NEVER Buy a Weight-Loss Product Based on Before and After Photos Again!

Ever since I freaked out and ranted about my stolen before and after photos, I’ve been shocked at the response.

First GMA hopped on the story, then Inside Edition and now fellow weight loss success stories are asking my advice as they find their photos have been stolen as well.

Stolen photos aren’t a new thing. I’ve been battling image thieves since 2005 when I started this blog. In most situations I email the site using my photos, firmly ask them to take them down, and within 24 hours they are removed.

It happens when you share your photos online. I get it.

However, the photo-stealing thieves have been turning to Facebook more and more. They are using stolen before and afters to run some pretty aggressive ad campaigns and (thankfully?) it’s bringing more attention to this issue.

Honestly, I don’t think they realize how “social” social media really is. It was my readers who emailed to let me know my photos were plastered all over Facebook and I’m not the only one.

Meet Sunny.

She reached out to me frustrated as the same Facebook page (from the screen shot above) who stole my images stole hers as well. Neither of us have ever used  Natural Garcinia Cambogia or Natural Green Cleanse, the supplements that particular page is peddling.

Here’s Sunny’s REAL story…

It took me about six months to lose the weight that I did to these photos and about a year to reach my goals. I did it through clean eating, exercise and having a great support system from Stephanie Keenan Fit Life group! The last photo of the pants was an innocent picture taken by my 15 year old daughter. We were going through old clothes to donate and take to the resale shop. She picked up the pair of jeans and said “Whose are these?” I said MINE! So she insisted we take a picture of how much I had lost compared to those pants. Sure anyone can buy a bigger pair of pants and claim massive weight loss but that was not the case here. It was a special moment I shared with my fitness folks and it was taken and distorted and used to promote some gimmick product. These people need to be held accountable for their actions!

I agree Sunny!!

Now meet Michelle.

Michelle’s photos were also stolen and used on another Facebook page to promote something she didn’t use or endorse.

It took me just over a year to lose 42kgs and it was a very very long journey! I changed my diet to a Primal diet based on meat, eggs, fats, veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds, and I didn’t calorie count. I spent a year of my life immersed in the Primal/Paleo life. It wasn’t always easy but it was so worth it, I cannot emphasize enough how much my life and my health have improved. I used to suffer from Depression, Anxiety Attacks, Meniere’s Syndrome, PCOS and Migraines. I have had dramatic reduction of these symptoms and I finally feel healthy. At times I wanted to give up and just eat all my old faves and veg on the couch, but I didn’t. I was focused as if my life depended on it.

I’m angry that my photos were stolen and used to promote these weight loss scams. It feels like a complete mockery of my hard earned weight loss. I am hoping that by sharing my story that this will bring awareness to what seems to also be happening to countless others, and to highlight just how dodgy these scamming websites and Facebook pages really are. While I can appreciate the silver lining my photo being stolen; the people that have read the truth are now following my page and have been made aware of the scam. I’m thankful that a few hundred people didn’t get sucked in by this. But unfortunately I would say there are countless people that have been. There is no quick fix, no secret, no magic. If there were a pill that worked I believe Oprah would have invented it by now.

You can read more about Michelle’s story on her blog Primal Journey.

Next up, Brandi.

Brandi’s photos have been stolen many times before (sometimes even used in print!) but most recently used to sell some weight loss product called ACE. Here’s Brandi’s REAL story.

It took me over a year to lose that weight and I’m still fine tuning myself. I go to the gym 4 days a week at 5am before my kids wake up and I get a long run in on Saturday or Sunday mornings as well. I work full time, have 2 boys, and just want other women to know that if I can do it, so can they. And they can do it with little to no help! All they’ve got to do is TRY!

I receive emails every week from readers telling me they saw my before and after pictures on another “weight loss fad” site. I even have had a few readers tell me my pictures have been printed out and posted as before and after pictures (with FALSE STATS) and have been posted at their gym in Arkansas! I live in Dallas, Texas!

Brandi blogs at MamaLaughlin.

