There's more to meal replacements than offering the convenience of not having to cook when you don't feel like it. Even more attractive to many (if not most) consumers is that they promote weight-loss while providing proper nutrition. The question is, how effective are they when it comes to peeling off the pounds?
What Are Meal Replacements?
Meal replacements are usually shakes or bars that are made with a certain amount of calories and nutrients. Not all meal replacements are created equally as products may have different purposes and target markets in mind.
SlimFast, for example, advertises itself as a low-calorie meal supplement to help aid weight loss, while others like Soylent market themselves as nutrient supplements for those who aren't eating enough.
Are Meal Replacements Effective For Weight Loss?
The jury seems to be out in terms of the effectiveness of meal replacements when it comes to weight loss. Some evidence has shown that meal replacements help with weight loss for up to a year — as long as they're used as directed. And some health experts say that meal replacements are particularly effective when it comes to jump-starting a weight loss program, especially since they help you keep a tighter reign on your daily caloric intake.
One study showed that people who used meal replacements actually lost a little more weight than those who followed a more traditional diet plan. But the overall caloric intake varied widely between individuals in both groups.
Advantages
Convenience, as mentioned, is one advantage of meal replacements, particularly for people who either don't have an interest in cooking, and/or the time to do it regularly. This is particularly important if you're consistently missing a certain meal, such as breakfast. Most are relatively high in protein and leave you with a feeling of fullness.
Disadvantages
While convenience is a definite draw to using meal replacements, critics argue that replacing meals isn't going to help you learn healthy eating habits that will enable you maintain long-term weight loss.
Others also argue that they don't contain all the nutrients you need for a balanced, healthy diet, including the fiber and phytonutrients that you find in fruits and vegetables.
Another potential disadvantage is that people can experience "taste fatigue" with meal replacements because of consuming the same type of food day after day. Cultivating long-term healthy behaviors, such as a healthy diet, is considered to be a more sustainable form of weight loss.
The Amarillo Town Club can help you lose weight through a combination of proper diet and exercise. Contact the ATC today.
What Are Meal Replacements?
Meal replacements are usually shakes or bars that are made with a certain amount of calories and nutrients. Not all meal replacements are created equally as products may have different purposes and target markets in mind.
SlimFast, for example, advertises itself as a low-calorie meal supplement to help aid weight loss, while others like Soylent market themselves as nutrient supplements for those who aren't eating enough.
Are Meal Replacements Effective For Weight Loss?
The jury seems to be out in terms of the effectiveness of meal replacements when it comes to weight loss. Some evidence has shown that meal replacements help with weight loss for up to a year — as long as they're used as directed. And some health experts say that meal replacements are particularly effective when it comes to jump-starting a weight loss program, especially since they help you keep a tighter reign on your daily caloric intake.
One study showed that people who used meal replacements actually lost a little more weight than those who followed a more traditional diet plan. But the overall caloric intake varied widely between individuals in both groups.
Advantages
Convenience, as mentioned, is one advantage of meal replacements, particularly for people who either don't have an interest in cooking, and/or the time to do it regularly. This is particularly important if you're consistently missing a certain meal, such as breakfast. Most are relatively high in protein and leave you with a feeling of fullness.
Disadvantages
While convenience is a definite draw to using meal replacements, critics argue that replacing meals isn't going to help you learn healthy eating habits that will enable you maintain long-term weight loss.
Others also argue that they don't contain all the nutrients you need for a balanced, healthy diet, including the fiber and phytonutrients that you find in fruits and vegetables.
Another potential disadvantage is that people can experience "taste fatigue" with meal replacements because of consuming the same type of food day after day. Cultivating long-term healthy behaviors, such as a healthy diet, is considered to be a more sustainable form of weight loss.
The Amarillo Town Club can help you lose weight through a combination of proper diet and exercise. Contact the ATC today.
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