From Michael imani, Ph.D., special to Christian Weight Control.com
Are You Gambling with Your weight loss?
Where you do believe you have the best chance of winning: A Las Vegas casino or at any of the major commercial weight loss programs? Well you might want to book those tickets to Vegas immediately. It turns outs that you may stand as good a chance of winning there as you have of losing weight in any of the major diet programs. With only a 5%25 success rate, the $50 billion commercial weight loss industry is making out like a big fat bandit, without even having to wear a mask. Before signing up for the next diet or the next weight loss program, you should know exactly what your odds are of permanently losing weight. Of course, odds are mathematical representations of your probability of ‘getting what you want’ out of the deal.
For instance, if you flip a coin, you have a 50%25 or 1 in 2 chance of the coin landing on your bet, head or tails. In virtually all commercial diet programs, your chance is only 5%25 or 1 in 20 of being successful. Not very good odds. As a matter of fact, horrible odds. I doubt there are few people who would accept this in any other area of life, but millions do each year when it comes to weight loss.
Only 5 of every 100 people who push their hard earned money into the center of the table get lasting, positive results. I don’t know a single person who is prepared to live on shakes and bars or pre-packaged meals for the rest of their lives. Do you?
By results, I mean they lose the weight and they keep the weight off. So, what’s really going on here? What is the difference between the diet industry and the local neighborhood thug? There is a difference. In the diet business, the “client” usually only returns to get their “fix” once a year between the holiday season and the beginning of each year instead of nightly like our junkie friend.
People are so desperate for a permanent solution that it is predictable and sad in many ways. Here is how it plays out. In the Fall of each year, the advertising budgets prepare to swing into action. The not-so subtle messages coincide with the start of the holiday season.
During this period, the average American gains an about twelve (12) pounds between Halloween and the New Year. This all sets up perfectly for the commercial programs to offer a quick fix in the form of some amazing offer to lose X pounds in Y days, usually pitched to the public by a celebrity spokesperson. Still, only a 5%25 success rate ladies and gentlemen. Don’t be blinded by the bright lights of Madison Avenue.
The fact is I know very few people who like to lose, either at the table or in the game of weight loss. The first step is to stop playing games with bad odds. In the overwhelming majority of commercial diet programs, the odds continue to be stacked heavily in favor of the house.
The next time you consider a commercial weight loss program, consider one that at least gives you a 50 percent chance of winning or find a game with better odds.
Michael Imani, Ph.D. is a diet expert and life coach who has worked with clients in six countries. He is the author of The Diet Code: 4 Steps to Permanent Weight Loss.