How To Compare Shakeology

Or, “How Do I Really Know If This is Worth the Money When Everything Else Costs Less?”

There are many “protein shakes” and meal replacements that are less expensive than Shakeology. But  comparisons – based on the simple “protein shake” or even “health shake” are usually off the mark because of intangibles like quality of sourcing, efficacy, and the delicate balance of incredible health benefits and delicious flavor that is unique to Shakeology.

When we developed Shakeology, our goal was to fill a void in the marketplace where the benefits of the shake would live up to the promise of the line “The Healthiest Meal of the Day.”  Shakeology was designed for people who want more than protein, and for people who really expect  the health benefits being represented by the ingredients on the label. With Shakeology not only do you get what you pay for, but because it tastes so good and the attention to every detail is so complete, you get more than you pay for.

To really know whether a product measures up to Shakeology, you need to keep some things in mind:

How Much is “Enough”?

We are proud of Shakeology’s 70+ ingredients. Other shakes will trumpet the number of ingredients they have too. But are the ingredients they are counting actually good for you?

Are they derived from whole food sources? They are in Shakeology! Too often the “magic ingredient” has been isolated from the enzymes and phytonutrients which actually are what is needed to make the “magic ingredient” effective when consumed.

And does the competition formulate for the synergistic benefits between the ingredients, or just slap together whatever is hot in the media? Shakeology was specially formulated for the collection of ingredients to work together like a symphony; this combination is so effective some people report dramatic benefits within the first week. We’re not just talking about weight loss here, we’re talking meaningful health benefits; regularity, energy, vitality!

Other supplements point to one or two individual ingredients and build a “story” around their super food attributes…  that’s like saying you can put Michael Jordan on a team of amateurs and still have a championship caliber team. Shakeology’s specially selected ingredients work like the dream team, all working together so YOU get the health benefits from the healthiest meal of the day.

Vanilla?

If the shake you’re considering is vanilla, how do they achieve vanilla flavoring? Our research indicates that it is impossible for the superfoods, adaptogen herbs, anti-oxidants, phytonutrients and digestive enzymes to co-exist and taste good in a vanilla flavor, unless the vanilla flavor is achieved chemically and artificially. (It’s the “dirty little secret” of the flavoring industry even though labeling guidelines still allow this artificial flavoring  to be called “natural vanilla flavoring”) Other companies are willing to use that labeling loophole for their benefit. But not Shakeology.

So here’s the question; are you drinking the shake so you can enjoy vanilla, or so you can get the incredible health benefits from a shake that doesn’t taste like a “health drink”? We call Shakeology “the healthiest meal of the day” for a reason, and we plan on doing what it takes to live up to that.

Protein:

When it comes to comparing protein quality, you need to look closely to see the truth:

“Say NO to soy”

Does the competition use ANY soy in their formulation? Soy protein contains estrogen-mimicking compounds that can interfere with your hormones, and on top of that most of the soy in the marketplace is GMO (genetically modified), two important reasons why we don’t use soy in Shakeology.

It is our general opinion that many people are consuming too much soy in the pursuit of health – and thus perhaps producing too much estrogen which can cause many adverse issues in the body.  Do a little research of your own on the topic, and you will be as shocked as we are at what you will learn about soy.

Likewise, if a company is promoting that their protein is “more absorbable”, be careful. Protein sources like Whey Protein Hydrolysate have been shown to trigger a much higher insulin response in the body. That’s not an outcome we would tolerate in any health shake, much less Shakeology.

Our protein source is whey protein isolate, which is more than 90 percent pure protein. Plus, Shakeology is loaded with digestive enzymes-and lactase, that’s the enzyme that breaks down lactose and is found in over-the-counter products like Lactaid^®.  Don’t confuse whey protein concentrate with “isolate”. Whey protein concentrate is the least pure form of whey protein made. The benefits of “isolate” vs. “concentrate” is that the fat has been removed to achieve “isolate”. The fat in whey protein is what carries toxins consumed by the animal. That’s the reason Shakeology can be used by so many people who are lactose-intolerant – because those toxins have been removed through the isolate process.

