Update 3/10/23. What is skinny fiber and does it work? To me, the name skinny fiber is ironic because I thought all fiber was supposed to help people lose weight. I did some digging into Skinny Fiber and discovered that there is some research on some of its ingredients. That will be the focus of this unbiased review. Does it have a secret ingredient? People may have heard about the enzymes in Skinny Fiber. Do they help with weight loss? That will also be addressed in this review. This review will help you decide if Skinny Fiber is right for you. See the Skinny Body Max review too.
What Is Skinny Fiber?
Skinny Fiber is exactly what the name says: a fiber pill supplement that is touted to help with weight loss. There is research on some of its ingredients, and those clinical studies will be summarized below.
Skinny Fiber Research
Is there any clinical evidence showing Skinny Fiber really helps people lose weight? Searching the product website reveals no research studies on the product.
Likewise, searching the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed.gov) for “skinny fiber” and “skinny fiber weight loss” reveal no studies either.
Fortunately, for this review, there are weight loss studies on some of the ingredients in this supplement.
Skinny Fiber Ingredients
According to the label I've seen, each bottle has 120 capsules, and the serving size is 2 capsules. In 2 Skinny Fiber Pills, there are the following ingredients:
| % Daily Value | |
| Calories 0 | |
| Total Fat 0 grams | <1% |
| Total Carbohydrate 1 gram | <1% |
| Protein 0 grams | <1% |
| Sodium 5 grams | <1% |
| Proprietary Blend 1160 mg | N/A |
| Glucomannan (tuber) powder | |
| Caralluma Fimbriata (whole plant) powder | |
| Cha de Bugre (leaf) powder | |
| Proprietary Enzyme Blend 260 mg | N/A |
| Amylase powder | |
| Protease powder | |
| Lipase powder | |
| Glucoamylase powder | |
| Papain powder | |
| Cellulase powder | |
| Bromelain powder |
N/A = no daily value established
Other Ingredients
The product also contains these other ingredients:
- Gelatin capsule
- microcrystalline cellulose
- magnesium stearate
These additional ingredients likely play no role in the effects or benefits of Skinny Fiber. Because gelatin is the first ingredient listed, it makes up most of these ingredients.
Let's look at each active ingredient in Skinny Fiber separately.
Glucomannan
Glucomannan (also called Konjac root) is a fiber that helps people feel full. It's in many weight loss products I've previously investigated, including:
This fiber is added to weight loss supplements because there is indeed some research that shows glucomannan can help weight loss. Studies usually use about 1 to 3 grams per day. Two skinny fiber pills have a 1.15 grams total of its proprietary blend of ingredients.
Since glucomannan is listed first in the blend's ingredients, I take that to mean it is mostly glucomannan fiber.
For those who want to compare prices, here is glucomannan capsules and glucomann powder on Amazon.
Caralluma Fimbriata
This is a cactus-like plant, rumored to have appetite-suppressing effects that grow in India. The idea behind how it works is that chemicals in the plant are said to reduce chemicals in the brain that cause us to want to eat. That is the theory anyway.
The plant is sometimes called a “famine food” likely because it's used during times of famine when there is not much food to eat. Given that it might reduce appetite, some suspect it may also help weight loss. Does it?
Here's what the research says:
In one study involving 43 people, researchers noted that 1000 mg Caralluma fimbriata per day, given for 12 weeks, caused a 2.2-inch reduction in waist circumference relative to placebo and a decrease in the waist-to-hip ratio. Those taking Caralluma Fimbriata also appeared to have a decrease in the smell, taste, and look of food. That of course could lead people to eat less.
The people in this study also followed a lower calorie eating plan. People ate 500 fewer calories than normal. It's also interesting to note that both groups lost similar amounts of weight. Also, those taking Caralluma Fimbriata did not lose more weight than the placebo group.
In another study involving 50 men and women, those who received 1000 mg of Caralluma Fimbriata per day were noted to significantly reduce waist circumference and hunger levels compared to those who received a placebo. There was no clinical difference in body weight.
In this investigation, researchers saw that rats given Caralluma Fimbriata experienced less food intake and reduced body weight gain than rats that did not receive Caralluma Fimbriata.
In a small study conducted on 15 kids with a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome that causes excessive appetite, 1000 mg of Caralluma seemed to reduce appetite when given over a 10-week period. Even though this study lasted 10 weeks, the study does not mention if body weight was reduced.
On the flip side, a study published in 2015 that noted Caralluma fimbriata did not work. This study involved 89 overweight people who were randomly given either a placebo or 1000 mg of Caralluma per day for 12 weeks. Those taking Caralluma did not have any improvements in weight loss or reduction in appetite.
Caralluma Fimbriata Video Review
Watch on my youtube channel too
Summary of Caralluma Fimbriata Research
Studies can be complicated so here is a quick rundown on the Caralluma Fimbriata research to help you
| Study Year / Type Of Study | Amount Used | Study Results |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) Rat study | 100mg/kg (see above for human dosage) | Weight reduction |
| (2015) 15 kids with Prader-Willi syndrome). Lasted 10 weeks | 1000 mg/day | Reduced appetite. Weight loss data not mentioned. |
| (2015) Human study (89 people). Lasted 12 weeks | 1000 mg/day | No reduction in body weight. No reduction in appetite. |
| (2013) Human study (43 people). Lasted 12 weeks | 1000 mg/day | Reduced waist circumference, reduced smell and taste for food. compared to placebo. No change in body weight |
| (2010) Rat study | various amounts | Rats weighed less and ate less food |
| (2007) Human study (5 men /women). Lasted 60 days | 1000 mg/day | Reduced waste circumference and hunger compared to placebo. No significant changes in body weight. |
Here is Caralluma fimbriata on Amazon.
Chá de Bugre
Also called Cordia ecalyculata and Cordia salicifolia. The Skinny Fiber website says that Chá de Bugre can “support a healthy metabolism” and is an “appetite suppressant.” Is there any proof it does this?
