Crocked Coconut Macaroon Shakeology

Recipe: Crocked Coconut Macaroon Shakeology

At this year's 2011 Beachbody Coach Summit, the Shakeology chefs came out in force with the ultimate recipes they'd developed to shake up their daily Shakeology regimen. In the chocolate category, the winner was Suzy F. She's lost 25 pounds with INSANITY^® and Shakeology, and she actually had to have her dress altered so it wouldn't fall off when she went up to receive her award!

• 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 tsp. rum extract
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup light coconut milk
• 1 oz. frozen Thai coconut meat
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 1/2 cup ice

Place ingredients in blender and blend until thoroughly mixed and creamy. Makes 1 serving.
NOTE: If you're feeling a little "sticker shock" from the calorie count and fat grams, remember that coconut contains some of the healthiest, most heart-smart fat out there. But if you want to reduce the calorie count to 359, just cut the amount of coconut milk, meat, and oil in half.

Say Goodbye to the Food Pyramid!

Say Goodbye to the Food Pyramid!

By Denis Faye In their continued quest to be a relevant source of information regarding the American diet, the USDA retired their food pyramid earlier this month, replacing it with MyPlate, the new, improved—not to mention circular—representation of how they think the general public should eat. The recommendations really didn't change from the 2010 food pyramid revamp, but it's progress nonetheless, I suppose. It may have taken them 19 years, but the government has finally figured out that average Americans tend to eat on round plates, as opposed to triangular ones.



The new graphic features a plate filled with equal portions of veggies and grains, smaller but still substantial portions of fruits and proteins, and a small(ish) serving of dairy. While these portion sizes haven't changed, MyPlate is an improvement on the old recommendations based primarily on the plain, clear language featured front and center on the main page of the Web site, right below the graphic:
Balancing Calories

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Make at least half your grains whole grains.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals—and choose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

For you Beachbody^® types, this is all no-brainer intel, but if you walk down to your local mega-box store and have a look at all the folks pulling elastic-waisted pants off the plus-size racks, you'll see visual evidence that Americans just don't know how to eat. So good for the USDA for using simple, basic language to point out universal truths.

In defense of the USDA

If you spend much time in the food blogosphere, you know that the USDA's latest educational effort has many detractors. Complaints are probably best summed up by the blog Fooducate:
"With all due respect, the USDA should not be the government body dishing out (pun intended) nutrition advice . . . It's not a good idea to have the same organization that promotes agricultural and food production and sales be the one telling us what's healthy to eat."
While this is a valid point, I think we should save the conspiracy theories for Elvis, JFK, and the UFOs. Big Agra might have played a role in making MyPlate closer to McPlate, but I think a far more oppressive special interest group at play here is the American people in general. For example, let's look at the USDA's continued insistence that we need up to 8 servings of grains a day. In truth, while grains are a perfectly acceptable source of carbs, fiber, and other nutrients for 90 percent of the population, they pale nutritionally when compared to vegetables. However, if the government came out and told consumers they'd be better off with more salads and fewer sandwiches, Americans just wouldn't have it. We love our bread, so my guess is that the USDA keeps the grain numbers up in order to keep us from ignoring the recommendations completely. A telling sign of this is the bright red italic, large-font message plastered all over the MyPlate Web site: "Key Consumer Message: Make at least half your grains whole grains."
Half? Really? I haven't had a refined grain in about 2 weeks. There's no need for refined grain in a healthy diet—and I don't think the USDA put this plea in there to appease Big Agra, which profits from grain sales whether consumers eat the bran and husk or not. This "Key Consumer Message" has the distinct ring of a negotiation you have with a 6-year-old when you're trying to get him to eat his broccoli. It was put in there to appease those Americans who refuse to accept that Pop-Tarts^® aren't a complete nutritional source.
Another complaint a lot of people have is the continued importance placed on dairy in the recommendations. I'm prone to agree, but in defense of the USDA, the site does plainly feature the section, "For those who choose not to consume milk products."

Where they screwed up

Warm fuzzies aside, I do think the USDA could have done a few things differently. As I mentioned earlier, their treatment of grains was a little off. Also, their handling of protein leaves a lot to be desired. It assumes that consumers eat meat. While there is an informative section on the vegetarian diet, I'd rather see a more integrated approach to plant-based nutrition. For people who regularly eat meat and just want a few nonmeat protein options, MyPlate offhandedly recommends beans and nuts, and that's about it. In a way, this is decent advice, because combining these two foods with all the grain you're supposed to eat will give you all the amino acids you need to have complete proteins, but a more effective path would have been to create a whole separate nut-and-bean portion equal to the grain portion. With the guaranteed complete proteins this approach would introduce into the user's diet, he or she could reduce the meat protein portion to a healthier level.
Another notable absence from MyPlate is education on healthy fats vs. unhealthy fats, save a vague message stating, "Oils are NOT a food group, but they provide essential nutrients. Therefore, oils are included in USDA food patterns." Given the vast amount of research that indicates the health benefits of good fats, not to mention the fact that some fatty acids are ESSENTIAL to human health, the USDA might want to think about giving fat its own food group. Under this umbrella, they could stress the importance of foods like olive oil, avocados, and, most of all, super-nutritious nuts and seeds.
Some of you might note that I've just suggested adding two additional food groups to MyPlate, thus further complicating an already complex topic to educate people on. I concede that I understand why the USDA sugar-coats (literally!) their nutritional advice, with a little refined flour here and a little ham there, but that doesn't mean they need to dumb down their message. As long as information is presented clearly to them, humans are capable of understanding remarkably complex issues, be they delivered via circle or triangle.
Case in point? The University of Michigan's Healing Foods Pyramid (http://www.med.umich.edu/umim/food-pyramid/index.htm), which offers the nut/bean and fat portion changes I suggested, plus several others, in a concise, understandable way. It breaks down food choices into weekly and daily needs; stresses the importance of hydration; and even includes space for "accompaniments," a euphemism for "junk food."
The USDA could learn a thing or two from these college kids. They should certainly spend a little time on the Healing Foods Pyramid before coming out with their next round of nutritional suggestions. I applaud the USDA for trying to do the right thing by the American public, but maybe it's time to step up the game a little and assume we can handle a little tough nutritional love. Next time, let's spend a little less time worrying about the shape of the plate and a little more time figuring out what should go on it.

