If you would like more information about Shakeology, please contact me HERE.

Adaptogens were classified by the ancient Chinese as the most effective plants to increase physical and mental capacity, reduce fatigue, improve resistance to diseases, and extend lifespan.  In particular, adaptogens help the body deal with stressful situations, whether those are mental or physical.  The reason for naming these herbs “Adaptogens” resulted from the scientific discovery, which proved their effectiveness in helping the human body to “adapt” or to “adjust” to strains and changes of daily living. By adapting to changes in the environment, mankind has survived. Scientific studies have shown that both humans and other organisms that are able to adapt best survive longer. In fact, these herbs have managed to survive harsh environments for centuries due to their unique composition of biologically active substances.

The two primary adaptogens in Shakeology are Cordyceps and Ashwagandha.  Cordyceps is a fungi that includes about 300 species and is found in Shakeology’s proprietary Super-Fruit Blend.  Ashwagandha root is the ‘ginseng’ of Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India and improves physical energy and athletic ability, increases immunity to colds and infections and increase sexual capacity and fertility.  Ashwagandha is part of Shakeology’s propriatary Enzyme Blend.

In her presentation earlier this year in Kauai, Hawaii, Isabelle Daikeler explained the role of adaptogens as going into the system and clawing out bad things.  Basically the adaptogens are able to help the body remove toxins and by doing so overcome stressful situations.  We are all under stress in our daily lives.  Much of this stress is mental stress, which causes a variety of biologic functions in the body, including the release of cortisol.  But we also place our bodies under physical stress.  If you are doing a vigerous exercise program like P90X or Insanity, your body needs the essential nutrients contained in a product like Shakeology to deal with that stress.

Adaptogens are only one way that Shakeology heals your body.  The antioxidents and phytonutrients in Shakeology also help:

• Get rid of harmful free radicals
• Help decrease inflammation
• Help boost your immune system
• Potentially decrease the risk of degenerative diseases
• May even increase longevity

These are essential functions and it is important to make sure that your body is working at an optimum level if you want to get the most out of it.  Doing a program like P90X while eating pizza is like pouring low-grade gas into a Ferrari and expecting top performance.  It just isn’t going to happen.  Addressing your body’s essential functions is the key to any sound nutritional program.  If you want more information about Shakeology, or a free sample, please CLICK HERE.

Dave

In March Beachbody offered new subscribers to the One on One series their first DVD for one cent.  That promotion is over, but the hits keep coming.  From April 5th through May 3rd, both new and existing subscribers will receive a special Shakeology gift package with their April shipment of One on One, which includes:

• Shakeology Chocolate packet
• Shakeology recipe card (yum!)
• Shakeology “Breakthrough” DVD

So, get One on One and you’ll get a sample of Shakeology.  You can find more information about Shakeology HERE and you can order the One on One Series by clicking HERE and then clicking the Shop button and finding One on One under the Trainer section.  Subscribe today to this excellent monthly series.

Dave

Here is the text I’m discussing in the video.  Eat well everyone.

A lot of people ask me for my thoughts on nutrition and whether I have any helpful tips. Here are what I believe are the foundations of a healthy diet. These are just my thoughts based on my experiences and my experiments with several different nutrition plans (not “diets”), beginning with the P90X Nutrition Guide.

1. Whole Foods – Avoid processed junk. Look past the nutrition facts and read the ingredients. The more ingredients, the lower the likelihood it is going in my mouth. A strawberry has ONE ingredient. So does an egg, or a chicken breast, or broccoli. Take a look at the ingredients in the foods you are eating. If you have trouble pronouncing them…keep moving. If you can get your foods from a local supplier that is preferable. Foods that are organic do make a huge difference. They are lower in toxic pesticides and generally higher in micronutrients. See if you have a local “CSA” (Community Supported Agriculture) program in your area. We pay $25 a week for a huge bag of organic seasonal veggies and fresh eggs that are raised in a real “cage free” environment and not fed corn and antibiotics. These types of eggs are much higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and generally much more nutritious. Check out www.localharvest.org.

2. Supplements – I take a multi-vitamin (super important), Shakeology (www.shakeology.com/azfitclub) whey protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and on occasion the recovery formula (sugar is an issue, but it has its place). The goal here is to give my body what it needs to process the basics. At the minimum you need a good multi-vitamin. You have to focus first on making sure your body’s basic functions are addressed. It isn’t going to do you any good to take an expensive supplement if you can’t digest it and process the ingredients. Address your base nutrition first and foremost.

3. Make carbohydrate intake correspond to activity level – Everyone has different fitness goals, and getting the right amount of carbs is key. Limiting carbs, in particular SUGAR, to the amount you need to support your goals is essential. As a triathlete training for a 1/2 Ironman, my carb intake is going to be a lot higher than someone that is doing P90X. The sugar has got to go. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNYlI…layer_embedded. Understanding the insulin response and limiting the presence of excess insulin in your body is essential to health and fitness.

