Unfortunately, weight gain of one to two pounds per year is common for anyone over 30. While losing this weight can be difficult, it’s usually not as hard as keeping it off. According to a recent study, the best way to achieve and sustain weight loss is to substitute one meal and one snack each day with a shake and a bar, respectively (Flechtner-Mors M. Obes Res 2000; 8:399-402; Rothacker DQ. Nutrition 2000; 5:344-348; Blackburn GL. N Am Assoc Study Obes. Abstract, 2003; Oct. 11-15, Ft. Lauderdale, Flor.).
In one of the longest studies ever conducted on weight loss, individuals who wanted to lose weight permanently consumed one shake for breakfast and one food bar in-between meals later in the day. A second group of subjects merely followed a low-calorie diet. After 10 years, the group that took the shakes and bars lost five pounds. While this may seem insignificant, it’s important to note that members of the other group gained 25 pounds.
While some weight gain is to be expected as you age, excessive weight may put you at an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and other chronic medical conditions. The best way to stay in a healthy weight zone as you age is to use a meal replacement shake every morning and a snack bar later in the day. The people in the above study only used shakes and bars five days each week; so you can take the weekends off if you choose.
Furthermore, Inner Balance Meal Replacement Shakes and Natural Energy Bars are formulated to stimulate weight loss more than the study’s bars and shakes, which were predominantly sweetened with sugar. After ingesting these products, participants experienced a sharp rise in blood sugar followed by a quick decline. This spike induced hunger roughly two hours after participants consumed the shake or bar. Basically, participants ended up eating more just to satisfy the hunger brought on by the shakes and bars. Hunger-inducing foods including the shakes and bars used in this study are referred to as high-glycemic load (high-GL) foods and were not fully understood at the time the study 10-year study was conducted.
Today it is certain that low-GL foods prevent hunger and weight gain (Bell SJ, The Slow Carb Revolution, 2006; Ludwig DS. JAMA 2002; 287:2414-2423; Ludwig DS. Pediatrics 1999; 103:e26; Brand-Miller JC. J Nutr 2003; 133:2728-2732; Bell SJ. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2003; 43:357-377). Therefore, Inner Balance Shakes and Natural Energy Bars have been reformulated to contain only low-GL sweeteners. Inner Balance Meal Replacement Shakes also contain whey as a protein
