Coach W Checking In!
Hey teamRIPPED!
Whew! I’m back in the good ‘ole USA! …. for a week!!! The first phase of the adoption trip ended up taking 3 weeks in Ukraine. Everything went great with the adoption, and seeing our son was awesome! We got to spend a lot of time with him. The government does NOT make the process smooth, quick, or easy though. But it’s SO WORTH IT!!
I’ve got to admit, being gone from my home, my workout equipment, and my usual schedule has wreaked havoc on my Body Beast calendar. I just don’t feel like I can truly BEAST UP with bands, no pullup bar, etc. So what I am going to do is start over, Day 1 of a new Body Beast round, when I’m back home after the second Ukraine trip. I’ve done a fine job of maintaining my fitness with smart eating (lots of local produce, fruits and veggies, oats, lean meats, and of course my Shakeology which I take everywhere). And I’ve been doing P90X workouts with bands to maintain my strength level. I feel like I’d have to modify too much to do Beast or X2 workouts without equipment, so I’ve decided to put those on hold for now. In all, by the start of September, I will have been gone for 6 out of the last 7 weeks. Adoptions aren’t easy!!! But they are worth it! And I’ll be chomping at the bit to get back to a full, uninterrupted 90 days of the Beast workouts. I love ‘em!
And in these few days of being back at home with my weights, I am BEASTING UP with the build workouts. What a pump! Loving it.
I know the rest of our teamRIPPED BEASTS (all 400 of them!!!) are rocking it, cuz I check the group FB page every day. I miss not being able to stay on the same schedule. But for anyone who didn’t jump on the Beast bandwagon initially, if you want to start up in early September, I’ll be doing the same. You are more than welcome to come join our teamRIPPED BEASTS and Beast Up along with me for the months of September, October, and November! Whatever it takes! Find our FB group HERE.
And if you are planning to start Beast soon, you might be interested in getting a Challenge Pack bundle that includes the workouts and the supplements at a reduced price. In fact, there are several new Challenge Packs available through TeamBeachbody that I recently linked in the “Challenge Pack” tab above. These are a great savings for people looking to get a workout program and Shakeology as a bundle, so check it out!
More about the new Chocolate Shakeology =
I had been following all the talk about the new chocolate Shakeology, but hadn’t tried it since I had been out of the country for the last 3 weeks. I had my vegan chocolate Shakeology with me the whole time. When I got home, I had 2 new bags waiting for me (with our family, we go through a lot, and thus order a lot). Interestingly, I had a bag of the old Chocolate and a bag of the new Chocolate. I also still had my vegan chocolate. So it was the perfect opportunity for a head to head to head comparison. So I fired up the blender, assembled my taste testing crew (the 5 kiddos), and made my regular recipe (1 scoop Shakeology, 1 scoop chocolate whey, and 1 spoonful of PB2). I made it using each of the 3 versions of Chocolate Shakeology and got feedback from everyone.
Here’s the verdict –
The look = The new chocolate is more pale than the original chocolate, which was quite dark in color. It looks more like the tropical when comparing the color and texture (light and fluffy — not as dense). This is most likely due to the plant protein used in the new superfood chocolate formula, as well as the new superfood formula having less cocoa powder in it.
The smell = The new superfood chocolate is definitely lacking the rich chocolate smell you get when you open the old bag. It smells more like the vegan chocolate. (So thus far in the comparison, the new superfood chocolate seems a heck of a lot like the vegan chocolate in look, feel, and smell).
The taste = Honestly this is what I care about most. How does it taste? I compared all three, at the same time, with 7 mouths doing the testing. There was definitely a difference in flavor. Every one of us noticed the difference. But it wasn’t necessarily a “bad taste” (I was expecting it to taste bad after hearing the negative reviews on message boards). The kids all liked it too. They said the original chocolate was still their favorite, but that they also liked the other 2 a lot (the new chocolate and the vegan chocolate). I’d say the new superfood chocolate flavor is in between the taste of the original and the vegan (which makes sense, since the new formulation of regular chocolate has a lot in common with the vegan chocolate).
