MLM HORROR STORIES #33 | Fat shamed as a child and forced to take Herbalife

#hannahalonzo #antimlm #mlmhorrorstories
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:52 Story 1
9:24 Story 2
17:22 Story 3
25:48 Story 4
32:07 Story 5
39:10 Story 6
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[@paulabarnes7098]

The cookware was Salad Master, my husband passed away when we were young however, I wasn't a "poor widow", I was invited to one of the Salad Master parties and I was sold, I was going to buy a set. When I tried to buy the cookware, they told me they could only talk to couples, not to a single adult. (I'm sure they meant poor single women, I think they assumed I didn't have a dime to my name) They wouldn't sell me a set. Fast forward 7-8 years, I had remarried and we were invited to a Salad Master party and we bought a set, looking back, I should have ate their food and told them that I had already bought nice cookware from someone willing to sell to someone they assumed was poor and they could shove their cookware to where the sun doesn't shine but I was just excited that they would finally sell me a set! I do like the cookware and other than skillets over the years, we still use the cookware, it has to be at least 30 years old. After writing this story, I'm mad at them all over again!

[@RealSigmaQueen]

Just reading your salad master story. I remember being “invited” to a time share presentation in Las Vegas along with my friends. Well, we got to the presentation. Being single I was immediately disinvited. Couldn’t afford a time share anyway. But my friends were married. Unfortunately, this was before gay marriage was legal in the USA (we’re Canadian) and my friends were treated horribly. These 2 women had extremely good jobs and travelled to Vegas on a regular basis. Someone missed out on a very big commission.

[@arw4408]

I’m the second generation using these pots and pans. They are great.

[@hyunjulee1030]

Salad master! A little googling will reveal that you can get a similar set at regular stores for less than half the price. High quality cookware, yes, but waaaaaaay overpriced.

[@janabomersbach4466]

My in-laws had these pans. My sister-law still uses them. Extremely expensive especially for the day & time so at least a good product.

[@IraLuxuria]

Wait, they turned down a sale because you were single?? Wtf why

[@CatLady555]

I lost a lot of weight a couple years ago and only ONE person since then has privately asked me "did you want to lose the weight?" before congratulating me. It really opened my eyes to how weird it is that people automatically say good job for weight loss, especially if its someone they barely know.

[@miguelangellopez8235]

What’s that famous Shakespeare quote? … Ah, yes, “An MLM by any other name would be just as predatory” or something like that 😉

[@TheRealGrannyWeatherwax]

I think that the second stanza is 'out, out, damned hun. Out I say!' or something like that.

[@sarahhumphreys3980]

Lol good one 😆

[@charliewright6273]

This is so good

[@pennypaints8091]

The Herbalife story- being starved by her own otherwise “normal” family after a stranger told them to, is a literal horror story.

[@jenl7094]

They were not normal for body shaming her, forcing her to wear a corset or girdle daily and then go on a ridiculously restrictive starvation “diet” without consulting a doctor. As a child. That’s got to be abusive behavior. I am happy she’s found a healthy, loving relationship now.

[@MermaidMakes]

actually that would really make a good horror novel or movie. Sounds like a story from Stephen King.

[@harlowblackadder356]

I feel so bad for Luna! 😔 I have PCOS and thyroid issues that weren't diagnosed until my 20s. Before that, I just starved and starved myself and used all sorts of supplement pills that are now illegal. SMH. That herbalife rep was a predator and saw Luna as dollar signs!

[@jenniferculipher4058]

Yeah I call that child abuse. That’s so sad that happened to her

[@israa.6375]

during middle school too, she was still a preteen and a child. nutrition is so important during those years, i feel so bad for the poor kiddo…

[@kathyerickson5566]

My daughter struggled with anorexia as a young teen. She had to stay above 16 body fat or the doctor would put her into residential eating disorder treatment. I felt sick hearing someone thought this poor girl should have a body fat of 10. My daughter went into treatment several times and is doing great 10 years later. She’s getting married next month and I am so proud of how far she’s come!

[@aHavenForTheLost]

I am so happy for your daughter and for you. I struggled with bulimia for years. I am now almost 40 and have finally overcome this disease and I know how hard it was to do so. God bless

[@desiv3025]

I'm so happy to hear of her success!!

[@christopher4028]

❤️❤️❤️

[@theirmanager5204]

So good to hear that ❤️

[@hashtagKELSEXY]

Congratulations to you and your daughter! ♥️

[@adribun5951]

hello!!! I'm the dancer from story 4!! thank you for reading my story and affirming my feelings about the whole situation. I appreciate the comments I've seen about wishing me well in my diagnosis journey 💜💜

[@mariontheantiquarian7849]

I hope you find answers soon!

[@mylittlesuperhero581]

I truly hope you find answers soon. your story just broke me. MLM huns are so predatory. congratulations on your baby❤

[@adribun5951]

@@mylittlesuperhero581 thank you so much ❤️❤️

[@dianeolson8449]

Enjoy your baby and be well!

[@mi_lo6544]

I hope you have a good day!!

[@lazy_little_leopard]

Brb… crying. The Herbalife teen story made me so emotional! No child or teen or even human should have to go through that! I’m so happy she found love and overcame what happened to her!

[@heatherframpton9693]

...and how horrible that this happened with encouragement by her family!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 How about have taken your daughter to an actual medical doctor, registered dietitian and other educated and licensed medical professionals for treatment?!? 🙄

[@JuMiKu]

@@heatherframpton9693 He probably made himself out to be something like that. He was definitely a scammer and for all we know the parents' English might not have been very good.

[@mirensummers7633]

Same, that was the most heartbreaking story and it really gives an amazing insight into what it's like to experience fatphobia. Honestly, as a person who has never been overweight, it's hard to understand, but that just summed it up so perfectly

[@mirensummers7633]

@@JuMiKu he said he was a nutritionist, which is technically ok to say because it's not a protected title. Dietician is, never take nutritional advice from anyone other than a dietician because they could have no qualifications at all if they call themselves a nutritionist

[@JuMiKu]

@@mirensummers7633 I know, but how many do? Also, that doesn't change anything about him being a scammer. He sells dangerous, over-priced concoctions and ideas, while wearing a thin veil of legitimacy. How is that not scamming people, even if he just let's people assume he has credentials? (And we all know how these people love to make themselves appear to be authorities.)

