Anyone recommend protein shots, fiber supplements or detox products?

[SunsetRunner]

Hi, I am hoping to lose 23lbs by mid-July and have been almost getting a 1K calorie deficit.  I have been pushing myself to become active.  Starting was just awful.  I had muscles hurt in places I did not know I had muscles!  Luckily time healed all and I didn't have to see the doctor!  Now, I actually feel more energized and stronger!!    The meal planning and diet part of this process is really difficult.  I wanted to make sure I get the protein and fiber needed daily.  Was hoping for some suggestions.  I also saw products for detox or a cleanse and was wondering if that will help speed things up abit?  Any input would be so appreciated.  So many products, I do not even know where to begin and they all cost a pretty penny - or am I looking in the wrong place?

[Dominique]

Welcome to the community, @SunsetRunner!

Let’s start with "detoxes"/"cleanses": they are unneeded IMO. You probably don’t eat toxic food (otherwise you’d already be dead), so there is no need to detoxify anything. You may have been eating suboptimal/unhealthy/junk food, but then the solution is to switch to better/healthier foods: "real" foods from whole/minimally processed sources. They don’t need to make 100% of your diet, but if you’re eating 80% of the better foods, it’s OK for the rest to be less optimal, "fun" foods.

Let’s continue with protein: yes, it’s important for weight loss and body composition to eat enough of it. However, it doesn’t have to come from weird supplements. Just eat real food from lean protein sources: chicken/turkey, eggwhites, low-fat dairy. If you choose to go for a low-carb diet, you may include fattier meats, whole eggs and higher-fat dairy. If you’re not able to eat enough protein from real foods, you can have a protein shake as a meal replacement. Just buy regular protein powder (whey if you can tolerate it, or from other sources if not), in isolate or concentrate form: it’s relatively inexpensive, especially compared to proprietary blends.

As to fiber: again, if you eat real/whole foods like fruits and veggies and whole grain, you’ll get all the fiber you need for gut health, digestion. Plus, eating enough fiber has benefits in a weight loss, as it will make feel less hungry. 

Lastly: don’t rush up: nothing wrong in taking twice as much time to lose your 23 lbs. You want to lose the weight and keep it off, not rebound right away to your starting weight. 

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you - will try my best!  I do like to keep things natural!

[WavyDavey]

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@Dominique wrote:

Welcome to the community, @SunsetRunner!

Let’s start with "detoxes"/"cleanses": they are unneeded IMO. You probably don’t eat toxic food (otherwise you’d already be dead), so there is no need to detoxify anything. You may have been eating suboptimal/unhealthy/junk food, but then the solution is to switch to better/healthier foods: "real" foods from whole/minimally processed sources. They don’t need to make 100% of your diet, but if you’re eating 80% of the better foods, it’s OK for the rest to be less optimal, "fun" foods.

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This is one of the very rare times I must disagree with @Dominique. I don't see this as a matter of extremes--that if you eat toxic food you die instantly. At least in the US, some people have eaten a very sub-optimal diet for a long time, and the toxicity builds up gradually. I had a bad gallbladder attack about a year ago, and taking a cleanse allowed me to pass the stones quickly --much quicker than the gradual improvement that fundamental and important diet changes that have since helped.

Had I been eating more like @Dominique all along, this may not have happened. But the cleanse really helped and dropped about 5 pounds with it. So I do recommend a good herbal cleanse once in a while if one has eaten quite a bit of processed food over the years.

[Daves_Not_Here]

Agreeing with @Dominique - eating whole foods will be such an improvement, you'll feel like you've taken supplements and detoxed.  But you'll spend less money than before.

[Dominique]

@WavyDavey: I’d personally consider gallstones more as a medical condition (and one serious enough that I would seek medical assistance for it) rather than as something I’d casually attempt to treat with a herbal cleanse. That being said, glad to hear you were able to get rid of the stones on your own, especially given the cost of health care in America . 

[WavyDavey]

Well by the time the doctor ordered the tests and they came back, I'd already gotten the stone out. So the diagnosis was too slow on this one compared to self-treatment. I find medical care to either be cheap and slow, or expensive and fast. Thanks for the well wishes. 🙂