One of the things I have discovered by being at the gym at 5:30 every morning is that there are an awful lot of weight-loss and body-toning aids that are being hawked on television these days. From battery-powered belts that supposedly give you a six-pack, to devices that will tie you up in knots, it seems like there is a market for anything that will be a shortcut to diet and exercise. Our desire to be fit can be so overwhelming that we through common sense out the window, ignore all the "results not typical" small print warnings, and plunk down our hard-earned cash for a chance at the body/physique they show on television. Americans spend over $40 billion dollars a year on weight-loss aids.
Weight loss is no more complicated than this: removing factors like water retention, you have to create a 3,500 calorie deficit in your intake/output to lose one pound. This is most easily and safely done by a combination of eating less and exercising more. Even the commercials for exercise-centered video games for the Wii say in the fine print at the bottom of the screen that weight loss occurs when you create a 3,500 calorie deficit in your diet through proper nutrition and exercise.
There are some legitimate products out there that can help with weight loss - but consult with your doctor or your local professional weight-loss clinic before taking them. Some are legit, some are questionable, and some are downright dishonest and deceptive (like the colon cleansing products that claim you have 7 to 25 pounds of "gook" lining your intestines that needs to be cleaned out).
The plain ol' time-tested, boring path of diet and exercise is the best, and only real, way to make a permanent change in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment