I am surprised at myself for what I'm about to say because I am a huge chocolate addict. I have drank chocolate flavored Shakeology for years. I have tried Greenberry and vegan chocolate. Both are good. However, just yesterday I finally took a break from my usual and mixed up some vegan tropical strawberry Shakeology. While you could blend this up with some frozen fruit, it really doesn't need it. It is flavorful on its own. However, I am adding some of the more popular tropical recipes below. I plan on trying some of the out myself.

Strawberry Shakeology Recipes

Mojito

1 serving of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology
1 Tbsp. fresh lime
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint leaves
1 cup water

Sweet Almond Sunrise

1 serving of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology
1 cup almond milk
1 Tbsp. nonfat plain yogurt
1 tsp. honey

Sweet Mango

1 serving of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology
1 cup water
1/2 cup sliced mango
1 tsp. honey

Orange Sunshine

1 serving of Tropical Strawberry Shakeology
1/2 cup 100% orange juice
1/2 cup water

So far I have only tried it blended with water and ice and sometimes with a little almond milk. It really is delicious and I can't wait to drink it after my workouts or as a snack when I get home from work.

Team Beachbody offers a 30-day money back guarantee called the Bottom of the Bag Guarantee. What it means is that you can use up an entire 30-day supply and return it within 30 days for a full refund (less s&h) -- even if the bag is empty!

If you have been curious about trying it for yourself, I suggest taking advantage of the guarantee and giving Tropical Strawberry a try.

Click Here to learn more from the official Team Beachbody online store.

When I check the statistics for my blog, some of the keyword phrases that often come up revolve around shakes which are better than Shakeology or equivalents. I have been drinking Shakeology for years and while I haven't personally tried any direct competitors, I am confident in saying that it remains one of the best nutritional supplements on the market and probably the best meal replacement shake you can find. How can I make that statement with confidence? Here's how...

High Quality Nutritional Supplement

The creators of Shakeology didn't cut any corners. The ingredients are and continue to be derived from whole food sources. In fact, over the years the creators have improved upon the formulas and flavors. They have done this by listening to their customers and making improvements based on their feedback. Both the chocolate and greenberry flavors have been reworked. New, natural ingredients have also been added along the way for specific flavors.

What's Better than Shakeology?

The only thing that is better than Shakeology is what you feel is better. Everyone's needs are different. You may not feel that all of its ingredients are that important to you. If that is the case, you can certainly create healthy shakes yourself and add what you wish.

I personally don't bother making my own shakes/smoothies for the following reasons:

• Fruits and vegetables spoil too quickly for me.
• It would be expensive/difficult to mimic the same ingredients.
• Prep work - making my own shakes is time consuming.

Besides the above, Shakeology also works well as a meal replacement due to the types of ingredients it contains. This is important because most meal replacement shakes do not contain enough vitamins/minerals to be classified as a "complete meal."

I could go on about why I truly and genuinely like the product but the only way for others to know for themselves is to try it for about a month. Team Beachbody offers a 30 Day Bottom of the Bag Guarantee which means that you can try any flavor of Shakeology risk-free. You can use up an entire 30-day supply and return it (within 30 days) for a full-refund (less s&h) even if the bag is empty!

Take advantage of this guarantee and you will be able to experience the benefits for yourself.

Click here to learn more from the official Team Beachbody online store.

Are you having trouble deciding which Beachbody workout to use next? Is it a toss up between Insanity and Les Mills Combat? I have tried both and have developed an opinion about why I favor one over the other. While I think Beachbody produces some of the best home fitness programs on the market, they are all different for a reason. Not everyone can workout with extreme fitness programs while others thrive off of extreme workouts. Even still, most of us crave variety and prefer mixing it up between moderate workouts and intense ones. As for myself, I favor Les Mills Combat which I will explain below.

The Differences Between the Two Workouts

Insanity Workout Program

Shaun T. is the fitness trainer who created Insanity and Insanity The Asylum. The workout is based on HIIT (high intensity interval training.) Regular HIIT involves performing serveral exercises back-to-back for rounds. After each round, you rest for a short period of time such as 1 - 2 minutes, and repeat another round until you've completed 3 - 5 rounds. However, with Insanity, HIIT is turned upside down. You perform exercises back-to-back for longer periods of time and shorter rests in between. Thus, why this is such an intense program.

While I feel it is an excellent fitness program, it can be a bit too much for many people. One issue I've heard is that it is hard on the joints if you already experience joint issues. It is very fast paced and I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good cardio routine. It will make you sweat profusely and you will feel excellent after one workout just from trying to keep up.

