As the end of the year approaches, many start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight is a perennial favorite, and the diet industry is well aware of this. Ads for prepackaged food plans, diet pills, exercise equipment and gym memberships abound in print and on the air waves this time of year. Unfortunately, most of them will not help you lose weight, and some are an outright rip off.
Dr. Barry Groves, author of Eat Fat Get Thin and Natural Health & Weight Loss has a great understanding of the core issue.
“The overweight are a ready source of income….They rely on you for a very comfortable living.”
According to a CBS report in December of last year, Americans spend somewhere near $35 BILLION PER YEAR on weight-loss products. Yet, for all that money spent, obesity rates are not going down. Not only are people making money off of you if you are fat, they aren’t doing what you paid them to do…help you get skinny.
So when you see the latest diet, the newest exercise gadget, or the hottest new weight loss pill, pause for a minute and think about those 35 billion reasons they are being pushed on you. Below are just a few examples of how an overweight person and their money can end up being parted.
Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem are two well-known examples (though they are not the only ones). For a fee, they ship you prepackaged, pre-portioned foods. The good news is they will actually send you the food if you pay for it. The bad news is that you also have to purchase your own fresh vegetables, fruits and dairy and you could make the same foods for yourself for much less. As for those tv ads you see for these plans? Next time one pops up, look for the following words…RESULTS NOT TYPICAL. They are there on every single skinny person shown as an example of what their diets can do. The before and after photos are also misleading. In the case of Nutrisystem spokesperson Marie Osmond, she lost her weight while eating Nutrisystem foods AND working out and dancing 6 hours a day as part of Dancing with the Stars. Jillian Barberie’s 41 lb weight loss she credits to Nutrisystem may have had more to do with the fact that she GAVE BIRTH and her widely shown before photo is of her in a maternity dress.
What are the typical results? More like the results for diets in general, which have an abysmal failure rate of over 95%. Kirstie Alley, a former Jenny Craig spokesperson, is a good example. After losing 75 lbs, she was let go after regaining much of the weight 3 years later.Instead of forking over the money for a plan like this, take a cooking class instead. Or go to the book store and pick up some low carb cook books. It will cost a lot less and you will most likely actually lose some weight.
Gyms love New Year! This is when they get the most sign-ups, but by Spring time, up to 30% of paying members are no longer around. Of course, they are still PAYING, because a gym membership can be as hard to quit as a crack habit. Long term contracts you can’t get out of even if you move, get injured, or just don’t use the facilities don’t sound like a good idea to me. Add the fact that
, gym memberships are just not worth it in my book. A local community center that has a pay as you go plan or per class charge is a much smarter option. You can also always use the local park for free. Click on
to read an article from MSN money entitled “10 things your gym wont tell you”. The indepth look in to problems with a typical gym membership is very enlightening
There are online sites that charge you to join to get access to their diet plans, discussion forums and recipe sites. Some charge per month while others offer a lifetime membership. The problem with these sites is you can’t see what the plan is until you’ve already ponied up the cash to join. You have no way to evaluate the quality of the information being offered, or if the dietary advice you are getting is even medically safe or sound.
In one well publicized case, a woman running a diet site claimed to have lost 198 pounds in a year, and maintained her weight loss for over 5 years. Her site offered the way to lose weight “just like her” if you paid $59.95. After an investigation prompted by a disgruntled business partner and upset members who were denied access to the site after paying for the “lifetime” membership, it was revealed that the diet’s founder was, in fact, over 300 lbs. She had not lost 198 pounds. Her “after” photo she used on her site and in an issue of Women’s World magazine was lifted from a Russian Bride website. Not only was her photo faked, several other “success” stories were fictitious, their photos also coming from Russian dating sites. (more) This diet founder is now the target of a lawsuit for her fraud as well as health problems experienced by those who followed her plan.
