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?
ekryan says
Body by Vi has Sucralose and artificial sweeteners. Any doctor who knows nutrition knows that these ingredients are bad for you. Why would you spend your money on a shake that has bad ingredients? All I’m saying, if you’re going to spend over $50 a month on a weight loss shake…make sure it has good ingredients! Do your research!!
Lexus says
I was told soy had the most chemicals on them and so also closely mimics estrogen. There are some review sites that are pointing out a lot of bad stuff they have experienced with vi shakes.
Joe says
Lexus, a lot of the soy in the US is genetically modified and I wonder if maybe that is where some of the comments online are coming from? when it comes to soy and estrogen, I don’t see a lot of proof it significantly alters the hormone levels in humans. While I’m not sure if Visalus does or doesn’t do this, Id ask people to show me “published peer reviewed studies” to back up what is being said. That can usually sort the wheat from the chaff pretty fast.
Jonathan says
I have a friend in this company and she has seem to be doing very well in it. I have a bunch of experience in marketing and this company seems very well stable. I use to be a part of herbalife until they got investigated and it was all over the news. I am actually planing on jumping on board with them but I want to do my research (obviously). But over all from what I been reading I don’t see anything wrong with the business & products. Do you have any other thought or opinions about this company Joe??
Joe says
Jonathan, honestly I don’t know much about the company so I’m not much help. My criteria when it comes to network marketing is do you have to buy the product up front – before you sell it? if yes, then that’s not a company I would get involved with. that would be my first question.
Barbara Mh says
Hi Joe…thanks for your insight on Visalus..i just happened to luck up on this site..which is awesome. I just received my kit today and started with replacing my dinner..the drink is very filling, I will check back in same time next week to let you know my results! Thanks again
aleah says
I am a navy wife, and recently selling this type of product has gotten too popular with other wives. It is really annoying hearing the scam and sales pitches constantly. None of them are working out or eating healthy at all they are basically starving themselves. I don’t understand why people don’t educate themselves and use the products in the intended manner.
I am working out, and exercising while eating healthy . Without supplements so i can show them that they are going nowhere with their choice of health strategy. I feel almost like they are naive and under educated on health, and only repeating what their consultants tell them.
Joe says
aleah, thanks for the information. I didn’t know Visalus was becoming popular with military wives.
aleah says
Youre welcome joe. Do you have a review on advocare as well? That is another popular thing they are selling. I think they get into it because a lot of navy wives do not work because of their husband’s busy busy and changing schefule. So it makes it hard to ever see one another if the wife is working as well. They get into selling advocare and visalus hoping to have an actual income. A lot of them end up spending more than they make because they only have so many friends and family.
Bring a traveling navy wife makes it hard to make establishments in one place too because of the constant moves and such. I dont think the consultants that start them are as truthful as they should be. They make selling sound like cake. And because you feel like they are on “your level” and not trying to sell to you, but instead work with you, you dont suspect that they are trying to benefit for themselves and swindle you.
Joe says
Aleah, not so far for Advocare but its on my list (I do have a list!) to review. 🙂
Scott says
I have been using Visalus since Sept. 5th and have never had so much energy in my life. I have lost 25lbs and kept it off for the last 2 months I would agree with you Joe it is the low calorie intake that gives it, it’s own success. You have to feed your body on a regular frequency.
Think of your body this way, you have a 75 minute timer that goes off and you have to refuel again. Well that is how you get into a metabolic state with your body and with the desired weight loss or gain you will need to consume a certain number of calories. When people don’t have good results well more than likely you’re probably doing something wrong. Start a workout routine–before you eat for the day exercise 1st and it doesn’t have to be long but what you’re doing, is you are jump starting your motor for the day, doesn’t an engine work better when it gets a little warm, well it’s the same concept.
Erin says
Still banned from exercise & still losing weight! I posted 11 days ago and I was down 9-10lbs. I am now down between 12-13lbs 🙂
I can only hope I have the same success as Adam, although I know that these shakes would be useless without watching how many calories you are taking in.
Adam says
Joe,
I have had wonderful success with this diet and I wanted to share with you. I am 27 years old and I started at 236lbs and within 6 months I was down to 183. That’s a 53 lb weight loss.
To the people who are worried about the gas….as they always say “this too shall pass”. It goes away within a few days.
Great Article!
