Have you heard of ViSalus or the Body by Vi Challenge? If you’re like me, odds are several people have asked you about the science behind ViSalus or asked you if you wanted to try their products. Fortunately for me, a friend gave me some samples so I could check it out for myself, so let me now review ViSalus and pay particular attention to its Body By Vi Shape weight loss shake because which seems to be one of their flagship products. I've written a separate review on Vi Slim Metabo Awake so check that out if your looking for information specific to that product.
What is ViSalus?
ViSalus, the company is actually part of a larger company called Blyth located in Greenwich CT. Blyth Inc is actually a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. Its stock symbol is BTH. Blyth Inc. is involved in marketing a variety of products. See the Blyth website for more information on their products.
In America, Blyth is located at One East Weaver Street Greenwich, CT. Their phone number is : 203-661-1926
I mention this because it appears that ViSalus itself will be spun off as a publicly traded company in the near future. As of August 16 2012 ViSalus has started the paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Visalus Supplements
There are several ViSalus supplements that range from weight loss to “neuro support”. These supplements are usually sold in “kits”. Purchasing any kit also grants people access to the Body By Vi online support website.
These are the kits sold by Visalus.
1. Body by Vi Balance Kit. This is kind of a starter kit and has a 30 day supply of Vi Shape weight loss shake powder. This is designed for people who use 1 shake a day. Here is the Balance kit on Amazon.
2. Body by Vi Shape Kit. This kit has 60 servings of the Vi Shape shake powder and is designed to last 1 month (2 shakes per day). Here is the Shape Kit on Amazon.
3. Body by Vi Core Kit. This kit was a little ambiguous when I looked at it on the Visalus website. They say the Core kit has “a patented anti-aging and energy formula, balanced nutrition, and hydration and energy without the jitters”. Is that 4 different products or 5? It was hard to figure out how many products are in the Body by Vi Core Kit. Here is the Core Kit on Amazon.
They also say “Combine that with our comprehensive Vi-Pak, for sound nutritional support from head to toe, and patent-pending Neuro Smart Energy drink mix, to support healthy brain function and keep you sharp”. Here is the Vi Pak on Amazon.
The Vi Pak? Is that extra or does it come with the Core Kit? When they say “combine” it makes me think you have to buy the Vi Pak separately. Make sure you understand this part if you purchase the Core Kit.
The Vi Pak is a mulit vitamin and mineral, anti aging and omega fatty acid supplement developed by Dr. Michael Seidman who is on the ViSalus science board. Check out the Vi Pak link for everything in the Vi Pak. Be careful with the Vi Pak if you are pregnant, lactating or taking blood thinner drugs.
Tip. Nobody knows why we age or grow old. There are many theories about aging but no single theory completely explains the aging process. Because of this fact, don’t take too seriously anyone who has an “anti-aging” formula –even if it’s “patented”.
4. Body by Vi Transformation Kit. This is billed as “the ultimate in shaping and nutritional ingredients to help you see and feel maximum results.” It looks like it’s basically a 30 day supply of everything in the Visalus product line. Here is the Transformation Kit on Amazon.
How much do the Visalus kits cost?
I found the prices on the Visalus website in a pdf file.
- Balance Kit: $49
- Shape Kit: $99
- Core kit: $199
- Transformation Kit: $249
Yearly cost of Visalus Kits
Let’s add up what 1 year costs if you used any of the Vlsalus kits.
- Balance Kit. $49 x 12 = $588 per year
- Shape Kit $99 X 6 = $594 per year (each shape kit lasts 2 months)
- Core Kit. $199 x 12 = $2388 per year
- Transformation Kit $249 x 12 = $2998 per year
I checked out ViSalus on the Better Business Bureau and they give the company an “A” Rating as of 8/18/11. The BBB did report 6 complaints for ViSalus but the categories were vague, dealing with issues about “Advertising/Sales Issues” and “Problems with Product/Service”. All complaints appear to have been resolved and I'm not worried about their reputation with customers at this time.
Body by Vi business
Body by Vi seems to be marketed mostly through distributors. It looks like there is a multi level marketing (MLM) aspect to the business which makes some people think ViSalus is a scam. That said, I don’t think MLM is always a bad thing and it does allow some people to make a lot of money with a home based business. In this economy, I do like that.
