If you are familiar at all with Beachbody, then I'm sure you have heard about Shakeology. For those of you that haven't, this is the company's protein/meal replacement/nutrition shake designed to supplement the workout programs and provide maximum results. Or, at least, that is how it is advertised. They also like to say that it "tastes like a dessert, but it's the healthiest meal of the day." It is advertised on every Beachbody workout program from the 21 Day Fix to Insanity. The real question is, does it actually work or is this just another fitness scam?
What's in Shakeology?
Here's the crazy thing, it's actually pretty difficult to find the nutrition label on the Shakeology website. When you click on the ingredients section, it lists general categories (protein, fiber, hunger blockers, etc.), but it doesn't actually give you a listing of ingredients. However, in a few of their ads on the workout programs (specifically Piyo), it starts to list out a lot of ingredients that it contains and the cost associated with purchasing them individually (you know, if you wanted to make the shake on your own).
I do highly recommend looking the ingredients list over if you have any sort of allergy or dietary restriction. I have some gastrointestinal issues and it was recommended that I try the vegan shakes first and start off with half a serving to see how it would affect me. I usually have an issue with these kind of shakes and supplements, so I tried it this way first. I was surprised with how it didn't cause my situation to get worse. It actually helped. I switched over to the non-vegan shakes and had better results, digestive-wise.
How about those claims?
I really only want to address three claims made by Beachbody about Shakeology. The first of which is weight loss. They don't claim that this is a weight loss drink, but that it can help aid in weight loss by acting as a meal replacement and provided the nutrition your body needs to function properly. Originally, I was skeptical. After all, I had been pulled in by Juice Plus before and found it didn't work as claimed. I also found that It Works is nothing but a scam. However, I gave it a shot on my 30 challenge.
I do want to make a little side note here. They advertise Shakeology as a meal replacement shake on it's own, however, I disagree with this. It only contains 160 calories, which is definitely not enough to be a meal. The very least a meal replacement shake should be is around 250 calories. When you are already on a calorie deficit (in my case, from following the weight loss meal plan included with the Piyo program), it is important to have the proper amount of calories at each meal consistently throughout the day. So, I always mixed my Shakeology with other foods to increase the calorie content and improve the flavor (more on the flavor later).
So, continuing on the previous topic, I drank Shakeology everyday for thirty days while doing the scheduled Piyo workouts six days a week. I was able to lose 13 pounds in the first month! This was absolutely extraordinary to me. I have tried so hard to lose weight for the past three years, and I never seemed to be able to lose more than three or four pounds. 13 was simply mind-blowing. However, I wasn't sure what to attribute my success to. Was it the diet change, the exercise, the Shakeology, or all three?
So, for the last month of my Piyo workout, I actually stopped drinking Shakeology. It was the more intense month of Piyo, so I figured I would continue to see progress without the shake as long as I kept my nutrition in line. Well, my progress actually slowed down. I only lost three pounds in the last month. That was a huge change in momentum from when I was drinking Shakeology. So, in my opinion, yes, Shakeology did make a difference. I don't think it is a weight loss drink the way Slimfast is advertised, but I do believe it allowed me to maximize my results because it worked as a supplement to my workout and diet routine.
The second claim I wanted to briefly address was it's claim to increase energy. I wanted to talk about this one because it is really important to me. I am always feeling like I am in need of energy and find that most things I tried made me crash. However, after a couple of days drinking Shakeology, I was noticing an increase in energy from the time I woke up and it lasted throughout the whole day. It allowed me to have the energy to exercise after work when, normally, I would want to just lay on the couch and rest.
During the time I stopped drinking Shakeology, that extra boost of energy drained away. I wanted to go back to laying on the couch after work. Getting up to exercise became a chore again. Shakeology's claim is spot on for increasing energy.
The last claim I want to speak about is the taste. This is the claim that bothers me the most. They advertise it as "tasting like a dessert." My niece, who is a coach and has been drinking Shakeology for the past three years, swore it was the most delicious thing ever.
Well, my taste buds must be broken, because I must humbly disagree. It does NOT taste like a dessert, at least to me. I tried the Vegan Chocolate, Vegan Strawberry, non-vegan Chocolate, non-Vegan Vanilla, and non-vegan Cafe Latte. That is five out of the seven flavors offered. None of them tasted like a dessert. With as many as 74 ingredients, it's no wonder that it is difficult to mask that vitamin flavor. They don't taste horrible, just not as good as it is advertised.
However, this can easily be remedied by mixing Shakeology with other ingredients. Each flavor comes with a recipe card that contains 30 different recipes. I tried several recipes and I found that I could easily make it taste like a dessert with a little blending. There was one recipe that made the Vegan Chocolate taste exactly like a cinnamon roll (the ingredients in that would surprise you) and mixing fruit with the Vegan Strawberry made it taste like a smoothie.
My favorite flavor wound up being the Cafe Latte. I added a shot of espresso to it and blended it with ice, which is all it needed to boost the flavor enough to make it taste exactly like an iced coffee. Occasionally, I would add a little vanilla or hazelnut extract to give myself some variety. I also found that coffee mixed well with the Vanilla and Chocolate Shakeology.
So, is it worth the price?
