Shakeology doesn't compare!

I've been slacking on this blog/website, I know! Today I was going to write about the results I've been seeing so far with Turbo Fire - like my awesome increased flexibility. I will touch on that later, though, because there is something that's been "bugging me" if you will.

I've had many people ask me about Shakeology and how it "compares" to other "meal replacement shakes" on the market. Some have even asked how it compares to protein shakes in health food stores. The truth is - it doesn't. It's not even remotely the same! Beachbody OFFERS a meal replacement shake or protein shake that is more at the "level" of the other shakes on the market. Shakeology just isn't one of them! Some people may say I'm biased because I'm a Beachbody Coach, but the truth is I'm a Beachbody Coach BECAUSE of Shakeology. The more I learn about health and nutrition, the more I appreciate a product made of WHOLE FOODS and super foods. I don't have to take pain medication for Fibromyalgia anymore and my husband recovered quickly from a hard regiment of chemotherapy - because of the ingredients in Shakeology. It wasn't because it's a meal replacement shake or protein shake - it's because it's full of Super Foods!  I've been seeing some competing companies saying their shakes have gotten people off medications, and that might be true because those people probably weren't following ANY health or fitness regiment prior to using their product. The fact that they're using SOMETHING rather than NOTHING has helped to some degree. It is NOT because of the ingredients, though. Some of the shakes on the market don't even have a sufficient amount of vitamins/nutrients! If you're not looking to lose weight - their product isn't for you! It doesn't contain nutrients that will sustain you for lifelong nutrition.  If you're looking to lose weight AND improve health - OR just achieve better fitness and improve health - Shakeology is the way to go! Everybody has different needs, and Shakeology can encompass many of them!

"This patent-pending daily nutritional shake helps your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently while allowing for better absorption of the essential nutrients you need. A proprietary blend of digestive enzymes and prebiotics helps your body progressively eliminate the toxins that build up over time from eating today's highly processed foods.

At the same time, whole-food ingredients deliver the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to curb cravings, allowing your body to shed stored fat while the more than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke." Excerpt directly from my Shakeology site.

"The healthiest meal of the day" truly does sum it up precisely! If you're truly looking for a comparison you have to look beyond price per serving and whatever other comparisons they try to give. Ask them this:

• "What whole foods does it contain?" (If none, it doesn't compare AT ALL. It is in a totally different "category" of shakes.)


• "Does it contain prebiotics?"


• "Are the ingredients all natural?"


• "Does it contain ingredients that are antioxidants?"


• "Does it contain ingredients that are phytonutrients?"


• "Does it contain amino acids?"


• "What type of protein do they use?" (Most only offer one or two options - including soy, which we minimize or avoid in this home, and some only offer whey and no vegan version is available.)


• "Do they contain more than 23 vitamins and minerals?"

If any of the other answers are "no" then it's simply not the same! So you have to remember to compare REAL FACTS not "pretty comparison charts." It is a premium whole foods shake - it's not MEANT to be a simple meal replacement shake or a protein shake! If it was, Beachbody wouldn't offer those 2 products as well! So let's be realistic in the comparisons!

Reasons I would be "skeptical" of meal replacement shakes on the market today:

1. We have 3 special needs kids, and better nutrition reaps major improvement. Many "shakes" don't have that kind of nutrition or those kind of ingredients! Again, though, they claim they do, and that one personally upsets me! I've seen shakes on the market that contain questionable ingredients like the artificial sweetener sucralose (I will touch more on this subject in detail later, but for layman's terms let's call it "chlorinated sugar.") Artificial ingredients are known to INCREASE problems in children on the Autism spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorder (We have one child on the Autism spectrum and 2 with Sensory Processing Disorder). Here is one article on the subject. And this article is REALLY interesting in regards to not just artificial sweeteners, but MSGs as well! Very informative! I saw somebody once promote a product with sucralose as being good for "extra nutrition" during pregnancy. I'm non-confrontational (though I do obviously share my knowledge, views, opinions, etc. on my personal venues), so I prayed that such poor advice was disregarded! The rest of the product didn't even contain enough "nutrition" that would be good for pregnancy regardless! It's so sad what people will say/do for a quick buck. :( I strive to always give an honest opinion or advice regardless of how it affects me financially! I wish everybody had that kind of integrity!