Pro: No equipment required.

Con: Workouts may be too intense.

Les Mills Combat

This program is based on MMA (mixed martial arts.) It incorporates fighting moves from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and more. It involves a lot of punching, kicking, and even some HIIT. It isn't considered an extreme fitness program and may be good for beginners as you can ease into it and eventually keep up in a matter of time. Most of the workouts do not require any equipment which is great. Some of the HIIT workouts do include some free weights (either dumbbells or a barbell.) You can expect to throw a lot of punches and kicks. They always have one trainer whom you can follow for a modified version of the moves (lower impact moves.)

The two main trainers are Dan Cohen and Rachael Newsham. They are fun to follow and make the workouts quite entertaining. The only downside to this workout in my opinion is if you have no interest in martial arts, you will not have fun performing most of the exercises.

Pro: Little equipment required (dumbbells at most), fun workout and entertaining.

Con: A lot of punching and kicking is involved.

Winner for Me: Les Mills Combat

Between the two workouts, I prefer Les Mills Combat. It is fun to follow and different than the typical aerobic workouts you'd find on the market. I actually enjoy watching martial arts so I feel like I'm getting an excellent workout every time I perform the moves. You may also take the price into consideration. If you're on a budget, Les Mills Combat is much more affordable. I have not become bored with the workouts and I like the options of working out for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 1 hour.

Keep in mind that both workouts come with a money back guarantee from Beachbody. I believe Insanity is a 60-day guarantee and Les Mills Combat 30-day (you may want to double check on the Team Beachbody web site below.)

Click Here to learn more about Les Mills Combat on the official Team Beachbody online store.

Click Here to learn more about Insanity on the official Team Beachbody online store.

I can't say enough about the Les Mills Combat workout program. I have been using it on a regular basis since I've purchased it. It is a cardio based workout that doesn't require any equipment other than your own body weight (there is one workout that requires dumbbells.) The program is based on MMA fighting also known as mixed martial arts. The two main trainers, Dan Cohen and Rachael Newsham both have a background in mixed martial arts training. One of my favorite routines is the Combat Extreme Cardio Fighter. You can view a sample of the workout in the video below:

Can Anyone Do This Workout?

Unlike extreme programs like Insanity or P90X, Les Mills Combat is more of an intermediate workout. If you can kick and punch at a moderate to fast pace, then you can probably keep up with the workouts. The workouts do incorporate interval training which is great as that is what really helps with fat burning. Extreme workouts are just that and can be difficult to keep up with. I feel that Les Mills Combat is easy to follow and easy to keep up with. If there is a point where you have to slow down, it is easy to fall back into pace. There is also one trainer you can always follow who performs modified versions of the movements which keeps the intensity high but the impact low.

You're Performing Real Martial Arts Moves

What I enjoy most about this program is the fact that you are doing true mixed martial arts movements. You learn to punch like a boxer, perform kicks from Muay Thai and Taekwondo, as well as Karate based blocks. If you're a fan of the martial arts, learning these moves will be fun. You burn a lot of calories all while having a good time. The time flies when I'm exercising because every exercise is performed back-to-back.

I highly recommend this program for a change of pace in your routine or if you need a workout that doesn't feel like exercise. It is also very affordable starting at $59.85. Order from the official Team Beachbody online store and get their 60-Day Money Back Guarantee.

Take advantage and start getting fit the Les Mills Combat way:

Click Here to learn more from the Team Beachbody online store.

People who love using the Insanity workout tend to also enjoy Insanity Asylum. Unlike Insanity's 60 day total body tranformation program, Asylum is programmed for a 30 day transformation. It is about getting more done in less time which is similar to the HIIT (high intensity interval training) that Insanity is based on. However, there is one major difference between the two programs. Asylum is based on athletic training. Basically, you'll be performing the same exercises that pro-athletes also use to help improve and maintain their athletic abilities.

What's in the Package?

Shaun T. (fitness trainer behind both programs) has put together a well-rounded athletic workout. Being a former track star himself, he has combined several workouts for improving areas such as jumping, flexibility, cardio, and strength. Here are the workouts that are included:

• Speed & Agility - The name says it all. It's about creating speed while staying agile. It is also an awesome fat burning cardio routine.
• Verticle Plyo - Works on lower-body explosiveness for higher jumps.
• Relief - Stretching routines to improve flexibility (very important.)
• Strength - All about resistance training here for building lean muscle.
• Game Day - Whatever your sport of choice is, you can improve your athletic skill.
• Back to Core - We move from our core muscles and this workout develops both the back and core.