We also look at the source of every single protein batch that shows up at the manufacturer.  If we find the manufacturer is cutting a corner by bringing in protein from farms that use hormones or are ok feeding inorganic materials to their cattle, we tell them to find another source.  This is the kind of scrutiny that other companies just don’t give their product, and it’s the kind of attention to detail which doesn’t show on the label. (But it does show in how you feel when you consume the product over the long term!)

Glycemic index tested…

In terms of sugar, many protein shakes have 1g of sugar or less. This is because they are using artificial chemical sweeteners (check the label for sucralose, aspartame, or sugar alcohols). Shakeology’s small amounts of sugar comes from natural sources which are easily processed by the body and in fact has been tested and certified by an independent lab to have a Low Glycemic Index of 24 – that’s lower than most fruits (an apple is 36 and an orange is 43)!

What is not in the base, they may suggest you add later:

Other shakes don’t cost as much as Shakeology at first glance, but they also don’t contain the full profile of  vitamins and minerals or whole-food sources of anti-oxidants, phytonutrients, adaptogen herbs, prebiotics, probiotics or digestive enzymes. We’ve seen competitors make you buy a separate vitamin pack for $150 per month! And if you want chocolate flavoring you have to buy a separate flavor packet for an extra $25 a month. If you want metabolism boosting effects and appetite control, you have to buy 2 additional products at $50 each. Once you add it up, this is hardly a “good deal” and it is usually questionably healthy..

To achieve the benefits of Shakeology we’ve seen competitors charge between $250 and $335 per month! $120 doesn’t seem expensive when you realize all of the benefits Shakeology delivers.

SUMMARY:

Formula: 70+ of the healthiest ingredients from whole food sources from around the world (including anti-oxidants, phytonutrients, adaptogen herbs, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals VS. protein, fillers, artificial coloring, and isolated glamour ingredients

Winner: Shakeology

Protein Source: Shakeology’s 15g of pure whey protein isolate plus 2g from plant sources VS soy, hydrolyzed whey and/or whey concentrate blend.

Winner: Shakeology

Taste: Rich chocolate or greenberry Shakeology Vs. chemically derived artificial-flavored competition?

Winner: Shakeology

Price: $120 for Shakeology  VS. Oops! It’s impossible to compare lesser formulations on price. But if you add in all the separate vitamins and flavoring agents the other companies ask you to buy to (try and) match the benefits and nutritional content of Shakeology, you would easily spend over $300 every month – that’s  2 ½ times the cost of Shakeology!  Sure, chocolate milk is cheaper than Shakeology. A vanilla soy shake can be cheaper than Shakeology – until you try to add what Shakeology’s got, and match what Shakeology can do for you, and then it’s no contest.

Winner: Shakeology

The best comparison is results. From weight loss and reduction in cravings, to regularity, to healthier cholesterol levels, to energy, to an overall sense of well being… We give a bottom-of-the-bag money-back guarantee on Shakeology because we KNOW people will be amazed at how they feel. Shakeology is the winner by a total knock out!

A long story short is that I found a solution-that helped me be able to bounce back and REALLY gain CONTROL of my life. I didn’t even know how negative I was towards people and situations in my life until I really started to think positively. And NO I’m not talking about “The Secret.”

Its called fitness, nutrition AND accountability. And you know what-by using this 3 prong approach I was able to be a better wife, mother and daughter of God than I ever even thought I had the potential to be.

I’m not super woman-but I did find out something. I found out that even an extra hour in bed did nothing for me like a workout did. Think about it. You get up, you accomplish something. You get your endorphins going, you’re in a better mood to start the day off. Not only that but you then eat a good breakfast. Which leads to better energy through the day. Its about making a better choice to start the day so the rest of the day has a better chance of being AWESOME!

Or you could stay in bed an extra hour. Wake up still not wanting to start the day. The kids are crying or you get to work and something has exploded. You either ate a really not good breakfast or got something from the drive through on your way to work or didn’t even eat at all. You have no energy, no patience and by 2pm you are ready to crash…

So I’m going to start holding challenges. Yes, I am going to use Beachbody products. These are the tools that I used that helped me lose the weight, maintain that weight loss-bounce right back after a pregnancy and have the energy to start venturing into running marathons.

