Fitness Rip-Off Special ReportFitness is a huge industry, and there are a lot of unscrupulous people who will either give you bad information or withhold critical information to get a piece of it. While every once in a while these dishonest fitness companies will get in a bit of trouble for their actions, most of the time they get away with it, so it is up to the consumer to get informed and protect themselves. That is why this report was created, so people looking to get fit can learn the most common tactics used by shady fitness companies so they can be avoided. If a fitness program you are interested in tells you any of these things, be sure to investigate them thoroughly before proceeding any further: They Tell You That You Can Get Ripped By Using Truckloads of Supplements It's distressing to hear that, after you have already paid a significant amount to sign up for a fitness program, they expect you pay as much, if not more, for an absolute waste of supplements. In this textbook bait and switch scam, fitness programs tempt people with promises of a fit body fast at an impossibly low price, and then hit them with the cost of the supplements once they have already been roped into a contract. Never sign anything until you are 100% clear of all the costs involved. And it may be tedious, but it can often pay off to read the contract in its entirety before you sign. Ask if there will be any additional costs, including the cost of any food or supplements. You may be shocked at what the total cost of your diet plan really is. They Tell You That They Will Make You Lose a Pound A Day Here's the bottom line: with the right guidance, it is very possible to lose a lot of weight very quickly and safely. But there is no way to safely drop a pound a day. Losing that kind of weight makes you prone to getting gallstones. Gallstones aren't just incredibly painful, they may require surgery, which will mean you might end up with a big, fat hospital bill and a scar across you abdomen. They Don't Give You Much Info On Their Personal Trainers Sometimes, you will sign up for a gym, but when you try to hire a personal trainer at that gym, they seem to give very vague information or no information at all. This should raise red flags for you because it signals that they don't want to take responsibility for the actions of their personal trainers. It's only later that you discover that your meathead trainer doesn't know a dumbbell from a rock, can't even define the word "calorie," and does nothing every training session but count reps. The fact is that some gyms do this because they know that most personal trainers aren't qualified. There are even some websites that sell you, for fifty bucks, a personal training "certification," without actually having to prove your credentials. Always make sure the personal trainers that you are working with know what they are doing. They Tell You They Have The Best Equipment To Give You Abs This is utter nonsense. A good six-pack is achieved through regular abdominal exercises as part of a comprehensive resistance training plan, a good diet, and regular cardio. You don't need much equipment to achieve a six-pack. The truth is: using equipment to work your midsection might mean that it actually takes longer to get a six-pack. In 2001 the American Council on Exercise conducted a study to see what the most effective ab exercises were. This study pitted non-equipment exercises against ab machines that could be bought through TV infomercials, using EMG equipment to study participants' muscle activity after performing each exercise. What they discovered was astonishing. Not only do the majority of ab exercises that require equipment less effective than no equipment exercises, but also the number one, most effective ab exercise that they found required no equipment at all. One of the most effective ab exercises, according to the study, is called the bicycle. It doesn't only hit your rectus abdomonis, the muscle that gives you the "six pack" look; it also strengthens your entire core. To perform this exercise correctly, lie on your back and lace your fingers behind your head. Now, bring your knees in towards the chest and lift your shoulder blades off of the ground. Straighten out your left leg and turn you body to the right, bringing your left elbow close to your right knee. Now switch sides, bringing your right elbow up to your left knee while extending your right leg. Repeat for twelve repetitions. With these stories of the FTC prosecuting fitness scams, it is important to remember that this is not how it usually goes. Usually, they are able to get away with such terrible actions without ever receiving any kind of penalty. If you feel you have been scammed by a fitness club, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau as soon as you can. The sad fact of the matter is that it probably won't lead to any action by these organzaitons, but if enough people complain, it might be enough to make them notice. So what's the truth to getting the body you want? Getting fit is a complicated venture, but it essentially comes down to eating right, exercising right, and getting enough rest. Your exercise regimen should be a balance between cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. Cardio exercise has the advantage of burning more calories per minute, but resistance training, such as lifting weights, will boost your metabolism, which will lead to more around the clock weight burning. Your diet should contain a lot of variety, so you never get bored of eating the same thing over and over. It should also mostly contain whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lots of protein from lean sources. You should also give yourself enough leniency to indulge in your favorite surgery or fatty foods, so that you never feel deprived. A diet that always makes you feel hungry and stressed all the time just isn't sustainable. It should certainly allow for enough of a calorie deficit to burn fat and enough proteins to build muscle, but also enough fun foods so you can lead a normal life. You also shouldn't underestimate the importance of rest, both in terms of sleep and taking breaks from exercising. If you don't get a good eight hours of sleep every night, you muscles don't repair properly, you don't have enough energy to work out, and your entire fitness plan suffers. Also, if you don't have occasional "off days" where you don't do any exercising, you risk overtraining and stunting your fitness progress. This is the real way you get fit and stay fit. Over the course of several years, I have assembled a team of experienced, knowledgeable, and inspirational personal trainers who make it their life's mission to guide people into the lifestyle that helps them achieve the body of their dreams. This is a rare group of fitness professionals who know what it really takes to achieve a toned, lean body, and never give out sub-par advice.
Yours in Never Ending Health and Fitness, Chris McCombs |
