Pregnancy Supplements + Why I’m Not Drinking Shakeology While Pregnant
(Tom has taken over as the Shakology fanatic in the house for now)
When I found out we were expecting, it was like there was an obvious list of things to do/change/continue:
-Skip nightly glass o’ red. Check.
-Stop saving cookie dough batter for myself. (Make vegan cookie dough instead and everyone wins haha)
-Continue taking prenatal vitamins and add DHA
-Heat up deli meat
-Continue exercising/moving, as long as it feels good
-Eat a vegetable when I don’t feel like death on a stick
and there are the more subtle nuances… the things that I kind of wonder about, but usually end up skipping if I’m uncertain or don’t get a clear answer from the midwives.
-What kind of protein powder can I have?
-Can I still drink kombucha? It’s healthy bacteria, but aren’t there trace amounts of alcohol? (Midwife said she didn’t know, midwife friend said she thinks it’s NBD)
-What about sushi? I’d smear some wasabi on a sashimi plate and destroy it in about 4 seconds. (This source says it’s perfectly fine if the fish comes from a good source, but my midwife today told me n-o. Sushi dreams, crushed.)
-What about when I wake up on my back in the middle of the night? (Midwife said I don’t need to worry about that until the third trimester -YESSSSSS- and even then, it’s NBD.)
-How safe are my current supplements? I took a look at which ones I was already taking and decided, based on my midwife’s advice, what I needed to start taking and what I needed to lose.
What I’m Taking for Pregnancy Supplements
-Iron: My blood tests showed I was slightly anemic, so it’s back on the Floradix
for this girl. Confession: I really like the taste of it. It has a beautiful fruity, floral taste.
-Vitamins: Food-based Prenatals
<— I take these all the time
-DHA: Currently, I take this DHA
and I also like this one
-Cod Liver Oil: Fermented Cod Liver Oil
is supposed to have awesome benefits for mama and baby (this was a gift from Whitney!).
I take 1 prenatal, 1 DHA and 1 fermented cod oil capsule each night.
The Rundown on Protein Powder While Pregnant
As far as the protein powder goes, I’ve been skipping out on my beloved Shakeology for some different options and am not having protein smoothies nearly as often as I used to. There are a couple of protein powders I’m still using in the meantime (the occasional Vega, plain vanilla hemp from Trader Joe’s, Daily Burn Fuel-6), but I’ve been trying to add other protein-rich whole foods, like hemp seeds, chia, almond butter or nuts, cooking an egg in my oatmeal, or adding Greek goat’s yogurt to a smoothie. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about this one, so I thought I’d share my choice about why I decided to skip it for now, and pick up with it sometime after the baby is born.
I definitely think it’s worth noting that quite a few women I know have taken Shakeology while pregnant and nursing and have beautiful, healthy babies. I’ve never been one to judge or care what other moms and humans put into their bodies, and just wanted to share why I don’t think it’s a great choice for me. It’s up to all of us to use our best judgment, research, ask questions, and make decisions that support our needs and the needs of our families. <3 If you have any questions about supplements or protein powder while pregnant, talk to you doctor or midwife, k?
Here is the list of ingredients for the vegan chocolate Shakeology (which tastes like a dreamy chocolate dessert and is PACKED with nutrition).
At first you might be like “WHOA, that ingredient list is as long as my arm,” which was my first thought. If you check out the ingredients, you’ll see that it’s a mix of vegan proteins, superfoods and herbs. In daily life, I am all about this stuff. I love the energy and nutrition boosts that herbs and superfoods provide, and I find Shakeology to be a satisfying and energizing drink.
Here’s Why I’m Skipping Shakeology While Pregnant
The hormonal effects of herbs
This is the big one for me. When I was pregnant with Liv, the midwife told me to be very cautious about the types of herbs I was taking. I was taking two at the time (from my homeopathic doctor) and they removed one from my treatment because they said it could potentially affect the baby. She raved about the herbs in this homemade pregnancy tea (one of my faves), but said that as far as anything else goes, to talk to them first. Many of the herbs included in Shakeology have hormonal effects on the body, particularly maca (can affect hormones, energy and sex drive), camu-camu (can increase energy and aid with depression), ashwagandha (a variety of uses including decreasing anxiety, promoting good sleep, increasing fertility), and moringa (used to prevent pregnancy…). Anything that can alter our body’s hormonal system makes me nervous while someone else is residing in there. I’m sure it could be fine, but I’m just not comfortable with it for now.
