Do Weight-Loss Shakes Really Work? (2023)

FAQs

Do weight loss shakes actually work? ›

Weight-loss shakes lead to temporary weight loss, but they aren't sustainable long term. They leave people in a dieting mentality, take the pleasure out of eating and can be expensive. You can maintain a healthy weight long-term by eating real food.

Proven weight loss.

One study tracked two groups of people as they tried to lose weight over the course of 3 months. At the end of the study, the group that did not use meal replacement shakes lost only 1.5% of their initial body weight. The group that used replacement shakes lost 7.8%.

Here's proof: Participants in a Diabetes Spectrum study who replaced two meals a day with a shake, hot chocolate, or soup lost 7.8 percent of their body weight after three months. The group with more leeway over what they ate lost just 1.5 percent of their body weight while consuming the same amount of calories.

Since food equals calories, in order to lose weight you must either eat fewer calories, exercise more to burn off calories with activity, or both. Food that is not used to fuel the body is stored as fat. A major component of losing weight is to make smarter food choices.

Eating solid food may cause excess weight to return if you don't make smart food choices. And if you rely too much on protein shakes to replace daily meals, you'll miss out on the healthy benefits of whole foods. Since protein has calories, consuming too much can make it harder to lose weight.

Following a protein shake diet encourages weight loss by curbing appetite and reducing the total calories a person consumes in a day. Although these diets can be effective in the short term, healthcare professionals do not recommend living solely or primarily on meal replacement shakes.

If used as a meal replacement, shakes do not typically carry enough calories to equal your caloric needs from a traditional meal. Insufficient caloric intake can lead to muscle loss, decreased metabolism and fatigue, so you'll need to make up those missing calories if you're replacing a whole meal.

The protein shake groups lost an average of about 9.5 pounds whereas those who ate their regular dinner only lost about 0.5 a pound. However, eating more protein doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose weight since any excess calories will end up stored as fat.

While many brands of meal shakes provide important nutrients, they cannot completely replace a healthy diet full of whole foods. In addition to vitamins and minerals, whole foods contain antioxidants, plant compounds and enzymes that are difficult to put into a bottle.

Can I lose weight by drinking 2 protein shakes a day? ›

Protein shakes support muscle growth and repair after exercise and they can be a quick meal replacement when you're on the go. Drinking two protein shakes instead of full meals daily may help you lose weight, but it isn't really a long-term weight management solution.

This makes breakfast an ideal time for a meal replacement shake. Shakes are simple and light, yet nutritious, with a great supply of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients (protein and carbs) to promote energy early in the day when you need it most.

Cardio work, strength training and counting calories and macronutrients (protein, carbs and fat) are the three big components of weight loss. You should be doing all three, but each of these is not created equally when you're trying to lose weight.

Usually, this involves replacing all meals with meal replacements — except for the addition of a small bowl of salad or vegetables each day (to boost fibre and other nutrients) and a small amount of oil (to keep your gall bladder working) — for approximately six weeks.

You're Eating Too Much of One Food Group

A healthy diet requires a balanced mix of the main food groups – protein, carbohydrates and fats. You may have been counting calories, but if 90% of your calories are made up of carbohydrates then you are unlikely to lose weight.

If you eat more than what your body needs, you are likely to gain weight. But, no, protein shakes as part of a healthy, balanced diet will not make you fat on their own. In fact, boosting your protein intake can be a handy way to help control your weight and reach your goals, including increasing lean muscle mass.

Protein products and meal replacements differ in nutritional composition and are designed for different goals. To put it simply, meal replacements are designed to help with weight control, while protein drinks are more often used for athletic performance and muscle gain.

You're Adding Too Much to It

The thing is, everything you add to a meal replacement shake is going to add calories as well as flavor. If you've gotten into the habit of adding stuff, even healthy stuff, to your shakes, you may be increasing your caloric intake more than you realize.

Which protein shake is best for belly fat? ›

Whey protein is a type of protein powder made from milk. It's one of the best sources of protein for weight loss and can help you lose belly fat specifically.

Although not necessarily bad for you in small quantities, additives can add up quickly (especially if you drink a meal replacement shake every day) and cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and stomach pain.

Health Risks

Replacing multiple meals per day with protein shakes over a long-term period could result in nutrient deficiencies, digestive distress, nausea, bloating, headaches, fatigue or negative interactions with certain medications. Additionally, many protein shakes get up to half their calories from sugars.

