A Fitness Instructor's rant - Is group fitness getting lost in weight loss greed?

Why am I blogging tonight?

Recently 4 weight loss companies (Sensa Products, L’Occitane, HCG Diet Direct and LeanSpa) were charged with fraud by the Federal Trade Commission.The New York Times reported, "On Tuesday, the commission charged four companies with deceptively marketing weight-loss products, asserting they made “unfounded promises” that consumers could shed pounds simply by using their food additives, skin creams and other dietary supplements." ( Read full article here!! ) 

If you have followed my blogs or me  on facebook , you know I am a passionate advocate for learning about "real" foods and living a healthy life style. I am also relentlessly fed up with the weight loss industry and all the lies they feed us to profit off of our emotions. We are so emotional about how we look, we will buy into anything that will promise us success! And they all promise success, Right?

As a fitness instructor, it is my job to keep up with my credits for my re-certification each year.  Being just a few credits shy of applying for my re-cert, I decided to take an on-line course to finish up. In reading my material on nutrition and supplements, I learned that weight loss products, supplements, and shakes sold as supplements and often used as meal replacements are NOT regulated by the FDA. According to the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) , "Shockingly, dietary supplement safety is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer, not the FDA or any other government agency."  Although some companies can claim to adhere to regulations and guidelines for the manufacturing of supplements, that simply means they are following the guide lines for production, and has little to no affect to the content of the product.  

In another online credit course through AFAA, I am reminded that it is advised I refrain from selling or advocating the use of weight loss products, meal replacements, and/or supplements..... Which brings me to one of many reasons I am writing this blog.

WHY ARE WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS BEING SOLD IN GROUP FITNESS??!  

When I developed my passion for group fitness, instructors were  my gateway to fitness and the inspiration for learning. Most classes were created from the passion and creativity of the instructor who brought the fun and excitement into movement. In addition, they fostered a family of fitness fanatics and gave the example of a fit lifestyle. I WAS HOOKED!! Step, kickbox, heavy bag boxing, weight lifting, yoga..... I loved it all! And, I loved that the only motive for teaching was passion and fun!  No sales!  No pressure! No fees! (unlike the trainers) Just passion and fun! 

Now a days (am I that old?) most classes are purchased through a company, learned by the instructor, and taught in the gyms. It has proven to be quite successful and I'm not knocking that (I have a blast in many of those classes). But what gets my panties in a bunch is when I see weight loss products being sold on the aerobic floor (or through instructors).

              "The Healthiest meal of the Day"

         ?!?!Really?!?!  

Just what are we teaching our class goers?! You have to work hard in the gym, but not the kitchen?? Just come take our classes and then fill up on pills and shakes to get healthy?? NO!! 

 Let me be clear when I tell you (present company included) most instructors ARE NOT QUALIFIED to  sell you supplements. All we know about the product is what you know through the company's website (remember, it is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer, not the FDA to ensure safety and effectiveness of product). If we are selling this to you, it is not because we are educated to do so or because we know it works any better than real food - we're not and we don't. It is because the company we bought our choreography from sold us this to sell to you for the sole purpose of bringing in more revenue to their company. ($$$$$). PERIOD. 

Why does this get my panties in a bunch? Because, like many of you, I looked to my fitness instructors as a role model of, "healthy". Back in the day when I was overweight and looking to get healthy, if approached by my instructor, I may have purchased their product as my solution. Why? Because I didn't know what 'healthy' was. All I knew was they looked healthy and I wanted that for myself. 

I hate seeing my stomping ground being turned into another venue for weight loss supplement profit (10 more burpees then..... buy my shake to lose weight and feel great)

Stay true. Never stop learning. And remember, good health and a healthy weight come from healthy living and real, whole, foods. 

It may be a new year, but if you truly want a new you that will last well into, and beyond 2015, it will take what all of those magic promises don't want you to know (and it's not money). It will take  time, effort, and a great deal of learning. 
Always True,
~Kelly

A Fitness Professional and a Sales Person Walk into a Health Club...

The other day,  as I walked out of my health club I saw an "It Works" wraps and supplements table stationed inside the front door....

Why do I get a surge of emotion and anger every time I see the diet industry superimpose themselves on the health industry?

Because they have some how been sold as one in the same!

But here is the difference...

