After Trey Turner's college basketball playing career came to an end and an illness limited his activity for a few months, the Logan County High School and Western Kentucky University graduate gradually put on extra weight. Because he's over 6'5”, the additional poundage didn't show as much as it would on a shorter person, but he knew it was there. It was a problem for him, since he's a basketball official and called over 125 games this winter. His legs were telling him they would appreciate toting less weight up and down the court.

Trey had learned about the Body by Vi 90-Day Challenge because some of his friends from Hanover College were taking advantage of the program. They were losing weight, getting more physically fit, and—in some cases—making money because of the product and the program.

Body by Vi involves substituting one or more “shape shakes” for meals, eating other meals sensibly—and for those wanting to make major improvements to their body and health—taking related minerals, vitamins, Omega oils, antioxidants and anti-aging supplements.

The Challenge worked for Trey. He lost 45 pounds in the 90 days, including 29 in the first 30 days. He reduced the size of his waist eight inches, chest five inches and hips four inches. On March 18 he weighed 248.6 pounds. On June 25, his weight was 200.6 pounds, about five below his high school playing weight.

In the three weeks before the high school sports “dead period” began this month, he officiated almost 60 basketball games, sometimes as many as eight in a day. “My legs used to hurt after two or three games,” he says. “Now I don't feel any pain after twice that many or more.”

One of his clients in Russellville has lost 16 pounds in her first 30 days of The Challenge and is highly pleased with the outcome. She says she has followed other programs precisely and yet gained weight on them. “This is the best one I've ever tried,” she says. “I'm almost never hungry, I feel much better, and I'm committed to staying on the program and seeing how much more weight I can lose.”

Body by Vi is a program created by ViSalus Sciences. It's rapidly growing. The company posted $127 million in sales during the first quarter of 2012, according to a story in the Miami Herald this week, http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/16/2898417_visalus-marries-biggest-loser.html#storylink=addthis . ViSalus is said to be one of the fastest growing multi-level, buy-and-recruit marketing companies.

Those who take the Challenge not only can lose weight, build more muscles, get in better shape, and live a healthier lifestyle, but they can also improve their financial standing by promoting the product. Those who successfully recruit three people to take the Challenge in a month get their own meals and supplements free, and there are also payments for continued sales. Over $25 million in prizes, free products and vacations are offered.

What makes the program even more desirable is that the shakes are tasty. The company bills it's product as “the shake mix that tastes like a cake mix.” The mix can be blended with any number of companion ingredients, such as fruits, candy, peanut butter, etc.

The cost is less than $2 per meal. One couple says they saved $438 in a month's food costs.

Drinking the shakes also serves as an appetite suppressant. “I could go through a buffet and not get as full as I do with one shake,” Trey says.

Body by Vi is not only effective in appetite suppression, but it also involves a much healthier menu. A comparison distributed by the company:Vi-shake—90 calories, 12 grams protein, 1 gram total fat, 7 grams carbs, 1 gram sugar, 5 grams fiber, $1.87; StarbucksWhite Chocolate Moca with Soymilk—360 calories, 9 grams protein, 13 grams total fat, 51 grams carbs, 45 grams sugars, 1 gram fiber, $4.15; McDonald's Big Mac Meal: 770 calories, 28 grams protein, 40 grams fat, 74 grams carbs, 9 grams sugars, 0 grams fiber, $5.19; Burger King's Whopper with Cheese: 1,320 calories, 62 grams of fat, 165 grams carbs,$5.19; Jack in the Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, seasoned curly fries, medium coke: 1,580 calories, 91 grams fat, 149 grams carbs,$5.89; McDonald's Happy Meal Cheeseburger, small fries, 1 percent low fat milk: 640 calories, 26 grams fat, 74 grams carbs,$3.29; Wendy's Chicken Club, medium fries, medium Diet Coke: 1,060 calories, 51 grams fat, 99 grams carbs; $6.29; Hardee's $6 Burger, cross cut fries, medium Coke: 1,550 calories, 83 grams fat, 158 grams carbs, $7.13.

The program also involves a new mental approach to healthier eating. “It's not a miracle product,” one promotional item explains. “It's you re-learning to treat your body better with excellent nutrition. It's you re-learning what it's like to feel good again.”

The program is not just for those who are seriously overweight. It's for people who want to trim up, get healthier and enjoy life more. Body by Vi says it's for “anybody and any body.”

Another fun aspect of the Challenge is a new association with the television program “The Biggest Loser.” Those who take the Body by Vi 90-Day Challenge are encouraged to do a video of their progress and submit it for possible inclusion in the show. Celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan has become a spokesman for Body by Vi.

To learn more about the Body by Vi 90-Day Challenge, click on the ad on the right side of The LoJo, watch the video, and follow instructions if you want to continue. For more information, email Trey Turner at treyturner_54@hotmail.com, call 270-772-1490 or go to treyturner.bodybyvi.com.