meal replacement bars / shakes

[Skinni_Balinki]

Hi

I`ve done a search (spent about an hour or so) but couldn`t really find the answer to a question I have. Its probably been asked a thousand times before and it may be that I`ve been searching in the wrong forums..... but anyway...

I don`t have a copy of the latest Atkins book - just the old black copy with the videos and tapes, diary ect. I appreciate that the best way is to follow the atkins proporly but I have a burning question that if anyone knows the anwer to I`d really appreciate it.

Would it be detrimental to my physical health to substitue 2 meals per day with either an atkins shake or bar and then have a main atkins meal in the evening.

I`ve come across a lot of posts where people have given thier personal opinions on the taste and side effects of these bars (i.e bloating, gas, runs ect). And I`m also aware of the atkins WOL on here - where some peeps call these products frankenfoods and that they can trigger off sugar cravings ect.

All these things aside - what I`m interested to know, bottom line, is ....

what would be the physical effect on me (for e.g) if I did the following

Breakfast (on the go) - Atkins shake
Lunch (on the go) - Atkins advantage bar
Dinner (where i have more time) - Atkins meal with remainder of carb allowance for the day (induction)

Please note
I am not currently doing this!!! - but (like I keep saying) I`m interested if it would be detrimantal to my health or not (like someone asked about Just protein - and was told that the excess protein would be converted back into sugar)

Trace x

[presidentholmes]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

Why would you want to?
The weight loss plan is perfect as it is.
Are you thinking that your plan will work better???

[Desertthorn]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

Its really not a good idea to start eating junk food, even if it has Atkins on the label. There are tons of quick menu ideas in the food section.

[Adena]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

Skinni -- I don't know the answer to your question, but guys... let's cut her a break. My guess is that you are asking this question not in your own effort to "improve" on Atkins, but wondering if these technically "Atkins approved" meal replacements would be okay for an on the go lifestyle, right?

I know that some people prefer the convenience of prepared foods. That may not be the choice of many here, but in my opinion, it can still be a viable option.

My amature guess would be: IF your body can tolerate these, they are likely well-balanced in terms of carb/protien/fat ratios, with some vitamins throw in for good measure. So, in the "by the book" sense, you're probably okay there. That, plus at least one additional snack, plus a good Atkins-approved dinner, and a daily mulit-vitamin or other supplement, seems it would be okay. Just make sure you are tracking your food intake in fitday or somewhere else to make sure you are getting the right amounts of carb, protien, and fat. Again, THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION... I haven't been here very long, nor have I done nearly the amount of reserach that many others on the board have.

The big problem I think you'll run into with this approach is feeling restricted and deprived and frustrated. There are so many great things we can eat for breakfast and lunch -- you'll really be missing out.

Good luck to you.

[Chris]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

If I were doing this (and, there's no question, I wouldn't) I'd count the total carbs (minus only the fiber) in the meal replacement bars. I just don't trust the "net carb count," especially when the SA used is maltitol.

All in all, though, I think this is a pretty bad idea. For one thing, it doesn't give you the chance to learn the skills that you need to develop to maintain your weightloss in the future.

[dreamof145]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

My thoughts on this is that this is a life-style committment. People who use shakes, bars and other methods of replacing a meal are not learning a permanent life-style way of eating. When you are tired of eating these replacement foods - you will go back to eating and not have learned your portion sizes, proper ratios and thus you will gain weight again. I'd rather eat proper meals, learn how to eat and what to eat in order to make it a healthy habit.

To use these products in an emergency situation is okay occassionally....but to incorporate it as a way of life, In my opinion isn't a good idea. Take the time to learn the program with healthy foods and you'll not have to worry about the stalls, the cravings or the confusion of eating for a life-long way of eating.

[sallyseachange]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

Just for the record... my dog won't eat atkins bars... which says something!

[Skinni_Balinki]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

Hi - thanks everyone for your input.

I don`t think I could or want to do it - it was just something that popped into my head (think it might have been a "sl*m F*st" advert ) that gave me the train of thought.

Your all absolutely right about this programme being about re-education - and I totally 100% agree with you.

I wasn`t trying in any way to suggest an "improvement" - it was merely a hypothetical question.

and thank-you to all those who gave me good pointers as to why these replacements should just be used as occasional replacements.

It was the science bit I was interested in !!!

If anyone else reading this - does have a "science angle" on this - I`d still like to know - just out of curiosity.

I never meant to cause offence.

[Bren]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

I think in order to "properly" answer your question first one would have to know the "exact" content of the bars/shakes. Ingredients, nutritional information etc. I honestly do not remember what is in them! I personally did not like them. I would question first off how many true carbs they have. Which would lead to the next question of ..........having the one meal? I DO know that eating all your carbs at one meal could cause a blood sugar spike which could lead to cravings.

What is the ratio for fat/protein/carbs in the bar/shake? Again, I do not know the ratios and could it be made up in the one meal?

