Meal replacement shakes

[danniellabella]

I've decided to start trying some meal replacement shakes. I'm by no means over weight - I'm just not quite where I want my body to be and am just trying to shed about 5-7kg to get back to my pre-marriage size. I'm not weighing myself much because I'm doing some weights and I know muscle weighs more than fat.
I was almost at my goal when I injured my shoulder, then was away from work with a sick daughter and then was sick myself, then I moved house and before you know it, 10 weeks have passed and I have gone from going to the gym 3-4 times a week to nothing for 10 weeks and all that hard work was undone.
Now I'm back into my exercise routine but have added weights to the routine - mainly focussing on legs, bum & abs rather than arms.

I just wondered what others think of meal replacement shakes and if they helped you shed those last few kg's that seem to be the hardest to shift.

[AliBaby]

They are great but come with the risk that you need to be so careful once you stop them as the weight can come back on.

It is a quick fix but not a long term solution.

I actually really like the Biggest Loser banana shake. I have one for breaky 2 or 3 times a week. Mainly for the convenience if I am in a hurry and dont have time for a proper brekky.

GL with your weight loss

[danniellabella]

Originally Posted by AliBaby

They are great but come with the risk that you need to be so careful once you stop them as the weight can come back on.

It is a quick fix but not a long term solution.

I think as long as I maintain my exercise and try to eat healthy that I'll be able to maintain my weight - it's just that little extra kick start I think I need

[hj1981]

Personally - i don't think they work - well they never did for me, ive never felt "full" or not hungry after them so have thought it must all be in your head IFYKWIM. I also don't think they are a good idea cause they are not teaching you anything in regards to good eating etc.... and once u go off them u might be likley to put it all back on, if they work for u to start off with!
But thats just my opionion! and other prob like them!
I think the fact that u are getting back into exercise is much better, and along with healthy eating u will lose those annoying last kg's! good on you for having the motivation - thats always a great start - send some my way hehehehe

I like calorie counting - i lost heaps of weight doing that and recording in a diary! can be a bit annoying to do but once u get into a routine its fine!

[miamunchkin]

I used the Tony Ferguson Shakes and Soups for a while. Lost about 8 kg in 3 months and put it all back on when i stopped, which only took about a month. They are def a quick way to lose weight but to goes back on so quickly, even with healthy eating.

[danniellabella]

Originally Posted by hj1981

good on you for having the motivation - thats always a great start - send some my way hehehehe

I like calorie counting - i lost heaps of weight doing that and recording in a diary! can be a bit annoying to do but once u get into a routine its fine!

It really helps having a gym at my work!
I'm not so sure about the whole calorie counting thing. I don't know what to do. I'm really really fussy when it comes to my food. I'm only just starting to re-introduce red meat to my diet now that I have a slow cooker and actually like the meat. I'm totally fussy about it being cooked a certain way so it's tender, not fatty, I don't like grissle. As for chicken - I'll only eat it if it's chicken breast. I don't normally eat crumbed chicken because I want to actually see the meat that I'm eating. I can't eat seafood (allergic to some and just avoid all of it now). I think maybe I should see a dietician for a tailor made healthy eating plan.

[Ginger]

to be completely honest, i have spoken to a nutritionalist about it and she reckons that meal replacement shakes like TF, are one of the worst things you can do to your body. she said that your body simply shuts down and stores any fat that it can get its hands on and you end up in a vicious dieting cycle. she recommended to me that one of the best 'diets', if you want to do an actual 'diet' is the CSIRO one. other than that, the best thing to do is just to make healthy choices in your eating with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. you are much better off having a wholemeal salad sandwhich for lunch than a diet shake.

[danniellabella]

Thanks. If I have them I might just make them an occasional thing. I really need to find a good book on nutrition. One thing that really annoys me is how the importance of fish is stressed in so many nutrition books...what about if you can't eat fish?

[surprised]

I don't like how much sugar is in those shakes (might not be much but I don't think there should be any).

You might enjoy Sweet Poison by David Gillespie (I think). It's not a 'nutrition book' as such, but talks about why sugar is so damaging to our bodies.

Now where's my chocolate!! Hehe

[alioops]

I'll call you and let you know what site I used to count my calories (It had the brands preprogrammed so no figuring it out yourself). Just write down everything you eat in your diary and add it to your account when you get online.

I asked a pharmacist the other day about whether shakes are ok while BFing - she said no.

[miamunchkin]

The site that alioops is talking about is fantastic, especially if you are a disciplined person. DH's auntie lost about 20 kg just using that site alone!

[danniellabella]

Originally Posted by miamunchkin

The site that alioops is talking about is fantastic, especially if you are a disciplined person. DH's auntie lost about 20 kg just using that site alone!

I've joined up and it looks great. Now to make sure I record everything. I've done today and the last 2 days based on memory...it tells me that I should keep my calories to 1200 per day to achieve my goal...I realised that I blow that so easily...really need to look at my eating habits and exercise even more.

[hj1981]

i use to write mine in a food diary that u get from a newsagent and had a calorie counting book also -but there is a great site (maybe the one u have just joined) that adds it all up for you and its free! and does graphs etc of weigh loss which i found motivating!

[MsJames]

Hey,

What is this caloire counting site called?

Thanks

[~Leasha~]

MsJames, I don't think I can link it but the one I liek to keep track of my food is called Calorie King