How many (lean mass) meal replacement shakes do people think you can get away with everyday? On cycle that is.
I'm getting 6 solid meals a day down me but 2 of these are replacements, Protein drinks are added extra.
I've got a couple of boxes of Prolabs shakes, 400 cals, 40g protein. To help me while i'm driving.
Thoughts appreciated
LQ

You are going to get a barage of different opinions on this question, it comes down to what works for you and your body.

I personally believe that taking too many shakes daily and having too much of your diet be dedicated to liquid is not productive and you are starving yourself.

While on cycle, you should get 6 meals per day of good, solid food which includes a solid source of protein such as chicken or tuna. The protein shakes should be extra and used in a manner that is productive for what shakes are made to do.

What most people fail to realize is what the digestion rate is on whey proteins and isolates. Protein shakes and MRP shakes get digested rapidly sending the entire protein amount and all macros in the shake into your system very quickly. This rate of digestion is optimal for and should be used in 2 ways, first being directly after a workout when your body is craving and needing a fast blast of cals and protein to recover. The other optimal way to use shakes is when a nice, solid energy boost is needed such as directly before a workout.

With real, solid foods such as chicken and beef, the diestion rate is much slower and you get a solid, steady stream of nutrients and protein into your system while your body digests the solid food. This rate of digestion is optimal to keep your body full of everything it needs daily to build muscle and sustain energy.

So in my opinion, 6 solid meals and 2 liquid protein shakes (this includes MRPs) per day and taken in an optimally timed schedule will give your body everything it needs to reach its peak potential.

I take 5-6 shakes a day plus meals in between, 2 meal replacements and 4 isolate protien shakes, if I wake up in the middle of the night I drink another...yes its a job and takes up all your time...gains are great though and well worth it

Rex

This is a perfect post! Finding diet techniques that work for you and get you to your goals are individual based. Knowledge of what works with your body will come with time and experience.

Rex, what brand of meal replacement shakes do you use? Do you mix them in water or skim milk?

for meal replacments I use cyto-gainer (with milk only in the morning, water mid-day) and for isolate protien I use muscle milk 4 times a day, I also use elite mass gainer for after training when on slin high protien and very high carbs

Rex