There is really no need to pay an upfront fee for recipes, articles or forums in the first place since these are already available for FREE. Two excellent forums are
forums. Both have an extensive collection of articles, information and personal experiences, as well as fun, helpful people who are in the same boat as you. There is addition information available from blogs and websites of
, authors of Protein Power, and
, author of Natural Health and Weight Loss. While they are ultimately selling books, their free information in an education all by itself. As for recipes,
,
and more have plenty of low carb recipes. You can stop by
website. She has been low carb cooking for a long time and has a fantastic collection of tried and true low carb favorites.
Remember the thigh master? The ab roller? The stair climber? While people who buy these gadgets start off with the best of intentions, what most commonly happens is that it gets used a few times and then hidden in the basement. Pimped on tv commercials and infomercials, they usually end up in garage sales and thrift stores after gathering dust in a basement or closet. If you really believe the thing you see on tv is YOUR ANSWER to permanent weight loss, wait 6 months. You will be able to get it for less than 1/10th of the advertised price at your local Goodwill or off of Craigslist. Plus, if you really think you can stick with a regular plan like you need to make one of these products truly work, try a walking plan. If you can’t commit to taking a walk 3 times a week for a couple of months, the odds of you using an exercise gadget consistently are slim to none anyway.
From Chortislim to Liposene to Hoodia, each promises outstanding results. Many often have a “money back” guarantee. How can you lose? Easy. Shipping and handling. You don’t get that portion back even if you return and receive a refund for the pills. Most use cheap ground shipping and pay a discounted rate to their shipper. You pay more like $9.95-$12.95 for the shipping and handling alone. Should you return the package, they already have been paid for all of their costs (including that of the product) and have lost absolutely nothing. And since most people never bother to return the products, they profit no matter what. Besides, the pills don’t address the actual causes of obesity, and are just a neat way for pill pushers to get rich.
The real reason for obesity is because of metabolic problems caused by the shift of our natural diet to one high in refined carbohydrates. Anything that does not address the underlying cause is just a waste of time of money. You don’t need gadgets or pills to fix it, you need good, solid information. Trust me, nobody likes being fat, and the obese feel a desperation to lose weight for many reasons. Health, beauty, to fit in to society better…I know what it feels like. I have wasted my share of money on pills and plans, but the only thing that has worked has been a low carb, natural way of eating. It’s the only thing I have tried that addresses the cause, it’s healthy, it works, and it doesn’t cost a fortune. A few books and some helpful internet buddies were all I needed to drop 35 pounds, lower my blood pressure, and feel so much better overall. Sure I still have work to do, but I will not get it done by spending my money on crap and neither will you. It’s time to resolve to get healthy, and not to give ripoff artists your hard earned money in the process.
Happy New Year!
Books to buy NOW. Seriously!
Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes
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DALLAS —Seniors may see their Social Security increases next year trimmed back by higher prescription costs unless they shop for a Medicare drug plan this fall that better fits their budget.
Social Security beneficiaries will get an average of $63 more each month, but part of that increase may be claimed by higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs in their drug coverage.
“Seniors who enrolled in a drug plan several years ago should make sure they’re still getting the best value for their dollar,” said Terry Warner, president of TexMeds Inc. in Richardson, Texas.
Plans change premiums, deductibles, co-payments and the drugs they cover each year, he said, so the best choice for someone one year may not be the best the next year.
Insurers were required to notify their customers last month of any changes planned for 2009.
The financial crisis has made it especially important for seniors to check the cost and coverage of their drug plans during this year’s six-week enrollment period that began Nov. 15, he said.
“Like everyone else, retirees are feeling the pinch,” said Warner, who helps seniors evaluate their insurance. “Now is no time to give insurers more money than necessary.”
If consumers remain in their current Medicare drug plan, they’ll pay an average of 24 percent more in premiums next year, according to an analysis by Avalere Health, a health care consulting firm.
Consumer advocates say the motto for this fall’s enrollment period should be “Shop till your drug costs drop.”
