Mexican Weight Loss Products
I’m sorry to report that phony exercise equipment, herbal supplements, and other weight-loss scams are not just a US-phenomenon. Here in Mexico, where I’ve been traveling for the past few weeks, television commercials with ridiculous claims saturate the airwaves day and night. On many cable-TV channels, it would appear weight-loss products make up more than 50% of all commercials. Here are some of my favorites:
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
This device is a “revolutionary system” consisting of two suction cups that attach to various parts of your body and vibrate muscles over 100 times per minute. The hilarious commercial features well-toned models with muscles jiggling while sitting by the pool, at the gym, and around the house. They claim you will see results in your abs, arms, back, and glutes with just 10 minutes a day.
Weight-Loss Shoes
These contoured shoes supposedly allow you to lose 4 pounds per week while firming your muscles, improving your bust, and combating cellulite. According to the commercial, wearing these shoes just three times a week for only 10 minutes is equivalent to hundreds of sit-ups, curls, and other exercises.
Herbal Diet Pills
These pills, which claim to be clinically-proven, come in official-looking pharmaceutical packaging and promise easy weight loss with no other lifestyle changes. This product is produced by a US-manufacturer which has already been fined more than $1 million by the FTC for misleading weight-loss claims but continues to sell for more than $40 per package here in Mexico.
Magnetic Diet Ring
According to the advertisement, wearing this magnetic spiral ring will allow you to lose significant weight (up to 4 pounds per day), even while you sleep. The ad even claims you can target your abs, glutes, and arms based upon which finger you decide to wear the ring on and see results in less than 24 hours.
Skip the Shortcuts
The old adage “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is” rings true here. TV commercials promising quick and easy weight loss with outlandish exercise equipment, magnetic rings, or herbal supplements still must follow the laws of physics and thermodynamics. At the end of the day, calories in and calories out remains the most effective way to manage weight.
Your thoughts....
Have you tried one of these products or any other weight-loss scam?
Calorie Count co-founder Erik Fantasia and his girlfriend, Heather Curtis, are currently traveling through Mexico as part of a trip around the world. You can follow their adventures online at www.aroundthisworld.com
Comments
I've come to believe that the only way to lose weight is to do it the hard way, there is no point at all in looking for that easy fix, these adverts are aimed at the desperate and gullible, and who cant afford the products, but scrape the money together to buy them ( i have been guilty of this in the past), but these kinds of products will always be around.
Everybody wants a quick fix with minimum effort and the marketers know it!
Instant gratification (and not only in the weight loss)... How about putting some work in?
Most of them sound like ads I've heard here in the States, except the magic ring. I did fall for the cortisol-buster pills popular a few years back-I did lose about 10 pounds without modifying my diet (except that I had fewer urges to eat) but when I quit taking the pills I gained it all back and then a few.
The worst story I ever heard, though, was the lady who sent away for a miracle diet pill and then somehow got one wet and when she came back to clean it up it was a tapeworm or something like that with a coating over it. Probably just an urban legend. I can see that would actually cause weight loss, though.
You're probably right about it being an urban legend, but from the 1900s to the late 50s it was very popular to use tapeworm diet pills.
You can actually search "tapeworm diet pills" and see the old advertisements! They were very honest then about what it was, but also said that they were "perfectly safe!"
What we'll do for weightloss!
I want to try the ring...I am sure if I remove the one I have on my third finger...I could two-hundred and fifty pounds immediately! Shame there is no picture of the shoes...I need a new pair!
I love it! We need more creative advertising for 'dieters'...then they can spend their hard earnered money, and not work on changing anything else about themselves!
I am not where I want to be, but at least I know why, and I know that as soon as I commit to changing my lifestyle, I will feel and look as good as the commitment I give.
I got duped on the Asca berry craze...I was hoping it would work as an appetite supressant...I didn't really expect it to miraculously help me lose weight, but I did want some help...but like previously mentioned, once you stop taking them you gain all the weight back...in my case, it never worked in the first place!
I thought about writing my own weight loss book.
Got as far as "burn more cals than you consume" and couldn't think of anything else it needed.
I also fell for acai berry craze. When I got the products and saw the ingredients, It would not be any different than taking a Dexatrim and an Ex-lax, just with an "all-natural" label.
Weight loss HYPNOSIS has to be one of the most bogus things I've ever heard relating to weight loss. Just seeing those ads in the paper and in magazines & whatnot makes me laugh every time!
