Trying Shakeology (Finally!) and a Recipe
I’ve heard a lot of hubbub about Shakeology for the last few months. A protein powder that promises to be “the healthiest meal of the day,” I was skeptical at best. There are so many protein powders out there—all promising to be the best—that it’s sometimes hard to decipher between real, solid nutrition and just good marketing. But when O Magazine did an article on superfoods and the man behind the Shakeology mix who tirelessly travels around the world to find the healthiest ingredients—many of which aren’t even known about in the U.S., I was like, “Okay, let me try this stuff.”
First, let’s be clear that Shakeology is a Beachbody product. So it has that whole independent-rep-sales thing going on, meaning you can’t buy it in stores. Thankfully, we happened to have a former FBG Weight-Loss Challenge leader Stacy who is a rep, so she hooked us up with a chocolate sample to try.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with the taste. It was rich and chocolaty without being overly sweet. Its consistency was totally creamy and filling, too. And the nutritionals are really something to marvel at. With 140 calories, 3 grams of fiber and 17 grams of protein (ooh, that made me happy!), it also has antioxidants, phytonutrients, enzymes, prebiotics and many ingredients I’ve never heard of including, yacon, camu-camu and sacha inchi. Additionally, it has super-good stuff I have heard of like quinoa, maca powder, chia and chlorella.
While there are a number of Shakeology recipes out there, I went simple with mine…
Chocolate Shakeology Recipe
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk
Packet of chocolate Shakeology powder
1/2 banana
4 large frozen strawberries
1-2 handfuls of fresh spinach
1 handful of ice
Directions
1. Place the almond milk and Shakeology powder in a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Add the banana, strawberries and spinach. Blend again, until smooth.
3. Add the ice and blend until your desired consistency. Enjoy!
This little concoction was delicious and kept me full for three hours. While I don’t think I’ll be drinking this for my lunch any time soon (technically, Shakeology is a meal replacement-type protein powder), I do like this as a great pre- or post-workout snack or as a quick breakfast when you’re on the go. From just one serving, I couldn’t tell a huge difference in my energy, but I certainly felt good knowing that I was downing so many fruits and veggies.
If you’d like to try Shakeology, too—and we recommend you do since it’s a, $119.95 investment to start off (Ouch! Although it also includes workouts and a shaker cup)—Stacy is giving FBG readers samples for $5. Just email her at stacym810@gmail.com with your mailing address, and she’ll hook you up.
Now for those of you who have already tried Shakeology—love it? Leave it? Tell us all about it in the comments! —Jenn
Comments
Hi Jenn 🙂
BOY ! Am I ever glad y’all tried Shakeology and have someone that I can contact to get a sample.
I have tried Shakeology but I used cold coffee and it was N-A-S-T-Y !!
I am willing to try it again using your recipe !
Are you going to review Yonanas ?
I love shakeology!!!! Like to do the chocolate with some pb and a banana …I just use water though to keep the cal’s low …blend with some ice and yum yum yumm
I also like that same recipe with the greenberry, yep pb in greenberry is yumm!
Yay for no artificial sweeteners!
Another fan of Shakeology here! Love the chocolate but find the Greenberry flavor even tastier. I think I may be in the minority on that.
Maria
As a former coach for beachbody I must say that even with the coaching discount it gets expensive fast and I only lost 3 pounds in 3 months. You have to add so many ingredients into shakeology just to be able to drink it that it defeats the purpose of replacing a meal.Also beachbody “oppurtunity” is a scam. Just sayin
I love shakeology!! I was so skeptical at first that the first sample I got took me a week to try! Once I tried it I knew I had to have it. I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, only because my bf has hidden the blender on me, but drinking it straight up isn’t bad!! And when you do sign up for home delivery, they send you a months worth of recipes to try!!
Not a fan of the greenberry but I do like the chocolate. I haven’t tried it with spinach though and think I will next time! I really wish they would develop some other flavors because it is hard to do chocolate every day (yes, I did say that it is hard to have chocolate every day!)
