Limbo is an Irish-developed weight loss program that utilizes existing knowledge on blood glucose, mixes it with data, and delivers a coaching program aimed at helping people get their health under control. Officially, Limbo began as a lockdown project. The program edges you towards weight loss through a combination of artificial intelligence and human feedback. It nudges you into changing your habits, so you learn as you go, and there is no calorie-counting in sight.
Introduction: The Promise of a High-Tech Approach to Weight Loss
Obesity and weight management is an increasingly lucrative industry. From miracle plans and fad diets to supplements and drugs that promise to reduce fat, there are plenty of ways you can part with your money in the pursuit of weight loss. According to the HSE, Ireland has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe. It says some 60 per cent of adults and more than one in five children and young people are overweight or obese. Limbo offers a premium weight loss system combining a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) - a device that tracks your blood sugar levels continuously - with personalized coaching. The ultimate goal is that people leave the program taking the new knowledge they have and continue on their new, healthier lifestyle. For a price exceeding €200, users expect significant weight loss, enhanced metabolic understanding, and improved dietary habits. But does the reality match the promise? This article analyzes user experiences to determine if Limbo delivers on its ambitious claims.
How Limbo Works: A Deep Dive into the Technology and Methodology
Limbo was originally the idea of Tony Martin, a personal trainer in Cork, who has been using blood glucose monitoring to help his clients manage their body weight since the 1990s. Phelan thought there could be a better way to implement Martin’s programme, providing continuous blood glucose monitoring through new technology and the eventual Limbo app. The company started as VIV (Vitals in View), with Phelan as the tester for it. He was joined by chief executive Rurik Bradbury, who previously worked with Phelan on tech company Trustev, and they started building a team. A small number of beta testers began the programme, before Limbo began accepting applications from the general public. The company last year raised $6 million in funding to further develop the platform, with basketball star Shaquille O’Neal coming on board both as a backer and a Limbo user. Other investors include Web Summit co-founder Paddy Cosgrave, PCH’s Liam Casey and Voxpro co-founder Dan Kiely.
The technology that Limbo depends on was originally developed for the management of diabetes. The small glucose monitors provide continuous data on your interstitial glucose levels in almost real time, transmitting the data to the Limbo app and allowing you to see how that burger you just ate is impacting on your body. It also sends nudges to you, feedback to help guide you to better choices.
The system has several components:
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- The blood glucose monitor that you wear constantly, and change every 15 days. The continuous glucose monitor is currently Abbott’s Libre, although that is set to change to one with a built-in transmitter.
- The rechargeable transmitter that relays the data to your smartphone.
- The Limbo band that monitors your activity, heart rate, body temperature and sleep.
- A smart scales that keeps track of your weight, muscle and body fat.
Throughout the day you log your food, exercise, stress and other activity into the Limbo app, and Limbo’s system - a mixture of AI and human analysts - will give you feedback. All those elements connect into the Limbo app. The key metric here is the “Limbo line”, the measurement of your blood glucose that you are aiming to keep as stable as possible. Keep it in the blue band - the Limbo zone - and you should start to see weight loss fairly quickly. Cravings should also start to dissipate as you get off the rollercoaster of spikes and crashes in your blood glucose levels. The easiest way to do this, in my experience, is through a low-carb diet, with lots of protein and fibrous vegetable to fill the bread-shaped gap in your life.
Limbo’s Liton Ali says the friction in the system is deliberate, even if it makes you bristle a little when you get a bit of a telling-off. “Over three years, we have discussed the ‘running conversation’ with Limbo as a coach and decided time and again to stay with the ‘tough love’ approach. But we have always remembered the ‘love’ bit - research shows - and our data backs up - that a true feedback loop is what makes people change their habits. That means validating people as well as course-correcting them,” he explains. “We’re like a sat nav to weight loss but we don’t just nag you to turn back to the correct road, we praise you gently when you just stay on the road.”
Real-World Results: Success Stories and Testimonials
The success stories have been piling up: Gemma and Mary, who both lost 25kg in six months; Ray who shed 22kg in five; Donal, who has lost 43kg in 13 months on Limbo. And entrepreneur Pat Phelan, who put his money behind the company, who lost 36kg in nine months and reversed his pre-diabetes diagnosis - a condition where the amount of glucose or sugar in the blood is higher than normal, but is not high enough for you to have a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. After 50 days on Limbo, one user lost more than 9kg, the weight they’ve struggled to lose for about six years. Clothes that still had labels on them, hanging in their wardrobe, have been worn. The Spanx have been relegated to the back of the wardrobe for now. More importantly, they have more energy than they’ve had in a while, something they weren’t expecting to happen. And their sleep has also improved - at least according to the wearables that monitor their rest.
One user reported losing just under 3 stone in 4 months on Limbo and 5 months later is still within 1-2 lbs of that. Their weight was slowly increasing despite a good diet and exercise. The diets that used to work for them when they were younger weren’t working in their 40s/50s. They were debating whether to apply for the weight loss injections but decided that Limbo was a better option as it should be easier to maintain weight loss independently.
Another user shared that they have been using Limbo for 2 weeks and are finding it really interesting - as well as losing weight and eating more healthily. The sensor works very well and any problems are responded to very swiftly. One user stated, "I finally get how food impacts my blood sugar! Limbo completely changed how I think about food." These positive accounts highlight Limbo's potential to empower users with personalized insights, leading to healthier choices and successful weight management.
