Shakeology Review

Shakeology is a nutrient rich, protein packed, supplement shake with fiber and digestive enzymes marketed by Beachbody. It comes in 7 different flavors (2 vegan) and are between 130-170 calories. You can purchase 24 single serve packets or a 30 serving bag for $129.95 retail (Beachbody club members receive a 10% discount, coaches receive a 25% discount, and monthly autoship customers get discounted shipping). You can also get a month's supply included with a challenge pack. If you're new to Shakeology, I highly recommend ordering the trial pack. You are only allowed to order this one time but it includes all 7 flavors and is $34.95 retail (same discounts apply).

I ordered the trial pack through my coach so I could try them all and give my honest review of each flavor. I will mention I'm a picky eater and a super taster so just because I don't like it doesn't mean you won't either. I tried each flavor in 8oz of water so nothing added to the original flavor.

I really thought I would hate some of the flavors but they all tasted good. Some tasted better than others but it was a close call. Here is my ranking of flavors from best to worst:

"Sensuously sweet and utterly delicious" 

Seriously amazing! I first tried this during my 3 Day Refresh and loved it. In 8 oz of water it's nice and thick and tastes like brownie batter. Next time I try it I may even add in tiny bits of walnuts to really make it so. It's great because you get to have chocolate so it curbs your sweet tooth. 

"Rich artisanal chocolate flavor that's 100% vegan, soy-free, and dairy-free"

I'd really have to taste test this back to back with the regular chocolate to see which I like better and if there is a difference. I think this one is a little bit sweeter and might have more of a stevia after taste but I'm not sure. Either way it's delicious and tied for first.

"Packed with tangy pineapple and sweet guava flavors"

I had heard mixed reviews on this but this is delicious!! I don't taste pineapple or guava or anything besides banana and strawberry but mostly banana. A close tie with chocolate for sure.

"Rich, sweet, fruity, and smooth"

 This one is good. It's sweet and fruity and could almost pass for dessert. The only thing that's better is fresh strawberries.

"Delicious creamy flavor"

I originally tried this in pineapple juice with coconut extract to make a "pina colada" and found it to be bland. I tried it again in just water and it's still nothing special. I thought it would be sweeter but that's ok. This would be a great one to mix with something like flavored yogurt.

"Whole coffee fruit and 25% of the caffeine you'd find in a cup of coffee"

I've tried another brand's coffee protein shake and have added different protein mixes into coffee and never liked it so I thought this would taste about the same. It's not bad! The best coffee flavored protein mix I've tasted. I like that it has some caffeine in it and has a slight almost chocolate taste. I wouldn't order it as my main flavor but it's not bad.

"Nutritional powerhouse packed with mouthwatering fruit and healthy greens"

This wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! It has a light flavor similar to lettuce where it tastes like something but also doesn't have a taste. There's a subtle taste of berry that gives it a little bit of sweetness. Overall, I wouldn't make this my main flavor but would have it from time to time.

Considering Shakeology but are health conscious about nutrients? Here's a list of the flavors and their calories, fat, carbs, sugar, protein, and fiber content. Full nutrition facts can be found by clicking the flavor. Underlined values indicate the lowest calorie/fat/carb/sugar or highest protein/fiber options even though all are very similar.

Cafe Latte: 150 Calories, 2g Fat, 18g Carbs, 7g Sugar, 16g Protein, 5g Fiber
Chocolate: 160 Calories, 2g Fat, 17g Carbs, 6g Sugar, 17g Protein, 6g Fiber

Chocolate Vegan: 170 Calories, 4g Fat, 18g Carbs, 8g Sugar, 16g Protein, 5g Fiber

Greenberry: 130 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 13g Carbs, 6g Sugar, 17g Protein, 4g Fiber

Strawberry: 130 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 15g Carbs, 7g Sugar, 16g Protein, 3g Fiber

Tropical Strawberry Vegan: 170 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 18g Carbs, 8g Sugar, 16g Protein, 4g Fiber

Vanilla:130 Calories, 2g Fat, 14g Carbs, 7g Sugar, 16g Protein, 3g Fiber

What if you're interested but just aren't sure of the price? It is a little pricey when compared to other protein shakes. I'll admit that I'd rather go the cheaper route and get a protein powder that has more protein, less carbs, and less sugar and is cheaper (Vega Clean is a favorite of mine) but I also love the packets that Shakeology comes in as opposed to a bag/container. $70 for 30 days of Vega is almost half the price of Shakeology if you look at the retail price and 30% cheaper than the coach price (about $25). I do mix Vega with milk or coconut almond milk so that adds to the nutrients and the price a little. If you're on the fence I suggest ordering the trial pack as it is cheaper and you'll be able to try all of the flavors and know if you like any of them. You can purchase a trial pack here.