No human evidence on Chá de Bugre and weight loss could be located. A mouse study published in 2017 noted that Cha de Bugre, both alone and when combined with Spirulina, reduced appetite in mice.
Another mouse study noted that acha de bugre did not reduce body weight or food consumption.
The Enzyme Blend
When Skinny Fiber first came out, its website said this about the enzymes:
“The biggest CHALLENGE to losing weight is that most of us are NOT getting enough enzymes from our food to properly DIGEST what we eat.“
That working has changed and they now say that:
“When we don’t get enough enzymes from our food, our bodies can’t properly digest what we eat, causing use to often have a weaker immune system and gain weight.”
But it's important to know that our bodies make enzymes. While there are enzymes in food, they are quickly digested in the stomach when we eat them. Might enzymes help someone with digestion issues? Maybe. But for healthy people, evidence that they help weight loss is lacking.
The label says that 2 Skinny Fiber pills contain 260 mg of the following enzymes:
- Amylase (carbohydrate digesting enzyme)
- Protease (protein-digesting enzyme)
- Lipase (fat-digesting enzyme
- Glucoamylase (sugar-digesting enzyme)
- Papain (protein-digesting enzyme)
- Cellulase (carbohydrate digesting enzyme)
- Bromelain (protein-digesting enzyme)
One thing to remember is that enzymes that are eaten are quickly destroyed by the stomach's acidity soon after they are consumed. Because of that, those enzymes don't get into the blood to do anything.
Enzymes are safe and won't hurt anyone. They might add a little bit of protein but as for helping with weight loss, it would take human studies to know for sure.
How Much Sodium?
If you looked closely at the label above, you saw that 2 capsules contained “5 grams” (5000 mg) of sodium, which the label also indicates is less than 1% of the Daily Value for sodium. But 5 grams is not 1% of the Daily Value for sodium. In fact, 5 grams is far
more than most people should be consuming. Most medical experts advise people to keep sodium to 1500 mg to 2300 mg (1.5 to 2.3 grams). If Skinny Fiber really has 5g, this would put people way over what they should be getting.
Could this be a typo and that the product really has only 5 mg of sodium rather than 5 grams?
If I am wrong, and Skinny Fiber really has 5 grams of sodium (in only 2 capsules), then people watching their sodium intake should be aware of this.
Skinny Fiber Active Ingredients
Looking at the research on each of the ingredients in Skinny Fiber, I see two ingredients that might help people lose weight:
And of those two ingredients, I feel glucomannan has the most evidence.
Ingredients With Limited Evidence
No human weight loss evidence could be located or the following ingredients in Skinny Fiber:
- Enzymes
- Chá de Bugre
This review will be updated as it becomes available if the evidence is found. If anyone is aware of the evidence for any of these ingredients, please share in the comments below.
Skinny Fiber On TV
On January 22, 2014, Skinny Fiber was featured on The Balancing Act, a TV show on the LifeTime Network. The interview featured the CEO of Skinny Fiber and a woman named Kayla, who lost 40 pounds while taking the product. Kayla has a Facebook page where she lists she is a Skinny Fiber distributor. Nothing is wrong with this, but it was not mentioned in the Balancing Act segment.
In the Balancing Act interview, when speaking about why Kayla was able to 40 pounds, the company CEO said:
“The reason that this product was able to work is because the enzymes were able to get her body in a condition where losing weight was possible.”
But, as already mentioned above, there is a lack of evidence that enzymes help weight loss. In fact, the very name – “Skinny Fiber” – tells you that it's the fiber -not the enzymes- promoting weight loss.
Think about it, they don’t call it “Skinny Enzymes” do they? The simple answer is that Skinny Fiber is a fiber supplement.
Segments seen in the Balancing Act are called “Branded Entertainment Segments.” In other words, the segments feature different brands (products) in a way that is meant to both inform and entertain people.
When I called The Balancing Act, I was told that while the Skinny Fiber segments are not “infomercials,” the companies featured on the show do pay a “pre-production fee” prior to being on the show.
I was told that companies that do not pay this pre-production fee would probably not be featured on The Balancing Act.
So how is this not an infomercial?
There is nothing inherently wrong with this partnership between companies and broadcast media. I bring this up for those who didn’t know what they were watching.
Protandim has also been featured on The Balancing Act, so see that review for more information.
Skinny Fiber 90-Day Challenge
There is a Skinny Fiber 90-Day Challenge. To quote Ben Glinsky, in the Balancing Act interview, the reason for the 90-day challenge is that:
“the enzymes that we have in this product have to build in your body and until your body gets healthy enough with those enzymes to be able to let go of that extra fat, losing weight is almost impossible.”
What enzymes is he talking about? He doesn’t tell us.
In my opinion, the reason for the Skinny Fiber 90-Day Challenge is to get people to do something on a regular basis. If they do something regularly, it becomes a habit.
If people spend 90 days trying to lose weight, many of those people will be successful to some extent. There is nothing wrong with it. It gives people goals to aim for, and that is a good thing.
Many weight loss companies offer a “challenge” that lasts about 90 days or so. In my opinion, this can all be traced back to the book Body For Life by Bill Philips, which got people to exercise, eat well, and take supplements made by EAS (Bill Philips was the owner of EAS).
It was a win for people because many lost weight, and it was a win for EAS because they made a lot of money from people who purchased their supplements. For those who are curious, the supplement company, EAS, was later purchased by Abbot Labs, a pharmaceutical company.
How Much Does The 90-Day Challenge Cost?
Let's do the math for those who are thinking about doing the Skinny Fiber 90-day Challenge:
1 Bottle of skinny fiber costs $59.95. 1 Bottle has 120 capsules which is a 2-month supply (if taking only 2 pills per day). If you take 4 pills per day, a bottle of 120 pills will last a month (120 ÷ 4 = 30 days).
