Do those supplement drinks really work or is it a gimick?

[QuarterMillionMan]

Do those supplement drinks for weight loss or body building such as slimfast, muscle milk, myoplex, ensure, glucerna, really work for losing weight or building muscles. For the past 27 years, off and on, I have bought just about every protein powder/drink to try to build muscle and not one product has even remotely aided in helping me to build muscle. Granted I know I need to workout as well which I've been doing by lifting weights but not one single product has proven effective, according to my own experiences. Has anyone seen positive results?

[lorraineb]

I'm skeptical. I tend to be of the type that anything that claims it helps you do something (diet, gain muscle, etc) is vastly inferior than actually doing what we know is required to do those things (eat better and less, work out in the weight room, etc)

[bUU]

The products are what they say they are, but they all say they will do what you expect them to do "as part of a comprehensive diet and exercise program". When I used Myoplex, hiked incessantly, practiced Ashtanga weekly, and lifted weights several times a week, I lost weight and became very fit. When I used Myoplex walking one a week or so, practiced sedentary meditation, and my only interaction with our weights was dusting them, I gained weight and became increasing unfit.

[Blessed]

I'm going to say no based on my sons experience. He is 6 ft 4 and 137 lbs. Very thin but he actually has a fair bit of muscle from lifting several times a week. No cardio besides skate boarding for fun. His Dr suggested he drink these type of shakes to help him gain. In the last few months he went from his original 130 to 137.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Maybe I shouldn't have included Ensure & Glucerna because I believe these drinks are approved by some medical insurance companies to be given to its patients as a supplement for mainly the eldery & diabetics. I guess these drinks would fall under a different supplemental classification and not necessarily to lose weight or build muscle so Ensure & Glucerna should not have been included in my list.



And to further add to my post above instead of buying protein drinks to try to build muscle I have come to the realization that I would rather eat a balanced and healthy diet along with exercise to build muscle than waste my hard earned money on those expensive protein shakes. The pictures of rock hard muscles of steel or beautiful women in bikinis always made me believe I too could become like that only if I bought the product. I admit I was guillible and fell victim to the power of the advertisement.

[moneymaker1008]

Yes, they work if you use them as part of a healthy diet and incorporate a lot of exercise. I used the meal bars (which are essentially the same thing) last year instead of eating a big lunch (in addition to a well balanced breakfast and dinner and daily exercise) and I lost a lot of weight. But if you have the time to just make a small, healthy, balanced meal for lunch (under 250 calories) it will do the same thing and be much healthier for you and cheaper.

[bjl584]

I'm an avid weight lifter, and yes, some supplements do work and do help. The thing is, you have to do your homework. Only buy from reputable companies. Browse around on the fitness forums and see what people like and what people have had good results with.

A good quality whey protein is almost a must. I'd say that creatine is also a must for lifting weights. Other products like Glutamine or BCAA are not as critical, but they do help.

[~bs]

I'm going to say no based on my sons experience. He is 6 ft 4 and 137 lbs. Very thin but he actually has a fair bit of muscle from lifting several times a week. No cardio besides skate boarding for fun. His Dr suggested he drink these type of shakes to help him gain. In the last few months he went from his original 130 to 137.

your son's issue was my issue back in my high school and early college years. It's impossible to put on weight and add extra muscle and bulk if your metabolism is burning all the energy (calories) that you intake. The higher your metabolism and the higher your activity level, the more protein your body needs daily.

The reason for the protein shakes is because the extra protein and energy is more than your body can burn away, so if you're exercising it will help you build muscle. The reason it's protein shakes and not "fat-shakes" is because it's easier for your body to turn protein to muscle. But more is not better, as your body will end up breaking down the protein and storing it as fat if it's excessive. If your son is gaining muscle and not fat, then he probably isn't overdoing it.

[PauletteGoddard]

The whey protein isolate and egg white protein powders to be mixed into shakes I've used have helped me lose weight. Not the Muscle Milk stuff though, but Natural Factors, and Jay Robb that I find at supplement stores. I look for 2 grams carbohydrates per serving, at least 15 grams protein, and branched chain amino acids (BCAA) composition where leucine is at least 1.2 grams. I ingested a scoop or two of these powders at least twice a day. I lost 1.5 inches off the waist and hips, and six pounds within three weeks.

I did not know of Myoplex before you wrote of it but per serving it seems to meet the low carbohydrate/high protein criterion. I have no testimonial for it, nor the others you've mentioned in your post.

[chocolate123]

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[hamchan]

They are good for getting lots of protein without having to eat a big plate of meat. They can also be substantially less expensive than big plates of meat.

[Nika]

Eating healthy and exercising works. You are better of spending that money on fruits, veggies and other unprocessed foods. But than there is not much profit to be made off you.

[Blessed]

your son's issue was my issue back in my high school and early college years. It's impossible to put on weight and add extra muscle and bulk if your metabolism is burning all the energy (calories) that you intake. The higher your metabolism and the higher your activity level, the more protein your body needs daily.

The reason for the protein shakes is because the extra protein and energy is more than your body can burn away, so if you're exercising it will help you build muscle. The reason it's protein shakes and not "fat-shakes" is because it's easier for your body to turn protein to muscle. But more is not better, as your body will end up breaking down the protein and storing it as fat if it's excessive. If your son is gaining muscle and not fat, then he probably isn't overdoing it.

I didnt think he was deficient in protein before starting to be clear. The kid can sit and eat 6 pieces of chicken or 4 burgers in a sitting with all the trimmings.I go through enough eggs for an army. He eats non stop. He had to track all foods for a week and his health teacher comments he sure ate a lot of food but a lot of healthy whole foods. I had the same metabolism the first 35 years of my life ( now I want it back!). Dr also gave him his blessing for full fat dairy since but he has been using full fat all his life there was nothing to change there ( hence my huge milk bill). He eats tons of everything besides sweets.

He definitely has a good bit of muscle but I can't say he has more than before he drank the shakes since he has had no bod-pod or body fat testing. I just know he weighs 7 lbs more.

[~bs]

Dont think deficient is the right word, and not really what I was trting to imply. His body is able to burn off high levels of calorie intake, hence the trouble building muscl. If he works out through his life, hell notice it gets easier to gain muscle once he gets older , but of course has to watch his diet more because of a slowing metabolism

[Blessed]

Dont think deficient is the right word, and not really what I was trting to imply. His body is able to burn off high levels of calorie intake, hence the trouble building muscl. If he works out through his life, hell notice it gets easier to gain muscle once he gets older , but of course has to watch his diet more because of a slowing metabolism

True For now he sure likes eating!