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[Socreges]

I know that it's distributed through a MLM system that can be considered a sort of pyramid scheme. I've read plenty about the downfalls and how people are suckered in and lose money. This thread isn't really about that, but feel free to let loose if you'd like.

I'm wondering about the product itself. Protein powder + meal replacement powder. I trust that it's effective as with other high-protein supplements (so long as you stick to the diet regiment and exercise regularly) but it seems to be relatively expensive (about $3.90 per shake). Is it more effective than other protein powders? Is the meal replacement powder at all unique or are there other comparable (shake) products out there? ...what are they?

It isn't for me. GF's sister and sister's friends are distributors and heavy into it (conferences, etc). It's working for them, but I wonder if it's as much the regiment/diet/exercise and if any other similar (and less expensive) product would be as effective. Now that their tentacles are beginning to affect people I'm close to, I'd like to know more about the product.

 

[SouthernDragon]

The product itself is ok, but overpriced.

Look elsewhere.

 

[Socreges]

Look elsewhere.

Alright. Such as? What other meal replacement products are out there? Thanks

 

[AngmarsKing701]

The product itself is ok, but overpriced.

Look elsewhere.

I second this. I used it for more than a year. Very expensive, but I did lose weight. When I went off of it and started eating regular meals again instead of shakes for breakfast and lunch, I ballooned past my original weight.

The best solution? Change your lifestyle. I went with sparkpeople.com and started measuring out what I eat in terms of calories, exercising more often, etc. I managed to lose 30 lbs and kept most of it off for more than two years.

 

[Orayn]

It's a completely mundane product that you only know about because of the insidious pyramid scheme that's used to sell it.

 

[3phemeral]

I know that it's distributed through a MLM system that can be considered a sort of pyramid scheme. I've read plenty about the downfalls and how people are suckered in and lose money. This thread isn't really about that, but feel free to let loose if you'd like.

I'm wondering about the product itself. Protein powder + meal replacement powder. I trust that it's effective as with other high-protein supplements (so long as you stick to the diet regiment and exercise regularly) but it seems to be relatively expensive (about $3.90 per shake). Is it more effective than other protein powders? Is the meal replacement powder at all unique or are there other comparable (shake) products out there? ...what are they?

It isn't for me. GF's sister and sister's friends are distributors and heavy into it (conferences, etc). It's working for them, but I wonder if it's as much the regiment/diet/exercise and if any other similar (and less expensive) product would be as effective. Now that their tentacles are beginning to affect people I'm close to, I'd like to know more about the product.

I had an old friend who tried to get me in on this. His sister owned a shop that they invited me to try blended smoothies, but the whole thing ended up being an entire health-regimen program focused around Herbalife products where you pay for overpriced meal replacements, protein, and metabolic-boosting teas while getting you in once a week to check your measurements.

I do like the idea of this sort of "helper" system where they keep you motivated and call you incessantly to make sure you're staying up to task, but the actual products are just way too overpriced to justify their effectiveness.

The basic vanilla-powder protein pack + tea supplement costed me 160 bucks (I wanted to do a favor for a friend who seemed to be struggling), and that was for a one-month supply. You can easily find superior products from competitors if you research, but the key is you have to know what you're looking for and what purpose it's suited to. Are you heavy lifting? Just doing cardio?

Personally, Herbalife was just a super expensive version of protein/tea supplements that aren't as well formulated.

I will say one thing, though, those Honey Dew Melon shakes were damned good.

One last thing that's separate from the actual product: If you're willing to sell these products, you could probably make bank. When I used to work at Paramount Studios, every year Herbalife would rent out a bunch of our stages for a grand party, and you'd have people driving up in these expensive cars, dressed to the nines galavanting down a red carpet toward a building lit with spot lights and Bat-Signal-esque Herbalife logos.

 

[Socreges]

I think I should have titled my thread "What are some superior meal replacement alternatives to Herbalife?" because that's really what I'm after. Appreciate the input, though.

For the record, my gf's sister lost 30 lbs after a few months of Herbalife. Her friends lost weight, too.* My girlfriend (who wants to lose a bit of weight) is now on board and so are her parents. They look at the sister and think it's all thanks to this magical Herbalife of which there is no substitute. I first heard about the product two days ago and did some research yesterday. Not impressed, I spoke to my girlfriend today and she was a bit defensive. Her sister is a distributor and she herself had just invested in 2 months worth.

