Weight Loss Shakes

Review by bibliomom:

Well, I can’t attest to the long term weight loss effects of this product, but I can comment on 1) taste 2) ingredients and 3) mixability.

Taste. I mixed the chocolate with some ‘original’ flavored soy milk (the instructions suggest water) which adds 17 g of carbs to the 13 g (7 are fiber) that come in the mix, and 110 calories to the mix’s 130. Obviously this pretty much doubles your carb and calories (and tripled the fat). However, for me it was worth it, since it produced a fairly satisfying shake. The mix is sweetened with xylitol and stevia. It was fairly easy to mix in a glass with a fork (it would probably be better shaken or blended) and while it managed to be simultaneously thin and a bit fibrous (think moderately mixed fiber powder drink), it actually tasted okay. The fiber went down easy (unlike SlimStyles) and it actually seems to have satisfied me as well as filling my stomach with fiber. I’m sure the soy milk helped.

The ingredients seems pretty good — xylitol, cocoa, ‘natural flavors’, maltodextrin, their ‘proprietary viscofiber blend’, whey protein isolate, stevia and a bunch of vitamins and minerals. So far, the whey hasn’t upset my stomach and while the shake may have a *bit* of a stevia/xylitol aftertaste (the strawberry mixed with a couple of real berries might totally kill it), it’s pretty slight and I find it preferable to the aftertaste of splenda or aspartame.

So far, so good. If you’re looking for something a little less carb or chemical laden to use for meal replacement or diet attempts, this is probably worth a go. At the very least, it’s fairly easy to mix and tastes okay. Compared to most of the shakes I’ve tried, it’s excellent.

Review by Scott Galloway:

This has rapidly become my ‘staple’ shake of choice. I’ve tried a few others (including HempShake..not so tasty) but I keep coming back to this. I always make it with skimmed milk; tried water as they suggest in the instructions…not so nice!

The most important factors for me with this shake are the very low sugar content (contains stevia and is nice and sweet), high protein content (23g in the two scoops I use to make my shake) and high fiber content; together these mean that I can have one of these in the morning and not feel hungry until early afternoon. One benefit I’ve noticed (may be imaginary) is that drinking water after this shake keeps me feeling full for longer compared to others. Also contains a multi-vitamin mix which is useful if you’re restricting your intake of other foods…

Review by A. Chandler:

As a weight loss coach I’m always on the lookout for products that can have a positive effect. I’ll be honest. I snickered at the plug for this on the Biggest Loser and said it’s obviously just regular whey powder rebranded with their name to sell. (I tend to snicker at many things promoted heavily on tv…this is normal for me.)

Okay, I’ll own that I was wrong…I never even LOOKED at this product for months but someone in one of my weight loss groups mentioned it so I did.

First, it has less than half the calories for the same serving as most whey powders. Maybe all whey powders. I spend a LONG time in stores comparing stats and this beat out the lowest ones I used to use by FAR in it’s nutritionals.

Second it uses Stevia as a sweetener. Stevia is all natural and is waaaaay sweeter than sugar so you only need a tiny bit of it in comparison to sugar. (This and Agave are the only low calorie sweeteners that health and all natural markets sell) I refuse to use artificial sweeteners now because I’ve read too much about them but I never leave the house without my stevia packets.

Third…it just works. I’ve used whey powder for years to help with my fitness and weight loss plan. It not only keeps you full, but it helps muscles after a workout. Plus fiber has been shown to assist weight loss which is why it’s a huge part of the Weight Watchers plan…and so many other things I could make this review very long by adding. It’s just uber good stuff.

I personally like to make a smoothie with this powder and add in some fruit. I love the taste of this smoothie. I also just found out they have blueberry flavor and I’m psyched…I’ve never seen that in a whey powder. The vanilla is great because it gives you a plain base to either utilize on it’s own or with other flavorings or fruit. After a mega workout I’ll even add a bit of prepared oatmeal and a few teaspoons of all natural peanut butter for a mega filling mega protein boost…but that adds more calories obviously.

Also, it’s hard for some of the people I work with in losing weight to get their water servings in each day. I suggest adding a little but of the whey protein to the water for both flavor, vitamins, protein etc. It’s a win/win all around. I do this as well. Cheaper and healthier than the flavored packets for water and this contains no artificial sweeteners and is packed with goodies for your body so it’s a better alternative to flavoring your water or milk if those servings are hard for you to do.

This helps me in between meals in a HEALTHY way that assists my weight goals rather than sidetracking them…

Review by T. McCollough:

I just tried this mix this week and it’s a great product if you’re looking for something low in calories to help curb your appetite and give you energy.

If you’re sensitive to artificial sweeteners and/or flavorings, you might not like the taste. Otherwise, I found the taste very smooth with just the right amount of sweetness. I blended the powder with some light soymilk and strawberries and it was very tasty and filling. When I tried it with just water, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t the best either. Maybe if you add ice and blend it, you’ll get a better texture.

