My Review of ViSalus Pro

I am SO excited to be reviewing the ViSalus Pro product line by Body by Vi. The company offers a wide array of supplements and meal replacements aimed at optimizing your daily experience. I was gifted a pack of the ViSalus Pro drink mixes and, I have to say that I really enjoyed my time testing this product.

So what IS ViSalus Pro anyways?

Well, the Body by Vi website provides the following information:

ViSalus PRO® drink mix combines a powerful blend of natural plant extracts, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients to support stamina, endurance, energy and muscle recovery. It features concentrated ingredients like Whole Grape Extract, and other nutrients such as Citrulline Malate and D-Ribose, to provide the performance support you want throughout the day and an energy lift that lasts.† It’s portable, convenient and available in a deliciously refreshing passionfruit flavor.

PRO supports athletic performance, post-activity recovery, and rehydration, and delivers sustained energy†… get yours today!

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.

I have to say that I found the drink to be delicious and that it gave me a slight boost in energy that felt natural and that didn’t result in a major crash later in the day. That passion fruit flavor was nice and refreshing (remember I love the pink drinks) and as the drink is stored in tiny pouches, you can take them on the go with you. On top of everything, the drink mix has no added sugar, no extra sodium, no empty calories, and is gluten and lactose-free! I think this mix would make an excellent addition to anyone’s diet regimen.

I give the drink 4 out of 5 possible stars and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a little energy boost!

Plexus CEO and Founder Tarl Robinson Builds a Legacy with Pink Drink

Despite being founded in 2006, the Plexus we know and love today was markedly different at its onset. In 2006, Plexus Worldwide’s main product offering was the Breast Check Kit. 

With that being said, after speaking to his customers and hearing about their triumphs and struggles, CEO and Founder Tarl Robinson knew that there was a need that was not being met. After working with scientists, Plexus Worldwide was able to develop the first iteration of the Plexus Slim.  A 2008 study found that many individuals who were utilizing Plexus Slim as a part of a healthy diet and exercise regimen found that they had lost weight when drinking pink. 

This got the wheels turning and by 2009, Plexus was ready to unveil Plexus Slim to the world as a product to help the masses lose weight.

In a recent keynote address at the 2018 Legacy Convention, Plexus CEO and Founder Tarl Robinson wistfully remembers the launch of the Plexus Slim product line and the creation of something bigger than the company could have ever imagined.

 “In 2009 we introduced Plexus Slim to our 1000 ambassadors. We began to build the legacy. And as the company grew we started to realize that something special was happening. None of us could’ve imagined that in 10 years we’d have so much effect on people’s lives—their health and their financial well-being.” 

In general, Tarl seems like someone who really cares about his company and about the people who use his products. In a 2015 video interview, when speaking on why he does what he does, Tarl said, “I just stumbled into this because I loved what it did for my family and…what I’ve learned, especially with Plexus is that if you do it right, and you do it with integrity and honor and…you are honest and trustworthy…you have the foundation of being a good person and you can build a good business on that”. I have to admire someone who approaches business with that perspective.

Aside from being a solid company helmed by Tarl Robinson, Plexus really cares about its community (both local and abroad). The company is involved in a number of philanthropic initiatives, from organizing walks in support of the Phoenix Children’s Heart Center and volunteering at Food Banks to working closely with the Starfish Project to provide holistic care programs for exploited women in Asia.

So…without further ado, let’s get to the review.

My Plexus Slim Pink Drink Review

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the cornerstone product offering from Plexus Worldwide- the Pink Drink. Known to happy customers around the world, Plexus Slim, also known as the “Pink Drink”, is an absolutely delicious energizing drink mix that promotes gut health while helping to facilitate weight loss. I’ve utilized Plexus Slim as a part of my diet and exercise plan for some time now and I couldn’t be happier with the results that I’ve seen.

I should begin by saying, and this goes for all of my reviews, that I can only provide my first-hand experience with Plexus Slim and that Plexus Worldwide does not claim that any of its products will cure or treat or prevent any illness or disease. 

Again, this is just my experience with the Pink Drink.

When I was first introduced to Slimthe Pink Drink, I was struggling with my energy levels. I was heavier than I should have been. I was working an office job that left little time for exercise and food prep and so I had let the pounds slowly accumulate around my midsection. It was a vicious cycle. After a friend introduced me to Plexus Slim, however, I knew that I had found something to help me break out of my lackadaisical ways. I had that little energy boost that helped me to take on more after I clocked out at the end of the day and, best of all, I didn’t feel jittery after taking it. 

