Any great results WITHOUT protein powders/shakes??

[Nantucket]

Hi!
I'm pretty new to all this so feel free to laugh if my questions are dumb :D

It seems that so many meal plans for LC have protein powder/shakes as part of them and I was wondering if any of you AREN'T using them??

Our budget is really tight and there isn't any money for me to start buying extra things no matter how much they would help.

I guess i am just looking for someone to say it can be done without the protein extras.

[pennink]

Never have used them. Lost 133 pounds about 10 years ago... never used them then. Eat whole, fresh foods if you can.

[katwoman]

I've never even tasted a protein shake. I stick with basic LC foods, mostly unprocessed. Meats, fresh and/or frozen veggies, eggs, some cheese--and I find a lot of variety in how I cook things.

[ValerieL]

I'm not sure what plan you are reading about, but you'll find most people on this board don't do shakes or protein powders as a rule. You do need to eat protein, but if you are doing a low-carb diet, it's hard NOT to get enough protein as long as you aren't trying to do a vegetarian version of it.

Val

[Giant]

just make sure you take your vitamins

[southbel]

I never understood why people liked those shakes at all. I tried one once and I thought it was absolutly icky!! I lost all of my weight with all whole foods, no shakes, no frakenfoods, no LC products. I think that you will find most people with the greatest success will tell you the same thing as well.

[TarHeel]

I drink an Atkins protein shake for breakfast at least four days a week, and have been doing so for over four years. Everyone's tastes are different, but the flavour I prefer is Chocolate Delight.

I drink them out of pure laziness. And the fact that I've almost never eaten breakfast in my life, and at first got it into my head that I needed to eat breakfast on low carb. I'm not absolutely sure that's true, but it's a habit now unless I'm going out to meet someone for lunch.

It's by no means necessary to drink protein shakes, but some of us who have been pretty successful do drink them.

Kay

[amy411]

LOL Kay, laziness, yup that is my culprit too :)

[faduckeggs]

I tasted an Atkins shake once, and I did not like it. I didn't get past the first sip.

I don't eat the bars either.

I lose best of real food.

[Judynyc]

I never understood why people liked those shakes at all. I tried one once and I thought it was absolutly icky!! I lost all of my weight with all whole foods, no shakes, no frakenfoods, no LC products. I think that you will find most people with the greatest success will tell you the same thing as well.


Me too!! :agree: whole foods only...

no shakes, no franken foods, no lc products..... and I lost just fine. ;)

Good luck to you!!

[LacyOkey]

I agree whole foods are the best! With that being said yeah I use em too and yup laziness is the culprit.I prefer protien powder to the atkins shakes though.

[Scented1]

i used to drink a shake for breakfast everyday too. I got so sick of them I can barely look at them. I have only had 1 since starting back up last month. I have been making smoothies with protein powder. Not in the last few weeks. Those don't taste bad. I use a splenda version and it seems to be fine for me.

[lenjoe]

I have lost 65 lbs. since 1/18/07 without a protein shake. I eat three normal LC meals a day and two snacks (usually nuts). The LC woe probably cost a little more than my out of control woe. High Carb food is cheap and plentiful. Don't talk yourself out of doing this. You can do it. You will feel so much better.

[Mousesmom]

I don't use shakes and only use bars in an emergency.

They work for some people and stall others. You are better off with real foods.

All the best, Julie

[ValerieL]

I thought you were talking about supplementing your meals with extra protein. Maybe I misunderstood. I know there are people that use protein and/or Atkins shakes as meal replacements some times, no problem with it, but I got the impression you didn't want to use them because of the expense, and that's certainly okay too.

[Nantucket]

I thought you were talking about supplementing your meals with extra protein. Maybe I misunderstood. I know there are people that use protein and/or Atkins shakes as meal replacements some times, no problem with it, but I got the impression you didn't want to use them because of the expense, and that's certainly okay too.

yep-you were right Valerie...I don't want to use them because they are so costly.

Thankyou all for your responses so far-keep them coming.

I just got a little discouraged today when looking for breakfast ideas online and kept getting smoothie and shake recipes with protein powder in them.

[Calianna]

I use the protein powder sometimes in cooking, or like yesterday I wanted a nice cool, protein rich snack, so I just tossed a scoop of protein powder in a blender with a little bit of yogurt, a couple strawberries and a little water. Mainly it was an experimental snack, just to see if I could get it thick like a milkshake (I didn't), how it would taste (not bad), and whether it would have enough "staying power" for me (adequate, since it was a mid-afternoon snack). Nevertheless, I don't use the protein powder very often.

As far as expense goes, I didn't consider the powder to be that big of an expense, considering that a canister of it goes a long, long way ($11 for a 30 serving canister, which works out to about 37 cents per serving). That's a cheap brand from walmart though. Some people really can't stand the taste of certain brands, and find significantly more expensive brands to be better - you just have to figure out which brand you like, or which brand is adequate for your needs. Figuring out which brand you like could cost a good bit in wasted protein powder though, especially if you really hate the first several brands you try. (many people find them more palatable in cooking though - using the brands they don't like for drinking in things like the donut hole recipe)

I've never tasted one of the pre-fab shakes, since those are pretty expensive, not an expense I wanted to get started on.

Even though the shakes, protein powders, and even some of the bars are convenient to use occasionally, they're really not at all necessary to do this, just eat real food - it's better for you anyway. And if your favorite shake/protein powder/bar is ever discontinued by the manufacturer, you won't be lost without an idea of what to eat, like someone who relied heavily on those things would be.

[Scented1]

hey Calianna!

Try using heavy cream or whipping cream and ice, the cream thickens up quick and gives it more of a "milk" shake consistency. And get a straw! ;)

[kyrasdad]

Never have touched a single one. If I need protein, it's easy to get, and more filling. I can see using them in a pinch, on the road, etc., but I've never had the need.

[MizKitty]

I know what you mean, I've also seen a lot of recipes on this site that calls for whey or protein powder. I've never bought any before, either, although I have used the Atkins or SlimFast LC canned shakes occasionally as a meal replacement. Walmart's price isn't too bad.

[j13]

Never once used them. Never even considered getting them. I avoid frankenfoods as much as possible. Down ~185 lbs following Atkins.

I just got a little discouraged today when looking for breakfast ideas online and kept getting smoothie and shake recipes with protein powder in them.

Here's a good recipe: 3 eggs + butter + cheddar cheese + real bacon bits + tangy pepper rings = omelette. LOTS of butter. Side of bacon/sausage/canadian bacon. Sound good? I ate it ALL THE TIME and dropped all this weight. Real food. Not so bad. No need to buy into gimmicks or fake/processed foods.

If you haven't already, get the book for the plan you want to follow and read the heck out of it. I'm a big fan of DANDR (Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution).

-j.

[tmatrocks]

I like the Atkins shakes, but too pricey.

I often have some LC protien powder around the house for when I'm interested in a shake - great with heavy cream, by the way!

When I used to buy the Atkins shakes, or on the rare ocassion when I still do, I tend to water them down 50/50 with water. They still taste good, and fill me up more. I have even done it with carbonated SF bottled water - yummy flavors!

But besides the price point, just stick to simple, pure, whole foods. Cheaper and better for you. Some report stalls with the shakes.

[BayouBecky]

I've used some of the Atkins bars and shakes, but don't care for the chalky taste I seem to pick up on. They didn't stall me, but like I said, I don't care for them, so I don't use them this time around. I agree -- whole foods are best!