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Knowing where to begin on a weight loss journey can feel impossible, leading many people to give up before they’ve even started.
However, having a structured workout and nutrition program can help to solve this problem, by giving you the motivation and guidance you need to reach your fitness goals.
One company that claims to be able to do this is V Shred, but are they legit, or are their weight loss programs simply another fad? Read on to discover the pros and cons of this company, along with my personal V Shred experience.
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V Shred is an online fitness, nutrition, and supplement brand. Founded in 2015 by Vince Sant, the company was created with the goal of putting the fun back into fitness in a realistic way.
The brand offers multiple products, including a workout app, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and even supplements to support your health journey. Sant claims that with consistency, users can expect to lose at least 21 pounds in just 90 days.
Personalised approach
More than 1,500 dietitian-crafter recipes
Many health and wellness trackers
Easy-to-follow workouts
All-in-one health and fitness tracker
Encourages healthy living
Supports mental health and well-being
Personalized quiz to ensure the features suit you
Personalized workout and meal plans
One-to-one training and masterclasses with certified coaches
Digital library of fitness programs
Members online community
Personalised approach
More than 1,500 dietitian-crafter recipes
Many health and wellness trackers
Easy-to-follow workouts
All-in-one health and fitness tracker
Encourages healthy living
Supports mental health and well-being
Personalized quiz to ensure the features suit you
Personalized workout and meal plans
One-to-one training and masterclasses with certified coaches
Digital library of fitness programs
Members online community
On first impressions, V Shred looked pretty promising to me. After taking a quiz to determine which plan would be best, the website then cut to a video of founder Vince Sant giving some tips on losing more fat.
Although this seemed interesting at first, after conducting my own research it became clear to me that some of his claims weren’t fully backed by scientific evidence.
Despite being unsure, I continued with my chosen program “Ripped in 90 Days”, and at the end of the 12 weeks found I was able to lift more weight in the gym, could walk further without getting out of breath, and had lost some of that pesky stomach fat.
Here are some of my thoughts about what V Shred has to offer:
For $47, I was expecting to get a whole lot more than a set of repetitive, generic weight training and cardio programs that I could have found for free elsewhere on the internet.
They also don’t make it clear that you’ll have to pay extra for the nutrition part of this plan, which I felt should have been included in the $47.
Each time I logged into the website to check which exercises were coming up that day, I was spammed with ads pushing me to buy something from their range of supplements – so much so I was tempted to make a purchase just to get rid of them!
Sant claims that you should have a “symmetrical 6 pack” after completing the program. However, I was severely disappointed – I may have dropped some pounds, but my washboard abs were nowhere to be seen.
After conducting some more research, it became quite clear to me that building a six-pack takes time, and doesn’t just appear through performing endless ab exercises. You’ll need to strengthen the core muscles through consistent weight training, while dropping your body fat levels low enough to let your abs peek through.
Plus, having visible abs can be genetically impossible for some, so you should be wary of any program claiming it can help you “get ripped” in 90 days.
Like many other fitness brands, V Shred uses email marketing as a way to keep in touch with customers. However, I found their constant emails to be long, spammy, and full of unrealistic promises for their services, and particularly the supplement range.
On their website, V Shred advertises 12 unique programs, all of which have different goals to help both men and women. These programs include:
As well as diet plans, V Shred also offers nutritional supplements in their Sculpt Nation range. They are designed to help you get better results from their diet and exercise programs, and include:
V Shred has helped many users lose weight, according to their client testimonials and surveys. We found that their exercise programs are highly structured, and the meal plans encourage users to reduce their calorie intake.
Both of these factors can lead to fast weight loss, with research showing how weight loss interventions that are supervised, offer social support, and provide a dietary intervention encourage better adherence.
However, once your program is finished, you may find this low-calorie, crash diet approach difficult to continue. V Shred doesn’t offer any sort of aftercare to help you continue your fat loss journey, maintain your weight, or make long-term lifestyle changes.
Much of the science behind the V Shred programs should also be questioned, with some of their claims about fat-burning genes, human growth hormone, and “proven shortcuts” lacking in scientific basis.
Before signing up for a monthly membership, which the brand calls “V Shred University”, you’ll be given the opportunity to complete a body type quiz.
This consists of a few straightforward questions that help to determine which category you fall into, so the V Shred team can send you the right monthly plan for your goals.
You’ll then be asked to watch a pretty long video before you can make your final purchase, where Vince Sant gives 3 fixes to help you get slim and toned.
At the end of the video, you can then view your macronutrient recommendations, as well as a breakdown of what’s included in your program. There’s also the option to buy a meal plan to support your journey.
Once you’ve committed, you’ll then be granted access to V Shred’s entire extensive library of digital fitness programs, including the popular Fat Loss Extreme, Ripped in 90, and many more.
You can also purchase programs on their own that will be recommended to you based on how you answered the quiz questions. Each program starts from around $19.99, depending on the discounts offered.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight or build muscle, V Shred has a variety of programs to suit many different fitness goals.
From Toned in 90 and Clean Bulk for strength building, to Move at Home and Six Pack Shred, these plans have some benefits which I feel should be highlighted if you’re considering V Shred:
V Shred’s Custom Diet program includes both a meal and training plan built around your needs. As well as being asked about your height, weight, and activity levels in the initial quiz, you’ll also be to share information on your food preferences, training history, and favorite exercises.
