A Real Game-Changer, But Be Warned: It's Not All Sunshine

How do you feel about multi-level sales? You know, buying products from catalogs or online stores when you can't find something in a regular shop?

I remember the 90s when Russia was swept up in a wave of Herbalife weight loss products. I was a kid back then, and I recall my mom and aunt taking these powders and pills to lose weight. My aunt still has a container for the pills somewhere.

Did they work? Apparently not, according to both of them. But they did waste a lot of money. So, I've always been a bit skeptical of people trying to sell me on the benefits of multi-level marketing. I'm one of those people who understands the pyramid scheme and how it's all about sales. No need to get defensive, folks who are into it will just try to sell it to you anyway.

Our city was recently hit with a NL wave, and I saw real people taking these powders and pills, losing weight while they were on them, but then gaining it all back once they stopped. I ran away from the NL enthusiasts as fast as I could. I hate it when people try to sell me something. If I want it, I'll go to the person myself.

There's a photographer in our city who joined the NL crew. She's a real saleswoman – people flock to her for the products. But her videos are just too cheesy and over-the-top for my taste. I don't trust her.

I did try their energy bars once, and they were just okay. They're natural, but way overpriced.

This year, I spent my vacation in Thailand with my kid. I'm not a big fan of booze, but not drinking a bottle of Chang beer would've been a crime. It's nothing like our mass-produced stuff.

By the next morning, my face looked like it had been attacked by bees. And then I met a family in our resort who turned out to be NL enthusiasts. They offered me a packet of Draineffect green, and since I knew their products were natural, I gave it a shot. It did seem to help with the swelling – it took a while, but it did work. I mean, my face usually goes back to normal on its own after a few hours, but this did help.

I laughed at them then, saying, 'You're like drug dealers – you get people hooked on your product!' And honestly, I did want to try it again sometime.

I've put on a bit of weight over the past few months. With issues with my menstrual cycle, I was prescribed Norkolut hormones. They helped, but I still put on a bit of weight. Plus, my trip to Thailand was a sugar fest, with all the fries, glutamate, and constant drinking... and a bit more weight crept up.

When I got back home, I was shocked! None of my pants would zip up, and my jacket was too tight! I wasn't ready to change my whole wardrobe! Especially with winter coming up. So, I took a deep breath, cut back on salt, and minimized my sugar intake (I'm a total sugar addict, and I couldn't give it up completely). My weight started coming off...

But then I plateaued. At 161 cm tall, my comfortable weight is 47-49 kg. Now I'm at 54 kg, and it's not feeling right. I know it's partly water retention. The extra water I gained during my Thailand trip is still lingering. If you've ever been there, you know how precious water is. You need to drink it or you'll end up dehydrated.

So, I ordered a pack of DrainEffect: green and red from an online store.

I started with the Draineffect green.

About this product from the manufacturer:

The power of 6 plant components stimulates fluid circulation and promotes its elimination.

Triggers the process of effective weight lossRemoves fluid stagnation and edemaReduces volumeEliminates toxinsStarts the process of effective weight loss

Quantity: 20 sticks, each 8.5 grams.

Cost: 890 rubles. That's 44.5 rubles per stick.

This is the 1st step of the 4-step "Slim energy" program.

We need to drain our body, get rid of excess water and lymph stagnation. You have no idea how important the lymphatic system is in our body.

By the way, there was this little brochure about the program in the box.

The back of the packaging has a ton of useful info about the product.

Instructions: Take one packet, mix it with 200ml of room temperature water, and drink it in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast, and another packet before lunch.

Ingredients:

maltodextrin;

palatinose;

a mixture of plant extracts (white tea extract, lemongrass extract (contains maltodextrin),

peppermint extract (contains: glucose syrup, essential oil),

flavoring,

aloe vera concentrate (contains citric acid));

ginseng extract (contains lactose monohydrate);

opuntia extract (contains collagen hydrolysate);

citric acid (pH regulator);

sweetener (cyclamate sodium, sodium saccharin).

Breaking down the unknowns...

Maltodextrin is a biologically active additive (BAA) commonly used in the food industry. It's often added to sweets and baby food, but not as much to other products. In small concentrations, BAA is found in baked goods and confectionery. The highest concentrations are in sports nutrition. Dietary products also contain this additive, as it serves as a sugar substitute.

Is it good or bad? It's not bad, and it's even somewhat beneficial.

In its pure form, maltodextrin has a natural starch structure and doesn't cause any allergic reactions. It's not broken down by digestive enzymes and is resistant to food fibers and acids. Along with its non-irritating effects, this additive also has a positive impact on digestion, reduces radiation, heavy metals, sugar, toxins, and bad cholesterol.

Next...

Palatinoza. I've got to say, the name was patented by a German company that makes this product from sugar beets. The sugar substitute looks like the real deal, it's a crystalline white powder with no smell. It's designed for people who want to lose weight, have diabetes, or are trying to build muscle. And the best part? It doesn't cause insulin spikes.

