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The repackaging of the diet and fitness industry
Replies
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lol, I know. Women's magazines are the absolute worst for this. I just go with what my doctor tells me, log calories on here, and work out, and completely ignore the fads. When it gets a little cooler outside I can get back to hooping as part of my workout. Very strengthening for the middle and much more fun than just doing planks. Today, I think it's gonna be yoga.
I look at it like this; if any of those plans or gimmicks they advertise really worked as claimed, no one would be fat.
I agree. I've read them for years and only TWICE in recent history did I see any mention of a food scale. One article just used it as a prop in the picture. The other article listed it under "crazy diet gadgets" then added the disclaimer that it "may be helpful but obviously isn't something you'd use for life". Really??? I just shake my head and turn the page.
Yesterday one of the articles was titled "Forget calorie counting. Just eat more colorful food!" Yes, adding variety is good particularly if it's brightly colored vegetables, but I'm convinced the women's magazines are contributing to the obesity epidemic because it keeps them in business.
So much truth in the bolded. It's because they don't want people to lose weight and/or keep it off. If people stay on the cycle of losing and gaining they keep making money. It's why gyms love New Years Resolutioners, most will show for a few weeks to months, never go back but forget to cancel their membership. They keep making money off of people who don't show and who aren't adding wear and tear to the merchandise.
So it's not just women's mags, it's the entire fitness/diet industry.
The vast majority of the fitness/diet industry is geared toward making money off of uneducated, gullible people. It's a multi-billion dollar industry based upon fraud and woo. Just saying "create a caloric deficit to lose weight" won't make them billions of dollars like "blast the fat, lose weight quick!" plans will. There will always be people who are looking for the magic pill/potion and would rather spend hundreds/thousands of dollars trying every imaginable bit of woo out there rather than buckling down and getting to work on it. Self-discipline, hard work and sweat is so icky, much better to sit on the couch and take a magic pill every day and watch that fat just melt off your body!2 -
lol, I know. Women's magazines are the absolute worst for this. I just go with what my doctor tells me, log calories on here, and work out, and completely ignore the fads. When it gets a little cooler outside I can get back to hooping as part of my workout. Very strengthening for the middle and much more fun than just doing planks. Today, I think it's gonna be yoga.
I look at it like this; if any of those plans or gimmicks they advertise really worked as claimed, no one would be fat.
I agree. I've read them for years and only TWICE in recent history did I see any mention of a food scale. One article just used it as a prop in the picture. The other article listed it under "crazy diet gadgets" then added the disclaimer that it "may be helpful but obviously isn't something you'd use for life". Really??? I just shake my head and turn the page.
Yesterday one of the articles was titled "Forget calorie counting. Just eat more colorful food!" Yes, adding variety is good particularly if it's brightly colored vegetables, but I'm convinced the women's magazines are contributing to the obesity epidemic because it keeps them in business.
So much truth in the bolded. It's because they don't want people to lose weight and/or keep it off. If people stay on the cycle of losing and gaining they keep making money. It's why gyms love New Years Resolutioners, most will show for a few weeks to months, never go back but forget to cancel their membership. They keep making money off of people who don't show and who aren't adding wear and tear to the merchandise.
So it's not just women's mags, it's the entire fitness/diet industry.
The vast majority of the fitness/diet industry is geared toward making money off of uneducated, gullible people. It's a multi-billion dollar industry based upon fraud and woo. Just saying "create a caloric deficit to lose weight" won't make them billions of dollars like "blast the fat, lose weight quick!" plans will. There will always be people who are looking for the magic pill/potion and would rather spend hundreds/thousands of dollars trying every imaginable bit of woo out there rather than buckling down and getting to work on it. Self-discipline, hard work and sweat is so icky, much better to sit on the couch and take a magic pill every day and watch that fat just melt off your body!
There is a lot of truth in that but it's also a bit unfair. A lot of people are willing to put in the work. In fact, a whole lot of people do put in the work. They sweat, they stick to reduced calories, they do it. They lose weight. The real problem isn't always a lack of effort or will or the desire to take a magic pill. Often it's just total lack of understanding that once you are at that lower weight you can't eat the way you used to and stay there. Most will always need to eat fewer calories than when they were overweight. It's a failure to maintain. That's the part the diet industry doesn't talk about. That's the part they don't want us to know. Because if we regain, we will run back to them to do it again. We begin to think we can't do it without them.1 -
Finding for myself anyway, that it's a change in lifestyle from unhealthy to healthy--some of it has to do with liking oneself and caring for self enough to change. I have done the "unhealthy" and have lost weight but never kept it off. I have wrecked havoc with my body. I am nearly 63 and finally waking up to the fact that if I want to live to be a ripe old age, I have to change my lifestyle. So I am here. I am logging food, exercising at least what I can as I start getting back into shape. All those fads, eating disorder, not worth it when it comes down to it. Young folks--stay healthy, keep on track and get help if you need it.
