5 Bullsh*t Health & Wellness Trends That We Hope Will Go Away in 2021

There's nothing worse than seeing someone you care for getting scammed. In this age of misinformation and batsh*t crazy conspiracy theories *cough--cough~QAnon~cough--cough*, truth and facts are more important than ever. While some fads may seem as harmless as the famous Pet Rock , others can be downright deadly. On top of that, people who are desperate for change will part with their money with the hopes that they found a possible solution to their problem, and that ain't cool at all. 

Because there are literally thousands of products and fads to choose from, it was really tough for us to narrow it down to such a short list, but we did our best.
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5 Bullsh*t Health & Wellness Trends That We Hope Will Go Away in 2021!

1. THE QUICK FIX

From fad diets to the "new, like nothing else ever before" fitness gadgets trumpeted by Instagram influencers and self-help gurus, the idea of a quick fix is raging as strong as ever. Of course, we all want to get from point A to point Z as quickly as possible because humans are inherently impatient, especially in a world based on instant gratification. Unfortunately, true change rarely, if ever, happens quickly, and if you're in recovery, you know that sobriety takes a lot of work and that cutting corners can be deadly. 

​Anything in life that guarantees you a magical quick-fix is usually unrealistic. From a behavioral perspective, change takes time and consistency. Our brains and bodies are wired through experience, and for better or worse, the longer the experience, the more ingrained our patterns become. You cannot stop using for a week and suddenly not be an addict, you won't suddenly have high endurance by running one mile, and you won't meet your nutrition goals by elminitating six foods from your diet for three weeks. Sustainable change happens over the long term.
- Jess Bernal, DNDY Mental Wellness Consultant, Behavioral Health Expert

​2. THE BOSU BALL 

If you happen to follow Michael Anderson, CSCS -- DNDY Fitness Coach -- on social media, you know his boiling hatred for the Bosu Ball. While funny, his strong distaste of the Bosu holds true merit.

I have a great dislike for the Bosu Ball, and much of it revolves around the way that it changes the perceived difficulty of an exercise. You feel super wobbly during a squat so you can't use as much weight as you typically do (or should) and you think to yourself "oooh, it's so much harder, so it must be better." Ultimately, it's just requiring you to move slower with less weight because you're at risk of falling off the contraption. Now, it might be fine for the general fitness enthusiast who think it's fun but it has almost no place in a training program that's actually aimed at achieving goals, like the programs we create at Do Not Die Young. 
- Michael Anderson, CSCS, DNDY Fitness Coach
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3. MLMs

​Multi-level marketing, often referred to as pyramid schemes, are strategies aimed at selling a company's products and/or services via a vastly non-salaried workforce. You've most likely seen the ads or have even been contacted by an old high school acquaintance you haven't spoken to in years starting off the message with "Hey girl! I wanted to let you know about this amazing (product) I found that works/fits better than anything else but you can only buy from me at a discount/wholesale, etc. because it's not sold in stores!" 

I wish I had a dollar for every time I was contacted by these type of companies to sell supplements, essential oils, clothing, etc. to our clients. To become a "certified" or "registered" sales reps for (fill in the blank). Do Not Die Young will never be in the business of shilling such products to clients, friends or family. Ever. These companies should be ashamed of themselves. They force people into debt and psychological crisis. Some of the most popular are Herbalife, LulaRoe, Usana and Young Living. 
- Chris Hostetler, founder Do Not Die Young 
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4. McMindfulness

Mindfulness simply means paying attention in a certain way. To focus on purpose, in the present moment with non-judgement. To pay attention in a way which can nurture greater awareness, clarity and acceptance of reality. 
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The current popularity of Mindfulness is through the roof. While the fact that such a thing is on the lips of the masses is, well. However, the use of Mindfulness programs in business and even in the military is worrisome to me as a someone who teaches Mindfulness practice along with meditation because it feels like Mindfulness is simply becoming a supplement to capitalism. For example: Let's suppose that your company supplies Mindfulness classes to its employees. While on the surface it seems like a thoughtful gesture to its workforce, but in reality it is another convenient way to shift the burden of stress back on employees making it their personal issue/problem while the toxic work environment that actually causes stress to begin with takes no blame and makes no changes. The cycle continues. 
- Chris Hostetler, founder Do Not Die Young 
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5. SOBER CURIOUS

It's great that people are looking at ways to change their relationship with alcohol, and the fact that sobriety is trendy might actually help normalize it, and that's exciting! 

But as a member of the sober community and an owner of a business that, in the end, offers services to support relapse prevention, I see some issues with making sobriety a trend.

Only showing the pretty parts of sobriety makes for a good marketing campaign to garner Likes and clicks, but strips away sobriety of its true meaning. Sobriety rejects cultural norms and goes against a systemically acceptable coping mechanism for the masses. Seeing sobriety marketed in the same way as wine coolers or deodorant is, well, troubling. From the recovery side of things, a more apt ad would be focused around someone not being "sober curious" but wondering how, if ever, they can stop drinking. Someone scared of losing their job, family, kids, their own life to booze. 

Does the Sober Curious movement blur the lines of alcoholism? It absolutely can. 

Sobriety is not a trend. Getting sober and drinking less are two drastically different things. 
- Chris Hostetler, founder Do Not Die Young 

​If you are struggling with substance abuse, please call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for free and confidential information.

What are some trends that you would like to see go away this year?
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​​​The DNDY team
Chris Hostetler He/Him, founder Do Not Die Young
Jess Bernal They/Them, MA, LMFT, Do Not Die Young's Mental Wellness Consultant
Michael Anderson He/Him, CSCS, Do Not Die Young's Strength, Conditioning and Fitness Coach