[@undecidedmiddleground5633]

The first pots and pans story feels like Royal Prestige as well. Before we married we went to a similar presentation, without the cooking, and ended up buying a set of pots and pans. Honestly, we still have them today ~23 years later with only one broken piece of plastic. Now, I don't think they were a good buy at $1200 in the late 90s, but we haven't had to buy any other pots since, so we are getting our money out of them. We were suckered in by our ignorance of the MLM pyramid schemes, an ignorance this channel helps end!

[@okoala62]

Yes!!! My family were pressured to buy Royal Prestige in the 90s too; and same, my aunt and mother both still have some of those pots and pans so yes, they HAVE lasted and endured however, they were not worth the small fortune they cost 🙄👋🏼😑

[@helenfrazier2858]

I agree with Royal Prestige. Seems they go to wedding events and pick young couples. My husband and I was targeted in Branson, Missouri.

[@JaimeLeighArt]

Yes also Royal Prestige in the 90’s! My fiancé at the time was scammed into going to the presentation and ended up buying the pans and I remember being so mad that he spent that much on cookware! We couldn’t afford it at the time and the “trip” they offered we never took because there were too many stipulations.

[@livelovelaugh2787]

All I heard was the price and induction pots! First thought RoyalPrestige. I have them and bought them about 5yrs ago. My mother in law is a sucker for mlms and convinced hubby and I to get a set. Cost about $1600. Never again! but yes they are very good.

[@Aquadacat]

>$1200 in the late 90s wHAT THe FUCK

[@NWAWskeptic]

Seeing my little girl desperately cry just over wanting to eat a potato would have broken me. That poor girl. Glad she became a stronger woman.

[@shannonigans_]

The Herbalife story is what happens to all of us when we lose weight. We realize that people could have been nicer to us but they chose not to because they think because we’re fat we don’t matter. No amount of weight loss fixes knowing that.

[@ridinwithjake]

No, we don’t think you don’t matter, but we do wonder why you choose to stay so unhealthy and not take any steps to remedy your situation.

[@kammys22]

@@ridinwithjake oh shut up ...i bet you must be a joy to be around.

[@meagangoodwin8713]

@@ridinwithjake Just because someone is fat does not mean that they are unhealthy. Additionally you do not know if they have struggled with trying to lose weight and being healthy. The more someone YoYo diets the harder it can become to lose and maintain weight lose. Lastly, there are some medical conditions in women that will cause them to be over weight.

[@dizzylilthing]

@@ridinwithjake Y'all treat overweight people worse, take it from someone who went from 225 lbs to 146, I know exactly the difference in how people get treated.

[@krystinaxxlea]

@@ridinwithjake wow you must be a real hoot at parties. 🙄

[@BlancaPerdomo]

I saw “ I was a lularoe hun assistant” and immediately clicked on the video 😂

[@Krystaltazouti]

I was also a Lularoe hun assistant lol so that’s why I clicked as well

[@tokiobabe99]

Yeah I saw that and had to watch as well lol

[@thatonechickyousaw]

I had to click after seeing that, too!

[@glasscasedoll]

Omgg same lol

[@annemcauleylopez4252]

Lol! Me too!!

[@pearlsbeforeswine60]

I wanted to add to this by saying that the mother with the fat daughter is the REAL abuser in this case. When I hit puberty, my mother became insanely abusive. From the age of 9 she restricted my food. I was allowed a poached egg on one cracker for breakfast. Lunch was at school, thank god. Half a blueberry yogurt was permitted when I got home from school. Dinner was usually a hamburger patty, or chicken with vegetables. One afternoon she b ecame incensed with me for existing, and forced me to strip and try on her clothes, mocking me when they nearly fit. I was 5'6" and 105 pounds. Cue my eating disorder, which lasted til I was 22. I begged to be sent away to school, and when I found I could eat anything I wanted there, I went crazy. I had no idea how to eat normally. I'm sure my mother would have bought into the whole Herbalife grift and tortured me with it if it had been presented to her.

[@KimC657]

That’s horrible! I’m so sorry that happened to you.

[@jenl7094]

I’m sorry this happened to you as well. 5’6” and 105 lbs is definitely underweight, and the fact that she thought this was unacceptable speaks to your mom’s own unhealthy obsession with body image and food. I hope you are doing better now ❤️

[@NocturnalGhostFairiee]

I’m so sorry that happened to you. Your mom is a fkn monster… people like that don’t deserve kids and definitely shouldn’t have them

[@jaeydnheeren]

5’6” is my height and ive never weighed anything below 120 after i hit puberty. thats insane. 114 is the absolute lowest the average person should be at this height, anything below that is considered critically underweight. i am so so incredibly sorry you faced that. you are valid, your body is valid. we love and support you❤️❤️

[@ruthhine5610]

I love the bit "the products sell themselves" but wait you have to stay up till 3am working on your "business", you gotta hunt people down in shops to "share the opportunity", you gotta work work work or get shouted at by your upliner. Hardly sounds like selling itself to me.

[@adriennepressnall]

I got super sick and lost a ton of weight. People would compliment me constantly. I would tell them that I was sick and that the weight loss was unintentional and I swear 9 times out of 10 they'd respond with something like "Well, at least you look great!"

