Why so much hating on Beachbody coaches?

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Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    A calorie deficit will NOT help you lose weight.
    WUT? There is NO DISPUTE from any journals of medicine or science that a calorie deficit is needed to lose weight. Even people with health issues still need a calorie deficit to lose weight.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Lat1naCurv3s
    Lat1naCurv3s Posts: 10 Member
    I'm not a BB coach but I have a very dear friend who is. She has had an amazing transformation thanks to the BB products. And because she has had great success with using their programs she's very passionate about them. That is what sold me on purchasing through her. She doesn't have to "sell" me anything. She simply posts her personal experience, she creates and invites people to a challenge group (yes, using whatever program is selling that round), she hosts it herself, actively participates and gets everyone fired up over it. She's REAL! I'm the lazy one not her! lol

    Look, people usually scam themselves because nobody is twisting your arm into buying stuff. The first rule to learn about motivation is it starts with YOU... not the shakes and not theDVD's. The BB coach can only do so much and yeah it starts with swiping your credit card (just like the gym, boot-camps, health store and personal trainers take your money too)... so MAKE IT COUNT! They're not all bad people looking to prey on the weak and poor. Some of them really do care.


    As far as the MLM part of the business... I really could care less. A lot of people (not all) unfortunately work for less than they're worth anyways, or they have been at their job for many years and all they get is a lousy plaque when they retire. The one at the top always makes more money, and the only one really making any money are the corporations we work for. When you break it down and really think about it we're all part of some type of scam.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Other reasons to not patronize Beachbody are that when you buy their DVDs they claim you implicitly agree to never sell them. Not copies, your originals. If people put them on ebay, they often threaten to sue.

    Also, I don't like their haggle pricing model. Buy a DVD set from them and then call them and tell them you don't think it's worth the money. They'll ask you if you'll pay half for it.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,282 Member
    The BB coach can only do so much and yeah it starts with swiping your credit card (just like the gym, boot-camps, health store and personal trainers take your money too)... so MAKE IT COUNT! They're not all bad people looking to prey on the weak and poor. Some of them really do care.


    As far as the MLM part of the business... I really could care less. A lot of people (not all) unfortunately work for less than they're worth anyways, or they have been at their job for many years and all they get is a lousy plaque when they retire. The one at the top always makes more money, and the only one really making any money are the corporations we work for. When you break it down and really think about it we're all part of some type of scam.

    I lost weight without paying money to any of the other things you have cited either.
  • ATyghter
    ATyghter Posts: 44 Member
    I agree with a lot of what's been said. I'm not big on 'pyramid schemes' and I don't like when people are pushy about product sales. With that said, I am one of those evil sales person coaches BUT I was a Nutritionist, Phys-Ed Teacher, Former Varsity Volleyball Player, Zumba Instructor and Personal Trainer before I was a coach and all of those things still trump my coach status.

    I joined Beachbody for money pure and simple. There's no shame in it. If I can get paid for helping people lose weight using programs I used then great, if it's not their thing then no worries. I do not however, drink Shakeology or promote it to my clients. I am a nutritionist first and believe in whole real foods! I absolutely loved T25 and my husband who is also a personal trainer trains his clients similarly to the way T25 is laid out so for clients who can't or don't want to be in the gym all of the time, the workouts are a great supplement to an existing program.

    I think it's imperative that people research their Beachbody or any other kind of Health Coach before signing up. I offer my clients educated, researched information to help them reach their goals. If Beachbody fits into their lifestyle bonus but it's not a requirement.
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  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    I am not a Beach body coach, I do not have a Beach body coach. I do not drink Shakology. I do have Insanity and T25, and think they are great programs. I just wonder why so many people on here hate on them? If you find something that changes your health, and makes you happy it is natural to want to share that. It doesn't offend me if someone wants to share what has worked for them. I read it if I am interested. or skip over it if not. Seriously wondering if I am missing the reason why there are so many negative comments about BB coaches.

    I like BB programs in that I had some good success with P90 so I have no issue with their product in terms of actual fitness routines. I don't bother with any of their supplements though.

    As to why people "hate on" BB coaches its because they are paid a commission for selling BB products. So they are "hated" in the same way a car salesman is "hated". It is hard to trust that someone who stands to profit from a sale of a product is unbiased about that product.

    A BB coach who has a basement full of Shakeology to offload has a pretty good reason to oversell the miracle abilities of Shakeology.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,988 Member
    I agree with a lot of what's been said. I'm not big on 'pyramid schemes' and I don't like when people are pushy about product sales. With that said, I am one of those evil sales person coaches BUT I was a Nutritionist, Phys-Ed Teacher, Former Varsity Volleyball Player, Zumba Instructor and Personal Trainer before I was a coach and all of those things still trump my coach status.