I tried Shakeology and didn’t like it. It was too thick and had a funky aftertaste, even when used in a recipe.
This stuff is not only way WAY too expensive, but its gross. I dumped mine down the drain after drinking half, and it left a funny taste in my mouth. You have to add ingredients to make it taste somewhat tolerable, which adds extra calories,carbs etc. And the Beachbody coaches are a cult of some kind I swear….very annoying saleswise. Save your money.
I absolutely LOVE Shakeology – for both the taste and the nutritional value. I actually even love drinking it plain with just ice and water, whipped up with my magic bullet. But the price tag is still a little hard to swallow for me, so I haven’t had it on hand in a while. I should clarify that I’m talking about the chocolate flavor above. No matter what I added to Greenberry, I still didn’t like the taste. But the chocolate is ridiculously good, and if you can afford to budget the extra (healthy) fat and calories into your day, add some natural PB – tastes just like a Reeses’ cup, I swear!
I have actually tried Shakeology and didn’t really care for it. Not only didn’t I notice any changes, but the chocolate was way too rich for me. I am not saying that it doesn’t work, it just didn’t work for me.
I haven’t tried Shakeology because its crazy expensive. I use Herbalife protein shakes with my own receipe and get 28 grams of protein with only 340 calories and stay full for 3-4 hours. I use mine as both meal replacement or after a workout. I’m not fond of Herbalife shakes by itself, but it’s the best of all the others I’ve tried and with fresh fruit its amazing.
i love Shakeology and love doing 3 day cleanse with it before i start a new workout routine
I love Shakeology and drink it daily, usually as breakfast. I love the energy it gives me, plus it keeps me regular (seriously if you’ve ever been constipated you know that’s very important). Yes, the cost seems expensive, but if you break it down into a per meal amount, it’s $4 which many people spend every morning at that coffee shop on the corner. I don’t drink coffee, don’t like the taste. While people at work have cup after cup of caffeine, I have my Shakeology. About the extra calories from added stuff, you can limit those and make it taste good. I like both flavors and can’t wait for the Tropical this Fall!!
I loved the taste of shakeology, but whey protein doesn’t agree with my tummy and my nutritionist told me it has way to much sugar…. It was like always having dessert!!!
I too dislike the greenberry and I have tried it with many different ingredients but I do like the chocolate a lot. I like it the best with ice. I have lost weight with it and of course you do have to work out too to get the full benefits.
It is expensive but if youdo replace a meal it is not so bad and works out to about $4 a drink. A 42 ounce soda is like $1.50, that is expensive.
Anyway, I have placed a link on my website on how to get a free sample too so no $ invested just to try it.
I’ve been drinking Shakeology regularly for a year and it’s helped me with my chronic fatigue and my IBS which I’ve suffered from for 10 years. I’ve been on all kinds of meds and nothing ever helped me. It’s turned my health around and that makes it worth the $3 a serving that I pay 🙂 Worth every penny. It also definitely helps me maintain a healthy weight. It’s not a magic pill though, if you’re looking to lose weight you still need to eat sensibly and exercise 🙂
I drink it with coconut milk and water, sometimes strawberries blended in, and it’s yummy!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a Beachbody Coach, but I wouldn’t be if I did not believe in the products 🙂 I’m a coach because of how this has helped me.
I drink Shakeology daily as my breakfast and I can tell the difference if I go several days w/o having it. It seems to keep my body functioning well–digestion, energy, recovery time. Also, I keep my recipes simple and use unsweetened almond milk with a little extra water (b/c I don’t like it thick). On workout days I add whey protein to it. On pre-race mornings I add peanut butter and banana and it keeps me satisfied and humming right along (I do half marathons).
If you don’t mix it right it can be gross. But to try someting one time and make assumptions when you probably mixed it wrong is not fair. It really is a great product. I’m not even a chocolate fanatic but I love it. The greenberry is another story. I’ve tried it several different ways and it is not for me. Others I know love it.
Yes, I’m a coach. But I don’t hawk what I don’t like or believe in.