While I’m no scientist, I think that the prebiotics in the Pink Drink also helped me to feel satiated and less bloated all the time. So where the heck did this Pink Drink even come from?

A pack of Plexus Slim includes 30 packets, each with only 5 calories. The Plexus website indicates that the product does not include any artificial sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives. Again, while I am no doctor, the Plexus website provides the following information on the Pink Drink’s prebiotic capabilities.

• Increases Lactobacillus by 365 times and Bifidobacterium by 290 times - contributing to overall health*
  
• Increases the metabolism-enhancing Akkermansia microbes by 250 times◊*
  
• Supports healthy glucose metabolism*
  
• Clinically studied XOS prebiotic*

All-in-all, I love using Plexus Slim and give the Pink Drink the 5 out of 5 stars that it deserves. I think it tastes great and it gives me the little energy boost that I’m looking for, especially in the afternoon when my morning coffee has worn off. 

But don’t just take my word for it. Plexus has a great website that can help you to purchase Plexus Slim for yourself. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

◊The results of an in vitro human gut simulator study suggest that Slim’s formula may have several beneficial effects. Further research, including research conducted in humans, is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Amway XS- Bring Back Sparkling Juiced Energy - Pink Grapefruit

If you couldn’t tell from the name of the blog, I absolutely love energy drinks, especially those that are pink. I don’t know if there is something about the flavor that my brain associates with the color pink, but I just love it. While my favorite is and will always be the Pink Drink from Plexus, I am open to any energy beverages of any color. In today’s review, I will be taking a look at Amway’s product line- XS. This is a canned energy drink from Amway, which you may have heard of before. 

Amway is an MLM that was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos. The company is currently based out of Michigan and, alongside its sister companies reported sales in excess of $8 billion in 2018 (WOW). Amway sells much more than energy drinks, however. Their product offering extends into health, beauty, and home care products. 

I think that I had a distant aunt that sold Amway products at one point, but I’m not so sure. I came across the Amway brand at a gym that I used to work at. There was once gentleman in particular who would always drink one right before he would do a spin class. After multiple weeks of watching him gulp down this foreign beverage, I had to ask him where he got it. Because the can didn’t have “AMWAY” written across it, I figured that it was some sort of new energy drink that had just hit the market. After speaking to the gentleman, however, I learned that these drinks could only be purchased through approved distributors who, through a partnership with Amway, were able to own their own business and make money selling products that they already used.

Evidently, in 2015 Amway purchased the XS Energy company and began selling their products. That makes sense and explains why Amway isn't written all over the packaging.

While I didn’t have spare time to be involved with Amway, I was very interested in the XS drinks. The guy from the gym was in great shape, and if XS was somehow to thank for that, I was interested. I asked the guy if I could purchase some from him and I was delighted to learn that he sold variety cases for only $30. We met a few days later and I began to taste test all of the XS flavors. 

The following is my break down of what I thought of my variety case:

• XS™ Sparkling Juiced Energy Pink Grapefruit (2 cans)

• THE BEST! I love the flavor of grapefruit and the effervescence was really subtle and nice. 5 stars!

• XS™ Sparkling Juiced Energy Mango Pineapple Guava (2 cans)

• At first, I was not a fan of this. Upon second taste, however, my opinion of this drink improved 4 stars!

• XS™ Sparkling Juiced Energy Dragon Fruit (2 cans)

• LOVE IT! Great flavor. 4.5 Stars

• XS™ Caffeine-Free Sparkling Juiced Energy Mango Pineapple Guava (2 cans).

• Not sure why anyone would want a de-caffeinated energy drink. With that being said, I’m that there are people who do. Not my cup of tea, but okay flavor. 3 stars!

• XS™ Energy + Burn Strawberry (2 cans)

• Flavor seemed pretty artificial. 3.5 stars!

• XS™ Energy + Burn Blood Orange (2 cans) 

• Loved this one. 4 Stars!

All-in-all, I really enjoyed working my way through the XS line of energy drinks from Amway. 

Aside from the de-caffeinated option, all of the flavors gave me a great boost of energy and had me feeling great for most of the day. Obviously, my favorite was the Pink Grapefruit, but there were multiple others that were equally great.

This brings me to my last point. For some reason, Amway has not restocked the Pink Grapefruit XS drinks on its website. I sincerely hope that this is not indicative of a shift in product offering, because I loved that flavor. Like other energy beverages from other MLM’s, you can still find hard-to-acquire flavors on sites like Amazon and Ebay, but buyer beware. You never know what you could potentially be purchasing when you go through a third party. My recommendation is to find someone who can works with Amway and bug them to get ahold of your favorite flavors. That’s what I did and I now have a few cases of Pink Grapefruit stashed away for a rainy day.