If taking 4 capsules per day the 90-day challenge would cost:
59.95 X 3 months = $179.95 (shipping and handling might be extra).
I believe glucomannan is the active ingredient in Skinny Fiber. And Glucomannan is a lot less expensive.
How Many Pills Per Day?
Some distributors advocate taking 2 capsules daily Skinny Fiber at least 30 minutes before eating. This should be done with the biggest meals of the day. For some, this might be 4 pills per day. Take pills with 1 -2 glasses of water.
As with any new supplement, it's best to start with less than is recommended. For example, starting with only 1 pill per day for the first week, followed by 2 pills the following week, and so on until reaching what the company recommends.
How Much Water?
People need to take Skinny Fiber with enough water to swallow the capsules completely. This is to ensure they don't get stuck in the throat. Drinking water during weight loss programs is also advocated because it can also help curb appetite.
Water is good, although it should be remembered that drinking so much water drinking too much is not always the best. There is a medical condition called hyponatremia (high-poe-nay-tree-me-ah). Also called “water intoxication.” This condition results when too much water is consumed.
Basically, the water consumed dilutes the electrolytes in the blood. This can cause headaches, fatigue, confusion and even loss of consciousness. In rare cases, people have died from hyponatremia. This very rare condition is mentioned not to scare anyone, but to rather give people something to think about if they encounter advice that places an unusually high emphasis on drinking water while taking weight loss supplements.
As a rough estimate, aim to drink half your body weight in water per day. So, for someone who is 180 pounds, this would be 90 oz per day. Looking at the color of your urine can also give an indication too. Yellow urine might mean you are becoming dehydrated.
While the urine test is popular, it should be remembered that the vitamin riboflavin can also make urine look yellow too. Those who are taking multivitamins should check how much riboflavin is present if using the urine test for hydration. Skinny Fiber does not have riboflavin.
Does It Contain Caffeine?
Skinny fiber has no caffeine or other stimulants. It is basically a fiber pill supplement.
Does It Contain Gluten?
Skinny Fiber appears to be gluten-free.
Is It Organic?
There is no mention of whether or not Skinny Fiber is organic.
Does Skinny Fiber Contain HCG?S
Skinny Fiber does not contain the HCG hormone or any other hormones. Here is the review of HCG diet research for those who want to know more about this.
Skinny Fiber vs. Metamucil
As stated above, it is believed that glucomannan (konjac root extract) is the main active ingredient in Skinny Fiber. Metamucil is another fiber supplement that is marketed to help people lose weight. Metamucil contains a fiber called psyllium. As mentioned in the Metamucil review, there are studies that psyllium fiber can help with weight loss too.
So what's better: Skinny Fiber or Metamucil? At this time, there are no head-to-head- clinical studies comparing these products to each other. There are also no studies comparing glucomannan fiber to psyllium fiber either for weight loss.
Could the other ingredients in Skinny Fiber make it better? Of course, it's possible. But that would take clinical studies to prove.
Skinny Fiber Customer Complaints
When looking at online complaints about any product, ask yourself if what you are reading is reasonable or not. For example, someone might complain that they did not receive a product on time. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the person complaining and ask yourself if what they are saying would be a problem for you.
The Skinny Fiber Lawsuit
In the comments section below, I was made aware of a lawsuit involving Skinny Fiber. It appears to involve another company called Master Strategies LLC which it said, owns the trademark to Skinny Fiber. Instead of going into detail here, I'll just refer you to the bloggers website to read more about this. Update. It appears the judge has dismissed this lawsuit.
Skinny Fiber Side Effects
Skinny Fiber is likely very safe for most healthy people. That said, here are a few things to consider if you are not healthy. This list is not complete.
- Stop taking Skinny Fiber at least 2 weeks before having surgery.
- Speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Drink sufficient water to completely swallow the pills. This is to reduce the chance of choking if the capsules get stuck in the throat. This is a remote chance but it should be kept in mind. Remember, glucomannan expands when it comes in contact with liquids.
- One mouse study noted that at very high levels, Chá de Bugre might break chromosomes. That would be bad if it did because it might lead to conditions like cancer. However, another mouse study noted that Cha de Bugre – both alone and when combined with Spirulina – did not have any effect on chromosomes. Better research should be done to resolve this issue.
Skinny Fiber And Breast Feeding?
Women who are breastfeeding to speak to their doctor about the supplements they take. This is because of the possibility that some supplements may pass from the mom to the baby in the breast milk. It's probably wise to not use this product while they are breastfeeding.
Who Makes Skinny Fiber?
The company is called Skinny Body Care and its website is SkinnyBodyCare.com. This website now redirects to another site called Valentus which has its own dietary supplement line. Update. The Skinny Body Care website no longer appears to be working.
The company address was 341 W 6100 S Murray, UT 84107. MS #1420.
423 Bussen Underground Rd St. Louis, MO 63129.
It's not known if these addresses are still valid.
How to Return Skinny Fiber?
The contact page of the product website does not list a phone number. They do, however, list this US address: 423 Bussen Underground Rd St. Louis, MO 63129. This address corresponds to a company called United Fulfillment Center. This company may take orders and ship Skinny Fiber to customers. The phone number to the fulfillment center is 314.894.3200.
This address is different than the original address found for this product: MS #1420 341 W 6100 S Murray, UT 84107. For those who purchased Skinny Fiber from a distributor, it's best to get return information from the distributor rather than just send the product back for a refund. There may be extra steps needed to return the product.
Does Skinny Fiber Work?
Skinny Fiber is a fiber supplement. Because it uses a type of fiber that has been shown to help weight loss, I would not be surprised if some people said it worked. The main active ingredient in Skinny Fiber is likely glucomannan (konjac fiber). Depending on cost, that might be the lesser expensive way to go.
