I did the milkshake diet that’s supposedly cheaper than food shops – I saved £30 a week but suffered a foul side effect
I’VE never related to people who say they forget to eat lunch.
I do, however, relate to people who get so overwhelmed by hunger when it strikes that they end up ordering their fifth takeaway of the week.
And after countless years of afternoon slumps due to badly-balanced lunches, and midnight snacks to fill the void that my protein-less dinner left, something had to change.
I decided to try Huel, affectionately known as the “milkshake diet” on social media.
In less than a decade, Huel has earned itself a cult-like following - and that’s despite the fact its name comes from combining the words “Human” and “fuel” (that bit feels slightly weird to me).
The concept hasn’t changed much since it started in 2015, with all the products being branded as “nutritionally complete”.
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That includes pasta and rice meal pots and pouches, cereal bars and, of course, its flagship meal replacement powders and ready-to-drink milkshakes.
Each product balances 26 essential vitamins and minerals, protein, essential fats, carbs, fibre and phytonutrients in some form or another - all of which is plant-based.
For someone who’s been known to have a packet of Haribo Tangfastics for dinner when I can’t be bothered to cook, this was certainly a healthier option than past meal choices.
I incorporated one ready-to-drink bottle into my diet for two weeks - replacing either breakfast or lunch - to see if I could change my ways.
I was also hoping to save money on my weekly shop and impromptu corner shop trips.
Seeing as the nifty bottles cost £3.17 a portion - that’s less than a frozen Chicago Town pizza, by the way.
Here’s how it went…
Days one to five
Gosh, I felt sick. So, so sick - and still pretty hungry.
My brain struggled to adjust to the lack of solid food and I found myself starving straight after knocking back a whole bottle of “cinnamon swirl”.
I also found myself overwhelmed with nausea the first hour after drinking Huel.
No matter how slowly I consumed it, I felt so sluggish - and then two hours later, I'd feel amazing.
It felt like pure sludge sitting in my stomach that swooshed around whenever I moved - gross, I know.
Fortunately, the taste was better than any other meal replacement shake or protein powder I’ve tried - and none of the flavours I tried (cinnamon swirl, chocolate, and strawberries and cream) left an aftertaste.
The brand’s Junior Nutrition Manager, Jessica Stansfield, assured me that my body’s initial disagreement to Huel wouldn’t go on for too long - so I persevered.
It felt like pure sludge sitting in my stomach that swooshed around whenever I moved. Gross, I know
Josie O'Brien
Jessica explained: “Despite its crucial role in maintaining health, fibre intake in the general population remains worryingly low.
“Huel on the other hand, is packed with fibre, which is great!
“However, if you’re not used to it, it can be a bit of a shock to your system.
“This is totally normal and happens because your gut's microbiome is adjusting to the new food source.”
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Fabulous takes a look at some of the weirdest ones that Hollywood's Finest have tried...
Internal Vinegar Cleanse
A number of celebrities, including Megan Fox, have claimed that vinegar is the perfect ingredient to use to detox the body.
The Transformers actress admitted that the product is great to “clean out your system”.
Baby Food, Big Portions
It was widely reported that was one of many celebrities that attempted the baby food die to shed the pounds for an acting role.
The fad is believed to have been started by health trainer to the stars, Tracy Anderson, although she has since distanced herself from the trend.
Raw Eggs and Milk
Taking ultra-processed free dieting to the next level, Marilyn Monroe admitted in 1952 that her regular breakfast was two raw eggs whipped into warm milk.
Eating raw eggs can be risky, as they can cause food poisoning, including salmonella and listeria.
Grapefruit Mania
Celebrities including Kylie Minogue and Brooke Shields have publicly acknowledged this diet, which involves eating grapefruit or drinking its juice with every meal to supposedly "burn" fat.
The rumour that grapefruit can “burn fat” has been largely quashed by experts, as it can only perform this function if consumed in vast quantities.
Days six to 10
I was getting the hang of Huel.
The bottles also became an afternoon snack - and the “strawberries and cream” flavour was my favourite for this.
It stopped me from gorging on sweets and chocolate bars during the 3pm slump.
My gym performance also improved over this time, too.
Maybe it was the increased nutrients or more steady protein intake, but I was able to lift heavier at the gym.
Even after a long day of commuting and working in the office, I still felt strong at the gym.
Nutritionist Jessica told me that it’s “hard to pinpoint the exact reasons” why I had this surprising benefit - but a win is a win.
She explained: “For context, complete foods like Huel are formulated to provide a comprehensive and balanced nutritional profile for a wide range of people.
Despite its crucial role in maintaining health, fibre intake in the general population remains worryingly low. Huel on the other hand, is packed with fibre.
Jessica Stansfield
“The complex carbohydrates and protein within Huel make this an ideal option to support exercise.
"However, Huel can be suitable for a whole variety of reasons.”
Days 11 to 14
By the end of my two week trial, I hadn’t lost any weight or gained any muscle.
I had, however, gained a better sense of control over my diet and finances, as well as upped the ante at the gym.
I felt more motivated to hit the gym after work as I wasn’t recovering from any 3pm slumps, nor did I have any weird food cravings on the days I was consuming huel.
I saved roughly £30 a week by having the ready-to-drink replacement shakes in the fridge for when hunger struck.
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Knowing there was a nutritionally complete “meal” available saved me from impromptu snack runs, and giving in to McDonald’s breakfasts or fried chicken for lunch.
And while I don’t see myself drinking Huel every day forever, I definitely plan to keep a stash of the bottles in my fridge for those days when I haven’t planned my meals very well.