Quick Fixes - How they set you up to fail!

They're everywhere. The promise of a quick fix. The promise of the 'easy way'! But how often have you spent lots of money and got nothing in return but an empty wallet and sometimes some nasty side-effects!

Exogenous Ketones

They are all the rage! Instantly switch your body from a glucose burner to a fat burner. How enticing. But ouch the price! And for what.... Let's lift the lid on what is in exogenous ketones:

Most exogenous ketones are made with ketone salts. These are the drinks, pills and powders you can buy from everywhere. Exogenous ketones are an artificial ketone that is marketed to improve your energy levels and "may" assist with weight loss by temporarily raising ketone levels in your body, which does not actually get you into a real state of ketosis. (Why do a expensive temporary fix, when your amazing body can make these for free!)

Side Effects: Upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain. Risk of electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalance has a negative effect on your nervous system.

Carb Blockers

Another great marketing ploy. If you have a slip up or plan on a carb filled night, simply pop a magic pill and forget it ever happened. Well... not really.. Carb blockers sold in chemists are made from white kidney beans, or cannellini beans, which contain a natural substance that block the enzymes used to digest carbohydrates.

Side Effects: Digestive Tract Distress: When the fermentation of carbs occurs, it produces extra gas. These side effects include gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. Some users report an upset stomach or pain and diarrhea after taking carb blockers.

Low Blood Sugar: Do not take carb blockers if you take insulin or other gastrointestinal medications. Carb blockers lower blood sugar, and mixing them with other diabetic medications may cause blood sugar to drop dangerously low.

Keto Meal Replacement Shakes

Every store / chemist you go into has walls of protein shakes marketed for Keto followers. Studies have found most of them are filled with absolute rubbish, including sugars, preservatives, soy, wheat and other inflamatory items. If you are looking for a good keto protein shake, invest in a top quality unflavoured whey protein isolate and build your own keto shake.

Side effect: waste of money, weight loss stalls, digestive discomfort, hunger, headaches.

VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet)

VLCD diets have been around for decades. They were originally under direct supervison by a medical professional to treat severely obese patients who were being managed for diabetes, fertility treatment or to prepare for surgery. They then made their way to mainstream people looking for an easy way to lose weight. Unfortuately, VLCD weight loss results are usually short lived. The diet usually involves replacing normal food with low-calorie shakes, soups, bars etc. VLCD doesn't get to the heart of the person's weight problems, their approach to food.

Side effects: hunger (sometimes extreme), low energy levels, constipation / diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness, cramps, imbalance of metabolic health (damages metabolism).