Weight Loss

The Skinny on Weight Loss Supplements – Which diet pills work?

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If you’re like me, then you have tried EVERY diet pill and weight loss supplement in the book! And there are loads out there, such as these Diet Pills from Discuss Diets. But finding the right one for you is tough. Some were relatively safe – Apple Cider Vinegar, which tastes horrible. Some were not so safe – Xenadrine, which made my heart flutter. Nonetheless, as a fitness and wellness professional, I’ve come to understand which supplements are safe and which ones are risky. I’ve also learned which ones are effective and which ones are wastes of money.

You’ve probably heard of popular weight loss pills like…popular-diet-pills

  • Hydroxycut
  • Quick Trim (from the Kardashian’s)
  • Xenadrine (popular in the early 2000’s)
  • Stimmurex
  • The list goes on and on…

All of these pills are “thermogenic” compounds. Simply put, they are a combination of basic vitamins and TON of caffeine. Overall, they try to raise your body temperature. However, simply being hot (literally) doesn’t make you lose weight. If it did, people who live in warm climates would be significantly smaller than people who live in cold climates – as a native Texan, let me tell you, that ain’t true!

When caffeine is used in moderation, it can provide you with more energy to workout and, as a result, you may burn more calories and lose weight. But just taking thermogenic compounds by themselves, without significantly increasing your exercise intensity or daily activity, will not lead to weight loss! All these pills are going to give you is INSOMNIA! And guess what, sleep deprivation is a leading cause of weight gain. So, no need to waste your time or money on any of these thermogenic compunds. They even gave my friend with a Leesa mattress insomnia and mattresses like that can have you asleep in seconds.

The bottom line is that you should NOT trust all of the claims that weight loss pills make and you should not go BROKE buying supplements. When used effectively (in combination with a healthy diet), vitamins and supplements are a great way to fuel your muscles and replenish your body of essential nutrients. There are loads of different kinds out there so it might be a good idea to check out something likes these bcaa reviews by productexpert.in. As by looking at the reviews of a product will help you make a decision on how good it is. The most effective supplements can be purchased over the counter at a local drug or nutrition store. Here’s a list of weight loss supplements that I personally recommend:

Weight Loss Supplements

Also, here’s an informative table that that provides a good overview of popular weight loss supplements, pills and products.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/HQ01160

Product Claim Effectiveness Side effects
Alli — OTC version of prescription drug orlistat (Xenical) Decreases absorption of dietary fat Effective; but weight loss is even more modest than that with Xenical Loose stools, oily spotting, frequent or hard-to-control bowel movements; reports of rare, but serious liver injury
Bitter orange Increases calories burned Probably ineffective Similar to ephedra: raised blood pressure and heart rate
Chitosan Blocks absorption of dietary fat Probably ineffective Uncommon: upset stomach, nausea, gas, increased stool bulk, constipation
Chromium Decreases appetite and increases calories burned Probably ineffective Uncommon: headache, insomnia, irritability, mood changes, cognitive dysfunction
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) Reduces body fat Possibly effective Upset stomach, nausea, loose stools
Green tea extract Decreases appetite, and increases calorie and fat metabolism Insufficient evidence to evaluate Dizziness, insomnia, agitation, nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, diarrhea
Guar gum Blocks absorption of dietary fat and increases feeling of fullness Possibly ineffective Abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea
Hoodia Decreases appetite Insufficient evidence to evaluate Insufficient information available

But above all of these, LIQUID GRIT is my highest recommended weight loss supplement! xoxo, Brit

liquidGRIT

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Weight Loss

Top 5 reasons you AREN’T losing weight

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I know most of you are already hard working, disciplined people who make sure to get your workouts in and stick with a pretty healthy diet.  But when it comes to knocking off that last 5-20 pounds, it’s like nothing gives.

Well, I hear your pain.  Despite being active in sports and dance since I was 3 years old, I was def a fat kid growing up.  I weighed 106 pounds in 3rd grade…yeah it’s true.  I also struggled with my weight throughout middle school.  In high school I discovered Slim Fast and dropped about 15 pounds, but then after college I “fluffed up” again after I quit playing basketball.  Now, I’ve finally gotten to a place where I’ve figured out my body enough to really be able to drop weight and keep it off.

Even though I worked out a lot and ate relatively healthy, I identified 5 key reasons why I wasn’t losing weight.  See if any of these habits apply to you…

  1. I tried to be perfect – I have a super Type A (slightly neurotic) personality and would get really pumped up about a new diet plan or workout regimen.  However, if I slipped up even once, I’d beat myself up and end up quitting the plan altogether.  Now, I’ve learned to be nicer to myself.  Look, there will always be good days and bad days, but weight management is all about balance.  If I smash a burger and fries at lunch, that’s cool.  It just means I’ll have a small side salad for dinner followed by an extra 30 minutes of cardio.  Don’t take everything so seriously!  Just keep a mental note of what you are consuming and make sure that you always match your intake with calorie burn.
  2. I needed a reality check – They ONLY way I’m truly able to manage my weight is by weighing myself on a DAILY basis – yes daily!  Sometimes, you just need to see the numbers on the scale to give you a reality check.  If you actually see that you have gained 5 pounds, you will be more mindful of what you eat.  I challenge you to go to Wal-Mart, by a digital scale and weigh yourself every morning.  You will thank me later 🙂
  3. I ate too much – Even though I ate healthy food, I ate too much of it.  Therefore, it was really hard to burn more calories than I consumed, which is the ONLY way to legitimately lose weight.  You’ve heard it before, “eat until you’re satisfied, not until you’re full.”  Well it’s true – portion control is just as, if not more, important than food choice.
  4. I ate too late – Unless you are doing a hardcore cardio workout at 8:00pm, your body really doesn’t need that much fuel late at night.  Try to eat most of your calories early in the day so that you have all day to burn them off!  Think about it this way, everything you eat in the evening just kind of sits on you…not cute.  One of my favorite quotes is, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.”
  5. I didn’t drink enough water – So check this, most of the time you think you are “hungry” you are really “thirsty” due to dehydration.  Many of us get tricked into eating when our bodies really want WATER!  Your metabolism slows down when you are dehydrated.  Also dehydration makes you feel lethargic so you crave sugar and other simple carbs that make you fat.  Drink up, water is your weight loss friend!
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