Update 9/1/20. The Thrive shake mix, also called Premium Lifestyle Mix is part of the Le-Vel line of supplements and said to be the “first and only ultra-premium mix ever developed” and is designed to support lean muscle, weight management, and fitness. This review will focus on the Thrive Shake Mix ingredients and research on those ingredients to give you an idea if its right for you. If you have a question, leave a comment below. Also, see the reviews of Thrive W and the Thrive Patch for more insights.
Thrive Shake Mix Research
An information sheet I have for the product states that the Thrive shake mix is the “first and only ultra-premium mix ever developed.” Sounds impressive but are there were any clinical studies on the supplement? Searching medical databases for:
- Thrive Research
- Le-Vel Research
did not reveal any clinical Research on the Thrive Premium Lifestyle shake mix.
To better understand the shake, it's necessary to look at its ingredients. Let's do that next.
Thrive Shake Nutrition Facts
Each serving of the Thrive shake is 35 grams (about 1 oz) and has the following nutrition information. The percent daily values in the 3rd column of the table are based on eating 2000 calories per day.
| Amount per serving | Percent Daily Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 110 | |
| Total Fat | 2 grams | 3% DV |
| Total Carbs | 9 grams | 3% DV |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 grams | 20% DV |
| Sugars | 2 grams | N/A |
| Protein | 15 grams | 30% DV |
| Vitamin A (beta carotene) | 2500 IU | 50% DV |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 24 milligrams | 40% DV |
| Vitamin D (cholecalceferol) | 200 IU | 50% DV |
| Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl acetate) | 10.5 IU | 35% DV |
| Thiamine (thiamin hydrochloride) | 75 milligrams | 50% DV |
| Riboflavin | 85 micrograms | 50% DV |
| Vitamin B6 | 1 milligram | 50% DV |
| Folate (folic acid) | 200 micrograms | 50% DV |
| Biotin | 135 micrograms | 45% DV |
| Pantothenic Acid | 4 milligrams | 40% DV |
| Calcium (tricalcium phosphate) | 400 milligrams | 40% DV |
| Iodine | 60 micrograms | 40% DV |
| Magnesium | 100 micrograms | 25% DV |
| Zinc (zinc methionine) | 6.75 milligrams | 45% DV |
| Selenium (selenium chelate) | 14 micrograms | 20% DV |
| Copper (copper chelate) | 1 milligram | 50% DV |
| Manganese (manganse chelate) | 600 micrograms | 30% DV |
| Chromium (chromium polynicotinate) | 60 micrograms | 50% DV |
| Molybdenum (sodium chelate) | 38 micrograms | 50% DV |
Looking over these ingredients, the things that stand out to me are the 5g of fiber and the 15 grams of protein. My guess is the fiber in the shake is a combination of oat fiber and bran (see the tables below) although it's possible that the maltodextrin and xanthan gum provide some fiber too.
Thrive Shake Protein
Each pack of the Thrive shake has 15 grams of protein. The protein comes from a combination of:
- Soy protein
- Pea protein (click to read review)
- Whey protein concentrate
Here's a quality protein powder I like
The ingredients are listed in order as they occur in the “other ingredients” table below. This tells us that there is more soy than whey since soy is listed before whey in the table. I mention this only in case it matters to anyone.
There are a lot of vitamins and minerals in the Thrive shake mix but I don't think most people are lacking in these.
One interesting thing observed in the Nutrition Fact label concerned the last ingredient, Molybdenum. In the Nutrition Facts label above, in parenthesis, they say molybdenum comes from “sodium chelate.” I wonder if this might be a typo? I say this because I don't understand how sodium chelate is a source of molybdenum?
The word “chelate” means to attach one thing to another to increase its absorption. For example, in the table above, we see the mineral manganese is present as “manganese chelate.” We see the same thing with copper (copper chelate) and selenium (selenium chelate). With Molybdenum we don't see molybdenum chelate, but rather sodium chelate.
Thrive Shake Proprietary Blend Ingredients
The table below lists the ingredients in the Proprietary Blend of Thrive shake mix. We are not told how much of each ingredient is present, but they do tell us that this proprietary blend adds up to a total of 1595 milligrams. That's about 1.6 grams. Putting things in perspective, 1 oz equals 28 grams.
Read the table from left to right and this will tell you which ingredients are present the most and least. For example, since garcinia fruit extract is listed first, it makes up most of the proprietary blend.
| Garcinia fruit extract | Oat fiber | Natural caffeine from black tea |
| Lactobacilius acidophlius | Rice bran | Amalase 5000 |
| Bromelian 600GDU | Cardomon seed extract | Cellulase 1000 |
| Ginger root | Lipase 1000 | Papain 6000 |
| Protease 1000 | Protease 5000 | Cinnamon bark extract |
Let's now go over some of the ingredients on this list.