    I joined Beachbody for money pure and simple. There's no shame in it. If I can get paid for helping people lose weight using programs I used then great, if it's not their thing then no worries. I do not however, drink Shakeology or promote it to my clients. I am a nutritionist first and believe in whole real foods! I absolutely loved T25 and my husband who is also a personal trainer trains his clients similarly to the way T25 is laid out so for clients who can't or don't want to be in the gym all of the time, the workouts are a great supplement to an existing program.

    I think it's imperative that people research their Beachbody or any other kind of Health Coach before signing up. I offer my clients educated, researched information to help them reach their goals. If Beachbody fits into their lifestyle bonus but it's not a requirement.
    If there were more coaches like you, then I'm more than sure they would be less dissatisfaction with BB coaches.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Nobody just wants to help you for free. It's sad so many people fall for that. Doctors go to8Plus years of medical school to help people, at least they have some training before they bill you.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    Why do I hate them, how much time you got? I despise multilevel marketing (pyramid schemes) whether fitness related or not. First of all, they aren't coaches, they are salesmen. They sell an EXTREMELY overpriced product. They make it seem like their product is responsible for weight loss when in reality the diet you eat along with their product is responsible for results. There shakes aren't special and they make them sound like they are the nectar of the gods. It's just a protein shake with some vitamins. You can say that in a much fancier way (and they do) but that's all it is. The preach fitness myths that encourage use of their product like breakfast is the most important meal (drink a shake for breakfast) and you need to eat 6 meals a day (because you won't cook 6 meals and you'll drink a shake). They love to brag about how rewarding it is to help people. If it's that rewarding, do it for free. The fact of the matter is that you can get extremely fit for nothing more then the cost of food (which you're going to buy anyway) and a gym membership. If you assume a gym membership is 30 bucks a month, it seems like a steal compared to buying expensive shakes and dvd's that don't come close to the level of training that can be achieved with a proper set of dumbbells and barbells.
  • LITtlerMeCO
    LITtlerMeCO Posts: 130 Member
    Like so many things in life, it all depends on the person you are interacting with. I have a friend who is a "coach" that I have been friends with for years, and one day I noticed how fit she was getting. I asked her about it, and she told me about p90x and stuff, and never offered or tried to push it on me. After some research, I asked her about ordering it, and she said I could buy it directly from the company, maybe find it cheaper on craigslist or the like, and said also she had a link where I could buy it thru her, but to be advised she would get a commission on it. As I don't like to buy used stuff, I made the choice to buy it thru her knowing it would benefit my friend, and I am ok with that decision.

    Seeing the references to shakeology in their products and on their website, I went to her and asked if she could get me a sample. She did, and explained if I decide to buy it I could get it direct, or thru her, but she also said it was expensive, and recommended alternative cheaper solutions to me for non BB products.

    She stays in touch with me and pushes me to keep up with my program, and in general is super supportive and motivational to me, because she is a friend and was long before either of us ever heard of beachbody.

    I know that is not representative of all coaches, just saying that just like with everything, their are both good and bad examples out their.

    One of my cousin's is a BB coach and has never once pushed the product. She posts a lot on Facebook about her workouts and does mention the shakes afterwards but only elaborates if someone asks questions. They aren't all bad, it's just the loud pushy ones that get heard.
  • Kitten2629
    Kitten2629 Posts: 1,358 Member
    Because most of them do not disclose that they are BB coaches when they are discussing the products. Because they use MFP to try to sell their products.

    This part is correct, but I won't comepletely bash the programs or fitness work outs. My husband has had a coach as a friend for 3 years. She has not once tried to sell him anything and offeres advice readily if asked.

    My husband just did the slim in 6 work out through beach body. The last video was difficult for him due to a disability, but he did complete it. He's lost 18 lbs in 6 weeks and over 10 inches. He did follow most of the "don't" food for diet plan but since we have children I refuse to cook seperate meals.. So i cooked extra veggies and if I did make something that required bread I got him lettuce as an alternative for taco's or what not for a wrap. He doesn't drink the shakes though.
  • matthawthorneisamyth
    matthawthorneisamyth Posts: 196 Member
    I have a problem with beach body coaches because they don't really coach anything. They don't have the client's best interest in mind and their model is built on the idea that a boxed exercise product is the end-all solution to EVERYONE's fitness goals. Health and fitness is a multifaceted and individual challenge. What works for my lifestyle may not work for everyone else's.