Heres glucomannan/konjac on Amazon
I have used a fiber product called “Super Colon Cleanse” and it seems to help with weight loss, even though it is not advertised for it. Any thoughts on it.? I am going to check my local Sprouts store for the other products you mentioned and add them in.
It would be nice to hear back from others that have tried the supplements as opposed to SF.
Janessa, I looked up Super Colon Cleanse. The first ingredient listed is psyllium husk, which is a fiber. I also noticed it has senna leaf which is a laxative. Most cleanse supplements I’ve seen contain fiber and things that act like laxatives, as this product does. Here’s the thing: laxatives work in the large intestine – where the poop is. They make us go to the bathroom. laxatives do not work at the small intestine -where we absorb calories. As such, cleanses and other fiber supplements don’t stop us from absorbing food (and calories). Rather, they “weight” that they help us lose is poop and some water.
See my review of Metamucil for more info.
I hope that helps.
In my quest for the best weight loss supplements, I have gone through to read many of your reports/breakdown of products. Doing so has left me overwhelmed and maybe more confused than educated on what might work best for me. If I followed what each review states is a good alternative supplement, I could easily be taking handfuls of pills throughout the day. With that being said, I realize you are here to just break things down, but in your opinion, can you please tell me what you think is the best combo of supplements to aid in weight loss?
There was one thing I had recently read on a Plexus review – someone stated that depending on how long you had carried the weight would also effect how long it would take for different supplements to work and assist in weight loss – meaning if you gained weight from a recent pregnancy, you would probably loose it easier as opposed to someone who has carried their extra weight for many years. What are your thoughts on this?
Janessa, yes I can understand how it can get a bit overwhelming, especially when I start going on and on about the research studies. That said, I don’t think we have to use a combination of supplements for weight loss. I have written about weight loss supplements that I think have the most evidence – and those that I don’t like -along with other things that can help too here
http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/ Remember supplements are best when used to “supplement” the other healthy stuff we also do.
As for how long we’ve had the weight, I’m not aware of any proof that the longer we had the weight, the longer it takes to come off. I wonder if they meant to say, the more weight we have to lose, the longer it takes?
Wow Joe,
Love all the replies. I have to say since July 2013 I started taking Skinny Fiber and over TIME I have loss 70 pounds. After trying everything out there on the market that states is NATURAL, this is the only product I had any success. I have even tried Dr. Oz promotions and they did not work.
I did not change my food choices, still ate pizza just smaller portion, drank water so I did not have to kick the soda habit, ate ice cream, no exercise because I worked 2 jobs and still over a 5 month period loss inches and weight. With all the people who buy Skinny Fiber, 98% have success.
When you NEED to lose weigh a person will do anything. When they WANT to lose weigh, they still drink soda, still eat large portions etc. So many who have had no success are the only ones who can be truly honest why it did not work. Skinny Fiber is a SUPPLEMENT. It is advertised that way just like any other supplement on the market. It is just a private company product. If I bought each ingredient individually I would spend more that what one bottle of Skinny Fiber cost so it is economically the best buy.
With our 90 DAY empty bottle guarantee refund, I have never had anyone return the product. I am a distributor and the product has helped so many people get healthy. Some with exercise and many without.
Your information and research is mostly correct.
Not sure if you personally have a weigh issue but I am a believer if you have not tried it and have personal research than maybe this article is more your research than a personal testimony. I personally would rather put NATURAL ingredients in my body than what a doctor who promote for the leading DRUG industry. I promote this product because it does what it says it does. It works and there are numerous testimonies on Facebook to back it up.
As a writer being OBJECTIVE is a great way to communicate your opinion to your readers. Bashing or questions a companies creditability is how the Multi Level Market Industry got it’s bad name.
As for the E-Bay or Amazon purchases, no one ever knows what they are getting in a bottle and there is no guarantee with those purchases and from what I have viewed the sellers put that in there information. The ingredients work together and the men in the hard hats are obligated to comply with OSHA regulations in our manufacturing environment.
We work with scientist who formulate this product and again it has worked for numerous people. Losing weigh changes many things in a person body and starts the person back on a healthier lifestyle.
So please stop bashing a product you personally have not tried. Talk to the people who use it and then talk to the ones who returned it and I am sure you will get some HONEST answers about diet, exercise, water intake and taking it regularly. The owner is a hard working person just like you and me. Thanks Ann
Ann, thanks for writing. You said my information and research was “mostly correct.” Can you tell me where I went wrong?
As a SF distributor, can you tell me how I bashed the product? I don’t believe that showing the research on the product /ingredients and information about the company is bashing anyone.
Ann, have you ever been to the Skinny Fiber company? Have you actually seen men wearing hard hats? To even mention the wearing hard hats is for OSHA compliance is kind of amusing because as I pointed out in my review, the listed company address for Skinny Fiber is a strip mall and in no way requires people to wear hard hats.
How excited was I to find you on my first page of google search for SF reviews! So hard to find independent truth. I will not be wasting my money. I was very doubtful to begin with but when these distributors keep throwing their ads up on social media you end up thinking, well maybe I should try it. After reading your review, I won’t be. I am also posting this page link as often as I can to let other people know. Keep up the great work and thanks for looking out for the rest of us. Canada.
Lisa, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am very glad to hear I was on your first page of Google for Skinny Fiber! I also truly appreciate you passing me along to others as well.
Thank you so much for this information. I was really considering using the skinny fiber, but after reading your research I have changed my mind. I ordered the glucomannan capsules and the caralluma fimbriata to see if these will work for me. Again, thank you for the info.
Triplelnd, you are very welcome and do let me know how it works for you too.
Thank you so much for putting so much effort into this for those of us that have absolutely no idea how to go about researching this stuff. I have wondered for awhile if this product was safe and if it works and now I have facts to back up my decision on whether or not to use it. I appreciate all the work and time that went into this review. 🙂
Donna, you are very welcome!
