For example, the American Council on Exercise recommends that people who are trying to lose weight consume 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight (or about 54 grams for a 150-pound person). This means that you would need to drink one or two protein shakes per day to meet your protein needs.
You can plan to drink protein shakes in the morning as a breakfast meal replacement or integrate them throughout the day as snacks. Then, make a list of healthy dinner proteins that you can rotate throughout each night to give your diet variety while consuming foods packed with nutrients.
Makers of protein shakes may say that their products help lower body fat or promote weight loss. But protein shakes aren't a magic way to lose weight. Some studies find that consuming a higher than usual amount of protein in your diet may offer benefits.
Protein shakes support muscle growth and repair after exercise and they can be a quick meal replacement when you're on the go. Drinking two protein shakes instead of full meals daily may help you lose weight, but it isn't really a long-term weight management solution.
While protein shakes can help you lose weight, they should not be used in the long-term, says Ali. That's because, like with anything done over and over again, most people will get sick of them after about 30 days, which may cause them to crave other, less nutritious foods.
Whey Protein Can Boost Fullness Quickly
It contains all the essential amino acids and is absorbed quickly in the body ( 31 ). Whey protein has been linked to some impressive benefits, including greater weight loss, improved satiety and better body composition ( 32 , 33 ).
Replacing meals with high protein shakes eliminates excess calories and fat from your diet and leads to weight loss. When you reduce calories and remove the option of food, you can expect to lose three to four pounds a week.
Adding protein to your diet has been linked to weight loss, even without exercise or conscious calorie restriction.
There can be health consequences if you drink protein shakes without exercising are: (1) less muscle gain, (2) unwanted weight gain, (3) increased risk of kidney-related problems, and (4) abnormal spike in blood glucose level.
To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.
Whey protein can be an excellent addition to your weight loss diet if you're trying to gain muscle, increase strength and lose significant amounts of body fat, including excess belly fat.
Following a protein shake diet encourages weight loss by curbing appetite and reducing the total calories a person consumes in a day. Although these diets can be effective in the short term, healthcare professionals do not recommend living solely or primarily on meal replacement shakes.
Drinking a protein shake for breakfast can be a quick and convenient way to squeeze more nutrients into your diet and increase your protein intake. Protein shakes can also be an effective tool to support weight loss and enhance muscle growth.
You can drink protein shakes any time of day for weight loss. You can use them in conjunction with nutrient-dense foods to replace a regular meal, or you can add them to your day as a filling snack that takes the place of less nutritious calorie-dense snacks.
In one study, consuming 30% of calories from protein caused participants to eat almost 450 calories less per day—leading to twelve pounds of weight loss in 3 months (8). Some research has even suggested 25% of your calories coming from protein can help curb cravings (9).
One study tracked two groups of people as they tried to lose weight over the course of 3 months. At the end of the study, the group that did not use meal replacement shakes lost only 1.5% of their initial body weight. The group that used replacement shakes lost 7.8%.
“One day of drinking several [four-plus] protein shakes likely won't cause harm but may be quite uncomfortable physically,” says Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, a registered dietitian in Miami. She says consuming too much protein can lead to GI symptoms that may include: Stomach upset. Gas.
How much protein should I be eating for weight loss? Experts advise consuming between 0.5 grams and 1.0 grams of protein per pound of your body weight. That's 70 grams to 140 grams a day for a 140-pound woman. Skew on the high end if you're very active, and on the low end if you're trying to lose weight.
Peanut butter is a high-fiber food that promotes healthy weight loss. It keeps you full for a long time, stimulates metabolic system, and has a low glycemic index, which allows you to achieve your weight loss goals .