Can Shakeology Really Help You Lose Weight?

If you've ever looked into at-home workout programs, you've probably come across Beachbody. This company sells exercise videos and nutrition products, including a protein shake line called Shakeology. These shakes are incredibly popular, but can they actually help you lose weight?

Let's first look at the ingredients of Shakeology products. Beachbody promotes them as nutrient-dense protein shakes that are loaded with protein, fiber, adaptogens, and probiotics. According to Healthline, Beachbody members are encouraged to drink it every day. Shakeology powders come in a variety of flavors and most shakes have about 17 grams of protein and 160 calories per serving. Dieters are told it can help them lose weight, improve their energy levels, and reduce cravings for sweets and junk food.

Healthline reports that many Shakeology users take it as a meal replacement once per day, but notes that the company states it shouldn't be used to replace more than one meal per day. Instead, they recommend that people drink Shakeology as a snack or in addition to a meal.

Someone who chose to replace one meal per day with a Shakeology shake would likely lose weight because they would theoretically be consuming fewer calories than they had been previously. Weight loss is achieved by creating a calorie deficit in your diet, so consuming fewer calories during a meal would result in weight loss if those calories were not regained somewhere else.

Although you can theoretically lose weight with Shakeology, there are multiple factors to consider. As mentioned earlier, weight loss is achieved by creating a calorie deficit in your diet. With only 160 calories per shake on average, some people may not feel satisfied after consuming a shake and may choose to snack on something else later to curb their hunger pangs.

According to Verywell Fit, the Beachbody company recommends that dieters add supplemental ingredients to their shakes to make them more substantial. While this can make the shake more filling and satisfying, you may end up with a very high-calorie shake depending on what ingredients you add.

Finally, Shakeology is expensive. Each shake costs about $5, which is much higher than many similar products on the market. Even if someone enjoys Shakeology, they may not be able to commit to purchasing the shakes in the long term because of the cost.

Shakeology is convenient, tasty, and offers many nutritional benefits. However, it will only help you lose weight when it is part of a meal plan that results in a calorie deficit. Talk to your doctor before replacing any whole foods with any shake or supplement.