Shake it like a…
Hi! Happy Monday!
YOU GUYS.
I finally did it.
I went ahead and ordered Shakeology… and P90X3 to go along with it.
After trying Shakeology a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Vegan Chocolate. While I prefer to get my nutrients from whole foods for the most part, I’m pretty passionate about protein powder. I love to discover options with awesome taste + even better ingredients. Here are a few that I’ve rotated between:
1) Sun Warrior. This is a smooth vegan version (brown rice protein) with simple ingredients.
2) Vega. A vegan option (plant-based protein mix) with even better ingredients, but kind of tastes like biting into a tree, so I used it more rarely. (If you mix it with other ingredients, the taste is much better)
3) Raw Fit. A less expensive variation of Sun Warrior. It’s a little chalkier, but the taste’s great when you mix it into cookie dough cereal or a smoothie.
And now, Shakeology aka the only protein powder I want to drink with almond milk alone. It tastes like a luscious chocolatey shake and has a nutrient boost from a variety of superfoods.
I had it for a couple of days, thanks to some samples my friend Elizabeth sent to me, and noticed an increase in my energy and satiety levels. The snack monster didn’t barge in the door at 3pm per the usual, and I was shocked by the awesome taste. (For the record, I also tried the tropical Strawberry Vegan flavor and was not a fan. It tasted like tropical death.) The only thing holding me back from purchasing the chocolate vegan was the price (it’s $$ and I can get Raw Fit at the BX for $20).
Since falling in love with the Beachbody workouts, (I’ve done Insanity and TurboFire) I’ve received hundreds of emails and messages from Beachbody friends asking me to become a coach. I decided to go for it, but it’s not my intent to sell Beachbody products on this site at this time, which is why there’s no link. If you have questions about any of the Beachbody products, talk to my friend Elizabeth; she’s the pro 🙂
Now that we got that out of the way, P90X3!!!! AHHHHH! I can’t wait!
(Tony Horton: BEAST with some cheesyamazing one-liners. I’m excited to take his classes at IDEA this week!)
The Pilot has been wanting to try it, so I picked it up as something we could do together since we had a blast with the Insanity workouts. For now I’m cleared to resume normal workouts/life, modifying as needed, but have an appointment with a hand surgeon. If I partially cut a nerve, it will eventually repair on its own, but if it’s fully severed, I’ll need to have it repaired.
Have you tried any of the Beachbody workouts?
What about Shakeology? Fave protein powder (or protein-dense food)??
xoxo
Gina
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Hahaha my roommate and I did P90X in college for about 2 days until our downstairs neighbors complained 😉 Too much jumping for apartment life! Lately I’ve been sticking to Yoga or low impact workouts in my living room and saving the jumping for the gym!
I took the plunge yesterday and became a coach too! Pretty excited!
Oh no I hope your hand heals up so you don’t have to get it repaired!
I really want to try PiYo! One day I’ll eventually get around to it.
PiYo is amazing!
I like Vega too, but only mixed into Greek yogurt. I tried using it when I made protein bars one time and I had to throw the whole batch out- they tasted chalky and yeah, kind of like a ground up tree! I’ve found that Bodylogix is pretty good as far as natural protein powders go, and the chocolate flavour tastes good as a shake if you add some cocoa powder to it!
Hmm and my fave two protein-rich foods as of lately would have to be cottage cheese and edamame!
I LOVE Beachbody workouts. Turbo Fire is one of my favorites and I just bought PiYo. Of, and of course, Pump! I would love to hear more about your coaching. People have asked me as well but I don’t understand the business model well enough. Good luck with your coaching!
have you tried piyo yet?!
Not yet! I just got it in the mail. It looks like a lot of fun though!
I just started PiYo! So far, not impressed…. I’ve done the 2 Define workouts and they were kinda boring. I’ve heard those are the 2 worst ones and they get better, so here’s hoping! I’m trying Sweat today.
I have it and I’ve done it many times now! I highly recommend it.