And to be honest, I’m not even going to start a challenge with a Beachbody program I HAVEN’T used yet. I want to be able to answer all of your questions. I want to put into your hands the tools and then walk you all the way through the program so that you get the results you paid for!

Yes, I do get a commission from the products you buy. And I could also simply say “good luck” and walk away. But that’s not me. I’m not in it to make a quick buck-I’m in it to put my work and commitment where my mouth is-to help you.

Before I recap the exact details I want you to ask yourself these questions….

1. Do you want to get healthy?
2. Do you want to fit in your skinny jeans?
3. Do you want to look in the mirror and feel GOOD about what you see?
4. Do you want to have energy?
5. Do you want to add years on to your life ?
6. Do you want to set a good example for your children?
7. Do you want to have a more positive attitude?
8. Do you want to build relationships with others going through the same things?
9. Do you want to have more confidence?
10. Do you want to get your life on track and start a new healthy lifestyle?

I think we all want those things and THIS challenge is the answer to help you achieve those goals. It takes 21 days to create a habit and with this you will have others looking to see if you did your workout and hearing from YOU that day so that accountability will keep you on track!

The challenges I run will not only be about weight loss but about learning more about who you are and what you really are capable of doing. I am only allowing 5 people in a group at a time so that we can make it an experience that everyone goes through together and comes out as great motivating friends. That’s how it happened with me. I can name 3 people that I worked out with when I started my first Beachbody program and I still call them CLOSE friends-and 2 of them I still have yet to meet. And I KNOW I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for their support.

So here is the next 3 month schedule. If you want a preview of any of the programs-let me know and I’ll send you the video…

Start Date:
November 14th -
Insanity 1 spot left Because it is near and dear to me as my FIRST REAL workout I am starting my series of challenges with this one

December 5th
Hip Hop Abs 2 spots left -this is a VERY fun dance based workout routine that won’t take too much of your time, but will get you great results.
P90X – 3 spots left for those who are more daring and are more advanced I will have a special group for this program. I have 2 who have already asked about starting this group as well so they can get ready for P90X2 which is currently on Pre Order.

Jan 2nd
Slim in 6 – 4 spots left We all know that New Years resolutions usually fail by February-so why not hop on this 6 week program so that when others quit trying-you’ve already reached your goal! This is a great program from Debbie Siebers that is lower intensity but will help you see results in shedding the holiday weight. My sister just had her baby today Nov. 4th and has requested I start one for her so that she can get back to pre-baby weight using this one!

There is a lot of celebration and ‘hoopla’ if you will, surrounding these challenges. You can watch this video to get an idea of the prizes and giveaways ($500-100,000) that you could win by joining any of these challenges.

THE BEACHBODY CHALLENGE

And if you are all about that-then I say WOOT WOOT lets go for it.

But the most important thing for me is the personal journey that you commit to that most often is quiet and unnoticed until one day you look in the mirror and you connect with the person-the Son or Daughter that our Heavenly Father knows and loves-and you love yourself just as HE loves YOU.

Make today count!
Lorri

So I started a private Facebook group in order for myself and all my friends and family and clients can stay accountable.  In this group we are motivating and supporting each other.  We log our workouts, ask questions about meals and struggles, tips and its making a HUGE difference for me and everyone in this group.

Would you like to join this group and have me as a free success partner and be a part of this free accountability group?

Awesome!  Then these are the steps you take to make it happen!

1. CLICK HERE to  make me your FREE Coach

2. CLICK HERE to add me as a friend on Facebook

3. CLICK HERE to Join our Private Group

Live today like its the first day of the rest of your life and MAKE IT COUNT!

Take for instance my Half Marathon coming up on the 29th.  I am SO unprepared for this.  This point in my first marathon I was SO ready it was killing me.  I had my race outfit laid out by now, I had all my food planned for the week of and I was dancing with excitement.  For this one, the only reason I know what I’m wearing is because its a costume run and I had to order my shirt in advance to make sure I got it before the race.  I have no clue which shoes I’m going to wear and I actually haven’t hit the appropriate amount of miles my training plan suggests.  The saying goes-when you step up to the line, trust your training and forget the rest.  Um, yeah thats NOT what I’ll be able to do-and I KNOW I’m going to struggle.  For all intents and purposes, I really really could have just blown this race off and not done it.  BUT my husband is running too.  He is super excited and more ready than I-and hes even a cyclist while I’M suppose to be the runner!