I’d just like to add that the energy boost isn’t expected to be instant- it’s not a stimulant in any way. After a couple of weeks of fueling your body with all the right stuff, you will feel it. It’s an all-day full-body energy. Your hair will grow faster, and will be shinier, silkier. Your nails will grow faster. You will lose weight and keep it off. And whenever you want to indulge in something decadent, just make any one of the many wonderful recipes and enjoy a chocolatey rich thick HEALTHY shake with minimal calories!
It gives you mad crazy diarrhea
It did not work for me at all I used almost half year and nothing I gained weight instead. And yeah have to add so many things to it. I didn’t feel anything special about this shake. These coaches try to make u buy it so they can make money that’s all.
I just drank my fourth chocolate shake from Shakeology. The first one was pretty gross. I just used milk, ice, and two scoops of the powder. It has a strong raisin-y taste from the gogi berries. I despise raisins, so I was very bummed. The second day I used two scoops of powder, ice, and coffee, hoping to hide that yucky taste. It didn’t help at all. Still gross. The third day, I used 3 drops of mint extract. Better, but still not doable. Today, I added 1/8th of a tsp of mint extract, and I was able to drink it without noticing the gogi berries. I want to make it work, because I don’t snack after drinking one. I’m full for a long time. Also, my energy was very good, and I’ve lost a pound in only four days. But I can see getting sick of it fast. And I’m turned off by the price. We’ll see. The jury is still out for me!
Well, I just started this yesterday! I have been suffering with IBS for many years and while I actually eat pretty healthy to begin wiht, I have a lot of stress in my life and I’m always on the go with a full time job and going to school at night full time. I figured the shakes would be a great thing to bring with me to my night classes and would help me cut those sometimes really bad days I have. I also read that it helps regulate you and could possibly help IBS… after the first day I spent the entire day on the toilet, and when I woke up this morning I spent at least 25 minutes in the bathroom. I’m not sure what that’s all about, I’m going to keep going with it though! The taste is nothing to brag about (I’ve been using choclate powder, vanilla almond milk, and a spoon full of peanut butter). I will continue to use it over the next two weeks and see if the bathroom troubles stop, other than that issue I feel great! It kept me full, when I got home after my 3 hour class and hour and a half drive home I ate a hard boiled egg and a cup of tea before bed just to keep me from waking up starving! Hopefully this helps me drop those pesky stress pounds!
All chocolate comes from the seeds or beans of the cacao fruit.
This will give you some insight into why it affects the body the way
it does. In a blender, mix together all the ingredients except the chia seeds.
I’ve been drinking Shakeology for about 8 months now. I absolutely adore the stuff. It is expensive, but it easily replaces a full meal which ultimately ends up saving me money. I’ve tried all 4 flavours (although now they’ have just released the new strawberry flavour which I haven’t tried) and there isn’t a single one I don’t like. I personally don’t like to drink it by itself, but I love the versatility. Make it with fruit, nuts, milk or milk alternatives. Make it in to cookies, or pancakes or pie. I don’t go a day without my Shakeology in some form.
Be aware It’s isn’t for everyone. Please try it before you invest the money and be aware that it is designed as a healthy meal replacement and not just a multivitamin. I can honestly say though, 30 days was all it took to change my life. Who knows, it might change yours too!
Just tried chocolate. I dislike that it has to mixed with other things to make it palatable. The taste is not horrific, but it is not something I could justify spending $100s on. I’m glad a friend gave me a sample; I would never buy this product. I like the protein powder at Publix just fine and it is $18 / 3 week-ish supply. Beachbody: WHY IS YOUR NASTY PRODUCT SO EXPENSIVE?!
I love shakeology,its the best nutrition and when you mix it and make a shake meal out of it its delicious! Just have to find the right taste for you. There are tons of recipes on pinterest as well. I am a beachbody coach but that doesn’t make me bias, I was totally skeptical at first but when I used it for a week straight… The results and benefits speak for themselves! I feel way more energy, don’t crave sweets as much, and just feel healthier overall! Love the stuff and can’t live without it! Thanks for a new recipe to add to my collection!!
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