Best Meal Replacement Shakes

What we eat, when working out to either gain or lose weight, is pretty important. In fact, half the battle is won or lost, based on what you eat. Say you are looking to gain muscle, what should you eat? Should it be fat or protein based? And how about weight loss? Ok, no fat there. But you need some source of energy, so how to maintain a balance between the carbs and the proteins? Confused already.. the answer to this never-ending dilemma is a meal replacement shake. Simply put, all your necessary nutrients, balanced in the right proportion, for whatever your exercise regime, in a easy-to-make, thick shake.

If you are one of those never-cooks, always-on-the-move, then such shakes make great quick food choices. Instead of cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner, have a shake or bar instead, cut down on time and calories. What's there to make? Add water or skim milk, and stir. Meal made! And liquids are absorbed quicker and easily, by the body, rather than digesting solid food. It is essential to choose the right meal replacement shake for weight loss or weight gain, to complement your lifestyle. Now, with the umpteen choices available on the market, advertising this and that, which are the best products to choose?

10 Best Meal Replacement Shakes

☛ Protein Rite Meal Replacement Shakes

• High protein meal replacement
• Calories: 264
• Protein: 35 grams
• Fat: 1 gram
• Sugar: 1 gram
• Preparation: Pour contents into blender, add 2 cups of water and blend
• Flavors: Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry
• Price: $16

☛ Champion Nutrition UltraMet Lite

• Ideal for weight loss, boosts energy levels
• Calories: 190 per packet
• Protein: 29 grams
• Fat: 1 gram
• Sugar: 2 grams
• Preparation: mix 1 packet with 12 ounces of cold water
• Flavors: Chocolate fudge, vanilla cream
• Price: $35

☛ Met-Rx Meal Replacement

• Muscle builder shake
• Calories: 250
• Protein: 38 grams
• Fat: 2 grams
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Flavors: Original vanilla, extreme chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, berry, cake batter
• Price: $60 for 18 packets, $115 for 40 packets

☛ Labrada Lean Body For Her

• Special formula designed for women, aids in weight loss
• Calories: 190
• Protein: 30 grams
• Fat: 3.5 grams
• Sugar: 2 grams
• Preparation: Mix with 12 ounces of cold water
• Flavors: Vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream
• Price: $40

☛ Atkins Ready to Drink RTD Shakes

• Convenient 11 ounce shakes, pre-mixed
• Calories: 150-160
• Protein: 15 grams
• Fat: 9 grams
• Sugar: 1 gram
• Preparation: Ready to drink, just shake and serve chilled
• Flavors: Caramel, vanilla, strawberry, mocha latte, dark and milk chocolate
• Price: $8

☛ Labrada CarbWatchers Lean Body

• American Tasting Institute Gold Medal for best tasting shake
• Calories: 250
• Protein: 40 grams
• Fat: 4.5 grams
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Preparation: Mix with 16 ounces of milk or water, in a blender or cup for 69 seconds
• Flavors: Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla
• Price: $40

☛ WonderSlim Protein Diet Pudding-Shakes

• Makes pudding and shakes
• Calories: 100
• Protein: 15 grams
• Fat: 1.5 grams
• Sugar: 4 grams
• Preparation: Blend 1 packet with 8 ounces of cold water or milk
• Flavors: Chocolate cream, vanilla cream, strawberry cream, mocha cream, cocomint cream
• Price: $11

☛ Myoplex Carb Control Ready-to-Drink

• Lean muscle, low carb content shake
• Calories: 150
• Protein: 25 grams
• Fat: 3.5 grams
• Sugar: 1 gram
• Preparation: Pre-mixed, shake well and serve chilled
• Flavors: Chocolate fudge, strawberry cream, French vanilla
• Price: $55

☛ EAS Myoplex Lite Nutrition Shake

• Good for fat burning, with low calorie content
• Calories: 190
• Protein: 25 grams
• Fat: 1.5 grams
• Sugar: 2 grams
• Preparation: Combine 1 packet with 10-12 ounces of cold water or milk, blend for 45 seconds
• Flavors: Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, tropical fruit, cappuccino ice, chocolate lovers
• Price: $35

☛ CytoSport Muscle Milk Ready-To-Drink

• Ready-made drink in 17 and 11 ounce packs
• Calories: 240
• Protein: 25 grams
• Fat: 9 grams
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Preparation: Pre-mixed
• Flavors: Chocolate, vanilla creme, banana, chocolate malt, strawberry
• Price: $32

How to Get the Most Out of a Meal Replacement?

It is no use consuming the best meal replacement shakes, if you do not follow up with the right practices and steps.

• You have to exercise right. This is not a wonder drug, to dramatically increase muscle or lose weight. For best results, workout or be active.
• Look for nutrients based on your needs. If you are trying to lose weight, choose brands with low sugar and fat.
• Supplement with the right foods. From time to time, eat solid foods. Don't ignore your fruits and veggies. And use low-fat milk or water, to mix the shake.
• Use different brands and products, to keep it interesting. Just as you have a variety of foods, try different meal replacement options, like bars or puddings.
• For a busy lifestyle, use shakes. For example, instead of hogging on fast food for dinner, use a shake instead.
• Do not overdo it. A maximum of 2 meals can be substituted by a shake, unless specified otherwise by a doctor.
• Check the ingredients of the product. You need calories and carbohydrates, in a decent amount, to have energy during the day. Eating an ill-suited meal replacement, will make you hungry and then binge on anything, to satiate that hunger fix. So the benefits behind the replacement idea are lost.

Just because it is a good idea, doesn't mean you are going to like it. Some meal replacement shakes are an acquired taste and take getting used to. If you enjoy cooking and savoring foods and flavors, meal replacement shakes are not for you. And if you are lactose intolerant, tough luck. Most shakes have milk or milk products, as some ingredient. However, the old adage: no pain, no gain, holds true here. With the right exercise and correct substituting, the best meal replacement shakes will bring you closer to your dream body. Remember to take a break, from time to time, and have some solid foods.