Garcinia Fruit Extract
While they don't tell us what extract of garcinia fruit is present in the Thrive shake, I think this is a reference to Garcinia Cambogia. I say this because there have been studies of Garcinia Cambogia and weight loss. Some of these studies show it works while others show it doesn't work. When I reviewed the research on garcinia Cambogia, I noticed that many studies used between 500 mg and 2 grams per day.
The Thrive Patch also has Garcinia Cambogia.
While Le-vel doesn't tell us how much garcinia is in the shake, we do know that all the ingredients only add up to 1595 mg (about 1.6 grams). Garcinia makes up most of the proprietary blend, it's probably in the 1/2 to 2 grams range that many studies use, albeit on the low end.
See my review of garcinia Cambogia research for more insights. There is evidence it may be linked to liver failure in some people.
Probiotics In The Shake
The Thrive shake has Lactobacillus acidophilus. This is a common probiotic bacteria. If you eat yogurt, you may have seen it listed.
One thing they don't tell us is how many colony-forming units (CFU) the product contains. If you have any probiotic supplements, you might notice that companies often list how many CFU the product has. For example, you might see “1 billion CFU.” In probiotics, CFU is kind of like potency of the product.
I don't know the CFU number for the Thrive shake. If anyone does, let me know and I'll be glad to update this part of my review.
Another thing we don't know is what strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus the shake contains? Just saying”Lactobacillus acidophilus” does not tell us which particular strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus the product has. For example, does it have:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14
- Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92
or others?
Different strains of bacteria can have different effects. For example, one strain might help diarrhea while another might help urinary tract infections. Currently, makers of foods and supplements don't have to tell us the strain of the probiotic bacteria they use.
Caffeine
I don't know how much caffeine is in Thrive Shake mix. They do tell us it contains “natural caffeine from black tea.” I don't know if natural caffeine is better/different than synthetic caffeine in regards to its effects on the body.
Natural caffeine is the 3rd ingredient listed (out of 15 ingredients) so it's presently more than most of the other ingredients. It makes up a good amount of the 1595 mg of total ingredients in the proprietary blend. How much caffeine is in the Thrive Shake? I'm not sure.
The Enzymes
The Thrive shake contains the following enzymes:
- Amylase 5000
- Bromelain 600GDU (GDU=gelatin dissolving units)
- Cellulase 1000
- Lipase 1000
- Papain 6000
- Protease 1000
- Protease 5000
Basically, these are enzymes that break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates. If you are healthy, then I don't think they add anything to the shake. Notice the numbers behind the enzymes. I think adding numbers behind the enzyme names makes the ingredients overly complicated for the average person. I would disregard the numbers.
Other Ingredients
Thrive shake mix also has these other ingredients also
| Maltodextrin | Soy protein | Pea protein |
| Whey protein concentrate | Cellulose | Sun flower oil |
| Natural flavors | Xanthan gum | Sucralose |
| Stevia |
Read the table from left to right. Ingredients are often listed from most to least.
Thrive Shake Sweeteners
The “other ingredients” table above, tells us that the sweeteners in the shake are provided by both sucralose (Splenda) and stevia, in that order. The table also tells us there are “natural flavors” present too, but companies don't have to tell us the names of natural flavors so I can't comment on those.
Is It Gluten-Free?
Yes, the Thrive shake mix is gluten-free. That's good for people with gluten intolerance and/or celiac disorder. According to the FDA, gluten-free now means products must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten to be called “gluten-free.” See the FDA gluten-free rules for more information on this.
Does It Contain Soy?
Yes, the Thrive shake mix has both soy and milk.
Who Makes Thrive Shakes?
The company is called Le-Vel LLC. They are located at 9201 Warren Pkwy #200, Frisco, TX 75035. As I pointed out in my review of Thrive W, this address corresponds to a postal service called “Going Postal.”To contact the Thrive company, call 888-557-0005.
The Better Business Bureau gave Le-Vel LLC a rating of A+ when this review was updated. The Better Business Bureau has had complaints regarding refunds and the creation of accounts. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
SiteJabber, another consumer website gives Le-Vel a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. There were 298 reviews and of those, 126 gave the company 5 stars while 145 gave the company a 1-star rating. See the Sitejabber file for updates and more information.
