Excuse Me, Has This Been Asked Before?

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get in
plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that we
don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a diet of
protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables couldn't
work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying quantity of
sources.

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Either on a regular long-term basis, or as an occasional temporary
solution...like me, sometimes I don't have time to even wolf down a
lunch, I just stir up 12 oz. of protein supplement! (BTW, they don't
taste bad at all...rather like Ovatine to my palate.)

Me, I'm still trying to shed fat down to ~190-180 lbs. for parachuting
next year (most outfits have a 225-lb. upper weight limit)...I've gone
from 245 lbs. mid-September to 220 lbs. this morning! Seem still
strong as ever (well, not from my peak of ten years ago in the Army,
but in the same neighborhood at least)...62 push-ups in two
minutes...255 lbs. bench-press at 2-5 reps of 4 sets...etc.

NYC XYZ said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Yes, I routinely just have a protein shake as a single meal replacement
for breakfast.
I think this is fairly common actually.
Substituting *every* meal with a protein shake doesn't sound too wise
but probably would do little damage in the short term.
Oh, and 62 pushups is pretty good.
I did 67 in my last physical fitness test for the reserves.
I currently want to add another 20-30 to that for the next one.
I thought that relying almost solely on benching and other
weight excercises would do the trick and while I did make some nice
progress I think that overall Pavel's "greasing the groove"
paradigm is the best. That is, to be able to do more pushups--do more
pushups!! Worked pretty well so far for pullups anyway.

I should add that I'm not a doctor. If you're really concerned, talk to your
doctor beforehand.

"Joe the Aroma" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get
in plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that
we don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a
diet of protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables
couldn't work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying
quantity of sources.

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Either on a regular long-term basis, or as an occasional temporary
solution...like me, sometimes I don't have time to even wolf down a
lunch, I just stir up 12 oz. of protein supplement! (BTW, they don't
taste bad at all...rather like Ovatine to my palate.)

Me, I'm still trying to shed fat down to ~190-180 lbs. for parachuting
next year (most outfits have a 225-lb. upper weight limit)...I've gone
from 245 lbs. mid-September to 220 lbs. this morning! Seem still
strong as ever (well, not from my peak of ten years ago in the Army,
but in the same neighborhood at least)...62 push-ups in two
minutes...255 lbs. bench-press at 2-5 reps of 4 sets...etc.

Joe the Aroma said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get in
plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that we
don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a diet of
protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables couldn't
work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying quantity of
sources.

Oh, well, I didn't mean this as a life-style change, totally replacing
all meals with protein shakes. But while we're at it...if protein
shakes and vitamin pills are supposed to be the "real thing," why
couldn't they make equal, if not strictly identical, substitutes??

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Joe the Aroma said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get
in
plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that we
don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a diet
of
protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables couldn't
work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying quantity
of
sources.

Oh, well, I didn't mean this as a life-style change, totally replacing
all meals with protein shakes. But while we're at it...if protein
shakes and vitamin pills are supposed to be the "real thing," why
couldn't they make equal, if not strictly identical, substitutes??

You're assuming that we have identified all nutrients that the body needs
other than the laundry list we now have. Their *could* be stuff found in
food that we cannot add to synthesized drinks because we haven't discovered
it yet. Also there are questions on how well the body absorbs those
nutrients while it is in those forms.

TheGist said:

Yes, I routinely just have a protein shake as a single meal replacement
for breakfast.
I think this is fairly common actually.

I figure it's probably common since it was so expedient, but I was
curious as to whether it was a good thing, health-wise (for an
"average" lifter).

Quoted message said:

Substituting *every* meal with a protein shake doesn't sound too wise
but probably would do little damage in the short term.

But why, then? I mean, that's just what I don't get...if the protein's
the same thing, and the vitamin pills are really chock full of vitamins
and minerals, how could they be harmful if used exclusively???

Quoted message said:

Oh, and 62 pushups is pretty good.
I did 67 in my last physical fitness test for the reserves.

Good number, that.

Of course, it seems like people with shorter arms -- generall, shorter
guys -- are able to knock out more (??)...I've seen official APFT
numbers of 92 push-ups in two minutes ten years ago....