Asylum also comes with some cool tools that are implemented with the workouts:

• Agility Ladder - Not many people use this on a regular basis but it is great for developing form and coordination
• Speed Rope - Used to develop foot speed and endurance (which is why boxers use them so much.)
• Nutrition Plan - Guide for eating well and includes Shaun T's favorite recipes. Have you seen his abs? These meals work.
• Workout Calendar - These typically come standard in all Beachbody workouts. They help keep track of following the program.
• Playbook - The workout guide which teaches you how to use the program and when to do which workouts.

What You Need to Know Before Trying Asylum

1. It is an advanced workout and not meant for everyone. It is fast-paced and high-intensity.

2. You do not need to use Insanity first. They are two distinct programs.

3. You do not need to be an athlete to use it, however, it will still help improve your abilities in all areas mentioned.

4. 30-day Money Back Guarantee. If after using the program and you are not satisfied, return it within 30 days for a full refund (less s&h). Beachbody has this guarantee on all of their fitness programs.

Athletic style workouts are quite popular because of the types of results that pro athletes achieve. Although many athletes have years of training under their belt, you can still benefit from their methods of staying fit. You may also be interested in the MMA (mixed martial arts) style workout with Les Mills Combat workout.

Click Here to learn more at the official Team Beachbody online store.

Tonight, I worked out using the Les Mills Combat 60 Extreme Cardio Fighter DVD. I have to say that this is one of my favorites so far. The 60 in the title means it lasts for 60 minutes but it goes by very fast. I think it is due to the workout being high-paced. Unlike a P90X workout where an hour really does feel that long (in my opinion.) It isn't a bad thing but the P90X workouts are not fast-paced the way Les Mills Combat is.

In this workout, you are doing a lot more martial arts and boxing moves with the punching and kicking. Your heart rate will be up for sure and you will be breaking a sweat. I really enjoy all of the fighting moves. It doesn't feel so much like exercising because you're performing the actual kicks and punches that boxers and martial artists use. I'm talking about jabs, hooks, uppercuts, Karate, Muay Thai, and more.

No Equipment Needed

This particular workout didn't require any equipment. You utilize your bodyweight. It is made up of mostly punching and kicking with some ab work and push-ups added in towards the end. It is a good overall body workout. One of the main instructors, Rob Cohen, does give a shout-out about the Les Mills Combat gloves. These gloves aren't necessary of course but they add a little flare and I'm sure make following the program a bit more fun as everyone in the videos are wearing them. Since the workouts are based around MMA movements, it makes sense to include wearing the gear too.

The Trainers are Fun

I think another reason why the time flies on this workout is because the trainers are having so much fun. You have the main two leading the way - Dan Cohen and Rachael Newsham - but they also switch it up on this DVD with two of the other trainers leading parts of the workout. They are all fun to follow and they get so pumped up with the music.

I'm guessing the music in this workout are mostly hits over in Europe as I have not heard of most of them. However, all of the songs have good beats and sound very much like club music. It's entertaining to watch the trainers singing along. They do it quite often on the DVD's I've tried so far.

Beachbody's Money Back Guarantee

Just like with all of Beachbody's workouts, Les Mills Combat comes with an awesome 60-day money back guarantee:

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee
We're so sure you'll love this program, we're giving you our 60-day money-back guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied, simply call Customer Service to return LES MILLS COMBAT within 60 days for a refund of the purchase price, less any applicable shipping and handling.

I'm having such a good time with this program. I'd recommend this workout to everyone, especially if you're looking for an alternative to the usual boring cardio based workouts. Performing real martial arts and boxing moves makes it a lot of fun. I hardly feel like I'm exercising in the typical sense.

Click Here to learn more at the official Team Beachbody online store.

Finding an equivalent for any product is what any smart shopper does. It's all about getting the most bang for your buck so it doesn't surprise me when people are searching for a Shakeology equivalent. I think the biggest complaint has to do with the price. You may have seen the price breakdown on other web sites, so I won't get into too much detail about that, except to say that a 30-day supply breaks down to about $4 and some change per day. That being said, let's take a look how you can find a substitute.

Creating Your Own Shakes

Pros - You can purchase any type of fruit, vegetables, or other supplements like whey protein to blend together your own nutritios shake. The possibilities are endless and you can buy most fruit and vegetables in bulk to save some money.

