. . . Then it probably is.  Celebrety trainer Jillian Michaels is facing, to date, three lawsuits based on her supplements.  On the package of one product, Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control™, it states “Two Capsules Before Main Meals And You Lose Weight. . .That’s It.”  Really?  All I have to do to lose weight is take two of these pills before my main meals?  Sign me up!

Then, I look a little closer at the label and find this:  WARNING:This product contains a significantly potent xanthine (i.e., caffeine and caffeine-like stimulants) mixture of about 100 mg per regular 2-MetaCap serving. Consult your physician before use if you are sensitive to stimulants. Do not exceed suggested daily serving. Not for use by individuals under the age of 18 years. Do not use if pregnant or nursing.

A Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine in an 8.2 oz can.  A cup of coffee has between 80 and 135 mg of caffeine.  If you take six capsules of the supplement, you’ll be consuming 300 mg of caffiene – about the same as three cups of coffee.  Not necessarily an issue, unless you are sensitive to or avoid caffeine.

This supplement also contains guarana extract, cocoa seed extract and ginger root powder.  These are intended to suppress your appetite.  Guarana is claimed to help with weight loss, but the research has not show this to be true.  Also, those with a heart condition, high blood pressure, or anxiety disorders (among others) should not consume guarana due to the high caffeine content.  When you stop using guarana, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like those when you are addicted to caffeine.  It just keeps getting better.

I could go on, but am going to stop here.  What’s the moral of the story?  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  If you are looking at a pill, supplement, or anything you put into your body do some research and be comfortable with it.

If losing weight was easy, we wouldn’t have an obesity epidemic.  Losing weight takes work.  Keeping weight off takes work.  If you are struggling with your weight, find a healthy way to do it.  Find a Registered Dietitian and someone to help you find a way to burn calories you enjoy.  It can be done, and done without pills that promise outrageous claims.