BS: Herbal Life

Subject: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 07:15 AM

I am on my annual spring weight loss miracle diet search. Yes, garg, I know: moderation and exercise. Anyone know about Herbal Life? Anyone tried it?

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 10:11 AM

Hi Sins. Several of my friends got involved with it about six years ago. They weren't aware (at first) of the Pyramid Sales aspect of the product. All of them got out of it pretty quickly before losing a lot of money.......but I never heard anyone say that the PRODUCT wasn't good. Worth taking a look into, I'd say.

Actually, now that I think about it, at least two of the folks have been involved in several Pyramid schemes. They both have large piles of products in their basements, ha ha! Not Herba-life but cleaning products..

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: DougR
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 11:05 AM

Try low-carb instead. Cheaper, and no pyramid schemes involved. As my doctor told me, "just cut back on carbs 10 to 15% and you will lose weight." It's worked for me.

Rick: I have friends with similar supplies of cleaning products. I haven't noted any change in their life-style, but they had visions of living in mansions.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 11:31 AM

Move to Maine. It'll be good for ya.
[grin]
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 11:37 AM

I tried some of their products way back in 1981 or so. I liked the products but didn't notice much change. I esp. liked their all natural sweetener.

If you do the low-carbs, be careful not to go too high protein. I had a real kidney scare with the Atkin's regimen three years ago. BUT, getting carbs down really helped.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Bagpuss
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 11:52 AM

Agreeing with Kat that if you go low carb, don't go too low and do anything similar to the Atkins diet. While you may get dramatic initial weight loss from this diet, it is not exactly a healthy diet - it doesn't allow you enough fruit and vegetables for instance and there have been warnings that it could be particularly harmful for anyone with mild kidney problems. I would think that it would be particularly bad for bowel disorders too. It also apparently makes you feel like shit!

I did remember reading some research a while back that showed that if you cut back on fats, you could compensate by eating more carbohydrates and still lose weight.

The BBC are currently running a scientific trial of 4 diets - Weightwatchers, Rosemary Connolly, Slimfast and Atkins. So far the results suggest that three of them (all except atkins) seem to perform equally well, with atkins giving a more dramatic weight loss - they seemed to be saying that the majority of this loss was likely to be water though, but we wont find that out till they do some sort of scan.


Diet Trials

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Nemesis
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 01:26 PM

I checked the Herbal Life ingredients a while ago and a major constituent seemed to be Camellia Sinensis ie TEA .. which is a diuretic .. plus a herb that helps relax stomach cramps ..

I noticed in that BBC docu the other night that the Atkins diet lady was pouring salt all over her food! I think the Atkins diet might work if people stuck to unprocessed proteins .. certainly irrespective of how many carbogydrates I eat I can still feel hungry until I eat protein. High carbogydrates can distort blood sugars, plus it isn' what your body needs to replace muscle and tissue .. You could try the Stone-Age diet Atkins-style, plus drink plenty of water (+ bananas for Potassium levels) + exercise .. not eating late at night (although research suggests that it doesn't make any difference what time).

Try a de-tox for a couple of days before actually starting a diet and exercise regime.
Good luck! Let us know how you get on?

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 05:16 PM

Ah the joys of pyramid marketing! At the age of 23, I got stuck not once but twice. First a line of cosmetics; then a selection of automobile additives. I didn't wear make-up then nor did I drive a car. I must have "Easy Mark" printed all over my face because at least once a year I am suckered into a friendly "meeting" and have to feign nausea to escape.

One woman was selling pearls IN OYSTERS. I kid you not. You got a #10 tin filled with oysters in formaldehyde guaranteed to have at least one pearl in each. Tupperware party time. For a dollar you get an oyster shucked. Then you get to choose an overpriced setting for your pearl.The head of the company - Californian, of course - was in a wheelchair and weighed at least 450#. Very strange business. No. I do not have a supply of unopened oysters in my basement. The formaldehyde triggered the nausea and I escaped but not before giving them a $5 deposit to show my sincerity. With the advent of ebay I don't understand why anybody would hold onto a supply of anything.

So I guess the answer to my question is that Herbal Life will work but no guarantees about keeping the weight off. Maybe I will just get my teeth wired shut and my stomach stapled...or eat sensibly and exercise.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Kim C
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 05:20 PM

Don't confuse pyramid with multi-level. They are NOT the same thing. In a pyramid (which is usually illegal) everyone gets paid by paying everyone else out of their own pocket. In multi-level, people get to keep their commissions from their own sales, and are paid extra commissions by the COMPANY, not from other salespeople.