Day 2.. PLYO.. need i say more!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!  I was dieing.. but in a good way.  I know that there is noway but up now.. simple statements for today.. OUCH!!!


My arms hurt from the workout yesterday.. my armpits hurt.. and my triceps.. But that's a good thing..  Looking forward to Wednesdays workout.

Day 1..

I started today with the devotion to complete day 1.  Yes I did it.  I felt great getting it done.  I wasn't surprised by how bad off i am.  I mean really my pushups are so weak.  I am on my knees but I keep telling myself that means that at the end of this transformation I will be amazed at how well i did. 

My pullups are very weak as well, but I knew they would be.  I will work on them and look forward to seeing how much I will improve. I will take my 30 day pic and 60 and then the big 90 day pics.

When I talked to Tony at the summit he said to make sure that I do at least 22 workouts a month.  that's every mon-fri!!!  I can and will do that.  I know that there will be days that I don't want to do my workouts but will push to do them anyway.  I also know that there will be days i don't have as much power as i want.

Today my arms were shaking and I was really looking forward to the lawnmowers and  heavy pants.. My upper body was so weak.  I just kept shaking my arms out.  Laughing at myself but feeling great that I was accomplishing a goal of mine.  I know that the dive bombers will be a chore.  They are my evil nemesis.  I hate them. I tried P90X before but wasn't ready and let it beat me.  I still remember the feeling of the dive bombers breaking me and so they are the goal.  I want to kill them.

The other good part about this workout is that i get to have my results and recovery after the workout.  I love it.  Time to order more.  I seemed to have drank it with the other workouts too.. :)  I did drink my shakeology this morning and it is really filling me up.  I make mine with a scoop of chocolate shakeology, 1/2 banana, PB2, and ice.... love it!!!!!!!!!!

Gaining Mass with P90X

Gaining Mass with P90X^®

By Steve Edwards

"Don't want to look small!" —Lou Ferrigno in Pumping Iron

Guys have a thing for mass. It's hard to explain, really, but boys seem to grow up wanting nothing more than to be big. Guys want speedboats and trucks, and they want to look like the Hulk^®, regardless of what their wives may think of green skin. If this sounds like you, here's the article you've been looking for: customizing P90X for mass.

