(REVIEW) My Herbalife

Recently I was asked if I’d be interested in trying out some of Herbalife’s range of nutritional products and supplements to see how well they would fit into my own personal fitness journey. My initial thoughts were ‘yes I could, but how are they really any different to the other supplement/nutrition-based companies already out there?’ 

I was about to be very surprised at how different and unique this company really was and in this blog post I’ll explain why..

Who is Herbalife?

Well to give you a little background about Herbalife, they’ve actually been selling nutritional products for over 30 years. They base their products around actual science and ensure that everything is fully tested to the highest of standards before it’s released to the fitness world. 

The way in which they work is also pretty unique. They don’t sell directly to the public, which I was quite surprised about. I mean if these products were really so great, why would I be unable to buy them at the local nutrition store? 

It was explained to me that Herbalife sell directly to Independent Herbalife Members. Some are even personal trainer and fitness experts so when it comes to fitness goals and nutrition, they can often be great partners to ensure you get a personalised service with one-on-one advice about the right products for your journey. 

My Introduction To Herbalife

Knowing this I was pleasantly surprised at this level of personalised service. I mean in comparison to pretty much every other protein supplement company I’ve bought from, you either go into a store and rely on the shop assistant or you just take your chances with the description you get from the product online. 

This was different. I would be speaking to someone who’d been through their own journey using these types of products and who could use their knowledge and expertise to really help me in reaching my goals. 

So as part of the Herbalife review I was set up with independent member and wellness coach, Martin Kelly. Martin is based in Glasgow and went through his own weight-loss journey by losing over 4 stone to get to where he wanted to be. He’s now an accomplished ultra-marathon runner with expert knowledge on how to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Knowing this, my expectations were high…

The Initial Phone Call

With me being based in Liverpool and Martin over in Glasgow, the easiest way for us to communicate would be through an initial phone call. 

On this call we mainly talked about me and what my personal goals were. I was so impressed with the extensive level of knowledge that Martin had in terms of what products I needed that could aid in my journey, but also that he’d been through his own weight-loss journey and so could apply that knowledge first-hand to help me. 

My current goals include rebuilding after intense gym sessions, as well as endurance in running and playing a full 90 minute football match. My whole lifestyle is based around trying to eat healthier alternatives and this was also covered off well. 

This was my first proper impression of Herbalife as a company and it was a very good one. 

The Products

At the end of the initial discussion Martin delivered his recommendation on what products were best suited towards my goals. They were:-

Herbalife Formula 1
Herbalife 24 Rebuild Strength
Herbalife CR7 Drive
Herbalife Protein Bars

I could tell that this wasn’t just a list of the ‘products that needed shifting off the shelves’ but a tailored, well-thought out one of how each of these products would individually help me reach my goals. 

Martin gave a real explanation as to how they would help and explained it in a language that made sense, without me needing a Biology degree! 

All of the products were used according to Martin’s instructions and I can say with confidence that they have helped. 

In particular the Herbalife 24 Rebuild Strength formula is a protein mix that’s used to aid recovery after a tough workout. What I loved about it was I could feel my energy returning after only a short time after taking it. After a month or so my muscles have developed somewhat and I feel I can recover faster from intense lifting by the time the next session comes around. 

Oh and it tasted fantastic! I went for the Chocolate flavour and it tasted similar to melted Chocolate Chip Haagen-Daas ice cream, heavenly! 

The Formula 1 meal replacement shake was great too. I opted for the Vanilla flavour as well as a Raspberry one. It was designed for people who often skip breakfast due to their busy lifestyle. Although I always have breakfast, this was still the perfect ‘meal between meals’ for me as I’m looking to build muscle, these extra calories really helped in terms of the convenience. 

The CR7 Drive products came in sachets that you add to 500ml of water and consume during endurance exercise. For me that was during my full 90 minutes of football. Often around the 60 minute mark I’d start to feel slightly weaker with less energy, but replacing my usual water bottle with the CR7 Drive gave me that added energy I was lacking, and kept me going for the full 90 minutes. 

Conclusions

I’m always honest with you guys about how I feel when it comes to products and services, and this review is no exception. 

My initial perception of Herbalife before being approached by them was that I didn’t really know too much about them. They don’t advertise the way other protein and supplement related brands do so they weren’t at the forefront of my mind, yet what they provided for me was a unique and very impressive experience. 

The same way you would go to a Personal Trainer for personalised workouts if you were serious about your training, this is the equivalent for Nutrition and Supplements. You get a personalised service from someone who really knows their stuff. I cannot say enough positives about how Martin Kelly (check out his blog here)  & Herbalife have helped me. Not only from the initial phone call but during my time taking the products, Martin was in touch and only a text or phone call away. 

That level of dedication and support is something I don’t often come across and it’s one of the many reasons why I’ll be sticking with Herbalife for my nutrition support. 

Adam Warren