The Supplement Syndrome

I love this article by Zach Hunt and have interspersed my own viewpoint into it too.

If you were to build the house of fitness – nutrition, exercise, and motivation would make up the foundation; they would also make up the framing, the walls, the roof and pretty much the whole house. Supplements would then maybe be the satellite dish, or perhaps the little gnomes in your garden - not real worthwhile without the house there. Great analogy.  So why would you treat supplements as a precursor to weight loss and write off nutrition and exercise as expendable activities. There are so many new gadgets and companies that talk about weight loss and they are happy to scream out with "no exercise needed".  Are you kidding?  If you really want to lose weight, you have to think smarter.

Are you one of those serial supplement users? Do you subscribe to the “abc” product plan or the “xyz” metabolism makeover?  If that's you - Stop! Please!

There are new diet pills and gimmicks hot off the press every month, just waiting for their prey – the desperate dieter wishing for that next “breakthrough” product. Do you really, I mean really think the newest fad is going to work long term? Don't be that victim. The confusion from the diet and weight loss industries mixed with a dose of media muddle would have you believe that supplements are indeed needed for weight loss, and it's your fault if these “worthwhile” products don't work for you. Many of these hocus-pocus-like solutions tout their creams, potions, wonder pills or gadgets as a no-effort and no-exercise-required approach to fitness – the fat is going to just melt off.  You will lose some fat, some water and unfortunately some muscle in the process.  Do you really have enough muscle now to risk losing?

Let's get this straight; fat does not melt off - unless you use a strategy involving a blowtorch. But I don't recommend that. Even the manufacturers stress that their products should be used along with proper nutrition and exercise. If you ever need some good entertainment – watch a late night infomercial for a diet product. Look at the before and after pictures they show. If you look carefully you'll often see in real small print – the size of a toenail clipping - “results achieved along with proper diet and exercise”. Wow! That is a real breakthrough product. Ever heard of the placebo effect? Often these products are just a good excuse to eat right and exercise – which then produces the desired effect of weight loss.

Yes, there are a few helpful supplements out there. But again, they are not “needed”. Even the useful supplements can be used as a crutch, delaying the onset of proper nutrition and exercise. What you eat and how much physical activity you get will make up 95% or more of the results you achieve. So why would you try to maximize the 5% when you can get the most effect from just working out and eating right. It's common sense people.  And when you do include supplements in your diet, be sure they are legitimate and proven products with research to support their claims.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes an excellent report on how to avoid supplement scams – it's called “The Red Flag Report” - with a fitting subtitle, “I lost $350 in two weeks. Ask me how!” It gives a list of the top 7 red flags to watch out for when buying diet products and exercise equipment.
Here they are:
A supplement or product is too good to be true if it says the product will:
1. Cause weight loss of two pounds or more a week for a month or more without dieting or exercise
2. Cause substantial weight loss no matter what or how much the consumer eats
3. Cause permanent weight loss (even when the consumer stops using product)
4. Block the absorption of fat or calories to enable consumers to lose substantial weight
5. Safely enable consumers to lose more than three pounds per week for more than four weeks
6. Cause substantial weight loss for all users
7. Cause substantial weight loss by wearing it on the body or rubbing it into the skin

If you get just one thing out of this article I would really be pleased if you realize that you don't need any supplements to be successful with weight loss. You are empowered, you have the capability, you have all you need to do this, without any gimmicks.  Supplements are good if you find you are not absorbing needed nutrients, but you should get yourself tested to see where your deficiencies are.  Talking with a nutritionist is another option that can get you started in the right direction.  I don't about you but I do not want to put any pills in my body if I don't need them.

If you need help with an exercise routine or just want to read some articles I've published please don't hesitate to take a look at Perfect Fit.