    In addition to that, going through a workout program does not give you license to call yourself a coach. Coaches correct poor exercise form and poor eating habits through experience, proper technique and internally motivating factors. Beachbody coaches simply want to sell you a program and a supplement stack and get you to do the same so they can build a downline.
  • katebigue
    katebigue Posts: 48 Member
    I have several bb products. And I've found the coaches are so pushy and don't listen to anyone when saying I don't want to try the shakes and I don't want to be told how to use them etc. I know I signed up on the page because I had some of the products. I got email and after from coaches. I had already got rid of the account because I didn't want to be pushed on trying there shake or following their routines. I just wanted to use the workout video's when I wanted too. I even had to bann and report spam email from a **** load of coaches. That's why I hate the coaches.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I believe that I replied earlier in this conversation, but I want to comment on Vismal's comment about the shakes. If you really feel you need a protein shake because you lift heavy and are not getting all your protein through food, go to a place that specializes in all kinds of protein drinks and get one that fits your needs.

    The other day I went to a GNC Nutrition Center in hopes of finding a protein shake with no soy and no whey. She was only able to show me one that is made out of bone meal(?), which was really expensive. I asked her about others, and she showed them to me and we had a long discussion about how to meet protein needs while lifting heavy, what types of protein options might work for me due to my lactose and soy intolerance, but not one single time did she try to sell me anything at all. It was clear that she was there to listen to my questions and to try and answer them the best that she could. She did direct me to the GNC website because they had other protein drinks listed there that might meet my needs, but that was about it.
  • HauteHauteMami
    HauteHauteMami Posts: 128 Member
    I owe my body to BeachBody! I went from a size 10 to a size 4 in 12 months. My Coach did not hard sell me anything. I saw her body changing and I wanted what she had! Thanks to TurboFire and BodyPump, I am rockin' a bikini after 4 children after the age of 40! I work out on my time not anyone else's and YES I drink Shakeology! It sounds like there are some ****ty people out there selling Beachbody. But I think we can all agree that there are ****ty people in all industries not just BeachBody!
  • eddyw1950
    eddyw1950 Posts: 5 Member
    The clue is in the name.

    They're not coaches.
    They're not qualified to be coaches.
    They're unqualified sales victims.

    I would hardly say they are victims. Someone who thinks it is ok to give advice regarding something they have no qualifications to give... this is unethical. I don't so selling medical prescriptions to ppl because I enjoy medicine, im not qualified.

    I cant speak for all of these coaches but i have noticed many misinforming ppl who a trained specialist should be giving them.

    What these "coaches" are doing is downright dangerous and there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" just because u are successful (in your own mind). When it comes to health and nutrition nobody without proper training and education in code of ethics has any right to be saying anything exept "pls seek a specialist" and "good luck". Get proper training if u care that much, or stop advertising altogether...because u want to make a buck and "enjoy" what u do. Don't victimize people at the expense of your personal gain. U had a successful experience... u want to share the positive experience... this is not about YOU, this is about the health and safety of vulnerable ppl who would try just about anything to lose weight. You are damaging them physically.. u can be damaging them psychologically.

    What these "coaches" are doing is so dangerous... and so wrong. How these particular "coaches" can say they are doing good is beyond me. If someone gave me a gun and said to shoot the next person that walks by and ill get $1000.. do u think ill do it? No!

    Wherr is the voice in your head saying "this is wrong"??
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    MadTownD wrote: »
    Pyramid scheme.

    This. Please don't call yourself a coach when you are purely a salesperson.
  • qt1980
    qt1980 Posts: 1 Member
    What is sad is the young little girls today who are being taught this behavior.... and are going to grow up with false self esteem and mental illness.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Necro thread
  • eddyw1950
    eddyw1950 Posts: 5 Member
    The clue is in the name.

    They're not coaches.
    They're not qualified to be coaches.
    They're unqualified sales victims.

    Bb coaches are not victims, they should know bwfore handig out advice that it is wrong and just because THEY had a possitive experience for themselves doesn't equate to everyone else.

    I think it is unethical.
  • eddyw1950
    eddyw1950 Posts: 5 Member
    ATyghter wrote: »
    I agree with a lot of what's been said. I'm not big on 'pyramid schemes' and I don't like when people are pushy about product sales. With that said, I am one of those evil sales person coaches BUT I was a Nutritionist, Phys-Ed Teacher, Former Varsity Volleyball Player, Zumba Instructor and Personal Trainer before I was a coach and all of those things still trump my coach status.

