• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Brad Gibala

  • Start Here
  • Popular
  • Recommends
  • About
  • Contact

Archives for November 2018

Daily Sunshine Review: Shakes For Kids Are A Reach

November 19, 2018 - Updated November 21, 2018

Almost six months passed since Daily Sunshine was released and when I decided to give it a try. Usually I’ll pick up whatever new product Beachbody releases when it comes out but I forgot about this one and let it slip by.

You’d think I’d be all for a smoothie designed for kids since I have a set of those. My toddlers were 2.5 and 3.5 when Daily Sunshine was released.

I wasn’t intrigued to buy it mostly because of its tagline, “A snack or meal for picky kids and even pickier parents”. My kids and I are neither of those.

I also read in the marketing materials that it was “kid approved”. Let’s take that statement with a grain of salt because Halloween was three weeks ago and my kids would approve of eating candy everyday.

Daily Sunshine Review

With me being a Beachbody Coach I knew I’d have to try it eventually. Beachbody just so happen to have a sale going on many months ago and I decided to buy the Daily Sunshine sample pack.

There are two flavors. Strawberry and Banana or Chocolate. I tried each sample separately with ice and water in the blender.

My kids looked at me like “ok” after drinking each Daily Sunshine flavor. About the same reaction they give after drinking Shakeology. I had the same reaction.

Both flavors were fine and dandy but we were not blown away.

Don’t Get Me Wrong

Daily Sunshine is a good product. I just don’t see myself buying it. The thought of spending over $200 a month on Shakeology and Daily Sunshine is a no go.

My kids had been having a small cup of Shakeology most mornings for a year when we tried Daily Sunshine. So they were familiar with drinking “shakes” as they call it.

I was not surprised when Beachbody recently dropped the price from $130 to $100 a bag. Even the coach price of $75 is borderline pricey.

My kids are like most kids. Whatever they see Mom and Dad doing they want to do. So when they see me drinking some “shake” they want some “shake” too.

We’re fortunate enough that they currently don’t mind eating fruits and vegetables. Sure, they could eat more vegetables but even Daily Sunshine is mostly fruit so that wouldn’t be solving a very minor issue.

As long as they continue to not give us grief about drinking Shakeology and don’t show any signs of being allergic to one of its ingredients then I see no need to buy Daily Sunshine.

I’d recommend parents trying Shakeology for the family first. And if your kids absolutely hate every flavor then try Daily Sunshine.

If that doesn’t work, then I feel for you. Like, parenting needs to be any harder.

Shakeology Boosts Review: They Did Little For Me

November 17, 2018 - Updated November 21, 2018

When Beachbody released its “Boosts” I had already been using Shakeology for five years. So when I heard about them I didn’t quite know what to expect.

I mean, why not just boost Shakeology up a few notches instead of coming out with more things for us to buy. We know Shakeology has a butt load of vitamins, minerals, and exotic fancy things. So how much difference are these “Boosts” going to make. And are they even going to be worth it?

You probably were not expecting a Beachbody Coach to be un-excited about a new product like this. Well, I was. Not to be a party pooper I of course had to give them a try.

I bought and used each Boost with Shakeology. But I never mixed the Boosts together. When I finished one I bought the next one. So all of this was over roughly a four month period.

Power Greens

Shakeology Power Greens Boost Review

The first Boost I tried was the Power Greens. A little tub of powdery green stuff.

It reminded me of Alkalinize (which Beachbody replaced with Power Greens) from the Ultimate Reset.

And what you are seeing in this picture is the only tub of Power Greens I ever bought.

After finishing the tub I felt that I was getting enough greens from Shakeology and the salad I have just about every day.

In my eyes, the Power Greens made a marginal difference in the “you getting enough greens” department for me.

Every time I used Power Greens I blended it with Shakeology. Which did seem to “green up” the taste. Not good or bad. Just very greeny.

Even with the 25% off discount ($26 vs $35 retail) I get as being a coach I find it hard to justify the cost. Why not just throw a couple pieces of Kale in the blender with Shakeology to “green it up” more than it is.

But if you hate salads or vegetables and know you need to get some green in your system then Power Greens could solve that problem. Especially if you’re cool with adding it to Shakeology.

Digestive Health:

Next up is Digestive Health which I added to my morning Shakeology for a month. It did add a bit of a fiber taste to the shake.

As you can guess its designed to help with digestive issues and cardiovascular health as it has Omega-3 Fatty Acids in it. Throw in some fiber and other ingredients and its supposed to provide even healthier results with Shakeology.

