Weight Loss Supplements: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Losing weight is difficult, especially for women. A woman’s body has more fatty tissue than a man’s. Hormones and hormonal changes also affect the way a woman loses weight. These facts lead women to seek a little extra help when trying to lose weight.

The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to change your eating habits and lead an active lifestyle. Diet changes mean cleaner food and decrease the number of calories consumed. Living an active lifestyle means increasing your physical activity, whether it’s going to the gym or just adding more walks to your day. Even cosmetic surgeries are useless if the patient returns to those same bad habits that led to excess fat. The body will recreate the fat cells removed with liposuction, defeating the purpose of liposuction.

There are many tempting diet pills and supplements on the market that claim drastic changes in a small amount of time. Which is tempting for a woman who wants to lose a few pounds before her vacation. Those who claim that there is no need to diet or exercise to see change are unhealthy. Period. Claims like these are almost always the result of depriving the body of something it needs. Deprivation leads to health complications that are sometimes more devastating than the health problems associated with being overweight. Everything in moderation. Never resort to completely eliminating important nutrients in the hope of losing weight.

Losing at a faster rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week is not good for your health and is probably not sustainable. The only way to keep the weight off is a lifestyle change. Be wary of any supplement that claims weight loss results without the need for diet and exercise.

Changing your lifestyle is not easy. Supplements that help the process, such as meal replacements, make it more bearable, creating consistency. Meal replacements should contain vitamins that would be found in the foods that you would normally eat. Taking an appetite suppressant is helpful when trying to reduce caloric intake, as long as the calories come from eating healthy foods. Other supplements give an energy boost to encourage exercise and meal preparation. Too often, the reason people don’t exercise or prepare their own meals is because they don’t have energy. Having more energy to become more active leads to weight loss.

Don’t be discouraged if the process is slow. All women gain and lose weight differently and in different areas of the body. The goal is to get healthier. Focusing on an ideal weight can cause stress. Stress leads to weight gain. Making changes for a healthier lifestyle takes inches off your waist and adds years to life.

Trying to lose weight is often more difficult for women than it is for men. Losing weight requires dietary changes and increased activity. It’s okay to take supplements to help along the way. Avoid diet pills that claim to lose weight drastically. Focus on being healthier, not losing weight. A healthy lifestyle ultimately results in weight loss.