[janumy]

Is isagenix a scam? I found this (link removed) and was wondering if

these claims are true. I found some people saying it's really worked for them. Here are some of those stories:

Does anyone have thougths about whose telling the truth?

[Fireproof]

Yes it is.

Links removed from your post. People can do a Google Search if they are interested.

[floods]

I heard that it was such a bad scam that they had to spam message boards to get sales.

But that's just what I heard.

[Little Big Guy]

MMMMMMmmmmmmmmnn! Spamalicious?

[Fireproof]

Here's a few comments if you are genuinely interested:

1. I tend to not like products that take the "throw everything in but the kitchen sink" approach. I see that all the time in bodybuilding supplements. They grab a couple ingredietns that are proven to do "something", then toss in a ton more to make their product look more impressive. They also hide the specific amounts of each so you don't know what you are getting, which can potentially be harmful.

2. They are "individual distributor / marketing" focused. Their real goal is to get you to sign up to buy cases to sell your friends. (Remember Thigh Cream?) Solid products typically don't require this approach. Too many scam companies use this approach. Does it mean their product is a scam? Not necessarily - but it's always a huge red flag to me.

3. I don't see anything magical in their product that you can't get from increasing your multivitamin, taking extra Vitamin C and B12, and drinking the same amount of grapefruit juice. It's basically diuretic, vitamins, a bunch of herbs that may not do anythign, and a strict diet.

I tried to find some information on the net that is NOT marketing hype (or a bunch of resellers promoting it) because I don't have time to pick it apart. But I ran across this one Medical Doctor that basically hit the points i was thinking:

They engage in scare-mongering about toxins, but provide no data to show that the tiny amounts we ingest lead to any significant adverse health effects. They also provide no evidence that their treatment actually removes any toxins from the body. Or that doing so would have any significant impact on health. There have been no properly controlled scientific studies of their "cleansing" treatments, only testimonials of the sort that abound on the Internet for hundreds of other ineffective products.

There is absolutely no rationale for the particular combination of ingredients in their products. They have LOTS of different products, and have included just about every nutrient and herbal remedy in existence: 242 of them! Some of these we know to be useless, some are potentially harmful, and we have no idea how the particular ingredients in the mixtures might interact for better or for worse.

They offer "ionic" minerals from "ancient plant deposits." Minerals are the same thing wherever they come from, and all "ionic" means is that it is in a form that can be absorbed - i.e . magnesium as milk of magnesia rather than as a lump of elemental magnesium metal.

They advertise "no caffeine added" for a product that contains green tea; green tea contains caffeine. They repeat the tired old myth that our food isn't as nutritious as in the "good old days." They put digestive enzymes in their products to help you assimilate them, not realizing that orally ingested digestive enzymes are themselves digested in the stomach before they can do anything. They say that their electrolytes "ignite the body's electrical system" - I have no idea what this means, and it certainly is not scientific terminology.

Their antioxidant mixture contains 15,000 IU of vitamin A as beta carotene plus 5000 IU as palmitate. The Medical Letter recently reviewed vitamin A and warned that no one should take high-dose beta carotene supplements, and that women should not take vitamin A supplements at all during pregnancy or after menopause. Among other things, they said: Vitamin A may also have pro-oxidant effects in vivo. A high intake of vitamin A from supplements and food has been associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women and with teratogenicity when taken during early pregnancy. A placebo-controlled intervention trial in Finnish smokers found that 20 mg/day of a beta carotene supplement increased the incidence of lung cancer by 18%, which was statistically significant. Another large double blind intervention trial in smokers and asbestos exposed workers, terminated early because no benefit was demonstrated, found that combined therapy with 30 mg of beta carotene and 25,000 IU of vitamin A daily was associated with an increase in the incidence of lung cancer, cardiovascular mortality and total mortality.

The Medical Letter concluded: "A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be safer than taking vitamin supplements. No biologically active substance taken for a long term can be assumed to be free of risk."

