7 Ways to Spot a Weight Loss Scam

Where can I buy Lo Mar Fat reducing soap?

I disagree with internet as a dodgy sales medium. There are plenty of good products sold on the net although I agree in that it's wise to be cautious and buy through trusted sites or trusted 3rd parties like clickbank for e-books.

Cheers
~Mike.

The Internet is without a doubt the wild, wild west of marketing and sales; anybody can attempt to sell anything to anybody out here, and there isn't very much anybody can do about it. The flood of male enhancement emails that continues unabated is a prime example.

Your point on only buying from trusted sites is rock solid, but claiming the internet is not the great playground of the scam artist is a bit naive.

I feel sorry for people who buy into scams.

My mom was a nurse for twenty years, she's now a teacher, she has her master's degree for goodness sake! She's no dummy. Yet she's got a "medically proven" cream in the bathroom that promises to..."remove hunger and fat" by rubbing it on your very-anatomically-correct-sounding "tummy". She's too smart for that crap, but there ya go.

Alchemyguy said:
Your point on only buying from trusted sites is rock solid, but claiming the internet is not the great playground of the scam artist is a bit naive.[...]

I assume you're talking to me :-) Well not naive, just not very clear. We agree for sure... loads of dodgy scams on the net for sure but also genuinely good products. I love the convenience and efficiency of buying on the net. Also, quality ebooks are fantastic for research because of the search tool in adobe reader.

Cheers
~Mike

Alot of scams out there, but theres some good guides out there like fat loss 4 idiots etc.

Guys do not starve yourself, your only setting yourself up to gain more weight back when you start eating again. Your body thinks your starving and builds extra fat to prepare for the next time this happens.

You need to eat many small meals per day to lose weight, theres actually a new guide that has helped alot of people if you wanna check it out. Its at http://www.fatlosshelpplan.blogspot.com

Hope this helps, later

Thanks for the tips. I'm in the midst of a weight loss bet so I'm looking for any pointers. 20lbs in 2 months. http://stockfield.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/the-bet-weight-loss-versus-weight-gain/

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I feel bad for people that buy into those gimmicky products to lose weight. I was working out early in the morning on my elliptical machine the other day and of course, the only shows on were infomercials. I saw one for a diet shake that claimed that you would lose "a pound a day!" if you bought this stuff. They had a woman on there that claimed that she lost a pound a day on it and went from a weight of 324 lbs to 160. However, at the very bottom of the screen, there was the following fine print: "Patient lost weight by combining the shake with gastric bypass surgery". So there you go, she had bariatric surgery...I'm pretty sure THAT was what was making her lose a pound a day and not the shakes. It's pretty crazy what companies sell and how they can get away with it.

I think Brittany has a point though. A lot of very intelligent people buy weight loss products that are just plain ridiculous. It just goes to show how desperate a lot of us are to lose weight ASAP, even though the methods are sketchy.

Skepticism and critical thinking are soooo important in all aspects of life. The internet can be a great tool, but if you don't have the critical thinking skills it's difficult to filter the good information from the bad.
Even highly intelligent people can make mistakes if they lack the ability to think critically and realise they too can be fooled. It can be especially difficult for people who are well educated to realise this. Their brain goes, "This sounds great, I want to believe this." Then it jumps through all kinds of hoops, rationalising the choice to believe in it because, since they are not a stupid person, it must be a smart choice.

Passion for Health said:
I assume you're talking to me :-) Well not naive, just not very clear. We agree for sure... loads of dodgy scams on the net for sure but also genuinely good products. I love the convenience and efficiency of buying on the net. Also, quality ebooks are fantastic for research because of the search tool in adobe reader.[...]

I suppose naive was a bit strong...

I do fantastic amounts of shopping on the internet, and use it for most of my diet/fitness related research. The trick is to be the guy that questions everything; never believe anybody without sources or that you can't independently verify.

Alchemyguy said:
The trick is to be the guy that questions everything[...]

Totally... I used to drive my parents nuts with questions as a kid! ahahah

Alchemyguy said:
never believe anybody without sources or that you can't independently verify.[...]

We use clickbank to sell our ebook and the buyer gets loads of protection from that. For products I always go with the trusted big names like amazon.

