I recently had a comment made by a website promoting their product. I went and checked it out before I posted it. Geesh, I can’t believe the claims people can make about their weight loss.
Many years ago, someone talked me into buying the product. This picture is what the pills look like. There was also a powder stuff to use for shakes.
I remember having a little pill container with 6 separate slots. Some pills you take three times a day, others were two. It was rather confusing. I used masking tape to write down which pills were to be taken when. It was ridiculous.
Here are a few claims that were made with no mention of exercise. A person lost 33 inches by losing just a mere 21 pounds and went from a size 16 to a 12. (Yea right) Another person stated they lost 21 pounds and went froma size 14 to an 8. The third example was a woman lost 43 pounds which equaled 5 dress sizes.
Any of us that have lost and gained weight in the past, know that is ludicrous. Twenty pounds does not equal this type of size change or inches lost. Especially without exercise.
I know there are people that buy this product by reading this type of hype. I think most know it can’t be real. They just have a hope that perhaps….just this time….they have found a product that will give them these kind of results. Know wonder the weight loss business is so profitable. I see it as an honest way of stealing. Nothing happens to these companies when people don’t lose like the ones that left there testimonials. They will tell you, those results aren’t typical. Why post them then, other than to entice people into buying a product that most likely won’t give you those results.
I guess you can tell I’m angry. Angry at the fact these kind of products can legally be offered and secondly, people are dumb enough to buy them. (I’ve bought many of them myself) I’ll get off my soap box now.
I’m heading off to the gym. Have a great day!!
Like your site and agree with the issues of pushing weight loss pills etc. Some supplements make sense, especially if you have some of the cardiovascular effects of being overweight. I have started the weight loss and weight loss surgery blog for patients above. Would appreciate an honest critique. I am going to add information daily, time permitting.
[...] Posted by Fatty Weight Loss Blog [...]
Nice Site! Yes and I so definitely agree with you that pills are not the silver bullet answer that everyone wants. Weight Loss requires a basic, simple and consistant effort. Like a Pyramid – Long term Weight Loss Goals sit atop lots of short term achievements. Persistence Pays!!
And they just keep making new pills and marketing them over and over again. Isn’t it obvious that no weight loss pills work, since if one did we would all be taking it?
It saddens and disgusts me that so many companies out there prey off of the desperation people feel to lose significant amounts of weight quickly. Pity that there isn’t a better way to regulate what these companies sell and their actual results.
You have a great site here. I look forward to reading more.
[...] Unrealistic Weight Loss Claims [...]
You should be mad…I agree, I can’t stand the types of weight loss sites & weight loss products you are talking about. Good post!
Candee
Hi Chris,
I found your blog today when I searched for Dash Diet Blog. . . I think the post was dated back in 2006 and just wondered if you could tell me if it worked for you? I read your posts from today back to Jan 08 and I do see you continue to eat oatmeal, which seems to be a staple on the DASH diet. I have lost weight successfully on Atkins, once for my upcoming wedding and once when I was planning on being pregnant with number 2. But sadly after dd was born I put all my pregnancy weight back on and then some. I also developed high blood pressure with that pregnancy. Was able to go off of the meds for awhile, but back on them now. I just can not stay committed to Atkins but looking at the DASH, which seems to be geared more towards blood pressure than weight might be something I can commit to. Just looking for an honest opinion by a real person.
I would read more of your posts, but it is 1:14 am here and I need to go to bed.
Hope you have a great Wed. and sorry about the book I wrote.
I agree with you. The problem is that as long as so many people will believe in the magic pill the crazy diets and the sale of pills will make some people rich. I keep saying over and over on my website that you HAVE to get a right low GI diet and move your body around to achieve something but so many still believes that they will just swallow a pill and the fat will just dissolve.
One thing we have to get right from the get go, is that permanent weight loss is a process. You can apply all the fast weight lose tips you want and if you go back to your old ways, the fat will come back.
We need exercise, eating right and drinking a lot of water to conquer weight loss and keep the weight off.
heh like that $80 acai berry scam. the true secret to weight loss is only exercise even if you eat 3000 calories a day as long as you get enough proper exercise every day you will lose it. and I know so many people are probably hating me for saying what I am saying but it is a fact.
Memories of Herbalife. Boy, what I went through with that in my teens. You know what gets me? Is that these companies treat people, their potential clients, as morons but I have to be honest as well and it’s not a weakness, but some who are fed up being overweight, seek a quick solution, and fall for the company spiel. It took me a decade to snap out of it, and not just the herbal potions, but companies like Jenny Craig that provide prepared food. Even Weight Watchers has become like JC; how many WW branded foods do I see at the market? Plenty. This doesn’t teach people about food choices. Buying 99% fat free anything is a scam as well.
