will meal replacements help me lose weight?
It’s that time of the year, we’re back from holidays, the kids are back at school and Aussies are looking to supercharge their health. The question that I’m answering today is whether meal replacements (shakes, soups, bars) are a healthy way to lose weight.
First things first, let’s talk about dieting in general.
Extreme diets
I’m not going to sugar coat it, extreme diets don’t work. They deprive us from the essential nutrients we need every day, they often come with nasty side effects (hello constipation!) and in fact, if the diet you’re attempting is really hard to maintain, there’s a good chance that you’ll regain the weight and more when you return to your usual way of eating.
Meal replacements
What we know about meal replacements is that they are not all created equal, and as such they may not always be nutritionally balanced. Meal replacements may be prescribed by a health professional for a particular medical condition, for example, in preparation for bariatric surgery, but the key takeaway here is that they should only be taken under the care of a health professional.
How to lose weight and keep it off
There’s no silver bullet or single way of eating that’s going to work for everyone, because what’s most important is that you’re getting all your nutrients whilst experiencing the joy of food. Life is too short not to enjoy good food, right?
The good news is there’s a wealth of science behind a Heart Healthy Eating Pattern, which is what I talk a lot about in my work at the Heart Foundation. This involves enjoying fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, lean proteins, healthy fats and cooking with herbs and spices for flavour. It’s this kind of eating pattern, based on the traditional Mediterranean diet, that I recommend to nourish your body.
Where to go for diet advice
If you're looking to boost your health this year, see a Dietitian. Accredited Practising Dietitians are the experts in nutrition and can tailor an eating pattern to suit your needs. Seeing an expert will also help you stay on track - we all need a cheerleader in our life and someone to keep us accountable!
We know from research (1) (2) (3) that seeing a dietitian helps people lose more weight, improve their mental health and keep costs down, so seeing a dietitian really does make a big difference.
Our secret sauce
We also need to remember that our weight is not the best indicator of our health. What we’re eating and how we’re moving is what matters, and making sure we’re getting our core food groups in – our fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, lean proteins and healthy fats.
I love being a dietitian because it allows me to change lives. No one knows the complex science of nutrition like a dietitian, and no one can better interpret tricky labelling of supermarket products like a dietitian.
Our secret sauce is translating the science of nutrition to meet your personal needs.
So, what are you waiting for?
Book in to see a dietitian today!
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