2. They promise results without exercising. If somebody says "lose weight without exercising," I RUN THE OTHER WAY! It's not that I believe it can't happen - it's that I believe IT'S NOT HEALTHY. You NEED physical fitness. God didn't design us to sit around sipping on shakes, taking pills, etc. and doing nothing. We were designed to honor Him in mind, spirit, AND BODY. That means we need to take care of our body! Trying to bypass something that should be a way of life to care for the temple He gave you is NOT what He had in mind! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."  and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."


3. They promise "cures." I openly share how Shakeology has gotten me off my pain medications for Fibromylagia and helped my husband recover from a hard regiment of chemotherapy, and I TRULY believe in the ingredients, the super foods, etc., though I do not promise it will cure you of any ailment. Why? I'm NOT ALLOWED to make those claims - and neither are they! I can share personal stories, but I cannot say "you should try this because it will cure your high blood pressure, you stomach ailments, etc." I can show you proven science and share testimonies, but a statement just like that is dangerous! See FDA Health Claims information HERE. We see it all the time, though! Again, this is where integrity comes into play! Unfortunately, though, in a tough economy business have become more "cut-throat" and people will do whatever they can to get customers and clients, gain a sale, etc. I've even seen people who offer products with "chlorinated sugar" say they can help your Fibromyalgia. WOW! Sucralose triggers both my migraines AND my Fibro flare-ups. Again, it doesn't mean it won't do so for everyone, BUT claiming it can HELP your Fibromyalgia is not only contradictory to the FDA Health Claims policies it's also inaccurate and misleading and could TRULY affect someone negatively! I've seen companies that use natural ingredients also make similar claims - and again, it doesn't matter what the ingredients are - you cannot claim it offers a "cure!"


4. Reps/consultants/retailers, etc. are PUSHY about it. Do you really want to work with someone who is pushy about getting you to buy their product - or someone who is genuinely interested in your health, open about all ingredients and information, and truly interested in finding the best fit for you? I choose the latter. If it's the former, again, I will high-tail it the other way regardless of what product they're offering me! (For me, this goes for ANY products - health related or not!) There are so many options out there it can be SO overwhelming, so do your research, and look for a caring response. If they push, push, push and don't seem to be "listening" go somewhere else (or find someone else)!

One of my friends, Debi, and a fellow Beachbody Coach, has started studies at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She wrote such a WONDERFUL post on the benefits of Shakeology - particularly the ingredients - and I couldn't say it any better myself! In fact, it made me appreciate it that much more! Visit her post HERE, and read for yourself the fantastic, extensive ingredient list and benefits OF EACH ONE! It's amazing! I have had rather pushy people try to convince me their product is "better," where I'll have to totally disagree and say "it just doesn't compare!" As the wonderful Beachbody CEO said "It's like comparing apples and tang!"

Water Challenge

My "water challenge" started today! Wow, was it tough! It's not hard for me to drink water per se, but I had a rather emotional weekend. I tend to crave flavor when I'm emotional - things like my coffee with cream and stevia, sweet tea, green tea, orange juice, etc. I'm sure there are some that can relate - others may just think that sounds silly! haha So here is the challenge: for ONE MONTH I will drink nothing but water for my beverages. Please do NOT confuse this with a fast. I am not refraining from eating - I'm simply replacing all my daily beverages with water. No coffee, tea, juice, milk, sodas, etc. I am EXCLUDING liquid supplements from the challenge so things like Shakeology, Results and Recovery Formula, etc. are not excluded because their intention is supplementation not just drinking a beverage.

