Thoughts?

They're both over priced and there are better options you can purchase without having a local dealer?

One is a straight up pyramid scheme while the other is more trapezoidal.

This isn't like my last get rich quick scheme, this time I'm gonna make a lot of money really fast.

Boo on pyramid schemes and multilevel marketing.

sorry, but you'll fail miserably. people are looking for the easy way out.

Just another MLM scheme tricking people into thinking they need expensive crap to be healthy and lose weight.

neither

Please. Everyone knows the real money's in Crossfit

I use a product called IDNutrition. It is by IDLife and is personalized nutrition through a HIPPA compliant, online assessment. The assessment asks everything about your current lifestyle, eating habits, medications, medical history, etc... and gives you a list of your specific needs. When ordering the IDNutrition, it comes in prepackaged AM and PM strip packs. I travel a lot, so I just tear off however many days I am going to be gone and put them in my luggage. I started using the product in January, along with my wife, as a Founding Partner in the company. Troy Aikman is an investor in the company as well as Darwin Deason, and is used by people like Lisa Hart (Buns of Steel videos), Larry North (renowned fitness expert), Meghan Tieff (America's Body Coach), Jay Johnson (Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Personal Trainer) and many professional athletes. One of the athletes from the New England Patriots stated to me that his assessment was accurate with the results from his blood work that the Patriots took for his nutritional assessment for the team.

I have also updated my assessment a few times and since becoming a little more healthy, my overall nutritional pills have cut down in half, which cut my cost in half as well. I also started exercising and eating healthy in the process, to which I lost 35 lbs in the first 3 months and have maintained it since. I have a meal replacement shake (that IDLife sells also)... it is sweetened with Stivia, so you get a great taste without the artificial sugars... LOW CAL. I blend mine with Almond Milk and fruit, so that it is a 200 cal meal.

Good luck and don't let the MLM of any company bother you. If it is in my price range, and does what it is supposed to do... then ship that stuff to my door. I don't care who makes a living off of selling it... a person or a store owner... just find what works best for you.

Direct sales, contrary to belief, is actually really good. Schemes, no... direct sales, yes. I heard something the other day on a radio program that over like 80% of women earning $100,000 or more are in direct sales.

I would just go take the IDNutrition Assessment and see what it says. It should take you about 5-10 min.

IDFITFORLIFE

Link to previous thread on H&F board discussing IDLife scam

http://texags.com/forums/48/topics/2446051/replies/38621156#r38621156

#IDFITFORLIFE

One of my posts from the previous thread-

quote:

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I filled out the questionnaire, reviewed the website and leadership of IDLife. I have several concerns. First, based on the ingredients information, I could not see where the individualization occurs without changing the ingredient list.

I also did not see anyone listed as their primary researcher or science director. This made me question the validity of the assessment and/or its algorithm since there was no one credited with its creation. IDLife needs a science or medical board or director who can provide supporting research for the products and/or ingredients as well as the assessment's specific algorithm. How do I know what the specific supplements are that my assessment dictated? How do I know that my individualized supplements are in fact individualized?

Another issue I saw was that the leadership team had no experience in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals or dietetics. They all had experience in direct marketing or multi-level marketing but zero clinical nutrition experience. It reminded me of an excerpt from the book, "The 4 Hour Work Week" by Timothy Ferris, which described one of the best ways to make easy money is to create your own supplement company by purchasing vitamins and protein shakes wholesale from a generic manufacturer, relabeling them and selling them at a profit online. The joys of an unregulated industry.

I compared the ingredients in the meal replacement shake with a comparable Advocare (competitor mentioned previously) shake. It appears that the IDLife shakes are very low in carbohydrate and high in protein in comparison. This is not an adequate nutrient balance for a meal replacement. It is more appropriate for a protein shake.

All in all, IDLife seems to be well marketed to good people who lack significant nutrition education but lacking transparency, independent quality control and published scientific leadership.

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Another poster credited a "holistic medical practioner" named Paul Sullivan with the creation of the algorithm.

quote:

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I googled Paul Sullivan. He does not appear on the IDLife site but several sales people mention him. One says he is consults in the Pharmacy continuing education program for pharmacists at Bastyr University. Looking at the Bastyr Univ website, there are not any listings for Pharmacy continuing education but they do have programs in Acupuncture, Herbal Sciences and Midwifery.