Isagenix claims to promote weight loss. All treatments for weight loss work the same way: they get people to ingest fewer calories than they expend. There is no reason to think that a person who restricts calorie intake and exercises will lose any more weight if they add Isagenix products. Diuretic and laxative effects, psychological factors, and enthusiasm for a new method may initially fool people into thinking they have benefited.

Their medical advisor, Becky Natrajan, MD, tells us on a video presentation that she is "excited about results" but she does not say what those results are or why she thinks the results are due to the product rather than to diet, exercise and other factors. Perhaps her funniest argument is that the $5 a day Isagenix costs you is less expensive than open heart surgery. As if it were a simple choice between the two!

She tells you to contact the person who told you about Isagenix. And one of the headings on the website is "Wealth." There you will find out how you can sell products from your home and become an associate, a consultant or an executive with increasing levels of financial return. This sounds like a typical multilevel marketing scheme, typical of products that can't be marketed effectively based purely on their merits.

In short, Isagenix is a slick marketing enterprise that lines the promoters' pockets by selling baseless hope. There is a disclaimer on the website that should be taken very seriously: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

Harriet Hall, M.D.

[Little Big Guy]

Nail in the coffin.

[Ozz]

isaNutri0wn3d

[stri8ted]

I dont think they are bad products, however it is a MLM(multi level marketing) program and that means more expensive for the consumer no matter how you slice it.

[stri8ted]

It also means more spammers trying to make a commission

[bigdog]

My friend is on isagenix & his wife is going to be selling it.Scaary to think only 3% of the people make money doing this.Its like amway.Anyway he only eats some veggies & maybe an egg for the 1st couple days so he can get rid of toxins.Dont think I could eat that little.I would be one angry person.I also dont think my wife would be able to put up w/ me.

[Alan Aragon]

lmfao

Isagenix is a fvcking scam - although the distributors mean well just like any MLM. They are taught how to sell the crackpot product, they are taught that the product will save the world, they are taught that they will get rich saving the world. It's a win-win-win.

Bullshit.

[Bodyman]

Some of your responses spured me to join this forum. Just a little about me, I'm a former competitive bodybuilder. Through most of the 90's I did at least 2 shows a year, mostly in Asia and Europe, as I was in the military. I've produced international body building contests(Nearly got kicked out of Turkey for it... but that's a story for another time). I trained two members of the Turkish national bodybuilding team, one of which went on to win the Balkan championships. Another trainee of mine placed 6th in the West Coast Classic in his first competition at age 39. I love the sport, as well as martial arts and dance.

Why I'm writing this post? Because I've tried nearly every product out there as well as Isagenix. A year ago my wife tried it and she lost (released as they say) 22 inches total..ie neck, waist legs etc. And she has kept it off... not starving herself either. She's now fitting into clothes that she was wearing when I met her 10 years ago. My mom was so impressed by her results that she got on it and lost 2 dress sizes and has kept it off... she's 60 years old and feels great. We had several friends do the same thing. One friend of mine is a marathon runner and he's on it and says his times are improving. Only one person I know that has done it didn't have good results and that's because her hart was not in it. I guess she just enjoys being fat... or is afraid to face the real person hiding in there under all that fat.

My personal experience with it? I was skeptical and waited till about 6 months after my wife got on it before taking it. I've been using it for 6 months. My grocery bills have gone down. It's very easy to use. I'm lean and having great workouts. The only other supplement I take is that ph balanced creatine. My energy level and endurance is greater than ever. My sexual health has improved and I feel like my overall health has improved as well to include my digestion. I still eat what I want. The other day I ate a whole large pizza. But I seem to digest and eliminate much better now and it seems as if these clogging type foods don't stick to me like they used to. People that haven't seen me in a while are just floored at how I look now... Mind you I was on a long lay off the last time they saw me. A few people a week approach me in the gym and want to know my secret.... Nutrition! I tell them... it's not me coming to the gym 6 times a week, because I'm lucky to make it twice a week.... It's nutrition.