It is safe to drink protein shakes every day, but be sure to obtain the majority of your protein and other foods from whole food sources. Without whole food sources, you'll be missing out on other valuable nutrients that are vital for health and supporting your workout performance and recovery.

It might be worth tracking calories to stay on top of any extra snacks or food that's consumed. Research published in Current Nutrition and Food Science (opens in new tab) has also found that swapping a meal or two each day with a meal replacement shake can speed up weight loss.

Replacing meals with high protein shakes eliminates excess calories and fat from your diet and leads to weight loss. When you reduce calories and remove the option of food, you can expect to lose three to four pounds a week.

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

Protein shakes can be used for fat loss too, but this isn't their primary purpose. Meal replacement drinks are a better choice for those trying to lose weight. Another difference between the two lies in their nutritional value. Meal replacement shakes provide more nutrients compared to protein shakes.

When building mass and muscle, mixing your protein with milk will yield better results. For lean builders, trimmers and toners, water is the way to go. It comes down to nutrition, as that's exactly why you are drinking protein shakes in the first place.

Are Premier protein shakes good for losing weight? ›

Although Fairlife shakes have more calories and protein per serving, making them slightly better for those with muscle-building goals, Premier shakes are low in fat, so they're excellent for anyone looking to lose weight.

Yes. It's safe to have more than one protein shake a day, but the experts we spoke with recommended capping your consumption at three.

If you're looking to lose weight, a great time for you to drink your protein shake could be in the morning. That's because protein is one of the most crucial nutrients for fat loss. Starting your day with protein can give your metabolism a boost and keep it raised all day long.

#1. PhenQ Complete Meal Shake: Best Diet Shake for Weight Loss. PhenQ is our top pick for the best meal replacement shake for weight loss. PhenQ is designed to help you shed pounds naturally, without the need for diet pills.

Is It a Good Idea to Drink a Protein Shake for Breakfast? Protein shakes can be an easy breakfast option for those short on time in the morning. In addition to being quick, portable, and nutritious, protein shakes are highly versatile and can be tailored to fit your specific tastes and preferences.

Most packaged “meal replacement” shakes or fruit smoothies won't keep you satiated for long. So, if you start every morning with a protein shake, that could explain why you're always hungry. The reason is because liquids empty out of your stomach in less than an hour, says gastroenterologist Scott D.

Apple cider vinegar isn't likely to be effective for weight loss. Proponents of apple cider vinegar claim that it has numerous health benefits and that drinking a small amount or taking a supplement before meals helps curb appetite and burn fat. However, there's little scientific support for these claims.

Cardio, also known as aerobic exercise, is one of the most common forms of exercise and is defined as any type of activity that increases your heart rate. Adding cardio to your routine may be one of the most effective ways to enhance fat burning.

What is the number one thing to lose weight? ›

One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as brisk walking — for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Some people may require more physical activity than this to lose weight and maintain that weight loss. Any extra movement helps burn calories.

Vitamins B, D, iron, and magnesium are four well-known weight reduction vitamins. Vitamin B helps the body to convert food into energy. It also plays a role in metabolism and cell function. A lack of vitamin B can lead to fatigue and weight gain.

Tropical fruits like pineapple and mango may have hidden calories that can hinder your weight loss plans. It is best to avoid these fruits that are excessively sweet too.

This is because when you are stressed, cortisol levels in the body rise, resulting in storage of fat around the belly area. Another reason responsible for a stubborn belly fat is genetics. It has been noticed that if your parents have belly fat, you might also have the same body type.

For example, the American Council on Exercise recommends that people who are trying to lose weight consume 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight (or about 54 grams for a 150-pound person). This means that you would need to drink one or two protein shakes per day to meet your protein needs.

What Drink Burns Fat Overnight? Drinking turmeric milk, chamomile tea, cinnamon tea, green tea, protein shake, green veg smoothies, and fiber-rich juice helps you burn significant fat overnight.

310 shakes may help with weight loss in the short-term. This is because they're not only low in calories, but high in protein, which has been shown to reduce appetite and cravings. Several 310 shakes customers have reported impressive weight loss results of up to 25 lbs over a matter of months.

How many 310 shakes per day? ›

As part of a continuous healthy lifestyle plan, we recommend that you replace 2 meals per day with a 310 Shake for weight loss, and 1 meal per day for weight maintenance.