What has happened to us as a human race? We want everything as a quick fix. We could blame technology. It is so easy to press a few buttons on your phone or tablet and have ordered yourself a new dress/new book/new wife(!) It takes a few days and it arrives. Job done. You haven’t even needed to leave the sofa.
It’s the same with weight loss. Everyone wants a healthy lifestyle but not always keen to put the work in. The clue is in the title; Life. Not for 2 weeks where you may lose the weight, go on holiday and then pile it all back on again. It’s lifelong healthy eating and drinking habits, with some exercise added in as well. For life. Ultimately, it then should become habit and normality and much easier to maintain. A healthy lifestyle also incorporates delicious food and drink; it doesn’t have to be restrictive and it certainly doesn’t cut out large food groups such as sugar, carbs, dairy or even whole meals.
So why do so many companies out there try to make us think otherwise with products that I have seen all over my social media; Herbalife and Juiceplus. Both products promote a healthy body, a balanced intake of nutrients and can help with weight loss. The products from both companies are vast; shakes, bars, teas, capsules and various supplement powders. JuicePlus manages to pack 30 fruits and vegetables into a capsule or powder!
I’m not going to argue with some of it. Some of the products probably do provide one’s quota of vitamins and minerals, and are calorie controlled. These people will have done their research. The JuicePlus website has a vast number of journals where published papers sit. It is proven to benefit the immune system, the heart, teeth, the list goes on.
Of course people who start to take these products will lose weight. Their calorie intake will be cut down dramatically promoting weight loss. However, this may not be just fat. Insufficient calories and protein will lead to the breakdown of lean muscle mass too and a lowering of the basal metabolic rate to compensate for this. These side effects are not good and it is likely a person will start to re-gain their weight when they start to eat properly again.
In some occasions rapid weight loss is needed. For example for patients going for gastric band surgery, weight loss reduces the liver size and can help improve the likelihood of successful surgery. However, for everyone else it is not recommended. Weight loss should be slow and steady with a weight loss of 1-2lbs a week.
Why on earth would someone want to be drinking a shake when they could be eating a balanced meal? A capsule with 30 fruit and vegetables in it? Why not make a delicious fruit salad to have with yoghurt? Or a warming vegetable soup with some crusty seedy bread? Of course we are busy nowadays. Life moves so quickly and it is hard to plan and prepare meals from scratch all the time but no one is going to survive on shakes and tablets for life, really? And so much for all the vitamins and minerals packed in. It has been shown that the complex interaction of vitamins and minerals found in food can not be compensated for in a supplement.
So, as a trained professional I would never recommend these products. They are a quick fix, they are expensive and they teach a person nothing about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight. If something looks too good to be true, it usually is in life. If you really want something, you usually have to put the work in. It is never a quick fix.
I totally agree! I mean tea tox and bootea? Not that I am an expert, but I have always been a believer in eating healthily and exercise! When I do eat healthy , I start to slim down within a couple weeks. I think a lot of those things are fads! xx
*shuffles feet* OK, boss. Sorry 🙂
Yay go you for putting this out of there. I hate seeing my friends doing these quick fix diets and then upset when the weight goes back on. I am terrible at dieting but I do find when I just cut out crap the weight comes off and stays off. #sundaystars xxx
Wise words as always lovely. I agree that the only way to lose weight and keep it off is through a sensible, balanced diet of fresh natural food and regular exercise. It's not sexy though and doesn't sell, therefore it isn't in the interest of big business to promote this. Sad fact of life is that there is a ton of cash to made from 'quick fix' crash diets 🙁 xx #sundaystars
I totally agree, everything takes hard work. And, really why would you want to have a shake or something, when you could have a nice healthy meal #sundaystars
Excellent points, I'm not sure why people fall for it constantly. They think its going to bring a miracle about and sometimes it does for about a week but its just not sustainable if you're not going to carry it on or make good lifestyle changes.
I totally agree! I started losing my pregnancy weight, where I was the heaviest, by simply minimizing my carb intakes and cola/fruit juices, as I was also trying to avoid developing Type 2 diabetes as I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant… and simple changes in my diet have really worked wonders in my weight! Great post! Thanks for sharing! #AnythingGoes
I totally agree. i work with people on weight loss but from the psychological perspective. Denial never works, it creates a desire and then we are more likely to over eat. the power of the marketing is pretty persuasive though i have to say. Foods labeled as if they are healthy and low fat when a regular box of porridge oats is many times better. Great post. Kirsten
Good post, this reminds me of that conversation we had the other week about Forever Living!! Am I right? Did I get you thinking? X
What a great read! Has made me think out my diet and things! I try eat healthy when I can but sometime it can be hard, espesh after a long hard day with a crying toddler! Thank for the tips! Suz x beauisblue.com
Excellent points Sarah. As someone who has lost and gained a ton of weight over the last 25 years, I couldn't agree more. Maybe those will work in the short term but eventually the weight just comes back. Great post. #AnythingGoes
This is a great post. I'm not the most heathly person going I could do better but I'm not horrific either. I love food and think you should be able to have a bit of everything, food and drink wise in moderation, otherwise what's the point if you can't enjoy what your eating because your on some crazy diet that say all you can eat is just fruit or just meat or whatever it crazy. I worry about the young girls of today following these diet's, I'm not old (31 in october)
I totally agree! If these fad diets worked long term, and not just the initial period (lets face it you switch pizza for a healthy shake, you're going to lose weight initially) they would be so expensive that most people wouldn't be able to be on them. You can't even blame the companies really – while people are willing to pay for them, they are going to continue selling them.
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
A brilliant and much needed post lovely. And the fact that you are so stunning and healthy is proof that you know your stuff and practice what you preach. I am so interested when you write posts like this. Because it is so easy to get swept along by current diet fads and it is always great to hear from an expert on what is best. Thanks for linking up to #SundaysStars. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to comment. I have just moved house and have been without WiFi forever. Hugs Mrs H xxxx