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Nutri Inspector

GNC Total Lean Review

By Cindy Wilson

BS, Dietetics and Nutrition

Updated · 7 min read

The bottom line

GNC Total Lean is an oat-based meal replacement shake with 8 grams of dietary fiber per serving. It can help with weight loss only as part of an exercise program and a healthy, calorie-reduced meal plan. Healthy weight loss also includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, enough sleep, and stress management.

Key takeaways

  • Aim for steady weight loss. People who lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week are more likely to keep the weight off than people who lose it faster.
  • The shake is based on oat fiber. Dietary fiber can lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels and reduce calorie intake.
  • Taste is the main complaint: the shake tested here was gritty and chalky. Mixing it with milk or Greek yogurt instead of water may help.
  • If you are concerned about your weight or have questions about your medicines, talk with your health care provider.
Gnc Lean Shake
  • Review of: GNC Total Lean Shake, manufactured by GNC.
  • Price/Serving: $2.46 (see lowest price)
  • ​Calories: 200
  • Protein: 25g
  • Carbs/Sugar: 17g/4g
  • Fiber: 8g​
  • Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Banana, Mixed Berry, Swiss Chocolate, Vanilla Bean
  • Price: When using the figures discussed above, it turns out that each shake costs $2.46. While this is a good price when you consider it is a meal replacement shake, it is higher than most of the other shakes I have reviewed in the past.
  • Hunger Blockers: GNC Lean does a pretty good job of making sure you stay full for several hours.
  • Nutrition: The GNC Lean 25 Shake 25 has around 200 calories per serving, which isn’t bad. However, it’s many vitamins, minerals, and protein that give it such a high nutrition score.
  • Taste: Although the flavor of the chocolate shakes wasn’t all that horrible, the consistency was pretty far off the mark. It was extremely gritty and had that chalky aftertaste common with protein shakes, which it is not.

PROS

  • Well balanced ratios of high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals
  • High protein % – 25g per meal
  • High fiber amount – 8g

CONS

  • Short lasting package – 16 shakes only
  • Taste is not the perfect one

Meal replacement shakes and all kinds of supplements can certainly help people achieve their weight loss goals and boost their health.

There are lots of these meal replacement products on the market, and it cannot be obvious to choose the right one that works for you.

In this article, I will review the GNC Lean Shake product that could be what you need.

I’ll try to give a complete overview and an honest review of this replacement product.​

GNC Total Lean Video Review

What is the GNC Lean Shake, and do you really need it?

The GNC Lean Shake has a balanced ratio of minerals, vitamins, quality proteins, and healthy fats.

The Lean Shake can also support healthy and normal cholesterol levels, improve metabolism, help build and maintain lean muscle and, of course, help lose weight.

This oat-based shake can help people achieve their weight loss goal but only if used together with an effective exercise and meal plan.

This product also helps people increase the feeling of satiety and fullness thanks to the patented fiber-rich blend.

Of course, satiety is critical because it makes you eat less and enables you to wait longer between meals.

Oat beta-glucan is a powerful soluble fiber naturally occurring in oat-bran, and it is what this product is based on. It also has a low-glycemic index that supports healthy blood glucose levels.

Fiber and oat bran have a more sustained and slower effect on energy levels and blood sugar when compared to high-glycemic-index foods like pasta, bread, and pastries.

Whether you need this or any other meal replacement product is up to you. Anything that helps you lose weight should be considered.

A proper meal replacement shakes with the right amount of macronutrients, micronutrients, calories, and fiber for weight loss is certainly far more useful and efficient than an ordinary meal you would get in a diner.

Having that assurance is essential, in my opinion.

GNC Company Overview

GNC is a well-respected nutritional supplements company in the industry because it demands product potency, ingredient safety, and truth in labeling. It also is on the cutting edge of nutritional science, and it is the largest company of this kind in the world that is devoted to helping people improve the quality of their lives.

Compared to many other shady and controversial companies in the nutrition industry, GNC has a very rigorous approach to ensuring product quality. Its manufacturing and packaging processes and the new product discovery process are based on scientific research.

The interaction with the stores and with the customers is also very impressive.

GNC stores are stocked with a wide range of bodybuilding, weight loss, natural remedies, nutritional supplements, beauty, and health products.