4. Limit foods that make your blood acidic. Huh? Watch this: http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/200…makes-you-fat/. Soda…get rid of it. It is poisoning your blood. Water…drink way more of it. It helps refresh your blood.

5. Limit dairy. Tony Horton said this weekend, “cheese is a spice”. Use it that way. A little Parmesan on your food is ok, but otherwise ditch the cheese. It is high in fats that don’t help your body. Many people feel that our bodies are not conditioned to process milk from other animals. We are the only species that drinks milk that doesn’t come exclusively from our own mothers. Try to cut milk out of your diet and see how it works. I feel a lot better since doing that. Some people don’t have any adverse reaction, but if you aren’t sure, cut it out for a month and see how you feel. That’s what I did and I only have it in my coffee now. Almond milk makes a great substitute for cow’s milk.

6. Healthy fats. You’ve got to get fat in your diet. Huh? Yes, fat is good for you. There is an ongoing debate about saturated fats and whether or not they are beneficial. The generally accepted principal is that they are not. After reading Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint, in which he presents the theory that saturated fats are not to blame for our society’s weight problems, and increasing my own fat intake I believe he is correct (a large number of people in this community have had similar results). My fat intake is between 30 to 45% depending on where I’m at with my carb intake. When I’m endurance training I need more carbs, and take in less fats. When I’m not, I limit carbs to my activity level and that means increasing my fat intake. I’ve found it to be a remarkably good source of energy and fatty foods really fill you up, which means you don’t need to eat so much to feel satisfied. Regardless of that debate, you cannot go wrong with increasing your intake of fatty foods like avocados, nuts, and olive oil. Take the time to understand how fats work in your diet, because they are important.

7. Quality over quantity. What you eat is far more important than how much you eat. Spend more time focusing on what type of foods you eat and less worrying about how many calories you are taking in on a daily basis. Knowing your caloric range is important, but don’t get too caught up in that analysis. If you are hungry and have something healthy to eat, then eat it. If you are not hungry, don’t feel like you have to force food down to get to some predetermined caloric count. Just go with that feels right and eat healthy.

8. The 80/20 Rule. Try to make 80% of the foods you eat be healthy whole foods that meet all of the criteria above. If you can do that, then the other 20% won’t hurt you too much. If your diet isn’t particularly good at this time 80/20 will be a huge improvement. The 80/20 rule came straight from the Tony Horton Fitness Camp seminars. Tony follows a 90/10 rule, so apply this according to your personal goals.

Hope this helps. If you are reading this, and have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me by clicking HERE I’m happy to help.

Dave

In this first video, Isabelle talks about how her personal journey to overcome illness and restore her own immune system lead her to create Shakeology.

Isabelle wasn’t just concerned about her own well being. As it turns out, Carl hates vegetables. Don’t ask me to explain it, but the man just won’t eat them. Shakeology was, in part, created to satisfy Carl’s daily nutritional requirements.

You may notice that Isabelle is pregnant in these videos. Isabelle and Carl were blessed with Danny, who is probably the cutest kid (next to mine) that I’ve ever seen. The Shakeology FAQ’s state that the product should only be taken with the advice and consent of a doctor, so please consult your physican if you are interested in taking Shakeology while pregnant or nursing.  If you are interested in a free sample of Shakeology, please contact me HERE.

MonaVie is probably the most popular product incorporating Acai Berries.  Here’s a little comparison of how Shakeology stacks up to MonaVie.  The point of this post is not to discredit MonaVie in anyway.  I’m sure it is a fine product and anything that furthers the health and wellness of this Country is good by me.  I do think the comparision is important because you get a lot more ban for your buck with Shakeology.  Shakeology is more than a shot full of valuable anti-oxident vitamins.  It is a 140 calorie (with water) meal replacement shake that has an evenly balanced blend of carbs and protein plus essential amino acids, phytonutrients, probiotics and digestive enzymes.

We are currently running a promotion offering free samples of Shakeology.  Click here for more information on that promotion.

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]]> http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2010/03/shakeology-dissected-%e2%80%93-part-ii-acai-berries/feed/ 0 http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2010/02/shakeology-dissected-%e2%80%93-part-i-whey-isolate/ http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2010/02/shakeology-dissected-%e2%80%93-part-i-whey-isolate/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:02:37 +0000 Dave http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/?p=1386 [Continue Reading]]]>
So, what’s in Shakeology anyway?  We know it has the highest quality ingredients, including:

•    Protein and Essential Amino Acids to help build long, lean muscles and reduce food cravings
•    Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, which aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption
•    Antioxidants and Phytonutrients to help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases
•    Vitamins and Minerals your body needs to function for optimal health

But really, what’s in Shakeology?  The purpose of this series is to break down the ingredients in Shakeology and talk about the role each one plays in your nutrition.

Today, we start with the macronutrient protein.  Shakeology has protein in it. I know this is major news to you.  Greenberry contains 15g of protein and Chocolate contains 17g.  The form of protein is what I’d like to discuss.  Shakeology contains whey isolate.