Network/multi-level marketing can be a great career for people who really like sales, and want to work on their own. There are a lot of good, legitimate opportunities out there.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: GUEST,Mudlark
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 05:20 PM

Sins...I'm doing the same spring thing. Finally complained to my chiropractor that after losing 11 lbs by body skidded to a weight loss stop, and I've been plateau'd ever since. She claims slowed colon elimination the problem and prescribed some enzymes for this...I'll let you know if they work. A local doc here has a very simple weight loss diet...it's the nothing white diet, i.e., no sugar, no flour (and I'm assuming no white rice). I've already given up flour, am now about ready to give up the last few teaspoons of sugar, but it is surprisingly hard, in western culture to completely give up both! Good luck, and keep us posted...

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 06:12 PM

Here is a good web site that all should read, since anything that breathes is a target for multi-level recruiters:
What's wrong with multilevel marketing?

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: DougR
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 06:52 PM

Mudlark: Have you ever noted how much sugar is in canned goods most of us use all them time. Even canned tomatoes. I've been very surprised, since I have been reading labels, how many prepared foods have sugar in them.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 07:11 PM

Enzymes? Argentine and something else? They are enzymes which stimulate growth.A few years back there was a lot of controversy about their safety. Bet i would lose weight if I started smoking.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 07:39 PM

Susan Weed says in her books, Childbearing Years the Wise Woman Way and Menopausal Years, the Wise Woman Way to lose weight easily, we should eliminate meat, sugar, and white flour.

She says to eat as much as you want of whole grains, vegetables, beans, greens, fruits, fish, seeds, and yogurt. Drink water and herbal infusions as your beverages. (Soda pop, or any drink with "fizzle" i.e. phosphorous robs our bones of calcium, contributing to osteoporosis.)

She also cautions against restrictd diets as they promote heart attacks. Frequetn dieting, fasting, binging, and purging upset the electrolyte levels which can weaken the heart muscle and damage the heart.

And, she says not to lose too much weight, nor too fast after age 40, as we all need some "cushion" to nourish and protect our bones. In her words, "take a pinch of belly fat; keep it under 2 inches and you're fine."

Also, I read an interesting excerpt from a book about the colours of foods, earlier this year. Eat anything which has a good colour to it, i.e. nothing white or washed out like white bread or potatoes, but lots of veggies and fruits which are colourful.

katstillworkingonittoo

I love her books because she tallks about the least invasive to the most invasive of treatments for all kinds of concerns.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 07:49 PM

My plan to take off the few winter pounds is to start the yard work again. By the time I get the garden in and dig out the shrubs that line the front of my house (cut off the tops, dig out the roots) I'll be in fine shape and down by 10 pounds at least. Then there's the landscaping in the rest of the yard. . .

SRS (who has to remember to use sunscreen and a hat during these weight-loss exercises!)

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 11:38 PM

Despite Kim's positive experiences with "Multi-level marketing" I'm afraid there are one heck of a lot of horror stories to go along with it. We've lost a couple of pretty good friends when we sensed we'd become "sales prospects". A polite "NO" was not good enough, and in both cases we were asked if we'd heard and believed the lies spread by MLMs who were simply too lazy to work hard. In one case Heather was asked why "as a woman", she refused to help "other women"? That's manipulation of the worst kind, and coming from someone you really DO think of as a friend, really hurts.

No one actually DOES use the name "Pyramid Sales" anymore, but we've had several "Multi-level Marketing" situations busted here (in Canada) in the last couple of years....including the "Women helping women" scam that Heather was being recruited for.

Glad it works for some, but I'm with you Alice.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: gnu
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 07:38 AM

My buddy Jim and his wife were on the HL, and selling it, about ten years ago. They both lost a lot of weight. Jim's loss was truly amazing. However, his doctor linked Jim's development of Minears (sp ? pronounced Min-years or close) Disease with the diet. It's to do with balance. He would become dizzy and fall down without notice. My ex tried it and got severe headaches and a rash on both forearms. When Jim stopped the diet and put on about tens pounds, the dizzies stopped and have never returned. Jim went back to his old weight but at least he can drive and hasn't fallen down the stairs... without good reason.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Morticia
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 08:01 AM

Menieres I think might be the spelling, Gnu. I've been on Atkins since the end of January.....lost about 16 lbs. and feel terrific, enery levels high, sleeping better without caffeine etc.etc.....I guess like anything else, you have to find what will suit you and your metabolism.Beware on Atkins though that you need to eat enough.....skip meals as I am prone to do and the weight loss grinds to a halt or reverses.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: gnu
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 08:39 AM

Now, I have tried to find his book for a while... all I could find was the derivitive called "A Week in the Zone" by Sears. Praytell, what is the company who publishes ? ISBN ? whatever can help, if you have the time, please and thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Peg
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 10:43 AM

It goes without saying you should eliminate all the crap (white flour, sugar, preservatives, all packaged pre-prepared foods; minimize coffee and tea and alcohol. Soda ia a no-no, and that includes diet soda!).

