Meal Replacement Shakes Vs Protein Shakes - Which One Will Help Me Lose Weight?

Diet shakes have become a staple in the weight loss world. You can find protein shakes and meal replacement shakes available from many sources. Many people think that the terms are interchangeable. They are actually quite different. But which one is the right one for you?

Meal replacement shakes (along with other meal replacement food items like bars, cookies, puddings, etc) are very high in protein and specially formulated to encourage weight loss as well as weight maintenance. Most shakes average between 90 - 200 calories with typically 10 - 30 grams of protein. In addition, meal replacement shakes are usually infused with additional nutrients and minerals to make it a very healthy and complete 'meal'. The added fiber in meal replacement diet shakes will give you a very full feeling so that you are not looking for your next meal very quickly.

\"shake Diet\"

Protein shakes are considered a supplement to your diet. If you drink them as a part of a diet plan, they offer a nutritional balance to a low-fat or low-carb diet, however protein shakes do not contain enough calories to substitute for an entire meal. If you drink them in place of a meal, your body will not be getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients that it needs! Typically, protein shakes will provide less than 100 calories and not be as filling to tide you over to the next meal.

Meal Replacement Shakes Vs Protein Shakes - Which One Will Help Me Lose Weight?

The benefit that both types of diet shakes have is that you are providing your body with the calories and fuel that it needs to continue to function properly. Skipping meals entirely can lead to a slow down in weight loss as your body adjusts to the amount of food being presented. Food deprivation is never a good thing and it can have the effect of slowing your metabolism down considerably.

So which one is right for you? If you are looking to lose weight quickly and without a lot of work or counting of calories, then a diet that uses meal replacement shakes might be for you. It's very easy to work a shake into your daily routine. Look for shakes which don't even require anything more than glass to mix them with water. There are even some pre-made shakes available where you just shake, open the top and drink. What could be easier than that? Using two simple meal replacement shakes every day, one for breakfast and one for lunch will give you a big jump on your weight loss program and provide you with a healthy alternative to strict dieting involving food deprivation.

Meal Replacement Shakes Vs Protein Shakes - Which One Will Help Me Lose Weight?

Andy Bauer is a tech writer for Weight Loss Diet Shakes, an internet based retailer of weight loss diet shakes and products.