Before I stopped drinking coffee, I was a huge fan of the iced blended coffees in the summer time. They were my favorite but the calories, sugar, fat, and carbs can take a toll on your waistline if you drink them on a regular basis. Many people forget to take into account the calories and fat in some of the beverages they drink.

That is what makes iced blended coffees easy to overlook. They taste so good and the fact that you’re drinking it doesn’t make them seem too bad for you. If you order one (16oz) with whole milk and whipped cream, you are consuming on average about 400 or more calories. The average amount of fat is around 16 grams and carbs around 60 grams.

Compare this to a serving of chocolate Shakeology®:

Calories = 140
Fat = 1 g
Carbs = 17 g

Not to mention that Shakeology’s ingredients are so much better for you. Download a pdf of the nutritional information for the chocolate flavor here.

The cool thing is you can blend Shakeology with ice and get the same iced blended coffee consistency. I like to use almond milk and add a table spoon of peanut butter and blend. You can vary the ingredients to your liking also adding frozen fruit, etc.

You get much more bang for your buck. Consider that a 16 oz iced coffee beverage is about $3 – $4. A 30-day supply of Shakeology averages out to the same amount per serving but it is much better for your health.

If you’re finding yourself ordering iced blended coffees on a regular basis, swap them out with chocolate Shakeology for 30 days. Experiment with your own recipes. It makes a delicious, healthy snack. You may even get hooked on chocolate the way I am.

(Tip: order on auto-ship and get free shipping every month!)

Click here to get full details about Shakeology from Beachbody.

Are you in the process of trying to quit drinking coffee? For many people, it is a huge challenge because of their caffeine addiction. Whatever your reason for giving up coffee, it can be done by using a few options to make the transition easier.

I stopped drinking coffee several months ago. I didn’t want to make the switch to decaf because even the decaffeinated brands still contain a small percentage of caffeine. What I did instead was switch to herbal coffee like Teeccino. What I like about Teeccino is the fact that you can brew it right in your coffee maker and it tastes just like coffee. After about 2 weeks, you should be over your caffeine habit.

Give Up Coffee and Lose Weight?

Another great alternative to coffee that could also help you lose weight is Shakeology. Rather than getting up to drink coffee, blend a glass of Shakeology. You will be drinking 70 healthy ingredients in one glass and if you use it as a meal replacement, you can also lose weight in the process.

If drinking a cold shake first thing in the morning is not for you, you could drink an herbal coffee like Teeccino in the morning and drink Shakeology in the afternoon when you would have another coffee break. Purchase Shakeology individual packets to take on the go.

I have heard of some people going through caffeine withdrawal. The biggest complaint being headaches. Power drinkers may experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, and nervousness. The good news is that the symptoms generally last between one and five days. It may also be easier to slowly transition away from coffee rather than go cold turkey.

Take advantage of the “Empty Bag Guarantee.” Try Shakeology for 30 days and if you don’t like it for any reason, you can get a full refund. That is plenty of time to give up caffeine and create a healthier habit!

Have you considered an alternative healthy lifestyle to help lose extra pounds? This could mean becoming a strict vegan or vegetarian, raw foodist, fruitarian, or other. Although some may feel those types of diets are extreme, plenty of people live an alternative healthy lifestyle and manage to stay quite fit.

I have read about fruitarians that have just as much muscle as a strength trainer that eats meat on a daily basis. If you choose to try changing up your diet, it is important to do enough research to be sure you are providing your body with what it needs to function in terms of vitamins, nutrients, good fats, etc., and to continue exercising.

Being healthy and not just “skinny”

The average person trying to lose weight may assume that skinny = healthy. If you become a vegan, vegetarian, raw foodist, or fruitarian and reduce calorie intake, chances are you will lose a lot of weight. These types of lifestyles can lead to dramatic weight loss but in turn, without exercise, you are missing out on so many other benefits.

Exercise can:

• Build lean muscle
• Reduce stress
• Boost metabolism
• Improve your mood
• Reduce risk of heart attack and stroke
• Help you maintain a healthy weight

Don’t be fooled into thinking you can’t gain weight

It is still possible to gain weight even if you are a vegetarian or vegan. Just because you won’t be eating meat doesn’t mean you can’t overeat. A personal trainer I know once trained a woman who said she was vegetarian, yet she was significantly overweight. Many people believe since you are not eating meat there is no need to burn off calories. You can still put on weight if you’re eating excessive amounts of calories – healthy food or not. It’s about balance in your diet.

Choosing an alternative healthy lifestyle can be beneficial and work out well for certain people as far as maintaining a healthy weight. It’s important to learn more about the food requirements you may need since these types of diets can be deficient in certain vitamins/nutrients. I think it is important to include exercise as well and not use the lifestyle as a reason for not working out.

A while back I did a review on a coffee alternative called Pero. I decided to cut out caffeine several months ago but I still wanted something hot to drink every morning to start off my day. I drank coffee primarily for the taste. Decaf was not an option because they are not completely caffeine free. I had heard of Pero and while it is a good substitute, it really can’t compare to Teeccino.

Teeccino is herbal and 100% caffeine free. Unlike Pero, it comes ground and can be brewed in your coffee maker or used in a French press. I purchased the Almond Amaretto blend and the ingredients include: Organic Carob, Organic Barley, Organic Dates, Chicory, Organic Chlcory, Almonds, Natural Amaretto Flavor, Organic Figs. Contains: Almonds.

