Have you taken a good look at the rapper/actor 50 Cent lately? Pictures of him looking emaciated and much older are all over the internet. I'm not a big 50 Cent fan, but the change is so dramatic that I found myself wanting to learn more about what he's been up to lately. I quickly discovered that he made the dramatic change in his appearance for his role as a football player stricken with cancer in the upcoming movie "Things Fall Apart". He went from a buff 214 pounds to an anorexic-looking 160 pounds in just nine weeks by drinking a liquid diet and spending three hours a day on the treadmill. Wow. The first thought that I had was "that's crazy". My mind was flooded with gnawing questions such as, how could anyone do this to themselves? How safe was this weight loss method? How much money was he paid to suffer this kind of abuse? Was he under a doctor's care? I can relate to taking your craft seriously, and wanting to be the best at what you do, but to jeopardize your health for a temporary role? I don't think so. Seeing 50 Cent's results may tempt some people to try a liquid diet as a quick weight loss solution. It's summer, you may have a wedding or a class reunion to attend, so what's the harm, right? Kids, please don't try this at home. Liquid diets typically consist of 500-900 calories per day (as opposed to 1200 calories minimum recommended by nutritionist and doctors). Not only does this method of extreme weight loss and exercise cause fatigue, constipation, irritability and weakness, but in the long run it can decrease metabolism, dramatically erode muscle mass, cause heart problems, chronic issues with digestion, coma or even death. We're talking about a potentially life-threatening situation. The weight loss solution recommended for everyday people, while not glamorous, is safe and effective. You've heard it a thousand times before, and it still holds true: eat a sensible diet made up of primarily unprocessed, whole foods, and move your body every day. There's no magic, no silver bullet and no short or long-term debilitating effects when you follow this principle. Although 50 Cent didn't consult me before he made the decision to embark on this crazy weight loss venture, if he had I would have told him to pass on this role. Besides, he's a much better rapper than actor anyway. Fade to black…….