As a Skinny Fiber user I have found that this product actually works. I tried the Garcina Cambodia and bought 6 bottles used three lost no weight what so ever. I bought one bottle of Skinny Fiber and lost 6 lbs the first week. I don’t care what the nay Sayers say it works! And I actually feel better than ever. By the way I am a real person not a person being paid to bash a reputable company.
Jan, thanks for your feedback. I wouldn’t say I’m a nay sayer but just someone who boiled it down to its ingredients. You tried garcinia cambogia and didn’t lose anything. Garcinia cambogia is not in skinny fiber. It contains glucomannan – a fiber – and that is what I believe is the main active ingredient in skinny fiber.
Did you mean to say glucomannan and not garcinia cambogia? I want people reading your comment to be clear on this.
Jan, I’m not being paid to bash anyone. As I say in my about page, no supplement company or pharmaceutical company pays me to write my reviews.
Nice review, refreshing to have one without it just being bait and switch to the actual product anyway, or their competing product of another mlm. Very thorough and not all MLM/network marketing biased bashing. I work with a product but will never build ‘the biz’ simply because i know it has it’s place and use and isn’t the holy grail and solves all 1000+ ailments. I don’t like the methods and unleashing an army of people simply repeating what the brochures say and don’t fully know what they are talking about. But they don’t have to, they leave that up to the public, of which most don’t know how to go about researching as you have.
What amazes me though is people question with a fine tooth comb what is in these supplements over the stuff that is also being pushed through ‘traditional’ $$ marketed methods of GNC and health stores. Yet they still go slam down their fast food or if not that, their Lean Qusine or other food they haven’t looked at the label nearly as close as these products.
And getting bent outta shape about the Internet being slammed with all the distributor reviews and such , well, that’s marketing. Most don’t understand how even he big companies have their hands in everything we look at. Even youtube.
Look up one item on amazon or ebay and you will soon see it on every other page you visit as they will start targeting you with that or similar products.
I integrate FDN (functional diagnostic nutrition) into my work with clients and it really depends where everyone is at in their journey of knowledge and exposure to all this health nformation. Some you are just trying to get off soda, others have full blown digestive and bacterial imbalances as A component amongst other factors. That’s why some stuff works for some and not for others.
Chris, thanks I appreciate the kind words and you make some very good points. Nice website you have by the way. Triathalon training is tough to be sure! In case you missed it, here is my review of Protandim
Did you mention that your links to the amazon products are affiliate links and you get paid for people buying??
Rodney, Actually yes I do. That is all listed on my FAQ page and Terms page but you should know that they dont influence what I write. If they did, my conclusions about this and other products would be different. My main goal is to help you better understand the supplements you use. If I did that, then I’m happy. I add the links because I believe in freedom of choice and understand that people, while looking for honest answers, will do what they like regardless of what I say in my reviews. I hope that clears up where I’m coming from.
Joe THANK YOU for this review. My roommate bought the skinny fiber diet plan along with shakes and herbal teas that are supposed to help her lose weight. She spent a big chunk of money to do this without looking for any biased reviews. I on the other hand went ahead, found your AMAZINGLY awesome review and just bought the active ingredients Glucomannan and Caralluma fimbriata on amazon for a fraction of the cost. Now I’m waiting for them to get here so I can start taking them.
THANK YOU again, you are awesome for doing this. Way too many weight loss companies do this to people and it’s a horrible business.
Tamrah, you are SO very welcome! I’m happy you were able to find me and that I could help. I hope the glucomannan and Caralluma finbrata helps. Do let me know what happens.
I’ve updated my skinny fiber review. Ive added the entire nutrition label and addressed how much salt is in the product. hit the refresh button on your browser if you dont see the updates.
COUNTERFEIT SKINNY FIBER
So, we have bought Skinny Fiber several times now. One of the bottles was definitely counterfeit.
When it comes to things that are sold through multi-level distributor programs like Visalus Shake mixes or Skinny Fiber, I prefer to try to get it as cheap as possible. If I buy it from a distributor, I will pay full price. So I always try to find products on eBay or Amazon.
Most multi-level programs offer their products at a discount for buying larger quantities. In the case of Skinny Fiber, you will have to pay $60 for one bottle (one month supply), or $120 for 3 bottles ($40 each) or $180 for 6 bottles ($30 each).
My way of thinking is (was) you can get genuine products cheaper this way because if someone buys 6 bottles of Skinny Fiber for $180, they are paying $30 a bottle instead of $60 for one bottle. But they may not want to spend that much money all at once and they don’t want to become an “official” distributor, so they can sell the excess bottles online for $30 and still end up only paying $30 for their product. Or even better, if they want to sell 5 of the 6 bottles for $36 each, that’s a total of $180 and they get their one bottle for free. They can do that every month and essentially pay nothing for their bottles of Skinny Fiber. So buying from someone like that is a way to get products cheaper.
The Skinny Fiber’s distributor rules only let them sell through approved methods, and I don’t think Amazon qualifies. As far as eBay goes, they are not allowed to sell on an auction site unless they set the minimum reserve price at a certain point (I think it’s distributor cost). Of course, the Skinny Fiber company (SkinnyBodyCare.com) can’t control people that are not “official” distributors.
So anyway, the first bottle we bought was from an Amazon seller for $44.99, and it appears it was the genuine product. My Fiancé said it helped give her a feeling of fullness and much less of an appetite. It also gave her fewer cravings for food, but more desire to drink lots of water, which for her is a first – it’s hard to get her to drink enough water. She was happy with the results, so she bought a 2nd bottle from a different Amazon seller for only $29, and she said it just was not working at all like the first bottle did. We assumed it was not real.
So I started researching on the internet about fake sellers, hoping to find pictures of fake bottles vs. real bottles, figuring it would be obvious which were real and which were not. Unfortunately, the only thing I found was occasional warnings about NOT buying off of Amazon due to people selling fake products.