My point is, even the most dedicated need to have a support system because you really can’t do it by yourself 24-7.

But some have said to me, I don’t know who those people are.  I don’t have anyone supporting me.  I don’t have positive people in my life.  What should I do?

So I did some thinking and studying and I came up with this answer:  If you don’t have a support system, then start acting like a leader to build one from scratch.  I got this idea from this video:

How to start a movement

If you start acting and thinking like a leader you WILL have people who are looking for a leader like you start to follow you.  Then, once that happens-you can’t back down.  That guy who started the dancing couldn’t quite when there was two others that joined with him.  And before he knew it, there was a whole bunch of people who were there supporting what he was doing (even though what he was doing looked ridiculous!)

So if you feel like you don’t have anyone positive in your life, start being positive yourself and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll find supportive friends.

And don’t forget, I’ll always be here too-just call my name I’ll be there in a hurry! :0)

When he brought the slip home I looked at it.  I scanned it and saw that there was a star by everything except one: “Can complete a number sequence.”  It was highlighted yellow with no sticker meaning it was something he had not accomplished.

My first reaction was, what??  He knows his numbers, how hard was the sequence, was it 1.2.3 or was it 2.4.6 etc.

I turned around to ask him why he hadn’t done this one thing-out of 13 and I saw his face beaming at me.  And while it doesn’t happen often, I am VERY blessed that I had a brain fart between my brain and my mouth and I didn’t say what I was thinking.

Instead I took him in my arms.  And I held him.  And we went over the paper-each thing that he could do and we high fived.  We got to the number sequence line and he said- ‘but I didn’t do that one.”   I looked at him and with all honesty I told him I didn’t care, I was SO proud of him.

And then we made brownies…

See, my 3 year old is in a 4 year old class.  This isn’t bragging, but explaining my STUPIDITY.  How on earth could I look at my 3 year old who is keeping up socially and academically with children a whole year older than him and nit pick about ONE THING he didn’t do.

And yet, don’t we do it to ourselves too.  Don’t we look at something we’ve accomplished and not feel satisfied because of one little thing?  My half marathon, I didn’t come in sub 2 hours.  It KILLS me that I was 2 hours and 5 mins.  I overlook the fact everyday that I ran 13.1 miles and beat myself up about the time.

You do it to.  Tell me you didn’t at one point stand on the scale and look at the number and get frustrated, disappointed or discouraged.  Never mind that you ate right, you worked out hard-you didn’t loose as many pounds as you hoped too., instead of seeing it as-you didn’t GAIN extra and are heading down a disease infested future path.

Lets remember-no, we don’t want to slack and we don’t want to become complacent, but don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back now and again-in whatever aspect of life it is.  You deserve it-GOD LOVES YOU!

Live today like its the first day of the rest of your life-make today count!

Here is the info you need to know:

Orders taken starting September 1st-money will not be taken out until the order is processed in December.
MUST get on a PreSale list in order to assure it will be delivered by Dec 25 2011!

Ordering through a TeamBeachbody Coach <yours truly> means you will get two more exclusive workouts with the program.

This program is for those who have finished Power 90, P90X, or any other “extreme” program like ChaLEAN Extreme, Insanity, Insanity the Asylum.

It also focuses on athletes who want to preform better or former athletes who want to get back into shape.

There will be weekly drawings for those that pre-order.  One person once a week will be chosen for a prize.

It will be available both in DVD and Blu-Ray!

Here are some screen shots from the webinar with Tony Horton and Steve Edwards.  You can also re-watch the entire webinar here: http://bit.ly/P90X2_Webby

Stairs - We’ve heard of taking the stairs, but how about taking 2 stairs and turn that move into a lunge

Laundry – Instead of grabbing the laundry basket and putting it on your hip, carry it out in front of you using arm and shoulder muscles to keep your arms straight.  And when you load the washing machine or dryer, don’t try to dump a whole armful in at once, take one piece of clothing at a time, tucking in the tummy muscles with each bend and twist.

