Okay, so I am contemplating starting drinking some meal-replacement shake for, um, replacing meals. Seriously, it's just that I have to get to work really early in the morning and, in theory I'm on board with the bowl of cereal or sensible food or whatever, but in practice, ... when the alarm is going off at 4:00 already I don't want to give up more of my precious sleep.

I've had good luck with from-mix shakes such as the Atkins or Weight Watchers brands, which I usually supplement with an extra scoop of protein powder (which I think really gives it a kick in the pants with regard to staying satisfied longer!), but I'm thinking prepared shakes that I can take to work with me, at the moment. Except ... I think I watched too many SlimFast ads in my misspent youth because I'm just really skeptical. Too skeptical to make a decision on my own, as it turns out. Too many choices, I can't cope!

So, have any of you had good results with prepared meal-replacement shakes (with a view towards losing weight, not maintaining or gaining), and if so, what brands and what did you like about them?

Thanks.

I've read that Ensure is a good brand, better than Slimfast. I've never tried Ensure, so I can't say from experience. Of course, you could buy some sort of shaker and make the drink the night before, that way you just have to shake the contents up instead of starting from scratch.

One thing to watch with pretty much all of these shakes is making yourself to much. I am trying to go with a 16oz shake right after my morning workout then oatmeal as a midmorning snack.

Be sure to add some fiber to your diet. I would love to try a 3 shake/1 real meal diet for a month and see what happens...doubt I have the discipline to do it though.

A while back I was drinking the slimfast strawberry mix with milk. If you make it right it tastes like Crunch Berry Cereal - yum. To add some more fiber to it, try ground flax seeds.

Personally I make my own out of oats, protein powder, milk, banana and peanut butter, or I use Extreme's MRP. www.extremenutrition.co.uk (there are US suppliers too)

Pretty much same here. Don't really like the pre-packaged stuff.

I usually do:

1 scoop designer whey (chocolate)
1 cup low fat chocolate lactaid
1 bananna
1 teaspoon all natural peanut butter
big handful of ice and blend.

I make enough for two servings and put it in a big ol' plastic jug. One serving is breakfast, the other, along with a cliff bar, is my post-workout meal.

Thanks for all the suggestions... pre-making shakes is something I hadn't really thought of. The more obvious something is, the less likely I am to think of it, apparently. So I've got some ideas to go on from here... thanks!

I'm a little... okay, a lot spoiled. IWe just opened up a Smoothie King in my gym, and what I get most of the time after a workout is their "Slim-N-Trim" smoothie. It's around 200 calories for 20 ounces (give or take on the calories depending on the flavor), and is pretty filling.

I was trying to peek to see what they used to give flavor (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry), and I think they use CytoSport's Muscle Milk powder. Coincidentally, I use this at home if I don't feel like shelling out the $3.50, but for some reason it just doesn't taste as good When I make it at home, I usually make 16 ounces.

Are we implying this is gonna replace beakfast in all cases?

Im rather lazy to do dinner, as well... I just get back from the gym, take a shower and drop dead...
Could a shake work as well in this case?

This isn't a good idea... whole foods are always better than meal replacement powders....

I know we are all pressed for time, and there is a temptation to go with speedy solutions. The shakes can be a great way to make sure you are hitting your nutritional goals. If you don't/can't cook look for other alternatives.

In the past I found shakes to be best right after a workout. It seemed I was not nearly as wiped out the next day.