Like I said I've tried it all and this product stands up to any of them I've tried. It's a few hundred dollars a month, but replaces a lot of the meals I used to eat so the cost is a wash. NOT a scam. Yes it's a multilevel company but so what. I'd rather give my money to a friend than to some huge corporation that puts 300lb steriod freaks on all thier product labels anyway. Some guy a few posts back says it's a scam because they teach their distributors to get healthy and wealthy.... what's wrong with that? I could see that being a problem if the product was trash, but it's not. The products works great.. so what's wrong with someone making money while they help you reach your goals? Isn't that what trainers do? Isn't that what massage therapists do, or anyone else in the fitness industry? Why is it automatically a scam if your friends like your results, sign up on your website and you get a check every time they order off your website? I guess that is the beauty of the internet...anynomas people love to rant off about everything just like I'm starting to do
OK... you can start flaming me now. I know someone here will say, "screw him! He's not even a long time member of this forum. What the hell does he know.. I've been posting here for 3 years, so I know more than him( even though I've never tried isagenix)" Ha, 2 contests a year... I do 2 a day! I'm ripped and huge and have read every issue of Muscle Media 2000 front back and sideways! Screw him!" I'm done.

[Kyle]

Good lord..

[hayabusa3]

I don't think it can be labeled a scam if they guarantee a refund if you're not happy with their stuff...but who likes the idea of a MLM company. And yeah Bodyman - it's a little hard to let your story hold water with us with a single post.

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by hayabusa3

I don't think it can be labeled a scam if they guarantee a refund if you're not happy with their stuff...but who likes the idea of a MLM company. And yeah Bodyman - it's a little hard to let your story hold water with us with a single post.

Ted, why would somebody put a guarantee on a box? Hmmm, very interesting.
Ted Nelson, Customer: Go on, I'm listening.
Tommy: Here's the way I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box 'cause he wants you to fell all warm and toasty inside.
Ted Nelson, Customer: Yeah, makes a man feel good.
Tommy: 'Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?
[chuckles until he sees that Ted is not laughing too]
Ted Nelson, Customer: [impatiently] What's your point?
Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy; well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser, and your daughter's knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.
Ted Nelson, Customer: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?
Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of shit. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.

[hayabusa3]

^^^^^^^ Still Ozz, "Here ya go, drive this Hyundai for a year. If you don't like if after that time we'll give you your money back". Buy pretty much anything from REI and return it whenever you want and get your money back. How can that be bad for the customer? Try it - don't like it - get your cash back......I can't see the scam there.

[Ozz]

People make millions selling junk with bullshit guarantees and warranties which that they have absolutely no intention of honoring.

Comparing a time-tested and global brand like Hyundai vs. a no-name, fly-by-night supplement company is totally apples and oranges. I don't mean EVERY warranty/guarantee is worthless, obviously.

[hayabusa3]

I did a search and they were founded in 2002, not really fly by night. I know you aren't saying every guarantee is worthless, I just think you firmly believe the only way to loose weight is to eat less calories - so do I. But the only way to save money is to get off your ass and set aside a little every week and millions of people......wait a minute, billions of people can't do that either. All these weight loss things are like 401K's in a way, or claiming too little on your taxes....forced weight loss cos you eat less through their programme.

[Shanhole]

The new guy's response gives me the heeby jeebies. (ha!)

What is their focused ingredient?

[hayabusa3]

Nobody knows - BIG secret....sshhhhh...

[Crombie]

Isagenix is people!

[Showdown]

Isagenix have used my products in the past, and I have been in their manufacturing facilities multiple times. If you've seen the movie 'Bigger, Faster, Stronger' where the guy decides to hire some day-laborers to help him make his own supplements in his mom's kitchen, then you would have a fair idea of what Isagenix manufacturing looks like. They have a nice shiny new office, but their real manufacturing goes down in an industrial park, in small rented offices that hold batches of their dry goods for mixing. They buy all their batches from other manufacturers, so in essence, they are only mixing and slapping their labels on.