Cons - Buying in bulk can save money but if you do not use up all of your fruit and vegetables before they expire, you could be wasting more money than you save. Also, it would be extremely difficult to add all of the same ingredients found in one serving of Shakeology and attempting to would prove very expensive.

Experiement with Other Meal Replacement Shakes

Pros - You could possibly save money this way and add more variety to what you use.

Cons - Most meal replacement shakes taste awful and rarely come in 30 day supplies. Most I have researched do not contain anywhere near the same ingredients of Shakeology and often lack even the basic nutrients. Some are actually on the pricey side and buying even a week's worth could cost a bit of money.

Using a Protein Shake

Pros - This could be a good option if your goal is to pack on a lot of muscle. Many bodybuilders utilize a protein shake before or after working out. The extra protein may help repair muscles faster.

Cons - A protein shake is not truly a meal replacement and won't have the necessary ingredients to qualify as one. They can be expensive if purchasing a good brand and some can be high in calories.

Try a 30 Day Supply of Shakeology - Money Back Guarantee

The above options may work for some people, however, none match up to what Shakeology can provide in terms of nutrition and health benefits. Used as a meal replacement, you will feel full, and you can lose weight when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.

Experience the benefits for yourself by taking advantage of Team Beachbody's Bottom-of-the-Bag Guarantee. Use up an entire 30 day supply and if you're not happy for any reason, return it for a full refund (less s&h), even if the bag is empty!

Click Here to learn more from the official Team Beachbody online store.

While I do enjoy drinking Shakeology on a regular basis and I have also lost 10 pounds using it as a meal replacement shake, I feel that some people are still struggling with how to use it. I think diet is often the stumbling block for many people. I'm going to go over how I eat during the week and which methods of eating are easiest to follow and develop into a lifestyle change. A healthy diet combined with drinking Shakeology and a fitness program will lead to weight loss.

How I Eat and Which Diets Work Best

I don't follow any specific diet but what I do is focus on avoiding bad carbohydrates Sunday through Friday. I eat the bad carbs on Saturday which is what I consider my "cheat day." So what are bad carbohydrates? They are the food made up of processed junk. You can also make it simple by thinking of white flour and refined sugar. Items made of these typically include cake, cookies, ice cream, and sugary beverages. Another good way to remember is a saying by Jack LaLanne: "If man made it, don't eat it." If food comes in a package, chances are it's all processed.

There are two methods of eating that make it very difficult to get fat. They are:

The Paleo Diet - Consists of eating whole, natural food such as lean meat, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Do some research because there are some food items which are avoided such as legumes (as far as I can remember.) For the most part, this method of eating is also referred to as the "caveman diet" because it consists of the types of food which would be found by hunter-gatherers.

Clean Eating - This is a term and method of eating followed by a majority of health and fitness enthusiasts. You will hear the term a lot amongst the bodybuilding community. Eating clean is similar to the paleo diet in terms of consuming whole, natural food. There is no restriction except for avoiding the bad carbs, all processed food, and cutting back on or eliminating alcoholic beverages.

How to Incorporate Shakeology with a Good Eating Plan

Diet is said to be 80% of your weight loss success and exercise to be 20%. That goes to show that you literally are what you eat. Consume food high in fat and calories on a regular basis and you will gain weight. Eat a cleaner diet and weight will drop off. Losing weight also has to do with reducing caloric intake while burning more than you consume. You can create a caloric deficit by replacing one meal a day with Shakeology. Eat your remaining meals as healthy as possible and exercise regularly.

It isn't difficult to eat healthier. It is really about making the choice to and following through. You follow through with other areas in your life. You can do so with your health as well. Make it a priority today!

Bottom-of-the-Bag Guarantee - Try Shakeology risk-free! If you're not satisfied for any reason, return the product within 30-days for a full refund (less s&h), even if the bag is empty!

Click Here to visit the official Team Beachbody online store.

Keeping the weight off with Shakeology isn't a difficult task. The key is consistency and lifestyle changes. That is the case with any health related changes. While Shakeology is no magic bullet, it can be used as an invaluable tool to help jumpstart your weight loss goals and maintain them even long after you have reached them. That being said, let's take a look at how you can begin using this amazing meal replacement shake to achieve your health & fitness goals.

Get a Jumpstart on Shedding Excess Weight

It is no secret that the way to lose weight is by reducing your caloric intake and burning more calories than you consume. Over time, this leads to dropping pounds. How a meal replacement shake can help is by replacing one meal per day in order to create a calorie deficit. However, not all meal replacements are created equal. I have tried finding adequate shakes in supplement stores and none come close to touching Shakeology in terms of ingredients.

