"Success story" fibs and fluffs

[horsemom2]

I have noticed that people in *after* photos get an automatic tan.

Barb S
who is more interested in which tanning product was used

[Mary09(b)]

In all before pics they have bad posture, bad lighting, bad hair, bad clothes, a frown and pasty skin.

[Demeris]

Originally Posted by steakhousegirl

I agree..it's all about staging. Take a photo of me in the morning, no make-up, hair mussed and then give me a make-over. It would be incredible. Also baggy clothes vs. more fitted clothing.

And how you stand--Teresa Tapp teaches how to stand, how to hold your upper body, lower body, arms, hands, etc. to be photographed at your most lovely and most svelte self

Originally Posted by steakhousegirl

I never believe the testamonials but I still love infomercials!

me too. it's an addiction that has paid off in better health, though (nuwave oven, magic bullet, fluidity bar, malibu pilates chair)

[TexasMama]

In the case of the Beachbody infomercials (haven't seen the Turbofire, so can't comment on that specifically), I often wonder how many of the people giving their miraculous testimonials are also coaches. I know that the one guy on the current P90X commercial (who went from morbidly obese to 7% body fat doing five rounds of P90X) is a coach. No offense to those out there who might be Beachbody coaches, but I think giving a glowing testimonial about a product you're actually trying to sell makes for a little less credibility, IMO.

[steakhousegirl]

Originally Posted by Demeris

And how you stand--Teresa Tapp teaches how to stand, how to hold your upper body, lower body, arms, hands, etc. to be photographed at your most lovely and most svelte self



me too. it's an addiction that has paid off in better health, though (nuwave oven, magic bullet, fluidity bar, malibu pilates chair)

I will say that I believe testamonials from the shopping channels a bit more especially when I can see how something works "live". I bought a few Wolfgang Puck pieces as Xmas gifts this year and the recipients raved! But the "I transformed my body in 3 mths. " spiels not so much..

[paideiamom]

When my life story is cast for Lifetime TV (and admit it, with the proliferation of channels, at sometime someone is going to have to do the life story of a person who cleans toilets on a Friday night), I want the casting crew from "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" to find my doppelganger because they have the best looking doubles of any "reality/documentary" I have ever seen.

[muddjeansgal]

Originally Posted by TexasMama

In the case of the Beachbody infomercials (haven't seen the Turbofire, so can't comment on that specifically), I often wonder how many of the people giving their miraculous testimonials are also coaches. I know that the one guy on the current P90X commercial (who went from morbidly obese to 7% body fat doing five rounds of P90X) is a coach. No offense to those out there who might be Beachbody coaches, but I think giving a glowing testimonial about a product you're actually trying to sell makes for a little less credibility, IMO.

That's what I am finding a little frustrating with things like Sparkpeople, Facebook and Youtube. It is mostly coaches trying to get me to buy the product.

[gmfreund]

Originally Posted by Demeris

And how you stand--Teresa Tapp teaches how to stand, how to hold your upper body, lower body, arms, hands, etc. to be photographed at your most lovely and most svelte self.

In one of Joyce Vedral's books, she takes before and after pictures of herself -- in the "before" shot she's in a terrible suit, slumping, facing the camera square on, etc. In the "after" she's posing and at an angle. The difference is phenomenal (and taught me to ALWAYS pose for pictures!)

I remember reading about a woman who was pushing some weight loss scheme -- her after picture turned out to be a picture of a Russian model that she had stolen off of someone's website. Her after pictures would change over the years - but they wouldn't be the same person.

[DBW]

Originally Posted by Mary09(b)

In all before pics they have bad posture, bad lighting, bad hair, bad clothes, a frown and pasty skin.

and have you noticed the women usually are wearing a workout bra and elastic waist shorts that hit right in the spot to emphasize the muffin top. Then in the after picture they are wearing a tank top.

[gigi]

The infomercial also quickly flashes a "before" and "after" picture of Chalene's BFF and I"m pretty sure she was already in fabulous shape before TF.

I want TF not b/c I think I'll drop weight and turn into a fat burning machine but b/c I'm all about awesome music and staying motivated and I KNOW I'll love these workouts.

The marketing sucks though. I'm sure there are plenty of real before and after photo's stories they could use to make the "success" stories legit...boo.