So in the end, I highly expect that people who never tried the original formula will love the new formulation, and those who aren’t crazy about the new flavor right now will start to really like it as they get used to it (less sweet, less “chocolate” than the original, but more like the vegan). However, I would personally prefer the regular chocolate to be more like it was originally, with only whey protein and not the plant proteins. If someone wants a vegan formulation, they can order the vegan. For those who don’t, I would like to see them have that option, along with the flavor benefits that come with it. And from what I’m hearing, BB is working on the new superfood Chocolate flavor to bring out a more chocolate-y taste so the story isn’t over yet. They ARE listening to everyone’s feedback, and their goal is to give us the healthiest meal of the day (first and foremost), yet also give us something that tastes GREAT.
So if you are one of the folks who don’t like this change in taste, don’t get frustrated. Beachbody wants to give us the very best nutrition, but taste is important too. They have learned a lot from the vegan formulation, and they wanted to increase the superfoods in the original. It’s led to these changes. But it’s a work in process, and Beachbody never settles for less than the best.
Creatine studies: And finally, this cool news about creatine was shared with me, and I thought I’d pass it on because I found it quite interesting and encouraging. There may be more benefits from creatine than just helping our muscles get stronger =
And 2 favors that I ask:
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2) Also, as always, remember that the way I benefit from being your coach is that I earn a commission from any Beachbody products that you purchase, as long as you buy them through my site, www.teamRIPPED.com, or by logging in to www.teambeachbody.com to do your shopping (If you buy from the plain beachbody site I get no credit). It helps with the amount of time I spend answering all your questions and helping you out. Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Keep bringing it and inspiring others to do the same gang!!
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Brandon, I don't know if you saw the previous comment, but I was able to have a 45 minute phone conversation with Carl last week. With the continuing evidence about fructose and the links to diabetes and other health problems, the call for it’s removal from chocolate shakeology was getting louder and louder. It’s a delicate balance of ingredients, all of which affect the overall taste, a total reformulation was required. It wasn’t taken lightly. Carl knew it would be a big change. But it needed to happen for us to be the industry leaders and to continue to say our ingredients beat the crud out of anyone else.There was also questions about the levels / amounts of vitamins, and their bio-availability. So that has been corrected in the new formulation. It also has contributed to a stronger / bitter taste due to the vitamins. And of course using Stevia has affected aftertaste. THE GOOD NEWS = Corporate is working URGENTLY on the flavor. They are putting together taste testing panels of coaches and customers, and WILL get the flavor better …. much better. Be patient. They are working as hard as possible on it, AS WE SPEAK. They can’t go back to the old, but they are determined to make the new formulation taste GREAT.I am confident in the integrity of our leadership. Carl won’t skimp on quality. He never has. He never will. And that gives me great confidence as a coach to stand up and proudly recommend Shakeology to others. It’s unlike anything else. Sure, other stuff may taste more like a milkshake, but that isn’t going to make you healthy. And this tastes pretty darn good too. I think the future is still bright …. VERY BRIGHT. Keep bringing it!
Hey coach do you know what day in Sept. you'll be starting body beast? Id love to follow along with you! Thanks in advance and hope all is going well with the adoption!
Kyle I'm not sure on the exact date. I will make sure to let the teamRIPPED nation know!
