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You are here: Home / Archives for diet fads

The Cleanse

June 3, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Weight is a progressive disorder.

By that I mean, if you are overweight and you’re not doing something to lose weight, you’re going to gain it; there’s no middle ground. People who battle obesity consistently fool themselves into thinking they can “take a break” and “maintain for awhile.” They can’t. After all, if they could, why would they not have “maintained” ten or twenty pounds lower? That’s not meant to be snarky; it’s just truth.

Eventually the reality, “I’ve let it get out of control” sets in, closely tailed by panic. When that occurs, logic beats a hasty exit and all sorts of strange get-thin-quick behaviors show up on the front porch.

man-looking-at-empty-refrigeratorOne of which is “The Cleanse.”

To lay all my cards on the table, I’m not a fan. One reason is that so many “cleanses” are bizarre at best, even downright unhealthy — not to mention unsustainable.

To that point, I relay a recent conversation with a friend. “I’m on day four of a seven-day cleanse,” he said. “I need advice. I’m starving. I can’t think. I’m ready to bite someone’s head off and all I can think of is eating. What do I do?”

Curious, I asked, “Why are you doing this? Why not a more balanced approach like cutting back a little here and there and adding in some exercise? That would work much better — without the side effects.”

“My girlfriend and I wanted to kick start the weight loss. We found this on line.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet, humor, Newspaper Column, Rant, Weight Loss Tagged With: colon cleanse, diet fads, fad diet, fad diets, starvation diet

Dieter beware; it’s the Season

January 28, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I was prompted to write this because I heard an advertisement proclaiming easy weight loss by simply putting drops on one’s tongue.

Snake-Oil-Diet

This always irks me because I hate it that so many people lie about weight loss; taking advantage of the desperate (and unthinking). The only drops one can put in one’s mouth to cause rapid weight loss would be super glue (and I’m not saying to do that of course). Yet, ‘tis the silly season; that yearly ritual where anyone with a megaphone can make false claims about how one can lose weight overnight, without adjusting any behaviors.

Why do so many buy into this time and time again?

Well, let’s start with some facts: According to surveys, the top New Year’s resolutions are: Number One, “spend more time with family and friends;” and number two is “get fit.” “Losing weight” rounds out the top three.

So, it’s obvious that it’s important to many people.

Paradoxically 80 percent of resolutions find their way into the trash heap by January 20, and 92 percent collapse before year’s end. Bottom line? Only eight percent of resolutions survive the year. Why the low success rate? The reality is that so many people are so desperate to shed that weight — and to do it quickly — that they put their brains into neutral, falling for schemes that they’d never accept if they slowed down long enough to think.

Putting on my consumer advocate hat, I therefore did some research to find out what to avoid, should you wish to be one of the successful eight percent instead of the sad 92. Webmd.com listed several diet types to avoid if you wish to successfully lose weight. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet, Exercise, goals, Health, Newspaper Column, Rant, resolutions, Weight Loss Tagged With: crash diet, diet fads, diet health, diet products, diet scams, fitness scams, grapefruit diet, healthy diet, low calorie diet

Lose ten pounds — and your health — in three days

July 24, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Snake-Oil-Diet

Searching the worldwide wacky web I stumble across: “Lose ten pounds in three days!”

Intrigued, I find myself on a discussion page for a “fantastic new diet.” Let’s review, shall we? (Warning: If you are capable of rational thought, tread carefully.)

Day One

Breakfast:
Black coffee or tea
half cup grapefruit
one slice toast
two tablespoons peanut butter

Lunch:
half cup tuna
one slice toast
coffee

Dinner:
seven slices meat
one cup string beans
beets
one small apple
one cup vanilla ice cream.

Day Two

Breakfast:
One egg
half banana
one slice toast
coffee

Lunch:
one cup cottage cheese
three saltine crackers

Dinner:
two hot dogs
one cup of broccoli
half cup carrots
cup of vanilla ice cream

Day three is a virtual repeat. Beyond that, instructions include, “Do not vary or substitute foods. In three days you will lose ten pounds and then you can eat normal food, but do not overdo it. After four days of normal eating, start back on the diet.”

Let’s wade right in, shall we?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet, Newspaper Column, Rant, Weight Loss Tagged With: caloric intake, calories per day, diet fads, dieting, fad diets, good health, healthy diet, weight loss

Got My Goat – Diet Falacies and Pet Peeves

March 27, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I am “goat-less.”

That’s most likely because I let too many things get my goat. Whether it’s an age-related thing or I’m just a grumpy guy, I know not – but I find myself quickly irritated of late.

My biggest goat-getter is tailgaters; drivers who follow too closely, especially on the freeway. My uncle used to slam on his brakes and scare the bejesus out them, watching in his rearview mirror as a look of terror flashed across their faces when they saw his brake lights blast, eventually causing them to back off assuming they were following a maniac (which might have been accurate). I’m not that foolish but I’ll own up to giving that action serious consideration.

Oh yes, another peeve… people in supermarkets who scrutinize their receipt while still in line.  Sure, be positive you’re not overpaying; I’m down with that. But would you mind inspecting the receipt AFTER you let the other shoppers move forward? And have you noticed that those folks are the same ones who argue over a one-cent discrepancy? Here’s your penny. Move on, pal; some of us have lives.

But my ultimate irritation stems from misleading weight loss ads;

…the ones that promise to reveal, “The secret the diet industry doesn’t want you to know,” or falsely boast, “Lose weight without changing a thing.”

sham-diet

Recently, I had to strap duct tape around my noggin to prevent it from exploding when I heard an ad about a diet discovery you mix with water and — voila! (yes, they really said “Voila!”) — you drop 10 pounds in a week!

Class, pull out your calculators; it’s math time.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet, Newspaper Column, Rant, Weight Loss Tagged With: advertising, diet fads, diet industry, fad diets, phony claims, weight loss ads

Top Diets for the Year

December 19, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus

It’s the most wonderful time of the year; ‘tis is the time for end-of-year lists.

Soon we shall (whether we want to or not) know the Top Songs/Movies/Books/News Stories of the Year. TV hosts will interview the “Most Influential Celebrities.” In the past, publications have gone so far as to post a compilation of lists ranging from “Top Happiest Endings of the Decade” to “Worst Predictions” (which includes “A particle accelerator will end the world”). Therefore, in honor of the list spirit, I shall now bound confidently on to the bandwagon and provide — in no particular order — a compilation of some the most bizarre diets upon which I have the misfortune to stumble. (Yes, they are all real.)

Let us commence with the COOKIE DIET.

One eats one meal per day that must consist of six ounces of protein, as well as at least six of a unique type of cookie each day, for a grand total of 800 calories; about one-third the required intake to maintain a healthful body. Lose your weight and get rid of that pesky hale and hearty glow – all at once! But, mmm-mmm-mmm, sure tastes great! This proves that eating cookies to lose weight makes about as much sense as getting stabbed in the eye to forget about your earache.

After a long week, I plead guilty that a part of me welcomes the SLEEPING BEAUTY DIET.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet, Health, humor, Motivational Products Tagged With: diet fads, diets, fad diet, fad diets, making lists

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