It’s not organic
This has always been my #1 problem with Shakeology -don’t get me wrong, I still drink it, and a LOT of non-organic food is consumed up in here- but I think for the price you pay (it’s about $127 without the coach’s discount), I think it should be organic, especially since I’m sure many of these ingredients are sourced internationally. It contains all of these beautiful ingredients and superfoods, which could be sprayed heavily with pesticides and herbicides. I have no idea.
Too much of a good thing
Shakeology is also pumped full of vitamins, and I’m already taking my prenatal. Incredibly high levels of certain vitamins can have negative effects, so I feel like if I were to take it, it would be in lieu instead of in addition to the prenatal. I showed the bag to a couple of friends (one is an RD and the other is an ER nurse, and they both said they would not take it while pregnant and aim for a prenatal instead).
So there ya go! I’d love to hear any supplement stories, or cravings and aversions from my pregnant friends! Friends sans kids, do you take any vitamins or supplements or just aim to get it from food?
xoxo
Gina
*In full transparency, I am a Beachbody coach, but do not sell the products on the blog at this time. <3
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I love the taste of Shakeology, but for me it caused major bloating. I realized it was the Stevia which was causing me issues. Just a heads up for anyone who might be experiencing the same issue.
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one with an intolerance to stevia! For me, the symptoms are like my lactose intolerance, but about 20 times worse. Which is a bummer- because there aren’t a lot of natural no-calorie sweeteners out there, and so many “healthier” products are now being made with stevia. I’ve brought this up so many times, and I get the weirdest reactions. No one understands how something as seemingly innocuous as an herb could cause such a severe reaction. For me– a tiny bit, a sip of stevia sweetened drink, and I’m sick for 2 days.
Hi Gina! I am 35 weeks along and while I have never tried Shakeology, I have been craving smoothies/fruity drinks all the time! I was wondering if you knew whether chia seeds are OK to eat while pregnant? My doc said she wasn’t sure and the websites I have looked at seem divided… I love to add them to my smoothies and make pudding with them but have been avoiding them just in case! Sometimes it seems like the list of foods to avoid goes on and on (and on…) Thanks!
Oh man, I hadn’t heard that before! What do they say is wrong with eating chia seeds?
I haven’t come across anything really negative just that they aren’t recommended because not enough research has been done on their effects on babies… but other websites say they are a superfood and great for hydration.
i haven’t heard anything negative about having them while pregnant… and i’ve been eating more chia pudding than ever. it tastes so good with berries and cinnamon
I’m 27 weeks and missing sushi so much too! I stopped taking fermented cod liver oil when I got pregnant because I heard you weren’t supposed to take it when you’re pregnant – am I completely wrong about that? I would love to be able to start taking that again!
were you taking regular or fermented?
Fermented
It has retinol as the Vitamin A source, not Beta Carotene. Retinol is toxic during pregnancy.
I know it’s not the same, but veggie rolls are a good sub for sushi! You can still smother it in wasabi, too. 🙂
that is very true! at a place here they have the hippie roll which is tempeh and veggies, so that will quell the beast 😉
Hi Gina! Congratulations on doing what feels right and then blogging about it – I get freaked out by the sheer amount of people who comment on anything regarding pregnancy and how I raise my kids. I can’t imagine announcing things publicly for people to ‘discuss.’ You are brave.
As for protein product, I love this one:http://www.amazon.com/Orgain-Organic-Protein-Plant-Based-Chocolate/dp/B00J074W94/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430263686&sr=8-1&keywords=orgain+organic+protein+powder
They sell it at my local Costco for 29.99. I’m curious what you might think of the product. Not for use now, obviously, but in general – if it’s any good. I’ll check back in about a year, perhaps longer? 😉
I had to share this protein powder just because I hate protein powder and I can tolerate this one. Blessings! – J
<3
as far as the protein goes, it looks awesome. i've heard great things about it, too! xox
Hey Gina! Just curious – what did you end up deciding about the kombucha? I think it’s great that you report on what you are currently trying and experimenting with in your diet and health regimes. Very interesting!
i’m going to have some, but just keep it in small doses and occasional. i trust my midwife friend more than the midwife i saw today about nutrition.