Did you notice the common threat in Sunny, Michelle and Brandi’s stories?

All of their (and my) weight loss took TIME. They did it though diet changes and exercise. They found what worked for them and it WASN’T some pill or supplement.

I will continue to share stories like this in hopes that it prevents at least one person from buying the next “weight loss miracle pill.”

Note: If your photos have been stolen and used to promote a weight loss product or supplement, send me a message on my Facebook page with the following information:

Screen shot of stolen before and after photo (not your originals)Link to your site and/or Facebook page (where your original story or photos can be found)A paragraph or two of how you REALLY lost the weight, how long it took and why this makes you so angry.

View the original article here

This is insane. Food prices are spiking AGAIN. Here’s how to deal with it…

…and here we go again. I first howled about the situation in my deceptive food inflation video. It’s gotten worse since then. It’s not gonna get any better. For all of you fancy wage-earners where money is no object, you can skip over this post and go brush up on your unicorn meat nutrition facts instead. But if that’s not you, then please…read on.

A few months back I was buying the huge 100-ounce bottle of ALL laundry detergent for $11.99 at BJ’s. Prior to that price it was selling for $1 cheaper at $10.99. But today? That same 100-ounce bottle is now $14.99. What would justify such a drastic spike in price? A $3 increase overnight?

Yogurt prices are up. Eggs are more expensive. Bread. Cheese. Cake slices have gone up. 50-cent increase here. One dollar extra there. You think it’s no biggie? One or two product increases may not make you flinch, but add all up these increases into one shopping cart and it’s a blow to the lower jaw bone. You will feel the impact. This is GOING to happen.

Price increases already outpace the increases in our paychecks. We’re sloshing through it. We’re coping, right? But will you be ready to face the time when prices are so outrageous that it bites you in the ass and forces you to return an essential product to the shelf because it’s just too dang expensive?

This is not some Doomsday Preppers philosophy I’m trying to pitch you. You can take that word “prepare” and be as drastic or nonchalant as you wanna be.

My suggestion to you is simple: Start stocking up NOW to lock in current food prices. Buy it now and stock it up, or pay higher prices later for the same exact product. This can mean taking as little as $10 per paycheck to buy a few extra bars of soap, an extra bottle of laundry detergent, or non-refrigerator foods that can be stored long term.

I’ve noticed toilet paper prices have risen, too. Wouldn’t you rather wipe your bootay at today’s prices, rather than pay a premium for toilet paper later on? Whatever you deem essential should be considered for stocking up.

But don’t just do this only for the sake of saving money. There’s the very real possibility of an economic collapse in the future, which will mean scarcity of essential resources. It doesn’t hurt to stock up on things like canned goods and bottled of water just be on the safe side.

A monster storm hits and the power goes out for 5 days. Not only that, but (due to the outage) your local water company can’t guarantee the water being supplied to your home is safe for drinking, or the water isn’t flowing at all. Based on this scenario and considering the current resources you have in your house at this very moment, do you have:

1. Sufficient non-perishable food supplies?

2. Alternative cooking source, such as a portable camping stove or grill?

3. Ample supplies of bottled water to last at least 5 days?

4. A back-up method to charge your cell phone: car charger or portable external battery pack?

5. Emergency desserts?

Do you have all of this stuff on hand right now? If yes, please give yourself 10 bonus points.

So ya, stock up to save cash AND for emergency preparedness. With all of the fitness stuff we get into, preparing is key to our success. But sometimes there are more important things than doing squats and fitting in cardio. Preparation has much greater implications. Don’t you agree? That canned Sasquatch meat I heard you love so much is worth stocking up on.

How are you dealing with rising food prices and the looming threat of economic collapse-type stuff?

View the original article here

It's DVD Giveaway Time Again! (another Cassie review inside :))

I’m giving over the blog today to daughter Cassie, who reviews Tracey Mallett’s “Pilates Super Sculpt” and her friend Jessica, who reviews Patricia Friberg’s “Belly Beautiful Workout: Prenatal/Pregnancy.”
You know the routine. If you want to throw your name in the hat to win one of these DVDs, leave a comment below or shoot me an email at lynn.haraldson@gmail.com. I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday, June 15.

