This is not the latest fad diet where you're instructed to eat nothing but carrots and tomatoes all day or eat a pound of bacon putting your system into an unhealthy chemical imbalance. And besides it's not a permanent solution to your weight problem. This is just plain common sense that, if you do the deal, you will lose from 1 to 2 pounds a week and keep it off.

This is all about protein. Now you might say, 'Great, I can just eat a bigger steak or the equivalent'. While it's true that you get protein from meat, you also get some other undesirable things like fat and cholesterol. But even without those bad things you couldn't get the amount of protein you really need.

Some people will say, 'I'll just cut back on my favorite foods and watch what I eat'. The problem with this approach is you get even less protein and you sacrifice getting the vitamins and minerals you need. Research studies have shown that cutting back on your favorite foods is the least effective way to lose weight.

So what's the answer? Research has shown the one of the most effective ways to lose weight is with meal replacement protein shakes. Why does this work so well? Because your body burns calories at the rate of 13.7 calories per pound of lean body mass whereas it only burns 3 calories per pound of fat. Increasing your protein intake will build your lean body mass and stoke the furnace to burn more calories.

Here's How Weight Loss Works

If you eat the same number of calories that you burn, your weight won't change.

If you eat fewer calories than you burn and if that is 500 calories fewer then you'll lose approximate 1 to 2 pounds a week. Since the calories from the food you eat are less than the calories you burn, your body has to make up the difference from somewhere. That 'somewhere' is your body fat. So if you eat only 250 calories less than what you burn you'll lose about ? pound per week and if you eat 1000 calories less you'll be losing 2 - 3 pounds a week.

The key to healthy weight loss is to make sure that you're getting the maximum nutritional benefit from the food you do eat and you want those foods to be enjoyable. The two things that will derail a weight loss program fast are hunger and eating foods you don't like.

Meal replacement protein shakes will give you the protein you need along with vitamins and minerals. They're tasty and if you make them properly you won't experience diet killing hunger.