I am obsessed with the chocolate shakeology with half a banana, and PB2! It is soo addicting. Love hearing what you had to say about shakeology because I feel the same. Became a coach for the discount right now, I drink shakeology every day and feel lighter, more energized and completely can tell the difference when I don’t drink it!
yeah, i was surprised at how great i felt after drinking it! there’s definitely an effect from the additional superfoods and nutrients
it’s the ashwaganda and holy basil! I could NOT believe it was in the ingredient list. if you want to save a little money, just buy those in capsule form. 😉 they are wonderful ayurveda herbs!
how much to take of each? i’ve taken ashwaganda before with my homeopathic doc, and definitely loved it (but not the taste so much)
I’ve taken holy basil in tea form and it works really well! https://www.google.com/search?q=holy+basil+tea&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#hl=en&q=holy+basil+tea&safe=active&tbm=shop&spd=1226824140145899324
Ashwaganda is usually encapsulated and the dose is likely between 2-4 per day. Getting it in the shake is probably really good for you too, but I have to wonder if the price tag on shakeology is coming from those added herbs because it makes the product really work. It’s definitely more than I would pay knowing that I can get those awesome herbs much cheaper, or even a custom herbal blend made by my ayurveda practitioner for so much less. I would still love to try shakeology, but I am pregnant, and should probably stay away from the added herbals right now.
oooh this sounds delicious. it’s been sooo long since i’ve done p90x…
I’ve never tried either, but heard great things about Shakeology. I’ve noticed a lot more gyms offering P90X and Insanity workouts as classes now too, so it’s not just an at-home workout. Good luck!
Love Beachbody workouts! I’ve done Insanity and T25 and just started Body Beast! Can’t wait to hear how you like P90X3 – it’s next on my list!
ohhh how do you like body beast so far??
I’m a huge fan of the Beachbody workouts. I’ve done Insanity, 21 Day Fix and T25. I signed up as a coach too, but haven’t put any effort into selling anything. I really want to try the vegan chocolate Shakeology because I hear amazing things. I just can’t get over the price though… I’d rather put that $100 per month toward my new Pure Barre addiction!
what did you think of 21 day fix??
I really liked it! I had a tough time sticking to the diet plan as a vegan, since it advocates 40% of calories from protein daily. The workout program was a good addition to my training schedule. I definitely think that anyone who is relatively fit to begin with should follow the doubles schedule for the full 3 weeks – 2 workouts per day. On the days I ran, I did one Fix workout and on my off days I did 2. Definitely toned up!
I recently discovered SFH protein powder and it is AWESOME. I bought the Pure Whey in chocolate flavor and it has a great taste without being too sweet and made my morning smoothie bowl extra creamy. The whey comes from free-range, grass-fed cows so I feel good about purchasing it (and ingesting it). This is my new go-to!
http://www.sfh.com/
I’ve been really intrigued about trying Shakeology myself but haven’t bit the bullet yet. I recently tried Skoop and LOVE IT! I love shaking up their B-Strong (protein powder) with the chocolate A-Game (greens) with a mix of almond milk & water and it is SO good!! My favorite way to start my day after my workout.
I love About Time Protein Powder. I recently ordered the vanilla and the taste is delicious plus it just has a handful of high quality ingredients. Check it out! I know they have other flavors as well but I haven’t tried them yet.
I just emailed Callie (thewannabeathlete) about piyo it’s my first beach body item I’m going to try. Sadly I can’t do shakeology because I’m allergic to pea protein… Is sun warrior good? I need a protein powder that’s vegan that I can just mix with soy or rice milk and not gag to death…
yeah i love sun warrior! the texture is very smooth, especially compared to other brown rice proteins. i’d just add a little cinnamon and almond milk
My husband and I tried P90X3 for a few weeks, but ended up sending it back. I loved the workouts, but my husband wouldn’t commit to it so we decided it wasn’t worth the money. However, I purchased Piyo when it was released in June and am completely obsessed with it. It’s the first workout in a long time that I honestly look forward to doing, and I miss it when I have to skip a day. I’m starting week 6 today, and I can really tell a difference in my body. My legs look slimmer (I’m hippy so I carry weight in my hips and thighs), and I’m planning on ordering the Strength Deluxe videos soon. I recently discovered a Piyo/P90X3 combo workout plan on Beachbody’s website, so I’m considering purchasing P90X3 again so I can do the combo.
that’s awesome! i’ve heard mixed reviews about piyo, so i’m glad to hear you like it– i’m a huge chalene fan!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of P90X! My boyfriend and I did those workouts for a while and they are definitely a challenge!