Belly Beautiful Workout with Patricia Friberg

Reviewer Jessica is a 26-year-old new mother living in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her daughter, Sarah, is two months old. Getting back into shape post-baby means taking long morning strolls with her little girl and doing some regular light strength training to get her arms and legs in baby lifting shape! She documents-her family life and travels at http://www.leelafish.com/.

"Belly Beautiful" is a post-natal DVD has several short workouts, each designed for different stages of post-partum strength. It took me a while to complete this DVD because I thought I had to have an exercise ball, and let’s face it, a new mom doesn’t have much time to go exercise equipment shopping. However, after watching a bit I discovered that a pillow works in its place just fine.

Abdominal Rehab: This workout is great for easing back into exercise. It focuses on basic, controlled movements to boost strength and help repair your pelvic floor. This short workout helps prepare for other, more challenging workouts on the DVD.
Baby and Me Workout: This is similar to the abdominal rehab, but requires more strength. While it touts that it is a workout you can do “with your baby,” only the first five minutes or so actually involve baby, the rest of the time she kind of lets the baby play around her while she works out. I personally found that my two-month-old got tired of it rather quickly, so I put her down for a nap and finished the routine. This particular routine really focuses on your glutes with a little bit of arm and ab toning.

Toning Workout: This was by far my favorite workout. It was one of the longer ones. Using your exercise ball (or pillow) for support, Patricia takes you through toning exercises for the hips, glutes, abs, calves and arms that build in intensity as the workout goes on. She gives options for different strength levels, which makes this one great for about 6 weeks+ post partum.

Busy Mom Bootcamp: You need to be feeling stronger when you attempt this one. As Patricia says, “this is good for when you’re sleeping through the night.” Lots of short cardio bursts and lots and lots of different lunges. I was winded after several minutes into it, but felt great (and sore!) afterward.

Rejuvenation Stretch: These stretches allude to yoga and slowly allow you to stretch each muscle of your body, allowing for a great cool down.

Diastasis Recti: This short segment explains what happens to your ab muscles during and after pregnancy and how to tell if your muscles are still separated. She gives you a few tips on exercises to avoid or modify if your abs are still recovering.

What I loved: Workout leader Patricia Friberg is real. You can tell by looking at her that she has had a baby, but she is still in great shape! Each workout is short, about 10-15 minutes, so you can get a quick one in while baby naps, or you can string several together to get in a long, tough workout. It really focuses on repairing the areas that are weak after childbirth (abs, pelvic floor) and strengthening the muscles you need to take care of baby now (arms and legs).

What I wasn’t crazy about: The “baby and me” title is a bit misleading, and your baby needs to be just the right age for this workout to be effective (between 3 and 6 months).

Overall, I think this was a great video for easing back into exercise and toning those muscles weak from pregnancy. It definitely helps rebuild strength and made me feel good after I completed it!
----------------------------------

Tracey Mallett "Pilates Super Sculpt"

To say I loved this DVD would be an understatement. I actually had a dream about it the night after I first did it, and when I woke up the next morning, I promptly did the video again.
The DVD is about an hour long, but it is so seamless, it just flew by. The instructor, Tracey Mallett, is very calm and relaxing. She also has a killer accent.

It's broken down into six segments, all about 10 minutes long, give or take a few seconds. There's a warm up, a classic Pilates ab segment, oblique and buns sculpt, legs and thigh burn, total body challenge and a flexibility segment all while using a ball. I loved them all.

