Update 4/22/20. What's better: Shakeology or Body By Vi Shakes? Have you ever wondered which of these shakes might be best for you? Just in case you were thinking about this, I thought I would compare some of the aspects of Shakeology and BodyByVi shakes side by side so that you might have a better idea. For Body by Visalus, I’ll use their Vi Shape shake as this seems to be their biggest selling item. My goal is not to promote one supplement over another. Rather, I want to give you some information side by side so you can make the decision that is right for you.
I also suggest you read the comments that follow each review as this will give you additional insights.
Product Label. Body by Vi vs. Shakeology
Assuming that both shakes are mixed with water, here is how they compare.
|
Body by Vi |
% DV |
Shakeology |
% DV | |
| Calories | 90 | 140 | ||
| Calories from fat | 10 | 10 | 3 | |
| Total fat | 1 | 2 | .05 g | 0 |
| Saturated fat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trans fat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cholesterol | 15 mg | 5 | 10 mg | 3 |
| Sodium | 75 mg | 3 | 95 | 4 |
| Potassium | 125 mg | 4 |
?* |
|
| Total carbs | 7 g | 2 | 19 g | 6 |
| Dietary fiber | 5 | 22 | 3 g | 13 |
| Sugars | 1 g | 11 g | ||
| Protein | 12 g | 24 | 15 g | 30 |
*The Shakeolgy label did not list potassium. I found this odd given the health benefits of potassium.
Shakeology also contains a wide range of other ingredients which may or may not play a role in health. For more on these ingredients, I encourage you to read my review of Shakeology.
Looking at the main product label, we can see is that Shakeology has 50 more calories than the ViSalus shake. This is neither good or bad since anyway you look, at it 140 calories per Shakeology shake is not much.
Both ViSalus shakes and Shakeology still have fewer calories than my homemade smoothie recipe that I discussed previously.
In case you were wondering, Right Size Smoothie which is marketed on TV, radio ect. has 100 calories per scoop. Right Size Smoothies also has many other ingredients including caffeine.
How Do They Taste?
Taste is subjective. I can tell you I thought ViSalus shake tasted better than Shakeology. For more info see my reviews on the tastes
Shakeology vs. Visalus: Fiber Content
In the fiber department, the ViSalus shake has 5 grams which squeaks past Shakeology which has 3 grams of fiber. While 5 g vs. 3 g of fiber may not seem much, 5 grams is 22% of our daily value for fiber. Shakeolgoy only has 13%. This means Visalus is “high in fiber.” Since most people don't eat enough fiber this is something to consider.
The fact that shakeolgy has less fiber is ironic since some BB coaches have said you'd have to eat lots of different veggies (which have fiber) to equal what’s in Shakeology. These ads are obviously referring to the “phytonutrients” in Shakeology. However placing Shakeology on the same level as vegetables gives the impression that it contains vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, which is not true.
Carbohydrates
ViSalus shakes have about 3 times fewer carbs than Shakeology (7 vs. 19). I wonder if this has to do with the “fear of carbs” that some people have? Any way you look at it, 7 carbs or 19 carbs is not a lot and really shouldn't factor into what's better.
Cost Comparison. Shakeology vs. Body By Vi
|
Shakeology |
ViSalus Shake |
| $119 per month | $49 per month (Vi Shape only) |
| $1428 per year | $588 per year (Vi Shape only) |
ViSalus has many supplements. If you use more than the Vi Shape shake, the cost you pay will be more than what I have listed.
Costs Per Serving. Shakeology vs. Body by Vi
|
Shakeology |
ViSalus Shake |
| $ 4.00 per serving | $ 1.50 per serving |
Protein Content
In terms of protein, Shakeology has 15 grams per serving vs. ViSalus which has 12 grams of protein. Both shakes have more protein than Right Size Smoothie which has only 9 grams of protein per serving.
So What's Better?
If price matters, Visalus wins hands down. It's much less expensive than Shakeology. From my taste tests, I can say I preferred Visalus too. I just thought it tasted better. Both shakes are low in calories, and as a meal replacement, both will lead to weight loss if you follow their diet programs.
In Visalus, sucralose is the sweetener, but look at this… The amount in each bag is .03 Mg, each bag of Visalus is 27,000 Mg. so, divide .03 mg by 27,000, you will see it its a miniscule amount.
Also, as far as cost, as a customer, if you refer 3 people, you get your next month autoship free. You don’t have to recruit 3 new people each month either, so compare Beach Body price against free, lol
You know I bet if people did some research they would find that the well known drink of America would do better than any of these shakes and tastes much better!! Yes people the YooHoo!! What do you think?
Thanks Joe.
Yeah- dieting. I did the whole atkins thing about 13 years ago. Lost over 40 lbs… kept 30 of it off for 4 years…
I burnt out on dieting. I just gotta get a good nudge then I can live in moderation.
Forgot to add- I’m really curious about BBV, but I’m very turned off by their cult-like following.