From what I understand most mainstream brands have alter cultures to minimize the bacteria that create alcohol. So I would think it would only be a concern if you are getting homebrewed kombucha. I wouldn’t think it would be that much of an issue on the basis that alcohol usually only effects babies when taken in large quantities. I know some doctors are starting to get more laid back about pregnant women drinking a glass or two… but most people do not since there is a huge social stigma and because they just don’t want to risk it anyways.
I’m not expecting, but two of my smarty-pants girlfriends were talking about a book called Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong. It breaks down a lot of the studies that have led US pregnancy rules that the media really feeds into. Whenever I make recommendations, I feel so spam-y, but it looks like a good book 🙂
I second this book! Very interesting.
i will definitely check it out! thank you!
I think more doctors are starting to take the “if it feels good approach” with what to eat or not to eat. There is so much information out there, and from the comments alone, you can see there are conflicting information. Some I get a sigh of relief when I hear science journals back it up (like dying your hair is fine apparently!). Sometimes I think doctors are overly cautious with recommendations, or don’t read the newest studies, which is a common problem.
I also stopped Shakeology as soon as I found out I was pregnant. A lot of herbs in there have questionable effects on fetal development.
I definitely had some kombucha this past weekend! First bottle since conceiving. I sipped it slowly over the course of the day.
I they can hurt a fetus, wouldn’t you think they’d be harmful to you as well?
That’s a good question! Some substances (e.g. listeria, toxoplasmosis, certain herbs and medications) affect fetuses differently than adults because fetuses are going through such a rapid process of organogenesis and development, and continual cell division (especially in the first three months of pregnancy). Once all of the organs are formed (as in adults and full term babies) it’s a totally different ball game in terms of how your body reacts to things.
No, not necessarily. It depends on your specific concern with the product. There are lots of whole, nutritious foods that pose unique risks to pregnant women and developing fetuses (like sashimi and unpasteurized dairy). And with herbs, we just don’t always know what the side effects might be. An herb that causes your uterus to contract, for example, would be no big deal for a non-pregnant woman, but could pose a risk to a woman who is pregnant and nowhere near ready to deliver.
i’m totally picking some up tomorrow
Hi! quick question on the prenatals :: i have been taking the same kind organic pnv, and i’m curious as to why you take one of them {read:: not attacking, not judging ;)}. i read on the bottle to take 3 of the pills per day, so i’m super curious as to how you arrived at the decision to take one. i have a 9 month old and am nursing, so i take them, but don’t always take the 3 either. i’d love to know if one is sufficient!
i’ve always just taken one, but you’re right, the full dose is 3. my blood levels have always been good (minus the iron), so for me, i think 1 has worked. i like to see it as insurance for getting the nutrients i need, but i try to get everything i can from food and hopefully that fills in the gaps
thanks for the input! makes sense!
Similarly, I was reading the link you posted about the fermented cod liver oil, and it says that pregnant women should take 16 capsules per day. Are you getting much of anything by only taking one? I was shocked when I read 16 – you would be done with that bottle in a week!
I definitely thought you WEREN’T supposed to take cod liver oil while pregnant. I looked into it when I was in Iceland recently–because everyone there takes it daily from a very young age–and decided not to get on it because starting a family is in my near future. The studies i looked at talked about too much vitamin A being bad for pregnancy, and increased risk of gestational hypertension.
Just wondering–does the fermented cod liver oil make a difference? I’m interested!
I am also curious about this! : ) I also thought high doses of Vitamin A is bad fore pregnancy?
yep, it does make a difference! here’s a great post with FAQs: http://balancedbites.com/2013/02/faqs-all-about-fermented-cod-liver-oil-and-why-i-dont-take-fish-oil.html
Hi Gina,
You said you take 1 prenatal at night… does that mean you only take 1 prenatal a day? If so, is there a reason you do this instead of the recommended dose of 3 a day? Just curious. Also, I wanted to start taking this now even though I am not pregnant yet, but wondering if you were taking 3 a day before you were pregnant? Do you think 3 a day is necessary? Thanks!
Dakota
This probably depends on which prenatal you are taking. One capsule of mine has 100% of the daily allowance of Folic acid and DHA and 150% for iron. 3x that much iron in one day would be bad news bears!!!
i only take one, but the dosage is 3. i’ve always only taken one so i guess it’s a habit + weird thing i have about taking pills? i see vitamins as filling in the gaps for nutrients i don’t get through diet, so i’ve always just taken 1
Hi Gina! Did you drink shakeology when you were trying to get pregnant? Or did you just stop once you found out you were?