[@Nylak-Otter]

Ugh, same here. Every time I have issues with a longstanding health issue, I lose up to 20 pounds in the hospital (my ideal weight for my size is 120lbs and I weigh 110 on average, and can get down to 80-90). My partner said I looked like "a concentration camp survivor" last time, and I still got plenty of positive comments. Ladies, I looked and felt like a corpse. Change your standards. 😬

[@caoimhenimhuireadhaigh1303]

Same here! And whenever I would try to explain to people that I was way underweight for my height and build they'd claim that I was in fact "totally healthy" and that they knew people taller and broader than I who weighed less... let's just say that my medical team were concerned at times over my weight and leave it at that 😂

[@tessroxas4145]

The cookware one HAAAAAS to be salad master 😂 ive been fed those bland chickens by my aunt hosting one of these parties

[@susanoline5823]

I have expensive stainless pans from a state fair lol. Lifetime or something. But I still use them 25 years old and they replaced a lid free several years later. Overpriced but I didn't go thru a bunch of cheapies over the years; and I love my Overpriced cutco knives. Lol

[@thatweirdgirl1977]

I think the moral of the story here is - Never let them take you to a second location. Like with kidnapping, the second location is where they get you ;-)

[@daftoptimist]

The story about the little girl crying and begging to eat a potato made me cry. I’ve very much been there. Diet culture is so cruel, especially to kids; multiply it by parental pressure, and MLMs, and you’ve got a real horror story.

[@Hamptonivy]

Would not surprise me if that Walmart hun just puts random expensive items in her cart to find people to pitch to while they’re shopping, then leaves without buying anything, and probably leaves the full cart for the store employees to put back.

[@Lisa85]

The second story really hits home - I’ve always been plump but was told so often “I had a pretty face”. My mom enrolled me in Weight watchers at 16 and said I couldn’t go on a class trip if I didn’t get below 200lbs. 🙄 it’s really messed me up - I link my worthiness of nice things/experiences to my weight. I’m still deconstructing

[@krystinaxxlea]

No lie. That sounds like my mom too, she's a bigger woman who grew up s size2 she blamed my sister and I for her gaining weight for having us. Everyday before school she would tell me "my friend and I were talking and we both agree you'd be so pretty if you lost weight" that was my freshman year, I was out of school for months because of health issues due to the E.D I got because of my mom's "helpful" words every day. I couldn't even go into school without having a full panic attack because I felt like every one was judging me for not.being skinny. Because of that I moved to my dad's and was in therapy 3 days a week for 2 years before I went back for my senior year. Where I had to spend an extra 6 months in school because my homeschooling didn't transfer for the 2 years I was homeschooled mom convinced me to quit school and get my ged. Yea. That was another mistake on my part. Last time I ever listened to her about my life.

[@embodyingmysticalmac]

I am so sorry this happened to you. You’re worthy and beautiful because you exist. Hope you’re doing better and again, I’m so sorry this was your experience 😔

[@ashleyhildebrandt7482]

My husband and I “won” a hotel stay and wedding rings and we just had to go to dinner. It was a presentation too and the dinner was better 😂 But the pitch was also for pots and pans. I remember “American” was in the name of the pots and pans. You had to purchase in order to get the vouchers. I don’t think it was an MLM thing but definitely a scam. Several people bought the pans…so probably a different company but still a weird experience!

[@kristyrussell1748]

Yes!!! We had that happen to us too. But I can't remember the name.

[@elenmelon18]

That was me, my husband and I got free rings with a voucher and a hotel voucher. It was strange.

[@karamobley4137]

Yes!! My husband and me too!! 1st story is bringing back the memories!!

[@heidihaw8119]

My ex husband and I got this too before our wedding, but it wasn’t rings, it was silverware. And it was a cruise not a hotel stay. Very expensive pots and pans that didn’t work as advertised.

[@kimlapinski8690]

My husband and I had this happen to us but it was way back in 2009. They said we won a pair of expensive watches instead of champagne flutes and the vouchers were for airfare but the rest was the same. When we went to claim our "prizes", we were among a bunch of other couples at a Hilton Garden Inn. The pitch was for very overpriced cookware. The company was called Royal Prestige.

[@hahaveggie]

The Herbalife story hit a cord in me. I also have PCOS and it’s hard to loose weight. Every time I start to feel confident or beautiful in my body, someone always has to bring up my weight in a negative way. (I think I have told this story before on some anti MLM video, so forgive me if I’m repeating myself) When I was 12(?) I went to the gym with my mom. She is a health conscious lady and she got me to want to work out. When to sign up, the 20 something juice head trainer also had me hold a game controller type thing. He then told me my fat percentage and said that it was really high/bad. He then told me that if I continue that way, I’m going to get diabetes, heart issues, etc. I was 12. Also, I am pretty sure that he didn’t really understand how a pre teen female’s body worked in regards to health. It still haunts me to this day and I’m 28. I feel like a female trainer should have done that “test” for me and an emphasis on being active and loving my body should have been made…again, I was 12.

[@-chloe-8728]

the herbalife story is awful. i’m currently loosing weight and i’m absolutely noticing people 1000% treat you better if you weigh less. my personality has always been friendly and joking, that hasn’t changed. the ONLY change has been my weight. it’s incredibly disappointing that people, consciously or not, treat people worse if they’re a different size.

[@TheRealCardoso]

As a personal trainer, the handheld controller to measure how “healthy” they are is a body fat monitor lol what a shame on the parents. & no 10% body fat is not healthy for a middle schooler unless it’s a super naturally skinny male athlete.

[@WonderKitty24]

Waterless Cookware! My husband and I got caught that one when we were newlywed too!! It was the first ‘big purchase’ we made and had to finance it. We didn’t spend more than $500 though, I’m fairly certain. We really like the pots though. Still have and use them over 15 years later!

[@elainehill6504]

Huh. The Walmart story reminded me of something that happened a couple years ago. I was walking into the grocery store next to my house, and a woman by the doors got all excited about my sunglasses. "Oh I love your sunglasses! They're so cute!" They were very plain, cheap plastic sunglasses that I had bought at that store a couple weeks earlier. I thought it was really weird that she was so enthusiastic about them, but I just politely said thank you. Then she asked me where I got them and I said "Here, actually, they have a rack of them next to the checkstands" and continued walking inside. I was really confused by this interaction, and did take a closer look at the sunglasses, but there was nothing particularly cute or unique about them haha. So I'm guessing she was a Hun and that was her opening pitch.

[@tifftastic87]

OMG the story of the middle school girl being forced to eat lettuce and protein shakes legit made me tear up. I developed my issues with food and disordered eating around that age and it just struck such a nerve. I'm so relieved to hear she found support and is feeling better about herself (I think that made me tear up even more).

