The New Vanilla Shakeology has finally arrived.  It has been a long time coming as well.  Back at the 2010 coach summit, Carl Daikeler (the CEO of Beachbody), announced that Vanilla Shakeology may never happen.  This was due the the fact that it is extremely difficult to get an Organic Vanilla flavor without cutting the corner of product quality that Shakeology stands for.  But, at this years coach summit, Beachbody announced that they finally found a way to make Vanilla a reality.  The journey took them all the way to Madagascar but they cracked the code.  We now have an awesome Vanilla Shakeology.

What Is Shakeology?

For those of you who don’t know what Shakeology is in the first place, let me explain.  Shakeology is a meal replacement, whole food, high protein shake that is a daily dose of dense nutrition.  It is something that I have been using everyday for the last 3 years.  But believe it or not, I wasn’t always sold on it due to the price.  At $120 per bag, ( $4 per serving), I didn’t think think I could fit it into my budget . But MY Coach showed me how to use it…as a meal replacement.  I realized that if I replaced my pre-workout protein bar ($3) and my multivitamin ($1) that it would equal my cost!  I also realized that the VALUE of nutrition that I would receive from Shakeology would be much greater than a protein bar.  I also decided that I would use it for Lunch occationally which ended up saving me $6 each time I did it!  I still wasn’t convinced however.  So I decided to keep my schedule completely the same except for adding in Shakeology for 30 days.  I was amazed by my results.  I had gone from 8% body fat to 6% and went from 160lbs to 162lbs!  Muscle gain and fat loss!  I was hooked.

Shakeology is by far the healthiest meal I have all day.  I believe in it so much that I have everyone that I care about the most (my wife, mom, dad, friends, etc) using it.  I also now recommend it for everyone going through any Beachbody programs like P90X, Insanity, TurboFire, Body Beast, T25, and for those I Coach (if I’m not your Coach yet, click here, it’s free to sign up).

Vanilla Shakeology Review

Back to Vanilla Shakeology.  I was lucky enough to be able to try it as soon as it was announced at the 2013 Coach summit this year.   I have already tried it over 5 times and can tell you that it is already one of my favorite flavors.  I would put it either tied or right behind Chocolate Shakeology.

Taste:  The taste of Vanilla Shakeology is smooth and settle.  It has a very nice, not too sweet, Vanilla flavor with a hint of Cinnamon.   This combo blends extremely well with Milk, Almond Milk and rice milk.  I also like the fact that I can use a vanilla protein powder with it and it makes it taste great as well.

Overall I would say that Vanilla is definitely a flavor that I will use often.  For me, it is definitely worth trying.

Vanilla Shakeology Recipe

There are a ton of recipes to try but right now, this is my favorite.

• 12 oz of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1 Scoop / Packet of Vanilla Shakeology
• 1 Scoop Vanilla Protein powder
• 1/2 Banana
• 1 cup of ice

Vanilla Shakeology Samples

Want to try Vanilla Shakeology?  There are two ways to do so.  First, you can take up Beachbody on their “Bottom of the Bag” guarentee…this means that you can try the whole bag of Vanilla Shakeology risk free.  If you try the whole thing and are not satisfied then you can just call up Beachbody Customer Service and they will refund you your Money!  It’s a great way to try it for 30 days to see the full effects.

I also have samples of Vanilla Shakeology that I will be sending out every week or so.  In order to receive a free Vanilla Shakeology Sample you have to visite the Shakeology Sample Page Here.  There are some easy requirements to receive it.

1. I have to be your Beachbody Coach! If not, click here.
2. You have to be SERIOUS about purchasing if you like the taste! I have no issue with sending out the sample, but if you don’t plan on purchasing if you like the taste, please don’t request one because it does cost me about $10 to send out a sample. This is something that I’m confident will work for you because of how it did for me, my family, friends, and the other people I coach, so please only request one if you’re really looking to make a change in your health! To request one, either contact me on my Facebook Page or email me at scal11083@beachbodycoach.com

How to Buy Vanilla Shakeology

Buying is vey easy.  Just Click on the link below.  Select your flavor.  Select if you want to get Monthly Auto Ship (which gives you free shipping) or a 1 time order.  Add it to your cart and check out!

Believe it or not, Creatine is one of the most popular sport nutrition supplements of all time and it is actually one of the most studied in history, even more than protein.  Even though it has been used as a sports supplement for over 30 years there is a ton of controversy surrounding it.  I for one, was terrified of it when it was first recommended to me.  After literally studying it for months I decided that it was a safe and effective supplement that, taken with the correct amounts, can help with strength and power.

What I want to share with you today is a great article all about Creatine, how it works, the benefits, side effects and how to take it.

Below is a great article written by Dave Slagle.  Please took a look!

What is creatine and what does it do?

Creatine (or methyl guanidinoacetic acid) is a combination of three amino acids: arginine, glycine, and methionine. It was first discovered in 1832 by the French scientist Michel Eugene Chevreul while he was researching the skeletal muscle system. Creatine is naturally produced in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. A normal, active person produces about two grams daily, and most people consume an additional gram or two from fish, beef, chicken, and dairy products. Creatine is stored in the muscles as creatine phosphate, which plays an important part in the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy cycle that supplies energy to human muscles. During exercise, as the stored ATP begins to run low, creatine phosphate (CP) is then broken down into creatine and phosphate, replenishing ATP for greater energy and contractile strength.