If you are thinking about being a ViSalus distributor ask “what does the average ViSalus distributor make?”. The answer to that question might help you get an idea of how much you might make.
Also ask ViSalus if you have to buy the product up front before selling it? I don’t think this is the case with ViSalus, but ask anyway before you join up.
Many weight loss supplements are sold via distributors. For example this is mostly how Shakeology is sold.
Speaking of Shakeology, here is a post where I compared ViSalus shakes to Shakeology. There you can get a cost breakdown also.
In some respects the ViSalus shake reminds me of Formula 1 meal shakes by Herbalife. See that review for more information.
The Body by Vi Challenge
Like many people I first heard about ViSalus because of its Body by Vi challenge. This is basically how the challenge works. If you use ViSalus supplements and lose more weight than the others in 90 days, you win.
Prizes for winning the Body by Vi Challenge range from a Hollywood vacation to a cruise to Baja Mexico. Runners up can get other prizes.
The Body by Vi Challenge reminds me of the Body for Life “challenge” which was big in the late 1990s and is still popular today.
I credit Body For Life as being the impetus behind P90X and most other fitness and weight loss challenges that are popular today.
The book, Body For Life was written by Bill Phillips, who used to run EAS supplements. People who changed their life the most in 90 days by using EAS supplements (and working out) got prizes. This is pretty similar to the Body by Vi challenge.
The idea of a fitness or weight loss challenge is very smart marketing. You buy the supplements, work hard and if you win, the company makes a big fuss over you and shows you off to others.
For the company, it’s a win-win.
The company makes money up front when you buy their supplements and the company makes more money later on by showing off the winner of the challenge to “the next generation” of people in the challenge.
You win because you got healthy and got a cool prize.
There isn’t anything wrong with this and getting healthy is great. I only want to point this out to you. It’s also nice that the Body by Vi website lets people interact with others in the Challenge. Online support is good because it’s been shown to help people achieve their weight loss goals.
The Vi Shape
At the core of the ViSalus product line is the weight loss shake called Vi Shape. This shake is included in every Body by Vi Kit. Let’s take a look at it and see what we can discover.
Body By Vi- Shape Ingredients
| DV | |
| Calories 90 | |
| Calories from fat 10 | 10 |
| Total fat | 2% |
| Saturated fat | 0 |
| Trans fat | 0 |
| Cholesterol 15 mg | 5% |
| Total carbs 7 g | 2% |
| Dietary fiber 5g | 22% |
| Sugars <1 g | |
| Protein 12 g | 24% |
There are also many vitamins and minerals in the Vi Shape as well. Mostly, the shake gives you 30% of each vitamin and mineral. The exception is iron where you only get 5% of your daily value. That’s not a bad thing since most healthy people get enough iron from their diet –and too much iron is not always good.
Overall, the shake is pretty conservative in how much vitamins and minerals it gives you. Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Tip. Extra vitamins and minerals don’t make you bigger, leaner or stronger. That’s probably why the Vi Shape doesn't give you lots of them.
How much nutrition is in the Body By Vi Shake?
On 11/3/11, I noticed an interesting video on the website BodyByVisalus.com. The video says that to get the same nutritional value in just 1 Body By Vi shake you would have to eat:
- 12 eggs – for vitamin D
- 1.5 cups broccoli – for vitamin E
- 5 peaches – for vitamin A
- 2 chicken breasts – for vitamin B12 (they say “at least 2 chicken breasts”)
- 1.5 cups of frozen yogurt – for calcium
- 1.5 cups of bran flakes – for magnesium
- 18 oz tomato juice – for vitamin B6
- 5 oz cheddar cheese for zinc
- 3 cups Lima beans – for niacin
- 15 slices of whole wheat bread – for pantiothantic acid
- 20 spears of asparagus – for riboflavin
- 2 cups of mushrooms – for copper
- 30 apples – for chromium
- 10 stalks of celery – for manganese
- 3 pineapples – for digestive enzymes
- 30 prunes – for fiber
All that in just 1 shake! Pretty impressive but this is just “fun with numbers”. Don't be fooled by this. For example, take the 30 prunes which they say is where Body Bi Vi gets it fiber from. But, 1 shake only has 5 grams of fiber. I bet if you ate 30 prunes, you would be getting much more than 5 grams of fiber!
