Did I ever tell you about the time I covered myself with powdered seaweed & olive oil, wrapped myself in Saran wrap, and spent 30 minutes lying on my bathroom floor coated in fishy-smelling muck?
No?
Yeah, I didn’t think so. It’s not exactly one of my finer moments.
But it did happen, and here’s why: Crazy Wrap Insanity.
Have You Tried That Crazy Wrap Thing?
This was a couple of years ago, and Crazy Wraps (officially called the Ultimate Body Applicator) were EVERYWHERE. They’d all but taken over my Instagram feed. Every other person on social media seemed to be selling wraps. Even some of my real life friends – women I’ve known and respected for decades – were selling them. (You can read the official product description HERE.)
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m easily sold on so-called “miracle” products. To some extent, this is because I’m an optimist (and possibly a little gullible). It’s also because I’m kind of lazy. Anything that promises to clear my skin, suck out my cellulite, and give me a six-pack – especially with little to no effort on my part – is worthy of my willing suspension of disbelief.
And the never-ending stream of before & after photos blew my mind. Sure, common sense (and my husband) told me that they couldn’t all be legit. But most of the people selling wraps seemed to be stay-at-home moms. How could ALL of those photos possibly be Photoshopped? What SAHM has the time and/or skills to edit photos like that? I certainly don’t.
Sure, I was skeptical. I know full well that things that look too good to be true usually are. But I WANTED the wraps to work. I wanted them to be real. And there was only one way to find out the truth – to try them out for myself.
But that was a problem. See, every It Works! distributor I spoke with told me that I would need to use at least 4 wraps to achieve the results that I was seeing online. And a box of 4 wraps cost $99 – unless I signed up for the “loyal customer” discount, which cut the cost to $59 a box but required a 3 month commitment. (How could I be a loyal customer of a product I hadn’t even tried yet?)
$99 just seemed like too much. I thought maybe I could collaborate with someone for a discount – I put out a few feelers, but no one seemed too keen on working with bloggers. I responded to a couple of distributors who were looking for “product testers,” but that just turned out to be a euphemism for “sign up for my loyal customer discount.” That’s when I had the brilliant idea to make my own detoxing body wrap. Hence, the smelly seaweed goo all over my bathroom.
It seemed unavoidable. If I wanted to try Crazy Wraps, I was going to have to cough up the $99 for them. So I did.
Did It Work?
It turns out that the official Crazy Wraps didn’t feel much different than my DIY seaweed wrap – wet and sticky and not particularly pleasant. They weren’t much easier to apply either – both require wrapping yourself in Saran wrap, and I have trouble just using Saran wrap on a casserole. They did smell a whole lot better though, and they made my tummy feel cool and tingly. That was nice.
I’ll spare you the play-by-by though, and I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. These were all taken at various stages of the wrapping process – before, immediately after, and 24-48 hours after – with all 4 wraps. They’re all unedited, except for a little cropping.
Do you see the difference?
Yeah, me either.
So that’s that. As I always say with these types of things, this is just one girl’s experience. Your mileage may vary. Crazy Wraps didn’t work for me, but obviously they must work for some people – otherwise people wouldn’t keep buying them, right?
If you’re considering trying them out for yourself, please be sure to note the fine print on many of the “before & after” photos:
“Individual results can and will vary. These testimonials are not necessarily representative of all those who use our products. All participants giving testimonials utilized the FITworks! system that incorporates the Ultimate Body Applicator, It Works! dietary supplements, physical activity, and a reasonable diet.”
If I’m reading this correctly, it means that the before & after images are not stand-alone representations of JUST wraps. At a minimum, they also include dietary supplements sold by It Works!. Also, be aware that It Works! carries a wide variety of health & beauty products – gels and creams and shakes and supplements and even essential oils. Read the fine print to make sure that the transformation you’re expecting is going to result from the product(s) you’re buying. Know what I mean?
I’d love to hear about your experiences with Crazy Wraps. All opinions are welcome here – just be kind. This product didn’t work for me, but I’ve got nothing but love for It Works! distributors. They’re just trying to earn a living, just like you and me.
Have a happy new year! And remember that if you truly want to transform your appearance & health, there are no magic solutions or miracle treatments. Exercise, eat minimally processed foods, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest. And avoid seaweed paste concoctions unless you happen to enjoy smelling gross.
Catrina says
I’ve always wondered about these wraps! Thanks for an honest review:)
Mary Beth Jackson says
That is to funny! I too have been tempted but could think of 99 other things to do with $99! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Virjinia Harp says
I’ve never tried these but it sounds that you’d be losing water weight if anything. Maybe if used with the other products and exercise it would be different!
Jen says
I am not a fan of the wraps, but they do sell Greens that I really like. I did sign up for 3 months, and then ended up cancelling after about 9 months because I don’t drink it every day. I have a pretty nice supply and I do like that they give me a little “extra” on the days where my fruit and vegetable consumption is low. But again, all of the promised results: extra energy, etc. A big fat nope from me., but I’m a stay at home mom to 4 kids, so I’m pretty much always exhausted.
sharon says
Come to think of it, I’ve tried the Greens too – I got a few samples of them. They didn’t do anything noticeable for me, but they didn’t taste too bad. Plus like you said, it’s always good to get some extra fruits and veggies. My husband liked them too. (And yep on the exhaustion!) xoxo