Do you plan to diet for your New Year’s Resolution? Make sure you lose weight, not money.
Avoid diet products like HCG Ultra Drops, Raspberry Ketone, RaspDiet.com, Acai Berry, African Mango and Sensa. These weight loss supplements, diet pills, drops and powders don’t live up to their miracle claims and hundreds of Scambook users say they’ve been ripped off by “free” trials.
Fad Diet or Fraud Diet?
Here’s what one Scambook user wrote about Sensa, describing a situation we hear about in virtually all diet product complaints:
“They offered a 30 day free trial where you only pay shipping. I called about this and ordered the free trial. It came and I started taking the product. What I did not realize was that they got my credit card info and sent me the free trial plus a couple more. I did not realize anything was wrong till I got my credit card bill and saw where there was a charge made by Sensa that I did not authorize … I have been scammed. ” [source]
HCG Ultra and Raspberry Ultra Drops (aka Raspberry Ketone and RaspDiet.com) are allegedly hacking users’ Facebook accounts and spamming their friends.
You can also read about how HCG Ultra and Raspberry Ultra Drops (also known as Raspberry Ketone or RaspDiet.com) have an alleged connection to Facebook and email hacking:
- Is Raspberry Ultra Drops Hacking Your Facebook Account?
- HCG Ultra Drops Linked to a Fake Fox News Page
The majority of Scambook complaints discuss how these weight loss companies allegedly ripped off or even hacked, but there’s also evidence on WebMD and other health sites suggesting that these pills, drops and powders don’t deliver real weight loss results.
In other words, your New Year’s Resolution to lose weight will probably be more successful if you skip the gimmicks, fads, miracles and secrets. They’re expensive, misleading and unlikely to work.
Tips to Lose Weight in 2013 Without Getting Ripped Off
Remember, every individual has different health needs and it may take you a while to discover which diets or exercise plans will work the best for you. Always talk to your primary care doctor before you begin any kind of weight loss program.
1. Understand that it won’t be fast or easy. Sure, you’ll lose weight if you restrict yourself to 500 calories a day or go on a liquid cleanse diet, but most health experts agree that you’ll just regain the weight as soon as you return to normal eating.
You also risk serious damage to your overall long-term health. Kathleen Zelman, WebMD’s director of nutrition, cautions dieters against any weight loss program that’s faster than 2-3 pounds a week.
2. Join a gym or take a fitness class. If you’re trying to lose weight, dieting alone won’t be enough. We need regular physical exercise to stay healthy. The Mayo Clinic recommends that all healthy adults get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, even if it’s just a brisk walk, but you’ll want to burn more calories and work on building lean muscle if it’s your goal to lose weight.
Joining a gym or signing up for a fitness class will help motivate you to exercise more. In addition to the benefits of exercise equipment and instruction, it will provide incentive to stick to the program so you get the most out of your membership.
3. Cook your own meals. Make time to shop for fresh ingredients and prepare your own meals at home. You’ll eat healthier, more nutritious foods when you cook for yourself instead of grabbing lunch at a fast food joint or dining at restaurants. It’s also much cheaper, so you’ll save money. Visit MyRecipes.com for thousands of healthy recipe ideas for dieting.
Cook your own meals to save money and eat healthier, fresher, more nutritious foods.
4. Try mindful eating. Mindful eating is when you shut off the TV, eat in silence and focus on every bite. It might sound like a gimmick, but the practice of mindful eating comes from the Zen Buddhist tradition and nutrition experts believe it can be a powerful tool to stop over-eating. By dining slowly and thoughtfully, the experts say, you’ll feel fuller faster and minimize junk food cravings.
Dr. Lilian Cheung of Harvard’s School of Public Health told The New York Times that “By acknowledging and embracing our cravings through a few breaths, we can stop our autopilot of reaching out to the pint of ice cream or the bag of chips.”
Experts suggest one mindful meal each week to start.
5. Find a support group. Remember, you’re not alone. Many experts say that programs like Weight Watchers, which includes a regular meeting, succeed because of the supportive environment they foster. Find a family member, friend or coworker who also wants to lose weight and go on a diet together. You’ll help motivate each other and stay on track. You can also find support groups online, at church or at community centers.
What Are Your Diet, Weight Loss and Fitness Tips?
Have you lost weight through diet and exercise or other methods? Have you ever tried weight loss supplements? Share your own tips and stories in the comments.
See Also
Spring Back into Shape with the Best Way to Lose Weight
Is Insomnia Making You Fat? New Study Links Sleep Deprivation with Weight Gain
How Those “One Weird Trick” Belly Fat Ads Scam You
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