Lipozene DOES work . It is too expensive considering it is only a fiber supplement and ergo , it can be easily substitued by other fiber capsules much cheaper (specially if in Mexico , where "nopal" capsules come very cheap) . But it odes work as it curbes your appetite .
And .... while in Mexico ... could I suggest you include more mexican meals in the options at the Food Log ???? ... THX
the best one is definetly de diet ring!!!! i literally ROFL with that commercial, and i'm still trying to figure out how the "fitness-step" will improve my bust O_o
but people are gullible, and the goverment wont control these commercials even though there are laws against lying in commercials
anyways i'm just hoping ppl dont rely only on this to lose weight
I have the shoes, and I DO feel a difference when I walk in them. But I bought the Sketchers shape-ups mostly because I thought they looked cool. And for THAT I'm not disappointed...
They look like muppet shoes and I love that they look so funky <3
Original Post by: proxemiaAnd .... while in Mexico ... could I suggest you include more mexican meals in the options at the Food Log ???? ... THX
Yes - we definitely need to expand our food database to include more Mexican foods (and other International foods)! We are looking into data sources, but unfortunately they are difficult to locate. Feel free to drop me a private message or email to erik@calorie-count.com if you can help. Thanks!
"If there was a quick fix to weight loss, everyone would be thin and somebody would be very rich."
My husband and I went to Guatemala to visit his mom, who retired there, and yes, there are A LOT of weight loss ads out there. The irony is that if people in Mexico and Central America stuck to the traditional diet (that is mostly corn, beans, veggies and small portions of meat and dairy) they wouldn't need to lose weight. They're eating more "American" style diets now, you can even find Taco Bells in Mexico. For the record my mom who grew up in Mexico couldn't recognize most of the foods on the Taco Bell menu when she first arrived in this country. lol
My mom got a pain of those crazy "shapeup" shoes similar to the ones mentioned, and while she doesn't claim to have lost weight with them, she says they are the most comfortable shoes she's ever worn!
In reality though, as long as the shoes are heavier than normal shoes and you're wearing them for long periods of times, you're bound to see some definition in your legs because it's like mini-weights on your feet.
I fell for that Acai berry crap too. The only thing i temporarily lost was $82 which they charge on a monthly basis. I tried to call them and couldnt get through at all to complain nor to cancel my service. So I notified the bank and they closed the account and refunded my money. Im sure they got a red mark or something. I hope they get shut down. I later warned all my coworkers about them. Stopped two people from falling for that BS.
I am however currently using the Thermogenic Hydroxycut Advanced.(not the one banned) ...even though it does work to raise my body temperature ive been using it for over a month and i lost 1lb WOW! lol!
I thought i could take a chance. Dont waste your money like i did.
I'm pretty sure sketcher shape-up shoes work like high heels, toning your calves and improving posture, except that those shape up shoes look more comfortable for walking.
The new craze I hear at work, is taking cayenne pepper capsules. They are just cayenne pepper in a capsule. So I guess it burns your stomach but your throat is safe.
I was in Ecuador when it was popular for girls to literally put a cast around their stomachs to lose weight. They'd plaster up and maybe change it each week. I guess they figured when they broke their arm, their arm got skinny from being in the cast, but they didn't think it through. What a crazy fad! That was 2002-3 I was there.
I've also seen many people selling things on buses in Central America, such as parasite medicine that get rid of everything, wonder herbal pills that make you smarter, and much much more. Very funny and amusing during a long bus ride!
Hum, calories in versus calories out....that's a novel idea! Everybody is looking for a quick fix. What cracks me up is that, not only can these companies get away with false claims, there are people out there dumb enough to believe it.
It takes hard work to lose weight and then maintain a healthy weight. It is a lifestyle change. There is no quick fix.
Well, I take a product from Mexico that is concoctionned by a Dr. He claims it's natural, but won't give info regarding the ingredients. It's a set of pills and drops. The pill I take in the morning, the drops I take 30 of with a glass of water 5 minutes before each meal (3 meals a day).
One of these is supposed to suppress your appetite and the other is supposed to burn your fat. THEY WORK! It supresses my appetite allowing me to consume smaller meals, and supresses my appetite for sweets and junk. Makes me very thirsty, but I already drink lots of water anyway. AND, get this, the fat that is burned comes out in my urine (similar to laser liposuction). I was told I would actually see "grease" and even white discharge (supposedly the fat) in my urine....It's true!