Shakeology Boost Digestive Health Review

I didn’t notice any of those additional benefits. Maybe I did get some benefits but nothing noticeable. Basically, I felt the same after a few weeks of using it.

I don’t have digestive issues. And Shakeology on its own is probably enough to assist me on the digestive and cardiovascular front.

I don’t see myself buying Digestive Health in the near future. Especially if I continue to use Shakeology.

At $45 a tub I wouldn’t call it cheap. But I could see it being a cost effective product for someone who does need some digestive help.

Focused Energy

Last but not least is Focused Energy which is designed as an alternative to your morning cup of coffee.

Shakeology Boost Focused Energy Review

This stuff is strong.

I made a mistake the first time I used it by having my morning cup of coffee with it. Mixed Focused Energy with Shakeology that morning.

Just so happened to be golfing that day with a tee time an hour after I finished both. As I approached the first tee box the jitters kicked in. Caffeine was pulsing through my body.

It took me five holes to walk off the caffeine and jitters. Played terrible on the front nine before getting back to normal with just a bit more energy for the back nine.

It took longer to finish my tub because brewing up a pot of coffee and making Shakeology are engrained as a morning ritual. So I have to be cognizant of when I plan to use Focused Energy.

As it says on the label you can use Focused Energy to replace your morning cup of coffee. I will agree with that statement. Just don’t have both like I did.

Summary

Do all of these “Boosts” do what they say they do? Probably.

There’s always room for more Power Greens. If you want to kick a coffee habit then Focused Energy might be something to try. And if you’re having digestive issues than Digestive Health could help.

I know these are add on items and should be looked at as so. If you don’t want to pony up the money for Shakeology and want a cheap alternative for a specific health issue then they would be worth a try.

But the Boosts aren’t really cheap. Ranging from $35 to $50 for a tub with 20 servings you might be better off with better groceries or just one cup of coffee everyday instead of four.

Maybe if Beachbody has a sale I’ll pick a tub up. Otherwise, it will be some time before I buy again.

For me, the Boosts are unnecessary purchases if you’re using Shakeology daily. Throw in a ok sort of diet and things should probably function well enough that you don’t need the Boosts.

Beachbody BEACHBAR Review: I’m Not Digging Them

November 15, 2018 - Updated November 21, 2018

I’ve known about the BEACHBAR for some time now. Beachbody released them in early 2018. And here it is late 2018 and I’ve just finished my first two boxes of each flavor.

I think it had something to do with them selling out before I could put in an order and it took months to get them back in stock. Or I forgot about them. Or possibly both reasons.

But when they did get back in stock and I remembered they existed is when I placed my order. Not to play favorites I decided to buy a box of each flavor.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Beachbar Review

After my order was delivered I knew I was gonna have to try one of the Peanut Butter Chocolates and the Chocolate Cherry Almond that day. I have a thing for anything that’s Peanut Butter and Chocolate so I went with that one first.

First Impression

Peanut Butter Chocolate – I guess its ok.

Chocolate Cherry Almond – I guess its ok.

Lasting Impression

Peanut Butter Chocolate – I still think its ok.

Chocolate Cherry Almond – I still think its ok.

I really wasn’t impressed with the BEACHBAR.

They were kind of boring. And not satisfying. At only 150 calories they didn’t fill me up nor get me through to the next meal. There was a few times where I ate two and was still hungry.

Chocolate Cherry Almond Beachbar Review

I could definitely taste the chocolate and peanut butter on each bar but not so much the almond or cherry.

And they’re kind of dry. Like, granola bar sort of dry. But they’re not granola bars.

I knew these were not going to be like the P90X Protein Bars (which I loved) but I wish they were close. Man, those bars were great. I’d always stash a couple in my suitcase before a snowboarding trip and take at least one with me on the golf course.

I can still taste the Peanut Butter one. And they kept me full too. Great tasting and satisfying. It’s probably why I bought the variety pack on auto ship for four years. My Dad use to call them cookies. Why couldn’t we get something like those back?

My best guess is because of trends which Beachbody watches. It’s probably why the BEACHBAR is Gluten Free, Low Glycemic, and Low Calorie. All fancy health terms for boring.

Even with my 25% discount for being a Beachbody Coach I don’t know how often I’ll buy them because it takes two BEACHBAR’s to hit the spot.

Before the discount they are $2.67 per bar. After my coach discount they are $2 per bar. But I eat two so $4 for a happy tummy.