The high-protein thing works for some people. I personally would not do Atkins because so little fruit is allowed. The so-called new "caveman diets" seem to have the right idea; eat like early men and women did, with meats, fish, poultry and game birds, nuts, milk and eggs for protein, fruits and vegetables for vitamins, minerals and fiber.

I would also like to suggest a method which never fails to work if you do it properly and also will vastly improve your health and energy level: food combining. By eating foods at separate times you allow the body to digest more efficiently, using nutrients more effectively, storing less fat, and most important preventing build-up of toxic waste products in the colon and acidification of the bloodstream.
The basic principle is this:

Don't eat proteins and starches in the same meal (starches is not the same as carbohydrates). Strive to eat foods which are alkaline-forming (veggies, fruits, certain grains in small amounts) and not acid-forming (flesh and dairy and most starches).

that is, you can eat potatoes, but not with meat or cheese.
Meats should be eaten with green vegetables only (so a meal could consist of steak, chicken or fish with steamed broccoli and a salad, foe example; start with a fruit cup or an apple as an appetizer for maximum digestive efficiency).

If you want grains or potatoes, you can eat them with veggies or fat. (Baked potatoes with butter and sour cream are okay, as are bacon and avocado sandwiches).

Fruit should be eaten alone, and on an empty stomach if possible; always have some first thing in the morning. You may combine acid fruits (berries and citrus and tart apples) with fermented dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, or with nuts (except peanuts). Melon and sweet fruits like bananas should be eaten alone.

The percentage to strive for is 80% fruits and vegetables, and 20% proteins and starches. But getting close to this is helpful.
Once you get used to eating this way you'll notice you feel very bloated after eating a sandwich or pizza or pasta with meat sauce.

It's tough to stay on it forever because of social situations but if you do it for a few weeks you'll lose weight and have loads of energy. So trying to do this for at least two meals a day is a decent goal. It's similar to the Atkins plan and I suspect a large reason why that diet works is it does emphasize proper food combining.
Desserts are right out, particularly if you have them right after a meal. I find I can have an apple after a protein-veggie meal but if it's a special occaison and I want some cake or ice cream or whatever, I will try to wait at least an hour or more so as not to ruin my digestion. Sugar interferes with the digestion of protein and the resulting toxic sludge stays around for a while. I do still eat sweets occasionally but I rarely eat dessert ater dinner because I know it will make me miserable for hours.

Some people can eat anything in any combination and feel fine. I think I have a more sensitive system (too much bread with protein and I'll put on five pounds in two days) and find that this food combining method works for me and makes me feel best. If you are not used to eating like this you will find you'll take weight off very quickly at first.

Fasting is not a bad way to jump-start weight loss, and great to do in the spring after eating heavy foods all winter. Not flat-out water only; but fresh fruits or fresh-squeezed juices for several days, or even just one day at a time, will help the body de-toxify and shed some pounds. You can prepare for it by simplifying the diet for a few days; eliminate fatty dairy and meats and refined starches, sticking to fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains and low-fat yogurt. Then switching to all fruit and vegetable broths (not canned or bouillion, but cooked from fresh vegetables) for a couple of days won't be such a shock to the body. Some people will feel a bit off at first, dizzy or headachy or irritable; this is called a healing crisis and the body's way of saying it is eliminating a whole lot of toxic material. The more toxic the usual diet, the more severe this crisis will be. But it passes in a day or so. The Swedes will fast on fruits and juices for weeks at a time. But start with a couple of days to make sure you can handle it. Try to schedule fasting for days you can relax at home or on vacation (that's the principle behind those pricey spa retreats). Listen to your body. If you feel weak and know you need some protein, eat some raw almonds or low-fat yogurt. If eliminating coffee gives you headaches, switch to green tea for a few days; it has a small amount of caffeine and is anti-oxidant and is proven to help weight loss.

And of course, exercise is key!!!!

re: Herbal Life, I did know people who used these products years ago and they do work; but the marketing scheme is unfortunate.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 12:05 PM

Peg, thanks for that!! Great info there!! And, motivating! I figure I've got half of it going already...never did coffee, don't do tea nor milk products (rarely cheese), no sodas and no meat...the biggie for me is sugar. With food combining, though, I think I might be able to let that go, too.

Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Peg
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 12:24 PM

kat; I have read (and found it to be true myslef) that if you can get through a week with no sugar your "sweet tooth" cravings become markedly lessened and in two weeks' time are completely gone...
it's not a natural food for humans but for whatever reason the tastebuds love it and children are especially vulnerable (childhood is when sweet cravings start).

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 12:58 PM

Thanks, Peg. I did work with a doctor a year or so ago on a "white free" diet. Unlimited fruit and non-starchy vegetables, whole grains only, no flour, sugar, white potatoes, rice, pasta. Once I started losing weight, I modified it adding an occasional serving of rice or potato. I can live forever without sugar but bread???? The two moves, buying a house, Sept.11th = stress and fell back into the old patterns. Now my health is suffering so...

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Peg
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 01:21 PM

Sinsull, unless you have a wheat or gluten alergy you shouldn't have to give up bread entirely. But many people have a sensitivity to it which causes them to get bloated when eating too much if it. Just give it up for a week and see if it makes a difference. Then try two weeks. You can then add it to your diet occasionally. And stick to whole grain breads...

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Mudlark
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 04:20 PM

Peg...thanks for the info. Sounds like non-starchy veg can be eaten with meat AND with starchy veg like potato, is that right? Like broccoli and leafy greens go with everything from lean meat to limas?

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 04:25 PM

The "white" problem seems to be that one carbohydrate triggers a need for more. I can't eat one piece of bread without risking diving into the whole loaf. I don't crave sweets and dealt with the carohydrate craving by eating a small Mason Mint. I kept them in the freezer and could have one and be happy. Ice cream, chocolate, etc. dies of old age in my house. Pasta I can consume by the pound.

If I can fight the cravings for a week, I can establish a healthy eating pattern and break the "cycle". This first week is difficult.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 04:26 PM

And on the assumption that this is boring most of you to death, I will not mention my diet again. But still would like first hand info on Herbal Life.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 07:30 PM

Does HerbaLife have ephedra?

I'm not on a diet but ephedra scares me--no point in trading one cause of heart attack for another.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 08:13 PM

From what I have read "new" HL doesn't but the old with ephedra is still available on ebay.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 09:45 PM

The Barry Sears books on the Zone actually are quite sound in their approach to a healthy diet. Don't eat too much of anything, including meat, and keep in mind that some foods are better for you than others. He simply encourages people to recognize that food is medicinal, and too little of the good stuff will affect your health, and too much of the good or bad stuff will harm your health. Thus, the "Zone" is the place where what you're eating maintains and supports good health.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 10:37 PM

Not boring at all, Sins. Quite helpful, actually. Great thread!

Thanks, Peg!

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: gnu
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 07:12 AM

SRS... yes, The Zone is a very sensible approach. However, I am not and the Atkins diet sounds right up my alley. Morty, can you post the name of the publisher ?

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: DougR
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 12:41 PM

gnu: you might want to consider a modified Atkins. If you follow the Atkins religiously, you might find it pretty restricting. I guess it depends, too, on how much weight you want to lose.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 10:59 AM

gnu, be careful on the Atkins; there's a lot of protein for your kidneys to deal with. I modified it and still ran into major kidney problems. The docs thought I was going to lose one and it took over 9 months of steroids to get things calmed down and safe. I have a friend who ran into similar problems with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: Bugsy
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 10:08 PM

Herbalife - "Get ripped off now! Ask me how!"

I've tried most of the lose weight diets, and most of them work - in the short term.

I don't believe there's a quick way of permenantly losing weight. I think the only sure way is to change your life style, eat a balanced diet, cut out junk food, snacks, sweets(lollies, candy, eat less and exercise.

It takes a little longer but it tends to stay off longer too.

Good luck,

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: harpgirl
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 10:20 PM

This is such a depressing subject, SINS. I've gained so much weight over the years my friends don't recognize me. Hell, I don't recognize me. Since the beginning of the year I have been treadmilling like two miles at a time, riding the stationary bike at the Y like 10-16 miles, working on all the weight machines and I can't see any difference. I do yard work almost every weekend and I spent all Saturday outdoors working.

I can't see any difference!!! I have to find the key to being able to eat less, stop eating carbs, and sweets that I can't resist. I live from December to Easter fighting with the urges I get from the displays of all the candy!!!! God I hate it!!!!!

The Y pool opens in two days. At least my exercise will be easier in the pool...I'm never gonna get it off!!! arrrrgghhhhhhhh!!!



harpy

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 11:35 PM

Bugsy, that's it exactly!

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: gnu
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 07:50 AM

katlaughing... thanks for the heads up.

Subject: RE: BS: Herbal Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 11:02 AM

sure thing, gnu:-)