Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss

This is pretty obvious. A slimfast shake has less than 200 calories (I believe), whereas the average heaping bowl of cereal will have well over 300, and eggs, toast, and bacon could have up to 600 calories or more. This is the same numbers game every other poster on here talks about - fewer calories = weight loss.

I'm really not in favor of meal replacement shakes for weight loss--perhaps in extreme cases, under appropriate supervision--but not as a quick fix solution.

What's wrong with simply eating healthy, cutting back calories and exercising more??

I did the smart cookie diet in the past and the experience was great. Their cookies are 60% organic and have no preservatives. They also have shakes which contain Enriched Chicory Inulin for bone health, Omega Fatty Acids, and Plant Sterols. These products are packed of nutrients and will help you reach your weight loss goals. I still mantain my weight loss by applying what I learn and walking 5 times a week.

Whatever happened to oatmeal or scrambled eggs breakfast? Eating is a very simple thing...

Some people, like myself, have quantity and compulsivity issues with food. These problems are emotional/psychological and often it is very difficult for us to just "eat healthy." Many of us do eat well but just too much. I find bars, shakes, etc. to be very helpful on those days when I find myself a bit out of control because I don't have to make a choice, prepare food while feeling weak-minded or deal with quantities since the sizes are self-limiting. They have really helped me keep my weight in control over the last eight years when I lost 115 lbs.

Of course the importance of exercise is right up there with diet but I say bring on the shakes and bars if that is what helps!

Linny

I don't think a shake here or there is bad as long as you don't over compensate by eating more food because you are either still hungry or you make excuses to yourself that you only had the shake so....

I prefer food although in the past I uses to always have a protein homemade smoothie every morn after my workout. Other than that food. I do use bars here & there for ease & I have found ones that I am happy with the make up & taste of the bars.

As for all day replacement shakes. My mom went on a medically supervised university program years ago & gained all her weight back. I think people need to learn the right way to eat in order to maintain & keep it off for life.

I'm not a fan of meal-replacement shakes as a way to lose weight. My mom likes Slim Fast and I remember her going on and off the program when I was a kid...she never lost much because she drank the shakes for breakfast and lunch and then always ate a day's worth of calories for dinner, lol. I remember sneaking Slim Fasts when I was a teenager to help me lose weight and they always made me jittery and gave me the runs, so I never stuck with the program long enough to get any results.

At a different point in her life, my mom went on a total meal-replacement diet where she only had shakes for three meals a day. On that plan, she did lose weight...quite a bit, if I remember right. Problem is, those programs don't teach you how to eat real food so when you go off the program, you just go back to how you used to eat and you gain all the weight back. My mom gained all her weight back plus more when she quit the liquid meal plan and went back to how she used to eat.

If shakes are convenient or help you lose weight then that is great. What worries me about meal replacement shakes and bars is the long ingredient list in them. The ones I've seen have a lot of additives like artificial colors and flavors to help boost the taste and attractiveness of the shake. I like to know what's in the food I eat and some shakes have a long list of things I don't know or want to eat. :)

I make my own meal replacement shakes. For me, they are an easy, portable way to get high-quality nutrients into the body. I have two recipes I like to use:

1 scoop protein powder
12 oz half-and-half
12 eggs

or this one, which mixes into a pudding:

1 scoop protein powder
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2 eggs

I like to make healthy smoothies in the mornings b/c I can't always stomach something heavier. So I guess those are meal replacements. The only time I eat store bought meal replacements are when I really have to eat on the run or need more protein in my day.

I like to make healthy smoothies in the mornings b/c I can't always stomach something heavier. So I guess those are meal replacements. The only time I eat store bought meal replacements are when I really have to eat on the run or need more protein in my day.