Thrive Shake Mix Side Effects
I think in healthy people the Thrive shake is safe. Here are some things to consider. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week to see how you react
- The shake has caffeine. Using the product too close to bedtime might keep you up at night.
- Stop the shake -and all over supplements not prescribed by your doctor – at least 2 weeks before surgery.
- Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Speak to your doctor/pharmacist if you take any medications.
- If you have any liver issues, talk to your pharmacist regarding Garcinia Cambogia.
- See the garcinia Cambogia review for why.
Does The Thrive Shake Work?
The claims made for the Thrive shake mix are pretty vague, which makes answering the “does it work” question difficult to do, but I'll try. Since the shake has protein and fiber, it makes some sense that it would be able to “help support” lean muscle and perhaps maybe weight loss, just as other things protein shakes and fiber would. So, I would not be surprised if some people told me it helped them lose weight.
The bigger question though is does the Thrive shake do it better than other foods/supplements that also have protein and fiber? Without research, I don't think we can say either way.
Do You Have Any Questions?
I am a breast cancer warrior. Triple positive. Thrive was approved by all my drs. I did not take the lifestyle mix during chemo- I needed the chemo to kill the bad cells. My cancer was estrogen positive, I have been given permission to do the lifestyle mix (2nd step) but only do occasionally because I’m afraid of soy. I cruised through treatment. They are not sure why but I believe (can not prove) it’s because of my thrive.
Christine, the important thing for me is that you are doing well with your treatment. I will say a prayer for you tonight that you continue to improve as Im sure everyone else reading this will do as well. Do keep us posted on how you are doing.
Hi! Thanks for this, such a good read. I have a question that I’m pretty sure I know the answer to but wanted an opinion. I haven’t been able to find anything online regards to this. I am considering trying intermittent fasting for many reasons, and I recently started taking thrive.
By taking the capsules and lifestyle mix, is that considered breaking fast if it’s mostly just vitamins etc? I feel like it’s breaking fast but I’m really not sure! Thanks so much 🙂
Hi Melody, thanks for your feedback. Im really glad you found my review helpful. To answer your question about intermittent fasting, since the Thrive Lifestyle mix has calories, I would consider that breaking your fast. There are no calories in the Thrive capsules, so I would not consider that to be an issue with fasting.
While there appear to be several benefits to fasting and intermittent fasting, when it comes to weight loss, the research appears to show weight loss is due to reducing calories. In other words, if someone loses weight with intermittent fasting, its because she/he is eating fewer calories. This is what the research seems to be showing.
If you are going to do intermittent fasting, I’d say make it easier on yourself and make most of the fast occur while you are sleeping. Just stop eating after say, 7pm and then skip breakfast a couple of times a week. That’s enough. You don’t need to do this every day to see results. Also, I see no reason to take the fast longer than 12-15 hours.
I’ve started podcasting and will likely do an episode on intermittent fasting at some point. my podcast is called “Joe Cannon Health” Here’s a link to a recent podcast on CBD: https://joe-cannon.com/cbd-podcast-review/
I started my 3 day sample of Thrive today. My daughter LOVES this stuff. I am concerned about the soy. I am 63 and had estrogen receptor positive breast cancer 3 years ago. I should not be ingesting soy because of the estrogen type effects it has in your body I drank the shake anyway-hoping the soy content is minimal. Trying to contact Le-Vel to answer this question for me.
Diane, as I understand it, soy binds to a different estrogen receptor than the estrogen hormone humans make. If this is true then it could mean soy may not increase breast cancer risk as the human hormone estrogen can. I know soy is controversial for those who’ve had cancer or at risk. Im not aware of increased cancer risk in countries where soy is consumed. Here is a review that seems to come to the same conclusion: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27161216 Still, I think its worth speaking to an oncologist about.
Now, soy -the food – is different than soy supplements. Does Thrive use Soy the food (whole food soy) or an isolated compound in soy (like just the isoflavones)? Im not sure if the isolated soy compounds are the same as soy the food.
See the other Thrive reviews too. The comments are also worth looking over:
Thrive W Review
Thrive Patch Review
Thrive DFT DUO Patch Review
You may also want to post your question on these other Thrive reviews too. That way you will get the attention of more people and hopefully thrive Ambassadors who can help.
Are there any Thrive Ambassadors here who can answer Diane’s question?