So why am I doing this? Well, I heard it on one of the Christian radio stations and it got me thinking that I'm really NOT drinking enough water right now! I believe in getting sufficient amounts of water for good health (at least 64 oz but preferably half your body weight in ounces if that is more than 64 - so if you're 150lbs for example you really should be drinking 75 oz per day). Our bodies need water to function properly. It helps flush out toxins, keep everything in balance, helps you lose weight, better daily function, better workouts (more energy), less cramps and sprains, helps digestion, healthier skin, and you're less likely to get sick. I KNOW there are wonderful benefits to drinking water! Since moving I've found I haven't gotten back into my routine of refilling my 32 oz water bottle at least twice a day. That was a perfect way for me to keep track of how much water I'm drinking. Well, it's time to start it back up - and in a big way - by accepting this challenge I'm doing an overhaul! I've been drinking so many other beverages I've barely had room for water! Not all of these other beverages are unhealthy, but they should not REPLACE my water consumption, which they have! So, this is a way for me to get back on track!



Are you ready to take this challenge with me? You don't have to worry if you've missed a day or two before you saw the challenge - just start where you are and continue for 30 days! This may be something extremely easy for you or you already do it, and that's GREAT! Please share tips that helped you to take that step and continue on that path! This may be really challenging for you. That's OK! It will be challenging for me, too! Today was HARD! I did it, though!

Some recommendations for the challenge:

• Keep plenty of fresh, drinkable water on hand. If you have nasty tap water like we do and use a filter make sure you have plenty of already filtered water available. Having correct resources available make it harder to use an excuse like "I needed to filter more water so I grabbed some juice instead."


• Limit unnecessary beverages in the home. If you have other family members - like in my case my husband and kids - this may not be easy, but limit as much as you can. Better yet, get your spouse on board with you for the challenge, so it makes eliminating necessary beverages easier! Kids are a little more tricky. We do already limit our kids to milk and juice with meals but water any other time. I think it's a good habit to instill because they don't NEED tons of juice or milk despite what it may seem!


• Tap into a support group! I'm here to help! Tell other friends/family you know will support your attempts what you're doing and maybe even get them on board! It always helps to have others doing the same challenge so you can talk, vent, encourage, etc.

So here is to the next 30 days of more water and better health! :)

Meal Planning

So we moved a few months ago and still aren't completely settled. It takes a long time to unpack when you lose a lot of space (we lost 800 sq ft of space) and when you have 3 kids. One wants to help, one wants nothing to do with helping, and the other THINKS he's helping when really he's just making a mess. haha Being still somewhat unsettled made me realize my meal planning has gone out the window. Grocery shopping has become more difficult and more expensive. When I don't have a plan I tend to just buy whatever I think we may use, which costs a lot and results in a lot of extras in the pantry that I can't use until I get more ingredients to make something else, etc. It has caused a lot of frustration! Like, anything, it's been a learning experience! I love learning experiences because then I can share them with others as well! What have I learned? ALWAYS have your meals planned and make a grocery list based on those meals (and those meals alone to avoid temptations to get things you will regret getting later!). Yes, even when you're stressed out with traveling, moving, whatever it may be - it may seem the time it takes for meal planning isn't worth it, but NOT planning only adds to the stress - and hurts your budget! You are much more likely to dine out when your meals aren't planned, and that adds up quickly!

So where do you start? Anywhere! If you're a great "planner" coming up with meal plans and a grocery list based on those plans can definitely be done by yourself! Make sure you know the full recipes for each meal and base your shopping list on the ingredients needed for each. I personally try to use a variety of recipes that use similar ingredients, but the main part of the meal is different - such as a different entree but similar sides or a different meat in the entree but similar prep style. If you have kids, though, they may not mind having the same thing over and over again - and we actually do that a lot here! haha Now there are so many options out there for meal planning. Some cost a small monthly fee, some are free - and you have to find what works for you. I have found the meal planners that are connected to fitness sites are less likely to have kid-friendly options, so if you're a parent this can be extremely frustrating and a little more time-consuming because you're basically taking those meal plans and then adding more to the recipes or even additional meals for your kids. For more family friendly I found one I like called Food on the Table. They also offer meals based on what coupons are current at your grocery store! It's a great family friendly option! Another that I haven't personally tried yet but will be looking into (after now recognizing my dilemma of falling off the "meal planning boat") is eMeals, which is recommended by Dave Ramsey. We plan on fully diving in to his financial guidance this year, so it definitely makes it appealing for me to look into it! If you already use it I would LOVE to hear your opinion! :)

Maybe you use something else - if so I'd love to hear about it! Whatever you use, remember to use it consistently!

