGES OF MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKESMeal replacement shakes or protein shakes are: More practical either at work or while on the run. Therefore, if you can, keep a tub of protein powder/ MRP shake at work or get a protein shake from a juice bar. Reduce the need to think about food during the day.
Calorie counting has already been done. MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKES vs. PROTEIN SHAKESThere is a difference between meal replacement shakes and protein shakes. It is important to recognize the difference between shakes, as there is a big difference in calorie content between meal replacement shakes and simple protein shakes (read more about PROTEIN SHAKES).
Meal replacement shakes and other meal replacements such as bars, soups, puddings and other snacks are designed to REPLACE one or two of your daily meals. Meal replacement shakes are specially formulated for weight loss and weight maintenance. These shakes are designed to give you a wide range of essential nutrients in a low calorie meal substitute, rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates (typically 2: 1 ratio). A good MRP shake contains both carbohydrates and protein and between 2.
A protein shake or smoothie on the other hand, is simply that – protein. This shake contains little or no carbohydrates, fat and other essential nutrients. Protein shakes are very low calorie and are not designed to replace a meal. Meal Replacement Shakes. Protein Diet Shakes. Complete meal. Can replace a meal. Not a complete meal.
Cannot replace a meal. Supplement/ snack designed to supply you with high quality proteins. Provides balance of carbohydrates, protein and essential nutrients. A true “protein shake” is only protein. Little or no carbohydrates.
Most common protein sources are whey, eggs, soy, and casein. A serving may contain between 2. A serving typically contains less than 2. Specially formulated for fat- reduction, weight loss, and weight maintenance. Supplement to your diet plan. MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKES FOR WEIGHT LOSSMeal replacement foods and protein shakes do not have any special fat reducing or muscle building properties.
They are simply powdered foods, supplementing an existing healthy diet – not replacing it. These products are not superior to whole foods.
Your metabolism increases when processing and digesting whole foods, but does this to a much lesser degree when processing liquid foods. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKESFor maximum weight loss using meal replacements and for weight maintenance: Unless you are the supervision of a doctor, limit the use of meal replacement shakes to no more than two meals (or one meal and one snack) per day. Meal replacement shakes should contain at least 2.
This is important, as meeting your nutritional requirements will help avoid adverse effects to your health and prevent hunger. Use meal replacement shakes for the most troublesome meals. For example, if you skip breakfast or worse indulge in donuts and alike, swap it for a meal replacement shakes. If you’re too busy and usually miss lunch or surrender to the convenience foods swap it for a meal replacement bar.
If the thought of making a healthy dinner from scratch makes your head spin or you succumb to the munchies in the evening, try a meal replacement. Use when convenient. Depending on how pressed you are for time, some days you might use two meal replacement shakes on others one or none. Try to limit meal replacements to those times when it’s either that, nothing or fast food. The point of meal replacement shakes is to ensure you stick to your calorie intake.
Avoid boredom by using different products. Try different meal replacement shakes and other meal replacement products to add variety. Go for fresh fruit and vegetables when you can.
Fruits make for great snacks and provide valuable natural nutrients and fibers in a way man- made foods can’t. Maximize weight loss by ensuring your “normal” meals are nutritionally balanced. Your meals should consist of protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates. This translates into vegetables, meat/ tofu/ legumes and starches such as potatoes (optional). BUYING THE BEST MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKEWhen buying a meal replacement shake or protein shake powder, consider the following points: You need to be able to mix the powder with water, juice or milk. Meal replacement shakes should offer a proper balance of calories from protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and all the essential vitamins and minerals.
No or low in saturated fats, trans- fats and sugars. Some shakes are very high in sugar. Make sure the calorie content is right for you. This will different depending on whether you are using the shake as a meal replacement or snack. Too much sugar or too few calories can cause you to eat more and defeats the purpose of weight loss.
Compare different brands in order to make the most informed decision. Compare calorie, fat, protein and carbohydrate content. When looking at carb content, see how much of those carbs are sugar. Tip: bodybuilders are experts in this field. Don’t limit yourself to Atkins and Slimfast products, experts tend to favor brands such as Myoplex, Met- rx or Labrada.
We all have different needs. To know what works for you, check them all out, compare and then make a final decision. It is not wise to simply judge your protein or meal replacement shake by taste alone, as the adding of sugar and carbs by some companies to make a thick, creamy and tasty milkshake with tricky labeling and hidden ingredients, may not help your weight loss goals. Your first priority should be to buy the highest quality supplements you can find, then consider taste. BEST MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKESThe best meal replacement shake is the one you make yourself. You know what’s in it and it’s as fresh and healthy as it gets (check out the protein shake recipes on how to make your own meal replacement shake). Alas, making a meal replacement shake is not always possible.