I don't want to have the same conversation again. I just want to be able to go up to her and say, "Here, look. These products do the same thing as Herbalife and don't cost as much."




*they're on a pretty intense exericse/diet regiment and police each other pretty closely

 

[3phemeral]

I think I should have titled my thread "What are some superior meal replacement alternatives to Herbalife?" because that's really what I'm after. Appreciate the input, though.

For the record, my gf's sister lost 30 lbs after a few months of Herbalife. Her friends lost weight, too.* My girlfriend (who wants to lose a bit of weight) is now on board and so are her parents. They look at the sister and think it's all thanks to this magical Herbalife of which there is no substitute. I first heard about the product two days ago and did some research yesterday. Not impressed, I spoke to my girlfriend today and she was a bit defensive. Her sister is a distributor and she herself had just invested in 2 months worth.

I don't want to have the same conversation again. I just want to be able to go up to her and say, "Here, look. These products do the same thing as Herbalife and don't cost as much."
*they're on a pretty intense exericse/diet regiment and police each other pretty closely

That's mainly all it is. They get you hooked on the social aspect of it, keep your friends on their toes so they know you're putting in effort, and that's it. Keep in mind if they're actually replacing their meals with herbalife, they're no longer eating as they would, and thus, are already calorie restricting: another necessity for weight loss.


Here's a simple 3-product comparison:

Herbalife Formula 1 Shake Mix - French Vanilla (750g) - $32.22 ($1.01 / oz)


Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 2 heaping tablespoons (25.0 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 90 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1.0g2%
Sodium 140mg6%
Total Carbohydrates 13.0g4%
Dietary Fiber 3.0g12%
Sugars 9.0g
Protein 9.0g
Vitamin A 25% • Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 8% • Iron 10%

-----

CytoSport Muscle Milk Light - $20.89 ($0.79 / oz)

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 2 scoops (50.0 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 195 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6.0g9%
Saturated Fat 2.5g13%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 125mg5%
Total Carbohydrates 11.0g4%
Dietary Fiber 1.0g4%
Sugars 2.0g
Protein 25.0g
Vitamin A 35% • Vitamin C 35%
Calcium 60% • Iron 35%

-----


EAS - Myoplex Lite Powder Vanilla Cream - 20 Packet(s) - $41.67 ($0.77 / oz)

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 serving ( g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 190 Calories from Fat 14
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1.5g2%
Saturated Fat 0.5g3%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 400mg17%
Total Carbohydrates 20.0g7%
Dietary Fiber 1.0g4%
Sugars 2.0g
Protein 25.0g
Vitamin A 50%

-----

Now for the breakdown:

For Herbalife, you're paying ~$1.01 per ounce for a mere 9g of protein for 90 calories in two scoops. If you wanted to emulate that with the other powders, both Muscle Milk and Myoplex Lite offer 25g in one serving, so you'd just have to half the serving size for each (1 scoop for MM and 1/2 pouch for Myoplex).

But this important part is this, standard serving size, you're paying already only .79/.77 per ounce for the others and by emulating the Herbalife drink (the Amazon.com price, anyway), you're doubling the longevity of the product, with only a 7/5 calorie increase respectively.

Herbalife = 30 servings @ $1.01/oz

Emulating Herbalife by halving the serving:
EAS Myoplex = 40 servings (half packet) @ .77/oz
Muscle Milk = 30 servings (1 scoop) @ .79/oz

Lastly, you're not getting nearly enough vitamins in any of the products, so you'd have to have a separate multi-vitamin supplement.

Anyway, if they're as into it as you say and they're making money/feel empowered by it, they probably won't listen. Not sure if they're the same, but my friends were essentially zealots for the thing. I didn't even feel comfortable discussing my concerns over it because they were so into selling it to me.

How much are they selling their protein powder, btw?

I spent about $160.00 for French Vanilla/Latte flavored protein powder + Lemon-Flavored Tea Concentrate when I bought it from my friends. If I purchased it on Amazon, that would have been a combined total of (32.22 x 2) + 27.61 = $92.05.

 

[Socreges]

That's mainly all it is. They get you hooked on the social aspect of it, keep your friends on their toes so they know you're putting in effort, and that's it. Keep in mind if they're actually replacing their meals with herbalife, they're no longer eating as they would, and thus, are already calorie restricting: another necessity for weight loss.