Quoted message said:

I currently want to add another 20-30 to that for the next one.

Damn, at my best it was only like 65-70, 72...wow, you're a real
high-speed low-drag hero! =)

What unit are you in? Just curious, since different units can have
different PT requirements. Is the minimum still 42, or has it been
raised, as someone once told me, to 52?

TOO BAD THE GODDAMNED ARMY IS STILL BEHIND THE TIMES WITH THAT SIT-UP
[censored]...EVEN THE MARINES HAVE DROPPED THAT BACK-BREAKING EXERCISE IN
FAVOR OF CRUNCHES!!!!!

Quoted message said:

I thought that relying almost solely on benching and other
weight excercises would do the trick and while I did make some nice
progress I think that overall Pavel's "greasing the groove"
paradigm is the best. That is, to be able to do more pushups--do more
pushups!! Worked pretty well so far for pullups anyway.

You know, benching is worth something...I'd been benching off and on
this year, and then started benching regularly again like three weeks
ago...and not having done a push-up for months, last week I found that
I could do like fifty fairly effortlessly! So I've been doing push-ups
again and my number's gone up to the sixties in like a week or so...so
there's something to be said for, ah, what's that term physical
therapists use..."crossover effect" or something....

(Actually, I think the cross-over effect refers to how training the
right arm exclusively can still benefit, though quite limitedly, the
left arm, too, insofar as our brains are wired properly between left
and right hemispheres and thus that cross-wiring carries over effects
from one side to the other, though much "diluted" ["lost in
translation" effect I guess]....)

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

TheGist said:

Yes, I routinely just have a protein shake as a single meal replacement
for breakfast.
I think this is fairly common actually.

I figure it's probably common since it was so expedient, but I was
curious as to whether it was a good thing, health-wise (for an
"average" lifter).

Quoted message said:

Substituting *every* meal with a protein shake doesn't sound too wise
but probably would do little damage in the short term.

But why, then? I mean, that's just what I don't get...if the protein's
the same thing, and the vitamin pills are really chock full of vitamins
and minerals, how could they be harmful if used exclusively???

Well take fiber for one. You'd end up mighty constipated just drinking
shakes.

NYC XYZ said:

TheGist said:

Yes, I routinely just have a protein shake as a single meal replacement
for breakfast.
I think this is fairly common actually.

I figure it's probably common since it was so expedient, but I was
curious as to whether it was a good thing, health-wise (for an
"average" lifter).

Quoted message said:

Substituting *every* meal with a protein shake doesn't sound too wise
but probably would do little damage in the short term.

But why, then? I mean, that's just what I don't get...if the protein's
the same thing, and the vitamin pills are really chock full of vitamins
and minerals, how could they be harmful if used exclusively?

No fiber.

Lascivious Mink <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

NYC XYZ said:

TheGist said:

Yes, I routinely just have a protein shake as a single meal

replacement

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for breakfast.
I think this is fairly common actually.

I figure it's probably common since it was so expedient, but I was
curious as to whether it was a good thing, health-wise (for an
"average" lifter).

Quoted message said:

Substituting *every* meal with a protein shake doesn't sound too

wise

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but probably would do little damage in the short term.

But why, then? I mean, that's just what I don't get...if the

protein's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the same thing, and the vitamin pills are really chock full of

vitamins

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and minerals, how could they be harmful if used exclusively?

No fiber.

Or electrolytes, or EFAs. But those problems could be corrected. Worse
is that it would be pretty boring and probably not sustainable
long-term.

Joe the Aroma said:

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Joe the Aroma said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get
in
plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that we
don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a diet
of
protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables couldn't
work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying quantity
of
sources.

Oh, well, I didn't mean this as a life-style change, totally replacing
all meals with protein shakes. But while we're at it...if protein
shakes and vitamin pills are supposed to be the "real thing," why
couldn't they make equal, if not strictly identical, substitutes??

You're assuming that we have identified all nutrients that the body needs
other than the laundry list we now have. Their *could* be stuff found in
food that we cannot add to synthesized drinks because we haven't discovered
it yet. Also there are questions on how well the body absorbs those
nutrients while it is in those forms.