Why not soy?

I found a great new Christian-based health blog! After reading this post it reminded me that when I had asked for feedback on what you would like to see more of on my sight the response I got was more nutrition based posts. I realized I don't often post about nutrition despite it being something I study often! In fact, I've been considering becoming certified in the "nutrition" field. I know that's vague, but I haven't decided which path to take yet!

With anything - nutrition is a journey. Our family is not where I'd like it to be, but we're moving in the right direction! We've cut down on processed foods, GMOs, etc., and are starting to cut down on gluten as well. There are many health benefits to all of these! That's just the tip of the ice burg! There is SO much more! This post I'm going to focus on soy and explain why we've cut down and are trying to eliminate soy. I think that blog post shared a lot of great points. I, personally, am not trying to point out one specific product, though, I do feel like there is a lot of education in that post! One thing the post reminded me of actually is how people DON'T EVEN KNOW! I'm not just talking about not knowing the dangers of some ingredients in their products, but they don't even know what's IN their products because they don't read the labels! I ALWAYS encourage you to look past the "cover" and read the ENTIRE list of ingredients! I had a friend tell me she chose this particular product because she is a breast cancer survivor and doesn't use products with soy - yet the label clearly states it has soy protein! What a shame! She has the right idea but failed to acknowledge the ingredients! Look beyond marketing campaigns, commercials, etc. ALWAYS do the research for yourself and READ THE LABELS! You may avoid different ingredients that my family doesn't, so I could recommend a product that is great for our family but not for yours, so even if it's great for us I'd still recommend that you read the labels!

So why not soy?



This is a summary of the dangers of soy from The Weston A Price Foundation

* High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children.

* Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.

* Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.

* Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.

* Vitamin B12 analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B12.

* Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D.

* Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.

* Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.

* Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.

* Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.

Obviously because my husband had cancer twice I'm constantly doing research and becoming more aware of the link between foods, cosmetics, etc. and cancer. There are too many to share in one blog, and if you're interested in the bath and beauty side of it I recommend visiting my Pea of Sweetness website. In fact, soy is often found in bath and body products as well, which I am becoming more aware of as well!!

The link between soy and estrogen floored me. I can truly say I had NO idea! When our oldest was a baby I was unable to breastfeed him. He had reflux and spit up ALL THE TIME. At one point soy formula was suggested to me. Not by the doctors but by a well-meaning family member. I was desperate, so I tried it. He spit up more with that soy formula than the milk-based formula! I quickly took that off my list! Yet still it didn't click to me that when our daughter was a baby I had to reduce dairy in my diet due to her sensitivity to dairy proteins (I was breastfeeding her), so when I ran into an emergency situation where I didn't have milk stored but she needed a bottle while I was away from her I gave soy formula. Ignorance on my part because my thinking was she can't have milk based formula since she's sensitive to dairy so soy must be a better option in this situation. We ended up in the Emergency Room that night! She vomited so much she got dehydrated, pale, and lethargic. I was told it was just because she wasn't used to it. That's an INTENSE reaction to not being used to something. I learned the hard way and even still up until a few months ago (our oldest is almost 6 now and our daughter is 4) I didn't really know HOW dangerous soy can be! I knew soy must not be that "good for you" and didn't often consume it or have my family consume it, but when I started doing my research I was APPALLED at what I read about babies on soy formula! I was shocked - and extremely grateful both of them had a negative reaction, and I never tried to give it to our youngest. Of course, I wish the negative reaction could have been avoided, but I'm glad there are no long-term effects because they regularly consumed soy since those incidents were enough for me to not use soy! I read a child consistently on soy formula is the equivalent of giving them 4-5 birth control pills a day! Can you IMAGINE that thought! We would NEVER do that willingly - yet if they're getting soy formula that is exactly what they're getting! A great reference to babies and soy here as well as just the dangers of soy in general.


