Need Help - Meal replacement shake for weight loss

[Gamgee]

Hello goodfellas,

I am on a weightloss routine. I hit the gym 4 times a week, and work out according to my trainer's prescription of weight loss work-outs. Here is a brief:
- Full body weight training (with some rowing at the beginning) - 2 days
- Cardio - 1 day
- Intense Jympa (aerobics) - 1 day
(- One bonus day - Cardio)

My plan is to loose 10 kgs by summer and get back in shape. In order to help my plan, I was planning to replace 2 lunches during the week with meal replacement shakes. This is to create the necessary calorie deficit to aid weight loss.

I am in the market looking for a shake that can replace my meal. Here are some traits of my ideal shake:
- Tastes good. Something that i would like drinking (I hate the blotting sensation of high protein shakes)
- Low in carbs and high in protein (say about 1:2)
- Low in fat.

So do you guys have any recommendations? I was checking out the Maximuscle Promax Diet 1200 g Weight Loss and Definition Shake Powder
Any of you tried this?

Your help is much appreciated!!

 

[Pebcak]

Umm eat food, real food. Most of the meal replacement products are full of sugar and other goodies.

 

[McJAGGER]

I had Gastric Bypass 2 months ago, and one of the requirements was no food for 2 weeks, only protein shakes. So, trust me in this, I know my shakes, I have tried a ton . Below are the best and healthiest IMO.

Muscle Milk Light chocolate: Nice and creamy, but make sure it is LIGHT. The regular is high calorie.

Ultimate Nutrition Iso Sensation 93, Unflavored: This is a little more expensive than the above, but highly recommended since it is WHey Protein Isolate (which digests very well) I do the unflavored and mix it with milk and sugar free strawberry preserves. One scoop of this stuff is 30 grams and isn't chalky or thick. I still use this daily to get a large amount of protein in.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Umm eat food, real food. Most of the meal replacement products are full of sugar and other goodies.

+1.

If you want to seriously lose weight, you need to basically ramp up to pure protein (real food, not powder), and eliminate sugar and fat. Carbs are sugar, so forget ratios of carbrotein or whatever.

 

[Gamgee]

Thanks McJagger. I think the muscle milk light might be the best option for me. Does it taste good though?

 

[Gamgee]

+1.

If you want to seriously lose weight, you need to basically ramp up to pure protein (real food, not powder), and eliminate sugar and fat. Carbs are sugar, so forget ratios of carbrotein or whatever.

Well I am not on a 2-week weight loss program and neither do i have such goals. I have given myself 5 months to reduce weight and to get in shape.. So I dont think I should completely cut off carbs from my diet. I am trying to reduce its intake. But just to aid my weight loss, and my diet, I am planning to consume supplementary proteins. Not sure whats the harm in it.

 

[swcarter]

I had Gastric Bypass 2 months ago, and one of the requirements was no food for 2 weeks, only protein shakes. So, trust me in this, I know my shakes, I have tried a ton . Below are the best and healthiest IMO.

Muscle Milk Light chocolate: Nice and creamy, but make sure it is LIGHT. The regular is high calorie.

Ultimate Nutrition Iso Sensation 93, Unflavored: This is a little more expensive than the above, but highly recommended since it is WHey Protein Isolate (which digests very well) I do the unflavored and mix it with milk and sugar free strawberry preserves. One scoop of this stuff is 30 grams and isn't chalky or thick. I still use this daily to get a large amount of protein in.

I, too, had weight loss surgery last month. The use of protein shakes was required by my surgeon. The general guideline was at least, but not much more than 20 g of protein each meal (your body can't absorb much more than that with each meal) with carbohydrate limited to about half that amount or 10 g. In reviewing the comments here so far, I agree that many of the products offered for this purpose tend to get junked up with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other ingredients. However, for bariatric surgery patients like myself, under post surgery diet supervision for prolonged periods, the situation is a little different. We can't afford to guess and/or listen to the hype in muscle mags and the like.

I would suggest two alternatives that I've tried with success (although there are several others). Bariatric Advantage provides protein powders that taste quite good and fulfills the above requirements. They also offer powdered meal replacements that are flavored. You mix them with skim milk and they are calorie controlled. Unjury is the current product that I use and is similar to the BA product. Both taste really good. As pointed out, Muscle Milk is also quite good. The BA and Unjury products are readily available on Amazon or direct. Muscle Milk is widely available at groceries stores, Sams, Walmart, etc. I find MM a little pricey but not too bad.

I also work out and weight train and the main point of these products is to maintain protein intake to avoid muscle and lean body tissue loss while greatly reducing fat, "bad" carbs and calories allowing your exercise to accelerate your weight reduction. For the last month my diet has been to use these products 2-3 times a day and limit calorie intake to about 1200 calories a day. Since 12/28 I've lost about 50 lbs even though exercise has been limited due to post surgery recovery. Back to the gym starting next week and I expect the rate of acceleration to continue/increase due to the added exercise/calorie expenditure. YMMV based on your starting point but I've found this routine pretty easy to follow and quite effective. Good luck!

 

[Gamgee]

Thanks guys!! MM light it is then..

