Greg Barth Beachbody coach | Body Beast | P90X2 | P90X | INSANITY | Shakeology reviews
You’ve been there before. Admit it. You had good results but not great. What is missing? Nutrition! It is the secret missing ingredient to fitness success! You need to track your nutrition to get the results. Don’t worry, especially if you are a busy professional. You can make it easy by following Luis’ tips here http://oneforcefitness.com/coaching/want-great-results-track-your-nutrition/
Shakeology Taste TestIt’s time to put the old and new side by side and try them both out. I can hear the deep voice of Michael Buffer introducing both prize fighters…. “Let’s get ready to rummmmble!” The older “Superfood Formula” and the new “Customer Approved” Chocolate Shakeology are put to the test.
I decided to sample both for myself and blended up both formulas with the exact same ingredients. I taste tested it and had my wife do the same. She is known in our house to have the super human taste buds.
Lisa’s comments on the new Customer Approved Shakeology:
“Not sharp or bitter”
“No after taste”
“…vanilla, almond or almost orange undertones”
Lisa’s comments on the older formula:
“Bitter”
“Sharp after taste”
“Not sweet”
The votes are in and the feedback has been confirmed to coincide with the panel. Beachbody created a group of 2,500 people to give honest feedback on what they thought of the formula and how it could be improved. They came up with the new Customer Approved Chocolate Shakeology. Careful considerations went into improving it in 5 specific areas: aroma, taste, sweetness, chocolateyness and texture. Go here to read about the specifics of what criteria was used to make the changes. Want to take the Shakeology taste test for yourself? Message me here.
Are you confused when it comes to knowing where to start? Taking on P90X seem too much or intimidating? Where do you begin? If any or all of these questions hit home with you, then you need to check out fellow Beachbody Coach Nicole’s blog post on this. She answers all the questions here at http://getfitwithnicola.com/not-ready-for-p90x-where-should-you-start/
She also has recommendations of other programs as P90X alternatives that may fit your needs if starting with P90X is too advanced.
Get ready for 2013 today by saving $30 on the Reset!
Are you one of the smart ones and planning ahead with your fitness and nutrition for 2013?
Save $30 by ordering your Ultimate Reset by December 16th. You will be all ready to tackle those New Years Resolutions and start off 2013 with a bang!
The Beachbody is available in three different options:
Beachbody Ultimate Reset Complete Kit
Beachbody Ultimate Reset Deluxe Kit
Beachbody Ultimate Reset Ultimate Kit
Check out my review on the whole experience here.
Shakeology vs Body by Vi comparison – What shake is better?
Shakeology vs Body By Vi - There is a lot of talk and debate when comparing weight loss products these days. I’m not surprised since we as a nation have a huge problem on our hands and I mean that literally. In the United States, two-thirds the number of people are overweight or obese, two-thirds! That is a lot and it isn’t getting any better. With such a problem and everyone living a rushed lifestyle, many people are turning to any help they can get to get healthy. One such option is a meal replacement shake. It’s fast and easy and will help you lose weight right? Let’s compare a few of the more popular products available on the market today.
Beachbody’s Shakeology AKA “healthiest meal of the day” comes in 24 individual packets or a bag that consists of a 30 day supply. Both are the same price. The new vegan formula that was recently introduced are an additional $7.50. Current flavor options that are available: Chocolate, Greenberry, Vegan Chocolate and Vegan Tropical Strawberry. The original chocolate formula recently was changed to reduce the fructose and to increase the fiber. More details of the changes are listed below.
Shakeology options
The four new superfoods of Shakeology:
Moringa – rich in Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin A, Protein, Potassium and Iron. Moringa is known to promote energy, vitality, athletic performance, and weight loss while boosting the immune system. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial properties.
Coconut flower nectar - contains 17 amino acids plus is a natural source of B vitamins. It is also high in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron.
Luo Han Guo – been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a millennium. It’s known for it’s antioxidant properties and immune-supporting benefits.
Himalayan salt - an actually healthy salt. It contains more than 70 trace minerals. Salt is great for you if it’s the right type!
Both coconut flower nectar and Luo Han Guo help to create a natural sweetness in Shakeology.
Some perks promised by Shakeology are lost weight, more energy, improved digestion and regularity and lower cholesterol. It also has a certified low score of 24 on the glycemic index. That is very similar to an apple and will help regulate blood sugar and mood levels.
