At one Body By Vi website they say “A sluggish metabolism can occur when you cut food intake, yo-yo diet, lack exercise, and even happens with aging.” Well that's true, but can Vi Slim Metab-Awake tablets help you lose weight? ViSlim is a metabolism booster and weight loss supplement made by Body By Vi which has several weight management supplements and even a Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge to help people lose weight and get healthy. Vi Slim is supposed to “awaken your metabolism and help you burn fat naturally.” While technically your metabolism is always working and your body is always burning fat (your burring a LOT of fat right now actually), let's leave this grand claims alone and just focus on the facts. I've previously reviewed the Body By Vi weight loss shake and the 90 day challenge but in this review, I want to specifically look at the ingredients in the Vi Slim Metab-Awake supplement. Does the Vi Slim supplement help you lose weight faster? Does Vi Slim have any side effects? Let's check it out.
ViSalus websites
If you search for information on Body By Vi products be aware that you may or may not be on the actual ViSalus website. ViSalus distributors seem to have all sorts of ViSalus-sounding websites whose names are variations on the Body By Vi name. One of the good things about the distributors Body By Vi websites was that they gave me more information about the Body By Vi products. I say this because when I went to the main ViSalus website – Visalus.com – I couldn't easily view the ingredients of the Body By Vi products.
The ViSalus website does have a “products” page, but in order to dig deeper into the products, I have either to “be a customer” or “be a distributor.” They obviously want to collect my personal information, which I don't like.
Vi Slim Metab-Awake ingredients
Vi Slim – not to be confused with Vi Trim (that's another product they make) – is a 900 mg herbal blend containing:
- Theobroma Coca Extract
- Green Tea Extract
- Coleus Forskohlii Extract (Forslean)
- Yerba Mate Extract
- Evodiamine (Evodiae Fructus, Evothin)
So, what the heck is all this stuff? Here is a basic breakdown of these ingredients:
Theobroma Coca Extract. The tip-off is “Coca”. This is an extract of chocolate that has small amounts of caffeine. Natural caffeine or not – it's still caffeine.
Green tea extract. Green tea also has caffeine
Coleus Forskohlii Extract (Forslean). Another name for this ingredient is “Forskolin”. This ingredient comes from a plant (Plectranthus barbatus) and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for ages. Even though Coleus Forskohlii can be found in other weight loss supplements – and has even been mentioned on “Dr OZ” – there isn't much proof it works. For example, in one Coleus weight loss study from 2005, it didn't help women lose weight.
Considering all the attention coleus forskohlii gets from the supplement industry, I'd like to see some more research on this stuff.
Whether coleus forskohlii works or not is debatable, but even if it does help people lose weight, those who are not “healthy” need to be cautious of this herb.
Coleus forskohlii can cause vasodilation (expanding) of blood vessels. This can cause a decrease in blood pressure. Do not use Forskohlii if you use any medications – especially blood thinners or drugs used to treat heart disease or high blood pressure.
While I have no proof, I would also be cautious if taking Viagra or other drugs or supplements used for “male enhancement. If you are not “healthy”, you should speak to your doctor before using this herb.
Some Body By Vi distributors say that coleus forskohlii can help you preserve lean body mass but I can't find any good proof to substantiate this claim.
Yerba Mate Extract. This herb contains caffeine
Evodiamine. This is also a stimulant. One of the extracts in Evodamine (also called Evodia) is synepherine. In other supplements, this stuff is called “bitter orange.” Synepherine is chemically similar to ephedra. Synepherine can raise your heart rate and blood pressure.
They say Vi Slim Metabo Awake is “ephedra free” but it does contain something that “looks” like ephedra. Since it has no ephedra, distributors say Vi Slim does not cause “jitters.” I can't testify to this since I have not tried the product. I will await to hear from what users of Vi Slim tell me.
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using Vi Slim Metab Awake. I would be very cautious of this ingredient if you take ANY medications – especially those used for heart disease or high blood pressure.
For more info on Evodiamine see my review of Apidexin where I show you the studies on it.
All total, 2 tablets of the Vi Slim metabolism booster has 900 mg. But how much of that is caffeine? I honestly don't know but since 3 out of the 5 ingredients in the Vi Slim weight loss supplement have caffeine, I'm guessing it's a lot.
