As New Year's Resolution season rolls around, we are inundated with "quick fixes" and "secret formulas" to help shed those pounds. If you are like most people, you've invested considerable money over the years looking for the "new, greatest weight loss" secret only to try it with dismal results either not losing any weight or losing some only to gain it back.
After 17 years in the business, I can promise you I've seen it all. We all know that eating appropriately and exercising for more more than a few weeks is the key to long term success but ... that new cream, pill, potion, diet or gadget has millions of dollars of marketing behind it to ensure that we set aside common sense and pull out the credit card.
Remember the "toning" shoes that promised a rock hard butt and strong core just from walking around in them? Ya, they are now subject to class action law suits due to lack of promised results and countless knee, ankle and hip injuries. When they were first introduced I warned our clients away from them and most of them listened...
Remember that PX 90 that was all the rage with their miraculous results which most people quit a month or two in because they were over trained, injured or life got in the way? Some finished the program and quit gaining all of their weight back. That was before the days of being able to reach millions of people with my wisdom via Fat Loss University and our Facebook Community .
Okay, so the first " easy fix" is the "Sweet Sweat Workout Enhancer" . As you probably guessed from the blog title , I suggest you take a "pass" on this one and save your money .
THE CLAIMS:
Sweet Sweat Workout Enhancer
Problem areas shrivel in fear at the very first application of Sweet Sweat's perspiration-inducing gel. The workout enhancer encourages circulation in problem areas such as the stomach or thighs, increasing sweating during vigorous workouts or police interrogations. By stimulating the sweat glands, the fresh-smelling gel helps burn calories and release a floodgate of toxins, which may cause an uptick in the thermogenic processes. The do-it-all gel can also help stave off injuries and fight muscular fatigue.- Workout-enhancing formula
- Encourages healthy sweating during exercise
- Helps increase circulation in areas such as stomach or upper thighs
- Designed to release built-up toxins from sweat glands
- Works to stave off injuries and fight muscle fatigue
- May cause an uptick in the thermogenic process
- Fresh scent endears you to neighborhood bloodhounds
- 13.5 oz. supply can last up to five months
THE FACTS:
While I had a difficult time finding the actual ingredients for these "miraculous results" , I was able to figure out that it contains coffee bean extract and raspberry ketones.
Interestingly enough, when I was a fitness model and competitor, we used to put coffee grounds and preparation H on our hips, butt and thighs and wrap ourselves in saran wrap to pull the water out of those areas making them appear cellulite free, toned and firm. Caffeine is a diuretic which means it will pull water out of an area and, of course, Prep H is an anti swelling agent. The problem ? Well, for a 1 time photo shoot there isn't one however, your body will go back to "normal" as soon as you resume drinking any fluids.
Workout enhancing and healthy sweat? Well, yes, sort of. All sweat is healthy but has no effect on a workout other than keeping the body cool. Just like the tin foil suits we used to see people wear years ago to promote sweat and "tone" areas , any water lost from an area during your workout will be regained the minute you drink any fluids.
"May Cause uptick in thermogenic process" MAY CAUSE being the operative words of caution... All a "thermogenic process" means is "heat producing" ... When last I checked, your muscles produce heat any time you use them, the more intense the exercise, the more heat is produced.
Designed to release built-up toxins from sweat glands - I could not find anything to back up this claim although Rasperries are powerful antioxidents which would help detox your body. Lymphatic , deep tissue or most any other massage will give you the same release of toxins as will a good anti oxident tea.
Works to stave off injuries and fight muscle fatigue - again, couldn't find anything in their literature to explain precisely HOW their cream actually increases blood or oxygen flow or decreases lactic acid to "stave off injuries and fight muscle fatigue" but, you would get the same benefit from a pair of compression tights which would be a bit more than $35 but would last you years instead of 6 weeks.
Their insulation is that sweating itself has anything to do with fat loss which it doesn't, it is your body's cooling mechanism.. nothing more nothing less. Yes, you will lose water from an area to which it is applied ... however, that water will return as soon as you drink any liquids.
They also talk about "Good Circulation and Recovery" and how Sweet Sweat is key " Developed by three-time national champion at the University of Southern California (USC) and Chicago Cubs draftee Jeff Pedersen, Sweet Sweat is designed to substantially improve circulation, accelerate warm up and recovery time, and help everyone maximize their workouts. " however, I see no evidence of how this cream helps with either aside from the fact that sweating helps increase oxygen and blood flow. Personally, I use recovery compression tights and a foam roller for recovery or compression tights to improve race performance to encourage extra oxgen and blood flow during races (which, of course, also aids in lactic acid removal).
The verdict - Aside from, perhaps a quick fix for an event or photo shoot, this is pretty useless. I'd say, save the money and put Prep H on those areas while you do your hair and make up for the same effect.
If you want to "sweat" more when you workout, wear long pants or tights (although why you would want to is beyond me because it leads to quicker dehydration unless you are in cold climates and need to keep your muscles warm to avoid injury. In that case, running tights would produce the same effect. Like compression tights, you can get them for a few $$ more than a jar of this cream and they will last you years not 6 weeks.
Compression tights and a foam roller are far more effective for recovery and promoting blood flow and increased circulation.
Tomorrw... "Barre Fitness Classes"
In Health,
Dianne Villano - Your Personal Body Transformation Expert
Custom Bodies
www.mypersonalfitnesscoach.com
727-742-0816
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