The RIGHT Way to Use Meal-Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss
Swapping your breakfast or lunch for a meal-replacement shake can help you lose weight. Here’s what you need to know about how to use meal replacement shakes for weight loss.
It’s not always easy to get a nutritious meal down when you’ve got to run off to a meeting every couple of hours. But you shouldn’t give in to junk food, like a bag of crisps and soda, to take the place of your actual lunch or dinner either. If you did that often enough, you might just gain weight as well as certain health issues. There is, of course, a solution: a meal replacement shake.
Meal replacement shakes are made to replace one or two daily meals. They are formulated for weight maintenance and weight loss. A meal replacement shake generally contains essential nutrients, giving a good balance of carbohydrates, protein, and minerals and vitamins. But whether you plan to take the shake to slim down or to avoid bad food on rushed days, follow this quick guide that will let you maximize the benefits of a meal replacement shake.
- Know that your replacement shake is not meant to replace all your meals.
There is still no substitute for eating whole foods. So make sure that you limit your shake to no more than two meals a day. You could choose to take it for breakfast and then for a mid-day snack. - Take your meal replacement shake only for the most problematic meal of the day.
Think about which meals usually give you the most trouble preparing. If lunches are too bothersome to make or even get, considering your schedule, then take your replacement shake during lunch. If you have no time for breakfast and are likely to order drive-in fast food, then take it as your first meal of the day. - Try variety with your meal replacement shake.
Replacement shakes can come in different flavors. You can get chocolate or coconut. You can try black sesame or strawberry. You can even do French vanilla. The point is to keep your flavors varied so you never get bored. - Pick the right meal replacement shake.
The market is filled with all sorts of meal replacement shake products. The sheer volume of choices may overwhelm you. So what you need to do is to focus on the list of ingredients, for starters. The best replacement shake will provide you with the vitamins and minerals you will need. - Check the ingredients.
The best meal replacement shakes will contain natural ingredients such as chia seed, stevia, and real cocoa. And make sure your shake is free from chemicals, and if you need it, vegan and gluten-free.
About the author: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like http://180nutrition.com.au.