The (true) health industry sells:
education
whole, fresh foods
local farmers
active life styles
clean eating
exercise
balance
yoga
organic
GMO awarness
farmers markets
food co-ops


The diet industry sells:
low fat
low calorie
low carb
light
fat free
zero calorie
fat burners
carb blockers
appetite suppressant
supplements (ofcourse to suppliment what we should be eating, but are not because after all, we're trying to lose weight!! Hello??)
cellulite creams
magic potions
wonder drugs
miracle  cures
shapers
slimmers
toners
calorie burners
detoxers
shakes
sprinkles
powders
patches
wraps................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
the list is endless!

Nature has provided us with all we need. We create more out of greed!

Greed.

That's what it is. We have given our personal greed power over helping people to be healthy. :(

We see it all the time, right? Celebrities and celeb  trainers putting their name on a diet pill box...Lest not forget Dr. Phil with his "apple shape" or  "pear shape" diet pills.... Can we just take a moment to step away from those trying to make/take money, and reach for some common sense?? .....

Move
Eat whole, good,  REAL foods
Sleep
Relax
Breath
Drink water






 

 

It Works!! No really! This one is different, I promise!...

Back in my day it was Slim Fast and Metabolife. These things are still out there out on the shelves. I live just down the street from a Metabolife distributor. Along with many "diets", these were the two weight loss products I clung to.  

Slim Fast offered a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner. I was starving my body, and when I could take it no more, I'd binge, gaining any loss back, plus more!

Metabolife was my next desperate attempt to lose weight. With the promise of "all natural vitamins and herbs" to raise my metabolism and help me lose weight. I didn't lose anything but my self respect, money, and my belief that I would ever be able to  be healthy or "normal". On top of that, they made me moody, jittery, and at times confused and turned around. They completely wigged me out!

What was my turning point? I'd have to say a big one was when Dr. Phil began selling diet pills. He had  a pill for "pear shaped" ladies, and a pill for "apple shapes". Wait!!! What???! Those 2 boxes with Dr. Phil's name on it jumped off the shelf and hit me over the head with an IDIOT stick!! Were we really that stupid!??  Um, Yes!! Talk about an epiphany!! That was the day I stopped watching Dr. Phil and stopped giving my money to the diet industry.

I changed my focus from weight loss to getting healthy . No products! No pills! No shakes! No meal replacement bars! No diet foods! No short cuts! No decisions made out of desperation! Instead, it had to be conducive to good health. Real nutrition, from real foods. Water. Adequate sleep. Activity. Exercise, Flexibility. Strength. Yoga. Taking care of myself for the first time ever. And, are you ready for this??....It's a new, unheard of concept that the diet industry doesn't make you commit to.....TIME! Yes! You read that right. Time. Time to change habits and behaviors. Time to learn what healthy really is. Time to incorporate these new healthy concepts into sustainable, everyday life. Time to fail and learn so you can succeed. Time to see real results, from real efforts. Time.

But, now we have our beloved and trusted, 'tell it like it is', Jillian Michaels (today's Dr. Phil of weight loss) out there selling a whole line of pills, cleansers, and diet products. We buy them, because we love and trust Jillian! And why not? She came into our homes every week for years, inspiring and showing us that we too can lose hundreds of pounds in just a matter of months.

We also have the brilliant money making scam of , 'It Works' diet pills, All natural shakes, and magic wraps, you can use and sell at parties like Tupperware in your own home. LOSE INCHES FAST! And, I hear it works.....while you are using it. But who can afford to give away their money and health for a life time? I mean, really, when you stop using them, the inches come back. Some would (and do) argue that 'this' product is different. This one feeds you healthy shakes and preaches healthy living. Well, of course it does! Any good distributor is going to create a strong belief system for their product. It's called great marketing!! After all, what weight loss product is going to tell you they just want your money.

 It's no secret I have a BIG beef with the diet and weight loss industry. They prey on the desperation and emotions of over weight and unhealthy consumers. The biggest goal here is to keep us sick, over weight, unhealthy, and unhappy with ourselves so they can continue to rape our pocket books with the next, bright promise of tomorrow. And there will be a "next" to fall back on when the one you are currently using fails you. And it will have even bigger promises of health and weight loss. 

At some point, we have to ask ourselves, who is driving this bus? Am I in control of my health, or am I leaving that job to the experts scam artists? 

Food for thought......