The link you provide is not the correct one. It’s for a “Thrive Product” but not for the one by Level that is part of the “3 step program” … Rebecca
Rebecca, thanks for calling this to my attention. I’ve corrected it:
Here it is on Amazon
Here it is on Ebay
Hi Joe…..haven’t seen this thread pop up in my email notification for a while! Clicked your links…..eBay one is good ( although it’s not allowed to do this lol) Amazon one shows no Le-vel thrive products! 🙂
Update……still on men pills…..no tummy issues, I can only assume the proprietary blend in the ladies is slightly higher levels of something that just doesn’t go well in me 🙂
For the ladies down thread a bit……
We are told that some things get in the system faster and better in a liquid and some still better slow release via the skin…..hence the 3 different methods to deliver 1 overall product……..do I believe it? – I’m not the type to blindly put anything in so played around with it all over the last 2.5 years on it……it works best all 3 steps together…..(for me anyway)
The DUO and pills lady ( apologies I forget your name now I’m typing) my friend started, didn’t feel the energy in the first few weeks so dropped to DUO and balance only and is noticing weight loss….
Personally I never lost weight on any of it…..but did start eating better last year……I have gone from a 24-16 (UK sizes) so far……
Also enjoying the joys of early menopause:/ and recently had 101 blood tests…..all were great 🙂
Hope you are well Joe and thread people 🙂
Hi Me, good to hear from you and so glad to hear all continues to go well with you 🙂
Thanks for the link feedback. odd, I know I saw it on Amazon and then I didn’t when I circled back. weird. Oh well 🙂
Good afternoon,
My adult son has been taking some Thrive products which is why I am interested, along with the fact that I have some intrinsic interest as a PhD organic/biochemist who has taught at several universities, including Stanford and Northwestern.
I appreciate your thoughts about multilevel marketing too. I am not a fan at all.
Common sense and a little critical thinking is all it takes to realize that paying off three levels of participants inflates the price enormously.
With respect to Thrive, they do not provide any quantitative information about some of the most important ingredients such as caffeine and theobromine. Reason enough to be suspicious.
One final thought, “pure” synthetic caffeine is exactly the same as “pure” natural caffeine. Keep up the good work!
Hi Jim, thanks for checking in and sharing your thoughts. yep, natural or synthetic, it’s still caffeine 🙂
I’ve used it off and on for several years. It’s truly helped me, once down on a routine. You really need to try it 30 days, to see if it works for you. I wish i was a chemist! I’m pregnant, 7 weeks, and I stopped Thrive, as many doctors tell you just do pre-Natal vitamin. I hate being off thrive and recently started drinking just 1/2 a shake in mornings.
There’s 64mg of Caffeine if I remember correctly, in the shake itself. Which is less than a cup coffee.
I honestly wonder if I take the shake mix ingredients to a pharmacist they could decipher if it’s safe to drink while pregnant?
Hi LM, The Thrive Shake has garcinina cambogia. This ingredient concerns me. I think the weight loss studies have issues but more than this, garcinia has been linked to liver problems. In some cases liver failure. While the risk is probably low, I would not chance it during pregnancy.
Here’s the garcinia cambogia review which covers the liver controversy.
Here’s a review on other liver toxic supplements.
Congratulations on your pregnancy BTW 🙂
Thank you!
Praying the 24/7 feeling out of it and nausea/acid reflux goes away soon. That’s been the hardest part. I know a lot is going on inside me, that I can not see, but Thrive helped with appetite control too. I’m constantly hungry and eating all the time now, already gained what I worked so hard for MONTHS to lose!
I know, we need to give ourselves a break. It’s an adjustment for sure.
I will look into your information provided.
LM, give yourself time. hopefully you will be feeling better soon. Pregnancy is filled with its own “fun” side effects which can be playing a role in things. Give yourself time to enjoy the pregnancy. You will get back to where you were before. I have faith in you 🙂
Hi there, I am new and have only tried the capsules and patch. The shake has whey in it and I know for a fact I my belly can’t handle whey protein. I bet that is what’s causing issues with others.
Having said all the above, do you think this will work for me? I have only been on 3 days DUO Burn.
Hi Toni, It’s hard to say if it will work for you or not. Some people say yes and others say no. Do you feel any different in the 3 days since you have been using the DUO Burn Patch / capsules?
In case you missed it, here are the reviews on the thrive patches and Thrive W capsules
Thrive DFT Patch review
Thrive DFT DUO Patch review
Here also is the review of Thrive W capsules
Ive also put together a list of weight loss supplements which I feel have evidence
Weight loss supplements with proof
Thanks so much Joe. Love this site!