I looked at the pictures on eBay ads and Amazon ads and compared them to pictures on the SkinnyBodyCare website and found quite a few variations. The problem is, someone selling fake products on eBay or Amazon can use pictures of the real product in their sale ads. They can take authentic pictures right off of the manufacturer’s website and use them in their ads! So, there is no real way to tell if they are selling the real thing or not.
I finally decided to just buy 6 bottles from a seller through the SkinnyBodyCare website so I knew they would be the real thing. With the new bottles in hand next to the counterfeit bottle, you can see quite a few differences. Also, there is a big difference in the look of the capsules. The counterfeit capsules are a very light tan color, but the real Skinny Fiber capsules are slightly darker with a greenish tinge to them. Someone spent a lot of money counterfeiting the bottles.
So the moral of this story is that there are people selling counterfeit products on eBay and Amazon, but there is no way to tell if they are selling the real thing or not.
I would be happy to send you a few pictures comparing the fake Skinny Fiber we received vs. the Skinny Fiber I received ordering directly from their website.
By the way, from what I’ve seen the url’s containing SBC90 (Skinny Body Care 90 Day Challenge) like the one referred to previously in another comment are the websites set up by Skinny Body Care for their distributors.
And MS did used to stand for Mail Stop. That used to be the way they addressed our private PO Boxes at Mailboxes Etc. (now UPS Stores) in the early days, before the government passed a law that requires you to use specific guidelines. Now we use Suite xxx-xxx. Easy way to spot a mail service.
Steve, thanks for the feedback and Im also aware of using “suite.” I think it varies from state to state as Ive noted MS (Mail Stop) in several reviews I’ve written.
As for counterfeit skinny Fiber, its anyone’s guess. I think its impossible to know unless we have the products tested. That said, I still believe that Skinny Fiber is basically an expensive glucomannan supplement. since glucomanan is a fiber and Fiber is in the name of the product, I think this is another tip off that glucomannan is the active ingredient. by just buying glucomannan we takes counterfeit out of the discussion.
Thank you so much for your response and reference materials. I appreciate the help, I truly do. I do walk 5 days a week. Do you think since I already purchase the Skinny Fiber, should I just use up what I have, or do you feel it is harmful. I am going to encorporate your suggestions as well.
Hi Lee, glad to help and glad you are walking too! In the end Skinny Fiber is for the most part, just an expensive fiber supplement and fiber is basically safe. While the cha de burge ingredient does concern me, as far as I know, I’m the only person talking about it in a bad light – and I admit I could be totally wrong. For what its worth, I’m not aware of any human problems resulting from its use at this time. While there is a part of me who thinks a few more weeks probably wont do anything, the -admittedly -overly conservative part say’s toss it.
keep me posted on your progress 🙂
I wish I would have seen this two months ago. I ordered it and I’m 60 days in. I’ve lost a few inches here and there, not anything to write home about. I’m frustrated. I even reached out to my distributor who definitely gave me some suggestions, but I still feel duped.
I just need a good kick start to assist with my daily walks and workouts. I’ve struggled for over two years with my weight. Never having a weight problem before, it’s killing me emotionally.
Any guidance that you could give would be wonderful. My midsection is the problem, my weight is caused by stress, after my son was diagnosed with Autism. Most people loss weight when stressed, I gained and gained a bunch of digestive issues, lactose intolerance, acid reflux, etc.
I’m not an over eater either. I have issues no matter how clean I eat. Please help. Thank you- L
Lee, I’m just happy you eventually found me 🙂 I still believe the active ingredient in Skinny Fiber is the much cheaper ingredient called glucomannan. You didnt say if you were exercising or not but if not I think that’s something you should do -even walking will help.
Here is my review of weight loss supplements. While I do include the stuff that I feel have the most evidence, do look at the list at the end of the post because I feel weight loss products work best when we do other things along side of them. http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
Also take notice of what causes us to burn the most calories during the day. you might be surprised 🙂
I do hope some of this helps Lee.
Thank you for your time and dedication to write this article. I was seriously considering buying sf. Now I’ll just stick to working out and portion size. 🙂
April, you are very welcome. I’m glad you found my words useful.
Hi, Joe. Great write-up – thank you. A friend (who is a distributor!) suggested this to me – but I was curious and came upon your write-up. Good work.
Oh, and for what it’s worth: Just an FYI: “MS #1420” or whatever it was in Utah means “Mail Stop 1420” – it’s just an identifier. Typical of a big facility that either manufactures or distributes several different brands or products.
Kudos! ~ Mick D.
Mick, thanks for the confirmation. I even asked my postman what “MS” stood for and he wasn’t sure either (oddly enough). I’m glad you were able to find me online 🙂
Joe, Found this website; its informative, has the product label which tells you what enzymes are in the pills. The site isn’t a buy site but it does show you where to go if you want to do that, I find this site information rich. http://skinnywithfiber.org/secrets-of-skinny-fiber-exposed-with-reviews-ingredients-and-results/
Jess, yes I’ve seen her site. Guess I missed the enzymes when I last went there. She actually links to me from her skinny fiber review.
My x friend at work is a distributor and that’s all she talks about. She now deleted me cuz I made the comment that sf is not FDA approved and puts down all other diet supplements. She says they give you the jitters and racing heart. I take Phentermine and I was ok’d by my cardiologists to take it.I have lost about 30lbs and feel really good.do not have the jitters or racing heart.
Diane
Diane, for what its worth, most Skinny Fiber distributors don’t like me either.
I was prescribed phentermine and felt like a crack head. The doctor said it was a normal side affect. It also made me extremely irritable, which is a side affect also.
Sheila, yes phentermine is a stimulant. As a rule I’m not a fan of stimulant wt loss drugs or stimulant weight loss supplements. Here is a link to my personal site where I discuss the different types of supplements
http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
Diane,
I tried phentermine and felt like the human elephant with how it acted oppositely and made me swell in hands, feet, everywhere with no weight loss. Docs have tried off book uses for many things and it sucks not having results. Joe’s review is pretty good; yes Skinny Body Care is the company name (maybe they clarified it on their page since this was written) and yes there is a lot of blogging going on. I’m on the fence.