The sales person's website claims thousands of studies supporting the nutritional assessment, but none are referenced and there are no Paul Sullivan articles dealing with vitamins that I could find in a Medline search.

When you are talking about your health, transparency is vital. If you cannot easily find relevant supporting material for a proposed therapy, do not be a blind guinea pig no matter how fantastic the website or salesperson sounds.

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I certainly understand any concern that someone might have with not elevating Paul Sullivan on the website. I have met Paul, personally, on several occasions and he is genuine with his goal at IDLife. I am sure we all have success stories in business and not so successful stories in business. I have a couple on both sides... I have an Equine Reproduction business that is not so good, chasing money, low margins, and on and on. I have a Junior Volleyball Club that is self-supporting, makes no money, loses no money, but takes enormous amounts of time and PR. The IDLife business is thriving, but more importantly, I feel healthier than ever, look the best I have looked in 20 yrs, since college, and enjoy helping others.

I personally concentrate on our Health and Wellness program with companies which is extremely successful. I believe in the science. It is easy for fitness people to say, "Get your nutrition from eating healthy and all the right foods," but in today's fast paced world, not everyone can do that. I travel constantly, so having a meal replacement shake that works for me, packaged for travelling, is perfect. With trying to find the right meals on the road, or in a hurry, or at the airport, supplementing my body with vitamins that I am truly not getting is essential.

With the corporate wellness program, I get employees and their families to just take the assessment. Follow its recommendations. Many, many do not take the vitamins, but just follow the other recommendations. I have others that take the assessment, then go purchase the vitamins individually at the store. I saw the argument about the BASIC AM & PM Vitamin... just a multi vitamin with a lot of just basic needs for everyone. What I challenge people is to ask their vitamin supplier if the fillers in the vitamins are all-natural. Most are not... most have petroleum based fillers. The IDNutrition fillers are anti-inflamatories and anti-oxicents... things that help everyone, no matter what.

There is another critical function of the vitamins. If a vitamin is recommended to you (not just from IDLife, but even a doctor in general), wouldn't you think that the vitamin should be taken per the test study group that it was performed on that made the recommendation. Let's say a person needs Vitamin D (just an example) which patients with IBS may be vitamin D deficient because they can neither absorb nor adequately convert the nutrient. In a double-blind trial, healthy people were given vitamin D showed a significantly enhanced positive mood and there was some evidence of a reduction in negative mood compared to a placebo. If those patients received 120 mg of actual vitamin D, wouldn't you agree that if you take vitamin D, you should take 120mg? Of course you would, so why do the manufacturers not put the study quantity in the vitamins? IDLife makes it a priority to get those study quantities appropriate for vitamin.

Chronobiology is important as well. Why wouldn't a person take certain vitamins at the time of day when a person's metabolism works best with them? When someone goes to a doctor, gets a prescription, and it says to take it 1 hour before eating, the reason is because it releases the necessary medication at the necessary time... that is chronobiology and the IDLife vitamins were studied the same way.

I would still challenge skeptics, who are really concerned about getting the supplements they need, to go get blood work done and get a nutritional assessment from that and compare to IDNutrition's recommendations based on honest answers to the assessment.

If there was ever a valid use of this gif, it is right here, right now:

Bradleyk- a few questions-
1) Do you have any citations for the study you referenced?
2) Any studies specifically supporting the framework or basis of the IDLife program?
3) Any studies validating the algorithm that purports to individualize the plan based on the assessment?
4) Does IDLife have anyone in their leadership with a background in Physiology, Pharmacology, Dietitetics or Food Science
5) Does IDLife have any on its Leadership currently under indictment by a state attorney general for running a Ponzi scheme or for MLM fraud?

That's a lot of copy and pasting.

Can't speak to Herbalife.

My wife is an Advocare Advisor, and while she makes a little money, we are mostly appreciative of the products. We take some of the workout supplements like post-workout recovery, muscle gain, and rehydrate, and spark.

