The Hard to Swallow Truth about Magic Pills

We all have these moments, running laps outside the Orange County Fitness Center, thinking "Why can't I just take one of those Diet Pills and be done with all this?" Well, you can, but you might not want to after you read this. There is absolutlely no way to lose weight, tone up and feel great except from old fashioned diet and exercise.

• Alli - This newest pill helps people lose wieght by blocking the absorption of fat. You have to take it before each meal, and it will block 25% of the fat from your meal. Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, Alli claims to help people lose 50% more weight than from diet and exercise alone. But, this can give many people the idea that you can sit down, pop your pill and eat a cheeseburger. You can, but that blocked fat has to go somewhere. And it's not pretty. Listed side effects include Gas with an Oily Discharge, Hard to Control Bowel Movements and Uncontrollable Leakage. Quite a list! Also, because it is blocking fat absorption, it also leaves you with a deficiency of Fat Soluble Vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, which you will need to supplement.
• Meridia - This one works on your brain, sending signals to you that you are full. Basically an appetite suppressant, it leaves you "feeling full" earlier. As with most appetite suppressants, it can leave you with a risk for high blood pressure, and can interrupt your sleep patterns, make you jittery and nervous. I don't think those risks are worth it, when you can embark on a weight loss program with the help of your personal trainer and do it the healthy way.
• Hoodia - This is one to stay away from in my opinion. There are of course the claims of magic and no side effects from the manufacturers, but Hoodia is not regulated by the FDA, and hence you really don't know what you are getting. The product label may contain little or no information, and you don't know how much, if any, of the active ingredient you are getting (and paying big bucks for!). Anything in life that sounds too good to be true probably is.

These 3 darlings of the Diet Pill Industry are the hottest thing, right now. Remember when Dexatrim was the in thing? How about Fen Phen? Or Metabolife? These companies go in and out of vogue for a reason. There is no magic pill. The small print next to the before and after success stories always says "Results not Typical. Combined with diet and exercise." If someone is taking one of these or the many other diet pills, but running 5 miles a day and eating salad all the time, they're probably losing weight from the working out and the lower calorie intake. Just do the smart thing, and save yourself the Oily Discharge, High Blood Pressure or worse! Make an appointment to get in and see your personal trainer today!

Be eXcellent!

Ms. X - a www.socalworkout.com writer