The Magic Pill

Ok so this has been the subject of controversy for quite some time now. I am here to tell you the truth about weight loss supplements. ANY diet pill is considered a dietary supplement, the keyword here is SUPPLEMENT: noun, something that completes or makes an addition. What this means is that when taken in addition to your already active diet and exercise routine it can help speed up the process of fat loss. SO if you are on track to lose 10lbs in a certain time period by diet and exercise then the supplement could increase that loss in the same time period.

There are many different products on the market so I will only go over a couple of different types of diet pill.

Appetite Suppressant- The first question you need to ask your self is if you are eating enough already or if your just making bad choices. A suppressant will not take you from eating 3000 calories worth of junk everyday to 5 small portions of clean food. Typically these products are fiber based as to make you feel “Full”. Everyone should be getting 25-35g of fiber daily to keep their digestive system regular and ease hunger pangs. SO before you go drop $80 bucks on the latest cactus extract or whatever else Dr. Oz preaches about take a second look at WHAT you’re eating now and make some adjustments.

CLA- conjugated linoic acid is a naturally occurring Omega-6 fatty acid that was first hailed as an anti-cancer supplement however the rats used in the test also showed a decrease in abdominal fat. No one has really figured out why this lipid helps the body target stored fats that it would otherwise bypass but it does. I have hard stories of people losing 6lbs in 6mos. doing absolutely nothing but supplementing with CLA. In conjunction with diet and exercise the results can be noticeable within a month or two. CLA is a non stimulate based weight loss aid with proven effectiveness and minimal side effects.

Thermogenics- I save these for last for a reason. These supplements can be very dangerous if taken inappropriately and are the leaders of the controversy. A thermogenic raises the body temperature so that while exercising you are able to burn more calories thus attack more stored body fat. Typically these pills have at least 200mg of caffeine and an array of natural stimulates to give crazy energy levels to further increase your energy expenditure while exercising. If this is the route you choose make sure you’re getting more than just caffeine. Several supplements on the market today market themselves as Thermogenics when in reality your spending money on nothing more than “redbull”. Talk to a trainer, doctor, nutritionist before you choose one.

The bottom line is that while these products can assist you with fat loss there is not now nor will there ever be a substitute for good old fashioned exercise and sensible eating. Feel free to contact me with questions.

Yours in Health,

Jeremy Oliver