[@bananajewell8846]

The fact that I’m seeing different companies named for the first story is 🥴

[@martianpudding9522]

(TW: illness, death, diet culture) The second story made me make a connection I hadn't before. When my mother lost weight due to a terminal illness, her and people around her treated it like some kind of silver lining, like "hey at least you get to be skinny, that's nice". She ended up basically starving to death after not being able to eat for several days. I still admire her positivity and how she was able to find silver linings like that, but it's also really messed up when you think about it. Like her body was visibly starting to disappear and that was a positive.

[@kristita_888]

I’m so sorry. It’s hard enough to lose your mother, but to have that level of insensitivity and pain accompanying her death must have been excruciating.

[@dawnf.1703]

My niece is a Scentsy rep & I am praying she will see the light soon. I’ve had a couple (very gentle) conversations with her about how the business model is not a good one but she’s not ready to see the truth. She is highly educated (she has a Masters degree) yet she was still sucked in. It makes me sad but I’m hopeful she will get out soon.

[@meinenklinke]

How did Disney partner with Scentsy? I hate that it gives them credibility. I own some scentsy burners because I can’t say no to a friend, and they were so overpriced. Pretty cute though.

[@ThatGirlJD]

@@meinenklinke They have partnered with a few companies, they have had Avon merchandise for years. Disney is about money.

[@janabomersbach4466]

I sold antiques & vintage items at a local store with vendor booths. A woman who sold scentsy set up across the aisle from me. I had to quit due to extreme allergies to fragrances. I could not stock my booth. 😢

[@dawnf.1703]

@@janabomersbach4466 I’m so sorry. I’m allergic to fragrance as well. In this case I’m grateful because I have a built in reason not to support my niece in her MLM. I hope you have found another venue to sell your items.

[@manifestationsofasort]

That LuLaRoe story was hilarious! I love the pettiness!

[@DreamingCatStudio]

Argh the Walmart story got me! Dear sisters practice saying: “Thank you. I’m not interested.” And walking away. You aren’t obligated to talk to any stranger-or even someone you know. It gets easier!

[@maryeckel9682]

I did that today with some kids shilling for one of those shady "energy bill savings" companies who had a setup at WM.

[@Longshlong304]

Or this always works o can I pay with food stamps or ious. O no ok no I don't want BYE FELICIA

[@Jen-cs3fu]

@@Longshlong304 ious 😂😂 would love to c the look on their face!! Shit they will tell anyone “borrow money, sell this or that, charge ur card…etc” so why not say some equally ridiculous shit right back at them

[@alexandraeilise]

It’s good to add “and there’s nothing you can say to change my mind.” It’s a bit rude, but in retail we’re taught to “attempt to overcome objections” and pushback three times before accepting a “no.”

[@DarkyDark80]

I was just “accosted” leaving Walmart by aspca and having watched these and all the “just say no” things helped me I’d talk to them but make it 100% clear I had no money

[@kristenhall283]

About 10:45 am on a Friday. About to make coffee and get angry about people’s absolute audacity.

[@Daniela-Christianson]

One valuable note regarding turning right- we're so busy looking to the left to check for an opportunity to pull out, that we forget that a pedestrian could be on our right. You don't have to be texting to make this mistake and I see people do it ALL the time. I was one of them until driving at 46, my daughter yelled out to me as I pressed the gas to enter the road. I narrowly missed a guy on a bike. To this day, I always check my right after finding an opening to the left. Hope this helps someone. This is regarding the dancer who was hit by a car. So happy to know that she's doing well with a family of her own now. Really enjoying your MLM huns stories!

[@GoldenSparrow31]

Wow, that second story. That one got me. That made me tear up. That is so wrong to do to a kid and is just a recipe for an eating disorder. I've always struggled with weight (also have pcos) it sucks to hear that. Her mom should be absolutely ashamed for this behavior and not just loving her kid for who she is.

[@JuMiKu]

I could relate to her so much... I had a similar mum, who meant well, but just made everything so much worse by destroying my self-confidence.

[@GoldenSparrow31]

@@JuMiKu oh man, I'm sorry to hear that.

[@WolfGan0178]

10% body fat thing had me FUMING. Professional women bodybuilders don't even typically get that lean, and bodybuilding is NOT healthy.

[@danielleroseshaw]

There was someone at my old work who was a Herbalife rep, his car was completely posted in Herbalife signage, I didn't know it was a MLM at that point. I just remember thinking the pitches he gave to other employees about the benefits was hilarious as he was overweight and in the 6months he worked there he didn't loose any weight.

[@ELLewers]

Story 4's autoimmune disorder might be Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It's not uncommon in dancers. Its effect on joints initially benefits them but brings on progressive pain. It can be confirmed by genetic testing. I wish her the best.

[@darianchill]

Story 5 reminds me of a time my husband and I were approached in a mall! Some guy and his wife walked up to us, no chill at all, and asked what we do for a living. We were young, about 22 and 24 at the time, so he looked surprised when we said my husband is a mechanical engineer and I work in medical imaging 😅 He asked if we liked our jobs and my husband goes "oh, I LOVE my job!" And pulls us away. So yes, the tactics are changing!

[@rebeccaleegabbard]

The Herbalife story makes me so mad! I can remember the moment my relationship with food changed. My grandma told me my arse was getting fat in high school (I was average sized) and from that exact moment on, I have had an eating disorder. I have pictures from in my 20's that I was almost skeletal, but I didn't see that at the time. I, like many people, have gained a couple C19 pounds. Last week, my dad said my arse is getting fat and it's traumatizing all over again.

[@kornkorn4202]

I've heard Herbalife targets the Latino community specifically, that story is so heartbreaking even without it but I got an extra creep factor having heard that. I think John Oliver did a segment on herbalife addressing this?

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Think he did, but I heard of the Latino community targeting from the channel illuminaughtii.

