Shakeology Boost: Power Greens

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Please keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their QUALITY and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you!

Veggie haters rejoice - there's now an easy way to get in your daily requirement and actually enjoy it!

I love having my daily cup of Shakeology and I honestly didn't think there could be anything better than that. But now there's an option to #BoostUp your shake on an as-needed (or even daily) basis and this particular Boost is an easy way to get an extra serving of nutritious veggies your body needs.

I don't know about you, but as a child I used to be really particular as to which veggies I would eat, and especially how much I would eat. My own children are the same way at times; some days it's a battle to finish two tiny bites, and other days they'll devour their veggies and want seconds.

As an adult, I've grown to like a wide variety of vegetables but, let's face it, some days life just gets in the way of being healthy. I actually love to have a salad filled with lots of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables for lunch, but depending on my schedule I'm not always able to have one every single day. So those days I end up not eating nearly as many veggies as I know I should. I've also noticed that for whatever reason, I find it's much easier to get the daily fruit requirement in. But veggies? That's an entirely different story.   

Truthfully though, the exact reason doesn't matter because we all tend to have some kind of excuse as to why we didn't eat enough of that green goodness.

“I don't like to buy them because they're expensive and tend to spoil too quickly. I hate throwing away money like that.”

“Fresh greens are hard to find where I live, especially the ones I really like.”

“The taste turns me off. I haven't found a recipe that I really like.”

“It takes too long to wash and prepare. It just doesn't work with my busy lifestyle.” 

Any of those sound familiar? I'm sure at least one of them does. But here's the important thing that a lot of us tend to forget: experts recommend that the average adult needs to consume between 3 to 5 servings of vegetables on a daily basis, however, only a mere 14% ACTUALLY do! 

This is unfortunate because everything in our bodies are constantly striving for some kind of balance - between acidity and alkalinity. In fact, many holistic traditions encourage consuming a diet filled with alkaline foods in order to achieve this balance.

Most vegetables are a great source of alkaline, but if we're not eating enough our bodies will tend to be more acidic, which is a great environment for disease and sickness to develop in.

Green vegetables are low in carbs and calories, yet contain plenty of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and one of the easiest ways to boost your intake is by integrating them into your healthy diet in the form of a powder.

That's where this particular Boost comes in to play. Using Power Greens as a supplement for those missing vegetables is a great way to maintain your healthy habits even when you’re away from home or really busy. While one serving of this supplement won't replace the actual vegetables you should be eating on a daily basis, it's a great way to bridge the gap on the days when your veggie consumption is lacking. It's also a great option if you're new to healthy eating and are not used to eating so much of the green stuff in a day or even week.  Power Greens is a great way to "trick" yourself into consuming more until you get used to your new lifestyle.

Each scoop of the Power Greens contains the equivalent of one cup of green vegetables, and the best part is that there are no artificial colors, preservatives, or sweeteners added in. For those who are concerned about how the taste of your shake may be affected - I can honestly say that I don't notice a difference on the days I add it in to mine. It does, however, add a bit of a green hue to the shake, but that's it. 

Click to play the video!

One of the things I love most about this Boost is that is formulated with all natural ingredients (aka ingredients that I can actually pronounce AND know what they are!). This is something that is incredibly important to me when I'm choosing a supplement. Here is a list of the major ingredients that are in Power Greens Boost:

Celery - This cool and crunchy green veggie contains nutrients like vitamin A and phytonutrients.* If the benefits of celery don’t outweigh its stringiness for you, try it in a greens powder instead!

Chlorella - These algae supply phytonutrients. Chlorella has a distinct taste, but it’s virtually undetectable in Power Greens when consumed in a shake.

Cucumber - This cool, green veggie provides minerals like calcium, as well as vitamin A and phytonutrients.

Kale - This superfood is perhaps the most popular green veggie nowadays (have you ever had kale chips?), and it supplies a variety of different flavonoids and carotenoids.

Spinach - This dark leafy green contains vitamin A, calcium, and phytonutrients, and it usually has a milder taste than kale, so you can add it to pretty much everything, including muffins and smoothies.

Matcha - This is a powdered form of green tea leaves and is also a source of phytonutrients. This trendy, “new” ingredient can be found in everything from lattes to cupcakes nowadays, but matcha has a rich history in Japanese culture. The matcha in Power Greens is Japanese-grown and is certified USDA organic.