My favorite, however, would be the legs and thigh burn. In it, there's a frog movement in which you lay on your back with the ball placed under your tailbone. Flexing both legs outward, you bring both feet together, simulating frog legs. It is an amazing stretch. Just make sure your blinds are pulled, because otherwise it'd get the neighbors talking.
Most of the work is done laying on the ground, so I'd suggest you use a mat. I relied on my carpet as a buffer and now I have a bruised tailbone. Also, you need a ball for this routine. I used my daughter's playground ball, but this lead to a tantrum. So I'd suggest that you buy one of your own. Something like you'd see at the grocery store in those large wire bins. You also need to be able to grip it with one hand, so make sure that it's not over inflated and not incredibly smooth.

It is recommended on the site that it's for advanced beginners and up, but what is an advanced beginner anyway? We all have to start somewhere. Might as well be here and now with this DVD. (I'm seriously not getting paid to say any of this.) In my opinion it is perfect for people of all fitness levels and joint ability. There's only one part that puts heavy strain on your wrists, and that's in the Total Body Challenge in which you do walk out pushups. That's the only bit of upper body training you'll get in this DVD, however. That's fine with me, because I do most of my arm work at the gym, but I know a lot of people rely on that in a workout DVD. So please note that.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is tough. There are several simple moves, but every so often she'll throw in one that'll have your muscles shaking. At least mine were. There are a lot of classic Pilates moves thrown in, such as the teaser sequence, but then there's a lot of original moves as well that specifically targeted all the problem areas I have. And if I'm like most women, that would include saddlebags, love handles and lower belly pooch. It hits them all.

Best part of all, the next morning I wasn't the slightest bit sore. I felt stretched and strong. That's the beauty of Pilates. It works you out, makes you tired and leaves you more beautiful than before you started.

You want to win this. I want you to win this. And if you don't win it, I want you to go out with your hard earned money and buy it. I'm serious. It's amazing. In fact, it's in my Amazon.com shopping cart as we speak. (Because I'm seriously not getting paid to say this.) This workout just blew me away with how it was both challenging and efficient. I don't like to waste my time with lame workouts, and with three kids that's not an option. I want to get the most out of my workout and I did with this one. Truly.

View the original article here

It's DVD Giveaway Time Again! (another Cassie review inside :))

I’m giving over the blog today to daughter Cassie, who reviews Tracey Mallett’s “Pilates Super Sculpt” and her friend Jessica, who reviews Patricia Friberg’s “Belly Beautiful Workout: Prenatal/Pregnancy.”
You know the routine. If you want to throw your name in the hat to win one of these DVDs, leave a comment below or shoot me an email at lynn.haraldson@gmail.com. I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday, June 15.

Belly Beautiful Workout with Patricia Friberg

Reviewer Jessica is a 26-year-old new mother living in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her daughter, Sarah, is two months old. Getting back into shape post-baby means taking long morning strolls with her little girl and doing some regular light strength training to get her arms and legs in baby lifting shape! She documents-her family life and travels at http://www.leelafish.com/.

"Belly Beautiful" is a post-natal DVD has several short workouts, each designed for different stages of post-partum strength. It took me a while to complete this DVD because I thought I had to have an exercise ball, and let’s face it, a new mom doesn’t have much time to go exercise equipment shopping. However, after watching a bit I discovered that a pillow works in its place just fine.

Abdominal Rehab: This workout is great for easing back into exercise. It focuses on basic, controlled movements to boost strength and help repair your pelvic floor. This short workout helps prepare for other, more challenging workouts on the DVD.
Baby and Me Workout: This is similar to the abdominal rehab, but requires more strength. While it touts that it is a workout you can do “with your baby,” only the first five minutes or so actually involve baby, the rest of the time she kind of lets the baby play around her while she works out. I personally found that my two-month-old got tired of it rather quickly, so I put her down for a nap and finished the routine. This particular routine really focuses on your glutes with a little bit of arm and ab toning.

Toning Workout: This was by far my favorite workout. It was one of the longer ones. Using your exercise ball (or pillow) for support, Patricia takes you through toning exercises for the hips, glutes, abs, calves and arms that build in intensity as the workout goes on. She gives options for different strength levels, which makes this one great for about 6 weeks+ post partum.