I've used these before. It doesn't seem to have any side effects except a bit increased energy. I lost 20 lbs. in 3 months about 4 years ago. I DID gain them back. It took me 4 years to gain them back. Because I know I'll just end up gaining the weight back eventually, I didn't want to take them again. But, I GOT DESPERATE!!! I hit a plateau unable to lose a stinkin' pound for months.
They're difficult to obtain, and pricey. But I've been taking them for 3 weeks and I've lost 8 lbs. They helped me kick the plateau. No, I'm not proud of it. But I got desperate.
On Acai: I absolutely LOVE Acai! I drink the puree daily, and it is an awesome natural energy booster. But what it is not is a weight loss aid or appetite suppressant. Acai is a super fruit, and is packed with antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals. Drinking a puree of the fruit will generally improve your health and well-being because it is good for you, just like drinking pureed blueberries in the morning would be good for you. When paired with diet and exercise, Acai can be a nutrition addition to a healthy lifestyle. That is how I view it anyway.
On Hydroxycut, or any other thermogenic on the market: You have to exercise on these for them to work well. They raise your body temp and give you a jolt of energy (they darn should with the amount of caffeine in there!) This can help motivate you to go to the gym and hit your workout hard. Many people take pre-workout supplements to help get them in the zone. While you are working out you will burn more calories with a thermogenic than without one, and will continue to burn more after your workout as your metabolism will be raised. My point being, some products can help if used properly. You still have to put in the hard work to get there.
Sonia, I really really hope you don't have lipids in your urine. This would indicate a major kidney malfunction.
Original Post by: irtlwI'm pretty sure sketcher shape-up shoes work like high heels, toning your calves and improving posture, except that those shape up shoes look more comfortable for walking.
Actually, they don't work at ALL like high heels. They're a knock-off of the original, MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) shoes:
http://us.mbt.com/
I've been wearing a pair for almost four years now and I LOVE them! What they DO is support the entire body in having correct posture...resulting in a flatter stomach (IF you "anchor your core" as you walk) and a tighter bum. This is a result of the "Swiss technology" which includes a pivoting heel (among other innovations that you can read about on the website). They DON'T accelerate weight loss unless you walk a lot in them. At least, as much as you'd be walking for exercise anyway.
They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. And I wear them whenever I'm going to be walking further than from the car to a restaurant. ESPECIALLY if I'm shopping! Those concrete floors in stores are KILLER (on the whole body, it turns out). But they don't do the damage they used to when I wear my MBTs!
I have a pair of "shape-up shoes" sandals in my closet. I wore them religiously for about two months, and did notice (as did my husband ;) ) a difference in my legs and bum--everything looked more toned than before. No huge muscles, and it certainly didn't up my weight loss, but it did work as claimed.
The downside is that they'll be staying in my closet most of the time; like all other flip-flops, they give me tendinitis in my lower legs. Dang!
If anyone would like the website, it's www.myshapeups.com
Original Post by: jeannemilyou forgot to mention to drink the water in Mexico. Guaranteed to lose weight.
I guess you mean drink from the toilet???
why do you need to put a country down with your comments? not necessary at all.
I live in Mexico and travel often to the US and find that the ammount and kind of bogus advertisement for diet products and useless machines are basically the same it just depends the time of the day you are watching tv.
Keep in mind that Mexico is the second fattest country in the world after the US.
Original Post by: natalina85I have a pair of "shape-up shoes" sandals in my closet. I wore them religiously for about two months, and did notice (as did my husband ;) ) a difference in my legs and bum--everything looked more toned than before. No huge muscles, and it certainly didn't up my weight loss, but it did work as claimed.
The downside is that they'll be staying in my closet most of the time; like all other flip-flops, they give me tendinitis in my lower legs. Dang!
If anyone would like the website, it's www.myshapeups.com
Get a pair of the tennis-shoe style MBTs! They're pricey, but TOTALLY worth it! I've had mine for almost four years, wear them everywhere, and they still look practically NEW. I expect to get 6-10 years of wear out of them. They're VERY well made.