So whether you don't like the taste of veggies, don't have enough time to cook or grocery shop, or are simply on the go a lot, this Boost will help you to get those extra veggies in your diet... because let's face it, the more green stuff you eat, the happier your body will be!

Ready to give it a try? Click here to get yours today. If you still have more questions, send me a message and I'll be glad to help in any way I can!

Shakeology Boost: Digestive Health

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Please keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their QUALITY and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you!

I love having my daily cup of Shakeology and I didn't think it could get any better. But now there's an option to #BoostUp your shake on an as-needed (or even daily) basis, and this particular Boost is my absolute favorite of all the Boosts that are offered! It's the one Boost that I consistently keep stocked in our pantry.

I legitimately wish I had this one when my oldest was transitioning from breast milk to whole milk. Her system had a really hard time adjusting to the difference and despite trying everything our pediatrician told us to do, nothing ever seemed to help her system balance out properly for more than a day at a time.

When she was around 14 months old it got so bad that I'm quite positive I'll never forget this one day in particular. She was an amazing eater and had no problem filling up on high fiber foods and extra water. However, she still ended up so constipated and in such pain that she spent the entire day just crying in my arms. As a mother, it was absolutely heartbreaking! She was also so young that I was hesitant to use too much medicine on her that might have harsh effects on a one-year old's system (yes - first time mother there. She hated everything we tried and I ended up being terrified that whatever choice I made was going to make things even worse for her).

BUT if I had I had this trusty little Boost way back then, I'm positive we never would have endured such a difficult transition for her (and me too - because there's nothing worse than watching your child suffer). I would have simply added a fraction of a scoop into her milk. Unfortunately this was not available back then. As they say, you live and you learn.

Now, I give my daughter Shakeology whenever she asks, always making sure to throw in a tiny bit of the Digestive Health Boost for that extra peace of mind since she still has issues from time-to-time. She knows I put it in there, but it doesn't affect the taste of her shake so she doesn't mind.

To be fully honest, she probably gets her delicate system from me. I absolutely love all things dairy but sometimes my system still has a hard time processing dairy, which is not entirely atypical of someone who has PCOS. Unfortunately, I find it hard to remove dairy completely from my daily diet. Still, even with trying to actively limit the amounts I consume, flair ups will occasionally occur so I always make sure to add it into my daily shakes. Usually I add about a quarter of a scoop and I'm good to go. However, if I'm travelling I always make sure to add a full scoop with each shake because eating out combined with dairy consumption tends to wreak havoc on my system. So by being proactive and using this Boost, I am able to avoid the harsh stomach aches that I have normally gotten in the past.

I'm sure our situation is not unlike others. Did you know that most Americans get less than half the daily recommended about of fiber? It's not surprising when you take in to account how busy our schedules have become nowadays. Fast food ends up being a meal more often than most of us would like. Even home cooked meals that come mostly from boxes are filled with additives and preservatives that are often harsh on our delicate systems.

I totally get it - I'm not immune to a hectic schedule either! I'm a busy work-from-home mom and some days trying to keep up with all our kids' schedules as well as my own work can be exhausting. It's even worse on the days my youngest (aka The Day Walker) decides he doesn't want to sleep - which means I don't get to sleep either. Those mornings blur by and before I know it the older kiddos are getting off the bus and I just don't feel like cooking. There's no shame in admitting that it happens to all of us at some point. That's why I'm so grateful to have the Digestive Health Boost in our lives! 

So now you're probably asking, "why do I need this Boost in addition to Shakeology?"

Well, let me ask you this: have you ever had one of those days where you consumed nothing but junk food? How'd your system feel the next day or two afterwards? Most likely you were feeling pretty lethargic, bloated and clogged up. 

Have you ever gone on vacation or traveled for an extended period of time where you ended up eating out for almost every meal? After a few days that kind of food can catch up to you in a bad way.

Even when drinking Shakeology daily, there are going to be days like those when you simply need a little something extra to get you through to the end of the day or to simply de-bloat from some bad food choices. If you're like me and my daughter, you may just need a little extra something on a daily basis to help to stay regular. Either way it's a great way to get your system back on track without having to resort to medicines or laxatives. 

Click to play the video!

Want some extra information about this Boost? Here you go:

• It's formulated to decrease bloating and digestive discomfort.
• It contains the optimal ratio of soluble and insoluble fiber to keep you regular.
• It contains ALA omega-3 fatty acids, which helps support cardio vascular health.

