“Just take this pill and the pounds will coming falling off…” If you’ve ever struggled with weight gain you’ve surely sought out ways to lose weight or let’s not forget the late night infomercials with “Slick Rick” telling you this one pill a day will wash away the pounds.

Just stop.

While many greedy businesses over the years have preyed on people struggling to lose weight it’s time to take open your eyes and understand one very important rule of weight loss, here it is: THERE IS NO SHORTCUT!

There it is, you heard it here first and I’m not telling you this to be mean but because I’m on your side and I wan’t to help!

Save your money and start looking at healthy, smart ways to get back in shape. Many businesses have become wildly wealthy selling useless crap to overweight consumers since the beginning of time. Here are 3 big profit gimmicks that simply don’t work.

While it’s easy to fall for fad diet plans and short-cuts, here’s 3 weight loss gimmicks to avoid:

1. The Weight Loss Patch

Perhaps the most appealing weight loss gimmick in history. No pills to remember to take, no special diets, no required exercise routine. Naturally, if you’re desperate to lose weight and all it takes is a simple band-aid like patch you slap on your arm every morning, who wouldn’t buy in to this? It’s perfect, right?

Unfortunately, the weight loss patch like hundreds of other “quick fix” gimmicks will not help you lose weight. If it we’re as easy as claimed we’d all have 6-pack abs and life would be easy and perfect.

2. Appetite Suppressant Pills

We’ve seen them come and go over the years. Surely you remember Ephedra? It’s been a banned substance for over 10 years now and for good reason. Sure, it would trick your body in to literally having no appetite but at what cost to your nutrition and health? Yes, Ephedrine helped a lot of people lose weight but there were also numerous deaths associated with the controversial diet pill.

We as humans weren’t designed to have our appetites suppressed, it simply isn’t natural but when we fuel our bodies with the right foods when we are hungry it can and will lead to weight loss with proper portions and exorcise. Diet pills and appetite suppressants may seem like a quick and easy way to shed the pounds but you have to consider the long and short term side effects of using unknown substances. There may be risks so proceed with caution or avoid all together.

3. Carbohydrate Blockers

While still up for debate, carb blockers have become popular recently with the enticing pitch of “Eat all the pasta you want and don’t gain weight…” Carb blockers  are designed to stop the normal conversion of starchy foods to sugar before it can pass through our digestive system and store as fat on our hips, thighs, buttocks, and stomach.

Over the past several years, there have been many positive studies to determine the effectiveness of carb blockers and their ability to help lose weight. One study was performed at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, over an eight week time period.

It reported that participants saw an average weight loss of 200% more than those taking a placebo, and lost an average of 1.5 inches around their waists. This was 43 % more than those taking the placebo. Plus they reported having 13% more energy, even though it is not a stimulant.

Again, you’re altering the natural function of the body which can be a risky endeavor. It would be best to develop a fitness regime which involves a healthy diet and exorcise for a long term healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion: 

Losing weight and being healthy simply doesn’t have a “shortcut”. While there are greedy companies out there who will sell you magic pills all day long, it’s best to adopt a proven and safe diet and fitness plan for the long term. Dieting doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Make changes to your lifestyle over time and always try to make better choices with your diet. It’s not a race, it’s a lifestyle that you can work on at your own pace.