Here's a simple 3-product comparison:

Herbalife Formula 1 Shake Mix - French Vanilla (750g) - $32.22 ($1.01 / oz)


Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 2 heaping tablespoons (25.0 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 90 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1.0g2%
Sodium 140mg6%
Total Carbohydrates 13.0g4%
Dietary Fiber 3.0g12%
Sugars 9.0g
Protein 9.0g
Vitamin A 25% • Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 8% • Iron 10%

-----

CytoSport Muscle Milk Light - $20.89 ($0.79 / oz)

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 2 scoops (50.0 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 195 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6.0g9%
Saturated Fat 2.5g13%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 125mg5%
Total Carbohydrates 11.0g4%
Dietary Fiber 1.0g4%
Sugars 2.0g
Protein 25.0g
Vitamin A 35% • Vitamin C 35%
Calcium 60% • Iron 35%

-----


EAS - Myoplex Lite Powder Vanilla Cream - 20 Packet(s) - $41.67 ($0.77 / oz)

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 serving ( g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 190 Calories from Fat 14
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1.5g2%
Saturated Fat 0.5g3%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 400mg17%
Total Carbohydrates 20.0g7%
Dietary Fiber 1.0g4%
Sugars 2.0g
Protein 25.0g
Vitamin A 50%

-----

Now for the breakdown:

For Herbalife, you're paying ~$1.01 per ounce for a mere 9g of protein for 90 calories in two scoops. If you wanted to emulate that with the other powders, both Muscle Milk and Myoplex Lite offer 25g in one serving, so you'd just have to half the serving size for each (1 scoop for MM and 1/2 pouch for Myoplex).

But this important part is this, standard serving size, you're paying already only .79/.77 per ounce for the others and by emulating the Herbalife drink (the Amazon.com price, anyway), you're doubling the longevity of the product, with only a 7/5 calorie increase respectively.

Herbalife = 30 servings @ $1.01/oz

Emulating Herbalife by halving the serving:
EAS Myoplex = 40 servings (half packet) @ .77/oz
Muscle Milk = 30 servings (1 scoop) @ .79/oz

Lastly, you're not getting nearly enough vitamins in any of the products, so you'd have to have a separate multi-vitamin supplement.

Anyway, if they're as into it as you say and they're making money/feel empowered by it, they probably won't listen. Not sure if they're the same, but my friends were essentially zealots for the thing. I didn't even feel comfortable discussing my concerns over it because they were so into selling it to me.

How much are they selling their protein powder, btw?

I spent about $160.00 for French Vanilla/Latte flavored protein powder + Lemon-Flavored Tea Concentrate when I bought it from my friends. If I purchased it on Amazon, that would have been a combined total of (32.22 x 2) + 27.61 = $92.05.

Nope. And I don't expect them to. What bothers me is that my girlfriend is extremely defensive of her sister (who is overweight, finally dropping pounds) and doesn't want to hear that this miracle solution is not only a ripoff but also part of a pyramid scheme.

Not sure how much the protein powder costs, but I remember hearing $3.90 per shake. I'll check out the prices and report back.

As for the multi-vitamin supplement, I think that's what the 'meal replacement' shake is for. But I might be confusing things.

Also, you rule. Thanks a ton. For some reason I feel like you helped me out with something else years ago, too, but can't remember what. *thumbs up*

 

[xbhaskarx]

It works for David Beckham

 

[akira28]

I bought one set so my nice co-worker would stop bugging me. As far as I can tell, vitamins can't replace healthy mealtimes, so, I'd go with no. You can replace food with nutrition supplements but I wouldn't exactly call that living.

(My other coworker sold these off brand low cal energy drinks. The cola one was pretty damned good actually. I didn't mind buying from him.)

 

[Socreges]

It works for David Beckham

Messi, too.

Followed by some tasty Lays potato chips.

 

[hteng]

a friend of mine tried to pull me into it, it's basically a milkshake product that helps you slim down, it does work though, but the way they operate (MLM) kinda discouraged me from joining.

 

[soqquatto]

(so long as you stick to the diet regiment and exercise regularly)

with this requirement I can pass you a glass of water and tell it's a magical potion that will make you fit, and boy it will work. herbalife is 100% useless.