As for digestive enzymes, you don't need these unless you have a digestive issue, which most healthy people don't have.
Adding protein to a weight 
loss shake is smart because it helps reduce our body protein (including muscle protein) from breaking down during dieting – something that can occur. But, each Vi shake only has 12 grams of protein. If you ate the 12 eggs and 2 chicken breasts in the above list, you would be getting MUCH MORE than 12 grams of protein!
The protein in the Vi Shake is a combination of soy and whey protein.
Compared to other weight loss shakes I've seen – like the P90X Recovery Drink – there is nothing in Vi Shape shake that would be considered “controversial”. That’s good. On the downside, I don't see anything special in the Body by Vi Shake either. Basically the Body By Vi Shake just a low calorie weight loss shake.
If you mix it with water, it’s only 90 calories. If you mix it with 8 oz of milk, it’s about 190 calories.
Can ViSalus help you gain muscle?
I'm sure in some people it might be able to help but remember ViSalus shakes have only 90 calories and 12 grams of protein. Gaining muscle is a matter or not just strength training, but extra calories and extra protein.
If you want to know how the ViSalus shake tastes, read my ViSalus shake taste test.
Because it’s fairly low in calories, that’s how the shake helps you lose weight – by reducing the calories you eat per day. If you follow the Body by Vi program you are replacing 1 or 2 meals a day with a ViSalus Shake. You also eat one or two “real” meals a day.
This is the same reasoning behind MANY other weight loss solutions. For example it was the same logic behind Right Size Smoothie. It’s also the basis behind Slim Fast too.
But here’s my question. Is the ViSalus Body Vi Shake better than other weight loss shakes? Will you lose weight faster or safer with Body By Vi than, say, Slim Fast for example? There is no good proof one way or the other.
What do you think?
Hello there, just wanted to point out that the Visalus shake might have less protein; however, they use a trisorb blend which is pure protein. Most protein shakes that offer 30+ grams are GMO and you only absorb about 25% of that.
Visalus you will absorb almost 100% of the protein and what you get in visalus is not GMO.
Enjoyed your reviews 🙂
Shay, never heard this before. any studies showing GMO animal protein is less well absorbed?
Joe,
Like many others have stated this is the only place I have found unbiased information. Thank you. I am to go to a party tomorrow night for this product. I think I will stick with the Ideal Protein program offered through my chiropractor. While it is more expensive I believe with the 4 phases it is better for me overall.
Cindy, thank’s for saying that 🙂
hey- i am nursing my 2 month old can i take visalus 1x or 2x a day? is it ok for the baby? my primary doc, pediatrician, lactation specialist etc don’t have an answer since they don’t know whats in it. help please!
Megan. somebody recently asked about this also. scroll up for more info. I dint recommend you use it while breast feeding
Sorry a few mistakes above…..
1 – babies are NOT fully developed.
2 – I go to bed feeling fine.
haha, too anxious to type.
Hi Joe…I like your site, agree with you and don’t.
First off to the lady breastfeeding, it is listed on the fact sheet, that pregnant women, and nursing women should not use the shakes as babies do not need to lose weight. Also too much protein for babies are not good as they are developed fully.
Visalus uses sucralose, which was approved in over 60 countries, and has been rigorously tested on safe consumption. It can be used hot or cold.
Not aspartame!!
Now, my questions to you. Can taking 2 shakes a day after 6 days cause headaches. I go to be feeling fine but wake up with a headache. Is it the way I sleep or too many vitamins in the shakes I am having?
Second question: My Mom is taking one shake a day PLUS the Vi-Pak daily, do you think it is too many vitamins?
I look forward to your reply.
I will add, that I have lost 4 pds in one week and do have an increased energy level and in Canada and it is FAST growing here.
Lori,
i wonder if your headaches are caused by low blood sugar. if you are taking 2 shakes a day an only one meal i winder if your blood sugar is dropping, causing the headaches. Id look at that.
Thanks for the informative review! I came across this site through a search to find if there is anything UNhealthy about this product and Im glad to see nothing has turned up. I have been using the vi shape shake mix for about a month, once a day.