Even if mass is your only goal, make sure to read the other articles in the series on customizing the X. (See Related Articles at the end of this article.) The principles discussed in these articles will be put to use here. To look like the Hulk, you don't need to be a physicist who's accidentally exposed to gamma rays, but you do need to consider science as we know it, particularly the question, "What is mass?"
What is mass?
Because many of our Success Stories, not to mention Tony, aren't exactly skinny, we must begin by defining mass—something most of you are looking for more of. Physics-related talk about inertia, gravity, and force aside, as we're using the term here, mass simply means size. As in the root of the word massive. A program targeting mass is concerned with one thing: muscle growth (from here on in referred to as hypertrophy), and a lot of it.
In a training cycle for mass, we should target hypertrophy even at the expense of other fitness goals. P90X is not a system designed for mass. It's designed for overall fitness, which means that ultimate gains in targeted areas, like speed, strength, flexibility, and muscle growth, are compromised to provide a program that improves all your body's physical energy systems during one 90-day effort. We feel that this is the preferred training system, because it addresses the big picture. But if your picture is quite literally being bigger, you'll need to read on.
Foundation
You've read about the capacity for improvement throughout this series, so here's where I tell you to do a round of P90X as it's designed before embarking on a mass-specific program. It's healthier, sure, but it's more than that. Training all of your body's energy systems until they're running efficiently increases your body's ability to do, well, anything. And "anything" includes looking like Lou Ferrigno. Once you've done a round of the X and aced your Fit Test, the foundation has been laid. You're ready to start gettin' big.
Resistance
Tony loves the word specificity. He often uses it when referring to exercise movements, but we're going to use it to refer to the equipment you'll need. With mass as your goal, you'd better acquire specific resistance equipment. The simplest form is weights; however, mass can also be created by using other forms of tension, like resistance bands. The bottom line is that if mass is your goal, you'll need to have more weight available than you've been using. Body weight and plyometric movements can be used effectively for strength training, but strength and hypertrophy are not synonymous. To make hypertrophic gains, you're going to need to find ways to make your body fail at a given number of repetitions. You'll want an array of weights and bands, and some extra devices like ankle and wrist weights, or a weight vest, to add resistance to all the movements you're doing.
The difference between size and strength
As we touched on last time (see "Sore, Hungry, and Slow: 3 Signs That Show Your Program Is Working" in the Related Articles section below), hypertrophy training simply increases the size of the muscle. Strength training increases the efficiency of the muscle. Large muscles have a greater capacity for strength. Absolute strength is the ability of the muscle to use all of its muscle cells for movement. People in sports dependent on strength-to-weight ratios target high muscular efficiency in their training, whereas those in sheer size-dependent sports will focus more on hypertrophy. Most sports are somewhat dependent on both size and strength, which are ideally improved during different cycles of training.
Periodization
The periodizational concepts that have been discussed in previous articles need to be explained here before a mass schedule is created. Remember that a standard schedule would look similar to this:
Foundation phase (Power 90^® or what you did pre-X) + block 1 + transition/recovery + block 2 + transition/recovery + block 3 + recovery = peak (final Fit Test)
The difference here is that we're going to structure an entire training cycle based only on hypertrophy. This means we won't be setting up a peak phase. Over a long period of time, you'll want to teach your muscles how to function more efficiently. We'll get to this at the end.
For now, we'll just say that there's still a periodizational approach to consider. You'll still adapt, gain, and plateau over time, so we'll need a structure to keep this happening. But the structure will be dependent simply on rep schemes (the number of repetitions that you target to bring you to failure) and progressive overload. The blocks of our 90-day schedule will each target a different number of repetitions, which you'll want to aim for to induce failure. But because we're not changing the schedule much, and thus creating less Muscle Confusion^™, we won't need such frequent recovery phases.
Progressive overload
Hypertrophy is all about creating progressive overload. To create muscle growth, you must keep stimulating the muscles during each workout. This requires that you add weight as necessary to create failure at similar points in time. (We use reps as a reference point but the actual measure is force over a given amount of time.)
Recovery
The more we can focus on hypertrophy, the more muscle we'll gain. Since we only have so much energy to expend, this means we should spend less time working on other areas. This is where you'll see the biggest differences from the traditional P90X schedules. When you're not training for hypertrophy, your entire focus should be on preparing your body to create more hypertrophy. Therefore, the P90X mass schedule will have a lot of active recovery and flexibility work and very little intense cardio. This means we'll spend more time recovering during each training block and taking fewer periods focused solely on recovery.
Putting it all together
Before we get to the schedule, here are some general things to consider. The first is pacing. Instead of following the kids in the videos, target your rep scheme (and push pause when necessary). Do each set to failure, or as close as you can get, without exceeding your targeted number of reps by more than a couple. If you lack enough weight to induce failure, try slowing down the movements so that you're holding your contraction long enough that you're fighting the pump. The force over time equation only works if you're pumped silly. With this in mind, do not use the pause button simply to increase the time between exercises. You want to be pumped through the entire workout. No pump = no growth.
A good way to choose the resistance for each movement is to use enough so that you can only do the lower number of your targeted rep scheme. Once you can do the higher number, it's time to increase the resistance.
Do your repetitions slowly and with control. Speed is for power, not size. Focus on perfect form and only add weight when you can do each rep with great form.
When you're done, you're done. You don't need to finish an entire workout if you're struggling. Once you lose the ability to move the weight or do the move in strict form, stop the workout. Any further training would only create more breakdown than you could recover from and increase your risk of injury.
Your diet
You won't be burning as many calories as you would during the Classic schedule of the X. If you eat the same amount, you may gain more mass, but you'll also gain more body fat. This might or might not be acceptable, so pay attention and adjust your diet as necessary. If you want mass, then you need to eat enough for your body to put on weight.
Block 1, phase 1
Weeks 1 through 3

• Day 1: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps
• Day 2: Cardio X, Ab Ripper X
• Day 3: Legs & Back
• Day 4: X Stretch; Ab Ripper X or Abs/Core Plus (from P90X^® Plus)
• Day 5: Back & Biceps
• Day 6: Yoga X
• Day 7: Off

Targeted number of reps: 8 to 12 (focus on 10 to 12)
Block 1, phase 2
Weeks 4 through 6

• Day 1: Chest & Back
• Day 2: Cardio X, Ab Ripper X
• Day 3: Shoulders & Arms
• Day 4: X Stretch; Ab Ripper X or Abs/Core Plus
• Day 5: Legs & Back
• Day 6: Yoga X
• Day 7: Off

Targeted number of reps: 8 to 12 (focus on 8 to 10)
Recovery Block
Week 7

• Day 1: X Stretch
• Day 2: Yoga X
• Day 3: Core Synergistics
• Day 4: Kenpo X
• Day 5: Yoga X
• Day 6: X Stretch
• Day 7: Off

Block 2, phase 1
Weeks 8 and 9

• Day 1: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps
• Day 2: Cardio X, Ab Ripper X
• Day 3: Legs & Back
• Day 4: X Stretch; Ab Ripper X or Abs/Core Plus
• Day 5: Back & Biceps
• Day 6: Yoga X
• Day 7: Off
• Day 8: Chest & Back
• Day 9: Cardio X, Ab Ripper X
• Day 10: Shoulders & Arms
• Day 11: X Stretch; Ab Ripper X or Abs/Core Plus
• Day 12: Legs & Back
• Day 13: Yoga X
• Day 14: Off

Targeted number of reps: 6 to 10
Block 2, phase 2
Weeks 10 and 11
Same schedule as weeks 8 and 9
Targeted number of reps: 4 to 8
Block 2, phase 3
Week 12
Same schedule as weeks 8 and 9
Targeted number of reps: 4 to 6
Final note: This is an entire cycle of training based only on hypertrophy. To have an athletically efficient physique, you should do other training cycles that target different goals. Even if your only goal is hypertrophy, training these other systems properly will improve your body's physical systems and increase your capacity for muscle growth, as well as the speed at which you can add or shed muscle and fat. So while you can tweak and reuse this basic structure over and over, it will also benefit you to get back to basics and do P90X Classic from time to time.

P90X® Results and Recovery - Tub

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Recipe: Frozen Shakeology^® Pops

By Sandy Carter (and her daughter)

Ready for a frosty treat that's as healthy as it is delicious? Try this recipe for frozen Shakeology pops. They're simple to mix up and freeze, and best of all, there's no guilt—just icy-cold choco-peanutty refreshment!

