YSK: When you want to lose weight, don't use fat loss "shake" plans.
BlackCoffee@kbin.social to 
You know all those "easy" 4 week weight loss plans from weight watchers or others?
They don't offer an long time solution for weight loss.
Why YSK; It is a money pit and starting a healthy diet is way cheaper and better in the long run.
PS: I don't know if this is the correct format ;).
On the other hand YSK if you need to gain weight fast (for example before an operation, or if you’re having health issues) adding protein shakes into your regular diet does the trick. If you don’t have any protein powder on hand you can use slimming shakes since most of them have a high protein and vitamin concentration, since they are meant to replace meals. If instead of replacing meals you supplement them with those shakes it is a fast way to gain weight. Twice I needed to gain weight fast: once before a surgery, once due to extreme weight loss caused by an ED, and both times I used shakes to supplement meals (doctor’s approval) with success.
I have issues eating regular meals, generally don't have an appetite for more than 1 or maybe 2 meals a day. Started supplementing with Soylent because nutrients and I'm at a much healthier weight now.
This is the way, well done!
(If you still eat some meals ;))
Yeah, I definitely still eat real food. There are some people that live off the stuff, but I dunno, couldn't do it.
The word here is indeed supplementing!
I like that I see the disclaimer about it being an addition and not an replacement more and more on the products that you can buy like protein shakes, protein bars and such.
They should be an addition to your meals/diet and not an replacement.
Of course there is no harm in replacing 1 meal a day for a shake or such if one feels like it but all meals is not gonna help in the long run and isn't giving enough variety in your nutrition.
But indeed like you said, they are good as supplements!
I've tried these before. It works but only in the short term. Ultimately as you said, healthy dieting habits are the way to go, and shakes don't teach you that.
It is a money grab. Most of the time those 4 week diets are full of sugar and just badly balanced in macro nutrients overall.
It is also way easier to set up an healthy meal plan for yourself than people think ;).