is it worth the money to buy shakeology

So what do you get for $4 Shakeology... You get a whopping 160cals 21C 2F 16P. Which IMO is not a very good Micro spread. And Its 4 bucks per serving for only 160cals.

Now take a look at my morning smoothy. My Diary is open. Yeah it costs me around 4 bucks but it is 853 cals 64C 93P 30F which breaks down to around %40P %30C %30F. A much better Micro spread. Again IMO.

You are hitting a macro spread you are aiming for with that smoothie. However, it's not 100% about the calories or the macro nutrients. It's about the quality of the ingredients in the shake/smoothy. So many people fall into the trap of just looking at the calories, protein, fat and carbs. It's sooooooooo much more than those 4 things.

Is it worth the investment? & what makes it more superior/ inferior to other protein shakes?

So, if your calories target is 1500 and you are going to eat one full meal at 800 calories, you would need about 4 shakes at $4 each?? Also, have you conveniently neglected to disclose that you have a vested interest because you sell this stuff?

So, if your calories target is 1500 and you are going to eat one full meal at 800 calories, you would need about 4 shakes at $4 each?? Also, have you conveniently neglected to disclose that you have a vested interest because you sell this stuff?

Last I checked, no advertising allowed on MFP. So while I have a vested interest, my vested interest can not be obtained while discussing it on MFP Forums per the rules/policies. Also, I used the products before I even became a coach. And based on your logic.....you should not buy anything that Jamie Eason, Steve Cook, Kai Greene, Kris Gethin, Jillian Michaels, The Rock, Mark Wahlberg etc recommend because guess what? The majority of them are paid reps for different supplement company's. So they also have a vested interest. So don't listen to them on their supplements either. Oh, also don't use anything your personal trainers at your gyms tell you to purchase because they make 3-15% commission on the supplements you purchase at those gyms. Oh wait, don't let me leave out Les Mills either as Jericho, Dan, and others are now Team Beachbody Coaches recommending TBB products and other supplements as well.

By the way I use some supplements from ON and EFX. So I shouldn't have listened to the ads etc about the ON BCAA or Chad Shaw on the supps he recommends or the ones Steve Cook recommends? Which by the way, I highly recommend several of ON's items and EFX's. However, this subject was centered around Shakeology. And I gave my thoughts on it. No one ever said that to use Shakeology you would drink 4 of them each day.

Way to dodge the issue. You did not give disclosure of the fact that you sell the product before you offered your opininion. Thats not selling. It's called being honest. You might want to try it sometime.

You would be correct, I don't listen to any of the people you listed nor do I depend on any "celebrity" recommedations. Also don't purchase products from trainers at the gym. I do my own research. To me, when a person get's paid to recommend something, they automatically lose their objectivity and thus thier credibility. You would be a case in point as proved by your need to list a bunch of celebrity names to defend "your product". (my quote, not yours)

I'll borrow ACG's term here "strong reading comprehension"? The OP asked a question, "is it worth it". I gave my opinion on it with no expectation of gaining anything. If the OP purchases it, I gain nothing. Just the way it works. So yes, I gave my honest opinion of the product that I've stood behind since first using the product last year. He did not ask me for a background check, my occupation or qualifications. He asked an open-ended question on if it's worth it. I gave my opinion on it and how it worked for me. And after reading the profiles of those responding against it and for it, well there are strong opinions one way or another. We can agree or disagree. Either way, I gain nothing from the OP by him purchasing it and gave an honest opinion on if it's worth it. Value is determined by each person and their own opinions.

And if we have to preface all posts by saying if we have affiliations with any company in any way.....Well I've not read that forum policy. And if there is one, then by all means please post your credentials and affiliations as well.

And really weight loss/gain is %100 about calories......

Very true. For weight loss calories out > calories in. Weight gain calories in > calories out. But the quality of those calories is still important. Every PT I know (be it a vegan PT or my hardcore Crossfit Paleo friends) have told me the same thing, "Quality of the calories is very important." If it wasn't then why would you be eating the Fage brand of Greek Yogurt? Why not Yoplait that is less expensive (at least here in my area)?

prove to me it isn't. see, we're both hypothesizing with no info to back it up, except for the fact that i don't get sick and my digestion and energy levels are awesome.

Yes it's worth it. But to be honest with you, you are asking a very biased crowd here on MFP. The majority of MFP'ers will be happy to point you to Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, super high protein fad diets, high carb diets, Engine 2 diet and many more that they have never used and have barely read about. But if you mention Shakeology, Advocare or any other item of the sort you will get the trolls coming out saying it's not worth it. Even the ones that try it, and then say it didn't do anything after 1 week of use....well let's be honest. Using anything for 1 week or even 1 month isn't going to make you look like Adonis or give you so much energy you'll be jumping/bouncing off the walls. If someone told you that Shakeology will give you loads of energy just with the first use.....WRONG. If someone told you that you will drop 30 pounds in one month using Shakeology......WRONG. Shakeology is much more than just a "protein shake" (as many seem to have labeled in this thread). It helps build your immune system thru natural ingredients and after longer use of the product and continued exercise, YES you will start to get more energy. On the other hand, those that have used it will be biased to say that yes it's worth it. Guess what, I use it and have for over a year. I completed 2 round of P90X before using any Beachbody supplements. I was still sluggish/groggy during the day and had tons of cravings all the time. I wasn't eating nearly as clean as I would have liked to. So I cleaned up my nutrition. Still little change in how I felt overall. So on my 3rd round of P90X I ordered Shakeology and P90X R&R. Took about a month or so (yes I continued on with P90X and cleaning up my nutrition) and my cravings started to go away and were finally gone. I had also hit a weight loss plateau at 192 pounds. Adding in Shakeology once a day broke that plateau. How do I know? Because I tried breaking the plateau for 2 months using exercise and nutrition alone. Didn't work for me. Shakeology did.

So the honest response, if someone has approached you about using it. You've got nothing to lose except weight/body fat for trying it, though I will say it's best that you present the ingredient list to your doctor if you have any history or family history of different medical conditions. Oh, NOT just for Shakeology, but for ANY supplement you purchase and use, take the ingredient list to your doctor or nutritionist and make sure it isn't gonna hurt you. If you don't like it or it doesn't work. Don't use it. It's a tool to help you reach your goal.

And by the sounds of it, you need to get some skin in the game to stick with your weight loss goals. The majority of folks I see go the super cheap or free route......take off some weight and then gain it back. Because they don't have anything invested in getting to their goals.