Shake It Up

I've said quite a bit about diet, even putting together a couple of menus to power up your metabolism and burn fat. Lots of protein, veggies and good carbs abound. Then I got to thinking; "Most of my readers are very busy people." By and large, even if you prepare most of the meals I've laid out in advance, many times you might not be able to leave your desk/trading pit/kids soccer game etc. to even microwave your chicken breast with broccoli salad. While I still say it's vital to eat this way as much as possible, in cases when it's not feasible, you need to turn to shakes. They're quick, easy, affordable and will fill you up with the good stuff you need to cruise through your day and keep that evil snack machine out of your life. If you've got a blender, all the better! Just toss in some skim milk, melon, strawberries, bananas, spinach, it doesn't matter. Just hit BLEND and enjoy.

Lots of studies have shown that if you're trying to lose a few pounds, a meal replacement shake will work even better than a low cal meal. Think about it. Instead of hitting Chipotle (burrito with a large soda comes to 600-800 calories, not to mention the post-lunch sleepies), most shakes contain 200-400 calories plus a lot less time and money.

I've tried a few and here's what I think;

Myoplex: Probably the best I've ever tasted. Vanilla tastes just like it should. Chocolate is not bad either. A four pack at the grocery store is about $8 but you can get great deals at supplementwarehouse.com. That comes to $2 for a meal. You might want to throw in some Triscuits and an apple, still a great deal. That crushes any dollar menu anywhere. From EAS

Calories: 270 Calories from Fat: 25Total Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 350mgPotassium: 650mgTotal Carbohydrates: 23g Dietary Fiber: 3g Sugars: 3gProtein: 42 grams

Muscle Milk: Kinda has a saccharine aftertaste but is a very good base if you blend it with your favorite fruit and skim milk. It's also a little higher in saturated fat than I'd like. Banana creme is the best flavor. A 20 pack is $45 on VitaXL.com From Cytosport.

Calories: Calories from Fat: 18 total: 3g, Saturated Fat 8g, Cholesterol: 5mg Sodium: 200 mg, Potassium: 600 mg, Total Carbohydrate: 12g, Dietary Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 6g, Protein: 32 g

Slim Fast Optima or High Protein: Very yummy. A bit of a grainy finish. Not extremely filling. Only 180 calories per can. No other info available.