Spring is here and it’s time to get back into shape, but what’s the best way to actually lose weight? When you’re bombarded by fads like low carb paleo diets, Cross Fit mania and weight loss supplements like Raspberry Ultra Drops, it’s easy to get confused and discouraged. Many diets fail simply because dieters don’t know enough to set realistic goals.
You may be wondering: is there a magic bullet to weight loss and getting in shape? Are all these weird weight loss products and “natural” supplements even safe? Should I try to lose the weight slowly or do those 10 day juicing fasts work? How much weight loss is a realistic goal?
Do diet products like Raspberry Ultra Drops, HCG Ultra Drops and Pure Berry work?
Remember the Golden Rule: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. (Need proof? Check out our article about cheap Super Bowl tickets on Craigslist.)
On Scambook, many users try diet products like Raspberry Ultra Drops and Pure Berry that claim to boost your metabolism and help you slim down fast. But according to complaints, these products have proved problematic for our Scambook community.
Users are reporting the free trial offers associated with these products aren’t exactly “free.” The old bait-and-switch practice applies to dietary products as customers are attracted to free or cheap trials. But they often end up being billed, even for the “free trials,” for much more than they expected.
How Much Weight is Safe to Lose in a Week?
It seems that the best way to get in shape is a healthy diet and a regular workout regimen, not special drops or pills. So if you shouldn’t expect to melt away all your unwanted pounds in a week, what should you expect when you start a new diet? How many pounds should you plan to lose each week?
Does slow and steady win the race in the world of weight loss?
Sylvia R. Karasu, author of The Gravity of Weight, analyzes various studies which have tried to answer these very questions:
“The recommendation to lose weight more slowly works for some but may actually interfere with long-term goals and successful weight maintenance for others. It sometimes depends on how you lose the weight and there are substantial genetic differences among people. We don’t always know why some people lose weight more slowly than others.”
She also notes that “losing weight more rapidly can provide considerably psychological reinforcement for the dieter” but to keep off the pounds permanently, you need to follow your diet and daily exercise routine “indefinitely”:
“What tends to prevent weight regain, though, is adherence to a long-term program–what’s called a “continuous care” model since obesity (and weight control) are chronic problems for those so genetically challenged … [long-term weight loss requires] consistent monitoring of what we eat, how much we exercise, and and what we weigh as measured on a scale. Furthermore, what also is more likely to lead to maintenance of any weight loss (i.e. avoiding weight regain) is continuing to practice lifestyle interventions such as daily exercise.”
Karasu also outlines the dangers involved with specific diets, such as very low calorie diets (VLCD), which pose serious health risks like cardiac issues, dehydration, and loss of muscle mass:
“Characteristically, when patients do lose weight rapidly by severe caloric restriction, they are likely initially losing water and even muscle mass, particularly if they are not getting sufficient amounts of protein in their diets … Textbooks recommended 1 to 2 pounds a week [when losing weight] as a safe amount to lose”.
So there’s no magic bullet to getting back in shape, but you don’t have to set your goals so low that you don’t notice results in time for summer. Skip the bait-and-switch drops, follow old-fashioned diet and exercise, and focus on changing your lifestyle more than your waistline.
Are You Starting a New Diet and Exercise Plan This Spring?
How quickly do you lose weight? Do you have a diet goal you’re trying to reach this spring? We want to hear from you! If you have any ideas for fellow Scambook users, leave a comment!
See Also
How Those “One Weird Trick” Belly Fat Ads Scam You
Health Watch: Hazardous Chemical Found in Herbal Weight Loss Supplements
Are You at Risk? How to Protect Yourself from Health Scams
I am trialing Phen375 diet pills. I only have a few kgs to lose and already follow a sensible diet and exercise program (train 6-7 days a week, one day with a PT) and eat mainly protein. I will let you know if it is all it claims to be. I also intend to try Ultra Shaping. This process uses ultra sound to break down fat but it costs a bomb (thousdands).
I will keep you posted.
Cheers and thanks for helping us find the scams out there.
For years I ran 5 or 6 days a week and lifted weights 3 days, aminly using machines. These days I rarely run but feel I’m maintaining good levels of fitness doing short intense and varied workouts. My original introduction to this style of training was CrossFit. That’s still a good program however my concern is the risk of injury because you’re doing complex moves in an exhausted state. As your form goes, the risk of injury skyrockets. These days I prefer an exercise and nutrition plan along these lines: http://effectivefitnessroutines.com/
as you state: “there’s no magic bullet to getting back in shape” but an efficient plan does make it easier.