So far, I’ve just had it for breakfast in the mornings before work, so I can’t say whether or not you’ll experience better performance during a workout. I can say that the mix of vitamins do make me feel refreshed in the morning. I take a multi-vitamin every morning anyway, but I felt a bit of a boost after drinking the protein shake.

I haven’t tried many other health shakes, but if you’re trying to lose weight (versus build mass), this is probably a good option (and if you’re on Weight Watchers like me, you’ll appreciate how one scoop is zero points, thanks to the added fiber). I look forward to trying the other flavors soon.

Review by L White, CPA:

This one of the better meal replacement drinks that I have tried and simply replacing one meal a day with this shake has helped me lose 20 pounds over the last 6 months. It’s best to blend it with ice and fruit. This product is not usually sold mass market, but it’s about time that it was.

Review by J. M. Desy:

I have been using this product for the past 3 months and it is great, easy and it works! I especially like the French Vanilla because I can add different flavored (low cal) fruit juices to customize my drinks. The other flavors are good too. I have lost 35 pounds in 3 months. Go herbalife!!!

Review by Lulu:

I love this drink. It’s a bit of an acquired taste–I found it a little bit chalky, but I love it now. It’s full of essential nutrients, so it’s completely worth the cost. The chocolate flavor is by far the best in my humble opinion. I usually combine a cup (it comes with its own measuring cup) with a cup of skim milk and blend it. Mixing it together without a blender causes it to clump something awful, so a blender is definitely essential. I recommend pouring how much milk you intend to drink in the your designated drinking vessel first before you blend; the shake has a tendency to froth and this way you don’t end up with excess sitting in the blender. Generally I’ve found that on the days that I have time to drink this shake (washing the blender in the morning can prove to be a bit much) I have more energy and just feel…healthier. You really can’t go wrong with this drink. I found that drinking this as a meal replacement aid was very helpful in weight loss.

Review by Lauren B. Beissinger:

(Attn vegans: It does contain bee “pollen”….) I have loved spirutein for a while now. Though, I have narrowed my selection down to : Chocolate, vanilla, and the cookies n’ cream. They’re amazing. I try to drink one a day to make sure I get enough protein(14 grams per scoop) and vitamins. It’s quick and easy. Especially if you have a single-serve-blender. ( I highly recommend the Hamilton Beach version, best I’ve ever spent) These spirutein powders need a blender, even though they say “just stir in.” That’s not happening. For best results combine:

Spirutein powder, Milk or milk-alternative, and a thickener (ice-cream, banana, etc) and a couple cubes of ice is nice. Some flavors need a tbsp of sweetener.

The choc. powder with a scoop of soy/rice vanilla ice cream and 8 oz. milk-substitute becomes the best Wendy’s Frosty you’ve ever had. The vanilla powder with a banana, milk-subtitute, a tbsp of honey, ice and walnuts sprinkled on top is so delicious. Enjoy. And remember, protein is important if you want to keep your hair!

Review by P. R. Anderson:

i was looking for a protein powder to mix with my muscle milk light that contained caffeine, tasted good & was lower in calories than some other options out there … well both click flavors fit the bill perfectly … so often with these items you only ‘get what you pay for’ so it worth the money … i shake it in a sundesa blender bottle with some ice & occasionally lowfat milk & the whole concoction rocks … i drink it after i lift & the results are outstanding … i highly recommend

Review by Beth aka MM:

Vanilla is close to the top of the list of my favorite flavors — my fave protein supplements have been mostly vanilla based. Add espresso to that, this HAS to be a winner. I got my hands on an advance sample of CLICK Vanilla Latte. And, completely ignoring the fact that my espresso machine is dead, this was the perfect day to try it out.

As with any CLICK protein flavor – the suggested method of serving is to add the protein powder to 12-14 ounces of water, and mix well either cold, or warm it up. I added 14 ounces of steaming water from my hot tap on the water dispenser.

It was lighter in color than the Mocha Flavored CLICK, more like a cappuccino. It even frothed, but that could have been from the psycho blending I do to it. It definitely tastes like a vanilla latte, perhaps not the way I order it (Hi there extra shots!) but very taste-friendly to the espresso virgin.

The verdict. HELL YES. Thank you CLICK, I loves it.

Product – CLICK Espresso Protein Powder Vanilla Latte Flavor

Price – Amazon varies.

Via – Amazon

Pros – 15 grams of ass kicking protein that you could never guess was a protein drink.

Cons – Not as strong as it’s big sister.

Rating – Pouchworthy, MM.

Review by Emese Horvath:

I started taking this product when I was pregnant and extremely health conscious. It is the best meal replacement out there, and from the very beginning I could feel the difference in my health. Of course, the taste is far from delicious, but after my initial reaction (gag) I now like it, even crave it in the mornings. (I had to make myself like V8 to, and this is healthier.) The price is a little steep at , but it is much better on Amazon then if you bought it form the store (+ tax) and it is worth every penny of it. It is full of vitamins, healthy grains and vegan protein. It will fill you up (unlike other green drinks) so you eat less. While it does not claim to be a weight loss product, it actually helped me lose 20 pounds by helping me stop my cravings. Try it, you will not regret it!