I got an email that Beachbody is soliciting coaches from around the country to be on a panel to try to get the taste right. It would be pretty neat to be part of that team. However, I made the tough decision to discontinue being a coach, and thus discontinue Shakeology, but I hope they get the taste right. I've got one more shipment on the way and I'm going to use it. I'm guessing it is the new formula. I guess I will see if it is as radically different as some claim. I'm not sure how the geneology works, but I think my customers and downline will roll up under you. I sent a final email and encouraged everyone to plug into your site, so hopefully that helps light a fire under them. I still love the programs and your site. I like the supplements too (minus the price). I thank Beachbody for helping change my life, and will stay a loyal customer for their exercise programs. However, I think I am at a point in my fitness and diet where I can get my nutritional needs at a lower price elsewhere. Keep up the good work coach and I wish you all the best in your upcoming adoption. If a crew gets together from the site again for either a Warrior Dash, Spartan Race, or Tough Mudder, I would love to know. I'm getting ready for my 2nd Warrior Dash and hope to move up to the longer racing series soon. I would love to meet you and many of the fine members of the TeamRipped Community!
Thanks Coach for keeping us updated on what's happening with shakeology. I hope they are successfull in improving the formulas taste. Right now I can't see to many poeple wanting this version as is if they are trying it for the first time. The old formula was good the first time and was amazing with some tweaking. When I become a coach I hope I don't have to use the buckleys sales strategy tastes bad but it works. Lol :)
Erick - yea it sure is weird...
Hey Coach, I agree with some of the other posters - the new Shakeology is NOT something that I will drink every day - it just doesn't taste very good. I loved the old formula Reading Carl's blog, it seems pretty clear from him that this is the way it is and that it up to us to find a way to like his product. As a coach, I really hope that you have some pull to get BB to listen to their customers. I am 60+ days into P90X and have loved it but I have a serious problem with a company that really seems to care so little about their customers Please keep us updated on any Shakeology updates that there may be (although, reading Carl's blog I get the feeling that we are stuck with the current formula) I know that I will be returning my new bag and canceling my auto-shipment
Brent, I was able to have a 45 minute phone conversation with Carl last week. With the continuing evidence about fructose and the links to diabetes and other health problems, the call for it's removal from chocolate shakeology was getting louder and louder. It's a delicate balance of ingredients, all of which affect the overall taste, a total reformulation was required. It wasn't taken lightly. Carl knew it would be a big change. But it needed to happen for us to be the industry leaders and to continue to say our ingredients beat the crud out of anyone else. There was also questions about the levels / amounts of vitamins, and their bio-availability. So that has been corrected in the new formulation. It also has contributed to a stronger / bitter taste due to the vitamins. And of course using Stevia has affected aftertaste. THE GOOD NEWS = Corporate is working URGENTLY on the flavor. They are putting together taste testing panels of coaches and customers, and WILL get the flavor better .... much better. Be patient. They are working as hard as possible on it, AS WE SPEAK. They can't go back to the old, but they are determined to make the new formulation taste GREAT. I am confident in the integrity of our leadership. Carl won't skimp on quality. He never has. He never will. And that gives me great confidence as a coach to stand up and proudly recommend Shakeology to others. It's unlike anything else. Sure, other stuff may taste more like a milkshake, but that isn't going to make you healthy. And this tastes pretty darn good too. I think the future is still bright .... VERY BRIGHT. Keep bringing it!
Brian-I had the same experience with Carl's blog. I posted a lengthy comment that was fair and equitable with no questionable or profane language. It said awaiting moderation all weekend and now is just gone. Interesting...
Coach, I am very happy for you. You make us proud. I am also glad to hear that I am not the only one who will be starting over Body Beast. I am actually taking a few weeks off outside the USA to clear my mind from my current personal issues. I will definitely maintain my levels but I won't be able to workout daily. The only thing is that now my BF% is higher and I won't be able to close the loop. I might have to start with lower calories for the build phase.
coach check out these two links http://www.carldaikeler.com/2012/07/i-challenge-your-tongue-to-a-duel/ http://imgur.com/qbYwq
Will do Brian, but those are his sites. He is going to moderate them how he feels he needs to. I know he is very open on FB. Post there or send him an email.
coach.. carl has approved everyone else's comments EXCEPT mine for some reason.. and no there were no profanities in my message. If you have any personal contact with Carl, can you please email him my message
Brian, where are these comments? FB? Those should just posted. Have you 'liked' him?
