An Unbiased PiYo and Shakeology Review – Week 6

Somehow I still don’t look like her by week 6, LOL

I am not a Beachbody coach. I am not being compensated for this review. My goal is to provide real information about my experience with the PiYo and 21 Day Fix programs as an independent fitness instructor trying something new.  I will be checking in weekly and posting my results at the bottom of each entry. For previous reviews, check out Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 and Weeks 4-5.

Week 6 and I am back to a normal (non-vacation or wedding) routine again and seeing the changes. I weighed myself the first day of this week and got bummed because it looked like I had gained weight, but turns out it must have been water retention because I was lighter than ever, and received more compliments than the past few weeks, by the end of week 6.

The Workouts:

There were no new workouts this week, so this section will be short. What I will say is that this week is more challenging as it rotates Drench in more frequently and my muscles felt it! I haven’t felt like I needed the rest day until this week and I sure took it!

I noticed that my endurance has increased, moves that seemed impossible or I couldn’t do all the reps of I was finishing. There were still a few I needed to max out for a minute and then join in again, or take a water break after, but for the most part I was nailing the moves. I even did all the burpees! And I hate burpees.

Sweat was brought back and I have missed it! Sweat is a great routine, mix it with Sculpt and Drench and it’s been a killer week for my body in the best way possible.

Overall:  No more easy workouts! Now just the challenging Drench, Sculpt, Core, etc. I felt burning in my arms and muscles hurt that hadn’t before. BUT I also felt stronger, did more advanced versions and had more endurance so I know the plan is working.

Week 6 was one of the first weeks I felt super accomplished and ready to challenge the workouts. I think maybe after 42+ days of doing it, it has become a routine and that pushed me forward.

The Meal Plan:

Roasted Sweet Potato and Beet Salad with herb vinaigrette

I lost my mojo a bit this week with meal planning. I did a lot of planning on the fly or the night before, so I don’t have a great group photo like I have before, unfortunately. I did branch out into some new areas; I made and froze veggie egg cups for quick protein, I roasted beets and added them to a salad with feta and herb vinaigrette (my own DIY version of this recipe) and I whipped up a lettuce wrap with sliced veggies, quinoa and crushed walnuts. So huzzah for new ideas on the go!

This was also the week of discovering as much as I thought I had a handle on this, there were some areas I didn’t. A big one was my discovery that even though I have been eating Greek yogurt, it has been the wrong kind! What? Apparently on the 21 Day Fix you can ONLY have plain and mix in your own fruit or guilt free flavorings (lemon juice, spices, etc.). What a bummer to discover that while I thought I was making good decisions with my Chobani, I was not following the plan. You can still eat flavored Greek yogurts or even fro-yo, but it has to be considered one of your three weekly treats and no yogurt will replace my wine!

Fresh Baked Vegetable Egg Cups for Freezing

I also let my husband talk me into going to the movies for the first time since starting the plan. The popcorn smelled sooooooo good. I told him I would only eat half a cup and consider it a treat/my oils, but I barely ate that much. It just isn’t as good as I remembered. And it was so darn salty! I think maybe this plan has helped me taste what is BAD in bad food.

So while I kept to the plan, but wasn’t as great as I have been at pre-prepping my meals. Luckily, I always have a large amount of healthy food on hand and I keep measuring cups and spoons from the Dollar Tree at my desk so I could still portion my snacks at the office.

Overall: Food temptations were strong, meal planning was weak but I still stuck to the plan overall. My goal is to commit more time to planning this week to have less night before or on-the-go panics on what I can eat.

Shakeology:

I admit, I was a Shakeology skeptic and now here I am wondering what I flavor I am going to order for Month 3. I am still loving the variety of flavors, this week’s favorite has been vanilla because it is an excellent base flavor I can add to – see my newest, fall-themed creation below. Many fruits and spices taste better in the vanilla vs. the chocolate as it’s a milder flavor that doesn’t overwhelm them.

The days I didn’t have fresh fruits or spices ready, I fell back on my chocolate and strawberry flavors. I have yet to make a great recipe for the strawberry one, but it’s coming I’m sure!

Let me introduce you to my latest and greatest creation: The Pumpkin Spice Shakeology.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Shakeology created by Miranda

With fall here, I have been craving some Starbucks PSL like the white girl I am and this idea came to me as a healthier option. It’s super easy, all you need is 2 ingredients plus water for a fall taste that packs a protein punch!

Ingredients

• 1 scoop or packet Vanilla Shakeology
• 1/2 cup Tazo Pumpkin Chai tea mix (available at Target and most grocery stores)
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup water to dilute tea mix (more water for less strong pumpkin spice taste)
• 4-6 cubes of ice
• Optional: cinnamon to garnish the top and add a little spice

Throw all ingredients into your bender and mix on high for 30 seconds to a minute. It’s the healthiest pumpkin spice shake I’ve ever heard of!

210 calories if you measure it out exactly per the above and about 52 mgs of caffeine.

Overall: I’m still drinking Shakeology daily and I seriously love it. I expected to be bored or not like it, but that’s not the case. It has become an essential part of my morning routine and it gives me energy and keeps me full from 7:30 a.m. to around 11 or so, so it’s become my breakfast meal replacement. Do I think it is a miracle in a glass? No. Do I think it’s insanely healthy and gives me more nutrients than I would likely consume daily? Yes. And for now that paired with the meal replacement and energy is good enough for me.

Coach and Challenge Group:

Beachbody Challenge Groups

I got added into another challenge group this week by my coach. YAY! But unfortunately I slacked more than usual, so boo on me. The girls did inspire me to post more often and take some photos, so it wasn’t a total loss. I even was asked to write a daily question/challenge for them since I am a fitness nut/always online. That was fun. It gave me a mini taste of what my coach does daily.

Full disclosure, the past two weeks I have been thinking that I could probably rock it as a coach. I am not committed yet, but it’s a consideration. I’ve had two people directly ask me how I am losing weight, tell me I was an “inspiration” to them, etc. and it seems like a waste if I just start to refer them to other people if they want advice from ME. I am not going to decide until my program ends and I finish blogging my review in two weeks, just to stay unbiased and make sure it is right for me.

Overall: The challenge groups are what YOU put into them, so if you suck at posting, you probably won’t have a great time. But if you interact with the other women and stay consistent, it can be a great way to stay reliable, get some recipes and inspiration from others and be entered for fun prizes.

WEEKS 6 RESULTS:

1.2 lb. down for 11.6 lbs. lost in 42 days.  I’ve experienced significant muscle toning and gain too.

NSVs: Received three “you look thinner!” compliments in one workday, looked at myself in my lingerie and liked what I saw for the first time in months.

Tune in for a review of week four next week. Thanks for stopping by for my unbiased Piyo and Shakeology review!

Previous Entries:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3.

Weeks 4-5