Former Miss America Teresa Scanlan Wins Weight Battle with ViSalus

LOS ANGELES, June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Winning the title of Miss America in 2011 was just the start for Teresa Scanlan of Purcellville, Virginia.  With the title came a year of constant travel, which resulted in a 30 lb. weight gain. After a fellow pageant participant introduced Scanlan to ViSalus, the company behind the #1 90-Day weight-loss and fitness challenge platform in North America, she began her journey to a healthy lifestyle and a new title.

"Before ViSalus, I sought comfort in fast food, snacks and unhealthy eating habits," said Scanlan. "I knew the importance of a healthy lifestyle but after my crowning, I lost focus. I was tired, sluggish and I was embarrassed because I felt like a hypocrite. My pageant platform promoted healthy eating initiatives so as a role model I needed to make a change but I didn't know where to begin."

Scanlan's health and lifestyle change began with ViSalus when she accepted the PROJECT 10™ Challenge to focus on losing her first 10 lbs. with a ViSalus nutritional Challenge Kit. Motivated to be back in what she described as "Miss America Shape," Scanlan lost the weight she gained in her first 90 days*.  In March of this year, she won the Body by Vi Challenge^® and became a 2014 Vi Model Champion.

As a 2014 Vi Model Champion, Scanlan was motivated to inspire others and to continue challenging herself. She is now a certified personal fitness trainer and recently enrolled full-time at Patrick Henry University. "Being honored as a fitness role model felt like a chance to inspire and empower others once again; this time with more focus than ever," she stated. "I am in better shape now than when I was as a pageant competitor and I plan to continue to challenge myself while serving as an example to others."

"Teresa's Miss America redemption story is an inspiration. She is a prime example of the personal growth gained through The Challenge," said Ryan Blair, ViSalus Co-Founder and CEO. "Her determination to challenge herself every day to lose the weight and become both a Challenge Champion and dedicated leader is remarkable."

*Achievement in weight loss depends upon many factors such as exercise, discipline and determination.

About the 2014 Body by Vi Challenge® Champions
ViSalus received more than 1,000 Challenge entries and, for the first time, invited the public to vote online at vote.vi.com. Over 260,000 votes were tallied to help name the winners across three categories: Weight-Loss, Active/Fitness and Vi Model. The selection process included a weighting of 50% Vi Community Vote and 50% Vi Independent Judging Panel based on the contestants' 90-Day Challenge results. Challenge Champions received a $5,000 cash prize, participated in a professional photo shoot, received a personal branding package, and were given additional Vi products.

The Body by Vi Challenge starts with a personal goal set by individuals to improve their health—either by shedding pounds, accomplishing an athletic activity, or achieving their optimum physique over the course of 90 days. Every Challenge is supported by a ViSalus nutritional Challenge Kit and is documented along the way through social media and on Challenge.com. Any ViSalus Customer or Promoter can submit his/her results for a chance to win various titles, which are announced twice a year at ViSalus National Events.

About ViSalus
ViSalus, Inc. is a healthy lifestyle company that is dedicated to Challenging the World… 10 lbs. at a Time. Founded in 2005, ViSalus develops high-quality weight-management products and nutritional supplements that it markets and sells direct-to-consumers through an international sales force of independent promoters. ViSalus markets its products in North America under the ViSalus^® brand and in Europe under the Vi^™ brand, through the Body by Vi Challenge^®. ViSalus is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and Troy, Michigan and is majority-owned by Blyth, Inc. (NYSE: BTH). For more information about ViSalus, please visit vi.com and follow the Vi-Community on Facebook and Twitter.

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SOURCE ViSalus