Yeah, just look at vitamin E. The manufactured form form available in
vitamins is called dl alpha-tocopherol.

There have been studies that show that the natural form of vitamin-E
(from a source such as wheat germ, for example, or extract thereof) is
far more benefical and more potent.

Google it.

Also, there is a lot of antioxodents that are supposedly in various
plant products, a.k.a "Phytonutients" that just aren't available in a
manufactured form. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytonutrients

In article <[email hidden]>,

NYC XYZ said:

LOL

What's so funny?

Quoted message said:

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Quoted message said:

Either on a regular long-term basis,

No, as I value my health and shakes are not a long term healthy pattern
of eating if they replace too many meals in your diet over a long period
of time.

Quoted message said:

or as an occasional temporary
solution...

Many times yes.

Quoted message said:

like me, sometimes I don't have time to even wolf down a
lunch, I just stir up 12 oz. of protein supplement! (BTW, they don't
taste bad at all...rather like Ovatine to my palate.)

A healthy and good tasting MRP recipe is here:

http://www.brinkzone.com/qanda3.html

Quoted message said:

Me, I'm still trying to shed fat down to ~190-180 lbs. for parachuting
next year (most outfits have a 225-lb. upper weight limit)...I've gone
from 245 lbs. mid-September to 220 lbs. this morning!

Good work!

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

NYC XYZ said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Use in this manner, they are not a meal replacement but rather calories
replacement. Skinny body types should be concerned about consuming
calories. For all body types, you need to provide your body with
energy. And, that is called Carbs!!!

You should add or replace with a blend that also contains carbohydrates.

WillBrink said:

What's so funny?

Just thinking that this question must have been asked, surely (and
anticipating the flames). =)

Quoted message said:

No, as I value my health and shakes are not a long term healthy pattern
of eating if they replace too many meals in your diet over a long period
of time.

Ah, okay. I do love to eat, so I won't ever be adopting them
wholesale, "Jetsons" style. But they are expedient every now and then
as quick meals-on-the-go, I guess/hope.

Quoted message said:

Many times yes.

A healthy and good tasting MRP recipe is here:

http://www.brinkzone.com/qanda3.html

Thanks for the ref! Not much of a chef just yet -- want a bigger
kitchen and so forth -- but the GNC Pro Performance Mega Whey I'm
currently using seems good enough: 40g protein with 5g free-form
glutamine and 3g BCAA with 5g carbs for 220 calories. =) (Not that I
know what most of that means; just thought to list it for comparison
with your recipe.)

Quoted message said:

Good work!

Thanks! Down to 215 this morning...though I'm currently "bouncing"
between 215 and 220 -- depending on what I eat and whether I exercise
adequately during the day, I can lose or gain five pounds, just like
that! AFAIK, it's not muscle (or rather little), as I can still do the
exercises I always do at the same level of performance/intensity.

Quoted message said:

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

On 25 Oct 2005 09:16:08 -0700, "NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

No but... Nutribar has a 'meal replacement' shake (I think it's called
'Lifestyles' that is fairly low carb / high protein that might be of
interest to you. I'm sure there are other high protein meal
replacement shakes on the market too. You could also add extra
protein to pretty much any meal replacement shake... with the cost of
increased calories of course.

Quoted message said:

Either on a regular long-term basis, or as an occasional temporary
solution...like me, sometimes I don't have time to even wolf down a
lunch, I just stir up 12 oz. of protein supplement! (BTW, they don't
taste bad at all...rather like Ovatine to my palate.)

Other than protein and amino acids, protein shakes are pretty much
lacking in nutrition. They were meant to supplement meals, but never
to replace them.

Quoted message said:

Me, I'm still trying to shed fat down to ~190-180 lbs. for parachuting
next year (most outfits have a 225-lb. upper weight limit)...I've gone
from 245 lbs. mid-September to 220 lbs. this morning! Seem still
strong as ever (well, not from my peak of ten years ago in the Army,
but in the same neighborhood at least)...62 push-ups in two
minutes...255 lbs. bench-press at 2-5 reps of 4 sets...etc.

Sounds fun - good luck!

Joe the Aroma said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get in
plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that we
don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a diet of
protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables couldn't
work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying quantity of
sources.

