Shakeology

Hello--

I was diagnosed with UC involving the last 40cm of my sigmoid colon and rectum about 2 years ago. Unfortunately, I am allergic to sulfa and cannot use ASA meds which means I'm oral and enema steroid dependent. I have had flares and remissions at various times over the last two years ostensibly related to stressors, but not always easily explained. I've also tried various probiotic pills without much consistent success. The longest I've lasted without at least one enema was about 5 days (which I was perfectly happy with, to be honest.)

I recently started using Shakeology (from the beachbody company--makers of P90X and other work out programs.) It is a powdered shake that can be mixed in water or other fluids like milk. I tend to mix it with 2 ounces of espresso and 6 oz of water or lactose-free milk and 2 tablespoons of chia powder, so that it serves as my morning coffee/breakfast. Sometimes I blend in organic peanut butter when I have extra time.

Anyway, over the last two months my need for oral and rectal steroids has dropped off dramatically. This last month I've only done two enemas, which is the fewest since I was diagnosed. I'm completely flabbergasted by this and I don't know if it is truly related to my morning shakes or something else. The shakeology drinks do have a probiotic blend contained in the powder (bifidobacterium longum, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, lactobacillus bulgaricus, lactobacillus casei, streptococcus thermophilus) but I haven't had success with probiotics in the past.

Like I've said, my flares and remissions aren't always tied to anything I can pin down, but I'm always happy to decrease my steroid use.

There is at least one testimonial on the beachbody website by someone who describes having pretty severe UC with a similar improvement in his symptoms.

Has anyone had any similar experience with this stuff? Thanks in advance.

This is definitely not spam or an ad for shakeology. I'm just really surprised that my symptoms have tapered off so dramatically.

I should have mentioned this, but yes, I do eat normal food. I eat meat and vegetables in a reasonably balanced fashion. I don't have any specific ratios of protein/carbs that I follow, although I try to be aware of how much carbs I take in on a day to day basis.

I have been mildly lactose intolerant since my late 20's (I'm 35), but I love milk and cheese so I drink lactose free milk and use lactaid if I'm eating something with a lot of cheese (pizza, mac and cheese, etc...).

Definitely not trying to sell anything, I'm just looking to see if anyone has any similar experience. Like I said, maybe the symptoms have nothing to do with Shakeology, but it is the only thing in my diet that has changed and I haven't had any recent changes in work or life, in general.

I know this is a post from a couple years ago. I started using shakeology about 2 months ago...prior to my colitis diagnosis or when my colitis started...I'm concerned my colitis has started since the intake of the shakes. Not definite, but I don't see anything else I changed besides drinking those shakes before all of this started happening. It's funny that it helped you as I feel this is what started this mess.

it's a meal @ 160 calories ?

let's see, 3 meals/day = 480 calories ?

ya, i see plenty of shakin goin on - from starvation !

seems loike a good bunch of ingrediants tho -

i have had trouble being remission free from ulcerative colitis for over 6 years. I have been taking lialda, mercaptopurine (6MP), and prednisone. I have been trying to wean myself off of prednisone for the 6 yrs but whenever I go off of it completely, my colitis symptoms return. it has been a HUGE BATTLE and I have not been able to get it under total control until now.

i started drinking shakeology mix with their recipes 1 or 2x per day in order to lose a few lbs and add a healthy snack into the mix. one of the nice side effects is that my colitis has seemingly gone into remission. as a test, i haven't been taking ANY MEDS for the past 4 weeks (i have been drinking shakeology about 8 weeks). its weird and i don't know whats up, but my colitis has been gone for about 5-6 weeks. its crazy!!!! i wouldn't believe it if i didn't experience it for myself. give it a try you have nothing to lose!~

Could be spam ... again.

I am interested in finding a good shake powder that has real ingredients to help me get some nutrition in.
im going to look into this.

Soystud, looks like you found the ingredients to not be super fakey?

the amazing thing is that only the new members on this forum have been able to shake off uc thanks to shakeology and no one else has ever had such miracle self-healings...

the ingredients looked good until i got to the very end... fructose and xanthan gum. better off taking straight grass fed whey (schinoussa natural flavour is a good one) and if you want, a greens supplement. will taste gross but i certainly endured some gross "cocktails" during my flare and it's worth it sometimes!! could alway add your own stevia and cocoa or vanilla flavouring...

LOL !

I'm a new member who actually found this forum while researching Shakeology. I was diagnosed June 2014 with proctosigmoiditis. I resisted meds and tried diet/exercise as a remedy until September when I gave in to taking Lialda 4.2mg daily. I was much improved for about 8 weeks on Lialda, walking regularly, and eating more healthfully. I was making my own morning smoothies at the time and decided to try Shakeology as an acquaintance of mine is a Beach Body coach. Unfortunately I flared not long after starting regular use of the product. Ive been off it about 2 week now, moderating diet, taking my mere religiously, and symptoms are improving. I may try it again in the future to determine if it did indeed cause worsening of my symptoms. I'm still figuring this out as my diagnosis is still new. I'm 32, female, no family history. Also take weekly allergy injections and an iron supplement. I was given Uceris for flares but haven't taken it.

just make sure to get the "gluten free" shakecology ;-)

Like Mark said, Could the all liquid diet be giving your colon a break? Not eating solid food would obviously be easier on the gut so this may be the case. It is also rare for me to hear that you have colitis and was looking to lose weight. But I guess there is an exception for everything.