We like them all and will continue to use it, not as a primary diet, but as a supplement to our current eating and workout regimen/

w8liftr,

1) As you can see in my comments, I stated the Vitamin D scenario as hypothetical, but in fact, when a person does take the assessment, there are references below the Health Summary comments and there are also references next to each supplement recommendation.
2) I would say that there are studies supporting the IDLife program as the assessment questions are based on all the studies that will come up during the results screen. If you get a certain result, it is based on a, few, or many studies in response of the individuals answers
3) I dont know that there is a study SPECIFIC to the Algorithm, but again, the results to the questions relate back to specific studies for those particular answers. DJ Williams, with the NE Patriots, took the assessment, and referred those results back to his blood work results from the Pats, to find that they matched. You have some of the biggest names in fitness and/or sports taking the assessment, using the products from the results of the assessment to which they support publicly, not paid to endorse, but believe in it and use it.
4) IDLife has a Scientific Medical Advisory Board that meets regularly to review new studies, changes in any studies, etc. If I recall, this is a panel of 5 doctors, or maybe its 7.
5) I am not aware of anyone indicted by a state attorney general for running a Ponzi scheme or MLM fraud.

I was caught up in a Ponzi scheme many years ago, so I am fairly familiar with it. I paid money, did not get anything, well... a booklet or some crap, and the people took my money and ran. Stanley Patterson was the guys name and I remember it well. Ponzi schemes to not give you anything, no product, nothing... just take your money on the premise that if you get other peoples money, and enough of it, you will get rich. I can promise you ID Life is not a Ponzi Scheme... great products... I even use the shakes and energy drinks. They have worked for me and the change that I wanted to make in my life with my health, along with the supplements.

MLM is no different than any other direct sales business, AVON, Mary Kay, Beachbody, etc.

Here is my question, if you take vitamins, how do you know what you should be taking? Do you go spend the expensive cost of bloodwork for a nutritional assessment from a doctor? If so, good for you! If you just do your own research, like I did prior to IDLife, I doubt you were getting it right, like I wasn't and actually was way off for me. Taking things I definitely did not need and who knows if it was at the right time of day.

ChiveOn,

No copying and pasting of anything on my comments. I have a pretty good mind of my own, thanks.

AgMarauder04,

I agree 100% with you. Whether someone wants to purchase it at GNC, Advocare, IDLife, etc... as long as people are getting what they need, when they need it, without extra JUNK in it, I don't think it matters where it comes from. The point is just to exercise, eat right, and supplement to live a longer, healthier life.

Google the CEO, Logan Stout, and his involvement in mutiple lawsuits/indictments for his involvement in Ignite (Stream) Energy's illegal pyramid/Ponzi scheme. Here's an example- http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-clearman-law-firm-announces-federal-lawsuit-against-stream-energy-executives-alleging-unlawful-pyramid-scheme-62090827.html

Also, please link to any studies specifically supporting IDLife's system as well as the names and CV's/bios of the scientific advisory board.

Finally, please link to any studies proving that supplements are essential to a long, healthy life.

Dr. Phil Roberts, MD
http://www.nashvilletnbioidenticalhormones.com/

Dr. Shawn Dhillon, MD
http://shawndhillon.md.com/

Dr. Rick Wilson, MD
http://www.cooperaerobics.com/Cooper-Clinic/Our-Physicians/Rick-K-Wilson,-M-D.aspx

Dr. Louis Iorio, MD
http://pediatricmedicalassociates.net/PedsStaff.html

These are the ones that I could find for now for bios

Since you lack trust in IDLife, which I can completely respect, you can research all the studies you would like about supplement benefits at...

http://www.nutrition.gov/dietary-supplements

http://ods.od.nih.gov/

So no specific response? Just a general link to great sources of medical info, but nothing supportive of the IDLife combinations or concept?

What about the CEO and founder, Logan Stout's legal troubles related to running Ponzi schemes or defrauding the players and parents in his select baseball club? He doesn't look like a very trustworthy guy. Google him and ignore the first page and a half of links since they're all his websites (he knows how to use Google to boost his appearance). The rest aren't as rosy, especially if you add scam, indictment, or Ponzi to the search terms.

quote:

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Dr. Phil Roberts, MD
http://www.nashvilletnbioidenticalhormones.com/

Dr. Shawn Dhillon, MD
http://shawndhillon.md.com/

Dr. Rick Wilson, MD
http://www.cooperaerobics.com/Cooper-Clinic/Our-Physicians/Rick-K-Wilson,-M-D.aspx

Dr. Louis Iorio, MD
http://pediatricmedicalassociates.net/PedsStaff.html

These are the ones that I could find for now for bios

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Phil Roberts is an ER doctor who was inspired to look into hormones by a Suzanne Somers book.

