Overview
Features
Quality
Performance
Value
Rating
Overall Score
4.5
Overview
Features
Quality
Performance
Value
Rating
Overall Score
4.9
Isagenix and Shakeology are two big names in weight loss shakes and in this article I’m going to compare Isagenix vs Shakeology to help you understand if either of them might be worth a try for your own bodyweight goals.
What’s the Story Behind Meal Replacement Shakes?
Weight loss programs might seem scary at first, but they’re not all that bad once you realize how it works. I know, you’re imagining a completely liquid diet to flush out your system, an upset tummy, and then a food binge that puts you right back where you started.
However, these weight loss programs aim to keep your body fueled and revived, so you can cut those cravings while boosting your metabolism to get the weight loss started. But how do they do this?
The aim is to replace a few meals each day with shakes or the like, ending the day with a large meal, between 400 and 600 calories. There will be some tougher days, as you’re encouraged to completely “cleanse” on a couple of days each week.
On these days, they provide you with protein-filled snacks to fuel you through, and you can eat the odd piece of fruit here and there. And of course don’t forget to drink your water! 🙂
This system is basically intermittent fasting—a cycle of eating and fasting to help you lose weight quicker. Studies have shown that, by keeping your body on its toes like this, it’ll remain more alert, and your metabolism will kick back into motion.
Isagenix vs Shakeology Part 1 – What Is Isagenix?
Isagenix is a supplement company that sells a number of products for both weight loss and gym gains. There are two programs, one being an energy and performance program and the other a weight loss management solution program.
Let’s take a look at who’s behind all this.
The company is run by Jim and Kathy Coover, who have combined both their knowledge and experience in sales and marketing to create a business people will love. But what about the products—do they have any knowledge of safe supplement products?
They’ve backed up their products through science, with the help of some of the leading universities out there. With their researched blends of ingredients, they aim to provide effective solutions for your healthy living goals.
So what’s the scoop with their weight loss program?
It’s a 30-day challenge, which aims to jump-start your journey to a healthier lifestyle. They simply send you a box of goodies, in prepackaged portions, to get you through the 30 days to help you control your diet.
What Products Are Used in the Isagenix Weight Loss Program?
- IsaLean shakes
- Nourish for Life juice drinks
- Ionix Supreme juice drink
- Thermo GX food supplement capsules
- IsaMove food supplement capsules
- Flavored “snacks”
- IsaLean bars
- Whey thins
Isagenix claims that these products have a multitude of abilities, including increasing your metabolism, providing vitamins and minerals to keep you energized, and snacks to swerve the cravings.
Pros
- A lot of all-natural ingredients in many of their products
- If followed correctly, it aids weight loss
- Convenient
- Flushes out toxins in your body
Cons
- All the studies on whether it works were funded by Isagenix themselves—can they be trusted?
- Almost all of the products they provide are processed and high in sugar
- Expensive
- Unrealistic if you want a long-term weight loss solution
Isagenix vs Shakeology Part 2 – What Is Shakeology?
Shakeology is a little different to Isagenix. Instead of using the products as meal replacements their branding is to curb those cravings. So when you fancy a tasty treat, fix yourself a Shakeology shake and watch the cravings vanish.
Hidden sugar within processed food is one of the biggest causes of diabetes and obesity in America. By cutting this source of sugar from your diet, the weight will disappear before your very eyes.
Paired with a healthy balanced diet, with the odd shake when the cravings kick in, and you should be on your way to success.
Some customers may choose to replace a meal with these shakes, as they are only 160 calories each. This would, naturally, lead to weight loss if everything you consumed that day led to a calorie deficit.
The idea is, by packing the shakes with nutrients and protein, your body won’t feel hungry anymore, and you won’t even want to snack. These nutrients will also provide you with the energy to get you through your workouts, and you’ll naturally lose weight this way.
What Products Are Used in the Shakeology Weight Loss Program?
Instead of the variety of products Isagenix provides, which are used to replace meals, Shakeology has a number of different shake flavors. These are to be drunk instead of sugary snacks and come in strawberry, chocolate, cafe latte, and vanilla flavors. They also have vegan options too.
The shakes contain a number of superfruits and superfoods, like kale, spinach, acai berry, and many more. These are all bundled into numerous proprietary blends to provide that added nutrition to give you energy and keep you full.
Pros
- Saves you money
- Protein-rich
- Packed with nutrients
- Keeps your cravings at bay
- Vegan options are available
- Tastes great
- Gives you the energy to fuel your workouts
- Not filled with added sugar
Cons
- Includes proprietary blends, which may contain some products and quantities of ingredients that are unsafe
Isagenix vs Shakeology: Who’s Better?
I think now would be the time to compare the two in terms of ingredients. Let’s break it down.
Calories
Isagenix is calorie and portion controlled, which means that each day, you’re told what to eat and drink, and when. This would, naturally, lead to weight loss, as the program takes on a calorie deficit each day.
Although each Shakeology shake contains 160 calories, their ethos isn’t really to replace meals with it. If you did this, sure, you would most likely be consuming too few calories to not lose weight. But if you were to drink this as a snack, while consuming three calorie-filled meals a day, it’s likely you wouldn’t lose weight.
Who wins on calories? Isagenix.
Protein
Let’s compare the Isagenix shakes with Shakeology shakes, as a baseline. With Isagenix, it really depends on what you’re drinking. The protein could range between 18 and 36 grams of protein. This compares to the 16–17 grams of protein in Shakeology, so I guess it’s a no-brainer.
Who wins on protein? Isagenix.
Sugar
As we all know, sugar is the biggest downfall in any weight loss attempt. Want to know the real deal?
On an Isagenix fast day, you’d be consuming around 38 grams of sugar. However, one Shakeology shake contains around 7 grams of sugar—definitely a lot better. I know who my winner is in this regard.
Who wins on sugar? Shakeology.
Nutrition
Compared to Isagenix, Shakeology prides itself on using all-natural ingredients to fill you up throughout the day. Isagenix, on the other hand, doesn’t use as many healthy, nutritional blends in its products.
Who wins on nutrition? Shakeology.
Isagenix vs Shakeology: The Final Verdict
From what we’ve shown above, it seems that it’s a tie. But when I compare both weight loss programs, I have a favorite. I think Shakeology is probably the better weight loss program for the job.
Programs like Isagenix, where you fast and drink shakes as a meal replacement, may seem effective and healthy. They often say their research is backed by science to fuel their marketing. But they work because they provide a portion-controlled diet with a calorie deficit.
So if you count the calories consumed during each of the program days, you’d consume below the calories needed to sustain your body weight. This is usually around 1200–1500 calories for women and around 2000 calories for men, depending on your body. It’s no surprise you lose weight this way.
If you were to eat low-calorie meals, instead of shakes, using healthy whole foods like vegetables and beans, weight would fall off just as easily. This is a much more realistic and healthy way to lose weight. You’re not snacking on sugary foods and drinking liquids all day.
These weight loss programs are not easy to keep up—the liquid products will keep you hungry, so the temptation to snack throughout the day is more likely.
This is where Shakeology comes in. Alongside a healthy, low-calorie diet, these shakes might help you avoid accidentally succumbing to the temptation of snacking. This makes for a more effective long-term solution to losing weight.
So for this Isagenix vs Shakeology comparison, I declare Shakeology to be the winner.
