How Reliable Are Supplements For Fat Loss?
August 18th, 2010We hear this question a lot: fast weight loss supplements, do they really work, or what? The fact is that they SHOULD work, but that not all of them do. Now, not to name names, but some supplements are little more than a placebo, something to make you think that you’re burning fat when, in fact, they’re not doing much for you.
If you’re looking for fat burning supplements, they should contain one of the following ingredients.
Fiber
Getting rid of fat is all about fiber, really. You don’t actually burn FAT with this stuff, but it does help to keep you feeling full, meaning you don’t have to eat quite as much to feel like you’ve had a good meal. It helps to keep you regular, meaning that you retain less waste and less weight, and it helps you keep your energy up when working out so that you can always run that extra mile or two before calling it a day.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes really do help you to stay hydrated, and when you stay hydrated, you stay energized. This is why there isn’t a gym in the civilized world where you won’t find a regular drinker of sports drinks. Electrolytes are basically there to keep you from feeling too worn out once you get winded. Drink some electrolytes or take some in pill form and you’ll find that you’re able to run farther and hit the gym longer. Of course, as we all know, there is no greater sports drink in the world than pure water, but electrolytes can help.
B Vitamins
B Vitamins are what it’s all about if you want energy. In fact, if you switch from coffee or energy drinks to pure vitamin B, you may well find yourself a little less grumpy in the morning. If you start taking vitamin B, the level of energy you experience will greatly improve. This is really your best friend if you find yourself getting tired easily.
Protein and Body Builder Supplements
Body builders have it made when it comes to supplements, but people just trying to lose weight should think twice about taking any of these. They can help, sure, but creatine, protein, and so on will only add muscle to your body rather than helping you lose weight specifically. If you have both goals in mind, go for it, otherwise, take with caution, and remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so don’t be surprised if you wind up weighing exactly the same by the end despite looking and feeling much better.
The fact is, supplements are only your little helpers. They help, they don’t do the workout for you. If you need something that’ll do the workout for you, hire an athlete to lift your weights so you don’t have to, but don’t expect results. There’s no such thing as a magic pill that will lend you the perfect body in spite of an unhealthy life style. So put the work in.
Or to sum it all up: Drink lots of water, work out, eat healthy and walk more. Supplements can be a huge help, but don’t expect to get fast weight loss with them alone. Without a healthy lifestyle, you may as well just be eating salt tablets and pretending they’re helping you to lose weight and get fat burning.