Fitness Friday - It's all about the shake...

I think at some point in our lives, we've all tried the slim fast diet. I failed at that one miserably. Even just one of their shakes a day left me starving. It was about 8 years ago that I tried that diet last, so maybe they've changed their formula since. After that, I said I'd never do the "shake" for a meal again. Well, that changed when I discovered it's much easier to make your own.

I usually craft mine own. I start with a cup of almond milk unsweetened. I add protein powder. I use About Time because it's only made with 4 ingredients and I can read them all. It does taste pretty good. Not as sweet as one you'd buy at a supermarket. I have supergreens that I usually add, you can get these from health food stores. Then I load in some fruit and a vegetable. I like to add zucchini as my vegetable because it's pretty much tasteless so it mingles well with any fruit. My favorite fruit to add is bananas and they make the shakes really creamy.

But because I craft my own shakes, I have the protein up around 25g or more, so I am left feeling full. Plus I know what I've put in there. About Time uses Stevia leaf for sweetening, so I am not adding a ton of sugar. And this works for me! I can drink one of these for lunch or breakfast and I'm good. I'm not starving later. And after I craft it, it's got a higher calorie range then slim fast (I think). Mine range from 250-375 if I add peanut butter. Which is a good range for a meal.

This week I did try a new protein drink. Someone who started out as a reader of mine and has become much more - a good friend and an accountability partner of mine - sent me some Shakeology to try. I've heard of the product and know a lot of people who use it. I've held back because of the price of the shake. However, I'm probably spending about the same amount for the protein powder I use plus my greens (and chia seeds when I add them), I use to make Shakeologies nutrition.

So far, I have tried the strawberry and chocolate. I am going to do vanilla today. The picture about has a green one and I think it's called green berry or something. I've not tried that one.

When I made the strawberry, it was super thick. Later I learned I needed more liquid. When I made the drink, I just did the powder and almond milk. Over all, it tasted good, but left a little after taste. I think if I'd used more liquid, then I wouldn't have had the after taste because yesterday I had the chocolate and it was GOOD! Oh my God, yum! The product I usually use doesn't have a lot of flavor, so having a chocolate drink felt like a treat.

This protein shake is packed full of nutrition and has more nutrients then I'm getting in my shakes now. I'm leaning toward purchasing this shake once I get low on the supply my own protein powder and supplements. I wasn't sure if shakeology would leave me as full because it's protein content isn't as high as I'm used to, but it did the job. I was full, and pleased with it.

Happy Friday, all! Today is measurement day. I did my weigh in this morning and was pleased to be down half a pound. :) 

-Lacey