Thanks! Adam
Joe says
Adam, great Im glad it has worked for you 🙂
Caiti says
Hi Joe,
I was wonderinfg if it’s at all possible to not do the ‘plan’ and just use the Vi-Shape as a substitute meal every once in a while. I have a very active life, but eat right (most of the time) but as a student with a full time job… I need something on the go!
So is it okay to not do a 30-60-90 day plan and just use this as a filler sometimes?
Thanks 😉
Joe says
Caiti, I don’t see why not. The “plan” is probably designed to help people lose weight. If your just looking for something on the go, I see no reason why you cant do this.
Erin says
I have been using these shakes since December 31. No, my new years resolution wasn’t to lose weight, I just happened to be visiting my moms friend and she offered me a bag of this shake mix to try. I decided I was motivated enough so I started drinking it, and was going to slowly get back on my exercise equipment (treadmill, elliptical).
I did a whole 20 minutes of exercise and on January 4th I was rear-ended & haven’t been able to do any exercise since (hopefully this week or next I’ll get the clear to start). Anyways, since December 31 I have lost between 9 & 10lbs, depending on how my scale feels that day lol And, it’s been done with zero exercise.
By counting calories, I am just staying under 2000 cals/day. I started off at 237.6lbs, so I’m only cutting about 100-300 calories per day, depending on the website you check for your daily needs. So I don’t have a huge calorie deficit each day to really explain losing 1-3lbs per week.
I have been counting calories, but I have definitely lost more than what I should have by now. Could be a placebo effect, which is fine, because I am still losing weight either way! Also, it’s cheap to use since my moms friend has given me 3 bags for free 🙂
Heather says
I also read a review of the Vi shake mix with concerns about the soy content and low protein content. The soy they used is genetically engineered so not good for you and actually can be detrimental to your health in the long run!
Kristine Cataldo says
Great review, Joe. I am a Visalus distributor so am very interested to hear the success stories and the information you have shared here. For those that would like detailed information on the Body by Vi shakes or other products, any distributor can provide the full product guide — it is a PDF file of 60 or so pages that has each product description and breakdown. In addition, individuals can go to the distributor’s Web site or facts.vi.com or overview.vi.com for more details.
Personally in the last year (from 1/7/12 to 1/7/13) I have lost 75+ pounds. The last 40+ pounds has been using the Body by Vi shake 1-2 times a day. I started incorporating the Vi shakes in lieu of the protein shakes I was purchasing at GNC. I had hit a plateau, was low on energy and, at the time working out 5 – 7 days a week (hiking, jogging, rotating stairs in gym).
I moved to the Vi product and did nothing else different than I had for the past few months and lost 40 pounds in my 90-day Challenge. Now I am at my goal weight, but am now focusing on toning and increasing endurance. My energy level has increased greatly as has my metabolism.
I agree that exercise, regardless of what eating plan you are doing is soooo important! In addition, the Vi shakes are not a magic pill. They are just a healthy meal replacement, snack, etc. You still need to be mindful of what you are eating in addition to the shakes. I love the shakes and will always incorporate 1 – 2 shakes a day as long as they make them. Yummy! My children (9 and 11) use them frequently throughout the week — as a breakfast when too busy, snack or post-sports workout).
It should be noted that at their age they should only use 1/2 the amount anyone over 12 should use. So… I make one shake for them and split it in 1/2. It is not that the ingredients are harmful, but they just do not need that much protein. Too much for their little bodies to process.
Anyway… I just wanted to share this information as I am not sure I saw it above in the thread. So… for those interested, check with your distributor and ask for the product information guide or review the two URLs above for more facts and due diligence. Good luck in the decisions you make. 🙂
Joe says
Thanks Kristine, glad you found me and congrats on your weight loss 🙂
Shanda says
I’d like to echo the comments from others thanking you for an unbiased review of the Body by Vi shake. I found another review online that had me pretty worried. The review focused on the soy protein and how this is apparently unhealthy. My mom is drinking these shakes as are many of the doctors who work in her medical clinic.
I began using the shake as a meal replacement for breakfast with almond milk and strawberries. I often skip breakfast or pick up a less than healthy option at work, so this is a great way for me to to get a “healthier” breakfast. I recently began working with a personal trainer and am eating 6 meals/snacks per day ( approx every 2-3 hours) including my breakfast shake. I am not looking for a miracle weight loss shake, just a fast, convenient and healthy option.