Another option is to get a challenge pack. If you're already considering a Beachbody program you can upgrade to a challenge pack that includes a 30 day supply of Shakeology and a 30 day trial to Beachbody on Demand, a streaming service that gives you access to nearly every program available! If you get a challenge pack, the $39.95 fee to become a coach is waived and you'll get a 25% discount on future orders! To find out more about becoming a coach, go here.

BBL Week 6 Results

I'm not sure why but this week it's been hard to find motivation to exercise. Maybe it's because the Facebook challenge group I was in is now over or maybe I'm getting bored with the exercises or maybe I'm not seeing the results I had hoped for by now. Either way I'm sticking with it and getting it done. I've gained back all of the weight I lost with the 3 Day Refresh. I'll admit diet has A LOT to do with that and probably the reason why I haven't seen the results I had hoped for. I really need to focus on sticking to a calorie goal and eating more well rounded meals. One problem with that is my pickiness. My new coach posted the updated 21 Day Fix foods list and I eat 38% of what's on there. Luckily my favorite foods (besides sugary treats) are fruits and veggies and I love salads. I'm not really a meat eater but I guess I need to start adding more into my diet.

This week is what I call sculpt week because we have it 3 times! I changed one for booty time, bikini body, and 15 min abs. I bought 8 lb hand weights, a new stability ball, and 10 lb (5lbs each) ankle weights to hopefully challenge myself more. I started with 3lbs on each ankle and moved up to the heavy resistance band. It made the moves harder so I wasn't able to do as many as before but I think it'll be better than using an easier band/weight. I skipped sculpt on day 5 and was going to add it to my rest day but had to install a door and week whack and that is equivalent in my eyes.

I can't believe there's only 2 weeks left. I'm still not sure if I'm going to complete week 8 or stop at 7 since we'll be on vacation the whole time and will be active. Guess I need to figure it out soon.

Updated Stats:
Weight 109.8lbs 111.8
BMI 19.1 19.5
Waist 25" 25.25
Hips 32" 31.75
Butt 36" 35.5
Thighs 20"

BBL Week 5 Results

I signed up for the premium club membership which gives a free 30 day trial for Beachbody On Demand (BOD) this week. I anticipated on doing this since we'll be out of town for week 8 and I didn't want to bring something to play DVDs. I'm still debating on how to work that week but I'll figure it out later. The best part about BOD is that you have access to several different programs and all of their content (meal guide, calendar, etc) so you can try out different programs before you buy them. Some videos are exclusive to you purchasing the program first (ex. 21 Day Fix, Insanity Max:30, P90, PiYo, and T25) but give you access to the digital files after you purchase. The premium membership also gets you a 10% discount on purchases, access to a meal planner, and is only $2.99/week (billed quarterly $38.87) which is a ton cheaper than any gym and cheaper than ordering all of the programs.

I also ordered a trial pack of Shakeology. It includes a packet of each flavor so you can try them all. I can't wait for that to get here so I can see which flavor(s) I like best.

My 3 Day Refresh arrived on Tuesday just in time for me to start it on Wednesday. You can see my review of it here.

I looked at the Brazil Butt Lift Master Series and Carnivale Series videos (thanks to the BOD access) and have decided to incorporate them into my schedule in place of similar BBL exercises to mix it up a bit. I tried to replace exercises with similar ones. Here is my modified schedule:

We had a lot going on this week which meant I didn't want to get up and exercise every morning but I did anyways. I did cut a few High & Tights short though and changed the last Cardio Axe to Carnivale. I think a lot of my weight loss is due to the 3 Day Refresh but will gladly take it! My hubby is seeing changes too and said these exercises are making me toned especially in my abs. :) I still fail the pencil test but maybe I'll be able to pass it by the end.

Updated Stats:
Weight 111.4lbs 109.8
BMI 19.7 19.1
Waist 25.5" 25
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20"

3 Day Refresh Review

This is my honest review of Beachbody's 3 Day Refresh. I participated in a challenge group that started with this and wasn't sure what to think at first. You follow a very easy guide of what to eat for 3 days and it's suppose to cleanse your body and get you eating healthier. You're also not suppose to exercise too hard because it's a limited calorie diet but I stuck with my Brazil Butt Lift schedule.

