What the heck is Shakeology? Introducing the Tropical Strawberry Flavor

I've been drinking Shakeology since August of 2010 and have gotten more energy and other benefits! It truly is the healthiest meal of the day.

Now, I'm excited to drink 100% vegan Tropical Strawberry Shakeology!


Here's more about Shakeology and the newest flavor addition:

Guest Article: Fitness Tips for Cancer Patients

We have a guest article from my friend Liz, who has a blog (Curious Mind Musings) and wanted to share about fitness tips for cancer patients. She is really passionate about this topic and I wanted to share her tips with y'all! :-)


It is essential to stay active when dealing with cancer. It may also be one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish
on a regular basis due to the side effects of treatment or the limiting aspects of the disease itself.


There are a few things to consider when approaching exercise as a cancer patient.
• Be aware of your limits, accept that you may not be able to run a mile like you previously were able to.
• Fatigue is a large part of having and treating the disease.
• There are going to be days that you simply do not want to exercise.


The key is to plan around these issues and create built in methods of encouragement to keep participating in daily
activity.


You may find that there is a certain time of day that you seem to have more energy. Keep this in mind and plan to
go for a walk, work in the garden, or go shopping. Exercise does not mean that you are required to go to a gym.


Provide multiple methods of activity to indulge in. On days that are good, and energy is high, participate in more rigorous activity like a good jog or lifting weights. The days that are difficult to get out of bed, plan for easier activities, consider stretching, yoga, or Tai Chi.


Start with small goals, then extend if still feeling well enough to continue. For example, set the goal of 15 minutes of planned activity a day. If it is a good day and the 15 minutes is completed, continue exercising if able to.


Plan to participate in something that brings enjoyment or interest, this will encourage participation.
• Walk on trails rather than on the neighborhood streets
• Go to a park or a dog park
• Volunteer with a school
• Participate in arts and crafts or gardening
• Take a class to learn yoga or tai chi
• Visit a museum, art gallery, or mall


Invite friends or family members to participate in the exercise. This is a great bonding experience and makes the time pass more rapidly. It also offers encouragement to continue the effort.


Physical activity is important for people suffering from all types of cancer, including breast cancer, bladder cancer and even rare types like malignant mesothelioma. Discuss with your physician the right activity level for your current health. While regular exercise is an excellent method to manage stress and boost the immune system, too much can cause unwanted complications.


Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants
to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz
also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.

Surviving the Holidays - Tips on Staying Healthy.

It's that time of the year! When everyone tends to gain weight...how on Earth are you supposed to maintain, much less LOSE weight? Well I have learned a few things and wanted to share some tips on staying healthy and active during this holiday season. :-)

What's the hardest part about losing weight?

"Ugh, I give up! I've been exercising and trying to eat right for the longest time now and nothing seems to work!"


The above quote is a common expression shared by many who attempt to lose weight, but don't succeed.


So, what is the hardest part about losing weight? Eating.


Let me put it this way, if you exercise for hours, but eat lots of high calorie and high fat foods that are processed, you're wasting your time.


When losing weight remember to not follow this mentality: "oh, I just worked out like crazy! let me eat whatever I want as a reward!" 


That will get you very little results. Case in point, I had the above mentality for many months before I changed my diet and experienced very little weight loss.


Rather, eat in moderation and watch your consumption of fats (as written in my previous post.)


But here's the kicker: cut out junk food, fast food, and processed foods. This includes; packaged cookies, packaged desserts, chips, etc. (More can be found at: http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/processedfoods.htm)


The following site provides a good list of unprocessed foods: http://www.weightlossforall.com/foods-healthy-list.htm


Processed food is the main reason why individuals fail to lose weight and also incur a list of health problems. (http://www.puristat.com/standardamericandiet/processedfoods.aspx)


So if you never want to exercise, but still lose weight, it's possible. Just eat less calories than is recommended for you and eat unprocessed, wholesome foods.


Of course, physical activity is highly recommended (if not mandatory) to a healthy, active, lifestyle.


Thanks for reading and happy eating! :-)


- Asif

My own journey.

Since I was a child I've always weighed more than others. I remember staring at photos of when I was a toddler and I was chubby. Even my birth weight was more than normal.

I have always been the "fat kid" who loved food. I also participated in "binge eating" which is very unhealthy, but all too common in today's society.

Every time I saw snacks and junk food I'd overload on it.

In 5th grade I was about 5 feet tall and weighed about 110 pounds...since then, I always remember having to get "Husky" size pants for school and shopping in the regular men's aisle.

In middle school I reached a waist size of 36 and progressively continued till once in High School I maintained 38 and, subsequently, reached my limit of 40. This was fueled by inactivity and an urge to eat whenever...and whatever.

When I got to college, I decided to do something about my weight. I got so conscious that I ended up starving myself and eating very little my Sophomore year. I also exercised twice a day. This dangerous method eliminated weight from 220 pounds down to around 170, in less than one semester (or 3.5 months)

That summer I remember my brain looking for excuses to eat unhealthy, and not just that, but to overeat. So I did.

Until I graduated I overate, and overindulged. I remember eating for no reason whatsoever other than just eating for the heck of it.

This resulted in a weight of 255 pounds in December 2008 and I felt bad about my weight.

But I continued to ignore my problem until March 2009, when I got a free evaluation from the work health screening and saw my BMI was 33.

I got a Personal Trainer in June 2009, but didn't adhere to a strict workout program and failed to change my diet. This resulted in some weight loss, but not much.

In late 2009, I started running a bit, maybe not more than 1/4 mile. I also casually worked out. I increased my running to 1 mile a week, then 3 miles a week. I also ran my first 5k (3.1 miles), but didn't finish the entire distance (stopped at mile 2). I resolved to run the entire 5k in 2010.

Total weight loss in 2009: 25 pounds.

In 2010, I resolved to run a 1/2 Marathon (or 13.1 miles). I started running 2 miles a day, 5 days a week and then increased that distance to 18 miles a week (3 miles per day, 6 days/week) in June 2010. I also did some cross training on my own and casually ate "clean" My weight was also "casual" at 219 pounds.

It wasn't until July 2010 that I heard about Hal Higdon, a marathon expert. I started following his program to train for the November 2010 Rock and Roll Half Marathon. This started forcing me to run smarter, not harder. It also got me running 10 miles (as my max), which I achieved in August/September 2010. I weighed 210 pounds at the time.

In August 2010, I learned about Shakeology and BeachBody...I gave Shakeology a try. Immediately, within the first month I dropped 5 pounds.

In August, I also tried Insanity, a Max Interval extreme workout program. For 10 days I experienced brutality at its finest! At this time I weighed 205 pounds.

In September I considered trying P90X. I also became super conscious about my eating choices. With a combination of diet changes and extreme workout routine, I dropped down to 176 pounds in 90 days.

This first post is meant to inspire and motivate you. It's not meant to sell any program or philosophy. It's not meant to "call you out" on your diet choices.

It's just about me. I've been a fat person all my life. I know I got there because of the choices I made. The point is, I've gone from wearing XL shirts and size 38/40 pants to Medium shirts and size 33 pants.

I'm living proof that you CAN change!

Throughout my posts I will share tips that have worked for me, including advice on eating, running, nutrition, and more.

Let me know what you think, I'm here for you!