Meal replacements are calorie-controlled foods used to help you lose weight. Instead of eating foods high in fat and calories, you consume a protein bar, pudding, soup or shake in small portions throughout the day. Especially if you are wanting to go on a very low calorie diet, ask your doctor to supervise your meal-replacement diet plan.
Features
Very low calorie diets typically use meal replacements to stimulate rapid weight loss. On average, you consume about 800 calories a day when following a medically supervised very low calorie diet through liquid shakes and meal bars. If you are considered obese with a body mass index of 30 or more, your doctor may recommend this type of meal-replacement diet. Obese adults typically lose 3 to 5 lbs. per week on this type of weight-loss plan.
Types
Meal replacements available over-the-counter, online or at grocery stores are not intended to replace all your daily meals. Instead, one or two meals per day can be replaced using a meal-replacement product. You may be instructed by the diet manufacturer to eat a normal dinner made up of plenty of vegetables and lean protein sources, such as fish, chicken and turkey. Very low calorie meal-replacement providers include Slim Fast, Optifast and MediFast.
Considerations
Some meal-replacement manufacturers provide prepackaged meals that are low in calories and fat. You can often pick the type of meals you enjoy, and these meals can help you practice portion control, a key to long-term weight loss. Examples of companies that provide this type of meal replacement plan include Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem. Keep in mind that processed meals are often high in sodium and may not be appropriate if you must follow a low-sodium diet for health reasons.
Expert Insight
Meal replacements can help you successfully achieve weight loss. According to a 2003 study published in the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders," after evaluation of randomized controlled trials, it was determined that meal replacements can help provide substantial weight loss and reduce the risk of weight-related diseases. On average, individuals who followed a partial meal replacement plan lost a total of 7 to 8 percent of their total body weight.
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