Here's a look at my meals:
Day 1
     Wake up: drink 8 oz filtered water
     BBL Carnivale and High & Tight
     Breakfast: Shakeology and 12 strawberries (1h after waking up. Mine was a little later than that)
     Late AM: Fiber Sweep
     Lunch: Vanilla Fresh, 1 peach, 2 celery sticks, and 0.5T almond butter (0.5T=1.5t)
     Snack: 1C sliced cucumbers and 0.5T almond butter
     Dinner: Vanilla Fresh and spinach salad recipe

Day 2
     Wake up: drink 8 oz filtered water
     BBL Ipanema Booty and 15 Min Abs
     Breakfast: Shakeology and 12 strawberries
     Late AM: Fiber Sweep
     Lunch: Vanilla Fresh, 1/2 apple, 1C sliced cucumbers, and 0.5T almond butter
     Snack: 2 celery sticks and 0.5T almond butter
     Dinner: Vanilla Fresh and spinach salad recipe

Day 3
     Wake up: drink 8 oz filtered water
     BBL Carnivale and High & Tight
     Breakfast: Shakeology and 12 strawberries
     Late AM: Fiber Sweep
     Lunch: Vanilla Fresh, 1/2 apple, 2 celery sticks, and 0.5T almond butter
     Snack: 2 celery sticks and 0.5T almond butter
     Dinner: Vanilla Fresh and spinach salad recipe


I chose the chocolate Shakeology and hoped it was going to be good since I hadn't tried it before. It's amazing!!! 1 packet in 8oz of water is nice and thick and tastes like brownie batter! There's a slight aftertaste from the stevia but it's not bad.

The fiber sweep is very lemony. It's not horrible and since it's only mixed in 8 oz you can chug it easily. I've heard to drink it immediately so don't let it sit around!

The vanilla fresh isn't bad. I wish I could have Shakeology instead tho. It's mild enough and pretty bland. I tried it with plain water and with lime juice and mint (mojito recipe found here). The mojito isn't close to a real one but I guess it's better than nothing.

I forgot to measure so I'm just using my BBL week 4 results since they were taken just a few days before hand so they should be close. I did weigh myself though.

Start                           End
Weight 112.0              109.8
Waist 25.5"                 25
Hips 32"                     32
Butt 36"                      36
Thighs 20"                  20

Overall it's not too bad because it's only for 3 days. I was a little hungry. I wanted ice cream and wine and chocolate but feel this is an easy way to get a lot of fruits and veggies into your diet so you get use to eating more of them and develop a craving for them.

Just a side note... you might gain the weight back in the days following the refresh. I did. Granted the 1st day afterwards I ate A LOT of carbs but I ate better on the second day. I weighed myself on the 3rd morning and was a little sad to see the scale back at 111.8. It definitely has taught me that yes you can lose weight with it and maybe you'll be able to keep it off but in reality it's more of a way to flush out your system and get it ready to eat healthier. It taught me how to time out my meals and shows me that I need to vary my diet some more.

BBL Week 4 Results

Did I really just finish 1/2 of the Brazil Butt Lift program?! Time has flown by!

This week I've been adamant about sticking to my calorie goal and did well. It's really not too hard when you meal plan. (What? Meal planning helps?? Who knew!? haha) I've been eating a lot of fruits and salads but still have carbs because bread is yummy and the easiest to break down into energy. I've also added another protein shake in for lunch which helps keep me feeling full. I actually lost 2lbs!!

I tried Beachbody's Shakeology this week for the first time. A friend of mine gave me a packet of the vanilla and I decided to make a pina colada. The recipe calls for 1/2C pineapple juice, 1/2C water, and 1/2t coconut extract. Mix that with a scoop/packet of vanilla Shakeology and some ice and voila! I was expecting something spectacular considering all the great things I've heard about Shakeology but was disappointed. It wasn't bad but it wasn't something to write home about. I ordered the chocolate one with the 3 Day Refresh (which finally shipped) so hopefully that one is better.

I also tried mixing EAS Vanilla with black coffee. Don't. Ever. Do. That. It's the most disgusting thing in the world! I suffered through it but will never do that again! Maybe someone likes it but I certainly don't.

I wasn't sure if I should continue on the classic schedule or move to something else. I don't feel I need to lift at all and thought about slim and shape to get rid of excess fat. I think I'm going to stick with the classic for now but might change it up some and maybe even add in extra workouts on my rest days (if I feel like it). Today was my rest day but I tried Insanity Max30 Sweat to fill up my Apple Watch rings. Oh my! That's a serious workout!! My watch said I burned 209 calories in 30 minutes! I actually took a cold shower afterwards and I like my showers as hot as a hot tub.