[@limitlessbianca]

My cousin has someone approaching her at Target. She asked her for some decor suggestions (apparently she’s new to town and wanted to decorate her new place). Then she started talking about how she met her mentor and now she’s set with her business, and that she never needed to finish college to be successful. She also offered to introduce my cousin to her mentor. Major weirdo.

[@fallingfornatureinsuburbia8625]

Literally met a woman at target too! And she mentioned a mentor and then proceeded to ask me for my phone number. I never learned what mlm it was though.

[@gymdilettante8407]

My wife was approached the exact same way at Target. Mentor mention and all. Luckily she didn't fall for it.

[@Rachopin77]

I will never understand treating someone differently because of their body weight. My sister gained a lot of weight at one point from some medication, health issues, and having a baby, but she is still my sister. Eventually she decided she wanted to get her weight back down because her body wasn't feeling good and she was struggling to do some things that are important to her. When she lost some weight, I was happy for her being able to do more of the active things she likes to do, and I was impressed with her ability to decide to do something and do it, the same way I would be proud if she decided she wanted to meet a weightlifting goal or something. But the whole time she's been my sister and best friend and it's never been my job to comment on her body. Half the time when people make comments it's almost like they assume the person can't feel their own body or are dumb.

[@atrain84]

Girl going to the gym! Keep it up! Congrats. Love seeing all sorts of body types at the gym cuz we’re all trying to get healthier and live better/longer. Good on you!!!

[@semirelatablesarah]

When my body was at 9% body fat, I was in an impatient metal health hospital. As I was underweight my whole life I did not suffer from amenorrhea but the doctor were certain I would have osteoporosis later in life. For someone to insist a child sound be at that level of BF is absolutely insane

[@ReadAndThrift]

That Herbalife story was heartbreaking! The “nutritionist” should be held responsible for essentially causing an eating disorder. This is why people hate mlms! Predatory people.

[@gongalicious]

I have PCOS too and struggled with my weight throughout middle and high school, and my family was never judgemental about it but I STILL had so many body image problems. I can't imagine having a family that shamed you and starved you for gaining weight that wasn't your fault 😔 that poor person

[@meinenklinke]

Same!! I was thinking exactly the same thing. I’m glad my parents never food shamed me like this. Don’t get me wrong, I also binge-ate frozen cinnamon bread that I would sneak from the basement freezer, but I think that was my own issue and not influenced by my parents attitudes towards food.

[@cw5001]

I was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 39. I understand what you going through.

[@Andr0meda_]

Okay, MLMs are RAMPANT at dance studios. Every mom is in one or another mlm and they're a breeding ground for beauty and fitness huns. I danced as a kid but never kept up with it, my sister on the other hand did. She went on to compete internationally and is now in Music Man on Broadway (so proud!!!) but all childhood my mom was pitched mlm after mlm and there was so many products in our house I lost track. Everyone wants a little side money to pay for competition season and that was the primary pain point.

[@desiv3025]

The second story made me so upset because it hits close to home. I've struggled (and am still struggling) with my relationship with food and exercise. Hearing her experiences during her adolescence, reminded me of behaviors from my family and the thoughts I had way back when. I'm so glad she's on the road to recovery 💖 makes me hopeful for mine

[@cocobobo18]

I had a very similar experience. My mom put me in a weight loss group the summer between 6th and 7th grade. I was the youngest person by about 30 years and i still feel the damage that experience did to me. I was 13 and breaking down because I would gain 1/4 of a pound in a week and have to announce that to the group. I was in the program for a couple of years. I still struggle with self acceptance 20 years later.

[@Saburi0504]

I got engaged last month and I’ve avoided nearly every wedding or bridal expo because of MLMs. We only went to one at the most high end hotel in our area, and I checked the vendor list beforehand just to be sure. I won’t even shop for anything at David’s Bridal too since they sell your info to Mary Kay

[@emmyjulianne6850]

I had no idea David’s Bridal did that…I’m glad I saw this bc I just got engaged and ironically am about to become a Meeker 😂 congrats 🎉

[@Saburi0504]

@@emmyjulianne6850 that’s so funny omg!! It’s not a common name but it’s a special one! Welcome to being a Meeker!

[@Jen-cs3fu]

For a second I was like huh what’s a meeker until I saw both of your last names 😂 congrats on getting married soon !!

[@amandawright9790]

I work at Mr. Burch Formal wear I guarantee you we don't sell anyone's info at all

[@toiletfrog]

I had amenorrhea for several years due to undiagnosed anorexia. I went to several doctors and they could find nothing wrong, so I convinced myself I must not be that sick/have an ED (part of the mental illness) I’m 5 years in recovery as of April! My heart breaks for the girl in the second story. Comments about my body and praise for losing weight at age 12/13 really traumatized me and set me on a bad path towards and ED, and I didn’t go through anything close to as horrible as girl in story 2 (Herbalife quack). ❤️❤️❤️No matter your size/shape/whatever, you deserve recovery and your issues around food/body are valid and deserve care. ❤️❤️❤️

[@burnttoastspacegirlfriend8769]

So much love to Luna! I have PCOS and did crazy things in jr. high and high school to stay a similar body size as the other girls, including food restriction and high activity levels. Fat shaming was the norm in my family, and I had to watch my younger siblings eat sweet treats while I got nothing. It led to a binge eating disorder, which I still struggle with at the age of 43. Fast forward to 2011, where MLMs swept into our little beach city like a tide! I got roped into Herbalife that started as an "innocent" walking group hosted by a couple in our church. Sure enough, Herbalife shakes, supplements, and that tea powder reared their ugly heads. I did genuinely like the taste of the products, but the calorie restriction sent me into a spiral of binging and restriction that lasted for years after I stopped using the products. When I was diagnosed with PCOS at 28, it was a relief! Finally, some validation that I wasn't "fat and lazy", I had a hormone issue! After lots or research, I settled on food types that helped regulate my period (which only happened 2-7 times a year), slow my hair loss, and steady my weight fluctuations. It's different for every body, and certainly not a one-size-fits-all shake to replace meals! I still have a lot of issues to work though about my body image, and I hope that these stories illuminate the powerful psychological impact that body shaming has on young children, especially when that shame comes from our own family. Thank you for sharing your story, Luna! You are worthy of respect and acceptance!

