Protein Drinks/Shakes-What's the deal?

Posts: 2,699
2/1/12 9:45 A

" b) are not always the sharpest crayons in the box...."

Wow. This is really rude. Maybe I'm sensitive to it because my husband is a "big muscular guy at the gym". But was that commentary really necessary? This was just a b!@#%y, judgemental statement that seems highly unneeded in this conversation.

Edited by: JENMC14 at: 2/1/2012 (11:58)

Posts: 10,781
2/1/12 8:17 A

any type of show or exhibition is put on by people who want sell their product. in other words, vendors pay to set up at any show like that. they pick shows that they might find a target audience at. in other words, you probably won't find a wedding cake decorator signing up for a classic car show. but a fad diet product that makes the manufacturer a pretty penny would be a good match for people who might want to lose weight. since there is quite the stereotype of all brides wanting to lose weight before their wedding to fit into their dress [and some who buy dresses in much smaller sizes], that bridal show crowd is right up their alley. people who want to lose weight and on a deadline.

the biggest issue with meal replacement shakes is long term. having a shake instead of food teaches you nothing about what your body needs. in other words, the minute you stop the shakes, you go back to eating just how you did before, which means you put whatever you may have lost right back on. because most people eat pretty similarly to how they did before, the shake is just lower cals than the meal they would have had and that's what causes the loss.

the protein in protein shakes is inferior to that that you can get from actual food. figure that even though we can get the same vitamins and minerals as are in a carrot into a vitamin, but we can't do it while still getting the body all the benefits of actually having the carrot and i can't fathom protein powder being any different. our bodies only need so much of it [unless you're bodybuilding] and it's easy enough to get enough from food. and as long as you are eating a varied diet and perhaps having a multivitamin now and again and i can't name anything that a protein shake is going to do for you other than lighten your wallet.

SparkPoints: (32,307)
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Posts: 2,704
1/31/12 7:59 P

You have to create a 3,500 calorie deficit to burn a pound of fat. Losing 75 pounds requires creating a total calorie deficit of 262,500 calories. With thirty days in a month for eight months, that gives you 240 days to create that deficit. That requires you to create a 772 calorie deficit daily. A Body by Vi shake, prepared as per the package, contains 170 calories. If nothing else in your whole life changed EXCEPT that you replaced one meal with Body by Vi, the only way the numbers add up is if the meal you replaced was a 942-calorie meal. You tell me- do you REALLY believe that lady was eating 942 calories for breakfast every day, and then suddenly replaced that with a 170 calorie shake? If you do, I've got a bridge for sale. Either she ALSO incorporated other lifestyle changes (including more exercise and eating fewer calories at other meals too), or she lied about the amount of weight she lost and/or how quickly she lost it. Either way, you could do it yourself without the shakes. And either way, they're a multi-level marketing scam.

Edited by: HOLISTICDETOXER at: 1/31/2012 (20:02)

Posts: 11,048
1/31/12 7:15 P

"It sounds like a Ponzi scheme to me, and anybody reducing their calorie intake should expect to loose weight (like, changing a meal for a shake)"

You pretty much nailed it, all on your own.

People think they need protein shakes because the big, muscular guys at their gym drink them. But the big, muscular guys at the gym a) are big, muscular guys, not overweight girls, and b) are not always the sharpest crayons in the box or the best nutrition role models.

It's always better to get your nutrients from whole foods, not processed supplements. Protein powder without added sugar might be helpful if you have difficulty meeting your minimum protein requirement, but if you're not meeting your protein requirement, you're probably also missing other nutrients from protein foods that probably aren't present in the shake. You probably need more FOOD, not just more protein.

Posts: 24,612
1/31/12 4:09 P

A meal replacement shake contains the correct blend of protein, fat and carbohydrates, and vitamin/minerals to replace a meal. It is a controlled portion and therefore controls calories. But you could get the same results by counting calories and controlling your total food intake.

A protein shake provides primarily protein. No benefit to the body if you are eating within your SP protein range. Most people do not need a protein shake.

Dietitian Becky

Posts: 1,175
1/31/12 3:36 P

I don't believe in using meal replacements except when time constraints make them absolutely necessary. Protein shakes are a little different; I don't use them either, but for people who need more protein, they can be a good addition.

That said, meal replacements aren't always terrible. They can taste alright and sometimes they are the most convenient option. Real food, however, tends to be more satisfying and is just as effective for weight loss. If the woman who used shakes to replace meals had eaten real food with the same number of calories, she would have had comparable results. It can take a little effort to make sure that the foods you're eating are nutritionally varied and complete, if you have a tendency to eat the same things regularly, but I think the flavor and satisfaction benefits make the additional work very worthwhile.

Edited by: BITTERQUILL at: 1/31/2012 (16:11)

Posts: 2,699
1/31/12 3:26 P

They're a decent way to get in extra protein for not a ton of extra calories, if you choose the right one. I personally wouldn't replace meals with shakes, and, remember, there's a difference between protein shakes and meal replacement shakes. Protein shakes are meant to be a supplement, NOT a meal replacement. Protein shakes are good post-workout snacks on occaision. I've also been known to have one as an afternoon snack to help satisfy a bit of a sweet tooth without snacking too much and adding a little protein in for the day.

Posts: 562
1/31/12 3:16 P

Literally, That's what I want to know.
I went to a bridal show and there was a booth for body by Vi. The women lost 75 pounds in about 8 ish months by substituting one of her meals with this protein drink (which tasted really good by the way).

It sounds like a Ponzi scheme to me, and anybody reducing their calorie intake should expect to loose weight (like, changing a meal for a shake)-- but with that being said is there anything to protein shakes that gives a body added benefits?

Edited by: AML05030 at: 2/1/2012 (13:58)