Oh yea, studies coming from the Pac 12 champs! Utah Utes baby! Sorry coach! :)
Hey coach! I'm having trouble getting rid of that last little bit of body fat. Any advice?
Bryan you need to get super strict on your diet and give it time. It can get slow, but the longer you can stay perfect and run that deficit, the faster it will happen.
Oh ok, thanks. Havent read the book yet, going to tonight.
Welcome back!!! And can't wait to hear more about your adoption, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
hey Coach, for myfitnesspal, what would i put in for excersise type as Body Beast isnt on there.
David, the Body Beast formula for figuring caloric need already factors in your workout. Don't add anything to your MFP.
Just got Beast. Starting Monday, I previewed all the discs..this looks AWESOME!
Really? It must be buried in there, I didn't see one on top.
Hey Coach, I'm starting Body Beast today, and planned on using the supplements. But, on the back I noticed they are measured in grams. I don't have any dry measuring tools for measuring grams. Do you know if they are sold in common retail stores, or a way I can measure out how many grams I'm using?
They may be measured in grams Jared, but a scoop is always provided.
Hey Coach, I have only been on Shakeology for a month and a half now. The original flavor was absolutely addicting. I could not imagine my life without it!! I am not sure I would even give the new flavor the respect of calling it HORRIBLE!! If I would have started a month later I believe that I would have sent it back to them and not even cared if I received a refund or not. I talked a couple people into ordering it a week ago. I called them and told them to hold off until there was a change. I understand that it should be more about health than tasting good but it reminds me of the protein powder of years past.. There has got to be a bunch of the old stuff lying around?? I think they could charge double:) Maybe its ploy:) About to go choke some down now because I know its good for me!!
Hey Kinghorn, send that over to wecare@teambeachbody.com. They are listening to feedback! The single serving packs are still the original, while they last... it might be time to pick some up!
Coach, I have to agree with your panel of judges, I like the old chocolate flavor best. Hey BB, here's a concept, make vanilla. I always buy vanilla protein powder so I can add fruit or whatever and make the flavor I want for the day.
Thanks Rick. BB won't make vanilla Shaekology though. Vanilla flavorings are extremely artificial. That one won't be happening.
Hey coach, i am still not a big fan of the new shakeology but I'm getting used to it but is beach body working on ways to make it taste more like the original chocolate?
Hey Josh, yes they are getting the feedback, considering options, and I'm confident that they will either bring back the original or reformulate the taste of the new version to make it much more like the original. There is enough concern that a change WILL be coming (which I'm all for, because I prefer the original as well). Thanks for the feedback!
Hey Coach.. So about the new horrible flavor, I wrote Carl Daikeler two messages on his blog regarding the topic, however, since mine were truly genuine and negative, he has decided to not approve them and show them to the public. Because of this, I am deeply enraged at how Beachbody does't even give a damn about their customers. The following is one of my messages to him (and please don't join their side and delete this comment) Hey Carl. I have been drinking Chocolate Shakeology EVERYDAY FOR OVER 1 YEAR! I use your special recipe every morning for breakfast after my workout, and I absolutely love it. Nevertheless, when I received my new bag yesterday afternoon, I tried it, and it tasted absolutely HORRIBLE!! I almost threw up, I had a stomach ache, and I truly did not feel good. I am cancelling my Home Direct order from now on, as I will switch over to a truly whey protein shake from bodybuilding.com. Please fix this!!!! Even if you think that nutrition is more important than taste, please keep an option for the original formula for those of us who can’t bear to choke down this awful concoction just because it has a Beachbody logo on it. I have respected this company for many years with its amazing fitness and nutritional products, but this has just been blown out of proportion. I am begging you Carl, please please pretty please keep an option for the original Chocolate, or I promise you, no one will be buying any form of Shakeology, and instead of going from pretty healthy to “super healthy” with the new formula, everyone will resort to different, sub-par products from a variety of different companies. Please!!!!
