Maybe I’m reading too much Michael Pollan “In Defense of Food.”

Or maybe I’m tired of telling people to just eat real food and put down the junk.

Or maybe I don’t understand how much time it takes to prepare foods if you’re a busy housewife or a working parent of 6 or a traveling businessman business person.

Folks, how long does it take for you to realize that there is no magic pill out there?  What happened to hard work, getting your ass out of bed to go for a run (or walk) around the block, waking up a little earlier to make some food, taking the TIME to research where your food comes from?  It seems like no one wants to EAT FOOD anymore, maybe because they associate food with weight gain or something BAD or a CHEAT meal.   So they’re DRINKING it in the form of shakes and powders with the hopes that they will lose weight!

Naive me, I thought Fad Diets went out of style years ago…with the word fad. (I think it’s “Trend” now).  I’m hip to the lingo.

So the fad diets are still around except the approach has changed.  At least that’s what I’m noticing.

Nowadays, supplements are now being sold directly through people you know.  Your friends and family members.  Maybe a co-worker or a Facebook friend of a friend.  It’s a much more subtle approach.  After all, your friend would never steer you wrong!

Pretty clever marketing if you ask me.  Real people using their real results to sell you the same product.  Everyone wins!

That’s how I define these Multi-Level Marketing companies.  (Notice I didn’t say schemes, trying to remain unbiased here.)

Let’s take a look at some of the popular ones:

We have Advocare which seems to rely on Personal Training Studios and Personal Trainers themselves to sell this product.  That is definitely who they are targeting because I myself got an email from them asking to sell it at our studio plus I’ve seen their logo at a number of gyms that I’ve been to.

Next is Zija which has gotten ahold of this Moringa plant that has a ton of nutrients in it.  They sell mostly drinks.  Their motto is Drink Life In and they tout that people can be super healthy drinking their mixes and taking their vitamins.  They also have a skin care line.

Vemma is a nutrition company that makes shakes, energy drinks and energy shots and a cleanse…the list goes on.  Here’s what it says on their website under Vemma Bod-e Program: Vemma Bod•ē™ is a healthy weight loss solution featuring results-oriented products to help you achieve your weight management goal, without sacrificing wellness.*^† With first-of-its-kind ingredient blends, Vemma Bod•ē helps curb your appetite, increase your energy and restore your body with nutritional support.* See for yourself how Bod•ē can help you shed those hard-to-lose pounds.*^†  

See all those asterisks?  When you scroll all the way down to the page, it says “To be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and daily exercise.”

Well, at least their honest.

Lastly we have Visalus but mostly everyone else knows them by Body By Vi. They have shakes and all kinds of kits as you can see.

If you haven’t heard of any of these products, consider yourself to be living under a rock.

And can I please join you under that rock?

Before users or sellers of these products get all upset,  note that I’m not about to bash a series of products that I haven’t tried.  I’ve heard absolutely wonderful things about them. I know people who swear by them.  Awesome. Good for you!

But what I am more concerned about is why you would take such a product?  What convinced you that this was the solution for you?  What about the long-term effects.  How long do people who take these shakes/energy drinks plan on using them for?  When does it end?   Do you feel the results you’ve gotten have been because you’re literally drinking the Kool-Aid or is it because maybe you decided to start eating better and working out once you actually started the program and it’s one big coincidence?  How do you feel after taking these products?  Do you feel energy from all that caffeine that’s pumped into them?

Okay that last question was a little dig, I admit.

I have noticed one way to entice people to try their product is with a Challenge, like a  “90 Day Challenge” or “24 Day Challenge.”

Hmmm…something shady here.  Why are we given a time frame now? What’s the rush? Oh right I forgot, everyone’s in a hurry to lose water weight.

I work in the fitness industry so why wouldn’t I want my clients to take these products to lose weight? And I could make a profit from it? Sounds tempting…After all, I could definitely use the extra money.

So what’s the catch?

Well as I mentioned above, they are all MLM  Companies.  No big deal right?  But what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear MLM?  I posed this question on Twitter and got the following responses:

“Scam.”  “Pyramid Scheme.”  “Ponzi Scheme.”  “Amway…Scam.”

All negative responses with the exception of  one “Not all MLM companies are created equal.”  That was from someone who worked with a few.   But the overwhelming negative viewpoint of it continues to baffle me.  Upon further research, it’s obvious these companies are  making money.  They all seem to have the same video montages online that you can watch of how they started, the CEO walking thru the warehouse, the executives around the large table thinking of new ideas, the conferences where everyone gets all pumped up to get out there and sell their butts off with the hopes of perhaps earning a free BMW or Mercedes if you’re a top seller.

Something else these companies have in common is a celebrity endorsement/testimonial.

Evander Holyfield for Zija

 

Chris Powell (That Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition trainer) for Vemma Bod-e Shakes

Hulk Hogan for Visalus

 Drew Brees for Advocare

That’s interesting… They all have something in common besides being completely wealthy that I just can’t put my finger on…oh right, THEY’RE ALREADY IN SHAPE AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN SHAPE!  Drew Brees? The man is an NFL Quarterback!  Hulk Hogan may have struggled after he retired…maybe?? I think Chris Powell may have been an overweight kid so I won’t comment on that but he is a trainer.

Hey wait….I’m also a trainer!  Does that mean I wouldn’t jump at the chance to endorse a product that promised great results?  Even un-paid like Drew does?  Well, I suppose it would depend.  If it’s a product that helps you achieve great results in the gym, like a protein powder that I have taken and seen firsthand the effects…I think I would consider it.  But a weight-loss product?  And one that promises a free car for the top seller?

You have the right to call me a sell-out if that ever happens.  But let’s be real, it never would.

I’d rather make a DVD and slap my face on that showing people how to workout.  But that’s too simple and unoriginal.

And common sense doesn’t sell.

Here’s my advice opinion to anyone looking to lose weight:

Whole, natural food, some supplements like a multi-vitamin and probiotic and fish oil and daily activity is the probably a good start to being healthy.  The key words are WHOLE, NATURAL FOOD.   You should probably learn how to cook if you don’t already know.  That is also a big secret people tend to forget about.  Consistently do this and you should see some changes.

Here’s a better 24/30/90 Day Challenge for you:  Cook all your food.  The only rule is you can’t use a microwave.  You have to use a stove/oven/steamer/blender etc..  The microwave can only be used for re-heating leftovers. Work out if you want.  But you don’t have to.  Do that for a period of time and see if you still need those shakes/drinks.

Oh my gosh, I think I just gave everyone reading this the secret to losing weight!

And for free?!  Shoot, where’s my endorsement?

-Michelle

• So what’s your take?  Have you been approached by a friend to take any of these products?  
• Have you found success by selling them/ taking them? 
• Can I have a ride in your Mercedes? 😉