Before and After Phenomenon

One of the things that is becoming more common is the before-and-after phenomenon. This is the process of recording the before and after state a transformation process, which can include weight loss, plastic surgery, a beauty cream, or just about anything.

We all know that using a product once is not going to have drastic affects. But why do we always expect it too? Or why is it always advertised in a two step before and after process?

I'm sure most people have heard of the P90X workout program. This is a classic example of the before-and-after phenomenon. Their advertising is centered around the weight loss or level of fitness you will achieve. I was one of these people that got suckered into this before and after advertising. Although I really enjoyed the phase 1 of P90X, I never finished the rest of the program. I could blame this on multiple factors: not enough time, loss of motivation, or just laziness. Never the less, why did I originally buy this product?

P90X Before and After




We are constantly trying to improve ourselves. And we want to see the end result of what we want to achieve. We want to see the possibilities of what we can achieve immediately. However, by seeing just the before and after, we do not always take into account the actual process. In the P90X example, it is a 90 day process that will includes: about an 1 hour per day for 6 days a week, an array of dumbbells, pullup bar, and maybe protein. What is not advertised is the large amount of motivation, determination, and soreness that goes along with these 90 days. I did not take those factors into consideration when I originally bought the product.

So next time you see a product that uses before and after advertising, make sure you know what it takes to get to that end result. This could save you a lot of time and money.