Losing weight can be one of the most rewarding accomplishments you will ever attain, but it can also be one of the most challenging processes to undertake. Portion control is nearly impossible in this super-sized world and the sheer number of chemicals, additives and other alarming ingredients in most processed foods make purchasing portion-controlled commercial meals problematic.
Among the more interesting (and tempting) weight loss tools available are meal replacement bars and shakes. The quality and usefulness of meal replacements depends entirely on their ingredients and on how you intend to use them, so the first thing to do when deciding whether or not they are for you is to take a look at the ingredients and at your overall weight loss plan.
All meal replacement bars are not created equal. Some are little better than candy bars, but that can also work in your favour. The cons of eating meal replacement bars instead of a salad are obvious. It is always better to build your meals around fresh, natural ingredients that are low in calories but high in nutrients. But sometimes you get caught out in the world with no immediate access to a fresh salad and it simply is not feasible to think you can carry one with you at all times. A meal replacement bar that is low in calories, sugar and sodium and high in protein and fibre will fill you up and nourish you for far fewer calories than anything offered at a snack counter or drive-thru.
It`s also better to have a meal replacement bar to ease immediate hunger pangs than it is to be stoic and eat nothing until you have access to food. You`re far more likely to overeat on a completely empty stomach than you are when the edge has been taken off your hunger.
So, look for meal replacement bars that offer natural ingredients with a balance that is skewed toward a high protein count, followed by fibre with low levels of both sugar and sodium. Carry some with you at all times and use them to replace actual meals rather than as dessert, to keep your weight loss on track. Drink a large glass of water with each one and you will feel full for hours.
Meal replacement shakes are as varied in quality and usefulness as meal replacement bars. Those that are high in sugar will not keep you full for any longer than a full-sugar soda or high-fat designer coffee drink will. But meal replacement shakes that are high in protein and fibre can help you feel full throughout the morning, making it easier to choose a lean and healthy lunch. Many meal replacement shakes have rich, delicious flavours that can tame late afternoon cravings for sweets. Drinking a meal replacement shake rather than eating dinner helps your body to burn stored calories while you sleep rather than processing the last meal you took in.
Meal replacement bars and shakes can be an incredibly useful tool in your quest to lose weight, but they are not made of magic. Use them to help you count calories and tame cravings for chocolate or sweets, but be sure to supplement them with a low-calorie diet consisting of fresh vegetables and fruit, lean protein, whole grains and beans, nuts and seeds. Also, drink plenty of water and get at least eight hours of sleep every night.
The only time you should be using meal replacements entirely in place of food is under a doctor`s supervision for quick, medically necessary weight loss.
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