I had the vegan chocolate for breakfast this am:) I finished P90X3 in March, it was a great strength builder but you definitely have to add in your own cardio. I did also notice my flexibility and mobility improving over the weeks. Good Luck!
good to know! i tried the first workout this morning, and it was much easier than i was anticipating.
I’m in my last week of T25 Focus Alpha then will start the Beta round. I LOVE it! Such a great workout and is really making a difference; the scale is going down and I can see the difference in my body. It’s great! I’ve wanted to try shakeology, but like you said, it’s $$$ and I can’t justify the price right now 🙁
Hi Gina
Am thinking of getting shakeology to get some extra good stuff into me…I’m 15 weeks preggo, do you think it’s a good idea?
i just started taking it, so i can’t speak from a long range of experience, but i wouldn’t. it’s a high concentration of nutrients and superfoods, and i’m not sure what the research is like for a developing baby to get those types of nutrients in such a large amount. i would take your prenatal, some DHA (if it’s cool with your doc) and focus on getting nutrients from whole foods. eggs were my best friend while i was pregnant; i had at least two per day. if i wanted a boost or a smoothie, i’d add half a scoop of sun warrior plus some good mixers, like spinach, banana, frozen berries, almond milk and chia seeds or almond butter
hope this helps a little, and congrats on your pregnancy!
Big help and I’m so glad I asked now. Thanks for the tips…much appreciated!!
xoxo!
Shakeology sounds interesting, but I feel more comfortable with certified organic protein powders. My favorite whey protein is Tera’s Whey. I use Garden of Life’s Raw Protein when I want a vegan option, although it adds a cardboard-y flavor for sure. :p
Haven’t tried any Beachbody workouts, but you’ve piqued my interest! Keep us updated. 🙂
Woohoo for workouts with Tony Horton! I’ve taken PiYo at the gym, which I love, but have never tried any of the DVDs. They all seem great, though, and I have friends who use and love them.
I am excited to try the chocolate shakeology! My mom got the 21 day fix and got some samples, so I am getting one from her to try!
And, I get asked all the time to be a coach too! I was toying with the idea, especially since my great friend Megan is one and loves it! She got a trip to Cancun for free! She does well with it!
My issue is keeping it away from the blog, how are you handling that? I will text you, or if you can message me on facebook!
Love you!
I am excited to try the chocolate shakeology! My mom got the 21 day fix and got some samples, so I am getting one from her to try!
And, I get asked all the time to be a coach too! I was toying with the idea, especially since my great friend Megan is one and loves it! She got a trip to Cancun for free! She does well with it!
My issue is keeping it away from the blog, how are you handling that? I will text you, or if you can message me on facebook!
Love you!
I second Sara recommendation for SFH!! (sfh.com)
Gina – I love your blog! I’ve been thinking about trying P90X3 vs T25 (I did P90X, and still do TurboFire, which I found thanks to you!). Could you do a review of P90X3 at some point? I’d love to hear your opinion of it (or your readers, if they care to comment). Thanks!
I’ve gotten asked by a few Beachbody coaches if I want to join their team but I don’t know if I can be all peppy and motivational all the time on facebook like they are haha. And as much as they try to tell you they don’t actually sell things, they do. My one friend works HARD to get people to join her challenges and ultimately buy the products and I just do not want to work that hard. She is constantly facebook messaging people and it’s not my thing. Anyway, I love TurboFire (got hooked thanks to you) and I want to try PiYo. My problem is I really don’t enjoy working out at home. I have a huge furnished basement that’s just mine for the taking. I think I need to figure out how to make it more appealing to use.