Whey is a dairy based form of protein.  It comes from cheese production.  For many years it was considered a waste product and discarded, but we’ve now come to use it as one of the most common forms of protein powder.

There are really three kinds of whey protein powders: (1) concentrate; (2) isolate; and (3) hydrolysate.  Whey concentrate is the most commonly used form of whey because it is less expensive to produce than the other forms.  Concentrate is good because it is less processed, but it contains less protein.  Concentrate contains some fat and lactose, so people with dairy allergies probably want to steer clear of whey concentrate.  Whey isolate, the form used in Shakeology, contains much less lactose due to the processing it undergoes.  Isolate is also 90 to 94% pure protein, giving it additional benefits when compared to concentrate.  The final form of whey protein is hydrolysate.  This is a predigested form of whey that is relatively free of potential allergens.  It is also extremely expensive.  Given the minor benefits of hydrolysate, the cost rarely justifies its use.

So there you have it, the skinny on Shakeology and whey isolate.  As you can see, Beachbody could have cut corners and used concentrate, but instead chose to use whey isolate as its form of protein.  If you would like more information on Shakeology including a free sample contact me HERE.

1. Whole Foods 

Avoid processed junk. Look past the nutrition facts and read the ingredients. The more ingredients, the lower the likelihood it is going in my mouth. A strawberry has ONE ingredient. So does an egg, or a chicken breast, or broccoli. Take a look at the ingredients in the foods you are eating. If you have trouble pronouncing them…keep moving.  Eat more stuff with less ingredients.

2. Supplements

I take Shakeology,  whey protein, and on occasion the recovery formula (sugar is an issue, but it has its place). The goal here is to give my body what it needs to run my basic bodily functions. At the minimum you need a good multi-vitamin. You have to focus first on making sure your body’s basic functions are addressed. It isn’t going to do you any good to take an expensive supplement if you can’t digest it and process the ingredients. Address your base nutrition first and foremost.

3. Lower carbohydrate intake

In particular SUGAR. The sugar has got to go. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNYlI…layer_embedded. Understanding the insulin response and limiting the presence of excess insulin in your body is essential to health and fitness. The more I read about this, the more I feel it is absolutely essential to understand and then control.

4. Limit foods that make your blood acidic

 Huh? Watch this: http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/200…makes-you-fat/. Soda…get rid of it. It is poisoning your blood. Water…drink way more of it. It helps refresh your blood. 

5. Limit dairy

Tony Horton said this weekend, “cheese is a spice”. Use it that way. A little parmesan on your food is ok, but otherwise ditch the cheese. It is high in fats that don’t help your body. Many people feel that our bodies are not conditioned to process milk from other animals. We are the only species that drinks milk that doesn’t come exclusively from our own mothers. Try to cut milk out of your diet and see how it works. I feel a lot better. Some people don’t have any adverse reaction, but if you aren’t sure, cut it out for a month and see how you feel. That’s what I did and I only have it in my coffee now.

6. Healthy fats 

You’ve got to get fat in your diet. Huh? Yes, fat is good for you. Most of your fat intake should be in the form of unsaturated fats (mostly monounsaturated). There is an ongoing debate about saturated fats and whether or not they are beneficial. The generally accepted principal is that they are not. I am currently reading Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint, in which he presents the theory that saturated fats are not to blame for our society’s weight problems. I have to say the case is compelling, but I am not settled yet. Regardless of that debate, you cannot go wrong with increasing your intake of fatty foods like avocados, nuts, and olive oil. Take the time to understand how fats work in your diet, because they are important.  Don’t be afraid to have an egg once in a while.

7. Quality over quantity

What you eat is far more important than how much you eat. Spend more time focusing on what type of foods you eat and less worrying about how many calories you are taking in on a daily basis. Knowing your caloric range is important, but don’t get too caught up in that analysis. If you are hungry and have something healthy to eat, then eat it. If you are not hungry, don’t feel like you have to force food down to get to some predetermined caloric count. Just go with that feels right and eat healthy. Once you condition your body to process healthy foods, your hunger will correspond to your body’s needs rather than corresponding to cravings for sugar or unhealthy fats.

Hope this helps. If you are reading this, and have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at dave@thefitclubnetwork.com. I’m happy to help.

Dave

How Shakeology Works.

This patent-pending daily nutritional shake helps your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently while allowing for better absorption of the essential nutrients you need. A proprietary blend of digestive enzymes and prebiotics helps your body progressively eliminate the toxins that build up over time from eating today’s highly processed foods.

At the same time, whole-food ingredients deliver the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to curb cravings, allowing your body to shed stored fat while the more than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke.

How to Get a Sample.

This couldn’t be more simple. Contact me HERE and I’ll give you all the details.  Don’t miss your chance to get a sample.  Contact me ASAP.  We have a limited supply on hand and have not yet decided whether we’ll run this special again.  If you are interested in trying Shakeology, now is the time.

Dave