I’d rather eat an Apple, or Banana, or two Apples, or two Bananas, or an Apple and a Banana for half the price for the same effect. With the effect being I don’t remember eating them. Not like how I remember eating the P90X Protein Bars.

I don’t know if making them larger would make up for the lack of wow factor from the taste. Or even if they need to be changed at all. Hopefully Beachbody re-introduces a snack or protein bar similar to the P90X Protein Bars in the future.

I just feel like the BEACHBAR missed the mark when it comes to a snack bar. I don’t hate them. They just don’t do it for me.

Someone From Craigslist Dug Up My Bushes For Free

November 14, 2018 - Updated November 14, 2018

I’ve really channeled my inner genius when it comes to using Craigslist. Selling and buying things are pretty straightforward. What I like most are those times I use it to help my fellow man out while helping me out.

One of the other things we wanted gone besides those two tons of rocks I sold on Craigslist was some very mature bushes growing near the fence. These things were huge.

Maybe if the previous owners planted them directly along the fence line instead of a zig zag pattern the bushes wouldn’t be as noticeable. We wanted them gone.

And while they provided privacy from our neighbors and our neighbors from us we realized we’d rather have the space for a vegetable garden. Plus, we get along with our neighbors. We don’t really see each other from that side of the house anyways.

How am I going to get rid of these things?

Craigslist of course.

This is the ad I came up with.

Maybe if the previous owners planted them directly along the fence line instead of a zig zag pattern the bushes wouldn't be as noticeable.

Five Large Bushes

I posted it on a Sunday morning in the Free Stuff section and I received a text in less than an hour from someone saying they wanted all of them. And they wanted to come today to get them.

Holy Shit!! That worked.

I called the guy back, gave him my address, and he was on his way.

I was not prepared to do some digging that day and was expecting it would take a couple days to get some interest. Guess I was wrong.

Him, his wife, and their six year old daughter showed up with shovels ready to go.

Regular chit chat commenced with me telling them why we wanted them gone and he went on to say they wanted them to build a quasi privacy fence in their yard.

Turns out they lived in an older house in Rochester with a couple of acres. Somebody bought a similar yet old house next to theirs, knocked it down, and built a McMansion. One of those houses that is now the largest house on the street, looks out of place, and is gaudy.

They didn’t want to put up a fence and were looking for a cheap alternative. Hence, my bushes.

An hour later we had all five dug up.

He even helped me dig one up, dig a new hole, and drag it to a spot on the back of my property line. There was a gap between two bushes back there and I planned on moving it eventually. He said he’d be willing to help since I wasn’t charging them for the bushes.

Off to Home Depot he went to rent one of their trucks you can rent by the hour. Half an hour later he was back to load up the bushes which I helped do.

From the time I posted to the time he pulled out my driveway was less than four hours.

Talk about a win win.

And once it was done and the rocks were moved we were able to move our vegetable boxes there. Throw some mulch around them and the space looked a lot cleaner.

Vegetable Boxes

As you can tell from the picture there isn’t a whole lot of sun in that corner because of a giant oak tree in the middle of our yard that provides shade to most of the backyard. So we had to move the vegetable garden to the other side of the yard.

And two years has passed since the bushes were removed. Which means our kids are 3 and 4 years old now. Not babies. The space now has a sandbox and one of those Fitness Reality Ultimate Swing Sets.

Fitness Reality Kids Swing Set Sandbox

My neighbors laughed when they saw me and that family digging the bushes up. Not sure if they like the current setup more as that means screaming toddlers are that much closer to their house.

There was no way in hell I was putting the swing set in the middle of the yard. Can’t be worrying about toddlers getting in the way of me playing my backyard golf course.

But what I am finding out with using Craigslist for something like this is you have to be willing to help. And if you put that in the listing I’ve found people are eager to move quickly if it solves a problem for them too. Which it did.

I’d probably have to pay a company $200 to dig them up and get rid of them. Or the same amount feeding my friends and family for help.

I’m sure I couldn’t get my friends or family together in the same time it took for that one guy and me to do all of this.

That Time I Sold Rocks On Craigslist

November 13, 2018 - Updated November 14, 2018

“I don’t like these rocks” said me sometime in 2015.

“Me neither” said Andrea also in 2015.

“Mulch?” says me.

“Yes, mulch” says her.

“How the hell am I going to get rid of two tons of rocks?”

Well, I figured out a way. I used Craigslist. This is how I did it.

Menace To My Backyard

There is no other explanation as to how the rocks would get into the middle of the backyard besides squirrels doing a Rucksack Challenge.

