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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