Wow P90X! What are you gonna do with all these certs? I guess it’s a good things to always have options and kept things fresh. I wish I had the time to do more of this. I’m getting group core certified this weekend which is why I can’t make IDEA this weekend. Good luck with the surgeon! I’m going through something similar with my foo. They think I had nerve damage and I should probably get back to the doctor for an MRI.
I’ve been interested in trying the Shakeology powders as well–I’m glad to hear good things about the chocolate. I’m wondering about the vanilla flavor too since I like to boost my fruit/veggie smoothies. Right now I use Vega (agree about the earthy taste) because Sun Warrior left my tummy feeling like a balloon of rocks. I’m trying to find a new powder that isn’t full of franken-gredients (weird processed ingredients) and still tastes good.
I LOVE the chocolate vegan and regular but not so much the vanilla. I thought it would be a good one to add with any combination of add-ins but it has a bit of a bite in my opinion. But chocolate is dreamy!
I refused to support Beachbody even before the Shakeology pyramid scheme. Did you know they claim that when you buy their DVDs you agree to never sell your original DVDs, and will go after ebay sellers? Not copies, your originals.
Also, if you buy a DVD set and ask to return them for dissatisfaction, they’ll suggest you keep them for half price. I’d rather support companies that don’t practice discriminatory pricing or expect you to haggle or overpay.
wow, that is crazy! i did not know about that; thanks for bringing it to my attention
Like you, I’m absolutely OBSESSED with the Beachbody programs! I started first with P90X which started to get me into shape. I’ve also done Turbofire and Insanity and loved them too, but I found all the jumping and high impact activity was great for cardiovascular, but bad on my joints and muscles.
I bought PiYO and love it! I found it hard to adjust to the low impact exercises at first, but realized my heart was pumping and I was sweating the same as I would in other exercises. I also found that it forces you to have good form and contract every muscle in your body, and you also don’t have to do additional stretching after the workout (I always tend to skip stretching with the other programs; bad, I know).
Anyways, I’m looking at doing the hybrid P90X3 as well, to get the HIIT out of my system a few times a week. Plus, I love “The Warrior” in P90X3 too much to give it up!
Would love if you did a review of P90X3 and PiYO.
Will you be using it as a meal replacement?
no, i like it as a snack!
i totally just ordered it! thank you!
Thanks for giving us an update on how you like the Shakeology! My friend has been trying to get me to buy it for months, but it’s pricey.
Every time you talk about your finger, it gives me the heeby jeebies!!! Lol.
yeah, it’s definitely pricey
haha i’m sorry! i’ve been trying to avoid writing about it -especially since i haven’t really gone into details- but it’s hard when such a small thing seems to be affecting life
The husband and I did P90X two summers ago…I re-wrote the schedule to include running 3 times a week, as well as all the workouts. It rocked! I dropped those pesky last 5lbs. without even trying, and it was fun to do together.
I’m seriously thinking about ordering P90X3 as a Christmas present from us to each other, to do as the New Year starts, since I’ll be 8 weeks post-partum, so I’ll be excited to hear your reviews on it! And to hear how the pilot likes it as well.
Ohhhh yessss!! I’m a huge advocate of ShakeO! Chocolate vegan is SO good! I’m curious to see your thoughts on P90X3!
Oh I love Vega! I’m surprised you had a bad experience with the taste. What flavor did you try? The chocolate is by far my favorite, especially with almond milk and a frozen 1/2 of a banana. I tried Sun Warrior and had a horrible experience. It tasted terrible! But I’m now wondering if I got a bad batch and perhaps it was rancid?
I know a lot of people who love all the Beachbody DVDs, but I have never been able to stick to a program at home–I’m a gym rat (and yoga studio rat), through and through! That might change someday if I have a baby and am stuck at home.
I haven’t tried the chocolate vegan Shakeology–but I might give it a try after I use up the Greenberry one. Sounds tasty!