Some of the key ingredients in the Digestive Health Boost include:

• Chicory Root and Pea Fiber – Help maintain digestive system health and regularity.
• Insoluble fiber from Chia and Flax Seeds – Good source of insoluble fiber, plus they contribute alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. ALA helps support cardiovascular health.
• Soluble fiber from Psyllium Husk – As part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, it may reduce the risk of heart disease.

So there you have it. If you're interested in giving Digestive Health a try you can get it here.

Have more questions? Feel free to send me a message and I'll be glad to help in any way I can!

“Are You Really Gonna Drink That Shakeology?”

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Please keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their QUALITY and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you!

“That's so expensive! How can you afford to drink that?! And by the way – you know what that shake looks like, right!?”

I can't tell you how many times I've heard those phrases over the years. I won't lie, it used to bother me in the beginning. I mean, I had really horrible eating habits so the only thought that would keep running through my mind was, "would it kill you to simply be happy for the positive changes I was trying to make?"

Thankfully, those days are long gone. Now I just smile and gulp it down and every time those negative comments are said to me, in my head I’m usually wondering something along the lines of: “How can you diss it when you've never had it? Just take a sip. It’s SO good! You don’t know what you're missing – honest! Just try it!”

For those of you who don’t know me that well, the Vegan Chocolate Shakeology is my go-to flavor and I typically add other things in it. Some of my favorite additions include spinach leaves and an apple. More recently it's been a small banana, unsweetened almond milk, PB2, cinnamon, and a partial scoop of the Digestive Health Boost. It’s the easiest way to get an extra serving of fruit and veggies into my diet on a daily basis. So in all honesty, by the time I've blended everything in my trusty Ninja, my concoction DOES look like crap - sorta - but in actuality, it tastes AMAZING! Just like a chocolate milkshake, except this particular shake is healthy for me.

Do you have to add other things into the shake like I do?  Absolutely not!  A little liquid (water or a milk of your preference), some ice if you want it extra cold, and a scoop of Shakeology are perfectly acceptable! I just happen to like a variety for my breakfast. If you’re not sure what combinations go well together, you can always ask me what I typically do or check out the Shakeology website for a large selection of recipes.

Seriously though, if I invested a penny every time I heard one of those negative comments, I’d be a freaking millionaire by now. Yet at a price tag of $129 for a month supply, I can certainly understand why people react this way. After all, I was hesitant to buy it at first too – and the price alone was a very large part of why I waited a couple months after starting Insanity to purchase my first bag. It’s a lot of money to waste on a product you’re not sure you’re going to like in the first place. Thankfully, Beachbody offers a bottom of the bag guarantee which was a contributing factor as to why I took a chance in the first place. And yes, you read that right. Bottom of the bag guarantee. So really, there's absolutely no risk to you trying it. 

The price of Shakeology breaks down to roughly $4.30 for an ENTIRE meal that contains over 70 ultra-high quality ingredients. When you think about it, that's actually pretty darn cheap! You simply can’t beat the quality OR price.

Still not so sure? No worries, let's think about it in another way. How many of us go out and buy a cup of coffee on the commute to work? Think about how much an average cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks run. Or do you pick up fast food for breakfast? The price of either isn't so cheap either and the quality of food you’re actually getting is even worse. Don't lie, you know exactly what I mean. You don’t feel so great after eating it, do you? I'm willing to bet you've gotten a stomach ache or had to run to the bathroom shortly after consuming certain fast foods, right? 

Wanna know why these things happen?  

Because we are living in a society in which we are overfed yet undernourished. To be completely honest, the more we eat bad food, the more we crave it, which in turn leads to sickness and disease.

Re-read that and let it sink in for a bit...

The other question I get a lot is how can a silly little shake actually keep me feeling full?  Aren’t you STARVING after an hour or so?

The answer is in how Shakeology is designed. It's more than just a meal replacement shake; it's the smartest, healthiest thing you can put into your body. It's derived from whole foods containing proteins, healthy fats, superfoods and much more that not only keep you feeling full longer, but actually work to reduce your cravings for junk food while improving your digestion. So because you’re feeding your body the nutrients it needs, you actually end up feeling more satisfied and fuller for a longer period of time.