A 30 day supply of Shakeology can run you around $130, if you purchase the bag. If you purchase the individual servings, then you only get 24. It breaks down to about $4.33 a serving. That's less than what I typically spend on Starbucks. However, there is a way to get this for less than $100. More on that in a minute.
I know cost can be the most important factor when it comes to trying something new. Shakeology runs in the middle of the cost scale when looking at shakes with similar benefits and ingredients. The one thing that sets Shakeology apart is the amount of healthy ingredients it contains. You won't find all of the ingredients contained within Shakeology in another shake.
The best part about Shakeology is that it actually works. I tried 30 days with Shakeology and 30 days without, the difference between those two experiences has me convinced that this is the best way to maximize results with a healthy eating plan and workout routine. It's not a miracle pill, it won't make you lose weight alone. However, combining it with a proper diet and consistent workout routine you WILL see results.
The second best part? It comes with a 30 money back guarantee. If you get it, try it out for 30 days, then decide that it's just not working for you, you can get your money back. That's an amazing deal and truly what pushed me over the edge into giving it a shot. However, I didn't need my money back because I had AMAZING results within the first week and they just continued to build over the first month.
A Discount You Say?
Now, there is a way to get Shakeology at a discount. Normally, you would pay $130 for Shakeology, plus about $15 in shipping. That comes to around $145 for a months supply (note that I am rounding). If you want to save a little money, I recommend doing what I did, become a Beachbody Discount Coach! This is honestly your best deal. Not only will you get Shakeology for around $97, you also get a discounted shipping rate of just $2.00! That brings it down to about $3.30 a serving.
Also, you get 25% off of all Beachbody merchandise! That means you can try out any of the programs that Beachbody offers for less! There is also free shipping on some wearable merchandise, and the ability to purchase the seven day sample pack for around $27. This will give you the ability to try all of the flavors and find out which is your favorite before continuing with a full months supply. I know, once you find that flavor you like, you will be hooked on this amazing power drink. It's also fun to play around with ingredients to make some delicious mixes.
As a Discount Coach, you will have the ability to sell Beachbody products, but you don't have to. However, I'm sure as you see results and share them with your fiends and family, they too will want to try out what you are doing. For every item you sell, you earn a nice commission. If you sell Shakeology to three people, your commission will completely cover your own Shakeology. So there is a benefit in selling, but I completely understand if you would rather not and just collect the discount. This is exactly how I started out.
Keep in mind, there is a $40 start up fee. This will cover the cost of start up materials that will be sent out to you. However, there is a way to get this reimbursed. More on that below. Also, there is a $15 a month maintenance fee, but combine that will the other discounts you are receiving and it is still cheaper to signup as a Discount Coach to get your Shakeology and other programs. Below I explain how to get the best deal.
The Best Way to Get the Best Deal
Here is the best plan of action that I recommend. Sign up as a Beachbody Discount Coach. You can do so here. Fill out all of the forms and hit continue. Now, while you are filling these out, you will come across a page that offers a lot of items you can add on. These include samples of other products or promotional materials. I recommend grabbing one of the packs of samples if you are interested in trying more products or interested in selling. If all you want is to try Shakeology and a workout program at a discounted rate, then ignore the items at the top of the list and scroll somewhere near the bottom to find the challenge packs.
As a Beachbody Discount Coach, you are ineligible for Challenge Packs (a combination Shakeology and workout program offered at a discount). This is your last chance to grab one and, the best part, since you are signing up as a Coach, you are getting a discount on the Challenge Pack and you will get your $40 reimbursed. This is the only way to get that fee waived, which is why I recommend this. Choose the workout program you are interested in, then when the option for Shakeology pops up, chose your flavor for that discount. It's that simple.
Why is this the best deal? You get the coach discount on the workout program and Shakeology, a deal on shipping, and the sign up fee waived! Also, for any future purchase, you receive 25% off!
If you have any questions on how to do this, feel free to contact me. I'm always happy to help!
The other deal you can get, without signing up as a coach, is to just purchase the challenge pack. You purchase Shakeology at the normal price, but get a workout program for a discount. For the month of June, they are offering the 21 Day Fix for only $10 with a purchase of Shakeology. You will get the workouts, the set of portion control containers, an awesome shaker bottle, and a months supply of Shakeology! This is what I started with when I tried The 21 Day Fix. You still get the same 30 money back guarantee, but I think you will be happy with your results from the 21 Day Fix. Also, if you purchase it through this link, you will get a bonus workout.
Or, if you want all of the above, plus the 3 Day Kickstart (an excellent way to kick yourself into gear) you and do so here.
If you are interested in the challenge packs, but want to check out Piyo, Insanity, or a different program, check it out here. Remember, by going through these links, you will receive a bonus workout DVD.
A little fun twist to the challenge packs. Once you have completed the challenge, submit your before and after photos to receive a FREE t-shirt! Also, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win cash prizes! I love a good contest!
As you can see, from my experience, I can conclude that Shakeology is not a scam. I had amazing results with it and I know you can to. It takes consistency, eating right, and a little exercise and you too will feel great and reach your own personal goals.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I look forward to sharing my experiences and I hope you will join me on the journey to fitness.
-Dian
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