Don't Get Swept Away by Deceptivce Weight Loss Claims

This is that time of the year you get hit by a sea of advertisements for weight loss programs and products. The weight loss industry is big business with annual revenues of over $20 billion, with lots of players trying to get a hold of your cash.  You'll hear about products and services ranging from prepackaged meals to things you can sprinkle on you food to help you loss weight.  Here are some things you should know to make sure you don't get swept away by deceptive programs and products promising dramatic results in only days.

Diets don't work for long-term weight loss.  At any one time there are over 100 million people in the U.S. on a diet.  Most people lose 5 to 10 percent of their starting weight within the first 6 months on a diet, however over 90 percent of them regain their weight within 1 to 5 years.

The reason why so many people fail on a diet is because they don't make the necessary lifestyle changes to lose the weight and keep it off.  Making healthy lifestyle choices that you can stick to for the long-term is key to losing weight and keeping it off.  Any diet that places severe restrictions on what you can and cannot eat is going to fail because it is nearly impossible to adhere to for very long.

There are no magic pills or dust that's going to make you lose weight, or at least not in a healthy way.  I'm a personal trainer with over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry and I have never seen a single pill or product that will miraculously cause you to lose weight in a healthy manner.  Weight loss has always and will always be a result of taking in less calories than you expend.

Put little belief in the celebrity hype.  Most of the major weight loss products and services have celebrities who endorse them who are paid $500,000 to $3 million to do so.  So think twice the next time you hear some celebrity talk about how they lost weight on some fantastic product or service.

Always remember that healthy eating and  regular exercise is the best combination for losing weight and keeping it off.  Not only will you look better, you will also feel better.

Lets Get Real About Getting Fit

As a personal trainer with over 17 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, I've seen the fad diets and the quick fix exercise programs come and go. I'm always amused at all the so called health and fitness companies trying to rake in all the money they can by taking advantage of people's new year's resolutions. It's almost like a show I saw a few weeks ago on the Discovery Channel about all the sea predators waiting for the annual sardine run when they can easily eat their fill.

The advertisements entice you with quick weight loss results and a toned shapely body. They get celebrities to endorse their products to encourage you that buying them is money well spent. I hope you don't fall prey to these predators of human emotions.

The reality is their are not any quick fixes to long-term weight loss and improved physical fitness. Losing weight and improving your fitness level is a lifetime commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

In my experience, a healthy lifestyle consist of a positive mental attitude, balance and moderation in your diet, and a regular exercise program. The good news is all of these things are in your control. They are all based on the choices you make everyday and the first choice is not to become a victim of the "quick fix predators."