Sorry, all I seem to come up with is more questions in order to answer your questions?
But, I am trying to do it from the approach you have asked.

I see what you are trying to ask, but I have to insert here it is setting yourself up for failure (if anyone is considering it).

[not2late]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

Those bars and shakes are really nothing more than candy bars and milkshakes with a few vitamins and minerals added to them.

For thousands of years, mankind has lived on real food---real proteins, fats and carbohydrates---and has survived quite well. It was only when our societies began using artificial foods did we see a increase in some diseases. For example, heart attacks were virtually unknown until the early-mid 20th century. Some people blame the use of artificial fats, like margarine, for it.

Whole natural foods are without a doubt better for our bodies because our bodies weren't designed to live off purified protein isolates, modified starches, or whatever preservatives, stabilizers, coloring agents and artifical flavor enhancers are used in those products.

And again, what do you learn if you lose weight by eating 1 real meal a day and 2 artificial meals? You learn that you have to eat that way in order to maintain weight too. Kacey1 has a wonderful post in the OWL forum about learning how to eat for her body. And that's something Slim-Fast type diets don't teach you how to do.

[2big4mysize]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

ever wonder how slimfast stays in business> they give you a great rapid weight loss plan bars shakes and a meal and you get to goal but you learned nothing about the science of feeding yourself and your appetite and your reactions to foods so you have nothing learned to help you stay at your goal weight then you regain and poof you are a slimfast repeat customer cause it was yours not theirs fault you regained it.

as tro the science behind why it would be wrong 0on atkins following your plan you would have a bolus of carbs in your evening meal 3 cups of vegies plus anything else you needed. folllowing this concept in 14 days you would add back 4 5 more net carbs of those veggies so now you got 20-25 carbs in your dinner which will keep growing bigger and bigger with every rung. giving you a blood sugar spike at dinner from the carbs which will stop the fat burning as your body releases insulin to use up the sugars. then your blood sugar will drop and you will be hungry and want more food.

think of your body as a car that runs on super. you can't fill up twice on regular gas and then a tank of premium the 3rd time and experct your vehicle to preform at its best. you are running too lean 2/3rds of the time and too rich the rest.

fuel up in good atkinds ratios every meal with some fats some proteins and some of your low GI veggies and you will have the right fuel and stable blood sugars all day long helping you to be come the healthier smaller person you want to be.

[Skinni_Balinki]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

ever wonder how slimfast stays in business> they give you a great rapid weight loss plan bars shakes and a meal and you get to goal but you learned nothing about the science of feeding yourself and your appetite and your reactions to foods so you have nothing learned to help you stay at your goal weight then you regain and poof you are a slimfast repeat customer cause it was yours not theirs fault you regained it.

as tro the science behind why it would be wrong 0on atkins following your plan you would have a bolus of carbs in your evening meal 3 cups of vegies plus anything else you needed. folllowing this concept in 14 days you would add back 4 5 more net carbs of those veggies so now you got 20-25 carbs in your dinner which will keep growing bigger and bigger with every rung. giving you a blood sugar spike at dinner from the carbs which will stop the fat burning as your body releases insulin to use up the sugars. then your blood sugar will drop and you will be hungry and want more food.

think of your body as a car that runs on super. you can't fill up twice on regular gas and then a tank of premium the 3rd time and experct your vehicle to preform at its best. you are running too lean 2/3rds of the time and too rich the rest.

fuel up in good atkinds ratios every meal with some fats some proteins and some of your low GI veggies and you will have the right fuel and stable blood sugars all day long helping you to be come the healthier smaller person you want to be.

Thanks hun!!! - that was the kind of answer I was looking for - and I really appreciate the time you (and everyone else) took to answer this for me.

I`m really loving this site - its brilliant !!!

Thanks again
Trace x x x

[pstansel]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

I'll be honest, I love the peanut butter chocolate bars. But so far I've avoided them for two months . There are ways to make your own fast food that will certainly be more beneficial. Spend a few hours on a weekend cooking for the week and you'll have everything you need to pop it out of the fridge and go. Atkins rolls, bacon, hams, soups, hardboiled eggs, even salads.

[pstansel]

Re: meal replacement bars / shakes

ever wonder how slimfast stays in business> they give you a great rapid weight loss plan bars shakes and a meal and you get to goal but you learned nothing about the science of feeding yourself and your appetite and your reactions to foods so you have nothing learned to help you stay at your goal weight then you regain and poof you are a slimfast repeat customer cause it was yours not theirs fault you regained it.

Actually... as a former employee of Unilever, who now owns Slimfast, I can tell you EXACTLY how they stay in business . They are heavily subsidized by the rest of Unilever's businesses. They lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the last few years as people moved away from those kind of diets. They even tried putting out their own low carb products. Trust me, they were TERRIBLE! I actually had the formulas and entire marketing campaign on my hard drive at one point. Weird stuff!