Body By Vi offers several different packages to choose from: The Fit, Transformation, Core, Shape or Balance Kit. The Balance Kit is the starter package and the Fit Kit is the premium pack that promises to “take your fitness to the next level”. For our comparison here, we will use the Shape Kit to compare to Shakeology.
The comparison shake is Body By Vi’s Shape kit. It includes 60 servings of Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake Mix and 10 servings of Shape-Up™ Health Flavor Mix-Ins to mix in with your shakes. It’s promoted as two shakes a day to help melt the pounds away. It also states that it provides healthy vitamins and minerals, protein and fiber.
The ingredient list as listed on the Body By Vi (Visalus) website:
Body By Vi’s shake ingredients – Protein Blend of (Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate, and Whey Protein Concentrate), Digestive Resistant Maltodextrin (Fibersol™), High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, MCT Oil, Maltodextrin, Gum Acacia, Xanthan, Sodium Caseinate, Lecithin, Aminogen™, Mono & Diglycerides, DiPotassium Phosphate, Sucralose.
Let me highlight just a few of the above ingredients; sucralose. Cathy Sherman defined it like this from NaturalNews.com….”To make sucralose, chlorine is used. Chlorine, a poisonous gas, has a split personality; it can be only moderately harmful or it can be life threatening”. Read more from that article here. WOW! That is just one of the ingredients from Body By Vi’s shake.
“Worse, other research has shown that artificial sweeteners might contribute to weight gain … [when the] sweet taste is not accompanied by the calories (energy) our brain expects it to be, the complex systems our bodies have to regulate energy balance may be thrown off kilter. The result is that a diet high in artificial sweeteners may possibly, over time, cause people to seek out more calories from other sources”. – FYI Living
Body By Vi also includes soy protein isolate which has been noted by numerous respected sources to be harmful. Dr. Mercola laid it out very nicely in an article here.
Beachbody’s Shakeology -
Shakelogy Super Foods
More than 70 different ingredients from around the world are represented in Shakeology for their potency and bioavailability. Rather than list them all here, I put a link below for each.
Greenberry Shakeology ingredient list
Chocolate Shakeology ingredient list
Vegan Tropical Strawberry Shakeology ingredient list
Vegan Chocolate Shakeology ingredient list
Whey protein isolate is the main source of protein in Shakeology with the exception of the vegan flavors. The protein in the vegan flavors is made up of sprouted and bio-fermented brown rice protein.
Beachbody’s Shakeology varies in calories from 140 to 170 depending on the flavor and type of protein.
Body By Vi’s shake has 90 calories. Recommended twice a day for a total of 180.
Although being aware of calories is a good gauge of health, it isn’t everything. They need to be GOOD calories of pure ingredients.
Beachbody has a complete line of home workout DVD’s (P90X, INSANITY, Brazil Butt Lift, Turbo Fire and numerous others) to coincide with Shakeology for a full exercise and nutrition package. They range from the beginner to the very advanced.
Although Body By Vi doesn’t have an exercise line of products like Beachbody, they do seem to encourage working out along with drinking the shakes daily. The do also state on their website “Simply use the products twice a day, whether you exercise or not, and you’ll be amazed at how fast you can transform your life with ViSalus.”
Exercise pieced with nutrition is a huge factor to consider when doing a Shakeology vs Body By Vi review comparison.
Beachbody – A+ rating
Visalus – C+ rating
Retail price of Shakeology is $119.95 for a 30 day supply based on one shake a day with the exception of the individual (24) packets. The vegan options are an additional $7.50. Discounted options are available for club members (10% off) and coaches (25% off). Shakeology is a full meal replacement with no additional ingredients required. Free shipping is also offered when purchased on the home delivery (HD) or monthly auto ship option. (HD). There is also a 30 day money back guarantee if the customer is not satisfied.
Body By Vi’s Shape Kit contains 60 shakes for a month supply for $99. Two shakes a day are recommended. Adding additional ingredients are suggested. Additional flavor packets are available in packs of 15 for an additional $10 each. Body By Vi offers a “3 for free” offer where you can get your kit for free each month minus shipping for referring others.
If you are adding additional flavors to add in with your Body By Vi shake and having them the recommended twice a day, both products seem to be very similar in cost per day.