I am wondering the same, but want to TTC again, so thinking of not even starting Shakeology:=
i drank it until i found out i was pregnant
HI, I’ve been a BB Coach for 3 years, been using Shakeology since then when I wanted to lose weight after my second son was born. I used it while nursing and losing weight. I successfully lost 50 pounds with Beachbody workouts, meal plans and Shakeology. I’ve been trying to get pregnant again for almost a year. With NO problem getting pregnant with my previous 2 children, this time it is NOT happening and it has been frustrating. I had a miscarriage about 6 months ago, and stopped shakeology for about a month when I found out I was till after the miscarriage. I have also known BB coaches to use it while pregnant and have healthy babies so I guess I’ve been in denial no wanting to give it up. My doc recommended to not use it only because it is ‘unknown’ and ‘unstudied’, which meant nothing to me so I kept using it. A friend of mine who is into herbs/nutrition told me this may be the reason I’m not getting pregnant because there are so many herbs in it that affect hormones, thyroid, ph,etc. I’m normal/regular and always have been, so maybe its throwing me off somehow that I’m not aware. IDK! Anyway I’m going to wean off shakeology/quit and hope to get pregnant!! Thankyou for your honest and sincere post!
Megan, I know this thread is old, but I’m wondering if you were able to get pregnant since stopping shakeology? I’m a BB coach and have been trying to get pregnant with baby #3. I’ve been wondering if shakeology is affecting my ability to get pregnant?
Thank you!
Jenny
I am curious if you were able to get pregnant. I’m in your same situation so desperately wanting our #4.
I found out I was pregnant with baby #2 the week after you had Liv, and I just found out on Saturday that baby #3 is on the way!!! Can’t wait to follow along again 🙂
NO WAYYYYY! ahhhh! so excited for you, and excited to be preggie buddies for a little while 🙂
So many pregnancy comments and questions! I know when I have kids it is going to be super overwhelming with all the information out there. I’m glad no one is blasting you for whatever choices you are making; I hate when people start judging others for how they raise their kids or what they do during pregnancy. I think you have good reasons to skip the Shakeology for the time being and thanks for sharing why!
xo!
Thank you so much for sharing!!!! I’m actually going to purchase some Cod liver oil this weekend 🙂 I’m prego toO! Do you usually continue taking it after pregnancy too?
i will probably take it while breastfeeding too, to see if it helps with supply stuff
I’ve been wondering about Koombucha too, but my doctor said it’s ok in moderation!
Sounds like you have really thought and researched things and are taking a good approach. So much worry when pregnant… At least for me both times! Lots of conflicting information out there. I’d rather play it safe if something is questionable.
same! you’re right- there’s so much information out there!
Thanks for your honesty!
Question about the glass of nightly wine…I would love to have a glass of wine on various nights, but am afraid of wasting it. Did you ever do boxed wine? Or did you just use whatever from the bottle and that’s that?
cork it!
we would each have a glass and cork it for the next night. it’s still fresh the next day! i wouldn’t drink it the day after that though
also, some companies make mini bottles; they’re the perfect size for one hefty glass
You replied! Thank you – I know it’s not an easy thing to keep up with all of our questions. 🙂
I guess everyone has their own opinion of taking Shakeology while pregnant. My Wife drank this every morning while pregnant and passed every test with flying colors, where some of her friends had problems. Neither one of us got the flu shot and neither one of us got sick. When the baby was born she came out absolutely beautiful and again passed every new born test with flying colors. Even her heart test she scored a 100% which is extremely rare the Nurse said.
The funny thing is, all these ingredients are all natural and have a great effect on the body. Ever heard of Bolthouse 10 Superfruit + Acaci? It’s got some of the same fruits and berries as Shakeology does sold at Whole Foods. Would you stop drinking that if you bought this at Whole Foods?
Again it’s your decision to stop, but knowing what I know about foods and the nutrients and effects on the human body, I made sure she drank this while pregnant for the health benefits for both her and the baby.
Can I ask why you prefer goat dairy over cow dairy? I love both so I was just wondering if there was a nutritional reason why you skip the cow.
I know some people skip cows milk over goats because the chemical structure of goats milk is more similar to humans. Because of this some people think it is better for our system. I also know that some people who are lactose intolerant tend to digest goats milk better. This could be because of many reasons, goats milk has smaller fat molecules and lower levels of casein.
