Monday, October 29, 2012

Weight Loss Smoothies

There is no shortage of products and programs out there to help you drop pounds. From books to exercise videos, the fitness industry is a booming one. The problem arises when an individual needs to make a choice. There are so many options out there; it can be difficult to determine which way to go. Does it even matter? When it comes to products like weight loss smoothies, it does. Two products may purport to do the same thing, but a close look at the label (if you can find one) may tell a different story. Here are some things to look for when you go about choosing one.
Meal Replacement
Most weight loss smoothies are designed not to rev up your metabolism or create any other kind of magic, but rather to drink instead of a meal. Because they incorporate fewer calories-theoretically-than the meal you would have eaten otherwise, they can work well for a person trying to shed pounds. But this is only true when the premise is true, i.e., the drink actually has fewer calories than the meal you were going to eat. Just because a product shows a skinny woman on the packaging and advertises itself as being for those trying to lose fat doesn't mean it's actually low calorie. Read the labeling. Make sure you're getting what you think you're getting.
Nutrients
On the other side of the token, you could just replace your meals with a few glasses of water and drop pounds. The point of choosing a product like weight loss smoothies is that it provides you with the nutrients you need as well as something to fill your stomach. This is one of the tests that separate the good products from the bad ones. Make sure the drink you decide to use is going to give you the proper nutrients, a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, and any important vitamins you're missing from not eating a proper meal.
Monetary Value
Losing fat doesn't need to be an expensive proposition. Many companies seem to believe the opposite, however. Look for weight loss smoothies and other products that don't charge an arm and a leg to get on board. If you're spending more money on a 300-calorie drink than you would for a comparable meal, does that really make any sense? You shouldn't necessarily look for the cheapest product out there, but as long as it meets your nutritional and caloric needs, you don't need to spend a fortune, either.