Meal Replacement Options

Tomorrow I am starting back to classes and I’ve got a question about my diet. I’ll give as much backround as possible.

I am 20 years old, about 212 pounds, something like 18% BF, and just recently got on a strict program. Basically my goals are to get stronger and lose BF, but I’m wanting to stay at about this weight. Lose all this BF, but not lose much muscle.

I understand that this will take a while, different than bulking and cutting drastically, I’m okay with that, that’s more of the plan.

On this program I go from two weeks of eating 5 meals/day to two weeks of 6 meals/day, and also every two weeks my workouts change a little bit.

I get up at 5:30 six days/week and run 1 mile four days a week, 2-4 miles 2 days a week, and Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. I go to the gym right after my run to do my worout. Wednesday and Saturday I stay home and work abs. Sunday is off.

Right after my workouts I have a protein isolate shake, creatine, and oatmeal. At 10:30, I have another shake and some unsalted nuts or peanut butter. 1:30 I have my lunch of usually chicken breast, raw vegetables, and brown rice or something. 3:30 is another shake. 6:30 is another solid meal of chicken/tuna, vegetables, little bit of starchy carbs. And for these weeks that I have an 8:30 meal I was planning on having another shake and maybe a salad rather than another full solid meal.

And finaly, after saying all of that crap, I can get to the real issue (sorry if I beat around the bush too much)…I work full time 8-5, and starting tomorrow I have classes tues.-thurs. 5:30-8:30, right around the time I’m supposed to have my last two meals of the day.

What I’m wondering is can I substitute more shakes in for those two meals or am I just taking in too many shakes a day that way?

I’ve read about the V-Diet, and while this is different than that, I’m wondering if having so many liquid meals a day for several months could affect my strength and recovery. Though keep in mind in two weeks I’ll be getting rid of that 8:30 meal for another two weeks.

Shakes are food, If that what your schedule permits yes drink shakes, bring along an apple, nuts etc and when you can have a whole food meal.

Phill

WOW this guy is proof that anyone can get their meals in even when their schedule is filling up fast.

I was reading the post and half way through I thought " does this guy work?"

Then I realized he has a full time job and is going to school.

Props.

[quote]UB07 wrote:
WOW this guy is proof that anyone can get their meals in even when their schedule is filling up fast.

I was reading the post and half way through I thought " does this guy work?"

Then I realized he has a full time job and is going to school.

Props.[/quote]

lol. I admittedly have a pretty cush job that allows me that kind of freedom, but thanks for the props anyway.

And Phil, thanks again, but I just went over the 7…well whatever it was called, 7 things in good diets and it said something about eating as many solid foods as possible. Are shakes really gonna be enough for me or should I trade in my 10:30 and 3:30 shakes for even more chicken or fish?

Either way I’m probably gonna go broke going through so much protein and chicken, but if shakes will do just as well that’s alot less cooking time for me.

Thanks guys.

[quote]Deserteaglle wrote:
UB07 wrote:
WOW this guy is proof that anyone can get their meals in even when their schedule is filling up fast.

I was reading the post and half way through I thought " does this guy work?"

Then I realized he has a full time job and is going to school.

Props.

lol. I admittedly have a pretty cush job that allows me that kind of freedom, but thanks for the props anyway.

And Phil, thanks again, but I just went over the 7…well whatever it was called, 7 things in good diets and it said something about eating as many solid foods as possible. Are shakes really gonna be enough for me or should I trade in my 10:30 and 3:30 shakes for even more chicken or fish?

Either way I’m probably gonna go broke going through so much protein and chicken, but if shakes will do just as well that’s alot less cooking time for me.

Thanks guys.
[/quote]

Yes they will work as long as the shakes have as much calorie content as the real whole food meal.

For easier shakes the RTD’s are nice. I use Grow! Whey at home, but take Micellar Milk or Muscle Milk to work with me.