But I've never tried the stuff, so I may not know what I'm talking about. But I've been to sewer plants and haven't eaten poop yet either... ya know?

[hayabusa3]

You seriously been in their plant?

[julz]

Originally Posted by Bodyman

Some of your responses spured me to join this forum. Just a little about me, I'm a former competitive bodybuilder. Through most of the 90's I did at least 2 shows a year, mostly in Asia and Europe, as I was in the military. I've produced international body building contests(Nearly got kicked out of Turkey for it... but that's a story for another time). I trained two members of the Turkish national bodybuilding team, one of which went on to win the Balkan championships. Another trainee of mine placed 6th in the West Coast Classic in his first competition at age 39. I love the sport, as well as martial arts and dance.

Why I'm writing this post? Because I've tried nearly every product out there as well as Isagenix. A year ago my wife tried it and she lost (released as they say) 22 inches total..ie neck, waist legs etc. And she has kept it off... not starving herself either. She's now fitting into clothes that she was wearing when I met her 10 years ago. My mom was so impressed by her results that she got on it and lost 2 dress sizes and has kept it off... she's 60 years old and feels great. We had several friends do the same thing. One friend of mine is a marathon runner and he's on it and says his times are improving. Only one person I know that has done it didn't have good results and that's because her hart was not in it. I guess she just enjoys being fat... or is afraid to face the real person hiding in there under all that fat.

My personal experience with it? I was skeptical and waited till about 6 months after my wife got on it before taking it. I've been using it for 6 months. My grocery bills have gone down. It's very easy to use. I'm lean and having great workouts. The only other supplement I take is that ph balanced creatine. My energy level and endurance is greater than ever. My sexual health has improved and I feel like my overall health has improved as well to include my digestion. I still eat what I want. The other day I ate a whole large pizza. But I seem to digest and eliminate much better now and it seems as if these clogging type foods don't stick to me like they used to. People that haven't seen me in a while are just floored at how I look now... Mind you I was on a long lay off the last time they saw me. A few people a week approach me in the gym and want to know my secret.... Nutrition! I tell them... it's not me coming to the gym 6 times a week, because I'm lucky to make it twice a week.... It's nutrition.

Like I said I've tried it all and this product stands up to any of them I've tried. It's a few hundred dollars a month, but replaces a lot of the meals I used to eat so the cost is a wash. NOT a scam. Yes it's a multilevel company but so what. I'd rather give my money to a friend than to some huge corporation that puts 300lb steriod freaks on all thier product labels anyway. Some guy a few posts back says it's a scam because they teach their distributors to get healthy and wealthy.... what's wrong with that? I could see that being a problem if the product was trash, but it's not. The products works great.. so what's wrong with someone making money while they help you reach your goals? Isn't that what trainers do? Isn't that what massage therapists do, or anyone else in the fitness industry? Why is it automatically a scam if your friends like your results, sign up on your website and you get a check every time they order off your website? I guess that is the beauty of the internet...anynomas people love to rant off about everything just like I'm starting to do
OK... you can start flaming me now. I know someone here will say, "screw him! He's not even a long time member of this forum. What the hell does he know.. I've been posting here for 3 years, so I know more than him( even though I've never tried isagenix)" Ha, 2 contests a year... I do 2 a day! I'm ripped and huge and have read every issue of Muscle Media 2000 front back and sideways! Screw him!" I'm done.

So... you'd be willing to send some of us a month's worth of samples and let us try it ourselves?

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by hayabusa3

You seriously been in their plant?

Multiple times. From what I understand from my counterparts in Utah, vitamin places are notorious for being really, really low overhead production areas. Like they are ready to pack up and vacate at any time.

But Isagenix has a really nice office area that looks really professional. I dunno, it just all reeks like scam, scam, scam. But who knows, ON whey might be made in the back of someone's jeep for all I know.