• 1 serving Chocolate Shakeology
• 3/4 cup nonfat milk
• 1-1/2 Tbsp. peanut butter (all-natural is best)
• 1 cup ice (more or less to taste)

Place ingredients in blender and blend until thoroughly mixed and creamy. Pour into 4-oz. pop molds and freeze until solid. Makes 4 pops.
Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories	Protein	Fiber	Carbs	Fat Total	Saturated Fat
91	8 g	1 g	8 g	3 g	<1 g

^†With Home Direct, you'll receive this item every 30 days, shipped directly to your door and billed to the credit card used today. You may cancel at any time.

Order your today!  (click banner above to be redirected)

Shakeology vs. Body by Vi

Comparison of Shakeology to Body Bi Visalus (Courtesy of Awesome fellow TBB Coach Meridith Brooke Ellis)

Cost
Body by Vi- $49.00-$249.99 per month, depending on which “level” of program you buy.
Shakeology- $89.95-119.95 per month

Servings
Body by Vi-They recommend taking 2 shakes per day plus their brand of snacks (not included in price)
…
Shakeology-One shake per day. We want you to eat real food.
This is not a “diet” but a lifestyle change. “Real” food is important.

Cost per serving
Body by Vi-$1.50 each. $3.00 for two shakes daily. Up to $8.30 per day if you buy their higher end package. Remember-snacks cost extra.
Shakeology-$3.50-4.10 per day

Supplements
Body by Vi-20 supplements worth
Shakeology-38 supplements worth

Guarantee?
Body by Vi-30 day money back
Shakeology-30 day money back

Diabetic friendly?
Body by Vi-Yes but no evidence of low glycemic index mentioned
Shakeology-Yes. In addition to being lower in sugar, we are low in the glycemic index.

Artificial sweeteners? Refined sugars?
Body by Vi-Yes-sucralose. Google sucralose and the arsenic connection for more information about how bad this stuff is for you.
Shakeology-Not a one!

Multiple flavors?
Body by Vi- No,only their sweet cream flavor
Shakeology-Yes,Chocolate (my favorite!) and Greenberry. Other flavors are currently being trialed.

What can you add to it?
Body by Vi-Their brand of mix flavors plus milk, fruit
Shakeology-Whatever you want! Peanut butter, fruit, milk, almond milk. Soy milk, water, coffee, peppermint flavor, vanilla flavor, sugar free jello pudding flavors-the possibilities are endless!

What about digestive health?
Body by Vi- Prebiotics included. 100% dietary fiber included. (Just be aware that if you eat something later that is high in fiber, you may end up gassy with diarrhea as too much fiber can cause this, in addition to cramping.)
Shakeology- Prebiotics/probiotics included. 12% of dietary fiber included. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get your 100% daily fiber intake or if you have difficulty, you can add fiber to the shake.

Nitty gritty nutrition
Body by Vi- Fat in grams 1g
Sugar- <1 gram*
Carbs- 7 grams*
Calories-90 calories*
Sodium-75mg
Protein-12g
Shakeology- Fat in grams <0.5g
Sugar-11 grams*
Carbs-19 grams*
Calories-140 calories*
Sodium-95mg
Protein-15g

Calories
Body by Vi-90 calories plus what you add
Shakeology-140 calories plus what you add

Caffeine free?
Body by Vi-Not sure
Shakeology-Yes!

Proteins
Body by Vi-“High quality” “Tri-sorb” protein
(This is a term that they invented. Whey protein is whey protein point blank. When you start changing molecules, you can no longer call it a protein. This is a marketing gimmick.)
Shakeology-High quality whey protein

Ingredients
Body by Vi-“not as many, sometimes less is more”
**The above quotes are from link #2 below.
Contains Milk and Soy
Lactose and Gluten free
23 vitamins/minerals
Vitamin A Vitamin C Calcium Iron Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K thiamin Riboflavin Niacin Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Biotin pantothenic acid Phosphorus Iodine Magnesium Zinc
Selenium Copper Manganese Chromium Molybdenum, FibersolTM, AminogenTM, Soy Protein Isolate, Digestive Resistant Maltodextrin (from FibersolTM),Whey Protein Hydrolysate,Whey Protein Concentrate, DiCalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Maltodextrin, Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Caseinate, DiMagnesium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Soy Lecithin, Mono and Diglycerides, Patented Protease (from AminogenTM), DiPotassium Phosphate, Sucralose, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Chromium Amino Acid Chelate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Biotin, Vitamin A Palimate, Niacinamide, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Cyanocobalamin, Manganese Sulfate, Cholecalciferol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Phytomenadione and Folic Acid.
Shakeology-70+ high quality ingredients
23 vitamins/minerals
Various fruit extracts (acerola, camu-camu, pomegranate, bilberry, blueberry, acai, Goji, Cordyceps, Rose Hips, Maitake, Reishi, Citrus bioflavonoids, Gingko), Whey protein, Chromium, Hydrilla, Apple pectin, Flax seed meal, Chia seed meal, Blue green algae, Spinach powder,oatgrass, wheatgrass, Barley grass, Grape seed extract, cinnamon, natural vanilla flavor, chocolate powder, cocoa powder, xanthum gum, ,guar gum, pea fiber. Also contains an enzyme blend to assist digestion (amylase, papain, cellulose, lactase, lipase, protease, and bromelain)
(Greenberry)
Vitamin A (as beta-carotene) 5000 IU 100%
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 180 mg 300%
Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 200 IU 50%
Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) 15 IU 50%
Vitamin K1 (as phytonadione) 40 mcg 50%
Vitamin B1 (as thiamin HCL) 1.5 mg 100%
Vitamin B2 (as ribofl avin) 1.3 mg 77%
Vitamin B3 (as niacin) 5 mg 25%
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL) 2 mg 100%
Folic acid 200 mcg 50%
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 6 mcg 100%
Biotin 90 mcg 30%
Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 5 mg 50%
Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate) 500 mg 50%
Iron (as ferrous fumarate) 4.5 mg 25%
Phosphorous (as dicalcium phosphate) 250 mg 25%
Iodine (as kelp) 52 mcg 35%
Magnesium (as oxide) 80 mg 20%
Zinc (as zinc oxide) 6 mg 40%
Copper (as copper oxide) 0.8 mg 40%
Manganese (as manganese amino acid chelate) 2 mg 100%
Chromium (as chromium amino acid chelate) 60 mcg 50%
Molybdenum (as sodium molybdate) 30 mcg 40%
Whey protein (isolate) 15 g †

PROPRIETARY SUPER-FRUIT BLEND: 2075 mg †
Acerola powder (fruit), Camu-Camu powder (fruit), Pomegranate
powder (fruit), Bilberry powder (fruit), Blueberry powder (fruit),
Lycium (Goji) powder (berry), Açai powder (berry), Cordyceps,
Maitake powder, Reishi powder, Citrus biofl avonoids, Rose Hips
powder (fruit), Schisandra powder (berry), Suma powder (root),
Gingko powder (leaf).
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value**
PROPRIETARY FRUIT POWDER BLEND: 1500 mg †
Banana powder, Carrot powder, Orange powder,
Pineapple powder, Raspberry powder, Strawberry powder.
Maca powder (root) 1000 mg †
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) meal 1000 mg †
Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) powder 1000 mg †
Flax (seed) meal 700 mg †
Chia (seed) meal 500 mg †
Chlorella 350 mg †
Spirulina 350 mg †
Hydrilla 300 mg †
Apple fi ber powder 250 mg †
Astragalus powder (root) 200 mg †
Blue green algae 200 mg †
Spinach powder 200 mg †
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) 150 mg †
Pea fi ber 150 mg †
Quinoa (sprouted) 150 mg †
PROPRIETARY NONDAIRY 150 mg †

PROBIOTIC BLEND:
Bifodobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus
acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei,
Streptococcus thermophilus.
PROPRIETARY ENZYME BLEND: 130 mg †
Amylase, Papain, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase, Protease, Bromelain.
Ashwagandha powder (root) 100 mg †
Barley grass 100 mg †
Kamut grass 100 mg †
Oat grass 100 mg †
Wheat grass 100 mg †
Stevia 75 mg †
Amaranth (sprouted) (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 50 mg †
Grape seed extract (seed, 95% proanthocyanins) 50 mg †
Green tea decaffeinated extract 50 mg †
(leaf, 50% polyphenols)
Holy basil powder (leaf) 50 mg †
** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established

OTHER INGREDIENTS: Fructose, xantham gum, natural strawberry and raspberry fl avors, guar gum, natural vanilla fl avor, and cinnamon powder.
Shakeology is gluten free and caffeine free.

Links to check out:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071226172658AAlRm88
http://my-body-by-vi.com/weight-loss-product-comparisons-to-the-body-by-vi-challenge/weight-loss-protein-shakes-challenge-beachbody-shakeology-vs-visalus-body-by-vi-shape-nutritional-shake/

The first link brings about some great points, whereas the second link is full of opinions of that person who also happens to sell Body by Vi.

**Food for Thought:
FACT: The RDA for calories is 2000kcal/day. We all know that in order to lose weight you need to burn more than you take in. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU GO EXTREMELY LOW IN YOUR CALORIC INTAKE! When you go below 1200-1300 calories per day, you put your body into starvation mode, thus shifting your metabolism to SLOW DOWN and burn calories more slowly. If you were to take in just two “Body by Vi” shakes (without additives) daily plus a regular meal (let’s assume that meal is around 350 calories), plus two 100 calorie snacks, you’ll only be taking in 550 calories. Why is it so low in calories? They simply aren’t offering you the fuel you need to get through the day. By skimping on glucose (essential for your brain to function) and other carbohydrates (4 calories per carb), they can offer you lower calories. Offering a 90 calorie shake sounds good on paper, but in practice this simply does not make sense. By reducing your carbohydrate intake, you will essentially cause your body to begin burning proteins instead of carbohydrates like it is supposed to. Why is this bad? The main source of protein that your body will have will not be an adequate amount of protein found in a BBV shake. Instead your body will begin to degrade the proteins in your muscle. Because your body is not supposed to use its own proteins for fuel, large waste protein byproducts are made which must then be flushed out of your body. These waste protein byproducts are known as “ketones” and require a great amount of water to be flushed out. Because of this fact, you will start to urinate a lot, excreting a great amount of water weight. If you do not properly hydrate, then you will easily become dehydrated. After a few days, you’ll be fatigued and cranky. This is because: 1. Your body won’t be getting the energy it needs to run properly. 2. You’ll be dehydrated. (Fatigue is a symptom of dehydration.) 3. You’re in starvation mode.

What I like about the shakeology is the design of the program. It’s easy. You drink one shake a day and make healthy choices. You can make the shake how YOU like it. You get to eat REAL FOOD-not a processed snack made by a company to sell. Fruits and vegetables are encouraged. It’s up to YOU. You are encouraged to exercise while on shakeology. THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL OR POWDER THAT CAN TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF! It comes off with hard work, behavior modification, and patience. Any program that promises you instant results may cause you to initially lose a few pounds, but as time goes on you’ll gain the weight back and only end up losing money.

Again the choice is up to you. If you do not wish to use Shakeology in your plans to lose weight, then that’s ok. Beachbody coaches are not here to “push” products. We inform you of what we have available which has helped us and may help you. You make the choice that best suits your lifestyle and goals. Please contact your Beachbody coach for further information!

