Lose weight by drinking milkshakes?
New store stays you can
Staff writer
For the newcomer, the first mystery about Next Level Nutrition — an Herbalife distributor that opened two months ago in Marion — is what exactly they serve.
Meal-replacement shakes, “energy bombs,” aloe products, “protein coffees,” and other futuristic-sounding refreshments are all on the menu.
These drinks are made not with physical foods but with protein powders, bulking agents, vitamins, and teas, all provided by the California-based company Herbalife.
The products purport to provide vital nutrition and antioxidants, and help with weight loss.
Shannan Parsons visited her first Herbalife “club” — as distribution centers are referred to by enthusiasts — in McPherson, after she and her husband decided they wanted to start eating healthier.
“My husband and I started on our own health journey about two or three years ago,” Parsons said. “Started getting healthy, working out, looking into some different options on healthier eating styles.”
After Parsons’s husband stumbled upon the McPherson shop, the couple became big fans of Herbalife’s products.
“I said to the girl that was working, ‘I think I need to work here part time.’ She’s like, ‘I’d hire you.’ It was totally just a joke, too,” Parsons recalled. “At that time, I was completely satisfied with my position at work and with what I was doing. But I gave it a try.”
Parsons left her job at a senior living center and began working at the McPherson shop — “kind of just getting a foot in the door, learning the products and whatnot,” she said.
After a short period there, she was ready to become a distributor herself.
She moved to Hillsboro and opened Level Up Nutrition in January 2023, then took to Marion to open Next Level Nutrition this Labor Day.
“I think both of the towns needed this type of business,” Parsons said. “Or, you know, I think they like the different options, because you don’t have a lot of options in a small town. I think just bringing something different to the plate for people was something that they wanted.”
Next Level Nutrition operates out of the former Turquoise Table building, which has been used as a church meeting space, a pizzeria, and an ice-cream store in the past.
The outside remains bright turquoise; the interior is sleek and small. A hammock and couch add to the “club” vibe, and Herbalife powders line the walls.
Herbalife is a multi-level marketing company which began in 1980.
It became popular over the decade but not without some controversy.
As a multi-level marketing product, Herbalife is sold exclusively through independent distributors, who earn commissions and bonuses for recruiting others who want to consume or sell the products.
In 1985 Herbalife was sued by the Food and Drug Administration for making exaggerated claims about the benefits of its supplements. Herbalife settled the suit for $850,000 but did not admit any wrongdoing.
Federal agencies have also accused the company of illegal sales practices. As a result of a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission, Herbalife agreed to tweak its business model and pay $200 million in fines in July 2016.
“It’s virtually impossible to make money selling Herbalife products,” the FTC said in a statement afterward.
Jennifer Moss, who works at Next Level Nutrition, defended Herbalife as a multi-level marketer.
“It’s not the only one out there,” Moss said. “I think it’s one of the better ones, as far as things go.”
Moss added that Next Level Nutrition was treated fairly by Herbalife.
“None of us are walking in here blindly,” she said.
Herbalife’s model can be beneficial for those who want to retain independence while selling popular products.
“If you’re in Herbalife, it’s your own business,” Parsons said. “You don’t work for Herbalife. You get your own opportunity.”
Moss agreed.
“I don’t feel like I’m doing their work for them,” she said.
Parsons has invented dozens of her own flavors for Next Level Nutrition, including recent Halloween creations such as “Hocus Pocus” and “Casper,” as well as county-specific flavors like “Lake Time” and a red-and-blue Marion Warrior drink.
She says that the caffeinated Energy Bombs and protein-heavy shakes aren’t just for youth or athletes.
“Most of my people that come in are middle aged or even elderly,” Parsons said. “I just want people to know that this nutrition is for everybody. It’s not just for kids. You know, everybody can benefit from this type of nutrition. it’s high in protein, it’s clean energy.”
Asked whether drinks with names like Cookies ’n Cream and Jolly Rancher were truly nutritious, Parsons stood by the products.
“You can come in here and get a shake that is a full meal instead of going out and buying a hamburger and French fries or something like that,” she said. “The names are just to draw people in and know that you can get an energy drink that’s going to taste like a Jolly Rancher. It’s not going to have all the sugar like a Jolly Rancher will have.”
Herbalife’s claims of easy weight-loss through shakes and teas alone are contested, but some, like Parsons, say the diet has worked well for them.
She typically drinks an Herbalife shake or coffee for breakfast and a shake for lunch, as well as an energy drink during the day.
“My husband and I both lost a lot of weight using these products. And I think that’s another reason that we love it,” Parsons said. “We want to not only just bring a business to Marion, we also want to help people believe in themselves and have healthy choices for themselves.”
The company makes its ingredients publicly available, so you can see the nutrition facts before trying it.
Herbalife’s energy drinks use stevia or fructose as sweeteners rather than traditional sugar.
Shakes are made with ice and water mixed with Herbalife powders as well as thickeners like maltodextrin or carrageenan.
“If you read the label in the back, there are about 21 nutrients and vitamins,” Parsons said. “I believe in the product. I mean, I think they’re just a good company overall. They check into everything that they’re growing. They know where it’s being grown; they know what they’re putting into it.”
Next Level Nutrition’s grand opening is set for mid-November, though an actual date is yet to be announced.
“We want to give away some good door prizes,” Parsons said. “And some local businesses, we want to promote them.”
Talking to customers and blending up drinks in Hillsboro and Marion has been a thrill for Parsons.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “I love talking to people every day. I love helping other people on their journey. So this has been really good for me.”