Are Diet Programs Worth the Money?

It has been estimated that Americans spend approximately $50 BILLION on the best diet programs each year.  My first question of course, is where the heck all this money is coming from, but then of course to get to the ‘meat and potatoes’ (pardon the reference) of the issue, isn’t this a lot?  One has to question the effectiveness of the best diet programs, since logic would indicate that people are obviously trying more than one program.   $50 billion spent on the government level makes me feel sick enough, but to think that average citizens are spending their hard earned cash, especially in this economy, is downright unbelievable.    

Before I even sat down to write this piece, I knew exactly the way I feel about the cost of the best diet programs and the ramifications of how the cost combined with non-guaranteed results, feels.  Rather than just writing this based on my own experience, let’s take a look at an example; one most of us are familiar with.  No matter where you live, chances are you either drive by a local Jenny Craig location or you see/hear the commercials every day.  Most notably, Jenny Craig got a big boost in business and reputability when celebrity Kirstie Alley lost so much weigh on the system.  It was inspiring to see the monthly updated commercials touting Kristie’s progress, causing women and men alike to jump off their couches, bypass the stop at the McDonalds’ drive-thru and head directly to Jenny Craig so that they too, could start shedding the pounds.  The sad thing is that Kirstie Alley is now being featured on every gossip mag out there, being exploited and ridiculed for all the weight (plus some) that she gained back.  In this case, the diet plan obviously worked (along with the personal trainer she could afford to work out with for hours each day), but the diet program was not effective for long-term weight loss.

I myself have tried the best diet programs such as NutriSystem, Weight Watchers, Diet Workshop, SlimFast, Dexatrim, TrimSpa, I’ve been prescribed Meridia, and I’ve done the cabbage soup diet, the Atkins Diet, The Zone and the South Beach Diet.  How much money did I contribute toward our $50 billion?  Probably more than I could afford now that I think about it, but such is the beast of desperation when you feel trapped inside a body you never intended to be in.  While each of the programs I’ve referenced each has their own merits (obviously, or they wouldn’t still be in business), I will say a few of them gave me a jump start toward the weight loss I eventually achieved.  In the end, it was good ole fashioned ‘reduce the portions and increase the exercise’ that helped me shed over 85 pounds.

Everyone is always looking for the silver bullet; the magic pill or best diet program where you pay your money and they will take the weight off FOR you.  I’m here to tell you that the only person that can do that is a plastic surgeon and even HE sees people put the weight right back on after sucking it off their hips and thighs.   While it may be a slower process, it’s my opinion (and I realize it’s my opinion only, so feel free to comment if you feel differently) that diet programs are NOT worth the money.  Many of them have you eating unnatural, processed, dehydrated foods that you must purchase from them, when your body is meant to have fresh whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Do yourself a favor… the next time a NutriSystem or Jenny Craig commercial comes on, hand someone else your checkbook and insist that they do NOT give it back to you until the urge to run out and join these programs has passed.

Now go find yourself a fresh, healthy snack and drink plenty of water! And by the way, I’m sure the dog needs a good long walk too.

Top Celebrity Diet Tricks that can work for you

These days a Hollywood actress and a healthy diet go hand in hand. Celebrity diet tricks seem to be the fad, whether its lean meats, cottage cheese, baby food, or sweet potatoes to satisfy their sweet tooth, these foods keep them looking healthier than ever and keep us as envious as ever. Every woman has the shape she wants in mind, is your idyllic body type more like Jennifer Lopez or Angelina Jolie? You still need to find those celebrity diet tricks that will work for you.

Which would you favor, cottage cheese on the legs or cottage cheese in your mouth? Cottage cheese is known as the “healthy cheese”, contrasting other cheeses it retains its whey content since it is not press dried, but drained. Compared to other cheeses out there, cottage cheese is low in fat with every 5 grams there are 3 grams of saturated fat, it is also low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Now, in regards to celebrity diet tricks, which famous actress gets that body by including cottage cheese into her diet? I’ll give you a hint; they didn’t call the movie honey that Jessica Alba starred in for nothing.

Of the more evident foods required in a healthy diet, lean meats are on top. The body has to work harder to break down lean meats that in turn speed up the metabolism and preserves lean muscle. A diet rich in protein will permit you to lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, while contributing to the development of the bones in the body. Protein-rich diets kill off carbohydrates thereby reducing the fluid content in the body, this alone results in weight loss because it is reducing the amount of water that your body holds. Back to celebrity diet tricks, which actress uses protein-rich lean meats to terminate her weight? Although there seems to be no sign of meat on her own body, the answer is Angelina Jolie.