In a taste aspect, I remember goats milk being saltier than cows milk. This could be because of diet (no seriously, it effects milk taste so much!). Because of the saltiness, I find it better to use to savory foods.
I’m 23 weeks preggo with #2 and I’m using Arbonne Vanilla Protein (http://www.arbonnemarketing.com/PK/dl/pk/2070_us_eng.pdf). I didn’t with my first but I decided to with my second as it’s part of my morning breakfast routine. I’m using one scoop (serving size is 2) and add spinach, bananas, coconut milk, and almond butter.
For me, it has helped me stay in the mindset that life is normal as usual (yes, I’m growing a person) but sometimes it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the hype of what-to-do/what-not-to-do.
I also went way overboard with #1 so I’m being mindful of my weight gain, exercise, etc with #2. Everything is a personal decision and it’s frustrating sometimes when people think they can comment/say things to me just because I’m pregnant. (For the record I have eaten sushi from a good/verified source and have had a glass of wine a few times since being preggo.)
I also work out in the morning now and the protein shake helps keep me going until my mid-morning snack. I feel better and I don’t crave carbs as much when I have my shake.
Thank you so much for posting this entry – you are very brave! I love your blog and I’m so happy for you and the fam 🙂
Can I ask another vitamin-related question? Does Olivia take a children’s vitamin? I’ve got two-year-old twins who definitely are not as into veggies as she seems to be, and I’m starting to wonder if they should be taking one. If you’ve used a brand that she likes, I’d love a recommendation!
she was taking gummy vitamins from whole foods -can’t remember the brand but i liked the ingredients- but we’re currently out. i need to pick up some more!
Interesting! I don’t drink shakeology but good to know.
One of my friends is currently pregnant and is eating sushi. Obviously I am not a doctor and you should listen to yours. I didn’t eat sushi when I was pregnant either but she says that her doctor is not that concerned with it. Another interesting perspective!
So funny that you like the taste of Floradix because I think it tastes like blood. 🙂 But it works!
#secretlyavampire
LOVE this! When I first got pregnant (I’m 36 weeks now) I was SO overwhelmed with all of the information out there regarding supplements. Even all of the sites that I would consider more medically legitimate (i.e. APA, CDC) had differing information! I’ve even found that among the OBs at my doctor’s office, they all have slightly different opinions on things, because the reality is that there is no exact answer out there. But I love your thoughts on what you are taking and why you stopped taking Shakeology. I truly think that it’s a personal decision that has got to come down to what your medical team feels is important, and what YOU feel is best for you and your baby. Thanks so much for sharing!
Not currently pregnant (I had my first in 2012 and my second in 2014). My husband has Type 1 diabetes, so we really make what our family eats a priority. It’s very important to us to eat well-balanced, healthy meals, and for us to get our nutrients from food.
Shakeology is classified as a supplement by the FDA. I don’t take supplements for two reasons: first, there is no research proving their efficacy. Second, there is no FDA oversight. As you note, high levels of vitamins can have really negative health effects, for both mother and baby, and playing chicken with unregulated stuff isn’t a risk I am comfortable taking, especially when I was pregnant.
I like Michael Pollan’s attitude: Eat real food (i.e. would your grandparents be able to identify it?), not too much, mostly plants. 🙂
As usual, I admire your good common sense approach, Gina!
love that you share your thoughts and feelings with us during ur pregnancy! interesting read 🙂
I REALLY appreciate you writing this post! I have seen beach body coaches that are preggo drinking it and feed it to their kids, and while, like you said, that’s fine and dandy, it’s also nice to see another side questioning the ingredients on unborn bodies and, in my opinion, tiny people too. And I still can’t wrap my mind around Shakeology price tag. If I drank it and a six pack popped up on my stomach, I’d give them all my monies 😉 but if it can’t do that, I’d rather purchase whole foods and protein powder that tastes like a milkshake :p
Hi Gina! I’m in the midst of looking for a protein powder and couldn’t remember if you said you stopped taking sunwarrior because of other reasons other than the price. If you stopped for other reasons, could you explain why because I trust your judgement!
i stopped because i didn’t eat a ton of it while i was pregnant with liv, and then after she was born, since i’d weaned myself basically away form using tons of stevia, the stevia taste was really strong for me. i used it occasionally since then and still think the ingredients are great! my stevia tolerance has just changed a little
I was worried about it being too sweet so thank you for answering!!
no prob! yes, it’s very sweet
I’m not pregnant, but I definitely admire you for doing what feels best for you and your growing baby. Like you, I prefer to get my nutrients from whole foods. I’m also obsessed with chia seeds – I add a huge spoonful to my overnight oats every morning. Love the crunchy texture! 🙂 I need to try your chia pudding recipe ASAP. I know it’s something I would love.