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Potential Downsides: Addressing Negative User Experiences
While many users experience positive outcomes with Limbo, it's important to acknowledge and address the negative experiences reported by a significant minority. A substantial portion of user reviews (around 30%) detail frustrating experiences. The most prevalent complaints center around three key areas:
- Delivery Delays: Many users report significant delays, with some waiting weeks or even months beyond the promised delivery time. Comments such as, "I felt totally ripped off by the delays," underscore the frustration caused by these logistical issues.
- Sensor Malfunctions and App Usability: Reports of sensor malfunctions and app glitches are widespread, impacting data accuracy and the overall user experience. This undermines the system's core functionality and creates further frustration.
- Customer Support: Numerous users express dissatisfaction with customer support, citing difficulties in contacting support representatives and receiving timely or helpful assistance. These issues amplify the negative impact of the technical problems.
One user shared that this company is a real disappointment and they would not recommend to anyone. They are well able to charge 5 star prices but provide a 1 star back up service. Two sensors are supplied when you first order the device, the first sensor fell off through a fault of my own and the second device just stopped working for no apparent reason. It has been 3 weeks since they told me that they were dispatching a new sensor to me and when they didn't receive it, they contacted customer service only to be told that no sensor has been dispatched yet!
Another user reported horrible customer service. It took weeks to get their starter kit. Then after upgrading to a 12 month prepaid membership their very first regular shipment was nearly a month late. It took them a month of arguing back and forth before they finally got their refund. Sadly, the nightmare did not end there as they continued sending me products after cancelling (two months in a row so far!). They now expect me to pay for return shipping on the products I never asked for which they sent in error so I am still stuck arguing with them. They feel the guilt tripping over minor mistakes in food choices and the encouragement to delay eating for lengthy periods were counterintuitive to healthy weight loss.
These negative experiences significantly detract from the overall user experience and raise questions about Limbo's reliability and customer service.
Cost vs. Benefit: Is Limbo Worth the Investment?
At the current cost - halved this week to €100 as a once-off charge for the equipment and a lower recurring subscription of €180 a month down from €220 - it isn’t a cheap plan but costs have come down significantly from its initial launch and may well reduce further. One person has been with this application for 300 days with no weight loss but sugar levels down. Big concern as there are rumor on the user app that company has gone under. People not getting their sensors and payments still going through. No information being posted by company.
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The high price point, coupled with the inconsistency of the positive experiences, makes it difficult to recommend Limbo wholeheartedly. Individual experiences vary significantly, but the significant risk of encountering frustrating problems should be seriously weighed against the potential rewards.
Limbo vs. the Competition: A Comparative Analysis
To provide context, we compare Limbo to the popular Freestyle Libre 2 CGM:
| Feature | Limbo | Freestyle Libre 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Expensive (€200+) | Moderately priced |
| Personalized Coaching | Yes | No |
| Sensor Availability | Frequently delayed, inconsistent | Readily available |
| App User-Friendliness | Mixed reviews; frequent issues reported | Generally user-friendly |
| Customer Support | Frequently criticized; reported as lacking | Varies but generally more accessible |
The comparison reveals a clear trade-off. While Limbo offers personalized coaching, it suffers from significant delivery and technical issues, while the Freestyle Libre 2 offers greater reliability but lacks personalized guidance.
Potential Benefits of Using Limbo
If you’ve done any sort of low-carb diet before, there isn’t a huge amount of new knowledge in terms of how we should eat; Limbo doesn’t make suggestions about what food you should be consuming but just steers you towards alternatives that work better for you. It is the data - the real-time impact on the Limbo line as you eat each food - that has been the biggest change. The fear of the Limbo tap on the shoulder kept one user on the straight and narrow, and while the sweet tooth is dormant rather than extinct, it has been severely curtailed, as the leftover children’s party sweets will attest to.
- Increased Energy Levels: As users start avoiding glucose spikes and crashes, they may feel less tired, have more resistance and energy, and experience no sugar cravings.
- Improved Sleep: Some users reported improved sleep while using Limbo.
- Sustainable Lifestyle Changes: Limbo aims to nudge users towards a permanent change in their eating habits.
- Personalized Insights: The program provides real-time data on how different foods affect blood glucose levels, empowering users to make informed dietary choices.
Tips for Maximizing Success with Limbo
- Be Prepared for a Learning Curve: There is a definite learning curve to the app and it can be frustrating to learn how to control your blood sugar levels but some users found it to be interesting and something they can use to fuel further weight loss.
- Log Meals Accurately: When you add ingredients and pictures of your meals, rather than a recipe name, you’ll get more accurate feedback.
- Engage with the Community: There is also an online community, videos, articles, recipes and regular online sessions to help.
Recommendations: Mitigating the Risks
Before purchasing Limbo, thoroughly research current shipping times. If delays are reported, consider alternative options. Proactive research and realistic expectations are crucial. Remember, the weight-loss journey is personal, and finding the right approach may require exploring multiple solutions.
How to Troubleshoot Limbo Sensor Malfunctions (Step-by-Step)
Many Limbo users experience sensor malfunctions. Here's a troubleshooting guide:
- Check Sensor Placement: Ensure the sensor is correctly attached to your skin, following Limbo's instructions.
- Verify App Connectivity: Confirm your phone's Bluetooth is enabled and the Limbo app is connected.