What are the benefits of using creatine?

Research shows that creatine supplements are most effective for people who want to gain muscle strength, muscle tone, or engage in explosive sports like powerlifting, rowing, or sprinting. Many people falsely believe that creatine is only good for bulking up and that using it will stop them from losing body fat. The truth is that creatine volumizes the muscle, increasing muscle tone, which may increase the metabolic rate and accelerate fat loss. Volumization means the storage of extra water in the muscles, allowing the user to have harder muscle contractions, or more strength.

The trick is that volumized muscles will show up as extra pounds on the scale. No, that doesn’t mean you gain fat; it means you gain muscle. Obviously, if you’re looking to build or tone muscle and gain strength, that’s a good thing.

What about side effects?

There are no documented research studies showing that consuming creatine causes any serious adverse side effects. However, during scientific research studies some test subjects reported that while supplementing with creatine, they experienced two noticeable issues. The first was subcutaneous water retention, or a bloated appearance. This can be chalked up to creatine’s poor solubility. The second was gastrointestinal distress (gas, stomach bloating, and even diarrhea). This occurred when creatine was consumed in excessive doses. The reason for this is most likely creatine’s high acidity.

Although these problems are temporary, they may be completely eliminated by lowering the dosage of creatine and taking it (with nonacidic juice) in divided doses throughout the day. Some people might also look at cell volumization as a negative side effect because it can stall weight loss. “Creatine does not impede fat loss—far from it,” explains Steve Edwards, Beachbody Director of Results. “However, it does not at all aid weight loss and will even offset it in some ways. You do hold on to more water weight with creatine as part of the cell volumization to increase CP stores. This is why we don’t recommend it for everyone.”

Most people will gain between two and four pounds in the first few weeks of using creatine, but human studies have shown that this extra water volumizing in the muscles may increase protein synthesis, leading to the growth of muscle fibers as well.

What is the best way to take a creatine supplement?

Scientific research shows that the best way to increase the uptake of creatine is by creating an insulin spike. Insulin is an extremely anabolic hormone that transports nutrients into the muscles. The best way to create an insulin spike is by taking a serving of creatine monohydrate powder (like MAX Creatine) and chasing it with a glass of nonacidic juice (grape juice is the most popular), with dextrose based recovery drink like P90X Recovery Drink , or by using creatine products that are mixed with simple carbohydrates such as Beachbody Strength and Muscle Men’s Formula. If you’re looking for more control over your sugar intake, you want to mix your creatine with another supplement, or you want to skip the sugar entirely (the creatine will still work, albeit not as well), try a pure creatine monohydrate like MAX Creatine .

On a final note, postworkout is also an excellent time to supplement creatine, because your blood sugar and glycogen are low. So, as the dietary sugars replenish those, they do double duty by rushing creatine to muscle.

For some reason, creatine has become one of the most complex sups to learn about—but it doesn’t have to be. It’s safe, naturally occurring, and it works. Consider adding creatine to your supplement regimen if you want to gain muscle or increase muscle tone, power, and strength.

By Dave Slagle

Resources:

• Bahrke, M.; Yesalis, C.; Creatine As an Ergogenic Supplement, Ch. 15. Performance-Enhancing Substances in Sports and Exercise, 1st edition; Human Kinetics: Champaign, Illinois, 2002; 175-209.
• Nutrition. 2004 Jul-Aug;20(7-8):609-14. Scientific basis and practical aspects of creatine supplementation for athletes. Volek JS, Rawson ES Source Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
• Sports Med. 2005;35(2):107-25.Creatine supplementation and exercise performance: recent findings. Bemben MG, Lamont HS. Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
• Casey, A. et al. Creatine Ingestion Favorably Affects Performance and Muscle Metabolism During Maximal Exercise in Humans. Am. J. Physiol., 1996, 271, 31-37
• J Strength Cond Res. 2009 May; 23 (3): 818-26. Effects of creatine monohydrate and polyethylene glycosylated creatine supplementation on muscular strength, endurance, and power output. Herda TJ, Beck TW, Ryan ED, Smith AE, Walter AA, Hartman MJ, Stout JR, Cramer JT. Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
• J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov; 17 (4): 822-31. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. Rawson ES, Volek JS. Department of Exercise Science and Athletics, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania 17815, USA.
• Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2003 Mar; 13 (1): 97-111. Creatine supplementation: a comparison of loading and maintenance protocols on creatine uptake by human skeletal muscle. Preen D, Dawson B, Goodman C, Beilby J, Ching S. Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science at The University of Western Australia, Crawley, W.A., Australia, 6009.

What Does Coach Sean Take?

You might have seen in the past that I have been a fan of Kre-Alkalyn as well as Con-Crete.  Unfortunately both of these forms of creatine have very little if not any scientific evidence to back them up.  My recent research as shown that Kre-Alkalyn has been shown to be ineffective as you can see in this arcticle, Kre-Alkayln vs Creatine Monohydrate .  My recommendation is to use what has been shown over and over again to be safe and effective…Creatine Monohydrate.  This is what I have been currently doing and will do from now on until further studies can be shown.  I have used Con-Crete in the past and liked it however so the choice is yours.  5g per day of creatine monohydrate is what I take for my height/weight.  You can use up to 10grams of you are over 200lbs.  Please make sure you read the label and contact your doctor if you have medical conditions related to your kidneys or any other health/medical problems.