If you’re having difficulty controlling your portions, calories, or snacking I’ve got a solution for you. Uncontaminated and full of nutrients, baby food is a great snack to eat on the go. Plus, this is one of those celebrity diet tricks that is typically free of harmful chemicals and the majority is naturally and organically made. This snack seems to be all over the internet lately, linked to the diet plan of actress Reese Witherspoon.

If you’re anything like me you’re most likely wondering what to do about that sweet tooth. If you need some sort of dessert after every meal, I recommend potatoes. Not just any potatoes, but sweet potatoes. Rich in potassium and magnesium, they’re also a great source of healthy carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes also work to lower your blood sugar as well as fighting arthritis. This is one of the celebrity diet tricks of one of the world’s first supermodels, Christie Brinkley, includes sweet potatoes with a drop of olive oil into her diet plan.

It’s not to say we should eat these foods for the reason that the perfectly fit celebrities are including them in their diets, however if they look this good by eating these foods they must be doing something correct. And if there is one thing I cannot stress enough, to obtain the result you and I both know you can achieve, you have to push yourself to get into the gym. Celebrity diet tricks and other diets may result in the weight loss you have been striving for but they will not give you the toned perfection your body deserves. Every step towards a healthier diet and an active life will bring you that much closer to your goal.

Fading Glory? Or Aging Gracefully?

 

Fading Glory? Or Aging Gracefully?

Today’s essay is a bit different from anything I have written before. Everything I write in this article has been kicking around the inside of my brain for weeks, months, dare I say a few years, and it’s not getting any better. It is now that I look to you, my faithful blog followers, to please consider the following, feeling free to share similar experiences you may be going through as well.

While it seems strange to write, and even more surreal to hear spoken out loud, I am in my late 40’s, and nearing 50. Yes, 50 years old. Not 50 dollars, not 50 pounds, but I have spent nearly half a century on this Earth. While the number itself does not bother me, as it does some, the transformations my body is going through is quite bothersome both mentally and physically. From an early age, I was always very athletic, playing baseball and football on a both a collegiate and professional level, while taking pride in the shape I was in and the strength, stamina and speed I had. So far this sounds not so unusual, I know; we’ve all had our ‘hey day’ where we were at the top of our game and in the best shape of our lives. While many find that entering into middle age is the best time of their lives; a time to rejuvenate, focus on health and fitness in hopes of extending life expectancy, I find myself in a different category at the present time (but with any luck, you will see a post a few months from now where there has been progress and transformation taking place).

After having suffered various athletic injuries and had a near-death car accident or two, I have now come this far to find myself lacking energy, struggling with chest pains (yes, they’ve been checked out and I was told it was stress) , stomach & digestive maladies, constantly tight, aching muscles, routine headaches…. I think you get the picture. What I don’t ‘get’ is how I got this way. I am someone who, just a decade or so ago was out to conquer the world… I was braving wild rapids, trekking across the globe to make it to Everest, spending much of my time as a dive master off the beautiful coral reefs in the state I call home. I love the water; being out on the open sea with the warm salt water spray leaving a trail behind me as I head to my favorite fishing grounds. I am at total peace in the water. When I’m diving, the problems of the world are left on the surface, with nothing but captivating creatures and awe-inspiring formations in an underwater world where time ceases to exist (well, okay… Keep an eye on the O2 left in the tank, for sure, but you know what I mean).

Now that I am dealing with all these injuries and age-related consequences, I find myself depressed. Depressed that I have weight to lose and it’s hard to come off at this age; particularly when I have the legs of a 20 year old but carry all my weight in my stomach. I’m now very hesitant (I sometimes even use the word ‘scared’) to dive and do what I love most, for fear I could have a heart attack. I can’t walk up a flight of stairs without feeling winded!

I know all you fitness buffs out there will say “cut back on your portions, what are you eating, are you drinking lots of water, are you exercising….?” The answer to all of these questions is a resounding “yes!” which is what makes this all so frustrating. I like to walk; I load a book on tape onto the iPod and take walks along my favorite bays or a bike through the Everglades. I bought a Wii Fit, a Wii Active; a recumbent bike for the road that I thought would put the least amount of stress on my injured neck/shoulder. I’ve joined gyms; standard gyms, gyms that offer spinning classes, boxing gyms. I love to turkey hunt and scout the woods prior to opening season, but now even that is something I won’t do alone, for fear I could experience problems in the woods.

My question to everyone out there, and please DO reply to this post, is this: What have you done, or do you currently do to either deal with ‘old sports injuries’ / ‘old age’, or to KEEP yourself healthy and strong as you advance in years? Do you know of anyone that has been an inspiration to you, who has helped you along the way? Please tell us your story, so we can ALL continue to be ‘out there’ doing what we love to do most… Spending time in the Great Outdoors and having a high quality of life.