[@isabellamorris7902]

Oh my god. That first paragraph is a near-exact mirror of my own experience. My family never explicitly shamed me but I got a lot of "concerned" comments when really I was just a slightly chubby kid. I don't think I have PCOS but yeah, sending solidarity

[@DarkFire1536]

My best friend fat shames me all the time. She is always telling me to go work out. I didn't realize it until just now when I read your comment. And I think while it really upset me, I am just so used to being fat shamed by everyone in my life, that I didn't realize how often she was doing it to me.

[@jaynenunya6070]

​@@DarkFire1536ugh, that's so awful. I'm sorry

[@mallorywishall142]

I think "Absolutely NOT" should be a phrase on your merch 😆

[@debrahanes4439]

I’ve been waiting for her to release a shirt with this phrase I know I can just make my own but honestly I’d like to support Hannah and her cats 😂🎉

[@ashleearnett5428]

Yes, Mary Kay tactics are sneaky to say the least. I always hated inviting people for a "pampering session" just for them to find out that they are the ones preforming the session on themselves. The way we were told to word it makes it sound like they would be getting pampered by us.

[@spookywitchxx]

The baked potato part almost made me start crying that is SUCH a devastating scene

[@pattipeters9861]

Wonder if that hun in Walmart actually ended up buying the items in their cart or did they just use them as props and abandon the cart filled with items when they were done with their “workday” for some poor Walmart employee to restock. I bet I can guess…

[@zombieariel6041]

That 2000$ pots story kinda sounds like Zepter to me. They have overpriced cutlery and aren't popular in the US from what I hear, but they're running rampant in Europe.

[@AlienZizi]

i was thinking of them! I've been wondering if they're done king of MLM, but never saw them mentioned. i actually like some of their products 🥴

[@annakout]

I was thinking the same exact thing because my mom sold Zepter for a while when I was a teen (almost 20 yrs ago). She still has the pots and pans and loves them but regrets getting into that mlm.

[@kenziewhite6806]

The story about 7 minutes in about the chicken and carrots is called Kitchen Charm I believe! Back in 2016 I went to an event exactly like this, thinking I won a dinner for my fiancé and I. We were served this exact same “dinner” handed out on plastic forks from a guy who had horrible hygiene 🤢 to us and 5 other couples. We still laugh about to this day 😂

[@maryeckel9682]

Omg laughing so hard at the LLR lady story Ok...Plexus haunts the chronic illness community like a hungry ghoul. They don't care if you have a diagnosis; on the contrary, they see dollar signs.

[@BobbiGail]

"You should still know the difference between a Carly and a Shirley!" (quote of the week)

[@peaceweaver3]

I hope our dancer friend gets a diagnosis and the help she needs for her chronic illness! I have chronic illness myself, and aside from the physical nightmare that it is, it’s extremely frustrating, mentally draining, emotionally isolating, and on and on and on! I’m cheering for you!

[@knitronics]

I also attended this same thing for the pots and pans, they're called Vita Craft. But the cooking demo seemed much more legit because the girl had a whole mini-fridge to keep the chicken in. We ended up buying the pots and pans and I use them almost daily still. I don't think it's an MLM because there was zero recruitment attempts and I haven't heard anything since I bought my set. I think it's just a straight sales thing.

[@Annie_Annie__]

I bought really similar pans back when my husband and I were newlyweds in about 2006-ish. They were either $1200 or $1500 (I forget which)for a set back then. We still have them but hate them. Food sticks to them, the sidewalls are thick so they don’t stack well and take up a ton of space (we have a small kitchen so it’s a huge issue), and we’re constantly having to screw the handles back on the pans. We’ve wanted to get rid of them for ages, but we spent so much on them that we can’t bring ourselves to do it. Sunk cost fallacy, I guess? I can’t remember the name of the brand, but now I’ll have to check if they’re MLM when I go downstairs. I don’t think they’re MLM unless it’s a Cutco-type brand. I got the vibe that it’s just a scammy, overpriced product that sells at expos.

[@knitronics]

@@Annie_Annie__ it did take some practice to figure out how to keep the food from sticking to the sides, it’s definitely something that they don’t really explain well. Now that I figured out how to use them I love them, but I agree they’re overpriced. I don’t understand why they don’t sell them more straightforward in a storefront. I honestly wouldn’t know how to buy them without finding someone selling them at a wedding expo, so yeah, that definitely seems scammy in retrospect. I just looked up their website and I can’t find anything that would suggest it’s an MLM. I can’t find how someone would even become a salesperson either.

[@Nuraar1]

My mom and her friend ended up with the same thing. A guy came over to our house and showed us how they can be used. Some of the pans/pots also had a section on the bottom full of liquid to heat it up differently as opposed to directly from the burner. Definitely wasn't an mlm, but if we referred a friend we got a discount. I think my family still has them.

[@knitronics]

@@Nuraar1 I didn't end up having the person come over because the only issue turned out to be that I was using too high of heat. I also just remembered that we got a voucher for a free cruise for attending the demo and actually making a purchase. So I guess that made up for the pots being so expensive haha.

[@Starsania]

That first story happened to me and my husband too, broke one of the champagne flutes almost immediately and never used the travel voucher. The "dinner" was a small bite of food. The pots and pans were so so so expensive and multiple packages for higher and higher prices.

[@viviantong6396]

So proud of Luna for telling their story and working to live their best life! Living well is the best revenge ❤️

[@atheenacollis8582]

I started taking Herbalife when I was 9 years old. I would have it 1-2 times a day depending on what my mom could afford. And my weight became a huge focus for her. My sister has always been naturally really skinny which made it even harder, and when I look back at pictures, I was a totally normal weight. My sister was under weight. But that’s the weight my mom went by, compared me to her consistently and would tell me I needed to get on a diet. A doctor (who was obese himself) then yelled in my face saying, “who said you don’t need to get on a diet? You are fat! You do need a diet.” I was 9 years old, and shortly after that is when I began taking Herbalife religiously for 10 years. By the time I was 11, I was using the products to aid in the bulimia I had developed for a few years. Grateful to be in a new stage in my life.

