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?