Weight Loss 101 Do Liquid Meal Replacements Diets Really Work?

If you want to achieve fast weight loss, you will find that the market is saturated with products, fly-by-night companies, and gimmicks that all promise you the fastest and easiest results.  Whenever you’re thinking about weight loss, it is important to keep in mind two very important facts.  True, long-lasting weight loss is only achieved through proper diet and exercise, and the only way to safely lose weight is to burn off more calories than you are taking in each day, by working out at home or at the gym. 

With that in mind, let’s look at a popular new method for losing weight – the liquid meal replacement diet.

The good news is that these diets do actually work – if you stick to them religiously and don’t cheat, they actually will provide good, even significant weight loss, as you are limiting your calories to only those you consume in the form of the liquid meal replacements.  The bad news is that you need will-power to continue a diet like this.  If you like to nibble, or if you ‘sneak’ an extra meal in here and there, they won’t do you any more good than a traditional calorie-restricted diet. 

It also goes without saving that the drinks themselves don’t make you lose weight – so no, you can’t eat your normal diet and drink these ‘diet drinks’ too, as taking in the extra calories will make you actually gain weight! 

Taking in a liquid meal replacement drink that is laden with sugars and other ingredients to make it palatable will certainly lower its health value, but there are also many very healthy liquid meal replacements available.  The easiest way to incorporate liquid meal replacements into your diet is actually to make your own, using fiber, real fruits, and yogurt.  Throw everything in a blender and bottle, then refrigerate the leftover portion for later.  Bringing liquid meal replacement drinks to work as snacks and meals can help you eliminate the risk of overeating or making unhealthy choices and can certainly play a positive role in weight loss.

With liquid meal replacement, the health factor really depends on the contents of the meals you do eat alongside them, as well as whether or not your diet and exercise regimen otherwise supports your weight loss goals.  When added to a healthy lifestyle and consumed instead of meals, liquid meal replacement can certainly be beneficial to your weight loss goals. 

Taking the time to ensure that you are making the right choices in your new diet is what will keep the weight off for good once you resume your regular eating habits.