    I joined Beachbody for money pure and simple. There's no shame in it. If I can get paid for helping people lose weight using programs I used then great, if it's not their thing then no worries. I do not however, drink Shakeology or promote it to my clients. I am a nutritionist first and believe in whole real foods! I absolutely loved T25 and my husband who is also a personal trainer trains his clients similarly to the way T25 is laid out so for clients who can't or don't want to be in the gym all of the time, the workouts are a great supplement to an existing program.

    I think it's imperative that people research their Beachbody or any other kind of Health Coach before signing up. I offer my clients educated, researched information to help them reach their goals. If Beachbody fits into their lifestyle bonus but it's not a requirement.

    As long as u are offering proper guidance, and documenting eveything and learning about each one if your clients before hand. Also as long as u arent researching exclusively on the internet only and using credible resources. Offering advice is left to those who have proper qualifications.. and have followed their code of ethics. For example selling a meal suppliment to anyone who shows interest is not doing due diligence as a qualified trainer. Meal suppliments in general are hazardous to certian people who need to generate the enzymes in their saliva to break down food.. a meal suppliment is a big no no. Your potential clieny may not even realize this.

    As long as u are pointing it out to people before-hand and never take a "one size fits all" approach.

    Health and nutrition is not something to be taken lightly when dealing with people who would do anything to lose weight. They come with their own physical and psychological make-up.

    I know a bb coach who advertises coming from an eating disorder history... and basically losing weight and maintaining her body image is what is motivating her, at least this is how she is coming across. Then she posts about ine of her cleints working out whike she was sick... praising her "determination." This is a big NO NO. You should never work out sick.

    You need to be careful the way u earn your income. There definitely is a thin line between morality. I dont have a licence to sell medicine... so I dont go prescribing people if I was allowed to.
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  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Not all MLMs are pyramid schemes. I wasn't aware that Scentsy or Mary Kay were...

    Yes they are. Do your research.
  • eddyw1950
    eddyw1950 Posts: 5 Member
    You know what a big problem with bb coaches are... unqualified people on here arguing about health and nutrition... what is right... what is wrong. Posting things based on personal opinion rather than proper facts that only a trained professional should be answering. THAT is what is WRONG with bb coaches.
  • Falenea
    Falenea Posts: 263 Member
    I think some of them have good advice but others can be downright mean if you don't buy the products. I really think beachbody could have used a different term when signing these people up such as calling them representatives instead of coaches. And I am sure the OP has probably already gotten some messages about the products just by posting this thread.
  • eddyw1950
    eddyw1950 Posts: 5 Member
    I have several of the programs and a beach body coach that is really awesome and has become such a friend. I think in any business some people are pushy and some are doing it because they can not only support a family but they can also help people and do what they love.

    A pyramid scheme is a scheme where there are no products sold. A network marketing company is a company that has products to sell but rather than selling retail (which takes a crap-ton of advertising dollars) they sell through word of mouth.

    I am not a beach body coach or have a desire to be one, but I think a good portion of them are really great people who are just trying to make a living and help others!

    I would hardly say (from a general sense) that they are really great people.

    If u arent in it for the money you are probably just doing it to show yourself off. If u genui ely are in it to help people u wont be offering unqualified advice and posting it on social media for anyone and everyone to absorb. Every one has their own physical and psychological make-ups. Whatever YOUR motive (as a bb coach) to share your story has nothing to do with someone elses who probably is very vulnerable and will do anything to lose weight.

    This is common sense.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    Because becoming a "coach" just means becoming a sales rep. It's a scam for marketing purposes.
  • ard50
    ard50 Posts: 3 Member
    The clue is in the name.

    They're unqualified sales victims.

    I would hardly say they are victims. They have a choice to do what they do.
  • ard50
    ard50 Posts: 3 Member
    I struggle with the thought that coaches do it to help people. I can't speak for all, i'm sure there are many who take a modest approach.

    I can't take the generalization though, I knew a girl from college who was probably one of the most self-serving people I've ever met. She took no accountability, used men, lacked compassion, manipulative, and the list goes on. Now years later she is a bb coach, Professing her passion to help people. She rubs shakeology in your face, narcissistic inspirational quotes, acts like she is the Maya Angelou to the fitness world (yet she has no education). "I love helping people!, dont be a bb coach if you dont like helping people!"

    The girl I knew a few years prior was not this girl, and common sense tells me that not much has changed. So when people say they are coaches because they love helping people, take it with a grain of sand. The term "helping people" is very subjective and misleading.
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