Oh Please! I did not gain this weight over night and I am not going to lose it over night. I was very active as a young adult, but have let my emotions and my middle age sedentary lifestyle put me in this situation. My doctor recommends 2-3 lbs weightloss per week/average. That is my goal, I am in it for the long haul. My health has improved tremendously. My BMI has reduced, my blood sugar level has come down. Healthy eating, reduced calorie intake, and walking have helped me thus far. I think I will stick to the old fashioned way of weight loss. No fancy gimmicks for me! They are tempting though, I must admit. Good luck to everyone and thanks for being here for support to motivate and keep me on track. 
The shoes may be highly exaggerated, but they seem like a tool, like anything else. They're a lot more plausible than the rest of these. Someone bought me a much cheaper version of shoes like those (like $20 sandals I think) and they do burn after a while. No miracles, but if you use them, it can give a little definition. Not sure how great these particular shoes were for your feet though.
YA..I live in Mexico ...and this comment is totally true... The worse part of it for me though, being aware of the bogus contents of these info commercials, is the volume to which they switch from the program one is watching to the commercial, as if yelling at one will change our minds.
One has to put the commercials on mute so as to not to go deaf.
Diet and exercise is the only way. I have lost 5 kilos in 3 weeks by using this great website and being real.
Original Post by: martinejoYA..I live in Mexico ...and this comment is totally true... The worse part of it for me though, being aware of the bogus contents of these info commercials, is the volume to which they switch from the program one is watching to the commercial, as if yelling at one will change our minds.
One has to put the commercials on mute so as to not to go deaf.
Diet and exercise is the only way. I have lost 5 kilos in 3 weeks by using this great website and being real.
Yeah I know what you mean, I live in Mexico too and I'm ashamed of these commercials. When I'm at the gym working out and on the TV these "things" appear I feel so disgusted and kind of thinking "oh yeah? then why there's still fat people out there if that thing is so miraculous?" and worse I have a coworker that bought the stupid shoes -_- yeah... sure there's stupid people everywhere.
A really high class comment .... really!!! you want to start with prejudism (and racism)????... really???...
SHAME ON YOU!!!!
Original Post by: jeannemilyou forgot to mention to drink the water in Mexico. Guaranteed to lose weight.
A really high class comment .... really!!! you want to start with prejudism (and racism)????... really???...
SHAME ON YOU!!!!
Those drops could be anything...but the decrease in appetite is the glass of water before meals. That is the oldest trick in the book! Even Calorie Count will tell you to drink a glass of water before meals...also eat a green salad before meals (dressing on the side) that is another quick fix.
If you are going to put something in your body, and not know what it is...you might as well play Russian Roullette! Especially, if it is not regulated! For all you know the pills could have ephedrine in it...which can be deadly!
Stop wasting your money! Do it right! Exercise, eat well and increase your water intake! It will happen!
"Well, I take a product from Mexico that is concoctionned by a Dr. He claims it's natural, but won't give info regarding the ingredients. It's a set of pills and drops. The pill I take in the morning, the drops I take 30 of with a glass of water 5 minutes before each meal (3 meals a day)."
soniadelgadaThose drops could be anything...but the decrease in appetite is the glass of water before meals. That is the oldest trick in the book! Even Calorie Count will tell you to drink a glass of water before meals...also eat a green salad before meals (dressing on the side) that is another quick fix.
If you are going to put something in your body, and not know what it is...you might as well play Russian Roullette! Especially, if it is not regulated! For all you know the pills could have ephedrine in it...which can be deadly!
Stop wasting your money! Do it right! Exercise, eat well and increase your water intake! It will happen!
Original Post by: proxemiaOriginal Post by: jeannemilyou forgot to mention to drink the water in Mexico. Guaranteed to lose weight.
A really high class comment .... really!!! you want to start with prejudism (and racism)????... really???...
SHAME ON YOU!!!!
Does anyone else notice some of these post are duplicates?
Anyway, I will never be buying toning shoes as all of the design look so odd! The soles appear to be almost twice as thick as regular athletic shoes. I don't want people to know I am wearing these immediately upon spotting them. The most normal looking one, in my opinion, is the Reebok easytone. Anyone know if these guys work as well? No one really mentions them. I can see how they would strengthen your stabilizer muscles in your legs due to the balance ball things, especially in the ankle and shin area. It would be like constantly walking on uneven ground.
I think I will stick with my regular adidas running shoes for now!
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These are pretty comical, but aren't 90%+ of the weight loss products/diets on the market pretty much bogus?