This is a very true story that I thought I would share with everyone here. This happened a few years ago and is about my cousin.
At the time he was 19 years old and he was an amazing wrestler. During high-school he did extremely well in the
sport. He went on to compete a few years after high-school as well.
Now, for those of you who don’t know, there is no other
sport that requires as much conditioning from an athlete like wrestling.
My cousin was in amazing shape – he used to run to my house (he lived about 5 miles away) we would then work out for about an hour and then he would run back home.
What is the point of me telling you all this?
Well, at the time, my cousin needed to make a certain weight “fast” for an upcoming competition. He wanted to reach a weight that he has not ever competed in.
He did not want a permanent solution, he just wanted a quick fix.
My cousin decided to purchase some
weight loss pills – being a personal
fitness trainer, I of course tried to discourage him.
Did he lose weight? Yes he did.
Was he able to compete? No he wasn’t. He had his first heart attack at 19 years old.
It was a mild heart attack and he is doing extremely well today but he told me himself – he is scared and for the rest of his life he will be, it is not easy knowing that for the rest of his life he has to face the fact that he has already suffered his first heart attack.
Now, I want you to stop and think for a second – if a pill can do this to a competitive athlete who is in great cardiovascular shape, then how much good (I should say harm) is it doing for the rest of us.
There are many articles written on this subject. Some are against supplements and many claim that research “proves” them to be safe.
The US population is spending over 30 Billion (yes, with a “B”) dollars a year on these quick fixes. I am willing to go out and say that any article “proving” the safety of a pill has been written for profit – and huge profits.
Under the right conditions, research can prove anything.
Another note that I want to point out – don’t be fooled by phrases like “All Natural”. There are many illegal
drugs that are 100% natural yet the side effects are devastating to the human physiological system.
I know you all want to lose weight and lose it FAST. I understand this, I really do. But please don’t ever jeopardize your health for the sake of losing a few
pounds.
Many people argue that 1-2
pounds per week is too slow. The truth is, any improvement in the right direction is great.
It always comes back to the basics - A combination of proper and healthy eating habits with a physically active lifestyle.
Remember, this is not a race or a competition. Your
goal each month should be to become healthier than you were last month. Stay close to those who are supportive and avoid the ones who hold you back.
I hope this was somewhat helpful and I apologize for the long post, I guess I felt like preaching this morning so I thank you for listening.
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