Is it just me, or do the diet ads on TV completely irritate you? I'm thinking specifically of the NutriSystem ads. I could go on that plan for the rest of my life and I'd never look like Jillian Barbarie (not sure about spelling) - the girl with the football. That is, unless I had a personal trainer who worked with me for hours each day. I am sure she does have a trainer, but they don't tell you that on the ads, at least not in the big print.
While I know that you and I can lose weight and get in shape - there are so many great stories on this website - it just goes to show you that those of us in the real world need to keep our expectations realistic and be patient. And most of us have to take the DIY approach because we don't have a nutritionist preparing the perfect foods or a trainer to monitor our exercise regimen.
I'm sure NutriSystem has worked for many people, but there's more to getting healthy and fit and reaching a satisfactory weight then just eating pre-measured food.
Sorry, y'all. I've just seen that commercial one time too many!
Have you noticed that certain channels also really play up the diet/exercise ads? I notice if I watch E! or MTV for a while, there's TONS of weight loss ads.
Then, if I switch to say, TLC it is bladder control and "hover-round" ads, and the History channel has erectile dysfunction and hair loss ads.
I almost always fast forward commercials on my DVR, but on those random weekends while I'm folding laundry, the ads can be really annoying!
I am with you! I hate all the "DIET" ads! Have you ever seen one promoting a "Life Style Change"?
The diet pills really get to me as they all carry the disclaimer "when used with a diet and exercise program". If you are using a diet and exercise program, why do you need the pills? LOL.
the ads that always bothered me were the Kirstie Ally Jenny Craig ads, because it was so obvious that she was lying about how much she weighed.
It just seemed like if you were going to "own" your weight loss, you should at least be honest about how much you weigh.
maybe that's why she's having trouble keeping it off. she wasn't honest with herself or the public to begin with.
Original Post by jules817:
i just love how they all say "results not typical" in tiny print at the bottom of the ad! then what ARE typical results?
They also say stuff like "used in conjunction with a low calorie diet and exercise"
You mean there's a magic pill that makes me lose weight when I restrict my diet and get some exercise? REALLY??
Original Post by jules817:
i just love how they all say "results not typical" in tiny print at the bottom of the ad! then what ARE typical results?
That reminds me of something funny. They have that on SO many commercials these days, that my 8 year old niece drew a picture of something for her homework. In small print under the picture wrote "actual results my vary".
How messed up is that?
Original Post by nosouix:
I am with you! I hate all the "DIET" ads! Have you ever seen one promoting a "Life Style Change"?
The diet pills really get to me as they all carry the disclaimer "when used with a diet and exercise program". If you are using a diet and exercise program, why do you need the pills? LOL.
There is one ad (the one that gives you the *scienc-y* explanation: "Fat builds over your muscles, under your skin. Body Fat is unattractive, and increases with stress at work, poor diet, and lack of exercise." Do they think we are morons and don't know what fat is??)
If you read the very very fine print, it says that average weight loss, with diet and exercise, is something like 4 pounds in 8 weeks. That's what... half a pound a week? Sorry, but that's actually slower than what I got using just diet and exercise. For free.
Original Post by jules817:
i just love how they all say "results not typical" in tiny print at the bottom of the ad! then what ARE typical results?
Well, considering the statistics of the number of people who go on a diet with an official name (The _________ Diet / System) who wind up not sticking with it, I'd say they'd have to show before and after pictures that look almost exactly the same. But that's not how you sell a weight loss system.
Oh yes, one more of my favorites, "My husband calls me his trophy wife!" Isn't that what all women aspire to? NOT!
I think these commercials set people up to fail or at least be discouraged. If I buy NutriSystem (which actually isn't free for 3 weeks - more fine print) and I don't go from a size 10 to a size 2, then there must be something wrong with me because it worked for those women on TV.
You all make great points.
Haha - trophy wife...
Have you seen the guy who does the bowflex commercials, wearing stupid sunglasses? First of all, 30 minutes a day, three times a week does not give you that, unless you are eating right - diet is much more important than they let on. But not my point - he has one line that cracks me up every time: "Every so often my wife gives me that little wink..." - I just love that he is bragging about his wife flirting with him (or being willing to go at it with him) once in a while - makes it sound like she only notices him once a month, and then it's only because he has biceps.
Original Post by nosouix:
I am with you! I hate all the "DIET" ads! Have you ever seen one promoting a "Life Style Change"?
