Diet Pills – to take or not to take? That is the question

Want to lose weight quickly, safely, easily?

Want to lose 4 – 12 kgs in 30 days?

Most of us have bought weight loss products -usually when we were desperate, depressed and ready to give up ever trying to lose weight again.

We lost but then put on what we lost, plus more. That took us back to the depressing cycle – lose, put on, lose and put on again.

But we’ve just heard about a new slimming product – it’s working for our friends, everyone is buying it and it is 100% natural.

Should we buy it?

Let me share  the truth behind weight loss products

How they get you hooked

The Advertising

• You’ll lose quickly.
• It will increase your metabolism.
• Satisfy your hunger.
• Prevent cravings.
• Trap fat.
• Prevent fat being absorbed.
• Cause maximum fat loss in minimum time.
• It will be easy.
• You’ll never be hungry.
• Lose naturally.
• Flush out excess water.
• Boost energy.
• Control cravings.
• 100% authentic, 100% natural, 100%herbal
• Lose without dieting.
• Optimum results with regular use.
• Lose 4 – 12 kg in 30 days.
• See results in 3 days.
• Drink & shrink.
• New energy with therapeutic fasting.
• Lose weight without dieting.
• Don’t need science to prove there is a connection between your mood and your weight.
• It’s Scientifically proven

All the above were taken from actual adverts.

The Marketing

• Use of scientific terms impresses people and helps persuade them to buy the product.
• Appeals to people who want to save time – replaces meals, easy to take a pill, make a shake – not necessary to cook which is more time    consuming.
• Appeals to today’s trend – the need for instant gratification – Instant, fast or quick results.
• Guarantees – if it’s guaranteed it must be good e.g. Guaranteed results, Guaranteed fat loss.
• Get something free – Free consultation, Buy 2 get one free.
• Testimonials – Pages of success stories, quotes and photo’s of people who have tried it – if it’s worked for them – it must / will work for me.

The small print

• Use in conjunction with a healthy eating plan.
• Exercise is important.
• Important to avoid the wrong kinds of food.

My question is – If you do one or more of the three things mentioned in the small print – why do you need the slimming product?

Hundreds of scientific studies have been completed which prove that the only way to lose weight is to:

• Make healthier choices
• Eat less
• Exercise more

There are no magic pills, milkshakes or fairy godmothers to solve your weight problems. In the end it’s up to you.

100% “Herbal” Slimming Products

By now I’m sure you’ve read that Simply Slim (diet pills) have been recalled with immediate effect.  This comes after laboratory tests on what Simply Slim claims to be a  “100% herbal product”  was found to contain 27mg of  sibutramine. According to health regulations any pill containing sibtramine must be registered as a prescription medicine and must contain no more than 15mg sibutramine. Side effects of sibutramine include an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

What is absolutely shocking is an article I found on just how prevalent the practice of adding sibutramine to slimming products is.

This excerpt taken from the The Witness website

“A South African purchaser who knows little about the pharmaceutical industry heard the following promotional statement when he was in China about a month ago to obtain information about slimming products for a South African client: “How much sibutramine can we add to your 100% herbal slimming product, 10 mg or double strength? Or do you want the weak formula? “Just remember, 80% of our clients prefer the chemical product, because their consumers want to lose weight fast.” The man, who has 15 years’ experience in the purchasing of other products in China, told Beeld he didn’t even know what sibutramine was. It was only when he gave feedback to his client and later did some research on sibutramine that he realised with a shock he had almost been involved in an illegal activity.”

So next time you see 100% herbal slimming products advertised, think about the implications to your health if it’s not scientifically tested.  Food for thought.

Simply Slim recalled

First thing this morning I received an sms from a client telling me that Simply Slim (diet pills) had been recalled – we had been discussing quick fixes, fads and weight loss gimmicks at her last appointment. It is all over the news – online, in the newspapers and on twitter – even a twitpic of a Simply Slim dealer vacating his shop in Killarney Mall as he’d  been evicted.

If you are taking Simply Slim you need to stop immediately as there is a risk to your health – which is why it has been recalled.

According to newspaper reports Simply Slim which claims to be 100 percent herbal, contained sibutramine. According to health regulations, any pill containing sibutramine must be registered as a prescription medicine and must contain no more than 15mg sibutramine. Laboratory tests  showed that simply slim  contained 27mg.  Side effects of sibutramine include an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

So if you’re on Simply Slim – please read any one or all of  the links, to articles in the media, below and read my previous post Quick and easy weight loss. Is it the answer to our dreams?

http://www.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle/health/article294131.ece

http://www.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle/health/article294131.ece

http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/543581473ef84639b73ce302a71e2dad/05-02-2010-10-50/Simply_Slim_diet_pill_recalled

Quick and easy weight loss. Is it the answer to our dreams?

Recently I received an e-mail from someone asking me what I thought of a certain weight loss “wave” doing the rounds. This question relates to one of my hot buttons – fads, gimmicks and quick fixes. It relates to exactly the subject of my last newsletter – people are looking for quick fixes in the hope that it will be the answer and that this time it will work.

The dream is that

• we’ll wake up slimmer,
• we’ll lose quickly
• it will be effortless,
• it will be “easy”,
• someone will give / provide us the answer / solution.

The reality is that

• it will take time,
• it will involve learning how to make the right choices,
• we have to change the way we  think
• we have to practice and adopt new habits and behaviour.
• weight loss on a healthy eating plan will be slower and steadier than a quick fix.

The weight loss one achieves with quick fixes, gimmicks or fads is simply not sustainable. So every time a person purchases a product they are buying into a depressing and debilitating downward spiral where eventually they just want to give up.

Two issues which are relevant today are a lack of time and the need for instant gratification. The wording in all the sales material of these products are aimed to “solve” these problems by saving one time and giving instant results.

Here are some exerpts from a quick fix website:

The time issue – how they’ll save you time:

• In today’s fast paced life, with trying to juggle everything at once, our diet has put much strain on our health. These days we don’t even have time to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee, let alone have time to prepare those healthy meals we are told to eat everyday!

• finally there is a product that can help you manage your busy life and lose weight.

• take one capsule daily and the rest will happen automatically.

• Forget strenuous gym sessions,

Instant gratification – how taking a pill can give you better quality of life.

• Why simply exist from day to day, when you can live a quality life and face every day as a better person

Another fashion is to use the word “natural” – which a lot of people assume to mean healthy. The fact is that many “natural” products have not been scientifically tested and people have no idea about what they are putting into their bodies.  * (see not below)

The reality is that agents who sell these products are in it to make money – it was reported  by Beeld, a local newspaper, that this product  “is sold by agents who buy the product for about R350 and resell it for about R590”.

In a nutshell it is another quick fix that will make an absolute fortune because millions of people will buy the product before reality hits them.

It’s just been reported that the abovementioned quick fix has been recalled in South Africa  with immediate effect for saftety reasons.

* The slimming product, which claims to be 100 percent herbal, contained sibutramine. According to health regulations, any pill containing sibutramine must be registered as a prescription medicine and must contain no more than 15mg sibutramine. Laboratory tests  showed it contained 27mg.  Side effects of sibutramine include an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.