7 Key Things to Take into Account Before Starting Meal Replacement Diets
Meal replacement shake is a great innovation, as most of us are caught up or tied to the realities of life it can be very hard to invest time into preparing healthy meals, this is when meal replacement shake or meal replacement diets as a whole can be our saviors. Meal replacement shake is super easy to prepare and barely take up any of your time. You can make it anywhere and carry it when you are on the go. There are obviously many questions that may make us wonder if they actually are 100% healthy. So we have gathered some important information and expert opinions for you to go through before you start off with this regime.
1. They can aid in weight loss
They help keep track your calorie intake, so you are able to get all the required nutrients in a low calorie shake or protein bar. They also help in taking out the guess work on what to eat and what not to eat which is a very important factor when it comes to losing weight.
2. They can help you fight other illnesses
If a certain sickness or disease requires you to lose weight then following this regime would be a smart choice. There are certain medical procedures that require you to lose a specific amount of weight, and then many patients are motivated to use these programs because it will improve their quality of life.
3. They may help you become more social
These meal replacement shake/diets might help keep you accountable. "That's certainly where some of these programs benefit you’re put on a team, given a social media group, or given a coach. This community aspect can be beneficial for maintaining weight loss momentum and staying committed as the weeks go on. In fact, initial studies have shown that support groups—specifically social media groups have been successful at promoting weight loss.
4. They are not FDA approved
Keep in mind that many of these products aren't regulated, which could be cause for concern because these products contain added supplements. This means that "what's on the label might not necessarily be what's in the product.
5. They don’t offer a long term solution
If you turn back to your old poor eating habits you may regain the lost weight. It is quite unlikely that a person can go about their lives with only having meal replacement shake.
6. Use them alternatively
Instead of using these products for every meal, consider using them every now and then. Rather than making your whole diet a meal replacement, choose one meal a day.If you use them along with a healthy diet, you can eventually start to wean off of them. This slow taper is important, because you'll be learning how to make healthy food choices in the process.
7. You need to plan ahead
A meal replacement diet is never the end goal. There needs to be a plan in place for when the meal replacement plan ends. Once you complete the program, it's important to create a support network to help you continue to move forward. Kumar suggests assembling a team of professionals to help you, and recommends consulting a physician, a registered dietician, and even a psychologist to transition off of these meal replacement products and safely continue your weight loss journey.