What do you think?  Are you currently taking Creatine?  What has worked for you?  Please ask all your creatine questions below!

Ingredients

This is probably the most important category when it comes to protein bars.  Typically an ingredient list in protein bars read like a science experiment, but that is NOT the case with QuestBar.  Each bar has 20 grams of High Quality protein (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Very low in non-fiber carbs, extremly short label (5-6 ingredients) and is made up of actual healthy foods.  Oh and it’s Gluten and Soy Free!  Not bad uh?  These bars are very low in sugar and contain a ton of fiber.  The main fiber source is from IMO fiber (Isomalto-Oligosaccharide), which is a plant sourced fiber that is similar to chicory root fiber, except that it doesn’t cause any upset stomach.  This leaves you feeling full after you eat it.  They also contain Almond and Peanut Butters, depending on the flavor.  You might even see chunks of these nuts in the bar.  The bars are sweetened with Lo Han Guo, which works as and antioxidant and help support the immune system. The low-glycemic nature of Luo Han guo helps maintain health blood sugar levels and aids in weight loss, as well as Stevia.  Which is a natural plant based sweetener.  6 of the flavors use a little bit of sucralose but if you are not a fan of sucrlose, they have recently come out with 5 new all natural line of flavors that have zero in them.  They use erythritol instead, which is a sugar alcohol that doesn’t upset your stomach or impact your blood sugar.  Each bar is around 170-200 calories as well.  Which fits into anyone’s diet.

Rating:  10/10 (one of the cleanest protein bars that I have found)

Taste

For me this  is what makes the bars so great.  The tastes are absolutely awesome.  With 11 flavors you might thing that one would not quite hit the mark but honestly, I love them all.  I can guarantee that you will find a flavor that you love.  They are very wide ranging as well.  They have things basic like Vanilla Almond and Peanut Butter Supreme, and they have different ones you might not see like Peanut butter and Jelly, and Cinnamon Roll (two of my favorites).  Here’s another little tip.  Since these bars aren’t covered in chocolate, you can microwave them and they taste like cookies that just came out of the oven!  Even if you leave it in a hot car for a few mins, there is nothing like having one of these bars warmed up.  Try it!

Rating:  10/10

Effectiveness:

I have been using QuestBars for months now.  I have been very impressed that I have been able to get high quality protein and remain full for hours with these bars.  They have helped me when I have been cutting down as well as when I have been building muscle.  They are as effective as any protein bar that I have had.  The only thing that I wouldn’t do is eat more than 1 per day.  The fiber tends to bind you up if you already eat fairly healthy and get enough fiber as it is.

Rating:  9.5/10

Conclusion:

Well that sounded more like a fan page then a review didn’t it?  Honestly, there isn’t much bad to say about QuestBars.  They have a 99.5% natural line, which has sucarlose(splenda), and a 100% natural line that uses stevia.  They are clean, filling, taste great and will help you with your fitness goals on the road or when you need a quick snack.  And at $2 per bar, you really can’t go wrong here.  These bars are by far the best tasting, clean protein bars I have seen on the market.  I don’t know how they do it.  They are really something to try for yourself and see if you like them.  At roughly 20 grams of protein and 20-25 grams of carbs, 17 grams of fiber and very low sugar, it should fit into your diet very well.  The fat comes from good healthy fat sources and the bars fill you up for hours.  QuestBar is hitting it out of the park and they are truly doing things with the consumer in mind.

Overall Rating:  10/10

Want to Try QuestBars with Free Shipping?  Click the Link Below
Quest Low-Carb Bar – 1st Purchase Ships Free – Promo “SHIPFREE”

Here are the Tropical Shakeology Ingredients and Nutrition facts:

Click Here to Try Shakeology!

Whole Food Based!

Another great aspect of the Tropical Shakeology Ingredients is that it is completely whole food based.  You won’t find any synthetic vitamins/minerals in here.  That is very uncommon, and I am very happy to see it. Whole foods are the best source of anything.  Our bodies can absorb and process whole food based vitamins/minerals much better than the synthetic versions, so you get more bang for you buck.  Beachbody is extremely particular when it comes to what they put into Shakeology, that is why it took them so long to come out with a 3rd flavor.  But it was well worth the wait. 

What are some of the NEW Tropical Shakeology Ingredients?

Since Beachbody is constantly looking to up their game when it comes to the quality of their products, it has come to no surprise that they are introducing brand new ingredients into Tropical Shakeology.  Darin Olein, the c0-creator of Shakeology, is constantly searching for the latest and greatest that nature has to offer.  I remember him talking about some of these great new ingredients when I heard him speak at the coach summit last year.

Konjac Root: Contains glucomannan, a soluble dietary fiber that absorbs 200 times its weight in water. What that does is slow down how quickly the stomach empties after a meal so you feel fuller longer. It also promotes satiety for reduced cravings.

Himalayan Salt: The stuff is completely natural, free from toxins, relatively untouched, and as a result, still contains more than 70 trace minerals. Himalayan salt actually helps to contribute to the sweetness of a product as well.

