Depending on who you ask, the Body by Vi challenge is either a cult, a pyramid scheme, or a healthy way to jump-start your weight loss. The program, created by ViSalus Sciences, combines vitamins, shakes, and supplements along with meals and online support to reportedly help you lose weight, gain energy, and even win prizes and money.
Although meal replacement and protein shakes can be a healthy supplement to an already sound diet, Body by Vi relies on "social marketing," meaning the people who sell it have an incentive to help you jump on the bandwagon (for every two people a promoter convinces to purchase the product, he or she receives a month's supply free). Stick to finding support on Facebook or weight-loss blogs where nobody is pushing anything.
