So you work out like a crazy person and eat like a bird watching every calorie you put in your mouth! Yes you lose weight initially – but let me help you understand the flow on effect from that!
Meal replacement drinks = skim milk powder, sugar, fructose and cocoa with heaps of additives like chemicals, synthetic vitamins and vegetable oils – not a lot of nutrition but plenty of simple carbohydrates to raise blood glucose temporarily and stimulate an insulin surge.
It may ONLY contain 240 calories, but I have no doubt you’ll be hungry within the hour.
Still going for low fat products to ensure you don’t put on weight – you reach for a low fat latte, with a low fat muffin or whole grain toast with no butter, just a scrape of sugar free or low fat jam! So now your calorie consumption is over 480 cals within 2 to 3 hours of the day.
As a consequence your metabolic rate will converse to fat stores and send a powerful signal to the appetite centre in your brain to consume excessive carbohydrate calories (to quickly replace lost muscle glycogen and protect against perceived starvation).
Your calorie-restriction efforts will not result in the burning of stored body fat, because the frequent insulin spikes after the high carbohydrate shakes and eating binges, in fact (over time), will produce metabolic changes that make it increasingly difficult to mobilize stored fat for energy.
This is so common in people trying to lose body fat – you simply don’t.
You need to understand that your muscle tissues is converted into glucose to supply your energy needs.
The depleted state of your muscles result in significant water loss, considering that every gram of stored glycogen binds with 4 grams of water in the body. The 4 kilos that you lost quickly in your first week of losing weight, will return in a matter of days when exhaustion causes a return to normal, or super normal calorie intake.
So you are back to square one – but a hell of a lot grumpier!!!
Seriously put your hand up if you have been on the meal replacement bandwagon and felt terrible. I hear so many people say it doesn’t fill them, that they’d rather eat food then drink after trying these.
That is because they are filled with empty calories a packet of crap mixed with water.
If you made a serious protein shake with real food, amazing good fats, and fibre blended with it, and it was that thick you felt like you were chewing it, you would then understand the real meaning of a protein smoothie.
When it comes to your health ask questions. Ask what’s included in the product you want buy (especially a ‘fad’ product online) you need to ask an independent because asking that particular company, they have a vested interest, so seek help from a qualified person who is able to answer the relevant question.
If you would like a great book to read and cut through the bullshit, then get yourself a copy of The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sissan – he’s a veteran of the REAL health sector.
To your health
Kerrie
Professional health, fitness and wellbeing coach.
