Mod note: Blast from the Past - "Best of Eddie." This one is originally from February 2012.
I know we have a ton of gymrats on WSO, so I thought you guys would appreciate the following video. I've often wondered if there could be any veracity to the often incredible ads for pills or powders that show dramatic before and after shots. It never even occurred to me that the pictures may have been taken in reverse order, but now that I think about it, it makes sense. It's easier to get fat than it is to get buff, after all. I can't decide if I'm discouraged or motivated by this. In either case, I love the lead-pipe capitalism if this is in fact what the supplement companies are doing. What do you think?
My mind is blown.
Pretty hilarious.
Can't watch the video at work but the move Bigger, Stronger, Faster shows this as well. The supplement industry is a mess
That was a solid documentary. I love the part where they hire some Mexicans to put rice powder in some gel caps and then sell it as "vitamins" -- makes me lol just thinking about it.
Ha
The front-page of WSO has become way too gay. I must refrain myself to come here untill a new front page post comes up.
Soo true...the supplement industry has gotten out of control with all their bullshit weight-loss products.
I know someone that had a connection to that industry and was told that companies find really fit people and pay them to gain weight because they know that said individuals will easily be able to lose it and become fit again. Now, whether that is true, the above video is true, or both are true, I think we can all agree all those adds are total scams.
For all those wanting to do supplements, see below:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090501/hydroxycut-recall-due-to-liver-…
Are they worth a liver transplant and living off immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of your life?
Unfortunately these types of things are pretty common in the supplement industry (not FDA regulated). There are, however, reputable companies out there that make decent products. Serious research should be done both on ingredients and company reputation before making a purchase. A good rule of thumb is the lower the marketing budget, the better the product.
That is hilarious, but has anybody ever actually believed the ads anyway?
man i opened WSO at work and my female co-workers where like "Hey guys he's checking out dudes".
Thanks Eddie
haha I opened it up at school with about a million people behind me... boo
The worst is probably the fugazi ad at the bottom of CNN with the photoshopped dude and it says "Trainers hate him" that's it, hahaha
Forget supplements. 5 x 5 FTW
awesome and hilarious video
The problem with most supplements aren't that they are harmful or ineffective, it's just that idiots think that more is more and load up on shit. If the recommended dose of Hydroxycut is 1 pill with meals- up to 2 daily (making this up) don't take 4 per to make the "results better". Have you ever gone to a bodybuilding forum? There are tons of idiots like that on there. They think because a drug is OTC that it isn't dangerous. Yet OTC means nothing- tons of people die from Tylenol poisoning every year. If you look at the steroid forums the people are actually careful because they know that they are dealing with dangerous shit. The problem is that the marketing teams are propagating this notion of supplements being safe and effective, but safety has its limits and the illusion of safety breeds stupidity.
Any medication is a drug, the difference lying in the dosage. Nevertheless, OTC or not, these supplements go through virtually no regulatory process to assess safety or effectiveness. I don't think the victims of Hydroxycut are the ones as you said are overdosing on these drugs in roder to see faster results. The company's incentives are not aligned with the consumers, and if and when they fail they simply delcare CH7, liquidate with pretty much no fixed assets to pay these litigation claims and start up again under a new LLC. The only weight loss drug that would be worth trusting is if a large brand (J&J, for ex) was behind it since their incentives would be aligned with that of the customer.
Also, just because the drug goes through FDA approval doesn't gaurantee total safety. many drugs have been recalled for unforeseen damages done to the body. If western medicine can teach us anything, the best medicine, or the panacea, is prevention.
Sure prescription drugs can have bad effects. But the fact is that "Super Cut Labs LLC" will not be rolling out a multibillion dollar prescription drug formula anytime in the foreseeable future. The companies have to be larger- and therefore can be sued for unforeseen damages. Furthermore, the OTC drugs are probably just herbal mixes that can stress your organs more than prescription drugs when taken in excess. Sure SOME people get hurt when drugs are taken as directed, but the fact is that I would tend to think that a lot of abuse happens- especially in the weight loss arena.
In general most people have no clue when it comes to weight loss, supplements, and general nutrition. 90% of supplements are worthless, but what is more serious is the fact that what people have been told constitutes a "healthy diet" by the USDA, the American Heart Association, the government, and 90% of nutritionists is actually the opposite of a true healthy diet. The whole obesity epidemic is a direct result of Americans attempting to adhere to these errant nutritional guidelines. Supplement companies may be bad but I would argue the health "authorities" are much worse.
And I wouldn't put much stock in "FDA approval" when it comes to what is actually good for you or not. Prilosec (anti-heartburn medicine) is approved but is actually poison for your digestive system and is worse for your heartburn long term than anything else you could possibly do.
Again, the best medicine is prevention. Western medicine can never restore a body to before injury/disease. Why have health care costs been dramatically rising faster than inflation? Western medicine is nothing more basic than trial and error, attempting new/ackward medicines/therapies that most of the time do not work or prolong someone's ailing life by days at the cost of $100Ks. Live a healthy life and when your time's up, it's up, as Einstein so brilliantly said.
Wait wait wait, you mean i cant just pop a pill and be super jacked? Are you guys sure? The guy from Hydroxycut is a doctor i think he would know....
Who doesn't trust a doctor? hahahaha
I only trust Dr. Mantis Toboggan
This is the sort of thing that proves some things NEED regulation.
But if Monsanto executives are going to be appointed to the FDA, then I guess that's messed too.
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