WEEK ONE HUNDRED-EIGHTEEN :: Why Are So Many Americans Drawn To The Miracle Pill?

[webmaster]

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TOPIC: Why Are So Many Americans Drawn To The Miracle Pill?

For the week of: April 11th - April 17th
Tuesday @ Midnight Is The Final Cut (Mountain Time, US & Canada).

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There are constantly new pills hitting the market that promise lower body fat, increased muscle mass, and a younger/healthier body. And if it's not a pill that hit's the market it's a miracle belt that promises 6-pack abs. Although a lot of the sports nutrition supplements are very useful and beneficial, it is clear that many of the "miracle pills" are just over hyped junk.

Why are so many Americans drawn to the miracle pill?

Do they want to blame their lack of results on the diet pill so that they can say they tried or do they really think that the pill is magic?

Does taking a daily diet pill make them feel like they're trying, so that they trick themselves into not worrying about their weight?

BONUS QUESTION: Have you ever fallen into the trap of the "miracle pill?" How did you justify buying and using it?

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[ifagala]

Many americans are drawn to the idea of a miracle pill for a couple of reasons. One reason being many people don't truly understand the physiology of the body. If you are ill informed about how the body works and the basic science behind "burning fat" or "building lean muscle", then you might easily be persuaded by one of these companies that their product does in fact do what they say. However, any person who has dedicated themselves to a healthy lifestyle is aware that there is no one end all be all supplement. That being said they are called supplements for a reason they are to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise regimen to "supplement" your fitness.
Many people may also just be looking for the easy way out. Have you ever seen someone at a restaurant order a very high fat high calorie meal and then ask for a diet coke? The same line of thinking that brought them to order that diet coke is the same thinking that makes them justify taking a miracle pill. They decide since they don't have time to work out, don't know how to work out, or whatever their reason maybe that at least they are making an attempt to be healthy. This way when their attempt to lose weight fails they can point the finger at someone other than themselves.
I've taken my share of supplements over the years and though I can't say that I've ever fallen into the trap of the miracle pill I have purchased and used supplements purely because I know that they will have a bit of a placebo effect.

[Jodi_Lane]

I honestly feel that millions of Americans are becoming overweight because of all the horrible food choices that are very popular, fast, and CHEAP. Unfortunately, these same Americans don't have the willpower that most of us on bodybuilding.com do. They're taunted with McDonald's and Burger King during their lunch hours and usually give in because it tastes good, is fast, and cheap. Also, the sad part is, most people grow up with thinking these eating habits are NORMAL. What I have noticed about most people that are over weight (or even people that are carrying some extra cushion) is that they just assume that they?re naturally over weight or it is an inborn thing and they cannot change it. That is a sad but true realization. Individuals in this category eat three meals a day (three fattening and bad meals) and don?t understand why they?re gaining weight-or why they have this extra cushion. They start worrying about their weight and they don?t have the will power to over come eating bad foods because it is very exhausting at times to worry about what you?re ALLOWED to eat while on a diet. What happens when they start feeling ashamed of their weight is they try to search for a quick solution, or something that will make them psychologically feel as though they?re TRYING to lose weight. Once they feel like they?re trying to lose weight, they don?t worry so much about being over weight.

Several people I have known, will buy a diet pill (or even a workout video or new low cost exercise machine), and only try it for a couple days or a few weeks. The sad part is, when they?re incorporating this new diet pill (or other weight loss product), they do not change any other factors in their lives. Therefore, they see no results from the diet pills (or new products they?re trying). Then when people around them say, ?Hey, so?how?s the diet pill working?? They can confidently reply with, ?Well, I tried it for like a month and I didn?t lose a pound!? That gives them a way to blame the lack of result on SOMEONE/SOMETHING ELSE.

I have a friend who is overweight and she really never has tried hard AT ALL to lose it or get in better shape. Every time I?ve suggested something or every time she?s tried any diet pill or diet, she always blames the lack of result on the diet pill, diet book, workout video, and so on. She NEVER blames herself. I think 90% of people that try and fail, have this same attitude because She is not the only one I know that has said almost the EXACT same thing. They all want to blame everything but themselves! I tell people like this (when people ask me for advice), that your diet is YOUR fault! Some people get greatly mad at me!!! I also tell them that, if I personally were to gain 5 lbs, I would know that it was my own fault because I can control my weight and progress. They can too!


BONUS QUESTION:
I actually did fall into using a ?miracle pill? at one point in my life. A LONG time ago...I actually was trying my hardest to lose weight and look better. I was working out WAY too much and watching EVERYTHING I was eating. I also probably was not eating enough either. Buying the diet pill made me feel like I was doing something ?positive? for my weight loss progress?even though it didn?t probably do a darn thing! But I think other girls probably get stuck in the same ordeal. They buy these weight loss products just to make themselves feel like they?re doing something to better their progress. I was stuck in the trap of thinking 2 hours a day of working out was not enough! I thought, ?Hey, if I buy this pill and take it too, I?ll get even MORE progress!? So, I guess you could say I was severely progress-hungry and I wanted to do ALL that I could to produce results. Deep down I knew that my exercise and diet was the main thing to help my progress but for some reason, buying a diet pill made me feel like I was meeting all ends to see more results!


Thanks you guys!!! Good luck to everyone!!!

[ManInTheBox]

Best of luck to everyone!

[CapitalJay]

Good luck to everyone!

[redhawk76]

GREAT topic this week, wish I had had more time to spend on it

Good luck all

[roxy42277]

1)I think Americans are drawn to the magic pill because they are extremely lazy. and they dont want to put forth the effort to have the self discipline it takes to see the results in the gym that they hope to get from the magic pill!

2).taking a daily diet pill does make them feel like they're trying, so that they trick themselves into not worrying about their weight. I have people come into the nutrition store that i work at and they always look around dumb founded and ask what in here can get rid of my belly. What kind of fat burners do you have. they are also like i dont want anything thats going to make me big i just want to get rid of this fat! I see it all the time, people take a pill, and eat what ever they want. then they ask me, what can i take? I reply "diet". Its not a pill, its what you put in your mouth and what time you put it in there! I sometimes wont sell it to them, is that wrong? Instead try to explain diet and how that is more effective! And if they still want it then ill sell it to them.

3)Oh i agree that by taking a diet pill they really feel as if they are trying. they probably have the mind set, i can eat that.... im taking a 50 dollar fat burner! it wont matter at all!!!

Bonus question: Haha yea man, i fell into the diet pill trap in 2003...trimspa baby! this was befor i even exercised lol. I would look at them and think that i can take this and lose about 5 pounds and eat what i want..i remember that day very clearly...i dont know why lol. I took 2 trimspas then ate a bagle with extra cream cheese and ketchup with 2 whole eggs...well the trimspa didnt work! haha fricken pills. Not to mention all the pizza I had that day ;-)

now im a big believer of diet. its all what i put in my mouth at the time i put it in. i guess its a long lesson to learn and a hard lesson to learn, Now i take lipo 6 but only because im cutting for my first show, and i need all the energy i can get...im not depending on the pill for my weight loss, im hoping ill get some energy from the pill so i can bust my behind in the gym as much as i do!