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Original poster

to worry about my friend's obsession with Herbalife?

29 replies

Heatherland77 · 15/06/2026 18:53

A friend of mine has been using Herbalife teas and protein powders for about a year now through a local distributor. I thought nothing of it other than they were expensive and maybe it was a fad she'd get over.
But oh no. In the last month, she's gone all in, going to a local club three times a week and then announced she's becoming a wellness coach. I asked her what qualification she was taking to call herself a coach and didn't get a response. Then she left me a very odd voice message soft selling Herbalife, saying she wishes she'd known about it years ago, how it's transformed her life, how it can cure diabetes and relieve the menopause etc. Basically a full sales pitch trying to hook me in. She asked me if I'd like to come along to a session to be her guinea pig and find out my metabolic age on their scales etc. I declined politely on the basis that I've already quietly done some reading up on Herbalife, watched the documentary Betting on Zero, and am horrified that it's an aggressive MLM scheme.
This friend's Instagram is now photo after photo of her in little black dresses bragging about losing 13lbs and being back down to her pre baby weight etc. It's all positive delusional speak and Americanisms which is 100% not her at all. I'm worried she's been indoctrinated.
The worst thing however is that for the last three weeks she's read my messages but not replied. This is completely unlike her as she has always responded within a day, even when a parent passed away or her children have been unwell etc. I've now found out that one of Herbalife's tactics is to distance new distributors from friends who are skeptical, or who didn't sign up to a taster session because they could be a negative influence.
I've known this friend for twelve years, I consider her as close as a sister and I'm extremely worried, as well as confused and upset she'd do this.
Am I being unreasonable to worry about this?

OP posts:
Grapewrath · 15/06/2026 19:08

Herbalife, like any other MLM is a masssuve scam full of charlatans and under qualified people telling others what to do
I often get messages from our overweight local Herbalife rep asking if she can help me work on my ‘goals’ despite knowing I’m a size 8 healthy gym goer.
Most of the people on it and selling it have convinced themselves (or have been convinced) that they are changing lives and that they have the knowledge to do so. You should see the conventions- they are so cult like and insane.
Herbalife has got a terrible reputation and success rate so they are now calling their hubs ‘ Newcastle nutrition’ or whatever
Sadly the only people making a decent income are those at he top of the pyramid. We have big Herbalife following here as one of the top folks live in my town… but nut a single person keeps the weight off.
Dont worry about your friend- she needs to find out for herself

BashfulClam · 15/06/2026 19:02

You can’t help, she’ll realise it herself in time. Know someone doing one of these travel agent MLM jobs and suddenly has gone quiet about it..,

Dolphinsarejerks · 15/06/2026 18:58

Unfortunately it’s the MLM structure to prey on the most vulnerable. Many are that desperate that they’ll be willing to do anything for a chance at success, my aunt and own siblings have been there.
In my experience no speaking to them will change anything, you have to let them experience the highs, lows, disbelief and regret themselves because the belief that this is genuine is so ingrained in them and they’re told to distance from anyone who tells them otherwise.

Darragon · 15/06/2026 18:57

She's going to lose a fuckton of money then give up and go back to whatever she was doing before. Afaik all you can do is distance yourself from the car crash and not encourage her by buying anything.