Is there a more popular subject today than weight loss? If so, I surely can't think of what it would be... maybe erectile dysfunction... but that's a subject for another day!
The truth is that weight loss is one of the most popular subjects in America. Statistically, there seems to be a pretty good reason for that.
Being Overweight Has Become "The Norm"
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the percentage of American adults 20 years and older that are considered obese (traditionally defined as a person who is 20 lbs. or more over their ideal weight) is 34%. Further, the percentage of adults 20 years and old that are considered overweight, but not clinically obese, is an additional 34%.
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That means that 68% of adults in our country are anywhere from slightly overweight to morbidly obese. Those are some scary statistics!
Those are also some very revealing statistics as to why we are bombarded day and night with advertisements for weight loss pills, diets, workout contraptions, and so forth.
The market for these products (or schemes in some cases) is huge! We all want to believe that there is a fast and easy way to overcome the struggles that have put us in the fore-mentioned 68% category. After all, who wouldn't want to go to sleep and wake up with all that weight gone?
Regardless of what common sense tells us, when it comes to our weight, we tend to believe promises that we know better than to believe.
The "Too Good to Be True" Syndrome
A person's weight is a sensitive issue. So when a marketer can properly appeal to our emotions, we often times don't think twice about forking out the dough... even if deep down we know the promises are too good to be true.
The world of weight-loss advertising is a fraudulent fantasy-land where pounds "melt away", no diet or exercise is required, and "miracle" substances "seek and destroy" enemy fat.
The FTC warns that the use of deceptive and misleading claims in weight-loss advertising is rampant. Nearly 40 percent of ads in a study by FTC regulators contained claims that were almost certainly false, such as "You can lose 18 pounds in one week." Additionally, 55 percent of ads made claims that were very likely false or lacked any proof.
So that begs the question, "What, if anything, are we to believe when it comes to weight loss?!".
Approaching Weight Loss in a Responsible Manner
First, use your head when making a decision about how to approach weight loss. Be reasonable and take your emotions out of the equation. If someone told you that you could make $10,000 tomorrow without any work, would you believe it? Of course not. So take these weight loss schemes at face value and don't buy into the ridiculous claims. All you will end up with a smaller bank account... or worse, MORE health issues.
Secondly, keep these important words in mind when making a decision on how to approach weight loss... According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
"It's natural for anyone trying to lose weight to want to lose it very quickly. But evidence shows that people who lose weight gradually and steadily are more successful at keeping weight off. Healthy weight loss isn't just about a "diet"... It's about an ongoing lifestyle that includes long-term changes..." (courtesy of www.cdc.gov )
The Real Truth
Simply put, there is no such thing as a permanent "easy" answer to overcoming weight gain. It will be work, and it will take time. But if you are willing and able to put in the work and the time, you will be rewarded.
"Work" is going to include exercising 60 - 90 minutes a day on most days of the week.
"Time" is going to be up to your body and the effectiveness of your chosen exercise routine.
Don't approach weight-loss as a sidebar to your life. Make it a true lifestyle change and stick with it. After all, there is no better feeling than waking up every morning and enjoying what you see in the mirror!
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