Most of the popular slimming products available to buy are helped by the placebo effect.
Possibly the most effective “diet pill” is one of the prescribed “drugs” But these can be guilty of cause a wide range of side effects.
Commercially available diet product do not have consumer interest above profit.
Its a sad fact that many belive they can buy a solution to their weight problem.
Sorry Kate, it doesn’t work like that for everybody. I can avoid putting ON weight with exercise alone, but if I want to lose, I have to moderate food intake. And I’m not talking a 20 minute walk, I’m talking an hour or two at the gym most days.
On another note, some of those sizes don’t sound unrealistic. For me, 10 pounds lost equals approximately a drop in size. When I started this at 195, I barely fit into a 16. Currently, at 165, I’m a loose size 10
I’m also saddened by the fact that the weight loss industry preys on people who are desperate for help. However, I believe that some of these men and women are looking for an easy way out. Thanks for posting this, I think this site is great and will hopefully work to educate people.
Julie,
If you are a loose 10 at 165 pounds, you must be over 5′10″ tall. I use to wear a size 10 when I weighed 145 pounds and I am 5′10″. Actually it is approximately 20 pounds per size. Since women’s clothes go from size 16 to size 14 to size 12 to size 10…etc.
no doubt, if it’s too good to be true…you know the drill. Keep it up, maintaining a healthy weight is not a destination, it’s a continuous journey. If there is anything we can do to help, we help motivate the motivator. As you know success doesn’t come in pill form, only sweat and effort. I have always had a passion for that.
good strong advice, thank you very much
I really like what you have to say, it is refreshing to see someone talking about weight loss realistically rather than just trying to scam people. I totally agree about the pills, i also checked some out once and man was that a mistake. They said eat lots of fiber with this…I love how they never tell you the side effects, very unmoral. Good on you for sweating it out with the oldies, exercise is so about fun, habit and mindset…sounds like your on to a good thing for 2009. All the Best!!
I absolutely HATE it when people prey on the obese / over-weight!!!!!!!!!!
I am amused that if you click on the names of some of the “people” who posted comments – it links to a site that says: “Here Is How You Can Loose Weight in 21 days…GUARANTEED!” We accepting Visa, Mastercard, Discover, PayPal…
And yes they used “loose” not lose.
I am just disgusted by these people and amused by the irony of commenting on this post specifically!.
I disabled comments on my site because of this very reason.
Jess, I just read your last post and entirely agree with you. I am the worst procrastinator. If I don’t workout in the morning….I find myself making excuses later in the day and end up not going. Self control at the right time….is the key. Nice post. I’m sure many will see themselves in it. Thanks for stopping by.
Chris,
Weight loss is a big industry… I mean my link even goes to a “product” designed to help lose weight…. I am not going to B.S. you about that…….
The fact is that people are willing to spend their time taking pills/powders that are unhealthy and at time harmful to one’s health because of a promise of a quick fix. I find this shameful on people who sell these products to anyone.
The truth is that ANYONE can lose weight with small life style changes. It’s not about taking pills, watching carbs, or starving your-self by only eating cabbage soup….
You NEED to exercise, you need to change your diet, and if you feel like you are doing everything in your power to lose weight and it isn’t working then you should talk to your doctor before purchasing any weight loss “DRUG”, or cutting carbs, calories, or any other essential for life out of your diet.
Remember exercise and changing your diet can and will change your life! If you need help talk to your doctor…
So to recap never get an over the counter drug (which many times are the same ingredients as energy drinks), eat right, exercise every day, and talk to you doctor if you are at wits end.
Be safe, and don’t let B.S. products grab your attention or your wallets!
Craig
Eating right and feeling good
I have to agree with you that all the claims people make about miracle magic pills are a little over the top. It all boils down to just portion control, working out, water and focusing on the main goal of good health. There are no magic answer to being over weight and taking pills to lose it over night. Trust me if it was I would be skinny and promoting it on ebay or something.. LOL Great post!
These companies are getting rich off people who are desperate to lose weight. There is no magic pill to losing weight, just hard work, determination and by following a good diet and exercise program.
That’s right. Just look around as more and more diet foods, magic diets, diet fads, health foods & even drugs supposedly designed to make you lose weight become available, people are nevertheless getting FATTER and FATTER and LESS and LESS healthy!!
Why? Because there are people, companies and whole industries getting rich. And the only way they keep getting wealthy, is by keeping us fat.
Do some research as to the ‘more than obvious’ causes as to why peoples weight is increasing as their health is decreases.
By the way, once you start to get sick form being overweight, there is another industry that makes money off of the public being over weight. The medical industry.