If you have recently started the journey to get fitter. Congratulations! You might already have the gear, the gym membership, the protein shakes, the water bottles, and even the cute dumbbells to run with. Now, all you have left to do is get to plan a healthy diet. Depending on what it is you are trying to achieve (fat burning, weight loss, increasing muscle mass, or just getting healthier) you need to start eating right. Believe it or not, diet may be the hardest bit. You will be required to make sacrifices that will hurt you. Trying to curb cravings is harder than you think. Most diets involve steamed, boiled, or raw foods with just enough seasoning – a long way from the Buffalo wings and quarter-pounders you are used to eating. Most health journeys come to a sad end because of the inability to stick to diets. However, there may be a solution now, though – Meal Replacement Shakes.
Meal replacement shakes have gained fame for a number of reasons. They are easier to prepare than an entire meal, you get all the nutrition you need with a scoop or two, they are a lot cheaper than takeout, and they provide all the macro- and micro-nutrients needed for optimal health. And last but not least, they can also be used as a healthy snack. When trying to lose weight, meal replacements are a healthier, easier, and smarter option. Most meal replacement shakes control calorie intake while keeping a tab on fat and carbs. This makes it easier for you to keep a tab on what you eat and what you get from it. There are so many meal replacement options that it may be a task to choose the right one for you.
To help you make an informed choice here is a comprehensive comparison of three most popular meal replacement shakes available. We compare benefits, nutrients, ingredients, results reviews, and even prices. At the end of this, you should be in a better position to choose.
About Ideal Lean, Shakeology & Instant Knockout Complete
#3 – Ideal Lean
Ideal Lean Protein Shake for Women is an offering from Ideal Fit. The aim of this protein powder product is to help women especially lose weight, get in shape, and put on muscle mass if they wish to do so. The Ideal Lean shake is low on fat and carbs, which makes it an ideal meal replacement without the fear of adding more calories. Reviews on the official website are packed with only good things about the product. Users are fans of the taste and texture. But this should be taken with a pinch of salt. When you go to the official website, you will be offered a free 15-day FIT body challenge that includes a carb-cycling plan that helps the advanced weight loss. The site offers recipes, coaching, and support, which is a unique feature provided by the brand Ideal Fit. However, accessing the official website can prove to be quite challenging, and it’s not uncommon for the product to be repeatedly out of stock.
Nutritional Value: Calories 100, Fat 0g, Carbs 20g, Protein 20g.
#2 – Shakeology
Shakeology is brought to you by the wellness and fitness company Team Beachbody. The company was founded in 2009 by fitness enthusiasts seeking a healthy and simple way to stay fit. Team Beachbody is a complete wellness overhaul company that focuses on nutrition while on a health journey. If you visit the official website, you are in for a ride, as the options, products, programs, and plans offered are slightly overwhelming. For meal replacements alone, there are a variety of flavor options, vegan and whey options, and you even have a sampler pack so that you can choose which you like best. For the seasoned customer, this may be good, but a newbie may find the whole experience overwhelming. For the purpose of this review, the Vanilla Whey is going to be discussed.
Nutritional Value: Calories 140, Fat 2g, Carbs 15g, Protein 17g.
#1 – Instant Knockout Complete
Instant Knockout Complete from Roar Ambition is a calorie-deficit nutrition option available to those interested in building muscle mass. The products take into account the factors that hamper fat loss – plateaus, unhealthy metabolism, and the lack of access to healthy meals. Even though the meal replacement shake was designed to work alongside Instant Knockout Cut – the fat burner, the shake itself has become a hit. Instant Knockout Complete does not offer fitness programs or bling in terms of options, but it stays true to what it is – a nutritional shake that provides health benefits.
It is particularly designed for both men and women who:
- Want to lose weight and
- Want to replace fat with muscle mass.
This meal replacement shake has a slow-release system that does not let the body go into a nutritional deficit.
