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Below we asked three
trainers their views and opinions from the following
supplements - Reflex Progen, CNP's Pro-MR and Pro-MS, EAS Myoplex range, the
classic Met-RX, MesoTech, MaxiMuscles MaxMeal, Diet Fuel and Muscle Fuel by USN,
Prolab's Lean Mass Matrix and Peak Body's Complete. These people have been training and using sport
supplements for over two years.
| Question |
Before
us we have a selection of the most popular meal replacement supplements, that you have all tried and used and you wish to share with
us your views and opinions. First of all can you outline what uses the
meal replacement has for you individually, and what are the benefits?
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| Answer |
Peter
- I find that I couldn't eat six or seven meals a day if it wasn't for
having three meal replacements. I probably would just lose muscle.
Anthony - I have to
admit I normally use weight gainers but I found these a good change and I
got in better shape with them.
Julie - I only have
one or two a day because I can't stomach breakfast and I know I need it
because otherwise I'm tired, irritable and hungry.
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| Question |
Obviously,
we are all looking for a different use out of our meal replacement then.
What is the main thing you personally look for in a great MRP? What are
your concerns that you want an MRP to address?
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| Answer |
Julie
- Because I normally train in the morning, I want something that is
good quality fuel for my body and my muscles but not a heavy meal. Just
something I know is doing me good without having to think about what I'm
doing.
Anthony - Protein,
protein, protein. I want to make sure I'm getting the highest quality
protein every few hours to gain weight.
Peter - I think a
meal replacement should be a decent meal to be honest. I would look for
something well balanced in everything. Lots of protein for growth, but
carbs for energy and fats as well. And vitamins and minerals because I
don't like taking tablets.
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| Question |
What
do these products taste like?
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| Answer |
Peter
- I stuck with the thicker, creamier and chocolatey shakes like
Myoplex and Myoplex Deluxe and Met-RX. These tasted really rich and were
strong flavoured. Like malteasers but not too sweet. I thought they had a
great taste. The Pro-MR product tasted different than those ones but I
thought it was just as good - it was a little more subtle tasting and not
as rich. Id drink them all for fun if I wasn't into training. Anthony -
Im not bothered about taste normally. Ive had some bad tasting weight
gainers before but these all tasted really good. I was trying the really
high quality whey protein ones. They all tended to be low carb though
which is the opposite of what I was used to. But the protein quality was
excellent for eating every few hours. I thought the Progen and MesoTech
weren't bad at all. Tried all the different flavours so they must have
been good. They weren't overpowering or chemically or too strong. They had
a nice smell too that made you want them. The MaxMeal was great - that
made my mouth water just thinking about it.
Julie - Yeah, I was
trying out the diet ones. The Lean Mass, Pro-MS, Diet Fuel. The Pro-Ms was
my favourite. It tasted unbelievable. Strawberry and cream - it was like
eating dessert three times a day. I think they know what we want with that
one. The Lean Mass was yummy - but a little bit strong in some flavours,
but I think thats what people want when they're on a diet - because
they're missing out on really nice tasting things. The USN Diet Fuel was
my second favourite. That one was like dessert too.
Peter - Yeah, I've
tried most of them at some point, off season and competing. I think these
days they're getting the tastes much better than ever. And you can change
how they taste by adding different amounts of water I find.
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| Question |
How well do they mix and
what is the texture like?
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| Answer |
Julie
- All of those that I tried were really easy to mix. I used a
fork and put the water in first, added the powder and whipped them up.
They do need to be beaten a little bit like cake mix. The Pro-MS was
probably the thickest. That was creamy and tasted nutritious like it was
full and filling. The Diet Fuel mixed probably a little easier and left no
lumps at all. I thought this was the smoothest to drink. Then, well, I
suppose the Lean Mass was pretty similar. I could mix that one in a shaker
cup actually and just shake it to make he drink. I liked the thin texture
of that one - a little less heavy. Anthony - Weird
actually. Bit strange. I normally put weight gain powder in with milk and
mix with a hand blender for a minute - but I dont mind lumps and clumps of
powder stuck together. These ones, especially the Progen, were like mixing
instantised whey. They dissolved in water straight away - making really
nice flavoured drinks that were thin and light. They hardly needed mixing
and there were no lumps or nothing. The Maxmeal was interesting - that
just slid down your throat like liquid perfection. It was like you could
feel the quality of the ingredients in your mouth as you drank them.
Peter - The
ones I had weren't like that. I found they were thicker, like mouse or
angel delight - depending on how much water you put in. I made some of
mine really thick and ate them like a pudding with a spoon, after they'd
been in the fridge. The Pro-MR was definately the thickest and that was
just right if you spent a minute of two making sure it was fully mixed up
- but that was fine if you added the right amount of water. Nice and
thick. The Myoplex and Met-RX the same - a bit like cake mix actually like
Julie said...tempting to eat it with your fingers before you finish mixing
it. I think it would be dead quick blending them but I used a fork too.
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| Question |
How
well is your appetite satisfied? Do you feel full or hungry or anything
like that?
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| Answer |
Anthony
- Yeah. Yeah they were pretty good actually. They were a little
thin in consistency the one's I had, but I wanted that change. Fed up of
always feeling bloated and swollen with weight gainer. I think Ill look
for a weight gainer next time that mixes more like these. I think that the
higher protein content and the oils that they have in them really satisfy
your appetite because that's what your body really wants. But they didn't
bloat you up or anything. Peter - Mine
were a little different. They were like eating a sensible sized meal,
especially if you ate them like a pudding. No way did you feel bloated or
anything, but you could tell you were satisfied and had good food in your
stomach.
Julie - Yeah.
The Pro-Ms was like that. The Lean Mass and Diet Fuel was more like what
Anthony was saying - thin but strangely appetite fullfilling.
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| Question |
What
results do you experience from using your choice in meal replacement and
is there anything else that you would like to add?
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| Answer |
Peter
- I thought the blends of proteins were very clever. I like to feel
full from food and I do like food. Id probably normally only eat three BIG
meals a day if I could. But I normally throw in some MRP's like these to
satisfy me. I really liked the Pro-MR especially for its time released
protein blend in case I do go for more than a few hours without eating - I
know there are still amino acids building muscle for hours. Anthony - I
think the thin ones are great. The Progen had that clever new carbohydrate
stuff in that stops you getting fat. Got me in great shape. Think they're
putting that in Weight gainers now instead of high sugars. That would be
good.
Julie - I noticed
that I was never hungry when I ate my two or three meals a day and had two
or three of my shakes. They did help me build muscle and lose fat. I
gained two pounds of muscle and lost three pounds of fat this last month
because my personal trainer took my measurements before we changed my diet
to include these. So I think Ill keep using them.
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| Question |
Do
you use any other supplements with your training? |
| Answer |
Anthony
- Creatine normally. Tri-Creatine now. Sometimes use a prohormone and
swap that with a Tribulus product.
Julie - Fat burners
sometimes. Thermogenic ones that help me stay in shape and control my
appetite.
Peter - I use a lot
of protein and recovery drinks. Surge and Pro-Recover. Sometimes a methoxy. |
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