The Truth About Commercial Weight Loss Programs
I’m not here to bash commercial weight loss programs. I just want you to make an informed decision (and cost effective) when it comes to your health and fitness. Physicians and other health professionals agree that the key to long-term health is proper nutrition and exercise. You need to know the difference between commercial weight loss programs and education-based programs set up by health and fitness professionals. Here are just a few:
Commercial Weight-Loss Programs:
Motivation: Quick-Turn Profits
Measurement: Pounds-on-the-Scale
Protocol: Restricted Calorie Dieting
Selling Points: No Required Exercise, Convenient, Easy Prepared Pre-packaged foods and Point A to B “Program”
Cons: Slows Metabolism, Weakens Immune System, Creates Hormonal Imbalances, Aggitates the Nervous System, Generates Loss of Lean Mass, Increases Body-Fat, Decreases Energy Levels, Disrupts Sleep Patterns, Provides Short-Term Results, Initiates Yo-Yo Dieting
Health and Fitness Professional Based Education Programs:
Motivation: Long-Term Results
Measurement: Body Composition (less body fat, more lean muscle mass)
Protocol: Proper Nutrition/Productive Exercise
Selling Points: Education-Based, Physiologically Sound Protocol, Provides Long-Term Lifestyle Strategy, Incorporates Grocery Store Foods, Decreased Body-Fat, Higher Energy Level, Increased Metabolism, Strengthened Immune System, Requires Physical Activity, Requires Proper Nutrition, Requires Long-Term Commitment
Options: Personal Training Sessions and Educational Materials
As you can see, there are far more advantages to an education-based health and fitness program when you are trying to acheive your weight-management and lifestyle goals. Why? Because fitness programs adheres to basic human physiology and behavior. If you want to learn more, just call, email me or view my weight management videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/markheagle You can then make an informed decision about your health and fitness.
XML Feed
LOVE how you listed the Cons and the Selling Points of both. For me, I know I am not doing well when my glands are swollen, I feel light headed or am excessively moody. These are signs that I am eating too little and possibly working out too much. Must find the balance.
I do not understand how some bodies function when one goes low/no carb. I mean we are different but how? I guess your are the fitness guy, not the nutritionist, but here I go… thoughts and moving fingers.
Thanks for the info. I think most people appreciate information, but many just will do their own thing too. Good to have options and I for one like info. I am starting to believe that fitness is something I want to focus on instead of the eating. I want to be able to solve my patterns, but alas, I may have to focus on something else.
Happy Thanksgiving Mark.
Sometimes people just have to go through fad diets and commercial sales to stop believing in miracles, grow up, and make a good choice…
As you said, you can lose weight fast on those programs but you gain all the weight back plus some more.
Making lifestyle changes and learning about body and mind is a life-long process…
60%-70% of your weight loss/fat loss goal success will depend on proper nutrition. It is not good to omit one of the macronutrients (carb, fat, protein) from your diet. You need all three. A general guideline is carbs (mainly low glycemic) 60%-65%, fats (mainly unsaturated) 15%-20%, and proteins, 15%-20%. Excess calories put weight on your body and not carbs. It has been scientifically proven that exercise and good nutrition always works for long-term success. But, sometimes people want the quick, easy solution and companies sell that to them. Also, get to know your body. Certain foods trigger different things in different people.
one more thing….carbs (stored in the body as glycogen) are your body’s preferred source of fuel during exercise….carbs spare proteins to build and repair tissues…and finally, “fat burns in a carb flame”……so, carbs are great! don’t go on a low-carb diet—-eat the right carbs like whole grains, fruits and veggies….
Well I agree in part and I say in part because low-carb is the reason for my success of losing the 63 pounds. It is the Phase 1 of low carb that is the hardest but I’m really into Phase 3 and I eat fruit, veggies low grains and to tell the truth the scale is not moving. So by Monday I’ll be back to the low carb diet. Hey Mark; it works!!!!
I agree with eating plenty of carbs—the right kind, like whole grains, fruits and veggies. Its the sugary and starchy carbs that give people trouble. Go ahead and cut those out. I personally have a 65% carb diet. Your body prefers carbs for energy. And remember, its excess calories that put on the weight and not what you eat.
You are absolutely right. Good nutrition and exercise plays a BIG role in weight loss. The more nourish you are, the more energy you have to exercise. When you are well nourished, you do not need Powerbars, Lunabars, etc., also known as “added calories”. Unfortunately, most people do not know that good carbs are needed for protein synthesis.