They’d get stuck in my bomb ass McLane 17-PH-10 push lawnmower. I’d step on them when walking barefoot. My two year old started to throw them. And they looked like crap.

The previous owners paid a landscaping company to lay them three inches deep, three feet wide, on all three sides of the fence line in the backyard. And they tucked them in all nice and tight around the bushes too!

My guess is rocks were better than dirt/mulch/grass because they had big dogs which ran the property line barking at other dogs and the rocks wouldn’t turn into mud.

Backyard Rocks Near Tree
ROCKS!!

One of my neighbors said they made the arc into the yard because grass will not grow under pine trees. Later we would find out that indeed grass does grow. Trick is to cut the bottom limbs off.

Not My First Rodeo

I’ve sold 100+ items ranging from $3 to cars. But this was going to take some creativity.

My bright idea was to dig up all the rocks and sell them on Craigslist at $1 per orange Home Depot bucket. I’d even help shovel. What a deal!

This was a huge discount for whoever wanted to buy them. My guess is there was over $1000 in rocks out there.

Problem for me is the rocks were placed on landscaping fabric which was old and falling apart so I couldn’t use a shovel. I’d have to get on my knees, dig by hand, and separate the rocks from dirt.

I knew I couldn’t do the whole “free rocks but you have to dig them up” listing you see in the Free section.

Before I could list the rocks I’d have to have some merchandise ready to sell with a nice picture.

Amateur Miner

I had been watching the show Gold Rush for a few years at that time. And from watching the show I knew I’d have to either buy or make a rock sifter. Because that’s how you separate the dirt from the rocks before you wash them.

Headed up to Ace Hardware, bought some wood, casters, staples, and chicken wire. This is what I came up. I named it the “uuuuuuhhhhhhh Travertine”.** Tony Beets would be so proud (probably not).

DIY Rock Sifter

Do Work

So much work. So many calories burned. So many rocks. And it did not help that it had rained.

Rock Sifter Doing Work

But I kept at it for a couple of hours a day over the next week and started to make progress.

DIY Rock Sifter Making Progress

After many loads I created this enormous pile of sorted and washed rocks.

Craigslist First Rock Pile

Sell Sell Sell

I posted that picture with the following listing.

Craigslist Landscaping Rock Ad

Within an hour I had three people contact me with one saying he could be at my house in an hour.

Holy shit. This is working.

I had a few people show up over the next two days where each would take a bucket or two. Each said they needed some for fire pits or small rock gardens.

I’ll Take It All

And then I was contacted by a guy who lived in Trenton (if I remember correctly) wanted to know if I still had some left. I said about half the picture. He said he’d be at my house in an hour.

After showing up with an older Dodge Ram he looked at the pile and said he’d take it all. Turns out he was building a very large pond on his property and needed rocks for the bottom to cut down on weeds growing before he filled it in with water.

We spent a good thirty minutes filling up Home Depot buckets and dumping them into the bed of the truck. And man was that truck squatting. He’d have to take surface roads all the back. It came out to $75. Not bad.

He then asks if I have any more rocks. I had only done half of the backyard at this point. “Yes”. He wanted the rest of them. I told him I’d need at least two days to dig up and sort the rest. When I was done I’d call him.

After two days of digging, sorting, and washing more rocks I created an even larger pile.

Craigslist Rock Pile

Called him back up and told them they were ready. He was at my house that day. Instead of keeping track of how many buckets we filled we agreed on $125 for all of it.

I hope he made the 20 mile drive back ok. He had to ask a buddy to bring his Toyota Tacoma with an upgraded suspension for this load. And even that was almost squatted out.

Win Win

He got a huge discount on the rocks. Probably saved $800.

I got $200 back for 20 hours of digging, sorting, and washing rocks. None of which is important.

What is important is we were able to get rid of the rocks we did not want because of creatively using Craigslist.

I’m basically a legend in my neighborhood because of this. My neighbors on both sides saw me digging up the rocks and when I told them I was going to sell them on Craigslist they laughed.

When they asked about not seeing the rocks on my patio two weeks later and me telling them I sold them on Craigslist they both laughed again. One neighbor tells people I’m the man “who gets people to dig up and buy his rocks”.

Now about that mulch.

Large Pile Of Mulch

*For some reason I remember an episode of Flip Or Flop where Christina El Moussa told her then husband Tarek he was an idiot for either putting a travertine floor in or saying he should put it in. Doesn’t matter. She said “uh travertine” and by the end of the show I was like “uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Travertine”.

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · Archives · Search · Log in

 

Loading Comments...