The highest-priced plans offer the broadest coverage, such as help with generic drugs in the “doughnut hole,” where beneficiaries with standard coverage bear the full cost of their prescriptions.
The hole will be larger in 2009. Seniors without gap protection will pay the full price of their prescriptions after their total drug expenses reach $2,700 next year, up from $2,510 this year.
They are then on their own until their out-of-pocket expenses hit $4,350, compared with $4,050 in 2008. At that point, catastrophic coverage kicks in, and Medicare pays 95 percent of the bills.
Seniors need to consider more than premiums, said Jim Yocum, executive vice president of DestinationRx, which helps people compare plans.
“Premiums are only one component,” he said. “Even more important are the costs of the drugs and the co-payments or coinsurance amounts that beneficiaries must pay.”
UnitedHealth Group, which sells some of the most popular Medicare drug plans, will drop the premiums on some of its four plans and raise some co-payments in 2009.
The insurer is also offering “zero-dollar co-payments” on common generic drugs ordered by mail, said Dr. Michael Anderson, vice president of UnitedHealth Group’s clinical pharmacy services.
Yocum said a number of insurers are trying to gain a competitive edge over the $4 drugs at discount stores by promoting no co-payments on popular generics.
Because of the changes in plans, the only practical way to compare drug coverage and out-of-pocket costs is to use Medicare’s online “plan finder” at
, consumer advocates say.
Seniors enter their ZIP code, the names and dosages of their drugs and how often they take them. The online tool shows which plans cover those drugs and the likely out-of-pocket expenses, month by month, for the year.
People without access to the Internet can get the same information by calling Medicare’s toll-free help line at 1-800-633-4227 and visiting with one of the agency’s service representatives.

02:17 PM CST on Sunday, November 2, 2008
Seniors may see their Social Security increases next year trimmed back by higher prescription costs unless they shop for a Medicare drug plan this fall that better fits their budget.
Social Security beneficiaries will get an average of $63 more each month, but part of that increase may be claimed by higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs in their drug coverage.
“Seniors who enrolled in a drug plan several years ago should make sure they’re still getting the best value for their dollar,” said Terry Warner, president of TexMeds Inc. in Richardson.
Plans change premiums, deductibles, co-payments and the drugs they cover each year, he said, so the best choice for someone one year may not be the best the next year.
Insurers were required to notify their customers by last week of any changes planned for 2009.
The financial crisis has made it especially important for seniors to check the cost and coverage of their drug plans during this year’s six-week enrollment period beginning Nov. 15, he said.
“Like everyone else, retirees are feeling the pinch,” said Mr. Warner, who helps seniors evaluate their insurance. “Now is no time to give insurers more money than necessary.”
If consumers remain in their current Medicare drug plan, they’ll pay an average of 24 percent more in premiums next year, according to an analysis by Avalere Health, a health care consulting firm.
Consumer advocates say the motto for this fall’s enrollment period should be “Shop till your drug costs drop.”
Texas seniors will be able to choose from 53 prescription plans for 2009, with monthly premiums ranging from $13.70 for a plan by First Health to $97.10 for a plan by Scott and White.
The highest-priced plans offer the broadest coverage, such as help with generic drugs in the “doughnut hole,” where beneficiaries with standard coverage bear the full cost of their prescriptions.
Thirteen plans in Texas will help pay for some or all generic drugs through the coverage gap. As in 2008, no plan in Texas will cover brand-name drugs in the doughnut hole.
The hole will be larger in 2009. Seniors without gap protection will pay the full price of their prescriptions after their total drug expenses reach $2,700 next year, up from $2,510 this year.
They are then on their own until their out-of-pocket expenses hit $4,350, compared with $4,050 in 2008. At that point, catastrophic coverage kicks in, and Medicare pays 95 percent of the bills.
Seniors need to consider more than premiums, said Jim Yocum, executive vice president of DestinationRx, which helps people compare plans.