So what are the alternatives?

Well, alternatives are plenty! Dairy is, of course, an option, though it is probably the most "unpopular" alternative vs. soy because most people that are turning to soy are doing so because they cannot have dairy - whether it be an allergy, lactose intolerance, etc. Quite frequently, though, those allergic or sensitive to dairy proteins will also be sensitive to soy proteins! There are other options as well in the "proteins" category. As I mentioned with Tropical Shakeolgy it is vegan but WITHOUT soy protein. Often "vegan" means soy, but definitely not always! Brown rice, in this case, is the protein of choice.

What about "milk"? Well, if cow's milk isn't an option again, rice is an option. Rice milk is generally available at a variety of stores! My preference for milk is almond milk. There is also coconut milk! So the options aren't as limited as you think! There are many! A lot offer "flavors" - vanilla, chocolate, or original. So don't feel like if you're limited on dairy you MUST use soy milk because that is truly NOT the case!

I'm linking up a lot of information because though I hold the same opinion and am personally aware of the dangers I am currently holding a sleeping toddler and sometimes it's easier to link up then to come up with my own words for thoughts that have already been so clearly written! So I found these great resources to help inform my readers as well! In an effort to continue to add more content to the site sometimes this is the best way! So please take the time to do your own research! I know I did - A LOT, and that research is leading me to a completely soy-free home! I pray you make the decision that is best for YOUR family! Blessings!

Tropical Shakeology is almost here!

Here it comes! The much anticipated Tropical Shakeology will be available for purchase on Valentine's Day ~ February 14th in both the 30-day bag and 24 packet box. I've learned a lot more about it since the idea was first introduced!

Tropical Shakeology Facts:

Tropical Shakeology is vegan. It's a blend of strawberry, banana, pineapple, papaya and coconut along with all of the other WHOLE FOOD ingredients that make this one of the BEST whole food supplements that you will find on the market.

Tropical Shakeology, like the current Chocolate & Greenberry, was created with much time and effort and careful consideration to produce a synergy between all of the ingredients. It is vegan, soy-free, and it contains plant based proteins. It provides a natural energy which in turn helps to reduce cravings and aid in weight loss. It's loaded with anti-oxidants, essential amino acids and is more easily digested. For people who may have had an aversion or digestive upset with Chocolate and Greenberry Shakeology, Tropical is free of most micro-allergens and should be suitable for most people.

The protein source derives from raw sprouted brown rice. It's germinated for easier digestion and better absorption. This is a very complex protein source that has taken about 10 years to assimilate in this complete form. It incorporates the amino acids found in the bran (outer shell), endosperm and germ. This provides all 9 essential amino acids. There is also protein derived from the quinoa, spirulina, chia, amaranth and sacha inchi that are incorporated into the ingredients. This unique blend of plant based protein is not gritty like some other brown rice proteins. It has a smooth, creamy texture that really compliments the taste.

There are no added vitamin or mineral isolates. Tropical Shakeology is comprised of whole, natural foods. It relies solely on the vitamins & minerals that occur naturally in the whole foods. These ingredients are sourced directly from the farms. Darin Olien has traveled the world sustainably sourcing the purest ingredients from farms.



If you're ready to get started with Shakeology today Chocolate & Greenberry can be ordered now. Tropical Shakeology will be available on Valentine's Day. You can order all of your Shakeology here: on My Shakeology Site.

Don't forget to sign up for your FREE Team Beachbody account for my Coaching support and to connect to others just like you for help, support, guidance, and coming soon - recipes for the Tropical Shakeology! Once you have your account up and running ordering is made easy! You can order all your fitness needs and Shakeology through your account! :)