Nutritional Value: Calories 400g, Fat 13g, Carbs 35g, and Protein 35g.
To learn how the Instant Knockout Complete Meal Shake, can fuel the body with nutrition, visit here!
What Should You Expect From these Dietary Supplements?
There are obvious nutritional benefits but each product claims to benefit the body nutritionally in some way or the other. You would see some overlap, but you would also be able to see the focus of each product. Keep in mind that, unlike other supplements, meal replacement shakes are designed to take on the role of a major meal.
| Ideal Lean | Shakeology | Instant Knockout Complete |
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As you can see, the main focus of Ideal Lean and Shakeology is weight loss. Whereas, Instant Knockout Complete addresses both weight loss and muscle gain. That is a major difference between Instant Knockout Complete and the former two.
How Do These Popular Meal Replacement Shakes Work?
The actual working of each meal replacement shake is the same – using quality food ingredients to duplicate a healthy meal. The actual efficacy of each is in the ingredients it uses and the ratio in which these ingredients manifest.
The Ideal Lean Protein Shakes
Ideal Lean is a product made by women for women. This means that the protein shake was created with specifically women and their health needs in mind. With this concept in mind, Ideal Lean has included an amino acid profile in its formula, which is the mark of high-quality protein, but as far as micronutrients are concerned, this meal replacement shake has skimped out. While the other shakes pack all possible nutrients into their protein shakes, Ideal Lean has only included a select few.
The nutrition you can get from Ideal Lean is vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium, and the aforementioned amino acids. How it manages this task is by including the following ingredients:
Protein Blend
This blend includes whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate which are both essentially the same thing except for the way that they are processed. Micellar casein is another protein that is derived from bovine milk and hydrolyzed bovine collagen, which is added for tendon, ligament, and joint health.
Oat Flour is added as it is the best option for weight loss. It supports heart health, reduces cholesterol, and maintains sugar and blood pressure levels.
Sunflower oil creamer is high in omega-6 fats and is also known to support the cardiovascular system. However, you must be careful when you mix the shake in hot water, as high temperatures cause chemical changes that may cause harm.
Isomaltooligosaccharides is a short-chain carbohydrate that has a digestion-resistant property. It benefits digestion, gut health, and bowel movements and is beneficial for good gut bacteria.
Sweet Potato powder is rich in antioxidants and micronutrients that can bolster the immune system and reduce the risk for several diseases. It is also a healthy source of carbs.
Inulin is a healthy source of fiber. It nourishes the gut bacteria, can help with diarrhea or constipation, and curbs appetite. Some doctors even suggest it to patients suffering from type 2 diabetes for blood sugar control.
Gum Arabic is a natural prebiotic that curbs appetite, and it is often added to weight loss supplements.
MCT Oil Powder is used to curb appetite, support gut health, and help reduce body fat. It comes with a variety of health benefits for the body.
Flaxseed powder is a superfood that manages weight, is high in omega-3 fats, protects against cancer, reduces cholesterol and sugar, and is rich in nutrients.
White Chia Powder is another superfood. It can help with cholesterol, reduce sugar spikes, and promote a feeling of fullness.
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener.
In addition to the above, Ideal Lean adds salt, xanthan gum, and natural and artificial flavors.
The Shakeology Shakes
Team Beachbody is a fitness brand, and the meal replacement shakes it offers is a tribute to that factor. Shakeology breathes the concept that the road to a high-quality life is high-quality nutrition, and it proves this point. It includes all the essential nutrients one would expect from a meal replacement powder and adds some more. When it comes to grams of protein, though, there is somewhat of a dearth for it to qualify as a protein supplement. The focus here is all-around nutrition rather than just one aspect of health.
- For this purpose, Shakeology adds to its formula vitamins A, C, D, E, and K2 and six B vitamins, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium, potassium, sodium, and Alpha-linolenic acid.