When it comes right down to it, most people won’t care how healthy a drink is and what it does for their body unless it tastes good. That is the delicate balance. Many times, chemical ingredients or processes are needed to make it taste better. There isn’t any reason to go there (processing, chemicals) in my opinion. The healthier you eat, the more your taste buds change and get used to better foods. You can have both taste and ultimate nutrition.
The feedback on the taste of the different flavors of Shakeology can vary greatly. Greenberry seems to be the least favorite and chocolate being the most popular. But I also know some that prefer Greenberry all the way. There are many recipes and concoctions that are used to change the taste and even add calories if that is the individual’s goal. I usually make mine pretty simple with ice, water and usually a banana. It’s very filling and tastes very good. The Tropical Strawberry does have a bit more of a graininess aftertaste but it’s pretty minimal. That has to do with the vegan mix. Tropical has become my overall favorite flavor.
The Visalus shake is touted as “the shake that tastes like cake”. I honestly cannot say by personal experience what the taste is like. Most of the feedback is positive on the taste from what I’ve heard.
Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler and co-founders of Shakeology Darien Olien and Isabelle Daikeler are constantly researching and getting feedback from others on how to improve the product. The chocolate formula was recently changed even though there was a risk to how others may like the change in taste. There isn’t ANY processed ingredients in Shakeology. Beachbody is willing to do whatever it takes to make Shakeology healthiest product on the market.
Body By Vi’s shake product seems to give people some nice results. One hesitation that I have is regarding the pureness of it’s ingredients and how exercise is implemented into the program. Bottom line is that being healthy and fit really comes down to eating as many foods in their most natural state and following a strict exercise routine. Be careful of processed foods in any shake, they can mess up your metabolism and actually put ON weight. It’s a long term process that includes enjoying what we eat, how we exercise, getting enough sleep and reducing our stress level. Follow that foundation and you are bound for success. As always, when deciding what product is best for you, do your research first!
Don’t forget to follow me out on my YouTube channel for all the latest tips on fitness and nutrition.
I’m back recently from a six day adventure in Las Vegas. Part of the trip was to get P90X certified and the other half was for the annual Beachbody Summit.
The P90X class was a large amount of data packed into two days. We covered everything from bones and muscles to cueing form and nutrition. Lots to soak into a short amount of time. Since Tony was in town for the Summit, we were able get two workouts with him and a motivational speech in typical humerous Tony style. To relieve a little tension, it was off to the old downtown area of Las Vegas and Fairmont street. It was quite a side show. Some guy in a diaper was yelling something to me. I am not sure but had a good idea on what type of humor he was trying to provide. Only in Vegas. To mix it up even more, we went ziplining. It wasn’t overly crazy but a nice little rush of adrenelin. After some cramming and practicing for the exam, I passed and am now officially P90X certified! This was a huge step for me in becoming a group fitness trainer. It signified an ever bigger leap for me from where I started in October of 2009.
Beachbody Summit 2012 – hangin’ with Shaun T
From there it was a transition from the P90X training to the start of the Beachbody Summit. But before that started, a few of us went to a Vegas show. We decided on Cirque du Soleil and Mystere. It was very interesting to watch some very almost impossible moves and twists in the air. Amazing. It was my first Cirque du Soleil show. It was one of their first shows ever held. Lots of examples of pure strength and incredible flexibility. It made the P90X moves looks simple. I’ve heard of great things about KÀ as well. I’ll have to make it to that one next time. I don’t think you can go wrong with either.
Thursday came and it was time for pre Summit team training. We had presentations from Chalene Johnson, Shaun T, Tony Horton, Brett Hoebel and Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler. They had such great tips and inspirational stories. Brett has a humbling story of success and failures and seems very down to earth. Something that isn’t that common as one reaches “success”. I also had a chance to tell my story on how Beachbody changed my mindset towards fitness and health. I really loved the opportunity to speak in front of the group and share my story. It wasn’t a big deal but it’s something I would not have done a few years ago.
Summit opened Friday with a bang with some great new product announcements. From the new Body Beast to Vegan Chocolate Shakeology, Les Mils Combat (coming Fall of 2012) and Derm Exclusive. I am especially excited for the vegan Shakeology and Derm Exclusive products. I won’t be using the Derm products but am eager to see how it works for women. I know there are many women that would love a product like this that has such a high level of “clean” ingredients in it. I bought one and my wife is going to try it out. I will write up a review once she gets a feeling for how it works for her.
