Let's Get Real: The Misinformation is RAMPANT!!
Since I have started actually studying the fitness and wellness industry I have become hypersensitive to the astronomical amount of BS out there claiming their way is THE way (with maybe some legitimate evidence to back it up) to lose weight. All asking you to give an arm and a leg as payment. Whether you finish it and lose weight or not, you’ll grow the arm and leg back and along with it comes the weight you just lost and another 5-20 lbs…you know, interest…
You try another diet, pill/supplement, exercise video, specialized gym (Crossfit, yoga, pilates…), giving your other arm and leg as payment…. rinse, wash, repeat.
Please…Rinse. Wash. And STOP REPEATING
If any product or business even hints that their way is the easiest and/or fastest way to lose weight, do yourself a favor and stop listening, stop watching because it’s like the caller ID on your phone flashing a blatant “SPAM” message followed by a 1-800 number.
IT’S CRAP. Why is it crap? Because weight loss that STAYS OFF is NOT EASY and it DOES NOT happen quickly. (Take note of the words STAYS OFF.) Any diet or program that does not involve your current lifestyle and eating habits are not committed to your end results. What they are telling you to do and eat are not livable or sustainable solutions in the long run.
And the other words, ‘NOT EASY’! If it was easy then we’d all be skinny and fit and living the best life. Instead people are deciding to donate their hard-earned money to the pharmaceuticals because they would rather to pop a pill instead of go for a walk.
Fun Fact: I’ve fallen for them too!
Hydroxycut: They got me with the celebrity factor; Jillian Michaels during a time when I could be found in my dorm room watching “The Biggest Loser” or at the gym. Maybe some homework in there somewhere…
Beachbody/Insanity: I knew others doing it, I could get it for free and could do it in my living room. It gave me a great workout and got me into a routine. And then it got me out of that routine when the program came to an end.
Nutrisystem got me with Marie Osmond’s story. I was a mom, I was getting married in a few months, I was fat, and I knew food was a big part of my problem. And they said 10 lbs in a month, guaranteed!! So obviously I had to do it!
Now I’m going to go ahead and spill the truth on what was really happening. (This would be a good time to pay attention if any of the above sound even remotely familiar…)
Programs and workout videos like Beachbody’s Insanity really are great cardio workouts, but as I mentioned above, it came to an end. I actually stopped a week or two before I was supposed to because I was getting bored, saw the end in view and said f@%& it.
Did I mention they were really good cardio workouts? Unless you are weight training along with these videos, you’re also more likely to plateau at some point. With any cardio, the more you do it the better your body becomes at doing it which will require less energy to do. So even though you’re doing the same workout on Day 30 as you were on Day 1, you’re probably better at it so you’re not burning as many calories. On top of that, if your eating doesn’t change, you’ll eventually plateau and may start gaining weight.
As for pills/supplements like Hydroxycut. I could have had 2 cups of coffee for the same effect without whatever other junk was in those little capsules. What I thought was the pills working was really me exercising and watching my food; I was being aware and accountable of my food and physical activity.
Nutrisystem and food services of the like have the right idea, and I’m sure they mean well, BUT their way of getting you there sets you up for failure. Expecting people to make ONE SIGNIFICANT change to their eating habits & taste pallet and then keep those changes??
No…just no.
Referring back to my first blog; you can’t expect yourself to start listening to Beethoven and not go insane because your music choice before that was Rob Zombie.
That’s just NOT how our brain works. That’s a whole other blog though.
The good news is, although it’s not easy, this doesn’t mean it has to be complicated and it is definitely possible.
You want the REAL “secret” to losing weight and keeping it off? Think of one of your unhealthy habits and make small adjustments until it’s turned into a healthy habit.
Did you read that? I said small. Small. Adjustments.
Because your current unhealthy habits and situation didn’t happen overnight. There may have been a turning point, but it was daily decisions to indulge and be lazy that gradually got you to this point. Now you have to undo it.
Once that one unhealthy habit becomes a healthy one, pick another unhealthy habit…
Rinse. Wash. Repeat. Don’t Stop.
If you don’t know where to start (or maybe you have started and are stuck) this is when you need to get over your pride and ask for help.
NO… no I didn’t mean to Google it! Find a place like My Fitness Kitchen with EDUCATED coaches to help guide you.
It’s been about 8 or so months since I’ve been told the “secret”. I tracked my food for a few weeks (yes, it sucked but I found out how much I was unnecessarily eating at meals and grazing in between…) and I started weight training in the gym 1 day a week. ONE day a week, and it can be done in less than an hour.
And I ate whatever my carb-chocolate-cookie-loving heart desired. Like, just one cookie, not 3-5ish…
Will it be the same process for you? No. Why would it be?
And that's what makes it hard, you have to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Ask people who have been able to keep it off what they did and if you think it may work for you then give it a shot. If it doesn't work, keep looking!
Just stop stopping.
Until Next Time…Get Off Your A$$.
Chrissy
PS: I took the picture above when I was standing in line at the grocery store. I see these types of magazines all the time. The front covers on 4 out of the 8 have to do with weight loss. Can you spot the BS on each one??