L uo Han Guo: This is a low-calorie, low glycemic fruit that lends complex sweetness to foods. It is traditionally used in Asia for medicinal purposes. It works as and antioxidant and help support the immune system. The low-glycemic nature of Luo Han guo helps maintain health blood sugar levels and aids in weight loss.

Coconut Flower Nectar: A naturally sweet, nutrient-rich nectar that comes from coconut blossoms. It contains amino acids, minerals, vitamin C, and a broad spectrum of B vitamins. This too is naturally low on the glycemic index which means that it will produce a slow energy release instead of a spike and crash in energy. This ingredients is also sustainably sourced.

I am extremely excited to add Tropical Shakeology to my diet because of these awesome ingredients.  It is always good to keep mixing things up and trying new things.  I think that adding a great plant based protein into my diet will only help.  The Tropical Shakeology ingredients sounds awesome and I hope and if it tastes as good as it did when I tried the “beta” version, I know that you will all love it.

Click Here to Try Shakeology!

Ingredients: I am a fan of what Beachbody did with the ingredient list.  They included everything that I look for in a pre-workout supplement.  N.O Boosters for pump, Natural Energizers for energy, Amino Acids for endurance/recovery/muscle growth, Electrolytes for muscle function, B Vitamins for function and metabolism, and a Natural Sweetener.  One thing that I get sick and tired of lately is having a pre-workout drink that is full of crappy sweeteners and color dye.  Nothing like drinking colbalt blue or pink water right?  I also like the fact that they included the amino acid Beta Alanine, which has been shown to help with muscle endurance, as well as Rhodiola Extract (aRoot extract known to help suport Energy and Endurance) and D-Ribose ( which is known to help provide energy to the body).  Very cool ingredient list.

Rating:  9.5/10

Taste/Mixability: I don’t like most pre-workout drinks flavor.  As a matter of fact I would say that I only like about 30% of the ones I have tried.  E&E pre-workout tastes great in my opinion.  It has a very nice lemon/lime taste that isn’t so sweet that it hurts and so sorry that you have a hard time getting it down.  It is a very nice, smooth, clean tasting drink.   This surprised me very much because I honestly thought that with no artificial sweeteners that I would have to choke it down.  Not the case.  I also like the fact that it mixes in only a few shakes of my shaker cup.  There is no weird artificial color or taste to it what so ever.  You may not like it as much as I do but I really enjoy it.  Compared to other pre-workouts that I nearly gag while drinking this one is golden.

Rating:  9.5/10

Effect: For a product that uses no 1,3-Dimethylamylamine, no other untested stimulants and no creatine, I was VERY surprised at how well it worked.  When I judge the effects of a product, I have to judge it by it’s claims.  Does it provide good energy through all my workouts?…Yes!  Does it provide endurance through the most vigorous of P90X2 and Tony Horton workouts?…Yes it does!  And on top of all of that, I was pleasantly surprised by the pump I got from it.  I did Shoulders/Arms from P90X2, took 2 scoops and measured my arms before and after.  Typically I get a good pump, but when I used E&E pre-workout my arms grew over 1″ when I finished.  Honestly very surprised.  The one thing I would like to know is how much caffeine is in the product so I can know how many scoops to use.  So far 2 scoops do just fine during intense workouts.

Rating:  9/10

Conclusion: I have tested Energy & Endurance pre-workout supplement ( E&E pre-workout ) over 5 different workouts now.  In each workout I was full of energy, did not suffer from the typical crash that I do with other pre-workouts and had enough endurance to break some strength plateaus.  The ingredient list shows that Beachbody did everything right.  The taste is smooth and clean.  I would suggest starting with 1 scoop if you haven’t taken a pre-workout before to see how you feel.  If you have then you can most like do 2 scoops right off the bat.  I have tried my share of pre-workouts and this one stacks up there with my favorites so far.  I have been looking for a pre-workout supplement that was effective but clean.  Something that was more natural so I didn’t have to put a bunch of crap into my body. Energy & Endurance pre-workout is definitely a supplement that I Highly recommend.    There was no crash and it performed beyond my expectations.  At $29.95 per bottle, it’s definitely worth picking up and trying.  You can purchase it by clicking here.

Rating:  9.5/10

Have you tried E&E pre-workout yet?  What is your E&E pre-workout review?

Beachbody

I have been hearing that Beachbody has been working on a pre-workout for quite some time now so It is great to see them finally come out with it.  I am not a fan of all Pre-workouts so I am excited to try this one and see how it is.  I have been sticking away from those ultra stimulant based pre-workout supplements lately so I will be curious to see just how powerful it is.  It looks like a great P90X or P90X2 pre -workout supplements for those of you looking for an energy boost.

Beachbody is claiming that the E&E Energy and Endurance Pre-Workout formula will help you:

• Burn more calories and fat to get ripped faster.
• Maximize muscle performance to build muscle faster.

E&E Energy and Endurance features a proprietary blend of advanced nitric oxide boosters, essential B vitamins, electrolytes, and natural energizers to help you power through your workouts!

