Buy Walking VideosCurves and Avon Embrace Quackery
It had been a long time since I had picked up an Avon catalog, but while I waited for my yearly doctor’s exam, I perused the catalog. I wasn’t surprised that Curves and Avon had joined forces. What surprised me were the products that they were offering.
This advertisement reads:
Curves Trimming Waist Support
Thermal-action shaper belt retains warmth and may help you shed excess water as you exercise. Supports lower back.
I’m sure it gives some support to the lower back, but are they really going to suggest that this belt will help you lose weight? Maybe my grandma would have believed that back in 1963, but does anyone believe it now? A quick search on Yahoo! Answers gives us the truth.
Fat is not melted away by warm clothing…it is only lost when consumed by the body as a source of fuel. Do cardio for over 20 minutes and you’ll start to burn fat. The sweat under your shorts is just water trying to keep you cool…not fat.
This advertisement reads:
Curves Trimming Shorts
Sauna action neoprene may help you shed excess water weight from your lower torso to your thighs.
Again with the sauna shorts. They might make you sweat, but they aren’t going to deal with the REAL reason your hips are big: fat.
This advertisement reads:
Curves for Women Toning Flip Flops
Stylish sandals cushion feet while helping to stimulate circulation. Improve balance and posture. Natural shock absorbers challenge your muscles to strengthen.
The name of the sandals uses the word “toning,” but there is no proof that the kind of shoes you wear can tone your legs. I’ve talked about this here:
There is no doubt in my mind that Curves and Avon have done a world of good for women all over the U.S., but seeing them resort to selling these sorts of products makes me wary of everything else they do.
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March 15th, 2009 at 5:39 am
I see stuff like this in Japan all the time, and it sells incredibly well here! Japanese people are always the first to jump on any fad, and despite being incredibly careful, rational people (”attentive to detail” is one of the most commonly described attributes of Japanese people as a whole), they are quick to believe any kind of health/fitness fad.
Even now, I see at least half a dozen people wearing vinyl sweat suits every time I go to the gym. Why, why, why?
(What’s worse is that many of the somen who wear these things are about a size 2 or maybe 4 by North American standards–they wear girdles, too!)
March 15th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Oops–that should be “women”, not “somen” (”somen” is a type of Japanese noodle usually eaten cold, by the way)
March 15th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
A lot of smart people fall for this type of thing due to being desperate, or just wanting it easy.
Exercise and healthy eating can be fun but it’s usually not easy.
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:31 am
These shoes are very very similar to MBT sandals which cost $240. MBT make the same claim. Avons shoes cost $30. At least Avon doesn’t lie to you and rob you at the same time. By the way both brand of shoes are very comfortable and they do encourage exercise which does make you lose weight.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:48 am
The first time I walked in the sandals..(not the flops) I could feel the stretch of the muscles in the back of my leg…I can see my legs toning…I LOVE THEM!!!…it is pretty well known that the ‘wraps’ do not take off fat…but reduce water weight.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:18 am
I just tried the waist trimmer. I like it because it holds my belly fat tight while exercising. There is nothing worse than exercising while my belly is three exercises behind me…haha. Seriously, I have some baby belly jiggle going on and this waist trimmer helps hold it in. If a benefit is to lose water weight, which by the way WOW! My waist was soaked when I got done exercising…then that benefit is awesome! I would love to try out the shoes but I can’t even afford $30 right now except it be on a pair of crosstrainers.