Thanks Toni, that’s so nice of you to say 🙂
Hi,
I was using Thrive and I enjoyed it. I loved the chocolate shakes but I would add twice as much milk as they told you to use.. otherwise it was just too thick.. I was not happy when I realized you only got a half a month’s worth of shakes but a month worth of everything else.. I’m just to the point that I can no longer afford the cost of Thrive, I am wanting to find something comparable to the shakes, but 50 dollars for 15 shakes is a bit too much for me..
Side note: they do a lot of “tricks” to get people to join.. I’ll give you 25 dollars to use towards your first purchase, oh do you have another email and we can set you up on another account for another 25 dollars free product..
It got so confusing I couldn’t remember which account was which.. Anyway, I just don’t believe all the hype of the product I just know I need some extra protein and vitamins.
Thanks!
Hi Krista, thanks for sharing. I didn’t know you only got 2.5 weeks of shakes. I also didn’t know about the other incentives either. Have you tried making your own shakes? Here’s my smoothie recipe
Here are ALL the protein shake reviews on this site
You know its a shake every other day right? Or mon-thurs with 3 days off or half a day?
The ‘tone’ package gives 2 boxes of shakes (1 a day) which is supposed to be aimed at those wanting to use it as a meal replacement for weight loss help.
Also……multiple accounts for extra money off…….that’s awful….against the company ideals and frowned upon……sounds like you were unlucky with a money chasing sponsor ????
Joe has a great smoothie recipe ???? give that a go
Me, glad you are enjoying my smoothie recipe 🙂
No one ever told me to limit the shakes. In fact, when I complained that I wasn’t getting any results, I kept getting asked if I was “doing it right”. These instructions were a shake every day shortly after the morning supplement pills.
Hi Carrie,
To be fair its a bit confusing, my upline in the States said 1 a day. But a friend I made locally through her also taking thrive is adamant that its 3-4 a week only. (Different upline)
I think the info differs between promoters.
What i will say is that any advertising of the commissions state $15 on the 3 steps….at 10% thats $150 which is only 1 box of shakes a month (I hope that makes sense).
Do what feels good to you…..I did try to cut down to 3-4 a week but its pretty tasty and I do feel I get more on days I take all 3….
Joe…….no more tummy issues since switching to mens caps…..wierd huh ????
Just curious, are you not supposed to have carbonated drinks or coffee & tea while taking Thrive. I’ve seen videos and comments with people saying they don’t miss their drinks & coffee, but is there a reason they’re not drinking them while taking Thrive?
Hi Jana, my 2 cents (take it for what it’s worth) is when people say they no longer need coffee or other caffeinated beverages when they start using Thrive is because the caffeine and stimulants in some of the supplements take the place of the caffeine they were taking before.
As for carbonated beverages, I have never seen any credible information carbonated beverages interfered with Thrive results.
Some people criticize carbonated soda because they say its linked to osteoporosis. If this is the reason people on Youtube are saying to avoid carbonated drinks, I can tell you I think it’s controversial. I have seen studies showing carbonated soda is connected to osteoporosis -and other studies showing no connection.
I have not seen the videos Jana is referring to. Does anyone else want to weigh in on this?
I was told to avoid my diet coke addiction when i started taking it purely because it wasn’t needed……a lot of thrivers stories (even the personal trainers and healthy people) found they had a ‘3 coffees before functioning’ habit ???? the simple fact is there is enough of a ‘wake up and un fuddle your brain’ in the thrive that you dont need that caffeine habit anymore…….
do i still drink diet coke…….yeah…..but the occasional one rather than 2 ltrs a day ……as with anything you do get people who hear a Chinese rumour and dont have enough knowledge to know its not correct and spout it as gospel……..????
Me, I drink an occasional diet coke too (Coke Zero 🙂 ). I dont think Ive heard about the Chinese rumor -what are they saying? That the ingredients come from China?
Im an idiot i meant Chinese whispers……????
Me, LOL no your not – you should see the doozies I make 🙂
Hi Joe….and all…..
Its been an awful few months ( personally not thrive related) but a late update on tummy problems……
I switched to mens pills…..
No stomach issue for months…….????????
Not sure why but im happy.
To the lady with the pregnant daughter – we are told no patch while breastfeeding but thats the only thing we should do differently and that its ok to take while pregnant…..however even as someone who loves what the products do for me i wouldnt recommend it for a pregnant person……the abundance of some vitamins would worry me….we have an RDA for a reason……..
For me its better than the pills i was on….my life is changed so much ( and no weight loss…..its not why i take it) but i wouldnt want a pregnant friend taking it……just because…..what if………?
Me ????
Hi Me, thanks for the update, so you had no stomach problems when you switched from Thrive W to Thrive M? hmmm, I wonder what the difference was?
