doTERRA VShake vs. Shakeology Chocolate Vegan Shake

About a year ago, before I started using doTERRA, I looked into Shakeology as a meal replacement supplement.  I was blown away by the carefully sourced ingredients and action packed nutrition in Shakeology; you can actually read the list of ingredients and understand what they are (unlike other popular meal replacement shakes, which list ingredients that seem more like some kind of "chemical soup").

The one thing that was a bit daunting about Shakeology was the price - $129 for 24 single serving packets; ouch!

At the time, I went with a less expensive option that was more like chemical soup (Advocare), which tasted great, but I still wanted something vegan and that used more whole plant foods.

Fast forward a year, and I am recently hooked on doTERRA's VShake; it has no sugars, no sweeteners (I am not a fan of the taste of stevia), and is great base for whatever I want to create - vanilla chai, banana, strawberry, chocolate (to make chocolate, I use the high quality Droste brand cocoa powder that I get from Costco, which tastes AWESOME); whatever my mind can dream up is the limit because the shake has no strong flavors of any kind.

A friend approached me about doing the 21 Day Fix (through Beachbody.com) and the DVD program came with a package of Shakeology; I went with the only Vegan option they have, which is Chocolate Vegan flavor.  I've always wanted to try it, so I thought - what the heck!  I'll give it a go.

I had high expectations for it after watching videos of people hyping the product.  While I expected the product to overwhelm me, it was the exact opposite - I was very underwhelmed by it.  It was not at all what I expected.  The Shakeology was not creamy like the chocolate Advocare shake, and was not as delicious as the doTERRA VShake made with cocoa powder and a little agave syrup.

Then, since I had two boxes in hand, I was wondering how the doTERRA VShake and the Shakeology really stacked up in a comparison of labels.

The first thing I noticed was how different the serving sizes were; the VShake serving size is 17.5 grams (1 scoop) versus the Shakeology shake, which is a 43 gram serving size (about 2.5 times the amount of the doTERRA shake).  When I fully compared ingredients, and upped the VShake serving size 2.5 times so it was equivalent to the Shakeology shake, I found they were quite comparable in nutrition and are made from very similar protein blends (they both use pea protein, quinoa, and amaranth).

Shakeology - Chocolate Vegan			Compared to equivalent amount of doTERRA Vshake
Serving Size	43	grams	43.5	grams
Calories	170		185
Total Fat	4	grams	5	grams
Saturated Fat	1	gram	0	gram
Monounsaturated Fat	1	gram	3.75	gram
Polyunsaturated Fat	1.5	grams	1.25	grams
Cholesterol	0	mg	0	mg
Sodium	250	mg	287.5	mg
Total Carbohydrate	18	grams	17.5	grams
Dietary Fiber	5	grams	10	grams
Sugars	8	grams	0	grams
Protein	16	grams	17.5	grams

The doTERRA shake actually has more fiber, more protein and no sugars and less carbs in comparison to Shakeology.

Both shakes have ashwaganda, which has been clinically demonstrated to manage appetite, overeating, and carbohydrate cravings.  Ashwaganda is awesome stuff and makes me feel really calm and peaceful all day - keeping my body from manufacturing cortisol, so I can lose weight faster!

Pros of the doTERRA VShake over Shakeology:

• In my opinion, the VShake is more versatile; you can make it into any flavor you wish, and made with cocoa powder of your choice, a chocolate shake made with the VShake is far superior to the taste of the Shakeology Chocolate Vegan Shake.
• I dislike the take of stevia, which is pretty strong in the Shakeology shake; with the doTERRA shake, you can add any sweetener you like (my preference is a very small amount of light agave syrup and/or fresh or frozen fruit).
• If you just want a snack or lighter meal, you can use the recommended 17.5 gram serving size of the doTERRA VShake and save your self some money; if you want a full meal replacement, you can always use two scoops of VShake (compared to opening a packet of Shakeology and being locked into using the full 43 grams).
• VShake contains Solathin, a special protein that supports feelings of satiety; I actually feel fuller longer on the VShake.
• VShake also contains special amino acids that help prevent the loss of muscle and improves muscle tone during dieting.
• I know I said this before, but VShake has "NO SUGARS!"  :)
• The VShake digests better; I had a little stomach ache and some gas after consuming the Shakeology.  :(

And, the #1 reason to choose doTERRA vShake over Shakeology is cost!  24 individual packets of Shakeology will cost you about $129.  An equivalent amount of doTERRA will cost you only $98.75 if you sign-up to be a Wellness Advocate, which gets you a substantial discount off doTERRA's retail price.

With a savings of $30 over Shakeology's Chocolate Vegan shake (for the same amount of product), comparable action packed nutrition, and better taste, I will be sticking with my doTERRA VShake from here on out!

If you would like to purchase doTERRA's VShake product from me, please go to: http://www.mydoterra.com/healthuplifted/  Click "join" as a wellness advocate and select the VShake product from the drop down list in Step 7.