This is a great post, Gina! I really appreciate all the useful info even though I am not pregnant. It does make me want to buy Shakeology though
Hey Gina! Congratulations again! What are your thoughts on Sun Warrior?!
i think sun warrior is great! the stevia taste is a little too strong for me right now though
I’ve looked into Shakeology and I think it’s superfood overload. Like you said, many of those herbs have hormonal effects and that’s not worth a risk while pregnant or TTC. I’ve also learned that stevia is not great when trying to get pregnant.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, much appreciated!
i heard mixed opinions about stevia, so i’ve really minimized it. i add maple syrup to my coffee in my preg state 🙂
I tried a Shakeology shake and couldn’t get past the taste. I was very surprised- I found it bitter and hard to swallow. I didn’t expect to have that reaction. I’ve done the Isagenix shakes for 5 years, but I stayed away from their Cleanse & Detox products for similar reasons to yours, Gina- I was concerned about anything that can affect our hormones while nursing. Anyway… I was surprised at my reaction to the Shakeology… But I often feel that if something literally doesn’t taste right, it may not be right for my body. Good for you on listening to your intuition combined with research, Gina! I look forward to your updates and watching the baby belly grow!
Totally agree with you about not doubling shakeo with vitamins! I haven’t taken a prenatal since I started drinking shakeology – but only like a week before Ry was born. I also had this internal debate about sushi….what do Japanese women eat while pregnant? I reluctantly stuck to the shrimp crunch and eel rolls, but know friends that hounded sashimi.
Also, Im so glad you posted FCLO capsules!!! I have been wanting to find some because I just can’t do the liquid. You’re my hero. <3
I am curious your thoughts on drinking it while breastfeeding?
i’m not sure yet. i figured when we get there, i’ll talk to the midwife and assess. as of right now, i’d probably still say no
I don’t understand why Americans think they are such special snowflakes when it comes to pregnancy. When pregnant in Hawaii (stationed there thanks to the Navy), where there happens to be a large Asian population (as there is in San Diego), my midwife said to me RE: sushi, “Do you think Japanese women stop eating sushi when they are pregnant?” I happily ate sushi throughout my four previous pregnancies, and have eaten it during my current pregnancy as well. Fatty acids in fish are actually really good for the baby’s brain development too. Just watch the amount you take in of fish high in mercury. There are also plenty of French women who enjoy a glass of wine with dinner during their pregnancies and think nothing of it and there have been studies done in Europe that show that it’s perfectly fine.
I am never afraid to ask any healthcare provider to provide evidence to back up their recommendations. Midwives thrive on evidence-based care, so one would think yours should have a factual reason for the no on sushi that somehow trumps the thousands/millions of Japanese women who ate sushi during their pregnancies and had perfectly fine babies.
Are you familiar with Perfect Fit Protein? It’s organic and has an extremely short ingredient list. Might be worth checking out 🙂
Hi!
So happy to have found your review on this! I’m at the very end of my pregnancy but was considering trying the vegan version but will hold off the next few weeks until I have her! Your so right about all the herbs and adaptogens. They can be great when trying to conceive, but certainly unnecessary–potentially even harmful–to the little one! 🙂
I love all the info you posted. Do you have any info on taking Shakeology and doing the 21 day fix when TTC? I receny miscarried at 7 weeks and was looking for something to get me in a healthy place. I just ordered shakeology and beach body and I do plan on TTC next month do you think it will affect my chances of getting pregnant?
Do you plan on breastfeeding? Will you start back up shakeology while breastfeeding?
i would love to breastfeed if it works out! i’m still not sure. at that point i’ll probably talk to the midwife and reassess
My little one is due end of August. I plan on starting shakeology then. I had a really tough time trying to breastfeed my 1st baby. I ended up pumping for 6 months. There’s so much pressure to breastfeed.
i pumped for about 6 months too, and it was rough. i’m hoping that’s not the case again
I love my Shakeology but my Midwife said it contains to much Zinc (40%) which hinders the absorption of Folic acid. So its a no go for me.