E&E Energy and Endurance contains:

• Beta Alanine: Amino Acid that may enhance muscular enduranc
• L-Glutamine: Amino Acid that is known to aid recovery from Hard Training
• Quercetin: Bioflavonoid that may promote mental clairty and focus during a workout
• Bromelain and Papaya Extract:  Ingredients known to help increase absorption of nutrients.
• Phosphatidylserine: May help promote mental clarity and focus
• Rhodiola Extract: Root extract known to help suport Energy and Endurance
• D-Ribose: Known to help provide energy to the body.

What’s the difference between E&E Energy and Endurance and other pre-workout supplements?

• No artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
• No high-risk or untested ingredients.

I love the fact there are no artificial flavors or sweeteners the best myself.  It looks as though it is moderately priced and that you will need to take 1-2 scoops depending on how intense your workout is.  Having taken pre-workouts before I am curious if those who aren’t stimulant sensitive will take 2-4 scoops.

You can check out the Label Ingredient List Here and let me know what you think!

ORDER E&E Energy and Endurance Pre-Workout Supplement by clicking here!

(Click the Pic to Enlarge)

For those of you who haven’t tried Shakeology yet, you can get a free sample, if you are already a member on my team,  or you can order it with a “Bottom of the Bag Guarantee”.  That means that you can try Shakeology out for 30 days and if you don’t like it you can send it back.  Chances are you will like it very much.  Shakeology is a meal replacement drink that has everything that our bodies need to be working at full capacity that we don’t get from our everyday diets.  All you have to do is substuite 1 meal or snack per day with Shaekology and you will see great results in Health, results and energy.

To order Shakeology Risk Free CLICK HERE (don’t forget that you get free shipping by ordering on monthly auto)

We Go Both Wheys…

by Carl Daikeler

Recently, we’ve received some questions about what constitutes a good source of protein and what is suspect.

In fact we’ve seen some leading opinion makers start to criticize whey protein isolate -  apparently to justify their own line of protein products. The arguments regarding whey protein isolate vs. whey protein concentrate which I have read are usually one-dimensional and fail to paint a complete picture of the benefits found in both types of whey protein.

On behalf of Beachbody’s formulation and scientific experts, I’ve asked our team to dispel the myths about whey and clear up some of the confusion. Below, we describe why we feel whey protein isolate is appropriate if not more favorable than other dairy-sources of protein, and by far more desirable than soy – even for my vegan wife and Shakeology co-formulator, Isabelle.

Myth #1: Protein isolates are proteins stripped away from their nutritional co-factors.

Whey protein isolate is the most pure and concentrated form of whey protein available. It contains 90% or more protein and very little (if any) fat and lactose. While it is possible that some nutritional co-factors found in whey protein concentrate are not found in isolates, consider that the synthesis of whey protein isolate with the over 70 organic compounds and super foods in our Shakeology product provide a comprehensive and bio-available spectrum of nutrients for the human body. Whey protein isolate is also an exceptional choice for individuals with lactose intolerance or who experience bloating and other problems associated with whey protein concentrate.  Whey concentrate is the better choice for supplements which have a more targeted focus (such as muscle recovery) versus total nutrition. A high quality whey protein concentrate is used in Beachbody’s P90X Results and Recovery and Whey Protein Powder products.

Myth #2- Whey protein isolates are exposed to acid processing.

Isolates can be processed a number of ways. Processing whey protein to remove the lactose, fats, and cholesterol while not losing its biological activity takes special care by the manufacturer. We have gone to great lengths to make sure that the whey protein isolate in Shakeology is purified using a technique called ion-exchange where protein is separated through its specific electrical charge. No acid is used in this process. The Shakeology whey isolate is extracted using a cold-processing method, avoiding high heat, leaving it 90% protein and virtually fat and lactose-free. Great care is taken not to ‘denature’ the protein in Shakeology. That’s why we call it “nature in a bag.” We mean it.

Myth #3: Your body cannot assimilate proteins in isolated form.

There is no credible science to support this assertion. Whey protein is a very high quality complete protein with rich amounts of all the essential amino acids. Whey protein isolate is the purest form of whey protein, which is why it is absorbed efficiently into the body.

Isabelle is a great example of someone who cannot ingest Whey Concentrate on a regular basis because she is allergic to dairy (protein & all). She suffered from intense bloating, gas and nausea.

The enzymes and vitamins present in the fat and environment of whey concentrate do not seem to enhance her ability to process it, and that’s even with extra enzymes taken with the meal for good measure. Still no luck.

She has used whey protein isolate in her diet on a regular basis, through Shakeology for years now, and she has not only had no adverse reaction, but the whey isolate has satisfied her protein requirements in an otherwise complete vegan lifestyle.

Myth #4: Due to over-processing, isolates are deficient in key amino acids.

Not true. Protein is made up of essential and non-essential amino acids, which are the “building blocks” for healthy bodies. The body is able to make non-essential amino acids from other amino acids in the body. However, the body is not able to make essential amino acids and the only way to get them is by eating high quality protein foods. Protein sources that contain all of the essential amino acids are called “complete proteins”.

Good news: The whey used in Shakeology is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids exclusively in the more natural L-form (not D-form). Additionally, all of the 3 branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) including Leucine are present in Shakeology at high levels.

Finally, we all need to understand that the human body is exceptionally complex and always changing. What your body needed today it may not need in ten years. What it reacted to ten years ago it may crave today. And every one is different.

