I was watching TV over the weekend when I saw a commercial for another new breakthrough weight loss product. The ad was for a product called Lipozene and they promised guaranteed fat loss without exercise or drastic changes in your diet.
Of course a claim like that is an immediate red flag for me but I figured I’d do some research on this product to get to the bottom line. Here’s what I found…
This breakthrough weight loss pill actually has only one ingredient…glucomannan.
No, that’s not some amazing new drug but actually an unabsorbable polysaccharide derived from the root of the konjac plant. In other words it’s just fiber!
While glucomannan has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, blood lipids, and blood sugar levels, so has numerous other types of dietary fiber. Nothing special here folks.
Now I’m all about adding more fiber to your diet, but you’ll get way more benefit by simply increasing your consumption of vegetables and taking a fiber supplement.
My favorite is the Advocare Fiber Drink (citrus flavored)Â which provides a whopping 10 grams of fiber per serving. I take a packet in the morning with a glass of water to start off my day and it tastes great.
I do this for digestive health and not weight loss but there’s a lot to be said about fiber’s benefit of controlling appetite. Nancy Howarth, a nutritionist at Tuft’s University suggests people who add an extra 14 grams of fiber per day to their diet could expect to lose 4 pounds and decrease food intake by 10% in 4 months.
If you look to increase fiber in your diet with a supplement go with something like pysillium fiber (the main ingredient in the Advocare product, Metamucil, and others) and not fiber capsules. The capsules can bind up in your digestive systems and cause problems with some individuals.
So there you have it…save your hard earned money and don’t get taken by another weight loss pill that makes big promises.
Another little tid-bit I picked up during my research on Lipozene. It seems that the manufacturer of this product, Obesity Research Institute, LLC has been charged by the Federal Trade Commission for making false and unsubstantiated claims and forced to pay $1.5 million in customer redress on similar products Propolene and Fiberslim (both containing glucomannan).
I’m not surprised as this is the game they play. Roll out a product with a great marketing pitch, make a boatload of dough, get whacked by the FTC, then simply rename it and start the process over again. Shady business but that’s the reality.
Losing weight will never be about taking a magic pill but as long as there’s money to be made there will be people trying to sell you another quick fix.
The truth is long-term, lasting weight loss requires lifestyle changes. Not only with diet and exercise but also with behavioral changes and the creation of new habits. Coaching, support, education, and accountability…those are the REAL ingredients to your weight loss success.
When you or someone you know is ready to take the first step I’m here to help. That’s what we do everyday at Shaping Concepts and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to be your coach when the time is right.
Have a great day!
Shane Doll is a certified Charleston personal trainer, fat loss expert, speaker, and founder of Shaping Concepts Personal Training Studios. You can receive a FREE no-obligations consultation and trial of his Charleston personal training programs and experience the Shaping Concepts difference for yourself.
Tags: fat loss products, glucomannan, Lipozene
Posted:
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 at 11:29 am
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Category:
Fat Loss.