At one Body By Vi distributor website, they say that the Vi Slim Mebabo Awake weight loss supplement can help people burn an extra 85-125 calories per day which, they say, can lead to losing 10-15 pounds of fat per year. Where are these numbers coming from? As far as I can tell there is NO published scientific proof on ANY Body By Vi weight loss supplement.
How much does it cost?
Since the main ViSalus website wanted to collect my personal information, I had to search online for a price for the Vi Slim metabolism booster. At one Body By Vi Ambassadors website I saw that the price was $40 for a 30 day supply. I think that's a lot of money for a product that is basically a lot of caffeine and ingredients that enhance the effects of caffeine.
Here is the Metabo Awake product on Amazon for those who want to compare prices and read comments from others who have used it
What do you think?
My husband, myself and several members of our family started the 90 day challenge about a month ago. We all love the shakes and have all saw results already. I recently became a Visalus promoter for many reasons. Obesity is growing rapidly in our country and I would like to help as many people as I possibly can to start getting healthy. I personally drink the shakes and take two Vi Slims a day.
I do not like Metabolism boosters or fat burners because they all make me jittery. The Vi Slim does not give me the jittery feeling at all. Yes, income was another reason I joined Visalus. I am a stay at home mom of four and this has proven to be the perfect opportunity for me. It has gave me the opportunity to build a second income from home for my family.
I don’t know why anyone would keep it a “secret” that they make money while promoting this product. Anyone promoting anything is getting paid to do so! I do understand people say they can not afford it, but it is actually less than $2.00 per meal. If people would sit down and figure up how much a meal cost them daily I am sure it is more expensive than that.
As a customer you have the option of receiving your shakes for free, so in reality ANYONE could afford it. It is all in what your goals for yourself are. I have personally saw the amazing things Visalus can do both physically and financially for people and I am amazed. Now, I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t had success with this product but I do know different things work/don’t work for different people. I do recommend consulting a Doctor first before you start ANY new products just to be safe.
I would have a lot more respect about this product and the “distributors” if they were up front about the fact that they earn a ton of commission from each ‘recruit’ and sale. Friendships have actually been ruined because of the drive to make money. For many who are associated with this business, it is not about being more healthy or making a lifestyle change. It’s about making money. Simple as that. People who don’t like to cook and claim they have “no time” to exercise (when they are stay at home mothers – all kids in full-time school) are running a scam (yes, I said SCAM) to promote this product.
What is sad and disheartening is that the “distributors” target people who have low self-esteem and/or weight issues. Rather than encouraging exercise and healthy eating, they encourage putting cookies (yes, COOKIES) in a shake and “lose weight while eating cake”.
What kind of nonsense is this?
What is even more sad is that people with weight issues are so desperate to get rid of the weight, the will try anything. Bingo, money in the pocket!! Nobody bothers to read the ingredients. Sad, sad stuff.
I know people in this business, and I am ashamed of their lack of values and morals. Just be up front about your commission. PLEASE! Stop pretending to care about peoples health when it is all about money.
I have tried these and no they do not give you jitters….they also don’t seem to boost my metabolism as I haven’t felt a sudden urge to run cross country through the entire northern hemisphere like I do after drinking 1 half of a Mountain Dew.
I don’t think they are worth the $40 but I do love the shakes and I am losing weight by changing my diet and including those.
Hi Joe. I love that you try to do an unbiased review of these products–hard to come by. Seems everyone has an agenda. Anyway, I tried the whole visalus program and it was fine, but I wasn’t really committed enough to justify the cost, and I suspect I might not be able to handle that much soy. However, I did really like the effects of the metabawake pill, and continue to take them. I find I sleep better, and yet feel more awake in the daytime, with no jitters. I haven’t noticed any significant change in my weight, but that’s not what I’m after–just able to stay awake and functional past 8 p.m.
Juella, great, I’m glad it is working for you 🙂
do body by Vi use artificial sweeteners?
if so, what kind, and do you have any concerns with it?
Jake I believe its sucralose if I remember. Ive heard some say this might interfere with thyroid hormone output
I recently tried the metab awake pills…and after buying them did the research. I like the awake feeling with no jitters, but I should have been warned that I take a beta blocker for migraines to make the blood vessels contract and get rid of my headaches, these pills did the opposite and mid way thru the day i would get a headache. I also have mild IBS, and the shake mix made it worse. Its too bad the company can’t be a little more honest to let people know that some of us can have reactions like this based on our own health issues.
