Shakeology: What is it and why do I keep yammering on about it?

So if you've read the info about the upcoming Fall Back into Fitness Challenge (starting Sept. 10 -- join us!), you'll know that one of the requirements is to drink a protein shake called Shakeology once a day for 30 days.

Why? Why am I making you do this as part of the challenge?

Because it works. Pure and simple. I've said it before and I'll say it again, and I'll keep saying it: I have kissed a million protein shake frogs over the years before I discovered Shakeology. I trust Beachbody and their ingredients implicitly. That's really all there is to it. I think the entire world should be drinking Shakeology for the nutrients it provides.

Remember, Shakeology ISN'T a crash diet shake like Slim Fast or nasty stuff like that. This is an all natural recovery drink with all sorts of good stuff. The bonus is the weight loss that I, and thousands of others, have experienced as a result of getting your body back in balance.

People balk because when they first see the price. So I'm going to break down the nutrition for you and you can see what you're REALLY paying for. I have cut it out of our daily routine before because I thought we just couldn't afford it. Then I didn't feel as healthy. So we (Eamonn and I both drink it once a day) quickly realized we couldn't afford to NOT drink it. I know, I know, so sales pitchy. But it's that good for you. I promise.

Read on for the nutrtional low down:

The cost of Shakeology on home direct (you get free shipping) is $119.99 plus tax. A one-month supply breaks down to around $4/serving. When you are using it as a meal replacement to lose weight that means that your meal costs $4.

But what does it cost to eat at a restaurant and at home? A fast food meal on average is $5, more if super-sized and definitely more when you live in the mountains and the value meals really aren't so value-ish! A meal in a sit-down restaurant is on average $10 or higher. A home-cooked meal is typically around $4/serving when you have a meat, veggie, and carb. Yes, a home-cooked meal may rival Shakeology regarding cost, but is that truly accurate?

Here is what you’d have to eat to get the same nutrition in a glass of Shakeology:
4 cups raw broccoli ($3.94)
7 whole carrots ($1.99)
10 cups raw cauliflower ($4.30)
3 cups romaine lettuce ($1.99)
4 cups uncooked mushrooms ($8.97)
3 raw onions ($2.91)
1 cup peas ($1.09)
4 cups red radishes ($5.16)
4 cups non-fat yogurt ($3.49)
1 bowl exotic fruit, including goji berry and acai berry ($4.40)
1 shot wheat grass ($1.95)

Total $41.19

Multiply that by 30 servings and you are getting $1,235.70 worth of food for only $119.95.

As for calories, Shakeology is 150 - 170 cal/serving (depending on which flavor/blend you choose), plus whatever you add to your shake. A fast food or restaurant meal is 400 cal or more, at the bare minimum.

The bottom line is that we need to think differently about our food, what it costs, and what we're getting in return. Are you getting the biggest bang for your nutritional buck? It IS affordable if you think about what you're getting. You could take $120 of your monthly food allowance and direct it to Shakeology. The nutritional benefits that you would receive, in return, would be worth its weight in gold.

Take a look at Shakeology again, but look at it through different eyes -- get beyond the "oh my gosh it costs this" reaction and you'll see something totally different. I promise! :)

Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge Starts Sept. 10!

Fall is here. I am looking forward to it because:

1. I love the cooler weather
2. The kids are going back to school (that sounds terrible, but it has to happen so we all might as well soldier on and make the best of it)
3. I can reduce the amount of trigger foods in the house that the kids like to have as treats but derail me personally
4. I can ramp up my workouts without anyone asking when I'm going to be finsihed
5. The kids are going back to school

I may or may not have repeated some of the items I'm more excited about.

The other day I read a statistic that the average person gains 8 pounds on vacation. 8 pounds! Eeek!

We have our work cut out for us. Because I did go on vacation this summer. True, it was to Ohio. It's not like I spent three weeks traveling around Europe, drinking beer and eating cheese (flashback to summer '93 when I came home not being able to get my jeans over my knees). But Ohio definitely had its temptations (Donato's pizza, Graeter's ice cream, Grandpa's homemade ice cream, Marie's candy...).

Anyway, I've decided that when the kids go back to school, it's a great time for parents to band together in celebration and fitness.

This challenge will be similar to one a group of us did last winter. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:

Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge
Just like last winter's post-holiday challenge, this challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying.

This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.

But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.

What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can set up the Facebook group.

2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them.

3. We'll start Sept. 10. Each program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.

4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountible.

5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the 30 days (Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death.).

I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. The Beachbody program I'm currently following is ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women). I'm also training for a triathlon, so I'm doing some running and swimming, too.

We'll officially run the challenge for 30 days, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for at least 120 days (or for as long as the group would like it to be open) for those of you who choose longer programs. You'll have support the whole way through!

Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.

This isn't just as a short-term fix. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.

What have you got to lose? It will be fun, I promise!

I Have Been Running. Don't Fall Down in Shock.

I know. I KNOW. I swore I'd never run. And really, I think that what I've been doing can only loosely be called running. I'm not sure I'd even call it jogging. I'm probably doing some sort of fast shuffle like the old people at the mall. But I have managed to finish the second week of a Couch to 5K program (the one I'm using is 5K101).

It's really nothing short of a miracle.

A bit of advice: if you pig out on SmashBurger and frozen yogurt, the next day's run might be a bit compromised. Take my word for it. Don't try this at home. Ick.

News update: I've decided that a year from tomorrow, I'm going to participate in a local triathlon. Eeeek. There. I said it. It's out there.

So I figured if I want to do a triathlon, I'd better figure out how to run, and I'd better do it sooner rather than later. I also figure there's going to be a lot of pain involved.

I randomly chose a free podcast program off iTunes to help me run. When I've tried running before, I've made the clssic mistakes: running too fast at the beginning. The podcast helps. It eases you into it gradually with alternating walks and runs. I did a few test runs just listening to the free podcast, and it was OK, but the music is so boring. For $2.99 I could download a program you could set to your own playlist. Truly, it's the best $2.99 I even spent. My first two weeks of "running" have actually gone pretty well. Other than the whole post-Smashburger debacle.

I'm going to add some swimming into my workouts starting next week. Shape magazine (you know how I love it), printed a triathlon training schedule, and next week I'll start following that. In addition, I've been doing some weight training with ChaLEAN Extreme.

I am struggling with my eating somewhat. When I lift weights, it makes me crazy hungry, so I'm trying to balance sensible portions with what my body needs. Weighted workouts always challenge my eating.

Next week will be Week 3 of Couch to 5K. I cringe to think I'll bump up to more running, but I guess it has to happen!