I have been working out for the last 7 weeks & have been drinking protein shakes for breakfast & lunch with healthy snacks of fruit, veggies, nuts & cheese in between. I then eat a complete meal at dinner. I have lost 21 lbs & feel great.

I don't see any reason why I should change when doing my BW trip in June. Does anyone else do this. The powder for a week would be very light & easy to make... just add water! I wouldn't consider this if I wasn't already on this diet.

I will take real food for my dinners, but really think I will try this... what are your thoughts?

Woods Walker - Congratulations on your weight loss! There's a lot of great things that go along with weight loss like increased energy and smaller clothing sizes!

In terms of your upcoming trip - when you're working hard paddling and portaging you should have plenty of carbs to go along with your protein. Protein alone is not enough.

Several years back I lost 40 pounds on a high protein diet. When I tried to climb a mountain in Arizona, I didn't have the stamina to do it. It made for a very slow going trip. Add some carbs in the morning and you will have the energy to get through those tough portages!

Good luck!

I am a protein shake junkie myself. I would reconsider your plan or alter it slightly. I tried this approach once and by day three I was physically crashing which led to mental crashing. I think you will find that your calories burned, per day, will greatly increase when in the bush. Atleast consider replacing one of the two shakes with some higher calorie foods or load up on protein bars. Quest Bars or Supreme Protein Bars are my fav.

If I have not convinced you, try it your way but bring the extra food in case you need it. Lastly, think emergency situations. Have the food you may need to help another or yourself. You will be better off jamming peanut butter and jelly Tortillas down your throat instead of protein powder after an emergency. Clear thinking!

If you're trying to skip some of the sugar, etc that are found in many protein bars, Larabars are great. Probably not as much protein, but they're really good and many (not all) contain only fruits and nuts with no added sugar/preservatives/junk. I load up on those things. With all the physical exertion going on during a trip, you may appreciate some food in addition to your dinner.

I don't see a problem with doing that, but you might want to take some L-Lysine or Soy Lecithin, fat metabolizers that help burn your own stored fat. I used to be a gym rat, sometimes when you lose weight your body goes into apocalypse mode and thinks you don't have any food to eat, it starts conserving, and you need to shake it up a little or you don't get enough energy.

Our nephews brought protein powder with them because a bunch of them use it on a regular basis and they and their mother were worried about them eating vegetarian on the trip and not getting enough protein. Of course, we make sure our meals are well balanced.

The only problem was that their ziplock of protein powder looked a whole lot like their Dad's ziplock of Miralax powder. That made for some nervous moments.

I've never tried to *only* have protein shakes while camping, but I do bring whey protein powder and make a coffee/milk/whey protein powder shake when I am too lazy to make coffee in the morning, and I use vanilla whey powder on my homemade lower carb granola. I think it depends on how many carbs your shake mix has, I can tolerate a fair amount of carbs on the trail that I can't handle at home.

I am not saying I would only drink the shakes... I will be eating some cliff bars, almonds, apples & a full dinner of steak, chicken, pork, ham, & of course fish.

I eat very little on days I travel & find that I have to force myself to eat lunch most of the time on my trips. I think these shakes are a good option for me... gives me the protein I need & has been working for me for the last couple months.

The rest of my group will have the typical meal plans, so the regular trip meals will be there if I choose it or need it... not worried about starving, we always seem to have twice as much food than we needed.

I was just wondering if anyone else does it, as I have never considered it before. I think on my solo trip, I will be able to single portage with the weight savings.

I have had a protein smoothie as an occasional breakfast. It should work OK for you, especially if that is what you have been doing, although others have raised some valid points. What is the nutritional profile of the ones you've been drinking? Have you been mixing them with water at home, or milk? If you've been using milk, you'll definitely be losing some carbs, fats and calories.

BTW, WoodsWalker, have you considered adding some protein powder to oatmeal or cereal for breakfast? Or supplementing the protein shake with oatmeal, muesli, or granola?