For you price skeptics out there, do you know what else that means? When you feel fuller for longer periods of time, you are inevitably going to snack less. So if you're snacking less, do you really need to be buying all those junk foods at the grocery store that you're not going to be hungry enough to eat? That answer would be NO, at least not on an everyday or every week basis. So this is just one example of how you really start to save when incorporating Shakeology into your daily life.

A second way you're saving with Shakeology deals with getting sick. As I'm going through and updating this article, I've been drinking Shakeology consistently for over three years now. In that time, I have not gotten the flu (and no - I don't get the flu shot either). In fact, the only time I've gone to the doctor was for my third pregnancy. NO sick visits. Sure, I've gotten a little rundown from time to time (mainly from lack of sleep thanks to my youngest), and a minor head cold last winter that a little extra Vitamin C and chicken soup took care off. But other than my pregnancy I have not had to go to the doctor. That means I've just drastically reduced what I used to pay for over-the-counter prescriptions and medications, doctor visit co-pays, and no sick days taken from work. I don't know about you, but I believe that's a cost-benefit ratio that is stacked in my favor!

Another item really worth mentioning is the increase in energy you get from adding Shakeology into your daily diet. This is something I was truly skeptical about, especially since PCOS causes my energy levels to fluctuate drastically depending on how well I’m eating and exercising. I kept thinking it’s not REALLY going to make a difference. But to my surprise it DID! Barely a week into consistently drinking Shakeology for breakfast and I already felt a noticeable difference – I was shocked. 

Think about all the things you want to do during a typical day but keep putting off because you don’t have the energy to do by the end of the day… what would you do first? For me this was really important because as a stay-at-home mother of two young toddlers who don’t ever sit still (as is the case with any child really) the house would basically be trashed by bedtime. But now I was finding that even after taking care of them all day long, I had energy at night to clean up things I would have otherwise said, “Eh… it can wait until tomorrow” (because we all know how well THAT turns out).

So it’s no wonder Beachbody touts Shakeology as “the healthiest meal of the day!” I was completely sold on this stuff for the increase in energy alone. However, the kicker? Once I started drinking Shakeology that is when my weight finally started coming off AND, more importantly, STAYING off! My weight stopped yo-yoing. No longer was I craving those late night snacks or junk food in particular. I even found it easier to say “no” to whatever unhealthy snacks I was offered. Sure, I still have my moments –hey, I'm only human after all - but they are not nearly as frequent nor as bad as they previously were. 

Howver, before I continue - let me clarify something real quickly. Shakeology is a meal replacement shake, NOT a diet shake or any kind of fad like that. Now you're probably thinking something along the lines of: "But she just said she lost weight while drinking it!?" Which I totally did! BUT I had already been exercising consistently and trying to eat healthier (which was more often than not derailed by nighttime snacking). Once I replaced my breakfast with a glass of Shakeology, my weight started to come off because I was filling up on the nutrients my body actually needed. Therefore, by the end of the night, I wasn't feeling cravings for the things I thought my body needed because I'd already gotten those nutrients earlier in the day. So by consuming less food late at night, combined with the addition of nutrients I actually needed, the weight finally budged. But please understand, this is not some get-thin-quick gimmick. This is the real deal, a healthy shake that's meant to be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle, not a fad diet plan.

And while we're discussing snacking, if you got that sweet tooth like me I’ve got some great news! Here’s yet another thing I love about Shakeology – you can use it to make HEALTHY desserts such as cookies, puddings, pies and more.

The kids and I made the no-bake cookies the other week and they were a big hit. I let my munchkins help make them (which they loved since they felt like “big kids”) so… let’s just say the final product didn't look nearly as pretty as the picture shown on the recipe card. ;) But who cares about that, right?!  We spent time together as a family making a healthy snack AND they had a blast. It was a total win-win situation!

Want to give Shakeology a try too? You can order it here. Full disclosure: by ordering through my link I'll earn a small commission off your purchase (this doesn't change the price for you!) and I'll become your Coach (that is, if you're not already working with a Coach). Keep in mind, ALL of my coaching services are free of charge - I simply earn through any purchases you choose to make through my links.

Still undecided? Beachbody sells samples that you can try before investing in a full month’s supply. There are two options to choose from: 

* The regular sampler pack (includes chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cafe latte, and greenberry flavors) that you can get here, or 
* The vegan sampler pack (includes chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and cafe latte flavors) that you can get here.

Have more questions or want to discuss how a Coach can help you on your health and fitness journey? Feel free to send me a message – I’ll be glad to help in any way I can!