We don’t expect Shakeology to be the answer for everyone, and we are always working on ways we can complement the line of healthy options (and flavors, yes… it’s true.)

Every ingredient in Shakeology has been selected carefully to create a nutritional “symphony” of ingredients working together for maximum biological value. We would never include “putrid proteins” or chemical additives in a product we stand behind as “the healthiest meal of the day.”

All Beachbody nutrition products are 3rd party tested to ensure they are free of rancidity, toxins, hormones and all of the other things most people fear from dairy products. When sorting through the endless amounts of nutritional advice found in the Internet, consider the source, and above all else, look to your own body’s response for a clue to the truth. Be wary of individuals or companies offering alarmist nutritional advice while at the same time hocking their own products. (And when someone says their shake is as good as Shakeology, ask them to prove it with an unconditional money back guarantee.)

Oh snap! No he didn’t! (Yes, we did.)

source:  http://www.carldaikeler.com/2011/10/we-go-both-wheys/

What’s your take on Whey Isolate or Concentrate?  Do you have a preference?

Most of you who are going through P90X ask me what supplements I recommend.  Shakeology is on the top of my list.  When I started P90X back in January of 2009, I didn’t have Shakeology because it wasn’t created yet.  Since it has been created I have been taking it and reaping the benefits.  Both in my health and in my all around fitness.  So I truly believe that if you really want to get extreme results with P90X, you should definitely do your self and body a favor and try Shakeology.

How do you incorporate Shakeology into the P90X diet guide though?  Well, the good news is that the P90X diet guide has you eating a very healthy amount of food.  As a matter of fact, when I first started P90X, the guide had me eating MORE calories than what I was eating before.  P90X2 will incorporate Shakeology into the nutrition plan so you don’t have to worry about it, but in the mean time I found this great article by one of my favorite Fitness Experts, Steve Edwards.  If you have read some of my other posts, you will know that this man knows his stuff.  So if you have questions about Shakeology and P90X, here is all the info you need!

Can Shakeology replace one of my meals in the P90X nutrition plan?

I’d hope so, given that it’s a meal replacement shake! But seriously, Xers do have a different nutritional equation to consider than most other people do. Generally, meal replacement shakes are designed so you drink one of them instead of eating a meal to help you lose weight. Of course, Shakeology fits into this mold just fine. In fact, given how nutrient-dense it is, I’d say it’s better than anything on the market. And even though it contains an entire day’s worth of many nutrients, it’s still only 140 to 150 calories.

Aren’t most of the meals in the P90X nutrition plan in the 400 to 500 calorie range?

Exactly. And it won’t serve the average Xer well to cut out calories. This is because as you get fitter, your nutritional requirements change along with your body composition. When you first start to exercise, you can lose weight just by restricting your caloric intake. But as you gain muscle, you need to eat more to continue losing weight, and this is often a lot more than you ate when you first began losing weight—sometimes it’s more than double. If you eat too little during P90X, your weight loss can plateau, along with your ability to do the workouts.

This is why we give you a lot of smoothie recipes and options. Shakeology, like many other meal replacement shakes, can be a component of something larger. For meals, we suggest adding more calories from healthy fat sources, like nut butters (almonds, cashews, etc.), along with more standard smoothie-like ingredients, like fruit. Doing this not only brings your calories into line with your diet plan, but helps you balance your meals so they digest more slowly, like ordinary meals generally do.

I’m doing the portion approach in P90X. What block(s) could Shakeology replace?

The portion plan is basically little chunks of macronutrients portioned out to help you easily balance your diet. Shakeology is equal parts carbs and protein, with almost no fat. So Shakeology can replace one block of protein and one block of carbs.

Can Shakeology replace one of the snacks in the P90X nutrition plan?

Shakeology is an incredibly nutrient-rich snack, a perfect snack for Xers. Again, because it doesn’t have much fat, its nutrients are put to use very quickly by your body. This makes it an ideal pick-me-up snack when you’re on the go. It’s better, in fact, than a lot of energy drinks. While something like Red Bull^® might give you more up-front punch, Shakeology will give you sustained energy because it’s providing nutrients your body needs to get things done, and it has a low glycemic impact, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable.

Shakeology’s macronutrient ratio splits the difference among sports drink, protein shake, and recovery drink, but it can substitute for any or all of them, because it also has an excellent micronutrient profile. Most people are focused only on macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbs), but macronutrients are only part of your nutritional equation. Micronutrients are things like phytonutrients, adaptogens, and other scientific-sounding stuff. While we refer to these as “micro,” nutritionally, they’re anything but small. Many of them are absolutely essential for a healthy life. Shakeology speeds these micronutrients into your system, which enables you to perform better.

Why don’t we hear more about the importance of micronutrients?

Not to dwell too much on conspiracy theories, but “Big Food,” as we call the American food industry, doesn’t want us focusing on micronutrients because most of them have been destroyed in many of the foods we eat, killed by things like processing and pasteurization. These processed foods are then sprinkled with what have been lobbied to be “important” ingredients, but which in reality barely provide enough nutrition for basic survival, as opposed to thriving. As you can observe by watching the American population grow “larger,” this is leading to all sorts of problems.