 

[Mick]

Just my 2 ¢

I would suggest that you go with a "lifestyle change" rather than a temporary "shake replacement"

Try something you can and will stick with for the LONG RUN, not something that you will give up once you have reached a "goal"

Give carrot and celery sticks a go once or twice a week as your lunch then stick with it the rest of your life (substitute "carrot and celery" for something you know you will stick with if "rabbit food" does not appeal to you)

You want to do more than drop a couple of kilos, you need to change your life. Only when you are able to do this, you won't be going back and forth between big weight swings.

Never eat anything after your evening meal and eat your evening meal at an early hour (5-6 pm). If you get hungry during the day or late in the evening, drink a glass of water to temporarily fill you up

 

[maxman]

Every body is different. By body I mean your actual body. Not Everybody which is also true.
Oh never mind.
What I'm getting at is maybe consult a doctor who can put you in touch with a nutritionist.
I was going the shake route but instead used Green Tea Leaf Extract supplements and a reduced calorie intake diet.

I lost 35 pounds doing it this way. Not bad at all!

It worked for me, but it might not be for everybody/every body (oh this is getting confusing....)

 

[Bellac]

Based on what you wrote, your goals are reasonable. Your trainer seems to know their stuff as well. Body weight exercises are great for beginners because it teaches the body to work as one unit and works out the stabilizer muscles. If you honestly must go with the shakes, why don't you visit a local health store and buy a single shake of each brand that meets your caloric requirements and see what you like. That's how I found what protein bar I liked. To be honest though, the protein shakes wont work for you long term. You need to eat real food (nothing processed) to obtain your caloric deficit. For example, 4 oz. (114 grams) of chicken breast is about 100 calories and packs 22 grams of protein. It meets your protein needs, and even lower than the protein shake you are looking at. Maximuscle Promax per serving has 228 calories and has 38 grams of protein. You can easily eat 200 calories of chicken breast and get even more protein, but your body absorbs around 20 - 30 grams per hour.

 

[Gamgee]

Those are some great advises.. I truly mean it and actually I completely agree with you all. I need a change in my lifestyle, and the protein shake is not a long term solution. I cant agree more. There are somethings that I failed to mention:

1. I have made a change in my eating habits and lifestyle: I dont eat junk anymore, no fried food (Sundays are cheat days but i never go overboard). I eat cooked food - thanks to the mrs - and the food is low in calories but very balanced in nutrients. Lifestyle change: Quit smoking (clean for a month now!!!! yayyy!!)

2. According to my Height/Age, my preferred weight should be between 60 to 73 kgs and I'm currently 82. So my goal is to loose atleast 10kgs to begin with. This coupled with a big waist line demands fat loss!!

3. I am a Vegetarian. I dont eat meat or fish. So it is pretty difficult to gain the amount of protein from vegetarian food without consuming a lot of calories!

So as a result, i wanted to seek the help of a protein shake to replace meals temporarily to help accelerate towards my goals. Once i get there, I will continue with my clean food habits and will work-out to maintain the weight and fitness level.

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

I would suggest eating smaller portions about five times a day. It seems weird at first, but it helps maintain your metabolism active, and keeps you satisfied all day.

Good luck with your goals.

 

[dlegros]

Have a look at www.myfitnesspal.com - I have used it and have lost over 30kg since May (so 7 months approx).

I use the iPhone app to log as I go.

Edit: Feel free to PM me if you want more info

 

[petr]

Muscle Milk for me too.

 

[McJAGGER]

Thanks McJagger. I think the muscle milk light might be the best option for me. Does it taste good though?

It does taste good. Not too thick and not too creamy.

 

[McJAGGER]

I, too, had weight loss surgery last month. The use of protein shakes was required by my surgeon. The general guideline was at least, but not much more than 20 g of protein each meal (your body can't absorb much more than that with each meal) with carbohydrate limited to about half that amount or 10 g.QUOTE]

Actually, I have researched heavily into the absorbtion of proteing theory and it turns out our bodies can absorb more than 20g at a sitting.

http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/eliminate_workout_saboteurs/Thirst.php

 

[Judge Dredd]

Well I am not on a 2-week weight loss program and neither do i have such goals. I have given myself 5 months to reduce weight and to get in shape.. So I dont think I should completely cut off carbs from my diet. I am trying to reduce its intake. But just to aid my weight loss, and my diet, I am planning to consume supplementary proteins. Not sure whats the harm in it.

I never said anything about a 2-week weight loss program. I've been doing this for over 12 months, have lost and maintained 20kgs and have reintroduced unrefined carbs with no ill effects.

 

[gruntedshaves]

I go on a weightloss thing about every 6 months just to keep trim at 225 lbs. lol. im 6'2 and work out six days a week. my diet is great, and I use AdvantEDGE

 

[Gamgee]

Have a look at www.myfitnesspal.com - I have used it and have lost over 30kg since May (so 7 months approx).

I use the iPhone app to log as I go.

Edit: Feel free to PM me if you want more info

Thanks Dlegros, I will check it out!

I would suggest eating smaller portions about five times a day. It seems weird at first, but it helps maintain your metabolism active, and keeps you satisfied all day.

Good luck with your goals.

Thanks!!

It does taste good. Not too thick and not too creamy.

Glad to hear that! cant wait to try..

I never said anything about a 2-week weight loss program. I've been doing this for over 12 months, have lost and maintained 20kgs and have reintroduced unrefined carbs with no ill effects.

Oops sorry my bad..