Just my thoughts
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quiltlovinlisa wrote: »The last month I've been getting a lot of "You've lost a LOT of weight, what have you been doing?" When I respond "Counting calories," their eyes glaze over and they often mumble that they can't (or won't) do that.
Okay then.
Pretty much. After losing 40lbs over the late spring and summer people have started asking me how I did it. Simple answer, eat less, move more and lift heavy things. Track my food intake. Never what they really want to hear.
Putting on weight is fairly mindless and effortless. I guess people always hope for some way to make losing weight just as easy. Losing weight is simple, but simple isn't the same as easy.1 -
I am so lost. I don't no what I want it for other then I can't take my road bike on grass. I saw one yesterday with big fat wheels. Like the bat bike.lol
Depends on a lot of things, so it's more of a conversation than a question. Come visit the exercise and fitness forum!
With that said, a mountain bike or fat bike might work for you. Fat bikes can be fun because you can ride them in places where no other bikes can go: sand, snow, etc. But they're heavy and the "monster truck tires" giveth and taketh away too. So they're not really ideal except in places bikes aren't generally meant to go. I've rented one and had fun in the snow, might rent one again when the situation warrants it, wouldn't own one personally.
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lol, I know. Women's magazines are the absolute worst for this. I just go with what my doctor tells me, log calories on here, and work out, and completely ignore the fads. When it gets a little cooler outside I can get back to hooping as part of my workout. Very strengthening for the middle and much more fun than just doing planks. Today, I think it's gonna be yoga.
I look at it like this; if any of those plans or gimmicks they advertise really worked as claimed, no one would be fat.
I agree. I've read them for years and only TWICE in recent history did I see any mention of a food scale. One article just used it as a prop in the picture. The other article listed it under "crazy diet gadgets" then added the disclaimer that it "may be helpful but obviously isn't something you'd use for life". Really??? I just shake my head and turn the page.
Yesterday one of the articles was titled "Forget calorie counting. Just eat more colorful food!" Yes, adding variety is good particularly if it's brightly colored vegetables, but I'm convinced the women's magazines are contributing to the obesity epidemic because it keeps them in business.
So much truth in the bolded. It's because they don't want people to lose weight and/or keep it off. If people stay on the cycle of losing and gaining they keep making money. It's why gyms love New Years Resolutioners, most will show for a few weeks to months, never go back but forget to cancel their membership. They keep making money off of people who don't show and who aren't adding wear and tear to the merchandise.
So it's not just women's mags, it's the entire fitness/diet industry.
Ehhhh....
At the root of both of those you have the same common denominator: People looking for an easy way out.
So is it the industries which capitalize on human nature, or is it human nature itself?0 -
Sounds like fun. Sounds expensive too, but many people who enjoy an activity or sport will pay to make it more enjoyable.
Enve just released a new set of wheels they've spent the year working on. Might as well have put my name on them. This is the only wide, aero wheelset out there. It costs a pretty penny, though.
When you use the rim as a braking surface, it has to: be shaped for the brake pads, dissipate heat really well, have the right friction characteristics, and be massively strong at the edge to stand up to the clamping force of the brakes. Moving the brake surface to a rotor at the hub removes all of those constraints. Now the shape and carbon makeup can be optimized for aerodynamics and overall wheel strength instead. Plus hookless beads work much better and save weight, right where it counts the most.
This is pretty revolutionary.
I have a serious case of the wants.
They come with a pretty liberal 5 year warranty and lifetime crash replacement.1 -
quiltlovinlisa wrote: »The last month I've been getting a lot of "You've lost a LOT of weight, what have you been doing?" When I respond "Counting calories," their eyes glaze over and they often mumble that they can't (or won't) do that.
Okay then.
That is exactly what I get! lol0 -
Wow- $2200-$3500. Is that for just ONE wheel or the set?NorthCascades wrote: »Sounds like fun. Sounds expensive too, but many people who enjoy an activity or sport will pay to make it more enjoyable.
Enve just released a new set of wheels they've spent the year working on. Might as well have put my name on them. This is the only wide, aero wheelset out there. It costs a pretty penny, though.
When you use the rim as a braking surface, it has to: be shaped for the brake pads, dissipate heat really well, have the right friction characteristics, and be massively strong at the edge to stand up to the clamping force of the brakes. Moving the brake surface to a rotor at the hub removes all of those constraints. Now the shape and carbon makeup can be optimized for aerodynamics and overall wheel strength instead. Plus hookless beads work much better and save weight, right where it counts the most.
This is pretty revolutionary.
I have a serious case of the wants.