I researched based off this review and basically we have enzymes that break down food (I lack the lactase enzyme to break down food so I have to supplement it & it helps so there is something to different enzymes in our g.i. tracts-no ones favorite topic.) There are other ways to get enzymes ‘supposedly’ in SF http://amazingwellnessmag.com/tame-tummy-troubles/
We then have glucomannon which I agree is the fiber & most likely the key ingredient (isn’t this fiber form cool though? I mean it expands and I don’t have to eat to get it done? woot) And I say this because I am taking 35+ grams of fiber in and I am not getting anywhere.
Docs run the gamete of try this fiber source and that fiber source & it is exhausting, this laxative and that, I’m so done. Then we have Carallama (see full name above) which is basically a appetite suppressant that could help me from the afternoon stroll to the cupboard-or not, free will and such, if we eat to feed emotions I don’t think this will stop you.
And lastly Ch’a de bugre-and Google led me to WebMD which states “Cha de Bugre is a tree that is native to Brazil and can also be found in the tropical forests of Paraguay and Argentina. The tree produces a red fruit that looks a lot like a coffee bean. This fruit is often roasted and brewed into a tea as a substitute for coffee. One of its names is “cafe do mato” or “coffee of the woods.”” http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1124-CHA%20DE%20BUGRE.aspx?activeIngredientId=1124&activeIngredientName=CHA%20DE%20BUGRE .
But Joe is right, no studies show good and no show bad in humans-mice are not perfect examples of us-but they can be helpful. But basically Ch’a de bugre is the caffeine component-in essence, and we do not know long term effects but to be honest I’m pretty sure the same is true for a lot of prescription medications and supplements people swear by.
So SF based on this should calm your digestive tract, fill your stomach so you eat less, reduce your physical hunger pains and jack you up a bit to give you energy. The road to hell is paved with good intentions but here is the dilemma; you may be able to pick up versions of all 4, and pay around $45-50 a month, but you have to take 3 tummy calmers, 6 fiber ‘fillers’, 6 appetite suppressants, and a cup of coffee or the equivalent if not a touch more.
I cannot imagine having to take 15 more pills on top of the around 30 I am on for fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, rhinitis, ibs, high blood pressure, lactose intolerance, and asthma. I am technically a ipc for DoTERRA though to be honest I only use it for personal use & gifts but I can go on and on with new people about the benefits and such and its not really because I want to sell it to them; I have never made a sell but I have given gifts, its just when you love how something works you want to tell everyone in case it may help them too.
It maybe silly but true and I think while I was writing this somewhere along the way I got off the fence, I am going to order my SF today. I will check back on here with how or if it works-and any more research I may find/do.
Its a good thing to be informed about what you put in your body but everything is a give and take; workout 15 minutes a day, that’s nothing in the grand scheme of things and can help you retain muscle. ~Jess W.~
Jess, for what its worth, I hope it helps you. Ch’a de bugre just makes me uneasy. I wish they would take it out of skinny fiber.
This guy is a joke i am a distributor and no i did not take the product because i am slim and i also personal train. For the note a lot of the distributors you see were customers before distributors. These are real people. When these people saw that skinny fiber works they became distributors.
I have close friends as well my nephew and my mother take skinny fiber and all them have seen results. There are no photo shops or and Hoax to weight loss. You can talk about your research all you want but i know SKINNY FIBER WORKS. Like i can say you look like Mister Bean and you look like a lab mouse. That does not mean its true?
Man get a life and stop trying to down skinny fiber yall people are sad stop believing everything you here if he said his research show if you jumped off the roof you will fly i would you try it?
Yall dick head just waiting for another dick head like Joe to give bad reviews that will give yall the reason not to try or do something in life. And another thing yall dick HEADS looking to get skinny fiber from other sources like Amazon. It say YOU can only buy from distributors.
But yall dumb asses want to find cheaper pricea and go to amazon and ebay or other sites to buy for a cheaper price. And when it does not work yall say oh it dont work you dumb ass how do you know its skinny fiber? Cause it say skinny fiber? Its not our fault you took tje risk of it not being skinny fiber. ONLY BUY SKINNY FIBER FROM A SKINNY FIBER DISTRIBUTOR. CAUSE IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE IT MAY MOT BE THE REAL THING. anyone who ever bout skinny fiber from me i NEVER EVER had them saying it don’t work or they had a bad reaction.
Joe you are the type of person to try and put a product down i am a personal trainer and my goal is to help people i always tell my customer to consult there doctor. People buy GNC WITH TONS OF SIDE EFFECTS AND EAT ALL THE WRONG THINGS AND THEY BUY IT. Just like i see you JOE marketing your book how do we know your book has the answer? Because your research says so? Cut it out! Dick head.
jahcease, So you’re a personal trainer, does that mean I should take your word about dietary supplements? I am an exercise physiologist and I TEACH personal trainers and have done so for many years. Who are you certified by? I’d like to know. I only need the letters because I’m familiar with all the organizations.
Yes I have a book and it has over 900 references in it too. the book inspired this website. Forget the book, just read this website so you have all the info for free. Most of the links to right to clinical studies so you can read the proof for yourself. Thats why I link to studies so you don’t have to take my world for anything.
As a personal trainer you need to know that selling supplements is OUTSIDE the scope of practice of what trainers are supposed to do. Personal trainers have been sued because of supplement recommendations.
Read this for more info: http://www.joe-cannon.com/personal-trainer-recommend-supplements-ephedr/
PS While I normally edit profanity, I did not edit your comment. I want people to see the language you used.
Jahcease. I don’t imagine you have too many clients if that’s the way you speak!
But stick with the personal training as you are certainly no Shakespeare!