YUM!! Would you make this no-bake Chocolate Banana Cream Pie? A special thanks to Amber for sharing her recipe:


1 ready-to-use reduced-fat graham cracker crumb crust (8 oz.)

2-1/2 cups cold fat-free milk

1 pkg.(4-serving size) JELL-O Banana Flavor Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding

3 Scoops Chocolate Shakeology



Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix & Shakeology. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended.

Spoon pudding mixture into crust. Top with banana slices

Refrigerate 3 hours or until set.

.

5 Day Inferno Starting Monday May 23 2011

Yep thats whats going down here in Manhattan Kansas.  I am still on orders from the doctor to not workout till next week so Monday I will be starting the inferno.  TurboFire Inferno that is.  I have got all planned out.  Well Chalene Johnson creator has it all planned out.  She includes it all in the Turbofire workout package. So here is what i will be doing for five days:

Can only drink water, Shakeology, and Results and Recovery drink.

Day 1:

Classes---Fire 55 EZ class/ Stretch 10 Class

Breakfast--Turkey bacon breakfast sandwich

snack--1/2 medium sized banana, 7 walnut halves

lunch--tuna salad

snack-- shakeology

dinner--honey dijon chicken w/steamed garlic-parmesan broccoli

Day 2:

classes--Fire 45/HIIT 20/stretch 10

breakfast--melon and yogurt

snack--shakeology

lunch--turkey avacodo wrap

snack--peanut butter spread and celery sticks

dinner--grilled teriyaki salmon w/ginger rice and bok choy

Day 3:

classes--Fire 55 EZ/Stretch 10

breakfast--pineapple and cottage cheese

snack--veggies 'n ranch

lunch--loaded baked potato

snack--berry protien shake

dinner--chicken tacos w/beans adn quinoa

Day 4:

classes--Fire 45/HIIT 20/Stretch 10

breakfast--PB & Banana Shakeology

snack--nutty apple

lunch--egg salad wrap

snack--10 raw almonds, med orange

dinner--steak z/sinach and baked potato

Day 5:

classes--Fire 55 EZ/Stretch 10

breakfast--strawberry waffle and sausage

snack--banana protien smoothie

lunch--chicken and hummus pita

snack--crudites and cheese

dinner--rosemary pork chop w/peas and wild rice

Want to get your Turbofire and do the Infterno with me?  Get yours today!!!!

                                       www.fitandflashy.com

Chocolate Shakeology Pancakes

A weekend favorite…Shakeology Pancakes!!! (keep in mind that Cooking/Heating Shakeology is not recommended as it will kill the LIVE ingredients will be compromised. But this is certainly a great treat. My kids and myself really enjoyed it this weekend.

1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology

Fiber One pancake mix or pancake mix of your choice (I used Coach’s Oats Multigrain Pancakes)

1 scoop protein powder (optional)

Water (follow amount on box & add a little extra for Shakeology/ protein)



Mix thoroughly and make as directed + drizzle with agave syrup

click here to get your chocolate Shakeology

Eat like a 2nd Grader

"You eat like a 2nd grader."

That's what my wife said to me 3 years ago. She said if I were going to run a health and fitness company, I had better find a way to eat better or I'd be a dead CEO sooner than I'd like.



Problem is, I don't like vegetables. I really don't like vegetables. And everything I've been reading about them was telling me that even they don't have the antioxidants, prebiotics, and enzymes of some of the exotic foods being harvested from around the world.



We set out on a mission to create a way for me to not only live up to my wife's request but surpass it, using the most potent whole food ingredients available for health, weight loss, and energy. And we had to make it taste good.

The result is Shakeology®, the Healthiest Meal of the Day®. It takes the guesswork out of nutrition for me and simplifies my life.

Just look at the results we got from a 90-day research study, where we replaced one meal per day with Shakeology and saw major improvements in the health of the group.*†

By the end of week 1

Improved digestion and regularity

Reduced cravings

By the end of week 4

Increased energy and stamina

Lost weight

Improved mental clarity



By the end of week 12

Lost, on average, 10 pounds and 2 inches off waist

Reduced risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and arthritis

Lowered cholesterol on average by 30% and even up to 70%

Enjoyed healthier skin, hair, and nails



I've been using Shakeology now for more than 2 years, and it is not only my Healthiest Meal of the Day, it's my favorite meal of the day. And here's my guarantee to you:



The Bottom-of-the-Bag Guarantee



If you don't feel results in the first 30 days, I want you to have your money back (less s&h). But I hope you really give it a try so you see the benefits I have.



Cheers!

Carl Daikeler

Chairman and CEO, Beachbody®
T
hese statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



†In a 90-day study, participants replaced one meal per day with Shakeology, ate a balanced diet, and exercised moderately three times per week. Total cholesterol was reduced on average by 30% and LDL cholesterol was reduced on average by 38%. Proven results with regular exercise routine and balanced diet.

The Superfoods That Could Change the Way You Eat, Feel, and Live

The Superfoods That Could Change the Way You Eat, Feel, and Live


O's editor in chief travels to Peru to experience a trove of life-giving superfoods that just might revolutionize your view of nutrition.

By Susan Casey

O, The Oprah Magazine
April 05, 2011

Photo: Rob Howard Around 4 o'clock on any given morning, Darin Olien will walk into his Malibu, California, kitchen and make himself a smoothie. This will not be an ordinary drink. The other day, for example, he tossed the following into his blender: coconut water, fermented sprouted brown rice, maca, aloe vera juice, barley grass powder, kamut juice powder, almond butter, camu camu, avocado, goji, lucuma powder, noni juice, cacao nibs, MSM, maqui, bee pollen, sacha inchi oil, omega-3–DHA/EPA oil, Hawaiian deepwater salt, chia seeds, nopal, goat yogurt, luo han guo, and a powder called Shakeology.