“Premiums are only one component,” he said. “Even more important are the costs of the drugs and the co-payments or coinsurance amounts that beneficiaries must pay.”
UnitedHealth Group, which sells some of the most popular Medicare drug plans, will drop the premiums on two of its four plans in Texas and raise some co-payments in 2009.
The insurer is also offering “zero-dollar co-payments” on common generic drugs ordered by mail, said Dr. Michael Anderson, vice president of UnitedHealth Group’s clinical pharmacy services.
Mr. Yocum said a number of insurers are trying to gain a competitive edge over the $4 drugs at discount stores by promoting no co-payments on popular generics.
Because of the changes in plans, the only practical way to compare drug coverage and out-of-pocket costs is to use Medicare’s online “plan finder” at www.medicare.gov, consumer advocates say.
Seniors enter their ZIP code, the names and dosages of their drugs and how often they take them. The online tool shows which plans cover those drugs and the likely out-of-pocket expenses, month by month, for the year.
People without access to the Internet can get the same information by calling Medicare’s toll-free help line at 1-800-633-4227 and visiting with one of the agency’s service representatives.
Government officials are stepping up efforts to encourage low-income Medicare beneficiaries to apply for extra help with drug costs.
Eligible seniors can get help paying for their drug plan’s monthly premiums, annual deductibles, co-payments and any costs they may have in the doughnut hole.
The amount of extra assistance depends on your income and assets. Single people can qualify with annual incomes below $15,600 and resources under $11,990. Couples must have incomes below $21,000 and resources under $23,970.
“Many people have paid needlessly for their prescription coverage because they aren’t aware of the extra help,” said Carolyn Toliver, a benefits counseling coordinator at the Dallas Area Agency on Aging.
Agency representatives will visit senior centers and churches in Dallas this fall to help seniors apply, she said. Anyone wanting more information about the subsidy may call 211.
After beneficiaries complained of high-pressure sales tactics by insurance agents a year ago, Medicare revised the rules that insurers must follow in marketing their plans.
“If a sales agent comes to your door uninvited or calls without your asking, he’s breaking the law,” said Robert Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a consumer advocacy group. “Don’t let him in or talk to him.”
Insurers are trying to be more customer-friendly.
Humana, one of the largest sellers of drug plans, recently opened two storefront Guidance Centers in the Dallas area where seniors can sit down with a service representative.
“Medicare can be confusing, and many seniors appreciate getting their questions answered face to face,” said Paul Carter, Humana’s regional sales director for northeast Texas.
Medicare beneficiaries can also attend free exercise and nutrition classes at the two centers – at 8648 Skillman St. in Dallas and 711 W. Wheatland Road in Duncanville.
Mr. Carter urges seniors to compare not only costs and coverage but also customer service in evaluating insurers.
Medicare’s improved plan finder now rates plans on the quality of their customer service, the accuracy of their drug price information and their responsiveness to customer complaints. The ratings range from one star, for poor, to five stars, for excellent.
.
Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or the Dallas Area Agency on Aging at 211.
Sit down with a benefits counselor from the Dallas Area Agency on Aging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Center for Community Cooperation, 2900 Live Oak St., Dallas.
2008: $12.10
2009: $13.70

Associated Press – October 24, 2008 1:34 PM ET
CHICAGO (AP) – The head of the Chicago Police Department says he has a plan to make the department more nimble and aggressive in combating gangs, drugs and weapons.
Police Superintendent Jody Weis (WEES) appeared Friday before the City Council’s budget committee. The hearing came after reports that the murder rate in Chicago, the country’s third-largest city, is outpacing that of its two larger counterparts – New York and Los Angeles.
Weis promoted what he called the “Mobile Strike Force,” which will combat gangs through arrests, search warrants and gun seizures. He says the unit would consist of about 150 existing officers divided into about a dozen teams.
The 2009 budget calls for hiring just 200 officers. One alderman says that’s hundreds less than the number hired in recent years.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.