- Shakeology uses proprietary blends to achieve this feat. The thing about proprietary blends though is that you don’t really know how much of what goes in and if the doses are actually effective ones. Here is an abbreviated mention of what Shakeology holds.
- Proprietary Protein Blend uses whey, pea protein, flaxseed, and quinoa. This helps to reduce appetite and build lean muscle mass.
- Proprietary Supergreen/Phytonutrient Blend includes Camu-Camu, acerola, bilberry, rose-hips, pomegranate, and several others that help reduce free radical damage and support the immunity system.
- Proprietary Supergreen/Phytonutrient Blend includes chlorella, kale, spinach, matcha green tea, and others. This is used for all-around health and well-being.
- Proprietary Adaptogen Blend consists of cordyceps, ashwagandha, maitake, and reishi mushrooms to help the body deal with physical and mental stress. It also helps to settle the mind.
- Proprietary Pre & Probiotic / Digestive Enzymes Blend includes Bacillus Coagulans, cellulase, amylase, invertase, and other enzymes to support digestion and gut health and boost nutrient absorption.
- Shakeology also adds organic cane sugar, natural flavor, xanthan gum, Himalayan pink salt, stevia leaf extract, and mixed tocopherols.
Instant Knockout Complete Meal Replacement Shake
Of the three, this meal replacement powder seems to be the aptest for complete nutrition. In terms of macronutrients, Instant Knockout Complete includes more protein than most protein shakes deliver and provides a calorie intake of 400, which allows for stronger workouts and facilitates weight loss. When you consume fewer calories, you typically have less energy. This can be a problem for building muscle. Thus, this protein shake provides not just well-rounded nutrition but also facilitates better workouts, workout recovery, and a delicious taste.
- Instant Knockout Complete supplies essential vitamins like D, A, C, E, K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folic acid, B12, biotin, and pantothenic acid. The mineral blend comprises calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, chloride, and choline.
- To apply to a larger audience, Instant Knockout Complete avoids whey protein completely. Instead, the shake uses protein from plant-based sources. The ingredients used to make this healthy meal are:
The plant-based protein made from pea protein and soy protein reduces markers of heart disease and cholesterol. It is also rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
- MCT as discussed above.
- Golden Flaxseed as discussed above.
- Chia seed as discussed above.
- Oat Flour as discussed above.
- Organic Brown Rice is an alternate protein source for those with lactose intolerance. It is easily digested and rich in nutrients, too.
All the shakes include natural ingredients, and they are all healthy. It is only when you compare the degree to which they provide nutrition that is where the difference lies.
So, How Do They Compare?
As far as protein powders or meal replacements go, Ideal Lean, Shakeology, and Instant Knockout Complete are good products. What determines whether you purchase the product or not depends on what it is you are looking for.
- If you are a woman looking to empower a woman-driven product, Ideal Lean should be the product of your choice.
- Shakeology represents a lifestyle rather than a goal. In case you are looking for healthy foods to reinforce your healthy lifestyle, Shakeology is where you should go.
- Instant Knockout Complete is for those who are looking for something stronger. This shake is designed for those who are bent toward increasing muscle mass. If you spend hours at the gym and are interested in bulking up, Instant Knockout Complete is the way to go.
Let’s look at these products as protein supplements for a bit. Just comparing the grams of protein provided by each formula would give you a better idea of what you are dealing with. Instant Knockout Complete supplies you with a whopping 35 grams of protein, which is a lot more than 20 or 17. Instant Knockout Complete adds more protein to help you gain muscle and stay healthy in the process.
The protein source is another matter. Ideal Lean uses whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. This makes the product inaccessible to vegans or those with dairy allergies. Shakeology has both vegan and non-vegan options. But, as mentioned earlier, the website is slightly confusing, and this may throw a beginner off. The vegan and non-vegan products have similar flavors, which add to the confusion. Instant Knockout Complete did not take any chances and decided to source its protein intake only from plant-based sources, thereby leaving no room for confusion or dietary restrictions. It does contain soy, though, as do all the vegan options in this review.