Shawn Dhillon is a doctor/chiropractor/massage spa owner who went to med school at Ross University, which is where people go when they can't qualify for American medical schools.

Rick Wilson is a dermatologist and co-author of a book that shouts "As Seen On TV!"

There are two Louis Iorio MDs out there, I think you might have the wrong one. One is a pediatrician, the other on orthopedic surgeon, neither of which specialize in anything having to do with nutrition or bio chemistry.

Ok. I get it that you are anti-direct sales. You asked for the medical professionals involved and I gave them to you. You wanted nutritional studies and I provides a source where you could do your own due diligence on thousands of studies about the need of nutrition and supplement benefits. You then bring up the Dallas Patriots. I run a junior volleyball club in Missouri and Texas. You can't please everyone evem though your go is to try and make sure everyone has a positive experience. Unfortunately, competative leagues, like mine, that are "play to win" and not "pay to play" can upset folks. Some parents think there kids are better than the coach might evaluate them and thus starts the hardships.... it happens. A few complaints from hundreds of parents involved every year is pretty good.

The lawsuit was in 2009. Stream and Ignite are still in the deregulated energy business today. The law firm seems to be non existent, guess we know how that suit turned out.

I am surprised that people would take stabs at professionals who worked hard to get degrees in the medical field, but if that is how you live your life, that is not for me to judge, but I find it surprising.

I get that some people don't agree with supplements, but many, many do... GNC, the Vitamin Store and all the others stay in business for a reason. I personally feel that it is better to have some evidence behind what a person takes rather than guess at it and buy junk you don't need. Also, you should research what grade of ingredients go into vitamins and what the fillers are. Once you find that out, you can ask me about ID Life ingredient grade, filler makeup, and the FDA approved facility that our supplements are made at.

No worries. I try and help those that want help. If you did take supplements, how would YOU go about knowing what you need. Spend money on a nutrititiinist, blood work, dietician, and personal trainers? And what if all the money you spent on that was generally what the ID Life assessment would say. We have those stories in the company.... many of them... most of them from the professional athletes in the company. They have to do their teams nutritinal analysis and then they come back with the report and match it up against the ID Life report. It has worked for them. Why do professional athletes that make what they make need to be in IDLife, because they believe in it. Why did Troy Aikman want to invest in this... or how about Darwin Deason... or all of the renowned Fitness Ambassadors, who will tell you that they don't endorse anything and then came along IDLife and they JOINED the business, not paid to endorse.

Since you have given your take on IDLife, why don't you share your take on Advocare with us.

News flash- IDLife can't make their supplements in a FDA approved facility since the FDA has ZERO regulatory authority in the nutritional supplement industry and, as such, cannot approve a supplement manufacturing facility.

Before you invest in any business, investigate the facts of the industry, verify the claims made by those promoting it and look into the ethics, lawsuits and criminal investigations of those in leadership.

"I am surprised that people would take stabs at professionals who worked hard to get degrees in the medical field, but if that is how you live your life, that is not for me to judge, but I find it surprising. "

This is laughable on several levels, but my point was that the doctors you mentioned to validate the product are not qualified to act as experts in the subject at hand. Nor are the "professional athletes."

quote:

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I am surprised that people would take stabs at professionals who worked hard to get degrees in the medical field, but if that is how you live your life, that is not for me to judge, but I find it surprising.

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How many classes in Nutrition are required for a MD degree? This is a question I ask my students every semester. If you check the MD degree plans from UTSW, UTMB, TAMUHSC, etc., you'll find a combined total of zero required classes in Nutrition.

Veritas, read my post carefully. I did not state that the supplements were FDA approved, but are made in an FDA approved facility. There are in fact many, many supplements that are not made in FDA approved facilities which cannot support pharma grade ingredients; however, when made in an FDA approved facilities, you get some of those privileges.

Again, I ask every one of you, what is your take on Advocare? It seems one of you works in a medical or dietary field, so I am all ears. Please educate me.