I know there are many more flavors than I tested, so please, reach out if you have a favorite that was not included here that I should try!

Jeunesse Global: A Review of Nevo Energy

This is a review that I have been quite excited to make. There was a time in my life when I was drinking A LOT of Jeunesse Global’s energy product- Nevo. A close family friend had become a field representative for Jeunesse and so I was able to purchase it from her whenever she came over to visit. It was a little harder to get a hold of than say, a Monster Energy drink from the corner store, but I almost feel like you can’t compare those two products. While Monster gives you an insane caffeine buzz, you always crash. Nevo, on the other hand, had a more subtle effect on me. Maybe it's all in my mind, but I felt sharp and ready to take on the day after having a NEVO. After drinking a Monster, I felt like I was on crack. Sometimes I got irritable for no reason. Never did I feel that way with Nevo. While it’s no Pink Drink, Nevo will always be one of my favorite energy beverages.

Nevo comes in 4 amazing flavors and gave me the energy that I was looking for, exactly when I needed it. No jitters. No bad crash afterward. It was a match made in heaven.

Nevo is available in the following flavors:

Acai Grape

Lemon Ginger (My Favorite!)

Mixed Berry

Peach Mango

All of the flavors are great, but I was never the biggest fan of Peach Mango. It’s just not a flavor that I like. 

I think the reason why I enjoyed Nevo so much was because it derived its caffeine from natural sources like Green Tea and Yerba Mate. It has real fruit juice and somehow only has 50 calories in each can. No artificial colors, flavors, or sweetness. No BS.

Each can of Nevo is filled with natural ingredients that help to give you that little increase in energy. I can honestly say that the only reason that I ever made it through college exams was because of energy formulas from some of my favorite MLM’s and Nevo was definitely one of them.

Nevo’s key ingredients include:

Green Tea:

Cultivated originally in East Asia as a large shrub tree, green tea now grows throughout Asia and parts of the Middle East and Africa.

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is native to subtropical South America in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Guarana

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a Brazilian herb that is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). It has become a popular addition to energy drinks due to its natural caffeine content.

Nevo includes the following Vitamins:

Vitamin C

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B12

While I never had more than one can per day, I think that if I had two I wouldn’t stay up all night and would be able to get to bed as per my usual schedule. I know that Jeunesse recommends not drinking it a few hours before bed, and I think that is well advised.

Jeunesse also recommends drinking a can in the morning instead of your usual coffee and I think that is a great way to start the day. I have a few friends that use Nevo as a pre-workout formula and I totally understand why. The last time I took C-4, I felt like I was going to explode out of my own skin. Rather than working out, I spent the entire time feelingly veins bulge. Because Nevo gives me such a gentle boost in energy, I think it would be the perfect way to power through a tough workout.

Also, I should note that Jeunesse does not recommend children drinking Nevo. This is a strictly adults-only beverage. Sorry, kiddos.

While it’s been over a year since I really sought Nevo out, I recently jumped online and noticed that the Nevo product page had been removed from the Jeunesse website. You can find cases on Amazon and other third-party sales platforms, but nothing on the official site. I reached out to a company representative, but no one has reached back out. I really hope that they continue to make Nevo, because it is, hands down, one of my favorites. With that being said, I get that people’s preferences change and companies have to change along with them.

Jeunesse, if you ever read this, bring back the Nevo!

AdvoCare: What Happens Next?

AdvoCare: What Comes Next?

As an energy drink enthusiast, I feel like I have a solid understanding of what products work and those that don't. If you're reading this, I'm sure you're like me and jump at the chance to try a new energy beverage or supplement when you come across it online or in the store. As someone who has incorporated energy supplements into all aspects of my daily life, I have found my favorites and I know exactly which brands I will never try again. In my search to find the best energy drinks out there,  I have unfortunately also seen some of my favorite brands close their doors, minimize distribution, or discontinue their product line entirely. While I had intended to make this post about AdvoCare's Spark product line, recent news regarding the company shook me to my very core. 

In May of this year, AdvoCare International made a shocking announcement- they would be changing their tried and true distribution model from multi-level to uni-level. This announcement came after multiple months of intense conversations with the FTC. What this means for lovers of AdvoCare Spark, it seems that only time will tell. I still have a friend (and former AdvoCare distributor) who has inventory, but with so much in flux at the moment, the future is uncertain.