Another thought--don't credit cards give you a lot of protection anyway as a consumer? I've never asked for money back from the credit card company but I think you can get money back from them if things go pear shaped.

Cheers
Mike.

I joined LA weight loss almost 4 weeks ago. I travel 25 miles one-way. I'm a senior citizen and money is very scarce, but they got me on Care Credit and I pay every month. They helped me with 2-days meal planning and I have asked them to help me with the rest of my meal planning so I could lose my 30 pounds for health reasons. I have complanned to them that I need help, but all I get is what kind of la lite do you want and they weight me and that's it. I don't know what to do after 10 weeks of the lites what do I eat in place of them. I don't think I will be going back to them, I paid them to do a job and I was the one that is doing it.

I went on bean diet and lost 30 pounds. I love beans and I eat a lot them. Can anyone tell me why my wife won't sleep in the same room?

What? What? I am waiting for my free sample of Hoodia as we speak. You mean it doesn't work?
Hmmmph imagine that!

Does anyone know of (first hand experience only please) a weight loss regime or product that really works? Let me know if you do please.

The most intelligent book I've ever seen on this subject is called "Fit For Life" by Diamond.

The first half of the book describes what causes your body to stay fat and sick and just plain unhealthy, then explains how you can correct it.

Then the second half gives you recipes to help you follow their plan.

I tried it for a while, and it really works! No supplements or "special" products to buy - you just shop at your local grocery, and make more reasonable purchases.

Check it out if you're serious about getting physically fit for the rest of your life.

FOLLOW THE DIET AS OUTLINED IN THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION BOOKS,THEIR RECIPES IN THEM CHANGE THE TYPE OF FOOD THAT YOU EAT ,AND YOU WILL FIND BY THIS CHANGE IN THE TYPE OF MEALS YOU EAT AND EXCERCISE WILL WORK IT DID FOR ME AND I DID NOT GO HUNGRY

My cousin lost over 40 lbs. on Zylene. Worked for her, gonna see if the weight stays off.

I think that people with a weight problem - and yes, I am one - are looking for a quick and easy method or product. My doctor always told me "Rome wasn't built in a day nor did you gain weight in a day."

I was digging my grave with a knife and fork. And I blamed it on "slow metabolism," "taking a lot of prednisone for my asthma," and a bunch of other things.

In 2000 my doctor told me that I needed to jump-start a weight loss regimen. And yes, I tried EVERY product and program out there. Optifast, Weight Watchers, Atkins, you name it I bought it or tried it.

Anyhow in early 2001 I had bariatric surgery; I lost over 220 pounds. However, to this day I have digestive problems. I had a tummy tuck in January of this year to remove the "apron" of loose skin that exercise didn't quite get rid of. Then, 6 months later I had the lipo. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

My surgeon found a hernia "hiding" behind the stomach pouch because some of the closing stitches from the bariatric surgery had popped loose. The hernia was almost 6 inches. I'm still not physically recovered from that ordeal and have even had to have transfusions.

So - in my quest to be thin and please clothing manufacturers who think plus sizes equates to slipcovers (and I worked in the plus-sized fashion industry for many years) - I have permanently damaged my health. I'm looking at possibly 2 more "corrective procedures" and still cannot eat many things or digest properly and almost died as a result. But the percentage of bariatric surgery cases "gone bad" is not as high as it should be, I think, because a lot of problems go unreported. When I say that there are some overweight people will do and say just about anything to get this "magic bullet" I speak for myself, too.

Yeah, I need to find out which of the 3 surgeons who did the surgery did the closing stitching.

All these online, infomercial, drugstore vendors and others do is make money off our dreams of magically becoming slim because we are programmed to see slim as normal and acceptable. Plus sized people are considered freaks.

My apologies for rambling. Anyone want to ask a question privately can email my name @ A--.com.

Again, after reading this, I see people are very passionate, one way or another. There is NO GET THIN QUICK scenarios that will work WITHOUT YOU taking control.

