When clients ask about protein powders for weight loss, I'm usually sceptical. Most "diet" proteins taste like chalk mixed with false promises. But after six months with MyProtein's Impact Diet Whey, I've got some thoughts worth sharing.
TL;DR
After testing multiple flavours over six months, Impact Diet Whey delivers solid protein content (36g per serving) with surprisingly decent taste. The "diet" label is misleading - it's essentially a meal replacement with more calories than regular whey, but it works brilliantly for weight management when used correctly.
Let's get something straight from the start. Despite the name, this isn't your typical post-workout protein shake. It's a meal replacement masquerading as a diet protein, and once you understand that, everything makes sense.
I've been putting this powder through its paces for the better part of six months, trying different flavours and watching how my clients respond to it. The results? Well, they're more interesting than I expected.
Table of Contents
Diet Whey - What's That?
Myprotein markets this as a diet whey protein, but here's the thing that initially confused me - it contains more calories per serving than their regular Impact Whey. Two scoops (60g) gives you around 223 calories versus the standard whey's single scoop approach.
That's because this isn't just protein. You're getting:
- 36g of protein per serving
- Added glutamine (over 1g)
- Green tea extract
- CLA powder
- Choline for metabolism support
- Ground oats and flaxseed
It's basically a complete meal replacement that happens to be protein-heavy.
The Flavour Journey 🍓
I've worked my way through most of the range, and honestly, some flavours are absolute winners whilst others... well, let's just say they exist.
The Champions
Cookies & Cream is genuinely brilliant. Mix it with almond milk and you've got something that tastes suspiciously like an Oreo milkshake. I've had clients tell me they look forward to their "cheat" breakfast, not realising they're actually nailing their macros.
Chocolate Mint tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Seriously. I was sceptical until I tried it with ice in a blender - it's dangerously good.
Strawberry Shortcake surprised me. It's sweet without being cloying, and there are actual strawberry pieces in there. Feels like you're having dessert for breakfast.
The Solid Performers
Natural Vanilla is my go-to for versatility. Tastes clean, mixes well with anything, and doesn't fight with other flavours when I'm making protein pancakes or adding fruit.
Double Chocolate does what it says on the tin. Rich, chocolatey, satisfying. Can't go wrong.
The Questionable Choice
Banana was... well, it existed. Tasted more like artificial banana flavouring than actual fruit. I finished the bag, but I won't be reordering.
Mixing and Texture
Here's where things get interesting. This powder has personality - and by personality, I mean it can be a right pain to mix properly.
With just a shaker bottle, you'll get lumps. Not massive ones, but enough to remind you that there are oats and other bits floating about. The secret? Blend it.
I use a NutriBullet with 300ml of liquid (usually half water, half almond milk), and it comes out smooth and creamy. Some clients make theirs the night before and stick it in the fridge - apparently it goes thick and mousse-like, which sounds weird but they love it.
The Weight Loss Reality Check
Let's talk about what this actually does for weight management, because the marketing can be a bit... optimistic.
I've had clients lose anywhere from 6-15kg over 3-4 months using this as a meal replacement. But - and this is crucial - they were also following proper training programmes and eating sensibly for their other meals.
The magic isn't in the powder itself. It's in the fact that replacing a typically carb-heavy breakfast or lunch with 223 calories of mostly protein keeps you full for hours and stops the mid-morning biscuit raids.
One client told me she used to grab a pastry and coffee on her way to work (easily 400+ calories of sugar and fat). Now she has a chocolate mint shake at her desk and doesn't think about food until lunchtime. That's a 200-calorie daily deficit right there.
The Science Bit 📚
The added ingredients aren't just marketing fluff. Green tea extract contains EGCG, which research suggests can boost fat oxidation during exercise. The CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) has shown modest effects on body composition in some studies.
Green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, have been shown to increase fat oxidation during moderate intensity exercise in healthy individuals
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008)
Choline supports fat metabolism, and the extra glutamine helps with recovery - important when you're in a caloric deficit and training hard.
Is it revolutionary? No. But it's a solid combination that makes sense from a sports nutrition perspective.
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Use This
Perfect for:
- People who skip breakfast or grab rubbish on the go
- Anyone wanting a convenient meal replacement
- Vegetarians looking for quality protein
- Those who struggle with sweet cravings (seriously, the flavours help)
Not ideal for:
- People wanting a traditional post-workout shake (use regular whey)
- Anyone expecting magic weight loss without effort
- Those sensitive to artificial sweeteners
Value for Money
At around £27 for 1kg, it's not the cheapest protein on the market. But when you consider it's a meal replacement rather than just protein powder, the maths work out differently.
One serving costs roughly £1.60. Compare that to a decent breakfast out, and suddenly it looks quite reasonable.
The Verdict
Impact Diet Whey isn't perfect, but it's bloody useful. The "diet" branding is misleading - think of it as a convenient, tasty meal replacement that happens to be protein-heavy.
If you're looking for a post-workout protein hit, buy their regular Impact Whey. But if you want something to replace breakfast or lunch whilst keeping you full and hitting your protein targets, this stuff works.
Just don't expect miracles. Weight loss still comes down to calories in versus calories out. This just makes the "calories in" part a bit easier to manage.
Would I recommend it? Yeah, with the right expectations. It's become a staple in my nutrition toolkit, and several clients have made it part of their long-term routine.
That's got to count for something.
