SCAM DIETS
You’ll hear about a lot of
“miracle” diets or dieting products that promise fast, easy and
effortless weight loss. How we wish it were true, and that we
could really lose the pound with a simple pill, patch or magic
cream! Unfortunately, the only thing that’s that’s bound to
shrink is your wallet.
Doctors, dieticians, and other experts all agree that the best
and only way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and
increase your physical activity so you burn more energy. Here
are tell-tale signs that you’re being conned:
1. “Lose
weight without diet or exercise!”
Health and research organizations have spent millions of dollars
studying the human body. They would know by now if it were
scientifically possible to lose the weight without any work.
Instead, everything they’ve seen and studied reaffirms what we’ve
known for centuries: there is no miracle cure, so get on that diet,
hit the gyms, and don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.
2. “Lose weight and
still eat all your favorite food!”
Maybe, if your favorite
food happens to be celery. You can’t eat high-calorie food and still
lose weight. All diets will require sensible food choices, and that
requires trading junk food and soda for healthy vegetables and
fruits. Of course, along the way, you’ll learn to enjoy this
diet and even find new favorites—but as a general rule, it won’t
include a Big Mac.
3. “Lose weight
permanently! Never diet again!”
Even if a diet works,
and you shed the unwanted pounds, there’s no guarantee that they
won’t come back. Permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle
change, which means everyday you renew your decisions of what food
to eat, and in what quantities.
4. “Block the
absorption of fat, carbs or calories!”
Listen to the doctors,
dieticians, and other experts: there is no product or process that
can block absorption, and anyone who says so is lying. The
only way to “block” it is to not eat it. Limit yourself to a
smaller serving or a slimmer slice.
5. “Lose 30 pounds in 30
days!”
Experts say that the ideal rate of losing weight is about 1 to 2
pounds a week. Anything more than that, and you are just losing
water, not fat, and all the weight will come back. Plus, you
are endangering your health, possibly starving your body of
necessary nutrients and lowering your immune system.
6. “It works for
everybody!” Each person has unique habits, health concerns, and
weight loss goals. No product can solve all these problems. It is
far better to talk to an expert to design a personalized nutrition
and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.
7. “Use our miracle diet
patch or cream!”
Nothing you can apply to
your skin or wear can remove unwanted pounds.
8. “Buy our must-have product!”
While some products are
low-calorie and nutritionally sound, any program that makes it a
requirement for weight loss is just trying to make money off
you. The key to a successful diet is create healthy habits, not to
become dependent on a mysterious shake. At worst, it’s a scam. At
best, it’s a short-term solution where you will gain back all the
pounds the minute you stop buying.
9. “Hear our
testimonials!”
Testimonials can come from anywhere. They can make it up, or pay
someone to say it. And even if they lost the weight, you don’t know
if they kept it off, or if their success can be attributed to
other products like heavy exercise. Instead of quotes, look for
scientific research.
10.
“Money-back guarantee!”
Even if they do intend to refund your money, very few people will go
through the trouble of sending the product. This is a marketing ploy
and has nothing to do with the actual quality.
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