If you've never heard of many of these ingredients, you're not alone. But stay with me here, because they're among the most powerful nutrients on Earth. Olien's specialty is what's known as "formulating," taking wildly beneficial substances and combining them into something even more potent: a supplement, a snack, a tea, a medicine, a smoothie. Every food in nature contains a mix of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, along with noncaloric vitamins, minerals, fibers—all of which fuel our cells—and each one has unique abilities that we really don't understand, but it is now clear that some foods pack an extra biochemical punch. Camu camu fruit, for instance, provides the richest source of vitamin C known to exist. Maca, a hearty root that grows only in the high Andes, comes in yellow, red, and black varieties, boosts fertility, is said to balance hormones, and dispenses a day's worth of kick-ass energy. Sacha inchi is another South American treasure, a protein-rich, metabolism-revving nut that delivers an omega-3 bonanza. Olien's final ingredient, Shakeology, contains more than 70 components itself, a crazy cornucopia of good.

No one understands Shakeology better than Olien, who created it in 2008, after Carl Daikeler, CEO of the fitness company Beachbody, challenged him to come up with a supplement to match the tagline The Healthiest Meal of the Day. His customer was someone who wanted optimum wellness, wanted to lose weight, wanted cholesterol levels to drop—but had no intention of eating a platter of broccoli each day. Daikeler gave Olien no limits on quality, no cost/revenue restrictions; the goal was to shoot the moon, to seek out and combine the most extraordinary plants, fruits, nuts, herbs—nature's secret weapons. And Olien found them: ashwagandha from China, cordyceps from Bhutan, yacon from Peru. An alphabet of vitamins and minerals from the purest sources. Prebiotics. Probiotics. Green tea and grapeseed extracts, chlorella and spirulina and hydrilla, a spectrum of enzymes. Since hitting the market in March 2009, more than 400,000 bags of Shakeology, at $119.95 each, have been sold.

Olien himself is a strapping guy, north of six feet and solid. He looks, in fact, like the steak-fed Midwestern varsity football player that he was, until a back injury derailed his athletic career. From that low point Olien had tried to rehabilitate himself using traditional methods—lots of animal protein, relentless physiotherapy—but it was only when he adopted a radically new diet of superfoods that he was able to regain his strength. This not only improved his health, it revealed his calling. "It was one of the greatest turns in my life," Olien says, "because it got me into the question, 'What can I do to fix this?' I became very curious about the body, switched my major to exercise physiology and nutrition. Then I healed myself." Over the years he also managed to help many others with their diet and fitness regimens, and Olien's "concoctions," his powders and bars and health innovations, began to attract attention.

On the first morning I met Olien I watched him doing squat jumps holding 40-pound weights, while holding his breath underwater. Another workout he likes to do involves harnessing himself to a 150-pound railroad tie and dragging it through thick sand. Whatever he eats needs to fuel these exploits, so people are often surprised to hear that his diet consists mostly of plants. Olien consumes no processed foods, no polysyllabic ingredients invented in labs, no high-fructose corn syrup or trans fats, no artificial flavorings, no antibiotic-laced dairy products, nothing that comes out of a drive-thru. In short, he doesn't eat what's generally on offer in the modern food world. "When people find out that I don't eat this or I don't eat that, I feel a sense of pity coming from them," he says, "and I think, 'Wow! You have no idea. I'm not deprived at all. Come to my kitchen! I'll blow your mind.'"


Thing is, science is now catching up to something that nature has known all along: the rich greens, the vibrant yellows, the deep indigos of plants are key to our well-being. That meat we love so much? Proven to clog our arteries. Convenience foods—heavily sweetened and salted, laden with fat and chemicals—wreak havoc on everything from our immune systems to our moods to our weight. Here are the facts and they're not very pretty: Americans are the fattest people ever in history. Obesity, a body composition topping 30 percent fat, is the most pressing health crisis we face, with 34 percent of the adult population falling into that category (plus 29 percent of all children). If you add in the merely overweight it's closer to 68 percent. In the past 50 years the weight of the typical American citizen has increased, on average, by 25 pounds. If we continue at this rate, by 2050 every last person will have eaten himself into the danger zone.

"Every time you eat processed foods, you exclude from your diet not only the essential nutrients that we are aware of, but hundreds of other undiscovered phytonutrients that are crucial for normal human function," Joel Fuhrman, MD, writes in his new book, Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, which stresses the importance of a diet full of high-quality produce. Mehmet Oz, MD, who wrote the foreword to Fuhrman's book, believes that even a slight shift away from meat can improve your health. "What we really want to do is have people nudge themselves in the right direction," he told me. "If you want to have a few bacon bits on your salad, God bless you, fine. That's not where we're losing the battle. We're losing the battle when you have sausage for breakfast, a big pastrami sandwich for lunch, and pork chops for dinner."

Yet we live in a mass-produced, big-box culture, where economic interests hold sway. Meat, corn, sugar—they come cheap, and we buy them. Plus, we tend to like the taste. But there are steep hidden costs in a food system that makes calories rather than nutrients—from the factory farms that treat animals like parts on an assembly line to the fact that obesity-related ailments like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are skyrocketing and account for approximately $150 billion in healthcare expenses each year.

