These programs work to create short-term weight loss because the high protein content keeps you feeling full for a long time, and your body must work very hard to process all that protein. The work done by your body to metabolize the protein burns calories. You replace a meal, or even all three meals, with a shake full of vitamins and protein. You feel full and the weight melts off almost effortlessly.
There are several problems with these shake programs. First, you will gain all the weight you lost plus more when you stop replacing meals with shakes. This weight fluctuation places high amounts of stress on the liver, heart, kidneys, and hormonal system. If you never stop replacing meals with the shakes, you will likely suffer kidney and liver damage from consuming too much protein. Just one of these shakes usually contains more grams of protein than the average person needs in one day.
Another problem with this weight loss approach is that vitamins to do not equal food. These shakes add vitamins and minerals to the mix to make us feel like it is reasonable to use them as meal replacements. Taking the nutrients out of food and packaging them robs our bodies of the benefits of eating the whole food. Whole foods contain vitamins, minerals, and beneficial components that only work when they are eaten together.
The safest and most permanent weight loss plans involve weight loss of no more than 1 pound per week. Healthy weight loss is only achieved by eating more whole foods and increasing movement. This slow fat loss allows your body time to process toxins stored in the melted fat without stressing your vital organs.
The damage done to your body by using protein shakes for weight loss is simply not worth it, unless you are absolutely willing to trade being healthy for being thin. In the long run, you most likely won't end up thin because no matter what you do to fight it, your body will adapt to gain the weight back. There is a weight your body wants to be, and fighting that will require more and more extreme methods over time.
For anyone who would like assistance creating personalized dietary and exercise changes that are healthy and sustainable, feel free to contact me.
I can be reached by email: [email protected]
or text inquiries to: 703-475-9642