Every other person on Facebook is trying to sell this stuff and I want no part of any pyramid scheme.
BBV – do you mean body by visalus? here is my review Body By Vi review
I found your website via search…
I’m trying to find a good meal replacement option…
I’ve gotten into a bad habit of unhealthy eating. I mean really bad food.
Chicken biscuit combos for breakfast; deli sandwiches, chips and cookies for lunch; and takeout for dinner.
The only reason I’m not morbidly obese is because I run 5-7 miles 5x a week.
I’m in my mid 30s (male) and need to get back on track…
I’m 5’11” and about 210lbs. I need to lose about 15-20 lbs.
What is the best meal replacement shake available?
Chris I think almost any shake will help because pretty much all of them are just a low calorie substitution for what you might otherwise eat. I don’t think there is one that is the “best”… it’s also what tastes good to you.
take a look at RTD 50 shakes which you can get at GNC or vitamin shoppe. its 230 cal and 15 oz. you can double the size of it if you add water to it.
Since you run a lot, you might also want to look at a shake that is a little higher in calories and carbs (most ready-made shakes in a can don’t have a lot of carbs).
Taste is the big thing here so you may need to do some experimenting.
Another you could probably lose weight also if you just ate better. since it sounds you go out for lunch a lot, if there is a chic filet near you, get the grilled chicken sandwich and medium fruit cup . that’s just 500 calories. don’t get the fried sandwich (or anything else fried) as that is just not healthy.
for dinner, try outback grilled salmon (no butter on it) and steamed veggies (no butter). Or if you like Chinese there is steamed chicken and broccoli with the sauce on the side.
for breakfast, you can toss some fruits / veggies in a blender with protein powder (did you see my smoothie recipe here?).
shakeology / body by vi people – just in case anyone starts yelling at me because I recommended “chic filet”, I did this because it sounds like it fits in with Chris’s schedule. it’s not just about shakes but rather options.
Joe,
I am looking for a “shake” for my grandchildren before going to school, to replace breakfast foods. The schools breakfast and lunch programs are horrible.
This is what we have been experimenting with. Orange juice, frozen banana, kiwi, cactus juice, apple, pineapple, carrot, Emergen C Immune Defense pct., and stabilized rice bran, and flax. Also add tabs of Red Krill as they both have ADD/ADHD. Sometimes the fruits will change up a little depending on what’s on hand. Sometimes add Greek yogurt or avocado.
We also juice a couple of times a week.
I am a grandmother raising 2 teens. I am sorry to say that I allowed them to get to heavy.
I looked into Body by Vi, but did not like the soy in it or need to mix with some form of milk.
Also I believe in alkalizing, and we have started w/ bit of natural apple cider vinegar in the mornings.
Question is: Will this be enough for them to start their morning for school. Would like a good shake for them to take as their lunch as well. Would send raw vegetables and fruit in their lunches.
Grandma
Hi Willa (grandma) ;), that all sounds fine to me. The only thing Id add is some protein. it didn’t look like most of your ingredients had protein. the protein will keep their blood sugar from dropping and help them feel fuller longer.
Ive heard about apple cyder vinegar being alkalizing but I’m not sure if it is because vinegar is an acid. Its a small/trivial point and either way its fine too.
in case you missed it here is my smoothie recipe
as for lunch, how does your shake taste / look several hours later? that can be a problem for stuff you whip up in the blender. try an experiment and see if they like it.
To Eva what specific brand of drops did u do there are so many to choose from….I’ve heard many ppl losing weight but they just tell u hcg never where they are from or anything??
Liz I have 2eviews on HCG
HCG drops review
HCG diet review of research
read those comments too. I try not to get into specific products like HCG this because it lets spammers slip through the cracks posting links to their products. HCG is one of the biggest contributes of spam I get. they are very slick.
I did not read every comment in here so I apologize if you already addressed this, but I think an extremely huge factor that should be evaluated when comparing these two are the ingredients.
It would be great to see a post from you on this. I have been personally researching the ingredients in both (not to their fullest extent yet), but it looks to me like Body By Vi contains a long list of inorganic chemicals and such that aren’t really good for you.
One big flag for me on the Body by Vi ingredients list was the fact that, in addition to the second ingredient being Digestive Resistant Maltodextrin, was that they also list “natural and artificial flavoring” in their ingredients.
These “flavorings” can come from a variety of sources, good and bad, and it is not required for them to list these sources. I’m very curious to see what your views would be if you compared the actual ingredients.
Lori I also would like to know where the flavorings come from. I see “natural and artificial flavorings ” on a LOT of things. I always ask the question you did.
I too am a BB coach. I did my own extensive research but found that shakeology would benefit me personally because I know my body and what I can and can not put in it and how my body reacts to certain foods,shakes or supplements.
I can not eat the amount of servings in a day that are recommended because I am always on the go so I depend on a shake to help provide the extra nutrients and vitamins that I need and shakeology just happens to be the one that works for me. (and my kids).
