Meal
Replacement Powders -- Make Them Go Farther!
Meal
replacement powders are something I'm a big fan of (you'll know
if you've read my earlier
article), and if used properly, are an essential element of
any successful weight loss plan.
As
you probably know, the key to a well-structured dieting plan is
dividing daily caloric intake up into 5-6 small meals a day. By
doing so, you gain much greater control over blood sugar levels,
which in turn leads to increased energy and productivity, and ultimately,
to weight loss. Because eating 5-6 small meals a day is difficult
as well as impractical, meal replacement powders have emerged as
the perfect solution. (You can read more about meal replacements
here!).
Most
experts recommend eating 3 small regular meals (breakfast, lunch,
dinner), and replacing each of the additional 3 with the meal replacement
powder of your choice. There's a couple of problems with this...
First,
this can end up becoming fairly expensive (only if you don't happen
to be in the habit of buying your meals now). Second, for most people
3 meal replacements a day represents far too many additional calories.
A serving of EAS' Myoplex
meal replacement powder, when mixed with 2 cups of 1% milk contains
483 calories. Multiply that by 3 shakes a day, and you're pushing
1500 calories. On top of that, add the caloric intake of your regular
three meals and whammo!
You're
caloric intake is sitting around 2500 calories a day.
Much
too much. If we set a benchmark of 10X our weight in calories as
a starting point for our dieting, then 2500 calories represents
the ideal intake for a 250lb. Individual.
The
average person can get away with using 1-2 meal replacement powders
a day. Here's how...
Mix
up one of EAS' Myoplex
meal replacement powders with 2 cups of 1% milk. Then I increase
the fat-burning capabilities of my shake by adding one tablespoon
of an Essential Fatty Acid blend (this is optional, but a good idea).
This brings the caloric intake of our shake to within a hair's breadth
of 600 calories. Then, simply split the shake up into 2 or 3 portions,
and consume between your regular meals. Easy, right?
Special
note...
Because
I'm moderately hypoglycemic, I find that typical meal replacements
cause too rapid a surge in blood sugar levels, leaving me tired
and "burnt out" not long after I finish my shake. To combat
this, I like to add a teaspoon of pysillium husk powder to my shakes.
Pysillium husk powder is a non-digestible fiber supplement, that
slows the rise of blood sugar levels. Just be sure to add a teaspoon
to each serving as you consume it. Otherwise, your entire
shake will "gel", and turn into a big glob long before
you consume it.