[@keyanicrow6149]

To the person who wrote the Herbalife story: I can 100% relate to your story. And I’m glad you’re doing so much better now. I have family who have criticized my weight since I was a child. They’ve always expected me to be a 0 just like them., and treated me differently just because I wasn’t perfectly thin like them. I have my mama’s Latina curves, and always have. I was also put on diets and forced to restrict my diet severely and forced to exercise for long periods as well. I don’t talk to them anymore. But I just wanted to say, I really related to this 😓

[@uncannedspaghetti]

Story five really hit close to home, I too have avoided places and also people for months at a time if anything remotely uncomfortable happened lol. It’s really gross and unfortunate that that woman would so clearly push someone’s boundaries like that

[@blazeddiamonddoll]

i’m from the uk, and when i was little,one of my dad’s friends was part of the salad master mlm. she gave the whole speech they do to rope you in, and by the end of it she told my mum that she had to buy the £2000 pot set to get started too. my mum ended up caving in and we never heard from her again! at least they were good quality pots 🙄

[@elyseforseth8821]

My mother has joined countless MLMs, both as reps and customers (mostly customers now in her older age). I just found out that she joined yet another (Melaleuca) so I did some research on it and confronted her to make sure she knew what kind of companies these are. She said she fully knew what MLMs are and she's only there for the products and that she joined Melaleuca to say "f*** you" to corporate America and support small businesses. Like....what??? She wanted to say screw you to corporate America....so she joined an MLM, which is worse than corporate America and definitely NOT a small business?? The delusion is real and I guess these reps are now using the anti-work movement to get people to join their scam. I still don't think she actually understands what she's participating in.

[@theblondeone7771]

I used to buy Melaleuca thru my friends aunt several years ago and I just recently realized it’s an MLM! I did love really their cleaning products though and I do miss them 🤭

[@lisabever2115]

I had no idea how much of a part MLMs have been part of my life till binge watching your videos. I'm such a people pleaser and always wanting to help others but this is eye opening as to how participating in these schemes don't work or help anybody.

[@MathStar100]

Hearing all these stories (from this video and others) is making me realize how important it is to teach kids that it's ok to be confrontational when necessary. I think adults put all this effort into raising "good" kids that do as they're told at home and school, without realizing that the flip side of that is them seeing adults as an authority they shouldn't go against. This can be bad when it comes to MLMs, but outright dangerous in other situations. I remember being nonconfrontational even in my early 20s, and i finally grew out of it by my early 30s and now don't mind being a shit starter. This isn't true for everyone though and some ppl never learn how to stand up for themselves. And that's what makes them easy targets for MLM pitches

[@CookieObsession]

Oh gosh, Hannah impresonating the Plexus hun had me in stitches. I went back and replayed. The voice, the hand, the expression, the timing. Chef's kiss.

[@6eehappy]

I had pretty much the same experience when I was getting married 12 years ago! I won a prize (weekend getaway) at the wedding expo, got invited to a lunch. Come to the lunch with my fiancé turns out it’s a group presentation with other couples. The lady warns us “this will not be a full lunch” even though they definitely enticed us with saying we’d get a meal. In our case it was unseasoned chicken and 2 floretes of broccoli. Then the pressure to buy these things was enormous and so much lying. It was thousands of dollars for this 10-piece set and They had a payment program but if you did it, you ended up paying like 30% more! The free getaway and other things was only if we bought the set. So we walked away with a his and hers aprons. I still use the apron 🤷‍♀️ In my case it was royal prestige. I guess they’re still at it more than a decade later.

[@Schmitz_Creek]

Omg! I could have written that Scentsy story word for word! It took me 7 years to get out, but I’m so happy that I did!

[@AshatHome]

That 2nd story broke my heart. I was the "fat" one in my family. Thankfully my family was wonderful but when I was a teen kids at school weren't great it was the early 2000s and it led me to b*lemia. Thankfully when I became pregnant with my oldest child I was able to turn it around and now that I have 2 teen daughters I am very body positive and teach them to love their bodies because I don't want them to ever go through what I did.

[@cordeliacullen2621]

The first story . . . that’s exactly what happened to me, wedding expo full of MLM vendors, getting called that you “won” a drawing, going to a hotel conference room for a “meal” with other couples and being sold pots . . . It’s definitely a well used tactic.

[@SavannahWolfieStudio]

I just happened to watch this video on the day of the wedding of the first story! If the writer reads this, congrats and I hope everything goes wonderfully!

[@missamelissa84]

It never ceases to amaze me how these companies and "huns" prey on the vulnerable. So gross.

[@autumnzellers3855]

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day! We had the same experience with the pots and pan demonstration right before we got married, down to the voucher for the hotel and the champagne flutes. I wish I could remember the name of the company. We too sat through the demo, got a couple of morsels to taste and then the pitch for the outrageous pan set. We politely declined and went to Olive Garden to have a proper meal after that. We ended up not being able to use the vacation voucher, some reason or another similar to the first person’s experience. Thank you so much for sharing, I’m grateful the OP didn’t get roped into spending so much money on those pans.

[@PaperMario64]

For me, it wasn’t a herbal life rep, it was doctors who constantly shamed me for my weight. Turns out I had lipedema, a medical condition that means I can literally starve myself and the fat on my arms and legs will not budge. To this day I hate going to the doctors and avoid it when I shouldn’t.

[@Baider808]

Luna, I completely get where you're coming from having body dysmorphia and growing up being bigger than everyone else, especially my sister. I'm so sorry you went through this terrible thing and I'm so glad you are in a better space ❤️ hoping for the best for you!!

[@hyacinthpixie8054]

Omg, I was forced onto crash diets as a kid and Herbalife was one of them.

[@bhskhs2010]

I’m DYING over the LulaRoe assistant! Absolute icon!

