Weight Loss Article - Breaking the Pills Myth

"What about this all-natural diet capsule that says it can help me lose weight no matter what I eat? It says I don't even have to exercise!"

It is simply impractical to think that a product can manipulate the body's natural mechanisms safely and without repercussion. Is it really any wonder why we only read about most of these "amazing" new products when they get recalled or when we pass by a flyer stapled to some telephone pole?

It's a sad truth, but those in a desperate or seemingly hopeless situation often fall prey to this rhetoric. Not necessarily because they believe it, but because they want to believe it. When a person's weight affects their happiness, self-confidence and zest for life, they become vulnerable to claims of instant health and fitness. Whether or not a product works or is even safe to take is often secondary in thought when people are blurred by the warm and fuzzy claims of diet pill manufacturers.

But it's doctor recommended and all-natural!
Boasting that a product is formulated with all natural ingredients is one of the most popular tricks of the trade. Pure ephedra, Poison Ivy and wild mushrooms are all 100% natural as well, but you certainly wouldn't want to swallow them! This is obviously an extreme example, but it's written to prove a point. Just because it's all natural doesn't mean that it's safe, effective or helpful to your efforts.

Claims of doctor recommendations are also a favorite gimmick. What kind of doctor would recommend a product that encourages a seditary lifestyle for weight loss? Aside from those who are financially compensated to make their recommendations, we have yet to find a reputable doctor who would advocate the use of stimulants and a couch for people looking to get fit and lose weight. Need proof? Tell your physician that you are contemplating a new diet where all you have to do is pop a stimulant, eat whatever you want and lay in bed while the pounds just melt away. Let's see how long it takes for him or her to take your temperature.

Hey, if it works, where's the harm?
The travesty of these pills and capsules is that while people know there are side-effects, most are so desperate for change that they are willing to face the risks. Even those who don't consider drug use an option, the manufacturers are now claiming that their "natural" products can mimic the effects of the drugs without the dangerous side effects. This is just ludicrous.

Ephedrine is a banned substance in Canada, yet people dismiss this as an overreaction. In truth, the side effects of substances containing ephedrine are plenty...and not one is beneficial to the body. Ma Huang (the herbal form of ephedra), is one of the most prevalent ingredients in diet pills and capsules today. It is also one of the most harmful. This and other herbs are combined with large quantities of caffeine in order to jack up the heart rate, shock the body's metabolism and reduce appetite...all of which combine to give the illusion of "fat burning".

But other than a temporary drop in weight due to the shock endured by the body system (better get those testimonials fast), the only lingering effects of these capsules is eventual weight gain, insomnia, dehydration, headaches, nervousness, shaking, and even cardiac irregularities. These capsules can also result in borderline addiction and excessive use. Many people have told us that the recommended one capsule a day had to become two, three, even four capsules a day to get the same results. They equated it to feeling like an alcoholic needing more and more drinks to feel the effects.

We've even witnessed the almost comical introduction of "fat absorbers" where companies claim that their "natural" fat-absorbing ingredients can suck up the fat from all the bad foods you eat. They tell you to pop a pill and eat that supreme pizza because their pill will make sure the fat gets sponged up before it can be absorbed by the body. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, it's a fairy tale.

Hey, I'm not trying to get healthy, I'm trying to get thin!
Understand that while you may very well experience a temporary drop in weight through the use of these substances, you can absolutely bet on the fact that you will regain all of this weight and more in due time. A brutal change is never permanent and as the body fights against what it believes to be starvation, you can count on substantial weight gain. What good is losing 30 pounds in 30 days (assuming this could even be done) when you are going to gain 35 back the following month?

You don't need to take a drug or "natural" capsule to fight fat when you can rely on your body's inner resources to do it safely and effectively. All you need to do is give it the right fuel, in the right amounts at the right time and you will be amazed by your body's capacity for fitness. We can help you accomplish this transition, but first you have to make the commitment to choose patience over pills. When you give your body the right mix of ingredients, your weight loss will be gradual and permanent.

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