I've dropped 6 lbs over two weeks, but ONLY through hard work in the gym and by a good diet. I'm using the Weight Loss for Idiots (you can google it) plan or look on my site as a guide, but it's just that...some sort of guide....and you need to follow it. I did not lose the 9lbs in 11days, but I did lose 5.5. I'm not obese so that probably was one culprit and I did not drink the 12 glasses of water a day they subscribed. You can follow my blog for future results but again, reading won't get you thin...working out and eating right! Pretty simple!

i have read alot of your comments posted above. the only way i see to losing weight is patience and a habit. with that being said - i think a fine example of this is that little show called "the biggest loser." they have a website, you can join their club(FREE), and all the information you are getting is from qualified nutritionists and trainers.

i myself have some heavy duty health problems, one day i went to the health store and asked them about alternatives that are natural and safe. this is when i heard about TONALIN. TONALIN is a gel capsule you take after every meal. if you can wait for a while(anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks) you will see and feel a definite change. this supplement is a natural fat blocker and is SAFE for anyone to take. it flushes out the fat of what you eat and also the fat that is already in your body. it took me a few years(because i am limited in what i can do for exercise), i went from a size 12/14 to a size 6(most times size 4). i lost FAT from my breast area, neck area, face area first and then in all my limbs and so forth. a nice little bonus - it removes cellulite! i only had cellulite on my thighs and back of my legs but it probably will flush it out of anywhere. i buy my TONALIN at "vitamin shoppe." i can get 180 capsules for about $30. if you just try to eat more healthy(not alot of sugar and not alot of fat) and take this supplement - i promise you - you will not regret it. and you can put me in your "will" next time you update it - just kidding. i am shocked that more people dont know about TONALIN. it is great and cheap too!
here's to a great 2008!
nancy - texas

Steven said:
Does anyone know of (first hand experience only please) a weight loss regime or product that really works? Let me know if you do please.[...]

Steven, I have been on Herbalife since February. I have lost 80 lbs. I walked all summer, and now with the cold weather upon us, I joined a gym. I am faithful to this diet. I have been overweight my whole life. 20lbs led to 50lbs, then children. Now at 47 I feel great and still love my formula 1 Shakes. They are meal replacement, twice a day, Protein bar, and a piece of fruit, then I have healthy and balanced supper. Low Carb, I stay away from anything white... For me to keep doing this since Feb. is a milestone all in itself.

Mary Ann said:
I joined LA weight loss almost 4 weeks ago. I travel 25 miles one-way. I'm a senior citizen and money is very scarce, but they got me on Care Credit and I pay every month. They helped me with 2-days meal planning and I have asked them to help me with the rest of my meal planning so I could lose my 30 pounds for health reasons. I have complanned to [...]

I know for a FACT that NutriSystem really works. I ate 6 small meals per day including dessert on their program and stick with it, it's easy! It's a healthy diet with all the fruits, vege's and fiber that you need and a small dessert, too. It's like having the "By-Pass" without the surgery. A smaller stomach so you won't eat so much at once. And~~ NO SODA POP!! The bubbles in soda swells the stomach, drink only lots of water.. It works..

There is no magic bullet, but the easiest and cheapest method may be eating less and walking more. Find out the calories in all the things you eat and drink. There may be some whoppers in there that you are not aware of and would be easy to give up or at least eat a lot less of.

I believe it's very hard to change WHAT you eat, so it may better -- and healthier -- to try and eat less of it.

For me there is no substitute for real ice cream. I've tried all the substitutes, but a major part of ice cream is the texture, and only real ice cream has it. So I don't buy it, except for once in a while. If it's not in the freezer, I can't eat it.

Well I think it's pretty sad that a blog page that's devoted to debunking weight loss scams "LETS WEIGHT LOSS SCAMMERS ADVERTISE ON THE SAME PAGE". How wrong is that. Jeeeezzzz! Give us a break.

Steven said:
Does anyone know of (first hand experience only please) a weight loss regime or product that really works? Let me know if you do please.[...]

kitty said:
sad that a blog page that's devoted to debunking weight loss scams[...]

Anyone know anything about the Liquid Patch Therapy for weight loss got an add in the mail today and as usual had to know...Help please

LA Weight Loss...can I just say awful company that preys on anyone. I don't have a lot of weight to lose and discussed my already healthy eating habits with the "consultant". Just want to say the $199 administration fee that was in the contract was never discussed during my visit. Garbage. The LA Lites were extrememly expensive and I would never purchase them. Overall, the staff were mildly judgmental and not helpful. They were more interested in pushing those damn bars than realizing I may not be the best candidate for their program. I have cancelled my program but am still out over $200. It's a joke...people let's be honest monitoring calories in and calories out is the most effective way of losing weight. I wish the materials would have been available to view before making the "final decision".