Review by Todd Troutman:

It’s handiest when used with bags of frozen fruits, like blueberries. Adding blueberries, bananna and maybe a splash

of pomegrante juice will reduce the extremely green color if

that tends to put you off eating it. Without the bananna it’s

somewhat gritty but you can throw in some yogurt with mostly the same results if you don’t like or get tired of the bananna.

This is the fastest healthiest meal I’ve found. Also check out their birch sugar sweetner, expensive but very good stuff.

Also, you need an easy to use and clean blender, electric hand mixers work.

Review by R. Duncan Miller:

These meal replacement shakes taste good but fail to offer any real body. When made with the skim milk they taste roughly like chocolate milk. My suggestion is to add in a serving of fruit or blend it with ice to give it some extra volume. This has an effect on how filling these products will be.

Previous reviews focused on the sugar involved in these drinks. While its true sugar is non-nutrative these shakes are fortified and contain roughly 1/3rd of your daily requirements for most nutrients. These products are not for someone on a low carb diet but valuable for someone who is on a reduced calorie diet. Finally the price per serving for the mixes will beat most other products hand down. If you are dieting on a budget you’ll want to start here.

Review by C. Shen:

they taste excellent, i always have them as breakfast, easy to use, fast to prepare, take less than 30 sec to finish, and they are healthy. GREAT for breakfast if you’re in the hurry.

Review by bibliomom:

Well, I can’t attest to the long term weight loss effects of this product, but I can comment on 1) taste 2) ingredients and 3) mixability.

Taste. I mixed the chocolate with some ‘original’ flavored soy milk (the instructions suggest water) which adds 17 g of carbs to the 13 g (7 are fiber) that come in the mix, and 110 calories to the mix’s 130. Obviously this pretty much doubles your carb and calories (and tripled the fat). However, for me it was worth it, since it produced a fairly satisfying shake. The mix is sweetened with xylitol and stevia. It was fairly easy to mix in a glass with a fork (it would probably be better shaken or blended) and while it managed to be simultaneously thin and a bit fibrous (think moderately mixed fiber powder drink), it actually tasted okay. The fiber went down easy (unlike SlimStyles) and it actually seems to have satisfied me as well as filling my stomach with fiber. I’m sure the soy milk helped.

The ingredients seems pretty good — xylitol, cocoa, ‘natural flavors’, maltodextrin, their ‘proprietary viscofiber blend’, whey protein isolate, stevia and a bunch of vitamins and minerals. So far, the whey hasn’t upset my stomach and while the shake may have a *bit* of a stevia/xylitol aftertaste (the strawberry mixed with a couple of real berries might totally kill it), it’s pretty slight and I find it preferable to the aftertaste of splenda or aspartame.

So far, so good. If you’re looking for something a little less carb or chemical laden to use for meal replacement or diet attempts, this is probably worth a go. At the very least, it’s fairly easy to mix and tastes okay. Compared to most of the shakes I’ve tried, it’s excellent.

Review by Scott Galloway:

This has rapidly become my ‘staple’ shake of choice. I’ve tried a few others (including HempShake..not so tasty) but I keep coming back to this. I always make it with skimmed milk; tried water as they suggest in the instructions…not so nice!

The most important factors for me with this shake are the very low sugar content (contains stevia and is nice and sweet), high protein content (23g in the two scoops I use to make my shake) and high fiber content; together these mean that I can have one of these in the morning and not feel hungry until early afternoon. One benefit I’ve noticed (may be imaginary) is that drinking water after this shake keeps me feeling full for longer compared to others. Also contains a multi-vitamin mix which is useful if you’re restricting your intake of other foods…

Review by Kelly J. Miner:

I suffer from fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue, so I really need a shake that is packed with protein and nutrition. Since I have been low carbing for over two years now, I naturally get cravings at night but also use the mix as my breakfast pick me up before work. Here is how I prepare it, and it is wonderful! Note that I pour it into an icy plastic mug (I keep several in the freezer) and let it sit in the freezer for a few minutes vs. adding the ice, which tends to water it down and take away the thickness. Simply pour your 8 oz of water (or sometimes I use 6 oz of water and 2 oz of the Carb Countdown skim milk or heavy cream, or all 8 oz Carb Countdown milk)INTO A BLENDER BEFORE ADDING THE POWDER and blend. When this combo has blended, add 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter (I use the Carb Options brand) and blend again. I think it’s wonderful this way.

Review by UConn Fan:

I’ve tried a number of products and like this one best. Vanilla is lower on my likes. I mix a variety of things in when I blend it: cream cheese, cottage cheese, fruit, pumpkin (with cinnamon and nutmeg)… Sometimes I blend in ice cubes to make it thick. I take it when I travel and use a shaker bottle. Without a doubt my favorite of all the ones I’ve tried!