Those Miracle Weight Loss Ads

I caught the tail end of some news magazine tv show a week or so ago.  You know the kind, something like 20/20 or Dateline.  It was talking about the magazine and internet ads for weight loss. You know the ones I mean, it shows a before and after picture and the ad says something like, Take Off 50 Lbs in 2 Weeks With This Amazing Weight Loss Secret.  It always has a before and after picture and a testimonial from Wendy or Joe or Bonny or whoever.  According to the tv show, one of the women featured in the ad HAD taken off weight, but had done it over a longer period of time by working out and reducing her food intake.  She made the mistake of posting her before & after pictures on the internet and the pictures were pirated to be used in the ad.  Apparently there were several other people who had the same thing happen to them.  One guy sold his picture and the company that bought it then used photo editing software to create the after pictures.

As skeptical as I am about these ads, I must admit that it didn’t occur to me that the pictures were stolen or photo shopped.  I guess if I had really thought about it, I would have figured that they had either just exagerated the story or there was some creative photography taking place.  So why did this story stick in my mind? Because anytime I see those ads, there is always a split second that I’m tempted.  Maybe it would work.  Maybe there is a magic something that would melt off 50 lbs in 2 weeks without exercise or diet.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause.

I will admit that I have been suckered into some of these pitches in the past.  I remember trying the grapefruit diet, there was one very silly one involving aroma therapy which was supposed to stop your appetite.  There was even one that involved getting needles every week and the scary thing is that I have no idea what was in the needle.  I know that there is only one way to take off weight – eat less, move more.  Too bad it took me so long to come to this realization.