What are the Cost, Buying Options & Refund Policy?
Buy Ideal Lean
You can buy Ideal Lean Protein Shake for Women from Amazon (if in stock), as the Official Website is not reachable most of the time. The best option for purchase is the Ideal Lean 4 tub Bundle, which would cost you $94.99. If you are simply starting, you could also order a sampler for each flavor, which costs $1.99 each. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you have up to a year to return the product and claim a full refund. Shipping costs would not be included in the refund unless you return your purchase because of a mistake the company made (wrong product, damaged packets).
Buy Shakeology
Shakeology shakes can be bought from the Official website or from other e-commerce sites like Amazon, etc. Once you successfully navigate yourself through the labyrinth of choices you can finally order your protein powders. Shakeology has regular flavors and limited-edition flavors. For the protein shake in question, Vanilla Whey, the cost is $129.95. You can either order the powder each time, or you can opt for a monthly subscription. Shipping depends on your purchase size, and Shakeology follows a “bottom-of-the-bag” refund policy where you can claim a refund even if you have used the product in its entirety.
Instant Knockout Complete
Instant Knockout Complete can be ordered from its exclusive Official Website, click here.
- If you opt for the 2-week pouch with 14 meals, you have to pay $59.00.
- The monthly pack would cost $118.00 for 28 meals.
You have a 30-day window within which you can return the product if you are not happy with the product.
A Quick Recap
Because we have gone through a lot of information, here is a concise outline of everything we know about the three-meal replacement shakes.
| Ideal Lean | Shakeology | Instant Knockout Complete | |
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| Cons |
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| Audience | For women looking for a healthy option to stay fit. | For men and women looking for healthier meal options. | For men and women looking for a meal replacement option, that supports muscle growth and weight loss. |
| Allergens | Whey protein and soy. | Whey protein and soy | Soy |
| Price | $94.99 for 4 tubs. | $129.95 for 30 servings | $118.00 for 28 meals |
| Refund Policy | Full refund for up to one year from the date of purchase. | Refund even after the complete use of the supplement. | 30-day return policy. |
| Where to Buy? | Buy Ideal Lean from Amazon. | Buy Shakeology from Amazon or its Official Website. | Buy Instant Knockout Complete from its exclusive Official Website. |
Summary & Verdict
Meal replacement shakes are fast becoming a common reality. It isn’t just the convenience, but, in most cases, meal replacements are healthier, easier, and cost a lot less than a wholesome meal. It is also an excellent addition to weight loss routines and a great source of macro and micronutrients that would help with bodybuilding.
Ideal Lean, Shakeology, and Instant Knockout Complete are three such dietary supplements that can replace a meal, act as a snack, or just be a meal on the go. Ideal Lean is actually a protein shake designed by and made for women. Unfortunately, what about the powder makes it a female exclusivity is unclear. Also, as a protein shake, it does not feature as much protein as many other similar supplements. Macronutrients aside, a lot of vitamins and minerals are missing from the product. This would be a miss.
Shakeology is a lifestyle rather than a meal replacement powder. The product was designed for the fitness lifestyle, and its actual purpose is to keep the user healthy. It includes a variety of nutrients, probiotics, and adaptogens that would help the customer come into health easier. However, there is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the website, and the fact that it is an MLM company is a turn-off. The product itself is good, with varying formulae and flavors, but it helps you stay healthy once you are healthy.
Instant Knockout Complete is a weight loss and health system. Designed for men and women who are struggling to lose weight and build muscle. The brand offers a complete weight loss plan with a fat burner and meal replacement combo, should you wish to choose it. Instant Knockout Complete is a system that you can use to reinforce your journey to a healthier and better-looking you. Unlike Shakeology, it has a single formula that is vegan-friendly so that the product can be used by all. Instant Knockout Complete is the meal replacement we recommend.
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