Hey there, John here and I’m back with another fun blog post and this time to help shed some light on the bad diet tools that are out there.  I know we all want that quick fix with some crazy weight loss that will get us back to our ideal weight as quickly as possible.  Instant gratification is a common trait we all share but unfortunately it is not all that good for your body.  As a longtime san jose personal trainer and campbell personal trainer I have seen my lion’s share of what clients ask about but today I’m going to touch on two in particular.

Let’s take the Hollywood Diet Drink for example.  I know you’ve seen this one in the random pharmacies, maybe some nutritional stores as well.  The one that claims 10 pounds of weight loss in 48 hours.  I’m going to go ahead and say false on that one.  and feel free to check out a random forum I found with other people’s experiences  Although I’m sure that consuming only 400 calories of basically a juice as well as drinking at least 100 oz of water that they want you to will help you lose a couple lbs, it’s not really the best for your body.  Lacking vital nutrients on a daily basis is not a good situation for your body to be in and although it means adios to possibly a couple pounds of water weight, it will most likely be regained.

Instead of buying some crazy weight loss drink or detox plan by Jillian Michaels, get some help from a professional.  I refer everyone to participate in the Group Detox put on by Sara from SanVitum because she is an expert.  I myself have done a Group Detox, and although weight loss wasn’t my main priority, I lost a few pounds and REALLY got even more on track with my eating habits.  You will feel great and you’ll be safe knowing that while trying to lose some pounds, you’re still taking care of your body.  (You can find out more by going to www.sanvitum.com and clicking on the events tab.)

And what about the famed Hydroxycut?  You know, the pills you pop that supposedly help you burn fat by the minute.  Did you know that the original version of Hydroxycut contained Ephedra in it?  The same substance that has been banned by the FDA since 2006 and has been related to many deaths, some of which have been pro athletes.  And although newer versions may not have ephedra in them, they still contain a variety of other ingredients, most notably a lot of caffeine and stimulants that will raise your heart rate like crazy.

For those of you with high BP, this is no good.  And even for everyone else it is just plain not good for your body.  I’m not telling you that caffeine is the devil and that you can’t have any whatsoever.  In fact, caffeine is noted for being carbohydrate sparing and helps to utilize fat for energy but you don’t need it in crazy quantities.  You can become addicted to caffeine and that is when it gets bad.  It can lead to nervousness, irritability, headaches, adrenal exhaustion, mood swings, and sugar cravings.  Do yourself a favor and try to cut back.

Now I dearly hope none of you are taking the aforementioned supplements because when it boils down to it, nothing beats plain old nutrition/calorie control, better portion sizes, adequate sleep, good water intake, and plenty of exercise.  And if you want some great accountability that includes all of these aspects, then get on board our 12 WFC asap!  It starts next week and will help get you ready to “rock that body” come springtime.

Now put down that gallon cup of coffee, grab some water, put your workout clothes on and go hit a workout.

Till next time my fitness friends.

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer