Smoothie query

[Anonymous]

Does anyone here drink meal-replacement smoothies? Does or has it helped with weight loss? What do you put in them? Insight appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I make smoothies for breakfast or lunch sometimes, but I don't use packaged "meal replacement" smoothies.

I make small ziplock bags of frozen fruit (some combination of berries, peaches, and/or banana) so I can grab a bag and throw it into the blender. Depending on what's in there, I'll add two or more of:

- nut butter (not if I'm going to work in a school that day)
- Greek yogurt
- milk
- a handful of greens
- flax or chia seeds
- vanilla protein powder
- honey or agave nectar

[Anonymous]

Bear in mind that whatever you do to lose weight you'll have to continue doing forever in order to keep the weight off. Otherwise once you stop the weight will return faster than it left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bear in mind that whatever you do to lose weight you'll have to continue doing forever in order to keep the weight off. Otherwise once you stop the weight will return faster than it left.

Not true.

[Anonymous]

I do - not for weight loss (though I need to) but because I like it.

1 banana
1 scoop of peanut butter
skim milk
1T unsweetened cocoa powder (makes me feel like I am drinking a milkshake for breakfast but doesn't add fat/calories.)
Ice

[Anonymous]

I often make green smoothies as breakfast, but more for nutrition than weight loss...

makes 2 adult + 1 toddler size servings:

1 banana
1 cup frozen fruit/berries
3/4 c. Greek yogurt
flax or chia seeds
1/2 c. orange or orange-carrot juice plus more water if needed
2 handfuls spinach and/or kale

[Anonymous]

I don't think meal replacement smoothies are a good idea. Your body does not register fullness in the same way when you drink food (without chewing) as it does when you eat it. Therefore smoothies can have a rebound effect because you are hungrier than you would be had you eaten the equivalent in calories.

[Anonymous]

I put in bananas, strawberries, milk and chia seeds. Or strawberries, peaches, milk and chia seeds. No effect on my weight.

[Anonymous]

Kale
Unsweetened almond milk
A kiwi
Strawberries
Blueberries
Peanut butter
Protein powder
Chia seeds

Initially I did it because Kale (and other greens) is good for constipation, but I didn't want to sauté it in oil. I also didn't want to take Miralax or other drugs. It took 2 days to have a difference. I have one for breakfast every morning.

[Anonymous]

I do greek yogurt, almond milk, and fruit. The yogurt is the protein without resorting to powders with lots of additives. I drink them mostly because they're just really easy for breakfast to drink in the car, and still real food.

[Anonymous]

Chia seeds make smoothies sticky and/or lumpy. If you use them (great for fiber and protein) mix them in with a spoon after blending. I have found that hemp seeds are a better choice as they blend in easily and doesn't change the consistency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think meal replacement smoothies are a good idea. Your body does not register fullness in the same way when you drink food (without chewing) as it does when you eat it. Therefore smoothies can have a rebound effect because you are hungrier than you would be had you eaten the equivalent in calories.

Yes this goes to satiety. Chewing tells your brain that you are satiated. So you just have to be careful with this method.

[Anonymous]

I've been doing juice fasts two days a week. On those days I eat only juices or smoothies for breakfast and lunch, then have a salad for dinner. Total calories = 700-800/day.

So far it seems to be helping me keep my wieght under control. I think it helps reset my eating patterns so that I eat normally on other days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think meal replacement smoothies are a good idea. Your body does not register fullness in the same way when you drink food (without chewing) as it does when you eat it. Therefore smoothies can have a rebound effect because you are hungrier than you would be had you eaten the equivalent in calories.

Yes this goes to satiety. Chewing tells your brain that you are satiated. So you just have to be careful with this method.

I make smoothies for breakfast sometimes - not for weight loss, but because I like them and it helps me get in extra spinach. I do a frozen banana, a few handfuls of spinach, a little water and a pinch of ginger.

I have definitely found I get hungrier faster than if I had eaten a more solid breakfast. I didn't know it was because of the chewing. I thought it was because it takes longer to digest the solid food. Maybe both?