Updated Stats:
Weight 113.4lbs 111.4
BMI 19.8 19.7
Waist 25.5"
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20.5" 20"

Start vs Week 4

BBL Week 3 Results

Week 3 is done! I can't believe I'm almost 1/2 way through already! I don't think I've ever stuck to an exercise plan for more than a week if I'm being honest. It's hard to find time but it's worth it if it's important to you.

The exercises get easier each time I do them. That doesn't mean they're not challenging. I hate the circle leg lifts in high and tight. They hurt so much. Oh. I should mention that I have to modify a few of the exercises, mainly sit ups and such, because I have a fused spine and physically can't do them. It's important to push yourself but know your limits. You don't want to injure yourself and have to start all over.

I started eating 1.5C of strawberries every day. I love fruits and raw veggies (can't do them cooked) and strawberries are my favorite. It's costly to purchase a lb package every other day but it's a great snack that doesn't have a lot of calories.

My weight is back to starting and I haven't seen any inches lost this week. That's ok thought because my diet is still sucky and I've noticed I'm in better cardio shape. I've noticed a slight change in my butt shape so maybe I'll pass the pencil test soon.

On a side note, my niece has become a Beachbody coach and started a challenge group for next month! We're going to suffer through complete the 3 Day Refresh. I'm excited to get that in the mail and have a support system knowing that others are doing the same thing.

Updated Stats:
Weight 114.2 lbs 113.4
BMI 19.9 19.8
Waist 25.5"
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20.5"

BBL Week 2 Results

Week 2 of Brazil Butt Lift had longer workout combos which meant getting up 30 minutes earlier at 5am. I got my new resistance bands in and the light one is still too easy so I'm on the medium. It definitely requires work but I know the results will be better than if I take it easy. I'm hating the tricep exercises in sculpt but am trying my best. It's easier to follow along this week but bum bum is still very challenging. Way too many squats and lunges for me but I try my best.

As far as eating right goes, I've completely failed at that. I have no control if there's sweets around so I finished off what was left in the house. I haven't had soda in a while because it makes me break out and it's a lot easier to not drink it now. I hate drinking water but have been really diligent about getting my ounces in. I have a water bottle that is 1/2 of what I need in a day so it's easy to measure out.

Due to eating way over my calorie goal, I've gained weight this week. It could also be my scale. It's digital and, being a scientist, I don't trust it if it's not calibrated regularly. I was able to lose a few inches though.

Updated Stats:
Weight 113.6 114.2
BMI 19.8 19.9
Waist 26" 25.75
Hips 32"
Butt 36.5" 36
Thighs 20.75" 20.5

BBL Week 1 Results

Brazil Butt Lift week 1 is complete!! I've been following the classic schedule but an older version than what came with the DVDs. This one has more exercises per day so I figured I'd give it my all. The schedule can be found here:http://i0.wp.com/www.beachreadynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/classic-program-schedule-brazil-butt-lift.jpg I found the resistance band that came with the program a little loose so I ordered a set of 4 and can't wait for them to come in. I started with 5lb weights for sculpt and definitely feel it! Occasionally I'd switch to the 1.5 lb ankle weights that I've been using for high and tight.

I'm not really a meat eater and am super picky so a lot of the meals in the meal plan don't appeal to me. I started off good and stuck to my calories for about 3 days then slowly kept adding more and more sweets. If it's in the house, I'm going to eat it. I found these awesome coconut cookies and made my own. Only 50 calories each! Great if you eat just 1 instead of 5 or 10... I didn't think the recipe would make 75! I finished them off (so they wouldn't be in the house) and tried to stick to the plan again.

To up my protein I've started having a protein shake (Vega Clean Vanilla) after each workout/for breakfast since I usually workout in the morning. That's another story. I love to sleep in as much as possible with a toddler but have been waking up at 5:30 to make sure I get my workouts in. It's hard but comes with an amazing feeling of accomplishment knowing that I'm done for the day. Sure beats waiting until the end of the day and not wanting to do anything.

I failed the pencil test but didn't expect to pass it. I did lose 0.2 lbs 1" from my hips and 0.25" from my thighs so it's something.

Updated Stats:
Weight 113.8lbs 113.6
BMI 19.8
Waist 26"
Hips 33" 32"
Butt 36.5"
Thighs 21" 20.75"

Supermodel Slim Down

I attempted the Supermodel Slim Down and did the workouts and ate well... for 1 day. Needless to say, my results aren't noticeable because I didn't stick to the meal plan. It was a good way to get introduced to the workouts though.

My starting stats are as follows:
Weight 113.8lbs
BMI 19.8
Waist 26"
Hips 33"
Butt 36.5"
Thighs 21"

And here's the super embarrassing starting pictures for the entire world to see. Yay...

Here's to a better first week.