I drink shakeology for nutrient supplement and not to lose weight.(although when replacing a meal can HELP with weight loss) We all know that unhealthy foods and not exercising causes us to gain weight. No matter what shake you choose you still have to eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise.
That’s another reason I like BB. They offer workout programs,meal guides and have support groups and message boards to help keep you on track. Just because something works for me doesn’t mean it will work for you. Make sure you do your research and remember you get out of your health and fitness what you put into your health and fitness. Good luck.
I use EAS Whey protein now. What are the health benefits, if any, of Body by Vi or Skakeology over Eas?
A Andrea, I dont know if there are any. sellers of those products will talk about no artificial sweaters, non GMO soy, enzymes ect and while thats well and good i cant speak to any better “health benefits” because as of now, there are no published clinical trials comparing EAS to sheakology or body bi vi.
EAS isn’t designated as a meal replacement shake. Compare the ingredient and nutrition label between EAS, Visalus, and Shakeology. The EAS list a whole lot shorter since it isn’t a meal replacement.
Like Melissa and Joe, I love experimenting with smoothies! Especially for my daughters, some are picky eaters, so I feel better sneaking veggies into their desserts 😉
Just wanted to add that I usually add ground organic, flaxseed, but have never added oats — great idea! Also great are hemp hearts! They give it a nutty flavor (reminds me of raw sunflower seeds 🙂
I’m also a Beachbody coach, but do it because I love helping people reach their goals — I’ve never made any money over what my costs are for the bb products I buy. I promote clean, plant-based, whole food eating to my challengers in combination with daily exercise.
I do like that Shakeology comes in two vegan flavors, and enjoy blending them up with fruit and ice in my Vitamix when I don’t have time to prepare other smoothies, or no timer to run to the farmers market… There’s no quick fix… If you want results, you’ve got to put in the work…. 80% clean, organic, plant based nutrition, 20% hard work of daily exercise!
Blessings to all of you on reaching your fitness & nutrition goals
I forgot to mention comparing them to the readily available Myoplex Lite. It is much cheaper and very similar to these products.
One thing I notice is you don’t double everything in the Visalus. One serving size of Visalus is 26g where the Shakeology is 48 grams so doubling the cost and all the nutrition info for Visalus would be a better comparison.
I am a ViSalus promoter and I have seen amazing results!! I began using the shake to help me get on a “healthier” track as I am approaching 40! I lost 14 lbs and 12-1/2″ the first 60 days. It is work and I am just now adding exercise but it’s more about a life style for me, I am soon going to just take one shake a day and add the vitamin packs.
As far as getting the products for free you do not have to promote for that to happen, all you do is have 3 people sign up under you (join the program using you as a referral) and as long as you have 3 people (any 3) then you will continue to get your monthly auto ship for free!
It is more about a reward for sharing your story than anything. I mean. If you are seeing results and those around you notice why would you not want to share it and get your products for free!! =} Thanks so much for the post and information.
ViSalus, to my knowledge, is the shake that you can actually get for FREE.
how? if you are a distributor and sell enough its free, but the same thing is true for shakeology too.
The calories listed for the Vi Shake are w/o milk?
jamie, yes i think they are
i have been using body by Vi for 20 days I have lost 5lbs and 8 1/2 inches , which i think is pretty good. The possibilities with ViSalus are endless.
Very good article that clears up some questions I have had about the 2 companies. The discussion after really helped out. If it helps anyone out there, I used GNC branded shake supplements with a steady work out and lost 30lbs over 3 months with a massive increase in energy. I was using it was a meal replacement in the mornings but eating high protein and simple carb meals as the day grew on. My work outs were generally early in the morning around 4am and my day was energized.
In my experience, early workouts with proper eating leads to a great boost in energy.
Sadly, life has been so demanding for me the last 2 years that I haven’t followed the same guide. Hence Joe, why I’m also on the Plexus Slim article… Lol… I pray for the day where I have the time to get back to my old routines.
God Bless,
Steve
I have a suggestion for your homemade smoothie recipe. I was trying to get more oatmeal into my diet (for cholesterol lowering reasons) but I don’t like to eat oatmeal. So I take 2 cups of oatmeal (not instant), 1/2 cup of oat bran and 3/4 cup of flaxseed meal, grind it in food processor and add 1/4 cup to my smoothie (fruit, whey protein powder, and almond milk). It provides a serving of oatmeal and tastes great!
Melissa, thanks for that tip! Ive been tossing in a couple of scoops of oatmeal in my smoothies lately but hae never added oat bran or flaxseed meal. You gave me stuff to add to my shopping list this week 🙂
Also, there are shakes out there that contain mostly soluble fiber which I don’t do well with. Even oatmeal I can’t have anymore. Do either of these shakes specify the fiber content?
Airy, yes both shakeology and body by vi tell you the fiber content. Shakeology has 3 grams per shake and body by vi shakes list 5 grams of fiber per shake.