They come with a pretty liberal 5 year warranty and lifetime crash replacement.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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NorthCascades wrote: »It's not a riding technique, it's a lot of new equipment being available together. The bicycle segment of the fitness industry is moving away from skinny-tire racing bikes that can't handle unpaved surfaces, to wider, slightly less aerodynamic frames that are more versatile. At the same time, rim brakes are starting to lose their dominance and discs are rapidly becoming more common on road and "all road" bikes. Even hydraulic ones. This is facing some resistance - they're heavier, and people fear that the rotor can break off in a crash and cut somebody - but they work much better in wet or muddy conditions. Not having to use rims as a braking surface opens up new possibilities for aerodynamics and (rotational) weight savings. This combination of really light and strong composites with much more versatile frames and brakes is opening up a new type of "all road" cycling, and not just for races.
It's a shame that biking has been limited to roads for so long.
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One thing that seems to always come up is that it is a clear industry; people are making money. And people who need to lose weight are often desperate because there are clear health concerns from being overweight. And desperation drives people to pay money for all sorts of things that likely don't work.
Unfortunately for those people, the industry makes money because people stay fat. So, there is no incentive to produce products/plans that work. Instead, they feed people the idea that they need a specific product or way of eating or diet plan, and the one they sell is the best. And it works for a time, but often is expensive or not sustainable, so people stop. Or it doesn't teach people to adapt their own lives and food prep/intake to maintain losses.
And so weight goes up, and the industry gets more money.
All of this is independent of the fact that weight loss is hard, usually due to mental roadblocks, but all the products, plans, and garbage just make it even worse.1 -
They also bank that if people lose weight, that they will fall back into old habits and end up becoming a repeat purchaser because they lost weight on the product previously, why not again?One thing that seems to always come up is that it is a clear industry; people are making money. And people who need to lose weight are often desperate because there are clear health concerns from being overweight. And desperation drives people to pay money for all sorts of things that likely don't work.
Unfortunately for those people, the industry makes money because people stay fat. So, there is no incentive to produce products/plans that work. Instead, they feed people the idea that they need a specific product or way of eating or diet plan, and the one they sell is the best. And it works for a time, but often is expensive or not sustainable, so people stop. Or it doesn't teach people to adapt their own lives and food prep/intake to maintain losses.
And so weight goes up, and the industry gets more money.
All of this is independent of the fact that weight loss is hard, usually due to mental roadblocks, but all the products, plans, and garbage just make it even worse.
And it's so funny how they come up with "New formula" or "Newest scientific approach". Unfortunately, people will still keep gaining weight and they will stay in business due to lack of knowledge by the consumers.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Wow- $2200-$3500. Is that for just ONE wheel or the set?NorthCascades wrote: »Sounds like fun. Sounds expensive too, but many people who enjoy an activity or sport will pay to make it more enjoyable.
Enve just released a new set of wheels they've spent the year working on. Might as well have put my name on them. This is the only wide, aero wheelset out there. It costs a pretty penny, though.
When you use the rim as a braking surface, it has to: be shaped for the brake pads, dissipate heat really well, have the right friction characteristics, and be massively strong at the edge to stand up to the clamping force of the brakes. Moving the brake surface to a rotor at the hub removes all of those constraints. Now the shape and carbon makeup can be optimized for aerodynamics and overall wheel strength instead. Plus hookless beads work much better and save weight, right where it counts the most.
This is pretty revolutionary.
I have a serious case of the wants.
They come with a pretty liberal 5 year warranty and lifetime crash replacement.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Lol if you have to ask, probably not in the budget.1 -
It feels about like this...quiltlovinlisa wrote: »The last month I've been getting a lot of "You've lost a LOT of weight, what have you been doing?" When I respond "Counting calories," their eyes glaze over and they often mumble that they can't (or won't) do that.
Okay then.
(corrected link)
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The_Enginerd wrote: »
It feels about like this...quiltlovinlisa wrote: »The last month I've been getting a lot of "You've lost a LOT of weight, what have you been doing?" When I respond "Counting calories," their eyes glaze over and they often mumble that they can't (or won't) do that.
Okay then.
(corrected link)
lol!
Yes, that!0 -
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sugaraddict4321 wrote: »
Well it's definitely true, if 1 consumes; the sugar free gummy bears!1 -
DeficitDuchess wrote: »sugaraddict4321 wrote: »
Well it's definitely true, if 1 consumes; the sugar free gummy bears!
Sadly they discontinued them. Which is a shame because now I have to find something else to hand out to the teenagers who come trick or treating.1 -
They wouldn't sell magazines if every week they had the same diet plan of "eat less calories than you burn", now would they?
Of course not. I wouldn't spend $10 on a magazine to gain that knowledge. Neither would anybody in this thread - would you? We all already know you lose weight with a calorie deficit.0 -
jillybeansalad wrote: »BreezeDoveal wrote: »1,000 years ago, tehre wasn't even a concept of temperature, let alone calories to go in or out.
There also wasn't chemical additives, yet all the processed food peopel here want to insist they're fine.
Nor was there medication, vaccines, and refrigeration. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
And people lived to the ripe old age of "Died of dysentery."1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKs0oEIVOck
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