I’d agree about refraining from Thrive while pregnant and breast feeding.
Sorry to hear you’ve had a rough few months. Hopefully, you are through the worst of it.
You would have far more success by adopting a whole food plant based diet. There are no magic bullets. You just need to eat food that “fuels” you up, not just “fills” you up.
Okay, I’d like a more sciencey answer if possible. What’s been bugging me about the whole thrive experience is why do I HAVE to take the pill, the drink, and the patch. And from what I’ve heard from other people pushing it, for example, they’d say that it won’t work if you just take the drink or the pill.
My question is most, if not, all their products contain the same ingredients why do I have to take three different products to “activate” each of them if they all contain the same thing?
Is there actual research saying if you take one thing you have to take another to activate it. I’m sure there is research but I want to know what exactly it is in the pill that requires me to take the drink before the pill works.
When the sales rep told me that pitch I honestly felt discouraged immediately because I knew it was a way to make people spend more if anything, since they couldn’t seem to answer my questions.
Kischa, you bring up an interesting question. Does anyone have an answer to this?
The most obvious reason is because they want you to be on autoship taking all the steps. If you’re taking all the steps, then you’re spending the most. Bigger commish, and the free Thrive is guaranteed. This is part of the refer 2 get yours free. If your diamond is not on autoship, the get yours free part doesn’t apply, just the commish. So I could spend $500 on products and someone else could spend $100, if we’re not on autoship, our up line won’t get $300 worth of thrive credit, just the commish.
The other reason is that taking all 3 steps DOES work better. I’ve tried not taking the patch, but I didn’t feel as great as I would with it. But it is all opinion, for me I need it, others might not.
On the caffeine part, I can’t have coffee, it gives me an instant headache that lasts all day. I tried one day just to see if anything had changed and same result. Then my SO told me he had actually given me decaf, go figure, same result. So I started taking the capsules and no issues. I was ecstatic! So that’s what makes me believe it is in fact not synthetic.
I also can’t have regular yogurt for probiotics, it gives me bad stomach aches. I started taking dairy free yogurt, but that was expensive. The shake really helps with that end of things, no stomach she’s, but keeps me regular without running to the bathroom. The DFTs are great.
I have definitely felt a big difference between the regular and the black label when I work out. I experience more endurance. About 45 days ago, I started taking their new product called Sculpt, BCAAs. Compared to others that cost about the same, this one has a better blend. I’ve made more progress with Sculpt that with other BCAA blends.
Person, thanks for your feedback. Im glad to hear you are having good results and also your insights on why the commission structure. I will take a look at Thrive Sculpt. Thanks for the heads up.
My 28 yr old niece started drinking shake for energy. She is 4 months pregnant. Her doctor oked it. High caffeine makes me wonder if this is wise. What do you think? Thank you.
Hi Sandy, that is an interesting point. I’d also be reluctant because of garcina cambogia in the shake. Because it has garcinia cambogia, I view this product as a weight loss shake. Why does she want to take a weight loss shake during pregnancy?
Thanks for your quick reply. She likes the energy it gives her. I’m concerned about the caffeine and the gc and possible effects to her and baby.
Hi Sandy, I would be too. I doubt even the company that makes it would recommend she take it during pregnancy.
Ok so my question is , Will you get the same effect if you don’t use the shake? In my opinion its horrible and several ppl I have spoken w/ said the same thing. And also , when I do drink the shake, maybe 2 hours later I’m hungry.
I have the energy boost on most days my appetite is curved more than others. I can honestly say that. I’ve been using it for a month now. I have gotten last with the times I drink the shake after the pills, is that the causing of my hungry shortly after the shakes?
Hi Jasmine, the Thrive shake is just a meal replacement shake. I dont think it has any special weight loss properties so I’d say yes. It also has garcinia which I am not a fan of. Here’s my garcinia cambogia review for more on this.
Hi Joe……
The company line is that its pills on an empty stomach….shake 20-30 mins later then a sensible breakfast.
We are not told its a meal replacement (obviously this is my upline….others may say differently)
Its great for me as im up at 4-5 and rarely want to eat before 10 so it kick starts my body with a bit of goodness to get going.
On the rare day im hungry ill eat porridge.
For those actively looking to loose weight (when DUO came out) we were told we could use it as a meal replacement and a second shake for lunch if we wanted.
While im no great dietician i would say if you’re hungry then eat….if you’re trying to drop lbs then eat sensibly ????
On a side note….still ok with lining my tummy with the yoghurt drink first…..im hesitant to put too much in as pills should be on an empty stomach but ill play around with it and if there is no-little loss of energy etc ill try more ????????