Shakeology gives me so much energy! Sometimes I don’t even need coffee. Isn’t that crazy!? I became a coach just for the discount! I feel weird selling workout programs when I’m not a trainer. I don’t know why lol.
I actually love the Arbonne Essentials protein powder, and i just mix with Almond milk and actually tastes really great. It’s also great because it is made from all natural ingredients and is super filling as a mid-day snack. The price is amazing too for the amount you get!
If you want to try it let me know 😉
I’ve been wanting to try Shakeology, but the cost keeps on deterring me. Maybe one day. 🙂
My favorite is P90X. It’s what got me loving weights. 🙂 I’m doing Piyo right now and am 50/50 on it. I feel like my flexibility is improving (and I just completed YTT so that says something right there), but I am also missing lifting weights. I might just have to put Piyo on the back burner and do another round of P90X. 😉
I definitely want to try that protein powder! Vega is a good brand but I don’t like the stevia taste that is pretty prominent in many of their powders and sun warrior is awesome but I like to mix it up too!
I am in LOVE with vega! I’ve never tried it by itself though. My favorite smoothie recipe is 1 frozen banana, a handful of spinach, 1 scoop of vega, and about 3/4 cup of almond milk. It’s the perfect post workout snack!
I’ve never tried Beachbody workouts but have always been interested in trying them. I can’t wait to hear about the training. Good luck!
I love cellucor choc chip cookie dough whey. Soooo good when you make pancakes with it!
I love Shakeology but the price isn’t worth it to me.
I like the ingredients in Vega, but I agree that the taste isn’t the greatest. I haven’t tried Shakeology due to the hefty price!
yeaaaaaah you did it! I’m excited to get my coaching going once things calm down. My first challenge group starts Sept 1st! I ordered PiYo – thought it would be a good one start getting my core back in shape.
I was also shocked at my satiety after drinking the shakes! I was so skeptical about that but wanted to give it a shot so I could maximize my free time when the babes were napping and use a shake for lunch. So far so good! I just make sure to add nut butters, avocado, etc to keep up the calories for breastfeeding. So far, I’m actually making uhhhh WAY more than I did with Tripp haha.
wow that’s amazing! maybe i’ll need to try that next time haha
Gina! Do you have any suggestions on protein powders without stevia? Does Shakeology use stevia? I just can’t get past the taste of it! I use Amazing Grass occasionally, but it’s definitely an…earthier taste 😉 It would be awesome to find a good tasting option that isnt just plain so I can have on the run.
i’m pretty sure it uses agave, which isn’t my fave, but it’s a nice mellow taste
I don’t tend to have protein powders but a couple of months ago I tried Vega’s nutritional shakes not the protein shakes and I really like them! I tried the Vanilla Chai and Berry flavours. The vanilla chai is definitely worth it! What I like about these is that even though they are high in protein they are full of superfoods too! I mix them with almond milk and they do wonders for me!
I don’t like chocolate which I feel makes these shakes better so having a vanilla flavour works for me since the berry flavour wasn’t that good.
I want to try the Shakeology ones but the fruity flavours scare me…
I love shakeology! I’ve tried every flavour except for the vegan chocolate which I actually switched out for regular chocolate. I’ll get to try it in a few weeks. I’ve heard the vegan chocolate isn’t as rich though as the regular chocolate. Shakeology is expensive, but if you think about other junk you buy in a month (or maybe it’s just me!) then it seems justified. It helps me with my cravings.
PiYo is awesome. I forget who said that it was slow — I think the first week is a bit boring but then it picks up! I think it’s geared to ease you into the different moves and then later on you go faster through the movements and it’s more interesting.
i just ordered it and became a coach too! today was my first day of shakeology.. OMG!!!! SO GOOD!!!
twinsies! glad you like it too 😉
Glad your hand is doing better, Gina! Did you put off the Bodypump video sample class that you were planning for last weekend? I’m still hoping I can make it. (: Best wishes with the recovery.
i had to reschedule it; i can’t grasp things well (let alone a barbell) with my hand right now. i’m going to aim for the 24th- will let you know that week if it’s a go