Pros and cons? Well, it's a mixed bag...

There's definitely some harm associated with its impact on the digestive system. Keep in mind that Palatinoza is a product that can have both positive and negative effects on your body.

By the way, if you've got issues with your digestive system (gastritis, duodenitis, pancreatitis), you might want to take this product with caution. The peppermint in the ingredients can actually make things worse. I learned that the hard way when I started getting heartburn. I've got chronic digestive issues, so I should've known better.

Reading reviews, I've seen that digestive issues are often the 'side effects' people experience when taking this supplement.

The flavoring agent raises some questions - is it natural or artificial? The manufacturer should really clarify that, because artificial additives are never a good thing.

Manufacturer: OOO 'NL Continent', Novosibirsk, Russia.

There's some info about the manufacturer on the sides of the box, too. Like how buying this product helps support orphaned kids. I guess they donate some of the profits. That's cool. Charity is always a good thing.

I walk 10,000 steps a day, by the way. I got a fitness tracker to help me keep track.

Inside the cardboard box, there are these little paper packets - sash-like things.Each one has a tear-off strip.

Shelf life: 2 years.

Consistency: powder. Extremely fine grind.

Mix it with water at room temperature.

Color: it's like rusty water.

Smell: it's got a hint of mint and herbs.

Taste: it's got a herbal taste, almost like a mix of mint and lemon.

Aftertaste: it's minty.

Usage.

I couldn't take it twice a day. It's got a negative effect on my digestive system: heartburn and nausea after taking it are guaranteed.

So, I took it in the morning on an empty stomach, an hour before eating. But before that, I took some antacid pills.

And so, my weight before the first packet in the morning on an empty stomach: 54.2 kg.

I started noticing that my pants were fitting me a lot easier... my autumn jacket wasn't straining at the seams... I thought, let me get on the scale in the morning...

After 5 days of use....

What can I say to you when I looked at the scale? "DA NUN N.....!!!!!!! DA BYT' TAKOVOGO NE MOZHET!!!" Words of eternal unbeliever Foma.

I was really shocked and didn't believe my eyes. I dragged my son to the scale. I put it on - no, he still had the same weight as before. I got back on the scale 51.3 kg! Put my husband on it - he had almost the same weight as 5 days ago. For reference: I weighed the whole family 5 days ago... I even put new batteries in the scale.

2.9 kg in 5 days. I wouldn't have lost that much weight in a month, even with my metabolism.

But I think it's not just thanks to DrainEffect. You still need to watch what you eat and not expect one magic pill to do the trick. But it does work. I lost excess water - I no longer swell up in the morning. It's a really great product.

By the way, my stomach got used to DrainEffect: the nausea and heartburn are gone. Or maybe it's the antacid pills. But my pancreas is working better...

Okay, now I'll weigh myself every 5 days. But I don't think the weight will come off anymore... actually, it's just the water. Let's see. If it doesn't come off anymore, I'll stop taking it. I'll leave it as a 'just in case'.

Even after 5 days of use...

As I expected - most of the 'excess' water came out in the first 5 days.

Now, I was actually observing how my weight was changing every day. In the morning, it would be -100-200 grams, then +100 grams.

So, over the next 5 days, I lost 400 grams.
My weight after 10 days of taking 54.2 kg reached 50.9 kg. So, I lost 3.3 kg.

I think that's an EXTREMELY good result for such a short time!

But... almost always, there's a 'but'. As I've read in other reviews, some people have issues with their digestive system. I've got pancreatitis, and after taking each pack, I get a sharp pain in my left side under my ribs. That's it for me.

Just to remind you, I was taking one pack in the morning, not two before lunch, and I was on the product for 10 days, not 20.

Will I buy it again? Maybe. I've still got seven green packs and 10 red ones. I've already tried Red, and I've given some to my friends. I've left some in case of emergencies. The course can be tough to stick to.

Did my morning swelling go down? Honestly, I'm still not sure. They tend to go down when I wash my face and take a short walk. But I think there's something to it.

This photo was taken on the first day of taking the product. By the second and third day, I noticed that my face was almost puffy-free in the mornings.

The pros

✅ I managed to lose 3.3 kg in 10 days;

✅ My face looked less puffy in the mornings, with fewer lines from sleeping;

✅ The taste is nice;

✅ It's easy to use;

✅ The ingredients are mostly natural.

The cons:

❌ For some people, 890 rubles is a lot of money (I know friends who get 12,000 rubles a month, but their net salary is only 5,000 rubles, excluding electricity bills);

❌ The ingredients are mostly natural, but people with digestive issues might experience worsening symptoms.

Am I a fan of NL now? Nope. I don't have some crazy urge to buy all their products. Maybe I'll try something new, like collagen or toothpaste.