In nature, of course, food doesn’t come packaged and processed and robbed of vital nutrients that make it good for us. It has a balance of nutrients that help sustain life. It’s possible for food scientists to recreate this balance in processed foods, but this is expensive. Essentially, if it doesn’t fit the numbers, shareholders don’t want to see it happen. So the Big Food corporations make cheap food and keep us in the dark about nutrition. This is exactly why we’re in the predicament we’re in today, with obesity and poor health, because it’s much cheaper to make calorie-rich, nutrient-poor food than it is to produce natural food.

This is why Shakeology has been designed the way it has. There isn’t any one food in nature that has all the micronutrients we need to fill the nutritional gaps in our diets—that’s why we need to eat a variety of foods. But most of us don’t do that. So at its core, this is what Shakeology is doing—filling in our nutritional gaps.

Can Shakeology substitute for P90X^® Results and Recovery Formula^®?

It’s not an exact swap, but you could do a lot worse. When you’re training very hard, like those times when your body is shaking—during, say, P90X Chest & Back—Results and Recovery Formula is better because your body is “bonking”; it’s essentially run out of glycogen, or blood sugar. Any time you’re in this state, the more quickly you can recharge your glycogen, the less damage you’ll do to your muscle cells, and the faster you’ll recover. It’s the one and only time sugar is a preferred nutrient in your diet.

Shakeology doesn’t have nearly as much sugar as Results and Recovery Formula does. Shakeology only has a little, for nutrient transport. But because Shakeology’s other ingredients also support your digestive processes, it helps you assimilate nutrients more rapidly. The latest science showing that a small amount of protein can “piggyback” on sugar, helping your body put the protein to use more rapidly, during or after exercise, holds true for Shakeology. It’s not as effective as a Results and Recovery Formula for your hardest workouts, but at any other time, it’s pretty darn good.

How’s Shakeology as a protein shake?

Shakeology has an ample amount of protein. While many protein shakes on the market may have more grams of protein, the type of protein they use often digests so slowly you can’t drink them when you’re active. Shakeology uses whey protein, which is one of the most (if not the most) bioavailable sources of protein. That means it absorbs more quickly into the system than other proteins do. Most proteins, especially when you get them in a whole food, take forever to digest. This means that eating protein right before, during, or right after exercise is generally a waste, because your body is using energy to digest something that won’t help you for hours, energy that it could be using to enhance your workout or recovery. But when you combine whey protein along with Shakeology’s other nutrients, you have a high-protein shake that can fit into many different nutritional slots in your day, something a standard protein drink can’t do.

Should I still bother taking P90X  Peak Health Formula or ActiVit^® multivitamins if I’m drinking Shakeology every day?

We get the vitamin question a lot, because Shakeology has so many vitamins in it already. However, using my previous example involving processed foods, on any given day, most of us only get a fraction of the nutrients we should be consuming, even when we’re eating more calories than we should. This is exactly why we have vitamin supplements in the first place. Throw exercise into the equation, which accelerates your body’s usage of nutrients, and you can see why we recommend so many times the recommended daily allowance* (RDA) for certain vitamins and minerals.

For an average person, Shakeology might eliminate the need for a multivitamin. But if you remember the movie Supersize Me, you may recall that the average American takes about 600 steps a day—which isn’t even your warm-up for a P90X workout! No one doing a Beachbody program is average. Xers, especially, are advised to take additional vitamin supplements.

It’s also great to take your supplements along with Shakeology because they’ll digest more easily with help from Shakeology’s digestive enzymes and whole-food sources of nutrients. One of the limiting factors with supplements is how well (or not so well) your body can assimilate them. Adding them to something you know your digestive system can break down easily is a plus.

It’s important to mention two other variables here as well. First, many—if not most—of our customers are trying to lose weight. This requires reducing caloric intake while adding exercise, which increases nutrient requirements. Starting to see an equation where multivitamins and supplements make sense? The body can be a complex organism, but this comes down to simple math. The key to losing weight isn’t just reducing calories; it’s also finding a way to reduce your caloric intake and still get enough nutrients to keep you body functioning at its highest level. To do this, you need to seek out nutrient-dense foods. As I said before, you’d be hard-pressed to find something else that’s as nutrient-dense as Shakeology.

Then there’s the RDA, which is the “recommended daily allowance” for everybody. Imagine one nutritional number for every person on the planet, from a 100-pound computer programmer who sits all day to a 350-pound NFL lineman. How absurd is that? Anybody who’s doing P90X is no longer an average individual. So chances are the RDA won’t fit the bill if you want your body to perform as well as it can.

When’s the best time to drink Shakeology during a P90X day?

One of the beautiful things about Shakeology is how versatile it is. Because it helps you digest anything you consume along with it, there isn’t really a wrong time to have it. Ideally, its best slot in an Xer’s day is as a pre-workout snack, taken about 1 hour prior to your warm-up. Then your workout will help you get the most out of Shakeology, and the Shakeology will help you during the latter part of your workout, especially if your glycogen stores have been depleted slightly. Shakeology can also be effective pre-workout, post-workout, or any time during the day when your energy’s flagging and you need a pick-me-up. Or you can make Shakeology smoothies and simply replace your meals. Basically, you can’t go wrong.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about Shakeology?