[@jjusttlistenn]

To the person in the second story, hats off to you. You went through so much, and I'm so proud of you for seeing a therapist. If I saw you at the gym, you'd just be another gym goer to me. No good person there will judge you at all, I promise. I've struggled with my body image and weight my entire life. I'm working through it as well with a therapist. So high fives all around for becoming mentally healthier and working through it.

[@lane13]

just dodged an amway pitch in a lyft yesterday-i think it’s time to send in my own experiences!

[@lulusinner]

The Herbalife one is so messed up, as someone who had eating problems and in the backlash after I couldn't work out or try and eat healthy because it set off my bad memories of the past. Im so glad she now has the support to do what she needs to be healthy for herself. Her parents may not have meant to but that was abuse plan and simple, someone at her school should have noticed and interved

[@loaf_y]

I love your delivery and compassion with every video. I look forward to MLM horror stories every week, this made my whole day!

[@queenfinn3503]

Hearing that the writer of story 2 listens while they crochet as I am listening while I am crocheting hits different 😌😌 I love listening to these. They are so fascinating and you read these so well and it is so soothing to listen to. 💕💕

[@chelseacollett7242]

Praising weight loss can be incredibly damaging. Personal experience: I felt pressure to maintain the weight loss that I achieved through abusing my body during a bad time in my life because everyone complimented me on how fantastic I was looking. When I was in recovery and started gaining (healthy, much needed) weight I felt extremely embarrassed, like I failed. Maybe one day we can live in a world where we do not feel the need to comment on women's (person's) bodies whether good or bad (obv every circumstance is unique e.g. if you know that person well and were a part of their healthy weight loss journey then by all means, positive reinforcement can be incredibly helpful and beautiful to share) 💕 But perhaps if you do not know someone's journey, rather comment on how happy they are looking or how beautiful their smile is or how contagious their positive energy is 💕 Let's uplift each other and not unknowingly damage x

[@hannimalcrossing]

For the story of a hun harassing someone in a walmart, that is against walmarts policies of no soliciting. So if anyone gets pitched on their premise, you can use that

[@maryeckel9682]

Unless it's a company that WM actually allows to set up a booth and bug people. Had to brush off the "energy bill savings" kids this afternoon.

[@janemclean7032]

When I was very young I got roped into Amway. I did a couple demonstration, and went to one house only to get the door slammed in my face. That was it for my am way experience ha ha! Now I am aware and love watching these channels.

[@staceywadzeck9537]

I love your videos and just want to thank you for being so compassionate for the people who share stories. I'm amazed at how many problematic and abusive marketing tactics are used in MLMs. The effect they have on people is so hurtful and I believe you are the comfort people need when they have been preyed upon. Thank you!

[@LunaVespertine]

The person that submitted story 5 is a great writer! Maybe that could be their way to becoming self-employed without being harassed by an MLM hun 😜

[@joannalee4779]

I fell for the "get a free facial" thing. Where I have to give myself the facial at the presentation 😂

[@kellyspryszak80]

I wish MLM "coaches" / consultants knew what lasting NEGATIVE effects their "health advice" can have on some people. They just have NO idea how harmful giving health advice without being supported by a degree or an accredited certification can be. I, along with WAY too many people have suffered from EDs and/or unhealthy relationships with food and fitness because at vulnerable stages, we tend to believe everything we hear. It's so, so sad. I was applauded when I had lost weight after having my daughter, but know one knew how obsessed I was with food and calorie counting and working out. It was not healthy. I am so glad the writer of the Herbalife story has support and the presence of mind to be aware of the situation she had been put in. I wish her all the best!!!! Happiness AND health comes in all sizes.

[@hailyjohnson407]

Yes, I hate when people applaud weightloss automatically! The only time I ever positively comment (or comment at all) on someone's weight loss is if they specifically bring it up to me that they lost weight and how happy they are. Like I have a coworker who is at least a few hundred pounds overweight, and he's been telling all of us about how much happier he's been since he started going to the gym every day after work and that he's lost weight and can move around with less difficulty and less pain. I will celebrate with someone then! But otherwise, it can cause so much harm to associate weight loss with praise and happiness and health. I know in my personal experience as someone who has always been underweight and been pressured to gain weight that it can lead to serious self esteem issues and disordered eating, and I can't even imagine the pain on the other side of the coin if all of society is also pressuring you to lose weight, where for me it was mostly family trying to force me to gain weight, but I didn't have too much chatter from the outside world saying I was too small. I can't stand people who put others down for their size and claim its out of concern for their health, because you wouldn't cause mental harm to someone if you cared about their health.

[@michellelynngarceau3851]

The second story resonates with me so much. I have always been heavy, growing up I was “different” than the other kids and always made to feel invalid as a person because of my weight. I genuinely believed I deserved anything bad that happened to me and any problems I had didn’t really count because I’m fat. It’s taken me a long time to develop a healthier relationship with my body and I am finally at a place where I am comfortable with myself and able to address my fitness goals from a place of acceptance rather than hate but it’s definitely a daily challenge. I hope you are in a better place with yourself now and I want you to know you’re not alone! Sending lots of love!

[@gabrielamarcano453]

Hi Hannah! I'm pretty sure that first one was Lifetime Cookware. Their pots and pans are amazing, BUTTT I do believe they are an MLM

[@nannygirlkc]

My folks bought the Lifetime cookware in 1952 and now I have it. It's still perfect! The guarantee is still in force. A few years ago I had to replace a handle and I only had to pay a couple of dollars for shipping. I don't know if they're an mlm.

[@Iseeciicii]

We should absolutely encourage and compliment people who are actively losing weight the right way.

[@kerryconklin9828]

Yay!! I've been binging your playlist and was almost done. So happy for a new one!

[@reverethepatriot1776]

I had the same experience with the stackable pans! I went to a wedding expo (this was almost 10 years ago) and I “won” a voucher for free wedding bands. I had to go and sit through the presentation in order to get the coupon. Luckily I had my sister with me and we laughed our heads off. The poor guy didn’t get any sales either.

[@hopefulhuman]

As always, fantastic video Hannah! You do a great job! Thank you for your content!

[@Youtubeuser10873]

I love how organized your channel is!! I love the playlists.