What the heck are nocebos you are probably

wondering and what do they have to do with

your health and fitness?

They are the evil cousin of placebos.

You know that placebos are used quite a bit

in testing of drugs and supplements.

The test is set up so that one half of a

group gets the actual drug and the other

half gets a placebo. The placebo is usually

some kind of sugar water and it doesn't have

any of the drugs in it.

In a double blind study neither the

participants nor the researchers know which

group gets the drug and which group gets the

placebo.

The idea of the placebo is that it isn't the

real drug and that it is not harmful in any

way.

This way the researchers can get an accurate

measurement of what effects the drug

actually has.

An interesting thing happened during

testing. Both groups responded to the drug.

This shows the power of the mind. If you

think you are getting a drug that is going

to help you, you respond as though you are

getting the drug and that it is helping you,

even if you are in the placebo group and

only getting sugar water.

This effect is called the placebo effect.

Many people have taken this placebo effect

and used it in a not so positive manner.

The nocebo effect as mentioned before is the

evil cousin of placebo. It is when someone

tries to affect a negative and harmful

effect in you by using the power of the mind

to control your response.

This might make more sense if you think of a

witch doctor. There have been many

documented cases of where witch doctors have

actually killed people just by using the

power of suggestion.

They do their incantations on someone and

that person, because they believe the witch

doctor, fall violently and sometimes fatally

ill.

That is the nocebo effect taken to the

extreme.

So what does this have to do with you and

your health or fitness goals?

Plenty.

How many times have you said you are going

on a diet, or going to start eating healthy

or start going to the gym only to be met

with a round of laughter and put downs from

your friends and family?

That is a milder form of the nocebo effect.

And it does affect you. Very few people are

able to overcome such negative and harmful

statements.

It has taken a lot of strength for you to

admit you need to change your lifestyle to

become healthier. It takes even more

strength to admit it to others.

When that strength is met with derision,

scorn and laughter, it is like you have the

weight of the world on your shoulders. It

is almost too much to overcome.

Does that mean you shouldn't tell anyone?

Well, maybe. Or maybe you need to be

pickier in who you tell.

One of the best things you can do to help

you in your health and fitness goals is to

find others that are trying to reach the

same goals.

You can go to a gym or you can go for walks

in the park. You will see and meet others

doing the same thing you are doing.

Surround yourself with other like minded

people and you will be able to easily

overcome the nocebos in your life.

One place where you won't meet any nocebos

is at Val's health and fitness site. Check

it out - see below.

Thanks,

Mike Val

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