I haven’t been using it so much as a weight loss program, as much as a meal replacement. I know it isn’t a true meal replacement but being a person who’s breakfast was typically a cup of coffee and a buttered bagel, I have found it to be a great replacement 🙂
I usually blend it with some frozen fruit, a cup of almond milk, and half a cup of skim.
I have noticed some weight loss, but I have been eating healthier in general. If nothing else, I have definitely noticed I have ALOT more energy throughout the morning (and I work a physically demanding job).
Thanks again for the great review Joe!
I’ve been doing the shakes. I’ve been doing 2 a day and I’m gaining weight. Can anyone explain that?
LBspot, try writing down everything you eat for the next few days and see if you keep gaining weight.
I read the ingredients and found it has suclose in it. It is lower down in the ingredients
Great info! I am currently on a 4 month challenge through Gold’s gym here in Japan. I just decided to change my life and be accountable! It seems these shakes are just quick fixes for lazy people who do not want to do the work! BUT, I think they are a good!
If they are healthy and help people to better their lives…I drink Amino Vital by Asahi 2000g + BCAA 3 times a day and eat natural foods 5-6 times a day! Basically following Livestrong’s website! The first 21 days was hard! After that it has become a lifestyle!
hey !
I noticed that all the post are revolved around weight loss.
Visalus is not claiming to be in the weight loss business like slim fast, or Jenny Craig….but in the health business,
hence the health challenge or 90day challenge.
dependent on your health goal lose weight , more energy,extend the work out with GO or Pro, gain weight, get nutrients in your body. the shakes/ kit are a great tool to start with , of course daily life style needs to reflect this change to be healthier – that is common sense.
in a busy non stop lifestyle a shake a day or 2 is a great thing.
weight loss is an obvious result in any low carb diet. most people need the pump in the right direction,
i’ve done 4 90 day challenges now. i started with the shape kit and now am on the balance kit. I love them.
a positive mind set and attitude paired with an active life style ( short walks or hikes ) can make the world of difference in your life as it has mine.
cheers
M
Thank you Joe,
I’ve spent a lot of time looking for objective information about Visalus, and you are the ONLY one!!! hard to believe. I am loving the shakes; I use a few frozen blueberries or unsweetened cocoa powder to spice it up a bit.
I drink one for breakfast and one for lunch and eat a balanced meal for dinner. I’m never hungry, BUT I have not lost any weight after 3 days. Hoping it’s just my body taking its time to adjust….
Cheers,
R
Rose, thanks, glad you found me!
In regards to the comment on sucralose, I don’t see how the small amount in the shakes would cause that reaction. But who knows, you may be one of the few that is sensitive. I would say go to a Doctor and see what they say. Might be unrelated.
In regards to Rodney, I think the shakes are convenient if you don’t have nutritious meals. But if you’re already eating six times a day and getting a good amount of protein then don’t worry about the vi shakes.
They are just nice if you’re in a situation where you need an easy meal. Any good quality protein promotes leaner muscle mass, but I recommend do P90X or 10 Min trainer to lose the gut.
Hi Joe,
I just started the vi shakes ( purchased the fit kit)a week ago and broke out in an itchy skin rash looked like little oil bumps and have the gas as mentioned above. I researched the ingredients and it said it could be from sucralose, but I have aspartame all time. Is there any other ingredients in the vi shake that have caused this type of reaction?
Andrea sounds like some sort of allergic reaction. I have no idea what could be in it that might cause that effect. Does anybody else?
Hi , I’m glad i found these reviews . My husband and I are doing the vi-shape shakes , I have lost 4 half ponds in two weeks hubby has lost 15 pounds , but I do agree that u need to exercise while doing this . I find the shakes convenient for us we both do shift work so drinking the shake for breakfast is awesome , i drink one shake , my husband drinks two breakfast and supper . We plan on doing this for 90 days keep u posted to with happens .
I actually went into selling this and using this for myself. I have always been a big pusher on eating foods over doing supplements. I like your review but hear are the numbers I looked at.
Smart Ones(weight Watchers) 2.50 per meal
Slimfast 2.50 per meal
Shape shakes 1.65 per serving
Also the big thing is the fat and sugar 1 gram of fat and less than a gram of sugar in shape.
Now why I take it. I dont need to lose weight but this is cheaper than other quick meals I’ve seen and is slightly better nutrition wise. I dont have the time to eat the way I want too anymore because of my job often skipping meals which is a big no no.