Hi Me, thanks for the update 🙂
i was told a tip with the thrive system…either do only a half shake per day or do 4 days on full then take 3 days off…seemed to work for me..never had any stomach issues, i was actually thinking of getting back on it because it kept me very regular and i felt great…
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your tip. Glad you did not have any stomach issues with Thrive.
Good Morning Joe & Me,
I have been reading your thread regarding the horrible stomach pain as a result of thrive. I take the Thrive W and the patch and the shake. I am a Celiac patient so I was excited to find out about thrive products. I did one Thrive W and beginner patch and half the shake for a week and felt a little “Full”.
I contacted the individual who is to be my support about it and was told you’re just detoxing. and I needed to be doing a full shake every day 20 minutes after the Thrive W. I am also a nurse, so I do know about nutrition.
I tried to do as the Thrive Distributor said. I was so bloated that I had to go to my GI specialist. The pain was horrible!! Now I have completely STOP the shake it has been a week and I agree with ME! The Thrive W and the Patches do not seem to work like they should.
Yes, I get the energy boost first thing in the morning, but it is short lived. I see no difference in my sleep either anymore. I have talked to several people who also tried the shake and they too have severe stomach pain from the shake :-(.
Is there a resolve or any research into why so many people are having the same stomach pain related to the shake? And what about the other products not working without the shake? I do know there is Whey protein in the shake and Soy. Both of which can (not always) cause issues for Celiacs patients.
I am not a happy camper with the amount of money I spent and now the product causes issues.
Hi Kimberly, thanks so much for sharing your experiences. I did not know so many others were having stomach pains with the Thrive shake (Me, its not just you!). I wish I knew what was going on with the shake. Kimberly, are you taking the thrive pills and shake at the same time? have you tried separating them?
When it comes to distributors, remember they might not have any formal nutrition background – as is evidenced by the “detoxing” comment.
Hi ????
On one hand i wish it was just me who had the pain!
In a video J.C. put on facebook the other day he explained it was 1 product split into 3 depending on how each ingredient was absorbed better….ok that makes sense i guess.
So if we are taking just 2 products we are losing part of the whole making it less effective.
Someone i reached out to said we should only be taking a shake on alternate days or 1/2 a day to prevent a build up of the ingredients.
Does that make any sense Joe?
Although it (pills and shake) should be taken 20-30 mins apart on an empty stomach i have been lining my tummy with a small yogurt drink first thing to see if that helps…..slight discomfort yesterday so ill see if it builds today.
It’s such a shame with a product that really seems to be delivering as a whole (better sleep, discomforts reduced, tons of energy) that there isn’t info on how to get around this issue as its clearly not just me.
Ill keep you guys informed of how its going.
Kimberley although its not worth it to send stock back most thrivers would pay for your stock if you don’t keep it. I hope your tummy is back to normal now ????
P.s. the old “detox” line ????????
Hi Me, do you have a link to the JC video so I can see it? I’ve never heard the ingredients in Thrive “build up” in the body. I’ll lump that in with the “detox” statement Kimberly mentioned – no proof.
I also dont buy the the claim people are missing out by only using 2 products. In light of no clinical proof all 3 products work better together, this sounds like someone trying to make more money. I’d think most distributors would agree with me on this.
Me, do your stomach issues feel better when you take yogurt? If not, try giving your self more than 20 minutes between the pills and shake. Dont be afraid to take the pills with more food too.
Hi Joe…..ran out of room.
Yes 2 on an empty stomach and 20 mins later the shake.
I will play around with amounts and food with them and see if it helps ???? thank you for taking a look for me ????????
Me, glad to help. Really looking forward to learning what happens when you take the caps with food. Start with taking just 1 with food and see what happens. give yourself more time between the shake and the thrive W caps. changing up how you take the supplements might just do the trick. 🙂
Le-vel is currently rated as an A+ company.
Hi Nikki, you are correct thanks. I’ve added the upgraded BBB rating to the review.
Hi Joe…..me again ????
I love your site so much and thought i would pop back and give you my thrive update in case feedback assists or anyone can share advice.
I am a customer and pay for my product every month ( in case anyone thought i was pushing it )
Long story short. Chronic pain condition, exhaustion ( lack of sleep due to pain) and other aches from not walking correctly ( again due to pain)
In comes thrive and my world is turned upside down for the better ???? 18 months later and im still loving the energy and lack of pain (pain levels have gone from an 8 daily to a 2-3 daily) i haven’t lost weight except the stone initially from dropping the caffeine drinks as im not after a diet i just need energy, a decent sleep and abit of pain control… So yeah the stuff works and well!