After your ranting it’s made me even more skeptical of this product. Interest and concern for a friend who is about to start taking it led me to this site. I will be passing the link onto her.
No doubt she will still try it. That’s her choice. But I think I would pay more attention to Joe as he seems to have the knowledge, has done the research etc, unlike the dumb……..rantings from you.
I will get back to you with her results.
Thanks Joe. Very informative page.
Toni, you are very welcome and I’m happy I was able to help.
Jahcease, I know that not every distributor was a customer first. The distributors offer you distribution for 10 dollars more on an order. That’s what I was offered. I haven’t bought sf , but for 75 dollars (65 for pills and 10 for distributor position) I could easily become a distributor.
Jahcease,
Your comments do nothing to help this product. If anything, your rant, shows you to be uneducated and unfiltered. I would never take advice from someone that tries to get their point across by using profanity. You offer no evidence and owe Joe an apology. Also, have you heard of spellcheck?
Thank you! These kind of claims, and the way this MLM operates makes me CRAZY! Network marketing companies, and products done right are great. Crap like this is a disgrace to the industry.
Jennifer, your very welcome.
I am a Skinny Fiber Distributor, because it WORKS for me and I want to share this HOPE with others. For the first time in my life, I’m losing weight in a HEALTHY way. I’ve tried everything under the sun, including “healthy diet and exercise”, but it never worked for me.
Skinny Fiber has cut my cravings for sweets, has helped me quit drinking soda, gives me a LOT of energy, and just makes me feel fantastic. I WANT healthier food, eat less in general, and exercise because I have the energy to exercise – I actually look forward to it!
I love what Skinny Fiber is doing for me, and I decided to become a distributor because I KNOW how hard it is to lose weight and I want other people to know that this MAY help them, too.
I appreciate your perspective, but unless you’ve struggled your entire life with being overweight, you really don’t understand the way something that actually works can change your life. You can research and quote studies all day long, but I am the reality. I’ve suffered shame, embarrassment, bullying, humiliation, and more because of my weight. I’ve missed out on important events, refused to have pictures taken, and haven’t lived life to the fullest due to my weight. My life is SO different now – I still have a long way to go to get to my goal, but I KNOW I will be successful because I’m ALREADY successful. I respect your opinion, but I don’t agree with it.
Jill, I am sorry for all that you have went through in your life and there is no excuse for it. Anyone who makes fun at another should be ashamed of themselves. None of us is perfect and at the end of the day I know all of us have regrets. I’m sure many of those people in your past, today wish that they had acted differently, if they had a conscious.
The main goals of my skinny review were:
1. to show the studies on the ingredients
2. dispel the myth of the enzymes
3. point out some of the funny business that goes on with the marketing of Skinny Fiber
4. To give people an unbiased review by someone who is not a distributor
For those like yourself who say that they have been helped by skinny fiber, I’m truly happy for them. There are many paths to weight loss. For example, I was just watching an interesting documentary on Netflix called “Fat Sick and Nearly Dead” where a couple of guys lost a lot of weight juicing foods!
My opinions on what the active ingredients in skinny fiber probably are, are based on the evidence I could find for the ingredients. Nobody yet has shown me any evidence to rethink my opinions so I still feel I’m correct. Because skinny fiber can be expensive, I wanted to give people an option for those who are price sensitive.
Skinny Fiber worked for me! I’m 5’1 and weighed 189 and down to 165 from just taking skinny fiber. Haven’t started to exercise yet, but planning to add that soon to help speed up the loss maybe. I lost very slow, but that’s ok with me. It’s the only thing I’ve tried that’s worked for me! I’m also a type 2 diabetic. Skinny fiber helped sooo much with my appetite!
My a1c went from 8.1 to 5.2 in just a few months! I’m not a distributor as I just don’t have the time to sell this, but I plan to stay on it.
Michelle, losing slowly is the way to go so dont worry about that. Please do start some type of an exercise program. Even walking will help you maintain your muscle mass. muscle helps your blood sugar and keeping your muscle can go a long way to helping you beat your type II diabetes forever. Please consider it.
Yes, I sure will! Thanks for your comment!
Hi, I was thinking of getting this and decided to read reviews well on Amazon I seen very few that said it didn’t work and the ones who said it did are distributors. I am prescribed phentermine from my doctor. I have found this to be the only diet pill to actually work. Of course like any diet you have to eat right and exercise but losing wait isn’t as easy as putting the weight on. I’m on it to help lose weight after having my son and I must say phentermine is much cheaper than sf.
I’ve been following a couple of reps for a few months now and it all sounds so wonderful, but I figured a breakdown of the ingredients would be a better choice for me, especially since I am in Canada.
However, I notice you were looking for what enzymes are supposedly present and one of the people I follow just posted them!
They are:amylase, protease, lipase, glucoamylase, papain, cellulase and bromelain.
This is according to a rep, not someone in r & d at the company or anything of that nature, so I have no idea of the veracity of this.
Just thought I would let you know in case you hadn’t found out on your own!
Tracy thanks for the list of enzymes in skinny fiber. I don’t think they add anything to the effects. I still think it’s the fiber ingredients I highlighted but I always try to keep my eyes peeled for anything new that gets published on this stuff.
i need lose 49 pounds but cant buy that. no money
Betty, Here is a link to my personal site where I discuss things that can help. Many of these tips are free
http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
I do hope some of this helps.
Did you know that the enzymes sf talks about are supposed to help your body get out of survival mode which causes it to store fat? I am glad I ran across your article,because I was about to buy sf. Thanks
Sheila, yes I discovered that its a series of 7 enzymes that I listed in my review. I didn’t know they were now saying that the enzymes help you “get out of survival mode.” There is no evidence of that. I’m glad you found me too 🙂
I found a bottle of the same enzymes at the Vitamin Shop. I also found the two supplements there too. I bought the supplements and will be starting them tomorrow. I will keep you posted.
Sheila, sounds good and yes please do.