So the program works for my lifestyle the shape one that is. I dont miss meals and Im getting a healthy intake I still boost my proteins up to go with my workout routines and tell people if you have the time and can eat natural foods instead of supplements but this is very nice for those who cant or just dont like adding up what they should eat.
Even though I’m a distributor now I still don’t recommend all the products and kits some being overkill and some I just don’t like in any form. Such as Metabo Awake I do suggest plain green tea to those that drink pop or coffee as and alternative to give energy and help weight loss.
I am not a blind seller and focus on the individual. I’ve designed workouts and nutritional plans for many people in the military and out. So I’m putting my own reputation out there. I always push the eating health first and look at lifestyles goals I often compare myoplex/south beach/slimfast and weightwatchers I’ve never sold a bell and whistles package as I find them not needed but if I have people that dont want to go to GNC or prepare there own meals then its the shape kit.
A big bonus you mentioned is the network of support that they offer. I also offer personal support in the way of custom workouts and advice such as there being more than just what the scale says. Energy lvls, Looks, ok your not losing weight but is your pant size shrinking. I also emphasize that weight loss and body shaping is a lifestyle change and needs more than just any one program.
Overall I think your reviews are excellent and based off the best sources you can provide. You also don’t claim to know all which none of us truly can and seem to be always keeping and open mind
Christian, thanks for that!
I too love the shakes! I am not a distributor..FYI. I can’t judge those who need to lose a lot of weight b/c I am not in that category. I can tell you that over my many years of working out and making protein shakes, the Body by Vi Shakes are AWESOME! before or after a workout is a great time to have a shake.
if you aren’t losing weight on the shakes more than likely you aren’t eating right the rest of the day….or not eating enough. I don’t have an issue with working out b/c I love it but I do not agree with any type of program that doesn’t highly encourage exercise in addition to their supplements. This is basically a liquid diet like Slim Fast but the 1000+ recipes are amazing. Not to mention that my 4 year old son loves them. Be well everyone….we all have to do what we have to do!
well the thing is and its the truth…when a product claims 20 lbs a month weight loss and real life people lose 20-30lbs a month..from what i witnessed the big losers are morbidly obese people who can easily lose 5-7 lbs a week..the person who only needs to lose 5-10-15-20 lbs are almost always “screwed” unless the follow a very disciplined diet and workout…my point, if you have 20 or less pounds to lose..eat clean and work hard.
Hi Joe, this is the only site that seems informative about the products… I have a question regarding the kits. I’m in no longer need of losing weight, instead, I plan to build lean muscle, and lose the gut! I was wondering if this is possible using the Balance Kit that requires taking one shake a day. My diet involves eating healthy, six-meals a day and I exercise every day. Is it possible to reach my goal, or do I need to invest on the Shape Kit which requires taking two shakes a day?
Rodney, given what you said, I think you can get to where you want without the shape kit. It wont hurt but I dont see anything in the product that will speed up or improve on the results you can get doing with what you are already doing.
Nic yes that is the Fibersol and it will clear up. Good luck in your progress and Journey.
Interesting review and commentary.
I think that if people get excited about this visalus shake and use it with good results, then worrying about sucralose or artificial flavors is not warranted. I do wish they used stevia or xylitol and no artificial flavors. I have other protein shakes that are prescribed by the Dr. and that is what they use.
The only thing is, I prefer the taste of Visalus and it keeps me full for longer. I just bought a month of it to try and see if I can stay full with a shake to lose a few pounds and increase my energy. So far I do feel pretty good except for some gas. This is probably the fibersol which I hope will clear up after a few days.
Don’t believe everything you read online. This guy makes money by advertising. Visalus isn’t paying him anything so why should he look at the positives rather than talk about negatives.
Nic, if “this guy” you refer to is me, then I must say that I think my review of visalus was far and rather tame. I didn’t slam it; I just pointed out how it works and I cut through the hype that sellers of these shakes might not say. As for the “advertising”, I have no control over ads and I dont make anything unless somebody clicks on an ad. It’s the most ethical way I can maintain the site. I dont allow any company to directly pay me to put ads on this site. Goodness knows, they do ask. I turn them down 100% of the time.