Unbiased PiYo and Shakeology Review (Plus Giveaway)

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated/compensated by PiYo, Beachbody, Shakeology, or any of the programs mentioned in this post.  I simply want to share my honest exercise experience with my readers.  Plus one person will win a giveaway from my coach to try it for themselves. 

The only exercise I’ve mentioned on this blog up until now has been yoga.  I am very passionate about my yoga journey which began as super gentle as I healed from that whole mess of mine and has grown into a now (mostly) daily practice.  For me, it is the perfect workout as my entire body benefits, as well as mind and spirit.  I slowly felt stronger and more confident to try various styles of yoga, even aerial, and incorporated the occasional Pilates class.

So when I heard about PiYo as a dynamic combination of Pilates and yoga…I had to try it and shake things up a bit!

PiYo is a unique workout that uses your own body weight to develop long, lean muscles while sculpting it and strengthening the core.  It combines the controlled muscle work I love about Pilates with the flexibility and flow of yoga, and gets my heart-rate up with low-impact movements.

• The first day I started it, I felt very accomplished to get SO much of a workout in about 30 minutes.  Definitely a mom-friendly amount of time!
• My enthusiasm continued the next few days as I tried a different workout each day; there are multiple DVDs included with various workouts on each disc, so I’ve never been bored or unchallenged.
• After a week or so in, I started struggling to carve out time, but was so happy with how much better I felt since working out…I had to keep going.  Some days I worked out while my son napped, and other days he played beside me (or even imitated and joined me – always great for kids to see mama being active).
• I aimed for twelve days initially and now I’m working towards the 60-day schedule plan they offer with it.  The coolest, most unexpected part was that I inspired my husband to workout daily as well…and we have had so much fun getting fit together!
• My C-section overhang is already so much smaller that it doesn’t catch above my pants now at all!  I never thought that or the excess skin with it would go away, but this is making me think it’s possible. My skin firmed up along with my muscles!

What exactly made me love it? I don’t know if it was the fact that I could finally carry my heavy laundry up and down the steps without being out of breath, and with noticeably stronger arms.  Or how my heavy toddler suddenly didn’t seem as tiring to play with…or how much better I was balancing my sleep and nutrition because of exercise.  Maybe it was the way I started to look forward to my workout because I knew it could turn my mood around, or perhaps how much better my skin (and clothes) started to look.  These are the wins that reminded me that working out isn’t an extra-credit kind of activity.  It is an absolute necessity to life, and it doesn’t take long at all to feel better than when you started.

I am thankful to have stumbled across a local mommy/Beachbody coach at a playdate, and I knew I wanted to support her by getting PiYo through her.  As a Certified Holistic Life Coach, I can tell you that working with a coach is the most beneficial and successful way to create true lifestyle changes.  I could have ordered the DVDs randomly online, but I really wanted the Beachbody coach support that comes at no extra fee.  Meet my fabulous coach, Jessi, who does what she does because of life-changing fitness results herself.

Got my DVDs from her to try out on my own at home.  No expensive gym membership needed. No cute outfit required.  No makeup.  Barely slapped a sports bra on.  Even better was the fact that I joined one of her Facebook groups, which was challenging its small group of people like me to workout for 12 days.  What a great way to check-in with others and be accountable for sticking to something new!  Getting into a habit is one of the hardest parts about anything wellness, and having the support of like-minded people is the way to go.  This absolutely set me off on the right foot.

Do you need experience with Pilates and Yoga for PiYo? Not at all.  

Can any age or fitness level do PiYo?  Absolutely!

Are there other workouts besides PiYo? Oh yeah.  

You’ve likely heard about P90X or Insanity; the same creators.  With so many options for different intensities and interests, a Beachbody coach like Jessi can help you find your soulmate workout and support you need to succeed.

Grab some DVDs/shakes/support from Jessi’s store now, learn more on her blog, or email her!

She even let me try some samples of Shakeology since Beachbody workouts often talk about this health-packed shake.  Regular readers will know that I am a product-snob when it comes to food, ingredients, wellness, etc.  So I naturally put on my skeptic-goggles and did my research.  More about my review on Shakeology BENEATH the giveaway form.  Time to play bloggy-Oprah now!

Jessi is so kindly offering this giveaway for us!  One lucky reader will win:

• a PiYo Hardcore on the Floor DVD (30 minutes)
• one shaker cup (for easy mixing of…)
• two Shakeology* samples (chocolate and strawberry OR vegan options of those)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*So is Shakeology as safe, amazing, and natural as coaches say?  This non-coach, natural nut says YES.

Shakeology’s proprietary blend of digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics helps your body eliminate toxins that have built up in your digestive system over the years due to eating highly processed foods, fast food, and junk food. A healthy digestive system makes it easier to absorb the nutrients you need for optimal health.While your body is cleansing itself from the inside out, Shakeology’s 100% whole-food ingredients deliver the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to help curb its cravings.

Your body will begin to shed stored fat while Shakeology’s superfoods (which are chock-full of antioxidants and phytonutrients) work their magic.  This helps reduce “free radical” damage that could potentially lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes.

I was actually kind of angry when I realized I was digging Shakeology; I tried REALLY hard NOT to!  It is truly satisfying, delicious, and loaded with goodness.  Unless you are able to eat 100% clean all day, everyday, Shakeology is truly the next best way to squeeze in your daily dose of dense nutrition and superfoods.

This is what Beachbody and Shakeology has meant to my coach, Jessi:

“Within 30 days my acid reflux was under control without medication, my acne improved, and without alternating my work out routine I finally had muscle definition. My husband was the world’s biggest skeptic and now drinks one every day. He is now “regular” for the first time in his adult life. My mom was the first person I referred to the shakes long before I even sold them, because they regulate blood sugar levels and my mom is a diabetic. It has a low glycemic index, which is actually good for everyone – not just diabetics.

The most important thing I want people to understand is that this is not a protein shake, its a meal replacement shake. Yes it is clinically proven to burn fat and build muscle, but it has so much more to offer. It’s not a weight loss shake, it’s a health shake. It is the healthiest meal of my day.“

Beachbody coaches encourage getting healthy through appropriate exercise and clean, efficient eating.  PiYo and people like Jessi are helping so many people change their lives.  I’m all for that, and hope you reading know that you can take control of your life, too.  As soon as you decide now is the time you’ve been waiting for.

Good luck on the giveaway and all of your personal health goals!

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