I don’t even add sugar (it contains 1 gram per serving) and it is enough for me. You can add cream if that’s your preference and it can also be iced. For those who avoid gluten, the package states that it is gluten free once it is brewed. Overall, I think it is an awesome coffee alternative.

I couldn’t find it in any of the stores I shop at but you can buy it on Amazon in 3 package bundles. It comes in a ton of flavors too.

Have you tried Teeccino? Do you like it?

This is just another quick product review. This time I’m reviewing one of my new favorite beverages which is almond milk. I used to use skim milk with my Shakeology as well as for cereal, etc., and it didn’t always agree with me. A lot of people are lactose intolerant, including myself so a good milk alternative is always nice.

I’ve never been a huge fan of soy milk so when I tried almond milk I was immediately hooked. The brand I’ve been using is “Blue Diamond.” I’ve been experimenting with other types of shakes using almond milk. Here is one recipe I just made today:

• 8 oz almond milk (preferably chocolate)
• 1/2 cup or more of frozen blueberries
• 1 tbsp ground flax seed
• 1/2 banana

Blend that up until everything is mixed well. It was really tasty!

If you’re a follower of this blog then you probably already know that I’ve given up both alcohol and caffeine. I used to get most of my caffeine from drinking coffee. I was no stranger to Starbucks and I brewed my own every morning. I liked coffee more for the taste rather than the jolt that the caffeine provided.

I didn’t want to switch to decaf coffee because they aren’t 100% caffeine free and there is a long process using many chemicals in decaf coffees.

The coffee substitute I tried today is called Pero. The ingredients include: malted barley, barley, and chicory.

Overall, it has the body of coffee but it doesn’t completely taste like it which is understandable. However, it is a good substitute if you just need your coffee fix in the morning.

The directions are simple: 1 heaping teaspoon into a cup. Add boiling water, stir. Add milk and sugar if desired. Here is a link to the web site:

Pero® Caffeine Free All Natural Beverage

Starting P90 has transformed my life for the better. I’m sure I could have said the same had I started off with any of the Beachbody® programs because when I learned how Beachbody worked, I knew I had to make a change in my health and fitness in order to set a good example as a Beachbody Coach. Besides all of the positive physical changes of starting the program, I have also made changes on my own to improve my health.

Below is what I have given up and things that I would like to change as I continue to make progress.

Gave Up Coffee

I used to drink coffee every day. Mostly home brewed but also the occasional Starbucks. I know there are folks out there who love their coffee and would find it hard to stop if they tried. It wasn’t very difficult for me to cut it out altogether. My primary reason for stopping was because of the caffeine. I’ve switched to herbal tea when I am craving a hot beverage.

Gave Up Alcohol

I used to drink once or twice a week. Mostly on a Friday or Saturday night just because. My drink of choice was Ketel One vodka and cranberry juice. Deciding to give up alcohol was not only for health reasons but for personal ones as well. I was drinking just to do it, to feel a “buzz” but I’ve come to realize that I don’t need that in my life. A lot of times, drinking alcohol is used as an escape from reality.

Drinking is usually associated with partying and having a good time. People tend to drink to loosen up and feel what they believe is happiness. I began to notice that I was drinking for the sake of escaping my own problems and that wasn’t good for me.

What I Plan on Trying in the Future

30-Day Trials

Now that I know I can commit to 30 days of exercise, I know that I can commit to 30 day experiments with other things as well. Steve Pavlina has an excellent post on performing 30-day trials. I would like to perform 30-day trials with the following:

• Being vegetarian
• Cutting out all sugar
• Becoming an early riser (5 am or 6 am)
• Meditate

I think I will start off with meditation first as I’ve been wanting to begin meditating for quite some time now.

What have you changed in your life in terms of improving your health and fitness?

photo credit: adactio

The one thing I’ve learned about trying to get into shape is that food will make or break your progress. It doesn’t seem that way when you are exercising almost everyday and feeling good physically, however, the pounds will not drop if you don’t change your eating habits. Trust me when I say, food is the BIGGEST obstacle for me in terms of shaping up.

Exercise is no longer a problem as I have learned to love it. Food is harder because when I’m out and about on the weekends, we usually dine out. Now, I need to start choosing wisely when I eat in restaurants. During the week is no problem as I cook my meals and it’s easier to stay on track.

Below are just some quick tips to help you stay on track when it comes to eating right:

1. Don’t drink your calories. Don’t buy soda and fruit juices. Remember the extra calories in fancy coffees and alcoholic beverages. When in doubt, drink water, plain coffee or tea.

2. Stop all fast food. If you are in a pinch and must eat fast food, check for their healthy alternatives. A lot of fast food places are starting to keep the health conscious individuals in mind with more salads and grilled items.

3. Pick recipes that come with your Beachbody Programs or customize a meal planner in the Team Beachbody Club. Don’t stray from this type of eating. It is the surest way to stick to eating properly.

4. Remove the junk foods already in your fridge and cabinets. If you live with other people, section off the fridge and cabinets for your healthy food.

Remember, it will become easier in time and you will want to eat and choose the right foods. It will become second nature. I’ve already improved in my mindset about eating because I like how I feel and I refuse to ruin my progress!