Short-cuts that work... or not

Exercise machines that require no effort, products that make you lose weight in your sleep... Many people have tried these short-cuts. The bad news is that almost all of them ARE too good to be true.

True or False?

1. Some foods increase your metabolic rate, which allows your body to burn kilojoules faster.

Most dieticians and nutritionists agree that this is FALSE. While some foods might indeed accelerate your metabolism, the increase is not enough to help you reach your weight-loss goals. Such foods, such as celery or green tea, might be very healthy; just don't expect miraculous results from them!

2. Eating smaller portions.

Not surprisingly this is TRUE, though easier said than done. If you reduce your portion sizes, your intake of kilojoules will decrease by the same margin. Slimtrack's food diary allows you to track the size of the portion as well as the type of food that you consume. Knowing how many kilojoules you take in through eating and drinking versus how many you burn up through exercise is the single biggest factor determining your weight-loss success.

3. A good diet pill means you don't even have to exercise

Completely FALSE. Many products have made this claim, but in the long term no pill or other product has been proven to be a substitute for a healthier lifestyle that includes a sensible diet and regular, proper exercise. Besides, exercise has many advantages apart from helping you lose weight.

4. Diet pills are tested and safe

Some pills are safer than others, but generally this is FALSE. Even in effectively regulated markets such as in the United States, such products often make it onto the shelves, at least for a while. With the South African market being much less effectively regulated, you simply can't trust something just because your supermarket or pharmacy stocks it. Have a look here for a sobering list of products that the American Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers against. The health risks posed by the active ingredients in some of these products include high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), palpitations, heart attack or stroke. Some ingredients have also been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and have even resulted in death. And by the way, see if you can find one of these products that does not have some variation of the words "only effective in combination with a kilojoule-controlled diet" on the label.

5. Cut down on the drinks

TRUE for normal soda cooldrinks and alcohol, FALSE for water. A 340ml can of Coke or a similar cooldrink contains 345 kilojoules. An ordinary (not light) beer of the same size contains even more at 570 kilojoules. That's a big part of your daily allowance if you are keeping an eye on your kilojoule consumption, as you should! Water, on the other hand, contains no kilojoules and is just about the healthiest substance you can put in your body. Read more here .

6. "I do passive exercise"

FALSE. Those vibration plate machines do have some advantages, but its no substitute for real exercise and are unlikely to help you lose weight.

The bad news is that there aren't really any short-cuts. The closest you'll get is this: Use a tool such as Slimtrack's to record everything you eat and drink and how much you exercise. This will help you EAT LESS and EXERCISE MORE. It's not going to be easy, but it IS as simple as that.