So follow the guidelines above to buy the best meal replacement shakes. Particularly popular meal replacement shakes are low- calorie and low- carb meal replacement shakes.
LOW- CALORIE MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKESLow- calorie meal replacement shakes are geared towards weight loss. Although similar in cost to the higher protein meal replacement shakes, these contain less protein, carbs fats and of course calories per serving. LOW- CARBOHYDRATE MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKESLow- carb meal replacement shakes are geared toward those on a low- carbohydrate diet or simply controlling their carbohydrate intake. Calories in these shakes are variable, but tend to be lower than your average meal replacement shake. Carbohydrate content in these low- carb meal replacement shakes starts from 0 grams.
How to Make Protein Shakes for Weight Loss. By Dana Leigh Smith. Need a healthy meal in a hurry?
Forget Burger King and Chipotle. Protein shakes may be the fastest food of all. There’s little to no prep work, no cooking and minimal cleanup. Just throw the ingredients into a blender, let . Easy, right? But when weight loss or muscle growth is the goal, picking the right ingredients for your post- pump concoction requires some thought. If you pick the right foods, you’re bound to see results. But with so many variables— liquids, proteins, carbs, fats and add- ins—protein shakes can go really wrong really fast, undoing all of your hard work in the gym.
Follow our guide below to create tasty protein shakes— that will give you the body you want— every time you whip out the blender. PICK YOUR PROTEINA lot of people think that protein powder is a mandatory shake ingredient, but Greek yogurt and cottage cheese pack a ton of protein, too. And if a smoothie- like texture is what you crave, those dairy sources should be your go- tos. How Much: Whichever protein source you choose, aim for a serving that supplies around 2. Compared to consuming both larger and smaller amounts of the nutrient, research shows that 2. Adding more protein won’t hurt the cause — but it won’t help, either. Our Go- Tos: If you’re sticking with protein powder, we suggest plant- based varieties that combine hemp, rice and pea proteins.
Blending all three ensures you’re getting a complete source of protein, which includes muscle- building and health- promoting amino acids that the body cannot make on its own. When it comes to yogurt, we’re partial to Fage 2% because of its high- protein, low- sugar profile. It also provides a bit of milk fat, which helps the body absorb the fat- soluble vitamins in the yogurt. CHOOSE YOUR LIQUIDTaste and nutrition- wise, the liquid you choose will make up the bulk of your beverage. How Much: 8 ounces.
Our Go- Tos: Water, coffee, grass- fed 1% milk or unsweetened milk alternatives are all fair game. Which one you choose depends on your goal and lifestyle: If you’re trying to lose weight, stick with H2. Vegans who don’t like the idea of water- based drink should use an unsweetened milk alternative. AMP UP THE CARB COUNTSure, getting protein after a workout is important, but you also need to consume carbs to replenish your depleted energy stores. How Much: After a workout, your body needs a snack—or in this case, a shake—with a 1: 1 or 2: 1 ratio of carbs to protein. If your workout went longer than 9. If weight loss if your goal, go for the former.
Since you’re aiming for 2. But before loading your drink with tons of fruit to hit that number, you’ll want to check your liquid and protein sources for carb counts.
A Fage 2% yogurt, for example, supplies the recommended 2. If you use yogurt and water as your shake base, you’ll want to add 1. Our Go- Tos: A medium banana provides about 3. If you’re craving a colder, slushy- like drink, use frozen fruit and ax some of the ice, which can water down the flavor. ADD SOME FATYou’ve heard it time and time again: healthy fats will not make you fat. In fact, consuming foods like nuts, seeds, nut butters and avocados after you workout can help speed recovery time, enhance muscle growth and reduce the risk of injury by protecting joints from wear, inflammation and soreness, says Cassie Bjork, RD, LD of Healthy Simple Life. How Much: A 1: 1: 1 or 2: 1: 1 ratio of carbs to protein to fat is ideal, so you’ll want to get 2.
But again, it doesn’t all need to come from an additional source. Chances are good your protein, liquid and carb sources will carry some fats. So be sure to subtract those out of the equation. Our Go- Tos: A two- tablespoon serving of peanut butter provides 1.
BOOST THE FLAVORElevate the taste of your shake to the next level with tasty, low- cal additions like cocoa powder, vanilla extract and cinnamon, a sweet spice that stabilizes blood sugar and wards off insulin spikes. DRINK THIS! If you need ideas to get you started, try these protein shake recipes. Once you're comfortable with the ratios, use these combinations as inspiration for creating your own custom muscle- growing sips. Flatten your belly—in just 3. That’s all the time it takes to blend up a Zero Belly Smoothie—a unique mix of super nutrients that will flatten your gut, boost your metabolism, heal your digestive system, and turn off your fat genes for good.
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