I absolutely love the convenience of my Shake in the morning so I thought to sub it with the Chocolate Protein Shake form the performance line to keep my protein intake high. What do you think?
i usually have half a scoop! still haven’t tried the performance line, but i think that’s a great idea. what do you think of the performance line vs shakeo?
Oh I may try that for dessert :P.
I haven’t tried all of the different supplements in the performance line, but I love love love the Hydrate. It actually does hydrate during my workout, where pure water leaves me longing for more and Gatorade (or other sports drinks) are just way to sweet.
My husband has tried most supplements and is impressed. He drinks the protein daily and also likes the recover overnight after a hard workout.
Hi! I read through the comments to see if you already answered, this, but they were all pre-baby… SO… What did you decide about breastfeeding? That is actually how I found this page, because I’m researching taking shakeology while breastfeeding. If you were coaching a BF mama going on 21 day fix, or a similar challenge, what would you recommend them replacing the shakes with? I’ve been doing green smoothies for a while, but don’t currently add protein powder (I use chia and hemp seeds though)…. I was thinking adding greek yogurt and maybe a powder? Thoughts? Any powder recommendations? TIA for any feedback!
hi lisa,
no i did not drink it while breastfeeding. i didn’t feel comfortable with it. greek yogurt and hemp seeds are a good option! i also did plain hemp protein powder (but it tastes terrible)
xoxo
Hi Gina! Did you drink vegan shakeology while breastfeeding? I know you had to change your diet and switch to formula because of reflux, but I am curious your thoughts on shakeology and nursing. Thanks!
i had it maybe 2-3 times (just a half scoop in my oatmeal) before doing some research and decided to cut it out- those herbs haven’t been studied on kiddos, newborns and growing babies, so i wasn’t comfortable with it. a lot of my friends have still used it with no ill effects, but i figured i’d just wait till later
xo
I know I am way late for this conversation, but I was wondering if you ever tried Les Mills Good protein? It is only 6 ingredients and really good for you. I have not tried it yet and was thinking of ordering some. If you have tried it, I would love to know how it compares to some of your other favorite protein powders.
i’ve heard great things about it! i don’t do a ton of cow’s dairy, so i haven’t tried it
I have a question about the Moringa that’s in Shakeology. Half of the information I find says it is a natural birth control and can cause miscarriages, while the other half says it is a cure for infertility and contains many nutrients needed while pregnant. What made you trust your cited article?
my philosophy was when it doubt, skip it, and that made me question that ingredient
FYI – the ONLY reason that Shakeo isn’t certified organic is because of the monetary strain that it would put on these small, individually owned farms that the product is sourced from. ALL of the ingredients are 100% organic, they are just not certified – because our food administration charges an arm and a leg for that. It would increase the cost of the shake, and it would strain these small farmers – something that TBB didn’t want to burden them with all for a reason that wouldn’t change the integrity of the product one bit.
where do they source all of the herbs and supplements? i couldn’t find any info about that online
Hi Gina! I really appreciate your article. I just want to point out that the superfoods in Shakeology are all organic and non gmo- just not certified organic/non-gmo. It would cost way too much to certify 70 farms and it would be totally unaffordable, but testing for nutrient dense/organic soil and produce is huge for this company. It’s actually one of the things that brought me back to it. I hope that helps clear up misconceptions for people who are going off of that alone. Thanks!
I hope you’re still active in the blog to answer…How do you feel about breastfeeding and shakeology ??
i didn’t feel super comfortable with it. i had maybe 2 or 3 half scoops while i was b-feeding and decided i didn’t feel great about it.
Was there a particular reason? Can you share with us?
I started Shakeology recently and am BF my 11month old. I’ve heard here and there that it’s bad. But never had anyone show me a Drs article about it
Thanks
it’s for all of the reasons why i think it’s unsafe while you’re pregnant. they haven’t studied the effect of the herbs in shakeology on a growing fetus, or a newborn. many can cause hormonal changes, and i didn’t feel comfortable about sharing it. i know a lot of moms who used it while pregnant and bfing, and their babies were absolute fine. it just wasn’t for me.
if your baby is 11 months old, i would check with your doc, but i would think it’s ok. at that point, they’re getting more nutrition from solid foods so it’s not the same as when you were exclusively bfing
Ohhh I see….thanks for the info
I’m still EBF with minimal solids.. Should I check with his Pediatrician? Or with my DR?
oh gotcha! maybe both just to be sure?