Last weekend, I called a friend I had not spoke to in quite some time. After a little catching up, he starts talking to me about "Power Balance." He tells me it's a "computer chip" you wear on your body that links with your body's "energy field." If you wear the Power Balance band, you will have more flexibility, balance, and strength. Of course, I started laughing out loud. My buddy tells me to go to the Power Balance website and check out all the athletes that are wearing the Power Balance band. When I told him, "You mean the athletes that are being paid to wear the Power Balance band?," I can tell he is getting offended. I just couldn't help myself... I was still laughing. My buddy tells me they have a test you can do with your flexibility and when you wear the Power Balance band, your flexibility totally increases. Again, I start laughing. He tells me, "I got two of them for $49.99. Normally they are $29.99 each." By this time, my laughter is uncontrollable. I tell him not to be too upset that he got ripped off for $50. He hung up on me.
The whole ordeal left a sour taste in my mouth. Obviously, I was bummed that I ticked off my friend. He can't help it.... he is like most people. They want an easy way to get fit or healthier. The fitness and supplement industry feed on people like this. Offer people something that will make them better with the least amount of work. This is how smart business people get rich. The Power Balance band is simply a hologram sticker on a rubber band. Nothing more, nothing less. I knew this before I even researched it. Get some athletes to endorse your product and you are on the way to easy money. Go look at the Power Balance test video. I couldn't believe it. It is almost identical to the test that some guy selling ionized water had me try. Ridiculous!!!
The sham is everywhere. Bowflex.... Really?? A few minutes a day and I will look like that guy in the commercial!! Mona Vie.... an ounce or two of fruit juice a day that will make me healthier!! MaxGXL... a pill pack once a day that makes my body better!! All of this stuff for easy installment payments or about $100 a month.
IT IS ALL LIES!!!
Do you really want to be healthier? Eat better and exercise a bit. Holy shit..... I just gave you the simplest and easiest way to get healthier and fitter for FREE!!!! Think about what you are buying into if you go for the get heathy/fit quick products: Don't change your lifestyle in anyway, but buy the product and you will be healthier and fitter in no time at all!
Change your diet folks. I don't care if you supplement your diet, but for the most part, everything that we need to be healthier can be found in the food we eat. Get the food dialed in, then add some easy exercise. You will want to increase your exercise regimen when you start to feel better...
Don't fall for the snake oil sales pitch. There is no magic pill or a six minute a day program that will get you healthier or fitter.
Post thoughts to comments.
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WORKOUT 8/17/2010
Strength:
Deadlift 3 reps on the minute for 8 minutes (70% of your one rep max)
Conditioning:
Row 1000m. Rest one minute and repeat for a total of 5000m.
If there are more than 9 people in a session, split the group up. Half start on strength and the other half start on conditioning.
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Great post, Freddy. I posted a rant similar to this after a 4th friend asked me to please sell his MonaVie in my gym.
I couldnt help myself. I didnt want my folks wasting any of their hard-earned cash on any crap if I could help it.
Posted by: Will Blaker | August 17, 2010 at 00:15
THANKS FOR CRUSHING MY DREAMS.
I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ORDER ONE AND I WAS GOING TO START WEARING IT TOMORROW. I AM STILL PRETTY SURE THAT IT WOULD GET ME TO THE 2011 GAMES ...
HAHA. JUST KIDDING.
Posted by: CHYNA | August 17, 2010 at 00:20
Does anyone want to buy a power balance for cheap????
Posted by: Chris | August 17, 2010 at 00:22
Freddy,
If you haven't already have people watch the "Bigger, Faster, Stronger" DVD. There is one part in the DVD that shows how companies do the before and after photo shoots IN THE SAME DAY! Also they have a guy so juiced up (over 24 years) modeling for some supplement that will make you look like him. As you said, people want the short cut and are buying the snake oil. Hope all is well.
POS
Posted by: POS | August 17, 2010 at 06:42
Awesome post; Love it.
Posted by: Rich M. | August 17, 2010 at 07:41
Great post, as usual, Freddy. To me CrossFit is like the executive summary of workout programs. Short, concise, intense and useable. The problem with the snake oil stuff....? It is more like twittering of fitness...lots of badly spelled words saying really not much.
