Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was this magical pill that helped us lose weight and we didn’t have to make any efforts to get it to work!?! Dr. Oz advertises many products that claim to aid in weight loss and there are uncountable fad diets out there….which keeps us dietitians on our toes as we constantly are educating and de-bunking the myths of these programs and products. Between raspberry ketones, green coffee bean, etc, etc etc, we often wonder if there really is a magical pill. Despite the desire for this, the fact of the matter is that there is no such thing and there never will be! Healthy weight loss and weight maintenance do require effort, hard work, dedication, and motivation…and it takes time to change our lifestyle, behaviors, and choices so it will take time for that weight to come off and stay off. You didn’t put it on in one day so don’t expect to lose it one day! It not only requires you to examine the choices you’re making, but it’s also essential for you to take a closer look at your consistency of intake (or lack there of) and your behaviors and emotions about food. Looking at the big picture will help you be mores successful in the long run and help you avoid that trap of yo-yo dieting and negative feelings towards food and yourself. Next time you hear a claim about a product or program, consider a few things: is it safe?…has it been tested or approved by credible agencies? ….what is the population of the people who trialed it? (small studies are not credible or reliable)…..does it sound too good to be true? ….do you cut out several food groups? …..is exercise NOT advised? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s most likely too good to be true. Stay focused and be patient, you really can do this and be successful at it by working on improving your lifestyle and behaviors one at a time. Positive thinking and determination will help you be successful!
-Kelsey