I also had the honor of being recognized for my Star Diamond coach rank status on stage in front of the 5,000 other Beachbody coaches. I also was recognized for being a Success Club All Star. An accomplishment that simply means reaching Success Club for 12 months in a row and a indication of Beachbody coaching success. I was also shocked when I had a few video blurbs feature me on the big screen. The focus was on COMMIT. They also featured a story on my sister Rhonda’s success. A significant moment for both of us.
Beachbody Summit Diamond Party at Wet Republic
Throw in some great training sessions, killer workouts, award ceremonies, interacting with other successful and goal oriented coaches and fun parties and you have yourself a Beachbody Summit for 2012. I even got out of my comfort zone and wore rolled up white linen pants to the Diamond party at the Wet Republic. One of the workouts was a super workout that included all of the trainers and about 5,000 coaches outside in the Vegas heat. We even had a chance to listen to Seth Godin, author of best selling books Tribes, Linchpin and others. I could have listened to him for hours. He painted a clear picture on what type of world we are living in and how it has marketing has changed over the years, especially since the introduction of the internet.
It was a jam packed six days. I was running on adrenaline for most of it and then crashed Sunday. I am always impressed at the attention to detail that Beachbody shows when hosting a party. From the imprinted cocktail napkins to the Beachbody logo in the pool at the parties. It’s time to recoup and get back in the swing of things. I finished my Beachbody Ultimate Reset experience right before heading to Las Vegas and now going to kick off my new workout program Les Mils Pump. It will be a hybrid schedule to work in my runs as I prepare for my first half marathon. I will post the schedule here as soon as I finalize it. See you in Vegas in 2013 for next year’s Beachbody Summit!
I’m just getting starting with the Beachbody Ultimate Reset. Today was day 2. I have to say the biggest and most noticable struggles have been adjusting to no caffeine and the prep work to make the meals. Since the reset doesn’t allow exercise besides light walking and yoga, I chose to sleep in some today. I needed it. I was in a complete fog but feel like I might be coming out of it. It will be nice to get past it and feel some normal energy once again.
Oatmeal, blueberries and plain yogurt for breakfast
Greek salad for lunch
Kale and tacos for dinner
I’ve also noticed how much that I was eating small little bites of this and that before I started the reset. It adds up over the course of the day. I chose to add the snack today of an apple and almond butter. Who knew how good an apple could taste! Bring on the Beachbody Ultimate Reset day 3 and sushi!
Beachbody Ultimate Reset - My Goals
The Beachbody Ultimate Reset is quickly approaching for me. In just a few days I will take on a new journey. I have now completed my Tough Mudder experience and ready to rock with the reset.
The Beachbody Ultimate Reset is NOT a starvation diet. It is NOT some type of cleanse where there is no food involved. It is a complete foundation on how you approach food and forming new clean, detoxifying habits that you will use going forward. Great recipes with real whole foods are a major part of the 3 week program.
My goals as I start this are to detoxify my body, learn better eating habits, take my vitals to an elite status. In addition to those goals, I am looking forward to eating vegan for 2 weeks. I don’t think I have ever done that in my life. Being healthy and fit is a journey of trial and error. What works for one person doesn’t always work best for another. It’s a matter of finding the perfect storym of nutrition and exercise.
My numbers as I start day 1:
Cholesterol – 157
Triglycerides – 98
HDL – 44
Cholesterol / HDL ratio – 3.6
LDL – 93
Glucose – 91
It’s time! I am starting Monday, May 28th. I’ll be sharing my experience right here.
Chocolate Shakeology pudding
Ingredients:
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology, 1 ripe avocado, 1 large banana, 1 cup almond milk, 1 tsp. lemon
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour into 4 small individual dishes. Refrigerate for an hour. If the pudding ends up too thick, simply add a bit more almond milk. Serves 4. Optional: Garnish with some chopped pecans, chia seeds or walnuts.
Serves 4
Nutrition per serving:
Calories – 158
Carbs - 16.50
Fat - 7.75
Protein 5.75
Simple but very good!
Quinoa
Quinoa salad with chicken
Black beans
Organic chicken
Red pepper
Cilantro
Lime juice
Sea salt
Jalapeno pepper
Mango
