Find The Best Meal Replacement Supplement For You

by Bob Myhal, author of the Ultimate Muscle Mass Training Program

Want to gain size and develop lean muscle? Make Meal replacement powders, or MRPs, an essential component of your bodybuilding nutrition program. 

With so many Meal Replacements out there, it's hard to know which one is the best for you. Here are some simple facts to keep in mind before you choose.

Meal Replacement Powders are precisely what the name suggests: quick and convenient replacements for meals. They give you plenty of high-grade protein along with other important nutrients that are often absent from regular protein powders.

When you're trying to build muscle you need to fuel your muscles. You need protein, and lots of it. But that's not all. MRPs contain protein, but they also have carbohydrates for energy and essential fats so they more closely resemble a well-balanced meal. MRPs are an easy, inexpensive, and convenient way of getting the nutrients and protein you need every for a positive impact on your performance and your physique.

Professional bodybuilders know the importance of eating small, frequent meals (about 4-6 meals per day). But finding the time to prepare six well-balanced, protein-rich meals day in and day out is not easy. Which is why pro bodybuilders always use MRPs.

Concerned about cost? High quality ingredients aren't cheap. You spend quality time in the gym to develop your muscles, don't skimp on what goes into them. Besides, where else can you can get such a well-balanced meal for only a couple of bucks per serving? MRPs are a nutritional bargain no matter how you slice it.

Before you select an MRP, make sure that its nutritional content matches up with your health and fitness goals.

Looking to get lean? Then you want to make sure your MRP is low in fat and especially low in sugar.

Nothing will derail your fat-shredding efforts like a high sugar content. Stick with MRPs that are below 10 grams in sugar; below 5 grams is even better!

Trying to pack on slabs of muscle mass? You'll need lots of protein. Select MRPs that have at least 30 grams of quality protein per serving.

Why are there so many MRPs out there but only a select few are top sellers? Taste. Let's face it, if it doesn't taste good you won't use them. If an MRP matches your nutritional needs then it will help you reach your fitness goals. If it tastes good, then you'll be more likely to use it often. Here are my top recommendations for great tasting, nutritionally complete Meal Replacement Powders.

The MVP of MRPs is the Myoplex line from EAS. Top-selling Myoplex has a flavor and a variety for everyone. Indeed, one of my favorite things about the Myoplex MRPs is that there are so many flavors and varieties to select from.

Regular Myoplex is a great everyday MRP. With a whopping 42 grams of high-quality, muscle-building protein and just 2 grams of fat and 3 grams of sugar per serving, Myoplex is a can't miss MRP for keeping you lean and tight year round. All the flavors are pretty tasty, but I particularly like the Chocolate Lovers Pack.

If adding muscle mass fast is your goal, then Max Milk is your MRP of choice. This is a moderate protein powder product with 32 grams of protein and just 12 grams of carbohydrates. It is designed to deliver maximum lean muscle gains with minimum fat storage. Amino acids help muscles to grow and repair themselves after grueling workouts.

Want to get lean and reduce fat? Myoplex has an answer for you as well: it's called Myoplex Lite and this quality MRP has only 190 calories per serving. And those are quality calories with only 1.5 grams of fat and a solid 25 grams of protein to fuel your fat-burning furnace.

I like the Myoplex products, use them myself, and have no hesitations about recommending them for most people

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If you consider yourself an athlete or advanced trainer, then you're ready for a revolutionary MRP designed specifically for you. The Lean Mass Complex is a fully balanced meal replacement. It contains 40% protein, 40% carbs, and 20% fat. It's the MRP that most closely resembles the type of well-balanced meal I would recommend for people looking to get in great shape.

Check this out: each packet of the Lean Mass Complex has a full 40 grams of sustained release bioactive proteins, 40 grams of low glycemic carbohydrates, essential fats (those are the good fats folks!) and an excellent source of fiber.

The protein blend consists of fast absorbing whey proteins and slow absorbing caseins to create a sustained release effect. In other words, the protein release is sustained over a longer period of time than a regular whey-based MRP. This is perfect for your needs.

The carbohydrate blend contains oatmeal, barley and brown rice. By consuming carbs from unrefined grains you increase your fiber intake while reducing your glycemic response. In other words, you get the energy of quality carbs without the high-insulin spike that can lead to storing fat.

Lean Mass Complex comes in a regular formula (40 grams of protein per serving) and a Lite version, Naturally Lean Complex,  (20 grams of protein per serving). I like all of the available flavors, but I have to tell you that the Cinnamon Oatmeal is just fantastic.