Weider Daily Protein & Fibre Drink Mix

I've been making an effort since the beginning of the year to eat healthier and get into better shape. One of the best things for me, in terms of cutting down on calories but not nutrition, is to start the day with a protein drink/smoothie.

I recently tried Weider Daily Protein & Fibre drink mix in the Berry Blast flavour.

On the plus side, this product has a fairly good ingredient list:

"Whey Protein Isolate, Inulin, Erythritol, Stevia, Natural Flavour and Red Beet Powder"

Not bad. I checked out each ingredient and they were acceptable. Some protein mixes are packed with sugar, all kinds of additives and colors....this one isn't.

It also packed a fairly good punch when it came to protein per scoopful/serving. Mixed with water, a serving provides 14 Gr. of protein. It also provides 5 Gr. of dietary fibre. The mix also dissolved easily and completely, just in a shaker. No lumps and no blender to clean either.  Calories: 106 per serving, when mixed with water. That was all good.

                       

What I didn't like about this product?

Well the Berry Blast flavour was a bit weird. Rather artificial, not a nice fresh berry taste. It had a lingering after-taste too.

And as far as being filling, again it wasn't acceptable in this regard. A couple of hours after drinking one of these smoothies, I was starving! I ended up eating more that morning than I usually do, without a protein drink! So that certainly defeated the purpose of having one. I've used protein powders in the past that kept me satisfied and feeling alert for HOURS afterwards. Not the case with this product.

Weider Daily Protein & Fibre drink mix is not the worst protein powder I've used but it certainly isn't the best either. I won't be buying it again. I probably would have tried another flavour IF it had been filling and satisfying, but that wasn't the case.

                    

Overall rating for this product: Fair. 2 out of 5.

The Shangri-La Diet by Seth Roberts

I am not a follower or believer in most diet plans. For the most part, I think they are doomed to failure, almost from the get-go. The Shangri-La Diet by Seth Roberts has been the exception for me.

After years of slowly watching my weight creep up (and all the denial and elastic waist-bands that go with that scenario) I happened to find this book at a book sale and decided to give dieting ONE MORE TRY! I am so glad that I did. As of today, I am 22 pounds lighter than when I started The Shangri-La Diet (about 4 months ago) and I am feeling great. Not a fast weight loss perhaps by some standards but it's been consistent and I've kept it off with no backsliding.

So why has The Shangri-La Diet been such a good experience for me? First and foremost: NO HUNGER PANGS! Isn't that the death of even the most sincere diet efforts for most of us?

Some other great features of this diet: you eat what you normally would eat (sensible portions of course) but no crazy  or unfamiliar/disliked foods that you must eat or absolutely forbidden fare that you can't.

If you are at all familiar with this diet you will already know that the basis is a "dose" or two of fructose-water or water mixed with light olive oil, taken a couple of times a day. I went with the fructose water (and only once a day for the most part)and it worked like magic! It may seem too simple to work but it does. And it's a realistic and very easy way to keep motivated and on track, whatever your food preferences are.

I've still got another 15-20 pounds to go, to reach my goal weight. I hope to achieve this goal in the next 2-3 months. I know that I need to step up my exercise regime, that's been a bit hit and miss with the winter arriving this year in BC with lots of snow. It's made for icy sidewalks and trails. Brisk walking being my favorite exercise and miles at a time has been hard to keep up consistently. I've been resorting to working out at home: aerobics, dancing etc...not the same but better than nothing. I'm going to increase my activity in whatever ways I can and hopefully will reach my goal sooner than expected. I'm OK with the weight loss rate that I've had so far. It's been almost effortless and it's really given me a boost in confidence already. Skinny jeans.....here I come!

If you'd like to read more about my diet journey to date, including several tips that have helped me keep on track and motivated and a link to Seth Robert's blog/site, here are my previous diet update posts at my cooking and craft blog: The Shangri-La Diet.

If you've been on this diet, do share your experiences here. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Shangri-La Diet. I'm a believer and I am so glad I picked up this book and gave dieting, one more try. This one's been the charm!

Overall rating for this book: Excellent. 5 out of 5.