Have you ever noticed how you can't pick up any magazine these days without seeing a picture of some smiling skinny chick in 'fat pants?' Holding them all bunched up in front of her, the headline screams that product X is solely responsible for her miraculous transformation.
It seems as though there are at least a dozen ads for every kind of diet pill, potion or miracle diet in every magazine you read.
The thing is though - it's all a LIE.
So far, I have yet to see any of these products that doesn't have fine print somewhere that says something like 'only effective as part of a kilojoule controlled diet and exercise plan.'
Huh?
What the heck do you take the pills for then? If you're already dieting and exercising, then why spend a fortune on pills?!
Weight loss is the simplest thing in the world: you consume fewer calories than you burn. It really is that simple. Eat less, exercise more, lose weight.
If you've ever been tempted to try one of these miracle products, don't do it. The diet 'industry' has been developed for one reason only - to part you and your money.
A better idea would be to go through all your cupboards, and get rid of all the high fat, high salt, high sugar, refined carb products. Put them in a box, and donate them to charity. If they're not there, they can't tempt you while you watch TV.
Then, learn to cook differently. Forget frying, roasting and sauteeing. Boil, steam or grill.
Finally, a few substitutions - swap cream for fat free yogurt. Add beans to mince dishes to bulk them up without adding fat. 'Diet food' doesn't have to taste like an old shoe you know.
Whatever you do though, when you're tempted to buy diet pills, look for that phrase I mentioned above. When you find it (and it's almost certain you will) put the bottle back on the shelf, and save money.
Trust me - I've never touched a diet pill, and I still fit into the same jeans I wore when I was 18. All you have to do is control what you eat, and you should never need to diet.
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