DO NOT JOIN LA WEIGHT LOSS...exercise and a healthy balanced portion controlled diet is the best way to not just lose weight but to live a healthy life.

I joined LA Weight loss about 3 weeks ago. I felt that yes it was a little expensive but I was really looking for a healthy way to eat.

I am a very picky eater, so most eating plans are hard to follow since most of them call for tons of fresh veggies which I really don't like. I thought the customer service was great and still do. I am in my last year of grad school and am interning (bad time to start a diet) so it is really hard for me to plan my menus around the veggies. My counselor sits with me every week and finds ways for me to have substitutions for the veggies and still stick to the plan. She even calls me about twice a week just to check on me. When I started she gave me her own list of seasonings she likes that follow the plan, and she gave me some of her own recipes. I LOVE LA WEIGHT LOSS. I don't have tons of weight to lose, I am more concerned with my unhealthy eating (diabetes and heart disease runs in my family)- thats the main reason I joined. The nutritionist who gave me my plan listed specific things to do to try to prevent the two health issues. Since I've been there I have lost 11 pounds.

My mom has tried several different diets and she always feels like she is starving. I am amazed with how much food this is. I don't think I have ever eaten this much in one day!! And the choices are great.

About the bars... Maybe they don't work for some people, but I love them. I have not cheated at all and I am losing weight pretty quickly. I also feel like it gives me something to look forward to each day. If you are hesitant about the bars... DON'T BE!!

for me, i do not belive the advertisement
most of the ad just a tricks to lure the consumer.

I have checked into numerous weight loss programs including pills, patches and liquid meal replacement. It all comes down to how many calories in vs calories out. I have found a web site that is a great tool as a daily food journal and its FREE. Try it.
www.my-calorie-counter.com

I can't exercise. Does anyone have any suggestions? Please I can't stand this much longer!

I find it interesting that they use Dateline's feature about making an infomercial to bash infomercials. I am not a fan of infomercials, but it is hard to use a show that puts explosives in a vehicle just so they can prove a vehicle is unsafe and may explode.

As with anything you buy or wish to try ask questions and look into the backgrounds of products. Not all products are a con. Unfortunately the one that are a load of rubbish give a bad name to the ones that do actually work.

what ever happened to eating right? is that so freaking hard to do?

I agree that most are bogus and I have been skeptical my whole life.

After 2 years of diets and excercise regimes that lead nowhere, I gave in and decided to at least try something.

I started taking Alli which didn't seem to help much, but I have to tell you.... The Guarana in Hydroxycut Hardcore does boost your mood; and on top of that it gives you a lot of energy. Enough energy that I was actually LOOKing for ways to burn it up so that I could sleep. Diet Power is a perfect way for me to design the perfect diet.

My advice tho; DON'T TAKE THE RECOMMENDED DOESAGE. It says to take 2 pills 3 times a day but I actually feel good taking just 1 in the morning with breakfast. I'm still energized when its timeto work out and it wears off in time for bed. Don't waste money or mess up your body chemistry; find what works for you.

I also use Alli but only every two weeks when I make my exception and eat out or have a dessert.

Tonalin (a fat burner) also has been helping me and I feel really good overall.

I think the hydroxycut gave my metabolism just enough of a boost to kick the weight loss into gear and I'm now loosing 2.6 lbs a week, while still eating properly.

Does that help?

There are so many scams out there and some of them are SO CONVINCING its difficult to know if you're getting scammed. Plus it doesn't help that people who want to lose weight can be SO OBSESSEd with it that they'll believe anything anyone tells them. I think its just irresponsible marketing to sell someone a product that doesn't work and advertise otherwise.

Yes unfortunately some of us are so desperate to lose weight quickly, all we do is lose money quickly by purchasing unreputable products. Do your homework, read reviews from consumers, and you should be more able to make a good decision

Good post.I do fantastic amounts of shopping on the internet, and use it for most of my diet/fitness related research.