@ Brian, I haven't checked Carl's blog this afternoon, but I can assure you that both on his blog and on his FB page, he lets all comments (good and bad) show for the world to see. Maybe you didn't give it time to post? Or maybe you used expletives that rendered your post inappropriate? I can guarantee though, that they didn't refuse to post your comment just because you don't like the flavor. And like I said, I prefer the original flavor too. I think calling the new flavor HORRIBLE is quite overdramatic. That's just my opinion though. It's not as good as the original, but like I said, both me and all 5 of my kids liked it just fine. I like your passion though, and drama is your middle name (remember last year and the "PVC incident" LOL) But back to the point. BB is gathering feedback, and they do care. I agree that it was unfortunate that this reformulation hit the market without more testing, because as it stands now, they can't leave it as is. They need to compromise and either bring back the original formula (that's my vote), or work a lot more on the flavor of this formulation to make it like the original that we all love so much. And be sure you email wecare@beachbody.com, because they are reading every response. Keep bringing it Brian!
Of pure mono.... Hate ipad typing
Hi Wayne, my wife is on anti-depressants. How do you think the 5mg of creatine relates to Kre-alkalyn ? Mine states a propriatary blend of.... At 1250 mg. I know Kre is absorbed better so you dont need as much.. Just wondering how much she should take to mirror the 5mg or pure mono ?
Woodsy, I would take what the label recommends. Most are around 1500 mg per serving. I would start there.
Yeah the new superfood formula isn't THAT bad its different for sure but I STILL like it! Some of the complaints were exaggerated
Glad things are going well. Thanks for the shakeology test. Just got my first bag of the new chocolate but haven't tried it yet. Thank you for posting the artical on creatine, my wife has been battling depression for a while. Going to show her that artical. Thanks coach :).
Glad to have you back in the US and to hear all is going well!!! Homecoming for your son will be exciting! BTW... on a side note.. I was feeding my daughter yesterday watching MTV, when a new P90X commerical showed up and who did I see??? A clip of Coach Wayne in his back yard or something, that I have not seen before! My wife was like "Is that your friend?", as she know I constantly am on TeamRipped! Way to go Coach!
Hi Coach Wayne, Probably not the best time to become the newest member of your team with your busy schedule lately. But I did make the switch yesterday to make you my new coach. Hopefully you will receive the info. Looking forward to working out with a motivated group. James O.
Great James! I will be on the lookout for it!
I will best acting the beast with you in September Beatst up coach
Welcome Back! So you need to head back in a week? How much longer until it is finalized? Good to have you back. Give you some time to settle back in before I pepper you with a lot of questions, :)
Yea Shawn I have to go back soon. Hopefully the next trip will finalize everything. Thanks for holding off ;) But really, fire away with questions!
Wayne, You are truly a class guy. It is refreshing to see someone encourage others in there fitness lives by sharing how much you wholeheartedly care about others. Your dedication to your family's future is inspiring. Congratulations to the addition to your family.
Interesting article on creatine. Good luck with the adoption coach.
Hey Coach, I'm thinking about getting Body Beast and wanted to know if getting the base program and the Suma supplement and using normal protein and kre-alkalyn is ok. I've got about 4 weeks of X2 left after this week and just planning my next program. Thanks
Matt that would be fine. You can always add the Tempo disc later if you want the added workouts. Just get ready to eat BIG, lift BIG, and get BIG! Beast up!!
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I just tried my Shakeology Superfoods today. I was able to drink it, but I also mix it with 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder and 2 tblsp of PB2. I'm pretty sure that I would have hated it on it's own, as I still felt like I was drinking a plant and the aftertaste was unacceptable. I just don't see how the aftertaste got past any sort of tasting panel. I will try to drink it for a few more days before making up my mind if I will keep it or return it. Coach, how long do you think it will be before they have a new version that tastes better? I'm sure even if they had it today, they would still sell out of their new version before selling the better tasting one.
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