Just as there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that would be
missed, so too for the other food groups (grains, meat, dairy, etc.)

Quoted message said:

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Either on a regular long-term basis, or as an occasional temporary
solution...like me, sometimes I don't have time to even wolf down a
lunch, I just stir up 12 oz. of protein supplement! (BTW, they don't
taste bad at all...rather like Ovatine to my palate.)

Me, I'm still trying to shed fat down to ~190-180 lbs. for parachuting
next year (most outfits have a 225-lb. upper weight limit)...I've gone
from 245 lbs. mid-September to 220 lbs. this morning! Seem still
strong as ever (well, not from my peak of ten years ago in the Army,
but in the same neighborhood at least)...62 push-ups in two
minutes...255 lbs. bench-press at 2-5 reps of 4 sets...etc.

Joe the Aroma said:

I should add that I'm not a doctor. If you're really concerned, talk to your
doctor beforehand.

The common recommendation is that it's OK to replace one meal a day
with a meal replacement proper (ie. not a protein shake). Replacing 2
or 3 meals a day with a replacement product should be done only under
doctor supervision.

Quoted message said:

"Joe the Aroma" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get
in plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that
we don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a
diet of protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables
couldn't work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying
quantity of sources.

"NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

LOL

So has anyone tried using protein shakes as a meal replacement?

Either on a regular long-term basis, or as an occasional temporary
solution...like me, sometimes I don't have time to even wolf down a
lunch, I just stir up 12 oz. of protein supplement! (BTW, they don't
taste bad at all...rather like Ovatine to my palate.)

Me, I'm still trying to shed fat down to ~190-180 lbs. for parachuting
next year (most outfits have a 225-lb. upper weight limit)...I've gone
from 245 lbs. mid-September to 220 lbs. this morning! Seem still
strong as ever (well, not from my peak of ten years ago in the Army,
but in the same neighborhood at least)...62 push-ups in two
minutes...255 lbs. bench-press at 2-5 reps of 4 sets...etc.

On 26 Oct 2005 07:04:43 -0700, "NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Ah, okay. I do love to eat, so I won't ever be adopting them
wholesale, "Jetsons" style. But they are expedient every now and then
as quick meals-on-the-go, I guess/hope.

Hmmm... you might find reading about 'polymeals' interesting. If you
google polymeal you'll find lots of good info, and science in support
of, or against.

On 25 Oct 2005 11:30:35 -0700, "NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Joe the Aroma said:

Bad idea, there are nutrients in fruits and vegetables that you can't get in
plain protein or in pills such as electrolytes and micronutrients that we
don't understand yet. On the other hand, I don't see a reason why a diet of
protein shakes and a limited quantity of fruits and vegetables couldn't
work, but personally I'd prefer my protein came from a varying quantity of
sources.

Oh, well, I didn't mean this as a life-style change, totally replacing
all meals with protein shakes. But while we're at it...if protein
shakes and vitamin pills are supposed to be the "real thing," why
couldn't they make equal, if not strictly identical, substitutes??

1) there is still a lot that we don't know about nutrition, and
various nutrients are still being discovered

2) there is still a lot that we don't know about nutrition, and the
'interaction/synergistic properties' of various nutrients are still be
discovered

"Mars Observer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 26 Oct 2005 07:04:43 -0700, "NYC XYZ" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Ah, okay. I do love to eat, so I won't ever be adopting them
wholesale, "Jetsons" style. But they are expedient every now and then
as quick meals-on-the-go, I guess/hope.

Hmmm... you might find reading about 'polymeals' interesting. If you
google polymeal you'll find lots of good info, and science in support
of, or against.

I've read just a little about polymeal and while I like most of what I've
seen so far, I noticed that it seems to recommend eating fish. Isn't most
fish poisoned with mercury? I've heard you can eat a certain amount of
certain types of fish and ingest some amount of mercury that's supposed to
be less than the amount that will harm you, but I think that's BS, because
unless the specific fish you're eating was tested for mercury, there's no
way to know how much is in it--it depends on the age of the fish, where it
lived, what it's been eating, and how recently more contaminants were dumped
nearby--and do you really want to eat poisoned food even if the poison is in
an amount supposedly "allowed by the FDA"?