As both Fuhrman and Oz would attest, anyone consuming a steady diet of man-made edibles would benefit even from something as prosaic as lettuce, but far more intriguing foods exist. As Olien began to talk about the vegetables, fruits, grains, herbs, and other plants he was hunting, I realized there was an entire universe out there I didn't know about. I had never heard of lucuma or sapote or aguaje. What the heck was gac? The list was long.
Learning more requires a passport, because in acquiring these superfoods Olien doesn't simply call up a supplier with his FedEx number, he goes directly to the source.

In doing so he often ends up in extreme places, searching out plants that—although they may have been revered by past civilizations—are now largely forgotten. South America, with its jungles and rainforests and mountains, is especially rich. So when I heard that Olien was headed back to Peru, I invited myself along. I wanted to see firsthand what he was up to because it sounded so incredible to me, so mysterious and even magical. I wanted to taste these lost, powerful foods that had fueled warriors and emperors, plants with miraculous properties that had somehow almost vanished, disappearing beneath a sea of fast-food wrappers.

You can read the rest at the link below.
http://www.oprah.com/health/Superfoods-of-Peru-Kaniwa-Maca-Yacon-Susan-Casey/2

Is Shakeology worth it?

This is one of the best things for you!!!

Sweetened with Stevia - Stevia is native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America. Research shows a regulating effect on the pancreas and most importantly stevia has been used to help stabilize blood sugar levels, therefore useful to people with diabetes and hypoglycemia It may also lowers elevated blood pressure aid in digestive, and reduce gas and stomach acidity. Stevia sweetens whatever it is added to without adding calories.

(click here to order yours)



My 3 Day Cleanse!!!

So today i started my 3 day clease with shakeology and wasnt sure if i would make it.  I do love to eat!  This morning i made my shakeology with water that is not the usual for me.  I usually drink with skim milk.  so it wasnt good.  But got it down.  It kept me full till noon.  I ate it at 6 am so was happy that it still kept me full. 

At lunch i stayed out of the breakroom so i didnt have to see others eatting yummy food. LOL.  but i made another shakeology for lunch and had an orange for my mornig snack.  I was very satisfited.  Then when i got off work at 3 pm by 5 i was ready to eat and wanted to eat everything i saw.  I went to the grocery store to get the salad ingredients.  I was craving some ranch dressing but no dairy.  so  it had sun dried tomatoe dressing. 

For my later snack i will be eatting my shakeology and bananna shake!!!!  YUMMY!!!!

The Picture shows the details. 

Let me know if you are intersted in doing the shakeology cleanse...... You can get your packet from me for the supply.  $45 will supply you with all you need and more!!!

Shakeology Pie

2 scoops chocolate shakeology

1 cont. of tofu, silken or firm (approx 12 oz.)

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

2 Tbsp. skim milk

1 premade pie crust

Preperation:

Place peanut butter, tofu, choco. shakeology and milk in blender; blend until smooth and creamy, adding a bit more milk if necessary. Pour into pie crust adn refrigerate until firm, at least 1  hour.

Want free samples let me know!

Click here and post it on my page!

Shakeology Chocolate Pie

Got this recipe from a fellow blogger!!!.....Thanks Jay Garbarin

Chocolate Shakeology® Pie! (updated for coconut option)

Finally found a recipe for this pie. (Thanks Brian Hin) It's very easy and fast to make and has all of the nutritional value of Shakeology® and then some! :)



. 1-1/2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology

. 1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter

. 1 container silken tofu (12 oz.) {my Container was 16oz.}

. 2 Tbsp. soy milk

. 2 Tbsp. agave nectar (or maple syrup)

. 1 "Healthy" graham cracker pie crust (recipe below)



(Edit: Recently saw a similar Recipe with more Peanut butter [1 cup] & the addition of 1 cup of reduced fat / unsweetened shredded coconut for topping. Additionally the Whole Wheat Graham cracker crust was basted with one egg white before baking crust in oven)





Ingredients ready with food Processor



Blend or food-process peanut butter, tofu, Shakeology, soy milk, and agave nectar until smooth and creamy, adding more soy milk if necessary. Pour into pie crust and refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour). Serves 8.





After you blend ingredients together just pour it into pie crust





Above picture is a regular crust w/ Butter that I made.



(Update: the above crust held up much better, although not as healthy)



My new "Healthy" Crust recipe is this:

(Crust did not firm-up like I would have liked; may have to go back to the Crust with butter, at least the filling is super healthy)

. 1-1/2 cups graham cracker (I used 12 sheets)

. 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa

. 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

. 2 Tbsp. brown sugar

Bake at 350°F for 10 min.


Refrigerate until firm and then serve!!

Preparation Time: 10 minutes, plus 60 minutes refrigeration time

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Cut into 8 Pieces

Filling

Calories: 168

Carbs: 11 g

Fat: 9 g

Protein: 9 g

Healthy Crust

Calories: 113

Carbs: 22 g

Fat: 2 g

Protein: 2 g

TOTALS for 1/8th Pie : Calories: 281, Carbs: 33 g, Fat: 11 g, Protein: 11 g

Cut into 10 Pieces

Filling

Calories: 134

Carbs: 9 g

Fat: 8 g

Protein: 9g

Healthy Crust

Calories: 90 g

Carbs: 17 g

Fat: 2 g

Protein: 2 g

TOTALS for 1/10th Pie : Calories: 224, Carbs: 26 g, Fat: 10 g, Protein: 11 g

 

Enjoy everyone!!

Pick your free gift from ME!!!!!!

Ok.. Here we go..

I am giving a free Shakeology glasses, womens t-shirt or a mens t-shirt to everyone that orders Shakeology.    Not just anyone can get these glasses and shirts so jump on this...

Shakeology can help you:

Lose Weight

Feel Energized

Improve Digestion and Regularity

Lower Cholesterol1

Tastes delicious, too!

Order your Shakeology HD here!!