I, for one, am a HUGE fan of Spark and so I really hope that all parties involved can come to an agreeable decision that allows for convenient future sales of the product. Right now, you can go to their online store and purchase these products, but what does this shift to e-commerce mean for former distributors?

Have thoughts on this development? Let us know in the comment section!

Pink Drink Founder Tarl Robinson Speaks to a Hungry Audience

If social media memes have proven anything, it’s that a company’s stance on non-product related issues can create a well-spring of support or a firestorm of negative publicity. This explains, in part, why the popularly termed “Pink Drink” is garnering an army of advocates who are passionate about both the products’ results and the company’s focus on feeding the hungry, advocating for under-privileged women and breast health. 

For the founder and CEO of Plexus Worldwide, Tarl Robinson, network marketing has always been about something deeper than the big incentive trips and car programs that the media seems to focus on. In his 2018 keynote address at the Plexus Legacy Convention, Tarl remarks, “I remember being 9 years old… in my mom’s weekly opportunity meeting. I’d listen to people’s stories; stories of how network marketing was changing lives, changing their health, changing their financial situations… it made me realize that legacy starts with hard work,” he says. Reflecting on the “Pink Drink, he adds “In 2009 we introduced Plexus Slim to our 1000 ambassadors. We began to build the legacy. And as the company grew we started to realize that something special was happening. none of us could’ve imagined that in 10 years we’d have so much effect on people’s lives—their health and their financial well-being.” Now, Tarl and the Ambassadors are broadening the focus to paying that legacy forward in other impactful ways, including aid to programs around the globe. 

The company works with the Starfish Project to provide holistic care programs for exploited women in Asia; helping them receive vocational training, healthcare, shelter, counseling, and educational opportunities that equip them to build successful, independent lives. The project even training in things like literacy, math, and computer skills.

Plexus Worldwide also works with Feeding America, donating funds equivalent to one meal for each serving of Plexus Lean sold.  

“Knowing I’m making a tangible difference through providing meals for the hungry and equipping women for success who would otherwise be helpless, or worse, hopeless, makes me even more proud to be an Ambassador for products that have changed my own life,” says an anonymous Plexus ambassador. 

Big-impact products are often the initial attraction to Plexus, and the product line has a high appeal in the marketplace right now. That’s because “leaky gut syndrome” as well as “low carb” and “keto”-focused ways of eating are at the forefront of popular health topics, and the company’s product line addresses both. 

This means the independent sales force is finding an eager audience, and when product loyalists discover that the company’s mission and ideals line up with what they’re passionate about, they often believe it makes sense to more closely align with it. 

That’s why so many customers, formerly content to just refer the product to others, have decided to become Ambassadors. Now they earn cash when those referrals make purchases. But best of all, they know they’re making a difference not just in their friends’ and family’s well-being, but in the lives of those who are hungry in the U.S. and for impoverished and exploited women on the other side of the globe.  

“I never thought direct selling was for me. I hated the idea of being ‘That pushy woman.’ When I saw what a difference the Pink Drink made for me, and what an amazing impact the company was making in the lives of people who truly needed help, I discovered it was easy to share my excitement without being pushy,” says another anonymous Plexus ambassador. “Plexus Slim is a nutritional supplement that helps with gut health, glucose metabolism and weight management. Plexus Worldwide is a company that makes a difference in the lives that never even know about their incredible products.”

Harvard Announces Uptick in Energy Drink Consumption

We at Drink Pink Now are always on the lookout for news related to weight loss supplements and energy drinks. In a recent study from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from Harvard University found that the consumption of energy beverages in the United States has grown considerably in the past few years. In the study, researchers from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health reviewed survey data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey taken from 2003 to 2016. From that data, researchers found that consumption of energy beverages among young adults had grown from .2% to 1.4% in the past decade. Of no surprise to us, these same researchers found that regular energy drink consumers had elevated levels of caffeine in their bodies when compared to irregular consumers or non-consumers (duh!).

The main concerning takeaway of the study was that the increased consumption of caffeine and sugar by young adults can potentially lead to “negative health consequences”. Researchers found that issues in consistent labeling were often tied to these negative consequences. We at Drink Pink Now do not condone the consumption of these drinks by children and advise anyone who feels that they are being negatively impacted by their consumption to immediately speak to a health professional. With that being said, we also believe that energy beverages and supplements can be a part of a healthy diet, if used responsibly and can give users a helpful energy boost during natural lulls in the day. This only further highlights the importance of proper nutritional labeling by the companies that produce these products.