Hello all,
I understand there is aspartame in the shakes to make it palleatable. Considering the research that is out on aspartame, people should do their research before ingesting this product. I am concerned about the long term health risks. The company should consider having a complete open book on all the ingredients in their products and making it easy for peolple to buy. the bottom line for them should be the health of their customers and not the pyramid scheme they are enticing people with. Not disclosing the exact amounts of all ingredients is unethical.
Hi all, I just got my Transformation Kit (body by vi) kit yesterday in the mail…I have read all these comments and I am wondering if I should really start this…I am nervous about it. I am on Thyroid medication everyday and I really want to make sure there is no interactions with the pill part of the transformation kit ( not worried about the shake). Any feed back would be appreciated…I know a couple of you have stated you have thyroid issues too…but not much weight lose…are you taking the pills that come with the kit?
Thank you so much for reading and your potential imput, cheers.
I have hypothyroidism and have had lots of trouble losing weight in the past. I started using the basic Vi-Shape shake and after 3 weeks, I’ve lost 9 pounds. I just received the Body by Vi Transformation Kit in the mail and I can’t wait to start it tomorrow! I believe in this product. Commitment is key. Yes it is expensive but it works, so I am willing to pay that price to gain back my self-confidence and the body I’ve always wanted.
I also have Thyroid issues I actually had to have mine removed and I am only 21 years old. I had a baby June 2nd 2010 and after that I gained a lot of weight fast so the January after my baby was born my thyroid was removed thought to be the cause of my weight gain. I still gained a lot of weight after that my doctor decided that something else was causing this. So I lost my period also after having my baby and when it was further tested it turned out that I also have PCOS which can use a increase of insulin and cause your to gain massive amounts of weight as well.
So my doctor put me on Metformin a pill given to people with Type 2 diabetes. I am taking the vi-slim only and I must say I feel amazing! I do walk for one hour every day and I have changed my eating habits but in one week I lost 3lbs. The reason I am telling you guys this is because a lot of the time PCOS can go without being noticed and it can be a serious condition if not treated, it can cause you to not be able to have kids or even ovarian cancer! I suggest that you look up the symptoms and if you think you may have it see your doctor for more help! Hope this was helpful! 😀
Desteny, thanks it did help 🙂
Yvette, I have Thyroid issues and started the Vi-Shape program in October of 2011. I started gaining weight about 15 yrs ago, but thought it was because I went from an active job to a desk job. I tried every “diet” there is, with no luck and was 100 lbs over my normal and desired weight.
Two years ago, I went to my doctor because I started believing I had other medical issues and I was correct. I have been adjusting my thyroid with my doctor’s help for 2 years, along with low Vitamin D, and we finally have it under control as of this month. Like I said, I started Visalus back in October of 2011, and after 5 months, I had lost 16 lbs. and feel really good.
I don’t know if it is actually the shakes that work, or the caloric content, but I drink a shake in the morning and eat sensibly for lunch and dinner. I have not changed my exercise habits, which sad to say is no exercise, but still have the weight loss. I went to Curves for a year, did the Curves challenge, and did the workout religiously at lunch or after work, since it was only a block away. I lost 14 lbs after the weeks of measuring food and eating exactly what they told me, and then it started creeping back up. I loved Curves, it was a great place, but I guess the thyroid wouldn’t let it work.
I’m giving Visalus a chance and I know that it took me 15 yrs to put it on and it won’t come off in a few weeks. I feel good that I am steadily losing a few lbs a month and not gaining them back. I’ll see where I am this October and evaluate it then. The thing about the Thyroid, if you have problems, please handle those medically for sure, and then you should be able to lose weight. You have lost 3 lbs in 4 weeks, I have lost 16 lbs in 5 months, which is about the same.
Also of note, Vitamin D interferes with Synthroid, so my doctor has me taking the Synthroid in the morning and the Vitamin D at night. Hope this helps!
Hello Joe, I am an Author and my friend was a distributor of the Vi products. They are very expensive for the everyday hard working person. Everyone she has spoken with said they cannot afford it or let alone sell it to others. She wants me to ask you what you think about this mineral Thorne Chromium supplement? Does it suppress the appetite?
We really have enjoyed reading all of your info and are now following you on FB too….so we appreciate what you think and look forward to hearing from you with this too…
Hi Darlene, Thanks for the follow on Facebook 🙂 Throne is the company that makes this particular brand of chromium picolinate. I looked it up for you and on their website they say that chromium is “an effective component of weight-loss regimens*” if that is the case why have I never seen any good proof that it works?
I honestly have not seen any research that chromium picolinate suppresses appetite. I dont remember if researchers ever look at this. But a lot of weight loss studies have been done on chromium picolinate and the vast majority of them find it doesn’t help people lose weight. I covered this in my book about supplements and here are some recent studies on chromium and weight loss :
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20192914
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17291720
Here is something I wrote that compared the research on chromium picolinate to chromium polynicotinate (that Dr Oz was touting on TV):
http://supplementclarity.com/chromium-polynicotinate-diabetes-review-side-effects-chromium-picolinate/
Do take notice abut the side effects I mentioned in that post. chromium picolinate might reduce levels of thyroid hormone. If this does turn out to be true then that might make it harder for people to lose weight.
I hope some of this helps Darlene and thanks for sharing your website also. Looks like you put some work into that site 🙂
Has anyone had luck loosing weight with thyroid issues? I’ve been on this about 4 weeks now and have only lost about 3 pounds. I was hoping for 3 lb a week.
I do not cheat, I exercise and have always eaten right. I do two shakes a day.
I’m no doctor but I read a lot of studies and from what I’ve read soy is very hard on your thyroid, and the Visalus shakes use soy protien.
Angie, there is some evidence that soy contains compounds called goitrogens which inhibit production of thyroid hormone. Soy doesn’t cause hypothyroidism but its possible it might be an issue in those who have the disorder.
I’m not positive on all this, but my mom had cancer and as a result has had a lot of thyroid issues. She did great on bodybyvi, but you’ve got to stick with it and eat healthy, and yes, it will probably take a lot longer. Talk to your doctor about it and see what they say, but otherwise I would just say, stick with it and you’ll lose weight. It will be tougher for you through, my mom lost weight slower than the rest of us because of her thyroid issues. Good luck!
I’ve been using the Body by Vi Transformation Kit (which includes Vi-Slim) for about 6 months and am extremely happy with the results. I’ve lost 75lbs, gained energy and have my eating under control. These products are not a magic bullet. You still have to change your eating habits, learn to make good choices and exercise. For me it’s a way to help me make lasting changes, not a quick fix.
No program will work for you if you’re not committed to change. As for the Vi-Slim, I get no side effects at all from this product, however, caffeine generally doesn’t affect me negatively anyway. I don’t drink coffee at all but do drink tea and caffeinated sodas and don’t find they make me jittery or over-stimulated.
If the caffeine levels in Vi-Slim are similar to those beverages then it would make sense that I don’t see any side effects as that’s what my body is used to. Also, I’m an otherwise healthy 41 year old female who didn’t present with issues such as high blood pressure before trying to lose weight. Overall, I think the Body by Vi program is a useful tool to help people make changes, but it won’t work if you’re not ready for change. And no, I’m not a distributor, just a happy customer 🙂
I just wanted to make a couple points here. First is that Vi slim does have warnings about the things you stated above right on the pkg. Second, cost is no object when you can earn your product for free. Third, the base of the Vi program is the shakes. Fourth, and lastly, personal testimony holds far more stock in my opinion, than some government study. I have met, and personally know people, including myself that have awesome testimonies to how Vi has helped them in their health, fitness, weight loss goals.
Adelia, As a ViSalus ambassador, I think you deserve something more concrete than just testimonials. Testimonials are just the beginning of knowledge. If you are biased against government studies – and I know some people are – thats fine. What about university studies? ViSalus could fund such a study. I would accept a well done study by ViSalus if it was published in a medical journal. This study would not be hard to do and it would not cost much money. ViSalus would just have to give their products to a grad student and let them and their principle college adviser do all the research and get it published.
Why hasnt ViSalus done this? I want you to know IM not picking on ViSalus here – Ive said the same thing – and a lot more – about Beachbody, the makers of Shakeology.