My trainer doesn’t like the low protein content in the shake, so I am using 1 1/2 servings to bump it up a bit. I am also drinking a whey protein shake after workouts, but it doesn’t taste nearly as good as the Vi shake.
I am trying to decide if I should order a new supply or discontinue using the Vi shake. Based on what I have read I feel a little better about the product. I am working on making healthier choices, eating a balanced diet and plenty of exercise but the shake sure helps me get out the door in the mornings!
Joe says
Shanda, glad I was able to help! As a personal trainer, you may be interested in my personal site Joe-Cannon.com
If you can afford Body By Vi and like the taste then I have no real problems with it. I can to a degree agree with your trainer about the protein but if you are eating well at other times of the day I don’t think it should be an issue for you.
jared says
Hi. I am 22, male, and weigh 250. Im going on the 90 day challenege starting tomorrow. Im going to be doing at least 30 minutes of exercise each day and eating a salad for the 3rd meal and 2 shakes for the 2 meals in place of actual food. I will update on how this goes for me. Thanks for the article by the way.
Joe says
Jared, glad you found me. Good luck! 🙂
Sherie says
Hey Joe,
So two years ago I lost 100 pounds by eating healthy foods and walking my a** off-4-6 miles daily!
I have tried TONS of different shakes including Vi shake and yes, most of them do help you lose weight in the interim however; BEWARE- at some point you will cave, binge and crash all in order to eat “real” food.
The Vi shake DOES taste good and IS very convenient and CAN help as a jumpstart to a healthier way of life BUT in the end, in the “real” world food will always be omnipresent.
You know what burns calories and gives you more energy than any shake out there? Exercising daily to the point where your metabolism is so revved up continuously, that you burn calories all the time!
Joe says
Sherie, CONGRATS on losing 100 pounds!! WOW!! 🙂
AndreaAnn says
I don’t know if anyone else brought this up but you made a funny pun. If you are thinking about being a ViSalus DISTURBER ask “what does the average ViSalus DISTURBER make?”. I assume you meant distributor?
It’s soooo funny because some people who use Facebook to publicize VIsalusBody by VI are almost- harassing. Anyways, I have a problem purchasing a weight-loss / health shake from a salesperson who will profit from my adhesion to their program / products.
I trust my health to professionals who had specialized medical training such as a nutritionist / dietician or a doctor / physician. However on a positive note, it seems like they encourage the customers to exercise and eat better. I was curious about the products so thanks for the review!
Joe says
AndreaAnn, thanks for letting me know about my little typo 🙂 I admit, I often confuse those two words. I’ve fixed the typo 🙂
Kristy says
I too am concerned about the vi shakes. My husband and I got a sample shake packet and tried it the next morning with orange juice. Vi shake tasted a lot better than the others and was able to drink it, my husband only had about half of his shake and I had the other half. At the end of a work day I felt a lot better. Not as hungry,not as tired and just all around felt good. Had more energy wanted to do more stuff around the house was content. Husband also said he had more get up and go with just what little he had.
Was a big improvement with me, at the end of my work day all I wanted to do when I got home was sleep cause I was so tired but with just one shake I did not do that when I got home. The true test will be the 90 day challenge I will start in a few days
Jose says
Thanks for the review Joe! I work at a place that sells the shakes and shake mix for Visalus. It is a great product. Thanks for getting the word out 🙂
Joe says
Jose, thanks. Since I have no association with Visalus, I just wanted to review the product in an unbiased way. You may also want to see my thoughts on the Vi Metabo Awake product. This product I dont feel people should use.
Cheryl says
Why don’t people just eat food? Good food.. whole, natural food…fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains. That will fix it. Read the ingredients out loud on these shakes…. I am an educated person and I cannot pronounce all that crap. How can it be good for you? Rent or buy “Hungry for Change” and change the way you think about food, then change the way you eat. No one should be eating this processed crap.
Joe says
Cheryl thanks for the heads up on the Hungry for Change movie. I’ll take a look at it 🙂
Heather says
Because of pass heart issues I do not consume caffeine or any other stimulants… Does this product have anything like this in it? Would it be safe for me?
Joe says
Heather, the shake itself doesn’t have any but they have other products that do so be careful with those. For a more healthy option try the shake I make in my blender