Many skeptics in health & fitness forums will suggest replacing a meal with a protein shake. They often judge the product on its price and don't delve deeper into what you're getting for the price. It is not a protein shake but a nutritional supplement that can replace a meal while providing the nutrients your body needs if you were to eat a healthy meal. It does this without adding a significant amount of calories.

Shakeology ingredients are derived from whole food.

Beachbody has put together an awesome nutritional supplement. The ingredients would cost you hundreds of dollars if you were to purchase them separately, and many of the ingredients are difficult to find in health food stores. It contains antioxidants, is caffeine free, and contains no refined sugar. It even has a vegan option. As a meal replacement it offers benefits such as:

• Low calorie
• Reduces junk-food cravings
• Coffee alternative (break your caffeine addiction)
• Dessert alternative (get your sweet tooth under control)
• Weight loss (when used as recommended)
• Awesome multivitamin
• May help lower cholesterol
• Increased energy

I lost 10 pounds by using Shakeology and Power 90.

When used as recommended, you simply replace one meal per day (I prefer breakfast) and eat your remaining meals and snacks as healthy as possible. If you find it difficult to know what to eat, I suggest researching "clean eating." Eating clean is a term used by many health and fitness professionals and consists of eating whole, natural food (no processed food.) There are tons of recipes online and even some available on the Team Beachbody membership site. You can sign up for free by clicking here.

Maintaining Your Healthy Weight

Once you have reached your goal, maintenance can be made simple because you have adapted to healthy lifestyle changes with your diet and exercise routines. I continue to drink Shakeology on a daily basis as a nutritional supplement. Sometimes I do drink it for breakfast and this can help if I know I may be eating more calories during the day due to dining out or company potlucks. Sometimes it's difficult to eat clean on every occassion.

Eating healthy and being physically active has so many positive side effects. Once you've developed the habit of healthy living, it's difficult to revert back to your old ways.

Use a 30-Day Supply Risk-Free

You can try an entire 30 day supply on Beachbody's dime by using their Bottom-of-the-Bag Guarantee. If you don't experience the benefits or don't like it for any other reason, return it within 30 days for a full refund, less any applicable shipping and handling, even if the bag is empty!

Take action now and begin the process of reaching your weight loss goals.

Click Here to learn more at the official Team Beachbody online store.

Best of luck on your journey!

I understand why some women may wonder if Insanity is a workout that will work for them. It is an extreme in-home fitness program designed to transform your body in 60 days. That can be intimidating for many people, women and men alike. It is a HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout but turned upside down.

Will Insanity Work for Women Just as Well as Men?

Have you ever noticed that men tend to lose weight much faster than women when dedicated to losing weight? Men do seem to have the advantage in the weight loss category, however, following a HIIT program like Insanity can transform you into a fat burning machine. I have read that HIIT workouts continue to burn fat long after your workout is done. As a woman, you now have an advantage: combine HIIT with a healthy diet and burn fat daily.

The routines have both women and men working out. The women in the program do just as well, if not better, than some of the men. You catch a few of them stopping to catch their breath and in all honesty, I noticed it with the men more than the women! Keep in mind, they are already in excellent physical conditioning, but it proves the point that women can complete these types of extreme workouts and do very well at it.

What Does Insanity Do?

If you are a female, it is totally understandable to wonder if this program is designed with women in mind. Let's take a look as to why. First, you have Shaun T., the fitness trainer who created the program. If you've seen the previews for this workout, you will see that he is highly motivated and very serious in leading the workouts. Being that it is an extreme workout, he doesn't want you to quit and pushes you to do your best.

A typical HIIT workout involves performing several exercises (usually bodyweight exercises) back-to-back for 1 round. You then rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute and repeat that same round. You continue this cycle of exercise and rest for as many rounds as you can. The average length is 4 - 5 rounds depending on your fitness level. Interval training like this really gets your heart rate up and has you burning fat like crazy.

What Insanity does differently is that the exercise rounds last longer and the rest periods are shorter. It is also referred to as Max interval training. No equipment is required. It uses your own bodyweight for resistance and believe me when I say, you will be sweating and breathing heavy in a short amount of time.

Try This Workout for 60 Days Risk Free

Did you know that Team Beachbody offers a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee on Insanity? That means, you can use the program and if it isn't to your liking, return it within 60 days for a full refund, less any applicable shipping and handling charges. How cool is that? That means if you are already interested in the program, take action now and begin blow torching fat and calories daily:

Click Here to learn more from the official Team Beachbody online store.