I have pretty much cut all soda's out of my diet... I only drink water & protein shakes. I usually will eat something with the shake, like carrots, nuts, granola bars..etc.

The powder I am using contains more than just protein. I always mix with water right now. Trying to maintain muscle while dropping 50 lbs.

I'd say you're good to go with it, WoodsWalker. It actually provides you 20 calories from fat at 9 calories per gram (roughly 10% of total calories). The protein isn't excessive; at 4 calories per gram, it provides 36 calories from protein (20% of total calories). The carbohydrates at 4 calories per gram provide 70% of total calories.

quote boonie: "I'd say you're good to go with it, WoodsWalker. It actually provides you 20 calories from fat at 9 calories per gram (roughly 10% of total calories). The protein isn't excessive; at 4 calories per gram, it provides 36 calories from protein (20% of total calories). The carbohydrates at 4 calories per gram provide 70% of total calories. "

Thanks

The other plus will be the vitamins. The other foods you eat with it will provide a mix of macronutrients too. I'd be curious to know how it works out for you (I'm probably not the only one), so if you share your thoughts afterwards I'd appreciate it.

quote boonie: "The other plus will be the vitamins. The other foods you eat with it will provide a mix of macronutrients too. I'd be curious to know how it works out for you (I'm probably not the only one), so if you share your thoughts afterwards I'd appreciate it."

I will be glad to share how it goes...as you can see the shakes I drink are somewhat of a meal replacement, not just protein

I think you'll be fine. Its only for a week and it sounds like you'll have additional food to supplement if you find yourself needing more. Just pay attention to your energy levels and adjust your intact accordingly. Its easier to prevent the crash in energy than it is to rebound from the crash.

Troy, that is fantastic! Sounds like you have it pretty dialed in; since you're already working out, you shouldn't have any "burning more calories than usual" issues.
Need to drop some lbs myself... routine & discipline can be hard to establish when there's a lot of stuff going on, but that's key. Kudos, WW.

We took 3lb of isopure last year, you don't get more efficient weight per gram of protein than a high quality whey (up to 99%).

It made our recovery better and breakfast a breeze... grab a handful of granola, a protein shake, and coffee, maybe some dried fruit.

If you are fat adapted, you don't need carbs at all, if you are not however, you will crash hard and will still need to keep your calories high, we just used spoonfuls of olive oil in our meals.

We were, so we just skipped lunch every travel day.

I take protein powder on my trips. I add it to my oatmeal along with dehydrated fruit.

Take some extra shakes with you to help with the calorie burn. You can always pack them back out.

My friends, we tripped with this year did a meal replacement shake for breakfast. It seemed pretty darn easy, instant, and cleanup was a breeze for them.

Thinking about adding this on a 10 day trip for recovery on multiple travel days. Solo touring means I pack up my stove the night before travel so it doesn’t take me forever to get out of camp. I’d be taking a really good quality nutrient rich shake like Ka’Chava. I’d add some carbs. My big question is taste. These trips are ten days of heaven for me, and that goes for the pleasures of eating and drinking as well. Any thoughts on what it’s like to drink these shakes without really cold water? If you’ve done this, what time of day? Also, can you clean up using nothing but your water filter bag/hose? Thanks!

I make my own powdered mixes for breakfast: protein powder, coconut milk powder, maca powder, yacon powder, spirulina, and chia seeds. Then I add additional ingredients in powder form to make different flavors...examples: peanut butter powder and cocoa, mango and lime, peanut butter and strawberry, or cherry. I use a plastic soaking jar to mix them with water so I can shake vigorously to remove lumps.

straighthairedcurly: "I make my own powdered mixes for breakfast: protein powder, coconut milk powder, maca powder, yacon powder, spirulina, and chia seeds. Then I add additional ingredients in powder form to make different flavors...examples: peanut butter powder and cocoa, mango and lime, peanut butter and strawberry, or cherry. I use a plastic soaking jar to mix them with water so I can shake vigorously to remove lumps."