The company’s qualified coaches will then calculate your daily bulking macros and calorie intake, before creating a plan that you’ll enjoy.
Some programs offer high-intensity workouts that last only 15 minutes, meaning they can be fit even into the busiest schedules.
Studies show that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions burn 25 to 30% more calories than less intense forms of exercise in the same time period.
Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to access the online V Shred member community. This gives you the chance to listen to Vince’s weekly Couch Talk, where he answers questions on weight loss and nutrition.
The community also has its own Facebook page, where members can offer tips, advice, and messages of support to other members. Having others around you who are working towards similar goals is a great motivational technique for weight loss.
Despite having some benefits, there are several red flags that we and many other users have picked up on along the way, including the following points:
Each V Shred program comes with a specific end goal, such as getting a six-pack or becoming toned in 90 days. Once you’ve completed the program, you may find it difficult to maintain these results in the long term, as you’ll be solely relying on motivation.
Although they take your weight, height, and goals to come up with a recommended calorie intake, many of the daily calorie goals V Shred provides for users are extremely low, and highly unsustainable.
Consuming too few calories can cause you to feel fatigued, lose hair, and may lead you to binge once your diet is finished, meaning that you’ll put weight back on.
On both Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau, V Shred has hundreds of negative reviews, with users complaining about slow response times from customer service.
Many customers are also concerned by the lack of transparency regarding cancellations and refunds, as well as the quality of each program.
Some of the customer complaints online are centered around the additional charges added on at checkout, which aren’t made clear beforehand.
After committing to V Shred, you’re then likely to receive regular phone calls and long emails pushing you to make further purchases.
Unless you choose to buy the additional meal plan program, you will need to count the number of calories you eat per day.
V Shred does provide you with a recommended daily carb, protein, and fat intake, but it’s up to you to make sure you’re tracking the foods you eat. This can be time-consuming, requiring lots of extra meal planning and food preparation.
After downloading the free V Shred app, you’ll then be offered 5 free days for any 90-day program you purchase. At the end of the trial period, you will then be asked to start paying for new content, with prices varying depending on the type of membership or plan chosen.
For example, the V Shred University membership option is just $1 for a 30-day trial, which then costs $19.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.
The cheapest single program is priced at $19.99, with the most expensive costing $87. You can also purchase a weight loss recipe guide for just $14.95.
Although VShred is a legit fitness and nutrition brand, there are a lot of negative customer reviews online that question the effectiveness of their programs. The company also lacks transparency when it comes to purchases and cancellations, as well as making bold claims about their products which aren’t backed by scientific evidence.
Despite being beneficial for some, V Shred isn’t worth a purchase as it doesn’t help you make long-lasting changes. There are many more effective weight loss programs that help you maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle, such as Beyond Body.
V Shred teaches users how to work out and eat well to lose weight quickly.
While V Shred may help some people to drop the pounds quickly, it is not a good program for helping you maintain that weight loss or teaching you healthier eating habits.
Vince Sant founded V Shred in 2015 alongside 3 other co-founders. As well as being the face of the company, he is also a personal trainer, author, and fitness model.
When reviewing V Shred, there were 4 distinct factors that helped us decide whether or not their products and services are worth a purchase. These were:
Many customers are happy with the quality of the workout and diet plans offered by V Shred. Despite finding the videos easy to follow, we thought that what was offered isn’t worth the price we paid. There are many other, cheaper lifestyle changes that you can make to lose weight fast and keep it off.
Although there are a variety of programs to suit a variety of needs and goals, each plan only lasts for 8 weeks, 12 weeks, or 90 days. Once you’ve reached the end, you’ll need to rely on motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is why quick-fix weight loss programs such as V Shred aren’t always effective in the long run.
At $1 per month for a 30-day trial, the V Shred University membership is a good deal. We also think that the programs are well-priced for everything they offer, although the checkout process can be unclear.
For instance, many customers complain that they were charged for the optional meal program although they only purchased a fitness plan.
Despite the large number of positive testimonials on their website, elsewhere on the internet V Shred gets mainly bad reviews. Through reading reviews on the Better Business Bureau website and from our own experience, we found the brand to be misleading and unresponsive to customer complaints.
There are many weight loss programs on the market that can help you to make long-lasting lifestyle changes. This includes eating a balanced diet, integrating regular exercise such as daily walks or long-distance runs into your schedule, and drinking plenty of water.
It’s important to be aware of plans that simply offer quick fixes to burn fat, as this will be unsustainable in the long run and could lead to you putting weight back on.
Remember, to lose weight you need to remain consistent with your diet and exercise routine. To ensure that you are continually burning more calories than you eat, include foods that are high in fiber and packed full of protein.
Both of these nutrients can help you feel fuller for longer, while eating fewer calories and also supporting muscle growth. Try eating lentils, quinoa, eggs, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Despite helping some users to lose weight quickly, overall we think that V Shred programs and supplements aren’t worth purchasing.
We felt that their programs fell short of our expectations, as they failed to provide us with the tools for making long-term healthy lifestyle changes. Instead, they prescribe restrictive, low-calorie diets and short-term exercise programs that aren’t sustainable.
The brand isn’t transparent or trustworthy, and pushes customers into making additional purchases that may not benefit them on their weight loss journey.
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