The diet pills really get to me as they all carry the disclaimer "when used with a diet and exercise program". If you are using a diet and exercise program, why do you need the pills? LOL.
The was a study by the British Medical Journal that some weight loss pills do help you lose weight. I think it was 6-9 extra lbs over a YEAR.
Of course when you stop taking the pills you just gain the weight back. It is basically a placebo that makes you take it for the rest of your life to work. Can you think of a better way to make money?
Original Post by mysticjbyrd:
Original Post by nosouix:
I am with you! I hate all the "DIET" ads! Have you ever seen one promoting a "Life Style Change"?
The diet pills really get to me as they all carry the disclaimer "when used with a diet and exercise program". If you are using a diet and exercise program, why do you need the pills? LOL.
The was a study by the British Medical Journal that some weight loss pills do help you lose weight. I think it was 6-9 extra lbs over a YEAR.Of course when you stop taking the pills you just gain the weight back. It is basically a placebo that makes you take it for the rest of your life to work. Can you think of a better way to make money?
What do you mean by "placebo"? A placebo is a substance or activity given to a patient as medicine, but which in reality has no therapeutic advantage. It only works because the person thinks it will. I would imagine that if the British Medical Journal indicates that the pills do indeed help lose weight, they're not placebo.
Yeah, cause everyting has to be true to be on TV, get real...
I have a lot of doubts about NutriSystem: a), their food is not nearly as appetizing as it looks on TV (I've know several people using it), b) it's not a permanent diet - as soon as you go off it, you put the weight back on because you go back to your old eating habits, and c) it teaches you that you can eat hamburgers, lasagna, etc. and still be healthy/losing weight. Which is a very bad habit to get into.
I completely agree about the akavar commercials - if it weren't true we couldn't say it on TV. Whatever!
I have a friend who ordered NutriSystem and when she got the food, she hated it! She was ready to throw it away, but her husband who is very "financially conscious" decided that he would take the food to work everyday for lunch. He hated it too, but ate it anyway.
How healthy can prepackaged food be? I understand that it can help you with portion control and that probably is a good thing, but beyond that I'm not sure it's so helpful.
I think diet pills are like the patch that's supposed to help you quit smoking. You have to have the desire and the will and the determination on your own, then they might be helpful. Maybe they make the journey a little easier but you have to make the decision to take each step. But they are marketed like some miracle in a bottle. I'd love to know how much money is wasted every year on diet products - meal systems or pills or whatever - that never help anybody lose a single pound and keep it off.
That's why I love this website. 1. I'm cheap and it's free! 2. I can chat with other real people like me who have real lives and have to take care of their own diet and exercise plans. 3. If anyone wants help with their diet and exercise, there are the tools here that make it possible.
Original Post by russia_100:
I have a lot of doubts about NutriSystem: a), their food is not nearly as appetizing as it looks on TV (I've know several people using it), b) it's not a permanent diet - as soon as you go off it, you put the weight back on because you go back to your old eating habits, and c) it teaches you that you can eat hamburgers, lasagna, etc. and still be healthy/losing weight. Which is a very bad habit to get into.
But you CAN eat hamburgers and lasagna and still lose weight! You just have to portion them out better, and eat them less often. =) The NutriSystem doesn't teach you how to do things in moderation, as everything is prepackaged for you and ready to eat. How are you going to learn what's considered a proper portion size if you never have to do it on your own?
I agree. It doesn't teach you how to prepare your favorite foods in a healthier version either. I will never give up pizza, but I've learned to make it on a tortilla wrap, with low fat cheese and lots of veggies. It's not Chicago deep dish, but it's still good and satisfies my pizza needs! Even my kids like it that way and it's kind of fun because now every time we make pizza everyone can make their own and choose the toppings they like. Sometimes they turn into works of art. That makes healthier eating fun for them. That's something I never learned as a kid, eating everything fried in lard. Yes, lard.
But although we ate that way, no one in my family was overweight because they all worked so hard. Most lived into their 80's and enjoyed life up to the end. I lived in the country, where we gardened and chopped wood, etc. so no one needed an exercise plan.
Original Post by lorihhi:
Oh yes, one more of my favorites, "My husband calls me his trophy wife!" Isn't that what all women aspire to? NOT!
I aspired to have a trophy husband so I did that instead
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