How To Avoid Gimmicks

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

03 Jan 2007 07:44 PM

You know what a gimmick is - they have them in the world of fitness just like they do everywhere else. Gimmicks are usually gimmicks because they give you a lot of promises that the items or equipment can't really deliver on. The truth is - they try to make you a promise that you will get something for nothing - i.e. the perfect five-minute workout that will trim all your excess inches and more.

Tips on Avoiding Gimmicks

One would think common sense is enough to avoid being tricked by a gimmick - but that's not always the case. Infomercials cater to a very specific audience and their entire goal is to make a very common sense argument that will convince you that you need to purchase their product.

So before you let their arguments sway you - here are some key things to remember when it comes to avoiding fitness gimmicks and bad gadgets.

• Don't buy into everything an infomercial audience tells you - many times these are actors that are paid for their words or they are everyday people who are paid to espouse an opinion without having even seen the product beforehand
• Product not sold in stores? There may be a very good reason why it's not and many products will soon be in the stores with that label written with As Seen on T.V. You're better off buying in a store because you can always take it back if you're not completely satisfied
• Just because they say the research was done in Europe or in the ancient world because nine times out of ten - the reference point is as fictitious as the same information being parlayed out in a novel
• Do the math - they try to soften the blow by breaking up the costs into three or five easy payments and the slap on a great deal of handling along with a cursory shipping charge and you haven't saved any money - not really
• The term "proven" can be based on just about any kind of study conducted by anyone else, I can say something is proven if it worked with my daughter - but that doesn't say anything about a truly unbiased and comprehensive study - that's the problem with the word study - we assume a form of unbiased research conducted under scientific terms and conditions - it's hard to prove their 'proven' - and that's what you need to believe their endorsements
• Celebrity endorsements on fitness products are very popular and most of the time, the celebrities are paid for their time and their endorsement and may even receive a free item - but that doesn't guarantee you that they use it - just that they may have it

What other tips can you think of to avoid being taken in by a gimmick?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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