Meal replacement shakes can be a great way to kickstart your healthy lifestyle, lose weight, and reach your ideal shape. But when is the best time to take meal replacement shakes to have weight loss effects?
Weight loss isn’t just about reducing your calorie intake for a short period of time until you reach your goals. This type of thinking can lead to yo-yo dieting, which is not only ineffective but harmful to your health. Instead of thinking of dieting as reducing your calorie intake, focus on reshaping your meal plan to support habits that will lead to a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. One way to do this is to consume five small meals a day. Consuming five small meals per day opposed to 1-3 large meals per day will help you control your hunger throughout the day, prevent cravings, and ensure that your body has the nutrients it needs to function properly.
I realize that for some folks this may seem out of reach because of lack of time. This is where meal replacement shakes come into play, like our hunger-blocking exante Shakes.
But when is the best time to take meal replacement shakes? Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
When Is The Best Time To Take Meal Replacement Shakes?
Exante Meal Replacement Shakes are packed with important nutrients to replace any meal as well as a hunger-crushing blend to keep you feeling full for up to 3 hours.
A common question I get is when the best times to take a meal replacement shake actually is.
Let’s take a look at the four best times to take meal replacement shakes.
1. A Satisfying Breakfast
Skipping breakfast is one of the cardinal sins of fat loss nutrition. You set yourself up for the “hunger danger zone” around late morning or early afternoon.
That danger zone is a frightening place, where your chances of choosing fast food for lunch are high and your pocket change will most likely end up in the vending machine.
As a busy mother of three, I know first-hand that egg white omelets aren’t on the breakfast menu most days. A lot of people don’t even feel hungry in the morning, much less have time to cook a hot meal.
This makes breakfast an ideal time for a meal replacement shake. Shakes are simple and light, yet nutritious, with a great supply of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients (protein and carbs) to promote energy early in the day when you need it most.
For many people, a shake makes breakfast possible when it otherwise wouldn’t be. And avoiding that hunger danger zone (especially with an Exante Shake, which contains Slendesta – an effective hunger blocker) sets you up for healthy snacks and lunch!
You can even replace your calorie packed coffee drink for a nutritious, hunger-blocking shake that tastes just the same. Check out the recipe above. It’s a frozen salted caramel mocha and it’s perfect!
2. A Tasty and Filling Lunch
Lunch is one of the most common times of day when your healthy eating has a chance to get derailed. Fast food drive-thrus, lunch outings with co-workers, and rushed meals packed with junk food can send us spiraling.
And if you’re anything like me, some days you just don’t have the time to prepare a healthy lunch that is both filling and low-calorie. A light veggie wrap and turkey slices might sound great but you won’t always have time to create meals like this.
On days you don’t, there are meal replacement shakes. They’re as easy as grab and go.
All you have to do is throw a scoop of shake mix in a shaker bottle or baggie, grab a piece of fruit to complete the meal and you’re good to go!
And since Exante’s hunger-blocker is demonstrated to curb cravings for up to three hours you’ll feel full and satisfied without putting yourself in a food coma.
3. Fuel Before or After a Workout
Many meal replacement shakes contain whey protein, which is an awesome source of protein that promotes muscle repair and recovery. This is due to whey protein’s amazing amino acid profile.
Taking a meal replacement shake as part of your pre- or post-workout meal will supply your muscles with quality amino acids that are important to your workout recovery and ultimately to your weight loss.
Keep in mind that you can add other ingredients to your meal replacement shakes, such as fruits and vegetables, to meet your energy and nutrient needs throughout the day.
4. Healthy Snack In Between Meals
Another great time to take a meal replacement shake is for one of your other five meals throughout the day. With a busy schedule, it can be difficult to make the time to eat something healthy.
Because of the convenience meal replacement shakes offer, you can easily store a serving in a shaker bottle and mix it up at work or wherever your busy life takes you (the gym, maybe?).
To keep this a low-calorie snack instead of a full-on meal, stick to just shake mix and water or milk. Or you can make a light smoothie that doesn’t have high-calorie mix-ins. The smoothie recipe above is less than 200 calories, perfect for a snack!
One serving of an Exante Shake is only 110-120 calories so you can keep your calories low when snacking while still getting all the nutrients you need to fuel your metabolism and feel full and energized.
Ready to try Exante Shakes? Click here to learn more!
Putting It All Together
Now that you know the best times to take meal replacement shakes, determine which times will most benefit you and help you towards your weight loss goals!
Using a meal replacement shake as 1-2 of your five meals will help you develop the habit of eating more meals during the day, allowing you to transition into other healthier food choices.
If you’re looking for an awesome meal replacement shake for weight loss, check out our Exante Shakes!