However…….i have over the last 4 months had episodes of excruciating pain in my tummy…..at first it would slowly build over a few days until it was awful…..it took a while to realise what it was….stopped thrive – pain went……went back on it few weeks later pain hits quicker this time.
Im at the point where 1/2 a cafe or activate or 1 capusule or shake is all my tummy can take a few times a week…..and of course its an energy hit for a few hours at most. Im not getting the benefit of all the products everyday….im back to exhausted and hurting.
Last time I had the pain I nearly called an ambulance it was horrific. ( I know…..but life before thrive was pretty bleak) anyone else had it and found a mix of thrive products that dont do this? And Joe…..any ideas? Too much b6? ( its loaded with it and i think its just b12 thats water soluble?)
Any advice would be awesome as anything considered negative is not allowed to be voiced ????
Me
Hi Me, so if I understand what you are saying, you get really bad tummy aches when you drink the thrive shake, yes? The shake mix has so many ingredients I think its hard to pin this down. You did say in your other comment the Black Label patch took your pain away yes?
If that is correct, maybe only use the black label patch and dont use the other thrive supplements. Might that work?
Hi Joe…..apologies I do waffle on ???? lol.
On the 3 step system for 18 months….switched to black label month 2….pain levels reduced dramatically since them ( lower back chronic pain)
The tummy pain i have had 4 times…..each time getting worse.
1st time was 6 months ago and it took days to stop thrive as I thought it was a bug.
Went back in it….couple of months later i get it again….comes on more suddenly this time. Again I stop thrive. Went back on it but only 1 pill a day but still after a few weeks the pain is back….
Im now at the point where i can take either a pill or a shake or a cafe/activate for a few days in a row then have to stop. I can feel the uncomfortable feeling build up in my tummy over a couple of days.
Although i continue to wear the black label its not as effective without step 1 and 2 each and every day. But the last time i had the pain it didnt build up it just suddenly hit me and it was horrific…….
*no negative comments please guys…….yeah i tried protein and water and spinach and gabapentin etc etc…..
This stuff gives me a life i didnt have before……i just need to work out whats destroying my stomach and work around it if possible…..simple huh????
Me, so you get the pain both when you use Thrive Shake and / or when you take Thrive W yes? Let me see if I can take a look at both the shake and thrive W and see if they have anything in common.
Besides the tummy aches, do you think you have gotten any benefits from Thrive W or the Thrive shake? Just wondering if there are reasons you want to keep taking them since you are in so much tummy pain?
Hi Joe…..when i take 2 caps and a shake daily for more than a few days the pain comes back worse each time.
I can get away with 1 cap or a shake a few days a week and if my tummy isn’t in discomfort, I will take a risk on all 3 products on a busy day.
Sadly before thrive my life was a mess…..chronic pain….exhaustion from 6 years in pain and little sleep etc….on meds which weren’t stopping the pain but made me like a zombie……this literally had me feeling like the me before my accident again.
Probably sounds crazy to keep taking it but im so desperate not to go back to that broken person. I have energy my aches are reduced so much…i sleep through the night now but to get all that i have to take all 3 steps daily and it seams the pills and shake between them have too much of something that is building up and causing the pain.
Hi Me, I looked over the ingredients. I cant pin down anything specific which might cause stomach pains. Question, are you taking the thrive W caps on an empty stomach or with food? If, you are taking them on an empty stomach, try taking them with food – and only 1 at a time. Are you taking them at the same time you are drinking the Thrive Shake? if yes, I wonder if that might be the issue – too much of everything at the same time.
Have you tried separating the caps and shakes by a few hours and/or taking the caps with real food to see if that helps?
I am celiac and I know the shakes are gluten free but what about the capsules and patch. I have searched and can’t find any information. I was given a 4 day sample and am on day 2 and feel awful. Stomach is messed up and headache and jitters, feel like I am having a gluten reaction.
Hi Kathleen, while I doubt if the thrive patch has any gluten, I’m not so sure about the capsules. Does anyone know if there is gluten in the capsules – I mean the stuff that makes up the casuals. I would not take the rest of your sample, given the reaction you are having.
All 3 steps are gluten free
Hi Nikki, so there is no gluten in any of the supplements then, yes?
You have to be careful with some of their products: the Boost says gluten free then in the ingredients it says it contains wheat!
Eileen, you are correct. I just checked. Thrive Boost contains wheat grass powder. I wonder how they say its gluten free if it has wheat?