Busy Mom Bootcamp: You need to be feeling stronger when you attempt this one. As Patricia says, “this is good for when you’re sleeping through the night.” Lots of short cardio bursts and lots and lots of different lunges. I was winded after several minutes into it, but felt great (and sore!) afterward.

Rejuvenation Stretch: These stretches allude to yoga and slowly allow you to stretch each muscle of your body, allowing for a great cool down.

Diastasis Recti: This short segment explains what happens to your ab muscles during and after pregnancy and how to tell if your muscles are still separated. She gives you a few tips on exercises to avoid or modify if your abs are still recovering.

What I loved: Workout leader Patricia Friberg is real. You can tell by looking at her that she has had a baby, but she is still in great shape! Each workout is short, about 10-15 minutes, so you can get a quick one in while baby naps, or you can string several together to get in a long, tough workout. It really focuses on repairing the areas that are weak after childbirth (abs, pelvic floor) and strengthening the muscles you need to take care of baby now (arms and legs).

What I wasn’t crazy about: The “baby and me” title is a bit misleading, and your baby needs to be just the right age for this workout to be effective (between 3 and 6 months).

Overall, I think this was a great video for easing back into exercise and toning those muscles weak from pregnancy. It definitely helps rebuild strength and made me feel good after I completed it!
----------------------------------

Tracey Mallett "Pilates Super Sculpt"

To say I loved this DVD would be an understatement. I actually had a dream about it the night after I first did it, and when I woke up the next morning, I promptly did the video again.
The DVD is about an hour long, but it is so seamless, it just flew by. The instructor, Tracey Mallett, is very calm and relaxing. She also has a killer accent.

It's broken down into six segments, all about 10 minutes long, give or take a few seconds. There's a warm up, a classic Pilates ab segment, oblique and buns sculpt, legs and thigh burn, total body challenge and a flexibility segment all while using a ball. I loved them all.

My favorite, however, would be the legs and thigh burn. In it, there's a frog movement in which you lay on your back with the ball placed under your tailbone. Flexing both legs outward, you bring both feet together, simulating frog legs. It is an amazing stretch. Just make sure your blinds are pulled, because otherwise it'd get the neighbors talking.
Most of the work is done laying on the ground, so I'd suggest you use a mat. I relied on my carpet as a buffer and now I have a bruised tailbone. Also, you need a ball for this routine. I used my daughter's playground ball, but this lead to a tantrum. So I'd suggest that you buy one of your own. Something like you'd see at the grocery store in those large wire bins. You also need to be able to grip it with one hand, so make sure that it's not over inflated and not incredibly smooth.

It is recommended on the site that it's for advanced beginners and up, but what is an advanced beginner anyway? We all have to start somewhere. Might as well be here and now with this DVD. (I'm seriously not getting paid to say any of this.) In my opinion it is perfect for people of all fitness levels and joint ability. There's only one part that puts heavy strain on your wrists, and that's in the Total Body Challenge in which you do walk out pushups. That's the only bit of upper body training you'll get in this DVD, however. That's fine with me, because I do most of my arm work at the gym, but I know a lot of people rely on that in a workout DVD. So please note that.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is tough. There are several simple moves, but every so often she'll throw in one that'll have your muscles shaking. At least mine were. There are a lot of classic Pilates moves thrown in, such as the teaser sequence, but then there's a lot of original moves as well that specifically targeted all the problem areas I have. And if I'm like most women, that would include saddlebags, love handles and lower belly pooch. It hits them all.

Best part of all, the next morning I wasn't the slightest bit sore. I felt stretched and strong. That's the beauty of Pilates. It works you out, makes you tired and leaves you more beautiful than before you started.

You want to win this. I want you to win this. And if you don't win it, I want you to go out with your hard earned money and buy it. I'm serious. It's amazing. In fact, it's in my Amazon.com shopping cart as we speak. (Because I'm seriously not getting paid to say this.) This workout just blew me away with how it was both challenging and efficient. I don't like to waste my time with lame workouts, and with three kids that's not an option. I want to get the most out of my workout and I did with this one. Truly.

View the original article here