As for the ViSlim Metab Awake supplement, even though there are warnings on the package, are ViSalus Ambassadors educated on how to screen for those who might be at a higher risk of problems with this supplement? What training do ViSlim Ambassadors get prior to selling the products? I dont know the answer to this so that’s why I ask.
I have started the body by vi 90 day challenge and am extremely happy with all results. I have controlled carb cravings with the shake mix, lost weight, and gained energy…I am a person that is overweight and has tried many many things to lose this weight. THIS product works for me and my family. I was reluctant to try the vi-slim because even coffee makes me jittery and causes me to crash in the afternoon. I did end up trying vi-slim, it gives me a slow energy that lasts and does not cause any side effects…getting ready to order another bottle…makes my workouts with the trainer more bearable!! Hope this helps!
JoAnna, great it does help. Do keep me posted on your progress etc.
I just started -,and I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t do my research. Didn’t realize there was caffeine in the supplements and I also drink coffee. – not a good combo for me, heart racing blood pressure up, and I woke up every hour last night. I’m going to stop the supplements and just try the shakes with healthy snacks and dinner meal.
Hello 🙂
I have been taking the metab awake and it works great .
I have heart palpitations and yet the metab awake dose not make me get them 🙂
I am not over weight I’m taking the shake and omega and other stuff for just the great energetic feeling I get and knowing I am healthy.
I work night all the time and I never eat properly
Only once a day 🙁
So this has helped me feel great.
All this stuff is not just for weight loss but for healthy living and has a lot more benefits then just losing weight:)
Thank you
Body by vi this has been a wonderful experience and I’m more then happy with the products 🙂
Tammy, when you do eat once per day, what do you eat?
I was only able to eat maybe supper.
I’m not at all a breakfast person and never remember to eat lunch. So saying that you know my body is not getting what it should be.
As for what I was eating well just what ever I made the family for a normal supper.
I am also epileptic and got off my pills for that over a year ago
I’m 33 years old and felt like I was older and had no energy to want to do anything. But now that I have started the shakes and metab awake and omega and stuff
I feel more alive 🙂
I have 2 kids 15-13 years old horses dogs and a active life that I was finding hard to live till now 🙂
My goal is to look and feel great and I do and that’s with in the month not yet 90 days
🙂 🙂 🙂
Tammy, thanks and I hope all continues to go well for you..
It seems to work but at a slow rate and it does give me the jitters but I guess it’s from the caffeine but it makes me fill wide awake and gives me energy to do my everyday job
Thanks for touching on this topic as it is becoming a hot topic at my gym and I’m not buying into it wondering if maybe it’s “me” that doesn’t have an open mind to products of this sort.
Barbara, I’ve heard that ViSalus (and other supplements) is being marketed in gyms. I’m guessing that most of the people who are doing this are personal trainers and group fitness instructors, probably because they are distributors. If this is the case at your gym, ask the fitness person if they are aware that the gyms liability insurance will probably NOT protect them from lawsuits stemming from the recommendation of dietary supplements. I’d also bring this up to the gym manager / owner as well. Personal trainers have been sued because of recommending supplements that caused bad things to happen.
I dont think the ViSalus shake is going to hurt anybody – unless that’s all they eat – but I do have some concerns when it comes to the Vi Slim product since its basically a stimulant. I say the same thing about all stimulants.
As a rule, personal trainers dont know as much about supplements as people might think. I know this is true because I lecture to them on a regular basis.
Actually there is 21 years of federally funded research behind these products. Please do a review on the vi-shake! I’d love to see if you can find anything wrong… The shakes are the core of the program!
Jamie, can you show me the 21 years of federally funded research on Vi Slim? The ingredients do have research however Vi Slim has no research. Remember research on the Vi Slim ingredients is not the same as research on Vi Slim itself. I did review the Vi Slim Shake and Ill answer your comments there
Thanks, Joe. I had a moment of weakness and was considering this product to help with pre-holiday weight loss efforts. Thanks for reminding me that there is no magic bullet and stopping me from taking a potentially harmful path. I have a patent foramen ovale (hole in my heart) and take daily aspirin to reduce stroke risk. Definitely do not need a product like this.
Nina glad I was able to help and I agree, you do not need this stuff. just be mindful of what you are eating during the holidays and you will be ok. That is what I am going to try to do also 🙂