Posted by: Jor | August 17, 2010 at 08:20
At least you didn't mention my beloved quantum pendant. That thing is legitimate. From the website:
"FusionExcel’s Quantum Pendant is made from natural minerals that are fused and structurally bonded together at a molecular level. It produces scalar energy that helps to enhance the body’s biofield."
That's the kind of rigorous science you just cannot make up.
Posted by: TomC | August 17, 2010 at 08:54
Great Post!
Posted by: Eric | August 17, 2010 at 09:07
Yeah, I bought one...hot pink. Figured it couldn't hurt. Wish I'd spent the money on a full ration of organic veggies instead. Live and learn. Long live the cave-people!!
Posted by: Gina | August 17, 2010 at 10:11
lol, my moms side of the family are always up on the latest miracle ingredient.. monavie, tahitian noni juice, magic water.. jesus! lol.
Posted by: khalid | August 17, 2010 at 10:31
Wow that Test video is Legit! Im buying two! Hey Freddy, where did you boy find that sweet deal?
Posted by: Caleb | August 17, 2010 at 11:10
How bout skins? Der legit or all in ur head
Posted by: Rob | August 17, 2010 at 13:04
Let me start by saying that I am no expert and I do not wish to offend anyone....
I feel you could add many and most diets to this list. The one that is near and dear to the many hearts of the CF community is the paleo diet. I try to eat clean, balanced, and organic most of the time, while living an active life. That being said, paleo does not work for me. I know good friends of mine and other athletes that have had great success with the paleo way of life, its just not for me.
I love oatmeal, breads, pasta, dairy, and an occasional oreo session.
sorry for the long post and bad grammer, just trying to be frank.
Posted by: Frank | August 17, 2010 at 14:30
Damn i need to Lear how to sell snake oil
Posted by: Lancaster | August 17, 2010 at 15:32
Love it bud......
Say similar to clients....its taken you x years to get to that shape [or out of shape ;0 ]....and you expect a 21 day or 30 day course / diet / exercise regime to get you to awesomeness......yeah right....haha
Cheers for the post
Have a great one
Train Hard, Live Easy
Steve
Posted by: Steve | August 17, 2010 at 19:36
I got that band..All good and no offense taken!! Don't HATE!!! LOL...You'll see me rockin my Power Balance wristband...LOL. No but for reals!!!
Posted by: Pineapple | August 17, 2010 at 19:46
Uh... has anyone here actually done the test?
Posted by: mjp | August 17, 2010 at 22:10
I had the same question - did anyone try the tests? I did this weekend w/ Brian MacKenzie during our CFE cert, and our entire class was blown away. It's actually not a computer chip, but a magnet that aligns the "energetic force" within your body. It sounded totally hokey to me, but MacKenzie did three tests with us, and I saw myself and others get stronger, more balanced and even more flexible when wearing the band. It does work. I bought one and even want to start selling them here in our box. Freddy, I encourage you to give it a try; you'll be shocked and awed, just as I was.
Posted by: Sarah (Atlas CrossFit, Chicago) | August 18, 2010 at 08:51
I mostly agree with this post because yeah, there's no magic bands, pills, diets or anything else for that matter that is going to get you what you want without putting the work into it. I heard a good quote one time that said "No one has ever been rich or poor who did not help himself to get there." Silver spoon babies aside, much of that statement can be related to fitness.
That being said, some of the things you cite don't really have magic associated with them. Mona-Vie really isn't for me, but hey, it's a healthy fruit drink. MaxGXL is proven science that's good for you, but it's not going to make you into an Olympic superstar. I don't knock these products, only certain people who try to convince you that you can use them and sit around all day on a pizza binge and expect results.
Posted by: Pete | August 18, 2010 at 16:10
/www.precisionnutrition.com/le-jan-2010-winners
Brian Cox is the husband of my good friend Joia...according to her his results are from 6 months of eating a diet "similar" to Paleo and following an exercise program 5 days out of the week...no Supplements and no diet gimmick. Pretty amazing results-check it out!
Posted by: Britny | August 18, 2010 at 19:39