Price holds a lot of people back, and I can understand that on the surface, Shakeology might look expensive. We tend to look at foods in a cost-to-calorie ratio, instead of a cost-to-nutrient ratio. Sure, you can buy a Big Gulp^® and you get 800 calories for a dollar (or something like that). But what good are they? There are no micronutrients. They’re full of man-made sugar, chemicals, and the by-products of genetically modified corn and soy production—no nutrition whatsoever. Whereas if you tried to assemble all the nutrients in Shakeology independently, you’d have to spend 40 bucks.

If you’re serious about your health, you should consider what you spend your money on. People drop 3 to 4 bucks a day on things that are a detriment to their health without batting an eye. We’re talking the retail price of a latte or a smoothie, or any number of things that are even less healthy. The consumer is essentially at war with a bunch of corporations that seem to be trying to poison them to make a quick buck. The obesity trend will only end when we take some responsibility for our health and begin to make better food choices.

If you have any questions about Shakeology and P90X, please use Feel free to comment below or contact me!

The Best part was that they announced some very cool new things that are coming up in the world of Beachbody.  So I wanted to pass along the latest and greatest news to all of you who are about of the Get Ripped at Home Crew.  Some of the details are still yet to be announced but there are some great new products and announcements that are closer than you think.  (I noticed that one of my fellow coaching buddies Wayne posted something similar, but since we were at the same conference it will be similar info ;)  ).

News and Updates from Beachbody:

1.  Tropical Shakeology:  As you already saw from my post a couple days ago, that you can find HERE, you may have seen that the new Tropical Shakeology flavor is now going to be Vegan!  If all goes according to plan (it passes the longevity tests), which it should, then it will be ready for purchase in January 2012.  That’s right around the corner.  Even Carl Daikeler has said that this final formulation tastes awesome…so much so that he switched to Tropical from Chocolate.

2.  P90X2:  This is going to be the biggest launch in Beachbody History.  There are already 46,000 pre orders to date.  This number is growing!  So make sure you have your pre order in as quickly as possible to ensure that you will receive P90X2 with Free Shipping First.  If you haven’t done so yet, you can do it HERE.  Be ready to do P90X2 with me come January 2nd!  When I will be doing a new P90X2 challenge with all of you who join me!

3.  New Program called “Pump”!:  This program is from a trainer named Les Mills who is known for his fitness classes at various corporate gyms.  The program is based on his popular Body Pump Class, that you may have seen if you go to a 24 hour fitness.  The difference is that this takes that popular class and brings it to your home.  You will get 7 workouts, a barbell, weights, and a workout guide.  The program is based on the concept of High Rep and Low weight with a barbell so you get your heart rate high and burn a ton of calories.  In the process you are able to sculpt lean muscle because your lifting weights.  Kinda cool right?  They even said that a typical workout will burn 800-1000 calories.  B doing this you won’t bulk up because of the “rep effect”.

No price has been set yet.  We coaches are speculating that it will be around $200 most likely because of the barbell and weights that come with it.  Which in all actuality is a pretty great deal.  Below is a little video But not the official one yet, Enjoy!

4.  Tai Chi Program Called “Tai Cheng”:  If you saw my post from the Coach Summit back in June, you would have seen me talk about the new Tai Chi program that Beachbody is coming out with.  It is based on the teachings of Tai Chi trainer Mark Cheng.  So they are calling the program “Tai Cheng”….oh you clever Beachbody.  This program will be low impact to no impact and it will focus on re-equilibrating your body.  It will help your posture, stability, strength and coordination.  This will be a great program for those with chronic injuries, that have effected posture or mobility.  It will also be great for the older generations who need a low impact workout to get the blood flowing.  It will be a 90 day program that will promise to get you moving better.

5.  P90X App Update: Yes, it’s still actually coming.  Yes, it will be worth the wait.  It is said that it will be released this Late Fall/Early Winter.  It is all dependent on the review process.  This app will be for iPhone’s only, so if you own an android you will be out of luck for a while.  The app is going to allow you to log your workouts, track your progress, and have digital copies of P90X so you can do it it anywhere!  No more excuses that you are out of town, so you can’t workout!  There will be more details as it’s released so keep checking back.

6.  P90X2 Advanced Workouts are now Available for Pre-Order: Once again, this is news that I already talked about last week but if you missed it, I wanted to bring it up again.  Beachbody has now opened up pre-orders for the 2 Advanced Workouts (V-Sculpt and Chest/Shoulders/Tris X2).  These are the workouts that come with the Deluxe and Ultimate Kits already, but if you ordered the Base Kit then you will want to pick these up, so your not left behind those who bought the Deluxe and Ultimate.  You can Find more info by clicking here = X2 Advanced Workouts.  Remember I am in P90X2 V-Sculpts and Chest/Back + Balance so don’t miss out!!

Beachbody and their products are already making, we are on the cusp of something HUGE as international expansion efforts are in the works.  If you think P90X, Insanity, and Shakeology are big time now, you ain’t seen nothing yet!  Wait until people from around the world can use these products, fall in love with them, change their lives, and inspire others to do the same.  I can’t wait to ride the wave as we keep leading the world in fitness programs, nutritional supplements, and a system to ensure people’s success with them.