Dance – Always have upbeat music on.  Its hard to stop your feet from adding a lively bounce when a really good song is on.  Before you put lunch on the table, do a little dance around it and who cares if the neighbors are watching, invite them to join you!

5 min clean up – You’ll love this and you’re kids will think its a game.  Set a timer for 5 mins and pick an area of the house that needs cleaning up.  Then get as much done in 5 mins as possible. That might mean you’ll have to run from the upstairs to downstairs or the kitchen to the family room more than once.  Make it quick and use a timer-it’ll motivate you and the kids will get excited too!

On the phone – Have you ever been on the phone and found yourself midnlessly walking around and around.  Well put that into good use and march in place, skip or hop without getting too breathless.  Or find a flat wall and do a wall sit where you have your back against the wall and slump down until its like you’re sitting on a chair.

On the couch - Whenever a commercial comes on tv-see how many push-ups or sit-ups you can do-then challenge your roommate or spouse or even kids to try and beat you!

Whether you think you can or can’t exercise, you’re probably right.

-Keep the frequently used items like pots and pans in places you need to either stretch up or squat down to get. This will work your calves as you reach up onto your toes for higher items and your hamstrings as you squat down.

-If your meal involves stirring, pick the pot up with one hand and use the other to stir.  Then switch arms if stirring again (yes we have two sides).  This way you work both arm muscles-and hey we are all about efficiency!

-And while you are stirring-make sure you are using a heavier utensil.

-If a recipe calls for and electric mixer-ditch the modern and go with a spoon.  Hey, they still had tasty meals back before electricity was discovered I’m sure!

-When you can, stand on one leg.  I had a college roommate who always stood with one foot up against the inside of her other leg.  This helps you to learn balance, use your core and work leg muscles all at once.  Just don’t grab onto the stove if you loose your balance!

-You can do side leg raises while standing at the stove.  Just lift one leg up to one side at a time focusing on working the oblique (side of your stomach) muscles.

-Use the ingredients, pots and pans as weights- do a few tricep extensions  or bench press that can of tuna!

-When the dishwasher needs emptying, do this job with gusto-again stretching and squatting as you put thing back and then do a few plies rather than bending to put dirty things in the bottom rack of the dishwasher.

Whether you think you do or don’t have time to exercise, you’re probably right.

-Park far away - we’ve all heard that you should no park as close as you can to the store front door so you can burn a few extra calories-so DON’T do it.  I guarantee you’ll actually save time too because you’ll more likely find a parking spot and walk into the store quicker than driving around waiting for the perfect spot to open.

Out of reach items – Don’t just casually reach for the items on the top shelf.  Use this time to stretch and roll up onto those toes to work the calf muscles!  And don’t just bend over at the stomach to grab something off the bottom shelf either, use it for a squat-just make sure you use your legs and specifically your hamstrings to stand up, not your back.

Buying in Bulk – If there is something on your list that you love, make sure you grab for it one at a time, and use a different arm each time.

Food as weights – No time for the gym, thats okay, a gallon of milk weighs, well a gallon!  So before you put your heavy items into the cart, use them to do a bicep curl in each arm.  Heck do two or three per side!

Heavy items first – You know those times when you’ve got lots in your cart and you are barely able to go around corners-thats GREAT!  Go for the laundry detergents and bulk items first, carrying around the extra weight longer means more calories burned than if you bought that pack of underwear first.

Checkout lines can be fun –  Don’t waste this time standing in line reading the whos who of gossip, stand on one leg and then the other for 30 seconds each and then repeat.  Or use that time to squeeze those gluteal muscles and tuck in the abs, hold for 10 seconds and then release.  By the time you get to the cashier you’ll probably have buns of steel!

Bag Lady/Man – Offer to help put the groceries in the bag if you can.  And NEVER roll your cart out to your car (unless you have your kids with you) – pick up those bags and carry them!

Whether or not you think you have time to workout, you’re probably right!