The stores also sell fitness magazines and books. It has over 6,000 stores in the United States and locations in 49 countries worldwide as well.

Ingredients of the GNC Lean Shake

Basic ingredients: Saturated fat, Soluble Fiber, Cholesterol, Dietary Fiber, Sugars, Protein, Vitamin B-12, Pantothenic acid, copper, Zinc, Selenium, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Iron, Thiamin, Vitamin B-6, Riboflavin, Niacin.

According to the IdealShape website, the following are their top unique ingredients. (Keep in mind the shakes also include soy protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey protein isolate, but they are in almost all weight loss shakes.)

  • Creamer (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Maltodextrin, Sodium Caseinate, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Dipotassium Phosphate)
  • Carb Blend (Carrageenan, Fructooligosaccharides, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Oat Bran, Resistant Starch), Milk Protein Concentrate, Nonfat dry milk, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali),
  • Salt, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose
  • Natural and Artificial Flavors, Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Biotin, Folic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Chromium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ferric Orthophosphate, dl-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Cupric Oxide, Vitamin A Acetate, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Dimagnesium Phosphate, Maltodextrin (glucose polymers), Potassium Iodide, Niacinamide, Calcium Carbonate, Cyanocobalamin), Salt, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose

Benefits of GNC Lean Shake

A randomized study composed of 98 healthy participants compared and studied the effects of the people who followed the Lean Shake meal plan (1,500 calories per day, 2 Lean shakes per day, and regular exercise) to those who followed a traditional eating plan of 1,500 calories per day.

The study lasted for 12 weeks, and the results showed that individuals who developed the Lean Shake meal plan lost 7 pounds while other participants in the ordinary meal plan lost 4 pounds.

Other notable benefits include:​

  • Product as good value for money has a good smell, is lightweight and easy to use
  • Promotes and aids health and weight loss along with regular exercise
  • Supports healthy metabolism and lean muscle mass
  • Well balanced ratios of high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and fat
  • Recognizes the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise as part of weight loss.

GNC Shake Cons

  • Some customers have been disappointed that the package does not last very long. 16 shakes can be made from the bottle, and that lasts for eight days. This means that you must continually buy the product, and that costs money.
  • The taste of this product has also been reported to be bad for lots of people.
  • The shake is also reported to have poor texture.
  • The official website does not have any before and after photos.
  • The weight-loss claims can be inaccurate, according to some people.

GNC Total Lean Shake Side Effects

It is important always to read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product.

GNC Lean Shake Results – Does it Work?

Meal replacement shakes are a great way to help you lose weight and improve your overall health.

These shakes have lots of benefits; for example, they are easily digestible, great a feeling of satiety, have the right amounts of macronutrients and micronutrients for weight loss, they are easy to make and taste good as well.

If you don’t like the taste of this product, then, instead of mixing the powder with water, try mixing it with milk or Greek yogurt, for example. The taste will be much better.

Whether it works for you or not depends on many other factors such as your overall calorie intake, how much you exercise, how well you follow your diet plan, your dedication and motivation to get results, and so on.

The GNC Lean Shake is just one tool to help you, but if you follow the recommendations and instructions, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

Directions and How To Use

  • Mix one serving of 52 grams with 8-10 ounces of cold water.
  • Mix the shake well and drink two shakes per day while following an exercise program and healthy calorie-reduced meal plan.
  • The average serving contains about 180-200 calories.
  • Per serving, you will get 9 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 150 mg of potassium, 100 mg of sodium, 8 grams of dietary fiber, and 5 grams of soluble fiber.
  • You can also use yogurt or milk instead of water for a better taste, as I said before.

Compare With Advocare

I have compared GNC Total Lean ​with Advocare Meal Shake to make it easier for you to decide which one is better.

Short Summary of GNC Total Lean Shake Review

It is often necessary for people to use these meal replacement shakes because it helps them more easily track their calories, macronutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It also helps them reduce their overall calorie intake required for weight loss, increase the number of meals consumed, and keep them feeling full for longer.

This product has received excellent ratings on Amazon with some great feedback and some negative feedback. The only way to determine whether the GNC Lean Shake will work for you is to try it. If it does not work and you don’t like it, it is not a big loss. But if it helps you lose weight and improve your health, then it is worth it for sure.

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