Push a Button to Lose Weight

Trash Your TV! is pleased to announce the easiest weight loss program in the world. It is as easy as pushing a button-the "Power" button on your TV. Turn the TV OFF completely and go outside to play. Go outside in the fresh air and do something enjoyable for at least an hour.

This revolutionary and simple weight-loss program is based on many studies which have found a link to television viewing and obesity in both men and women. The American Journal of Public Health, for example, has found that people who watched three or more hours of television per day are almost twice as likely to be obese than people who watched less than one hour per day.

Almost any activity will burn more calories than TV

If you want to lose weight, the first program you should try is this simple, revolutionary, push-button program. Push that power button to OFF and automatically you will start burning more calories. Why? Because almost any other activity burns more calories than watching TV. Specific weight loss results will naturally be determined by which activities you do instead of watching TV. That is why we suggest going outside for an hour. We naturally encourage you to check with your doctor if you need to slough off many "couch potato" pounds.

Watching TV burns only a few more calories than sleeping. Almost any other activity burns more calories. Talking on the phone, reading a book, doing the dishes-all burn more calories than watching television. With the national average of four hours per day, the extra calories burned just by turning off the TV will add up quickly. Plus, there are many benefits to this simple program that you will not find in any other weight-loss program.

Since the average American watches four hours of TV per day, spending one of those hours outdoors will be a easy. And one of the easiest, simplest ways to burn more calories is to go outside and play. Take a walk. Play with your kids. Toss a football. Kick a soccer ball. Shoot hoops with your buddies. Enjoy life. You will be having so much fun that you won't even notice that you are burning calories.

Get some fresh air. Bask in the sunshine. Revel in the moonlight. There is no law that says everyone needs to stay indoors after the sun goes down and stare at a piece of furniture. But, if the weather is too cold or wet, simply play indoors. Dance, have a family pillow fight, ticklefest, or just act silly.

EXTRA time and NO special diets, pills, or books to buy

Unlike other weight-loss programs you will not have to rearrange your schedule to squeeze in a workout. Even with the hour spent outdoors playing, you will most likely have extra time to pursue your other interests, like playing with your children, talking with your spouse, or meeting with the neighbors. Instead, you will be faced with the delightful challenge of filling in all this extra time with meaningful activities.

Another benefit is that there are no special diets to follow, although we encourage people to eat a healthy, balanced diet. There is no fretting over "low carb" vs. "low fat" diets. You do not need to know what diet is best for your blood type, your personality, or your zodiac sign. You do not need to make any special diet lists, or special recipes. These are unnecessary, unless, of course, you choose to follow a special regimen.

There are no books to buy. There are no pills to swallow, no liquid meals to drink, no funny-looking bars to consume, no videos to buy, and no special equipment to purchase. In fact, you may have more time and money than when you started, if you give up your cable or satellite TV plans. What other weight loss program can offer that?

You will not need to discuss this decision with your doctor.* There are no medical risks whatsoever to this basic plan. Even young children can participate. It may, in fact, be one of the best plans to follow for young children, because it is a basic, permanent, life change.

You and your family will also not have to suffer the crankiness that accompanies most strict diet regimens. The only possible negative effect will be having too much time for fun and excitement.

Program enhances any other weight loss program or diet

Best of all, this program will work with any other diet or exercise program to make it more effective. If you do choose to exercise, you will easily have the time to do it. You will not have to compromise your sleep schedule, work schedule, or family time to fulfill your exercise routine.

Your diet will not be sabotaged by those nefarious junk food commercials. No more mouthwatering hamburgers, candy bars, or luscious deserts begging you to consume them. What diet could stand a chance against a multitude (40,000 per year on average) of those malicious commercials?

Finally, the maintenance program is as simple as the weight loss program. Simply leave the power button in the OFF position permanently, go outside and play, and enjoy the rest of your life.

*Unless you plan on engaging in risky or very strenuous activities outdoors.

Sources:
Thomas N. Robinson, MD, MPH "Reducing Children's Television Viewing to Prevent Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial" JAMA, Oct 1999; 282: 1561 - 1567.

LA Tucker and M Bagwell. "Television viewing and obesity in adult females." Am J Public Health, Jul 1991; 81: 908 - 911.

LA Tucker and GM Friedman. "Television viewing and obesity in adult males." Am J Public Health, Vol 79, Issue 4 516-518.

Katherine Westphal is the founder of a daring new website TrashYourTV.com, that makes it fun and easy for people to get control of their TV set. Are you addicted to TV? Take our TV Addiction Quiz (http://www.trashyourtv.com/survey) and find out!