infomercials

Fit Links: 2013′s Top Food Trends and Fit Gift Picks

December 7, 2012 at 3:53 pm
By Karla Walsh

This week’s fit links from around the web:

• Start prepping your shopping lists now: These nutritious foods are going to be flying off shelves in 2013. — Huffington Post Healthy Living
• Before you buy the latest gadget as a gift this season, check out this list for 10 ways to spot something that’s too good to be true. — SparkPeople
• We can’t wait to try this protein-packed Puppy Chow recipe at our holiday parties! — Eating Bird Food
• Ready to sweat? Take your workouts to the next level with these 13 intensity-boosting tips. — Greatist
• Your bank account will be as healthy as your pals when you give them these fit gifts (all are less than $5!). — Fit Sugar
• Do you follow a training plan while prepping for a race? Find out what style may be best for your next PR mission. — Healthy Tipping Point

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Fit Links: The (Not So) Secret to Flat Abs and How to Save Big on Groceries

August 24, 2012 at 9:34 am
By Karla Walsh

This week’s fit links from around the web:

• You know what they say about things that sound too good to be true… Ab Circle Pro marketers are fined for claiming their tool can sculpt amazing abs in three minutes a day. — NPR
• Greek yogurt fans will go gaga for these unique ways to utilize the protein-packed ingredient! — Fit Sugar
• Did job stress contribute to Rosie O’Donnell’s heart attack? — Forbes
• Trim your grocery budget with these tips, recipes and shopping lists. — Environmental Working Group
• Hey overachievers: Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for a job well done! — Peanut Butter Fingers
• We’re getting our aprons ready to try some of these good-for-you options for our next cocktail party (or upcoming tailgate). Mmm…black bean guacamole. — The Lean Green Bean

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10 Signs a Fitness Product is Just a Gimmick

May 5, 2011 at 11:15 am
By SparkPeople

Photo courtesy of SparkPeople

Want to avoid a scam? Check out the latest advice from SparkPeople!

Fitness infomercials promise a lot: dramatic weight-loss, big results, a six pack in 30 days! But unfortunately, most of them do not deliver on those promises. When those ads are so intriguing and believable, how do you know which new products deliver and which ones leave much to be desired?

To separate the real fitness tools from the get-fit-quick scams, just ask yourself the 10 questions below. If you answer, “yes” even one of them, save your money: It probably won’t give you the results it promises.

10 Must-Ask Questions before You Buy Another Exercise Product

1. Does it sound too good to be true?
If it does, it probably is. The people behind these products and ads really are marketing geniuses. In a matter of seconds, they harness your attention. Within minutes, you believe that you can have the body of a fitness model in just minutes a day, too. Here’s another trick: When calculating how many calories a new product burns, many companies will test their product on a very large, muscular man to get an inflated number, which skews the calorie burn for most people.

2. Does it target just one body part?
The truth is that “spot reduction” doesn’t work.  If the Booty Blaster on TV promises that you’ll lose inches off your rear, it’s lying! There is no way to slim down, lose water weight or trim inches from a specific area of the body just by working that body part. If you have body fat that is hiding your muscles, only a calorie-controlled diet combined with a sound exercise program (that also burns calories via cardio) will solve the problem. The same goes for abs machines that promise to give you a six-pack or whittle away your love handles . Sure, you can make your abs stronger with strengthening and toning exercises (which is awesome!), but you won’t go from a size 12 to a size 2 overnight.

3. Does it fail to mention diet or nutrition?
Nutrition is such an integral part of losing inches, building muscle and dropping weight. If a product or fitness program doesn’t address the nutrition side of the weight-loss equation (i.e. a reduced-calorie diet), then you can pretty much guarantee that it’s a gimmick exaggerating its results. All the exercise in the world will not change your body if your diet isn’t also in line with your goals.

4. Is it really that different?
What is most interesting about infomercials is that the products and programs for sale seem so new and revolutionary! The marketing on them really gets you pumped up! But step back and ask yourself if the gizmo, DVD or training plan really is special or if it’s just being marketed as something exciting.

5. Are the dramatic results what interest me?
If you answer yes to this question, run away from the phone. Do not “act now” and order the product. If you’re desperate to lose weight and the claims of rapid weight loss or dramatic results are persuading you to pick up that phone to order, take a deep breath and remind yourself that buying the product itself won’t help you lose weight. Using it regularly, along with a healthy diet and sound fitness program will. And if the product or program doesn’t interest you at all, then it’s probably not a smart buy, no matter how effective it appears to be. For example, if you have two left feet and would never be caught dead on a dance floor, ordering a set of hip-hop dance DVDs probably won’t work for you—even if it has worked for others.

Continued: The Other 5 Questions to Ask Yourself before Buying

More From Spark People:

Top 6 Fitness Myths and Truths

12 Ways to Spot a Fad Diet

Get a Personalized Weight-Loss Plan

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