Selling Snake Oil

I am a huge fan of P90X and Insanity.  The workouts are legit, intense, and can be completed several times.  However, Beachbody is proving they have devolved into a stereotypical, multi-level marketing purveyor of snake oil with its latest product - Ultimate Reset.

Our bodies are designed to organically and naturally detoxify - that's why we have certain organs.  I've seen where Beachbody coaches have begun to pimp this new plan as well.  "I've lost 17 pounds and have never felt better."  Isn't that really an indictment against the other snake oil product, Shakeology?  If a Beachbody coach is holding fast to P90X or Insanity and eating correctly wouldn't they be in shape and not need to lose 17 pounds? Why push an unnecessary product?

I've totally lost any and all respect for Beachbody and Product Partners, LLC.  Their goal is to make money at the expense of a gullible and ignorant populace that truly desires to live a healthy life.  People have bought into to the lie that supplements are the answer when they are most definitely not.  The entire staff of Beachbody from Carl Daikeler down to the newest MLM coach should be ashamed.

People, the answer is simple.  Eliminate processed foods from your diet.  Eat as many vegetables (fresh, frozen, organic and non-organic) as you want.  Eat a variety of fresh or frozen fruit.  Stop shying away from beans, nuts and seeds - eat them, baby!

Exercise is vital.  Start moving on a daily basis.  Yes, I love P90X and Insanity.  Since I am so PISSED at the underhanded way Beachbody is attempting to separate you from your money I no longer recommend purchasing P90X or Insanity from Beachbody.  Find a used copy on eBay.  Or begin to walk, jog, or run.  Do push ups, pull ups and dips.  Do playground exercies such as jumping jacks and skipping rope.  Anything is better than nothing! There are plenty of free workouts on You Tube.

Time to kick unscrupulous companies like Beachbody to curb.  They are not as concerned about ending the trend of obesity as they are lining the wallets of the owners of the company.  Nothing wrong with making a profit but when a company begins to sell lies then the line is crossed.

Can You Pinch an Inch?

For some reason I had a memory of the old Special K commerical that had an actor ask, “Can you pinch an inch?”  Yes, I am that old. Absolute confession: Yes, I can still pinch an inch on my belly and my not-so-lovely “love handles.”  Anyway, why did I have that vivid memory?

It is estimated that over 67% of Americans and overweight and many are obese.  I am skeptical that Special K is the answer but I suppose it is preferrable to Pop-Tarts, Paczki’s, and anything fried.  Could Kellogg’s get away with asking that brutal question, from a marketing perspective?  I doubt it. 

Mr. Kellogg, the founder of that great Michigan institution, was a healthy eater and understood the importance of a hearty breakfast.  We’ve often been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day – and it probably is. However, it still should be healthy. 

One of my favorite breakfast meals is fruit cereal.  I chop a banana, an apple, and strawberries, add some blueberries, and walnuts and top it with non-daily milk.  It’s packed full of nutrients, fiber, vitamins, and other healthy goodness! 

My other “go to” breakfast is oatmeal.  “Yuck,” you say.  Not so fast sparky!  Cook a serving according to package instructions but don’t get it too thick.  Add 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, a chopped banana, a handful of blueberries, and some walnuts.  I also like to throw in some chopped apples.  If you do you might want to cook them in the oatmal because they often cool the meal down too much.  This meal is especially good if you want to lower your cholesterol!

Both are staples in my fight against heart disease.  I’ve lowered my cholesterol (without the aid of medicine or supplements) by half (total) and lowered LDL by 62%!  I’ve also dropped 10+ pounds in the past 5 weeks.  I am working to get to the point where I can honestly declare, “No, I can’t pinch an inch.”

Healthy eating works!

Myth Busting 101

Many people are looking for a magic bullet to cure their ills.  If only a pill could be invented without side affects!  Billions of dollars are spent annually for the panacea that doesn't exist.  Supplement companies easily prey on the ignorant in the same way "snake oil" salesmen did in wild, wild west.  Now the names are exciting and the packages are slicker.

Only a minority of people require diet supplementation.  Yes, strict vegetarians need B12 supplements but not much else.  A multi-vitamin can correct any holes in a vegetarian diet.  Supplement companies are unnecessary and if people would ask a few questions the lie would be exposed and the victim would save some jack $$$.

One myth I've heard from a popular "shake" company is that supplementation is needed because of soil depletion.  That simply is not true.  The soil in the United States still produces healthy fruits and vegetables.  The real problem is people are eating the wrong foods! A $3.99 daily shake is not the healthiest meal of the day - a large salad with romaine, red cabbage, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, radishes, and sunflower seeds is!

There is no easy way out of obesity and there are no shortcuts to a healthy life.  Eating a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables is the best way to improve your health and to drop unwanted pounds.  You can't shake your way out of it!