Do you find this method is cheaper than store-bought mixes? Sounds tastier. Would you be willing to share your ratios?

It’s undoubtedly cheaper! Hope recipes are shared!

I’m thinking of splurging on a bag of Ka’Chava for nutrition’s sake alone. Nobody in the world of organic plant based superfoods has ever been able to come up with anything so nutritionally jam-packed for the weight. The stuff seems mega impressive. I’m a big fan of Laird Hamilton and the testimonials are there… in the tens of thousands… but most of those folks are talking ice and blenders and frozen bananas for mixing. I’m looking for real world beta on what it tastes like to mix the stuff up in camp… and clean up afterwards… do people drink them at night for recovery or in the morning? Anyway, still hoping to get a bite here on this line! Thanks for reading!

Portage99: "

straighthairedcurly: "I make my own powdered mixes for breakfast: protein powder, coconut milk powder, maca powder, yacon powder, spirulina, and chia seeds. Then I add additional ingredients in powder form to make different flavors...examples: peanut butter powder and cocoa, mango and lime, peanut butter and strawberry, or cherry. I use a plastic soaking jar to mix them with water so I can shake vigorously to remove lumps."

Do you find this method is cheaper than store-bought mixes? Sounds tastier. Would you be willing to share your ratios?"

I don't necessarily do it to save money, but to be able to customize ingredients and flavors.
I usually make a big batch of the base mixture. Ratio is: 1 scoop protein powder to 1/8 C. powdered coconut milk to 1 T. chia seeds to 1 tsp. yacon to 1/2 tsp. maca

In grams: 46 g protein to 15 g coconut milk to 13 g chia to 4 g yacon to 2 g maca

Then for every 80 g of base mix, add about 22 g of flavoring powders

The key to not having a lumpy smoothie once you add water is to have a tight sealing jar you can shake vigorously.

LaVirginienne: "It’s undoubtedly cheaper! Hope recipes are shared!


I’m thinking of splurging on a bag of Ka’Chava for nutrition’s sake alone. Nobody in the world of organic plant based superfoods has ever been able to come up with anything so nutritionally jam-packed for the weight. The stuff seems mega impressive. I’m a big fan of Laird Hamilton and the testimonials are there… in the tens of thousands… but most of those folks are talking ice and blenders and frozen bananas for mixing. I’m looking for real world beta on what it tastes like to mix the stuff up in camp… and clean up afterwards… do people drink them at night for recovery or in the morning? Anyway, still hoping to get a bite here on this line! Thanks for reading!"

My smoothie recipe is typically for breakfast. For a recovery drink I have started doing the one of the Gear Skeptic's ideas which is one scoop of collagen protein powder and 2 T. of Gatorade powder. Drink it ASAP after you stop paddling. Don't eat anything else for about a half hour drinking. He has some great videos on YouTube talking about the science behind it and offers additional ideas for getting the most effective ratios of easily digestible protein to carb ratios.

Thanks, SHC!

Curious if the OP kept the weight off. Deprivation diets like protein shakes usually are not very sustainable. Sensible eating programs like Noom and regular exercise are your best bets to keeping the weight off

Wow thank you. Right after paddling. Got it.

Update: the Ka’Chavas arrived. They are beyond delicious and the quality is definitely up to the price. Currently blending with ice, various milks, and trying all sorts of mixins. Will blend with cold water soon, then will try shaking with cool water. Have mixing ball for shaker bottle.

Have you seen where Noom is promoting juice fasts and smoothies now for reset (motivation and clean food) purposes. The idea, for people who want to explore this from a Noom perspective, is to take a few days to give your body a sense of what a highly nutritious, plant based diet feels like. Later, some of these smoothies can make sense as meal replacements when you’re not getting the balanced nutrients that are optimal. High quality natural/organic smoothies contain protein even when you blend with water; high quality natural/organic juice fasts do not, unless you supplement with nut or seed milks. The stuff I’m experimenting with is packed with 240 insanely nutritious calories a serving even if you blend with water. So it’s not starvation by any means.