Shiny Supplement Syndrome
A few weeks ago, my sister sent a text to me saying she had bought yet another weight loss system. She has only recently admitted to me that she suffers from the same issue I have struggled with for countless years: Shiny Supplement Syndrome. I looked at my phone and didn’t know what to say in response. I only felt sympathy in a ‘been there/done that’ way.
It was at that point that I realized we both have a serious problem, and I decided to help us break free from our addiction to buying any new diet, supplement, or exercise promises. And that is all they are, pie-in-the-sky promises made by companies in order to make money off of desperate dieters.
My sister and I try something for a while, lose interest because it’s either too rigid, it’s too different from our normal diet, or it’s not sustainable for long-term, and move on to the next new thing.
Each new program, plan, supplement, or exercise plan is embraced 1000% until it’s not.
I have two cabinets full of supplements, shakes, potions, and another cabinet filled with exercise videos. I also probably shouldn’t forget to mention the yearly membership to an online exercise direct sales company. At least that program isn’t taking up any precious shelf space. Who knows how many thousands of dollars I’ve spent over the years trying to lose the same 5–25 lbs.
Our never-ending quest for the easy magic bullet of health eludes us at every turn. We are always seeking what we can stick with. So far that product has not yet been invented.
The sad part in this story is neither one of us is even remotely fat. My sister, in particular, exercises like a fiend and eats better than 99% of North America — probably the world. I’m definitely more prone to very poor eating habits due to a stressful life. But the thing is I know better. I know exactly what I need to do but choose to do something else for whatever reason. Self-sabotage? Self-esteem issues? Fear of success? Probably all the above.
I know what I should be eating (and not drinking)–I certainly don’t need another book/video/health guru to educate me. Hell, I could probably write my own book! My sister is even more in the know.
While texting back and forth, I came up with what I thought was a brilliant solution. In order to help us with our health product purchasing addiction, I challenged my sister to a no-buy-off where neither one of us was allowed to invest in another weight loss system, supplement, book, app, shake, video, or product of any kind. No teas, no bath salts, essential oils, nothing. We were not to whip our credit cards for anything promising weight loss.
The penalty for buying any new product was $500 which I thought would be enough money to make one stop in her tracks, and think. I’ll admit that the thought of handing over $500 to anyone stopped the hemorrhaging of my bank account for the latest and greatest weight loss plan worked for a while, but then I got a text from my sister:
“Ugh. I owe you money! I succumbed and bought a stupid program. And I guess it’s good that it’s totally suck-ass lame. It’s basically a starvation diet. Yeah, of course you can lose weight if you skip breakfast every day and eat only 1,000 calories. No shit, Sherlock! I sure feel like a dumb-ass! I was lured in by the promise of a fat burning tea. I can’t believe I fell for it!”
So, what did I do with my $500 unexpected windfall? First, I purchased a book about the health benefits of near-infared light and red light, lured in by the promise of burning stubborn belly fat. The promotion price for the book was a mere $1.99 — a steal.
But after reading the book in a feverish/must finish this today manner, I bought a RedRush 360 combo body light and near-fared light in one unit. Currently awaiting its arrival.
Clearly there is no hope for either one of us.
