Are you using any supplements for weight loss?
Whether you are or not – losing weight is hard work.
It can feel like it will take forever to get those extra pounds off.
But if you’re already going to the gym and improving your diet, they are a great way to speed up your weight loss and get the beach body you want faster.
In this article, I’m going to tell you how weight loss supplements work, how to avoid ineffective products and how to find fat burners that ACTUALLY work.
Supplements for weight loss
Supplements for weight loss are a touchy subject and one I don’t really like writing about.
Why?
Because there are so many product out there that promise to slim you down while you sit on the couch and eat cheetos.
Sounds good, doesn’t work.
Diet and exercise are and will forever be the cornerstones of every successful weight loss program.
However, supplements for weight loss (a.k.a. fat burners) can help speed up your weight loss if you took care of the two most important things first.
So how do the best supplements for weight loss and muscle gain work?
There are three main ways in which these supplements work:
Reduce appetite
Do appetite suppressant pills work?
Yes.
The best weight loss pills make you feel more full so that you eat fewer calories. They do so by stimulating the nervous system and making it release certain chemicals like serotonin to regulate your mood and appetite.
However, they come with some pretty nasty side effects. Several supplements for weight loss were banned and pulled off the shelves over the years due to serious and even lethal health concerns like suicidal thoughts, heart attack or stroke.
Most effective anorectics are only available on doctor’s prescription for a good reason – they need medical supervision to be safe to take and so far, there hasn’t been a single appetite suppressant that has been proven to work without significant side effects.
Verdict: Not recommended.
Natural alternatives that have the same positive effects without side trouble include drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fiber and protein, all of which help you feel full.
Reduce absorption of nutrients
Eat the same, lose more?
These supplements for weight loss work by inhibiting the breakdown of fat in the gut, which makes you take in fewer calories.
One commonly used drug for this is orlistat, sold over-the-counter as Alli, and under prescription as Xenical.
Orlistat has been found to increase weight loss by 6 pounds (2.7 kg) compared to a placebo according to a review of 11 studies.
However, don’t get your hopes us: even when combined with a low-fat diet, orlistat still wasn’t as effective as a simple low-carb diet without any drugs.
Not to mention the potential side effects, like “loose, oily stools, flatulence, frequent bowel movements that are hard to control” and “deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E and K.”
Verdict: not recommended.
Increase fat burning
Finally, fat burners.
The most commonly used ingredients in fat loss supplements are those that increase the number of calories you burn.
Some do that by increasing the activity of norepinephrine, a hormone that helps you burn fat – green tea extract, for example – while others block adenosine receptors, which causes wakefulness – like caffeine (a common ingredient in most fat burners).
But are there fat burners that work?
Yes. Both caffeine and green tea extract, among others, have been well researched and proven to boost metabolism (by 3-11%) and increase fat burning (by up to 29%) with well-designed human studies.
Others – well, some have been studied on rat, some have sponsored studies and some haven’t been studied at all.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t work, only that more research is needed to prove their effectiveness.
Verdict: recommended.
How to find fat burners that actually work and not get scammed
As you can guess, there are many supplements out there that claim to be effective, but few medically proven weight loss supplements.
If you don’t want to throw your money away for pills that don’t work, you need to know a bit about the ingredients used in the best over the counter weight loss pills.
To identify the ones that are most likely to work according to science, here’s a list of common ingredients that have been studied and proven to work:
Caffeine
Caffeine is the most popular fat loss aid in the world – most people just don’t use it that way. It is also one of the best natural supplements for weight loss.
The effects are the same as coffee – it gives you an energy boost, which translates into your body burning more calories.
Several short-term studies have shown that caffeine can boost metabolism by 3-11%, and increase fat burning by up to 29%.
There is also evidence that caffeine supplementation (combined with diet and exercise) helps lose weight by a small, but statistically significant amount.
Side effects?
Well, outside the known side effects of coffee (like needing a bathroom), there are none.
The only problem with caffeine is that most people quickly develop a tolerance to its effects. If you’re a regular drinker, you already have a high tolerance, so adding more will work for a time, but after a while, it will lose its effectiveness.
When should you use it?
If you’re looking for a quick boost at the start of your diet (or when you hit a weight loss wall), it’s an effective way to give yourself that extra push your body might need.
Green tea
Like coffee, green tea is a nervous system stimulant that increases your metabolism.
It’s one of the most common drinks on the planet and has numerous health and weight loss benefits.
It works in two main ways:
- The main antioxidant in it, EGCG, aids fat burning
- It contains norepinephrine, a hormone that helps you burn fat
Green tea also contains some caffeine, but the main fat loss effects come from the two substances mentioned above.
It is usually used in extract form and like caffeine, it has none to very mild side effects for caffeine sensitive people.
When should you use it?
Even when only looking at it’s fat loss effects, green tea can be a daily help. But when you also add its other health benefits, it really becomes a no-brainer.
Glucomannan
We know that eating protein and fiber helps achieve a feeling of fullness and satiety.
Well, glucomannan is fiber on “steroids”.
It is found in the roots of the elephant yam and works by absorbing water and becoming gel-like in the stomach, making you feel full and thus eat less.
Is it effective?
Three human studies showed that glucomannan, combined with a healthy diet, can help people lose 8-10 pounds (3.6-4.5 kg) of weight in 5 weeks.
Because it’s a fiber, it also helps feed the friendly bacteria in the gut, plus it can lower blood sugar, blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and is very effective against constipation.
It needs to be taken around 30 minutes before a meal and has no serious side effects.
Definitely a good thing to have when losing weight!
Best weight loss supplements for women
Because men and women have different hormones, they also need to take different supplements.
(Don’t make the mistake of mixing them up!)
These are the two best fat burners that work for women on the market right now:
(Men: scroll down for your recommendation)
1. Leanbean
Leanbean is a fat loss supplement formulated specifically for women and is vegetarian friendly.
It “empowers you to overcome those problem areas of fat and finally achieve your body goals.”
Ingredients
The ingredients used are all safe and natural, like:
- Glucomannan
- Green tea extract
- Turmeric
Others include cayenne pepper, green coffee beans, piperine, raspberry ketones, chromium picolinate, Garcinia cambogia, acai berry and vitamins B6 & B12.
How it works
Besides the fat burning effects, Leanbean also regulates estrogen, as hormonal imbalances usually result in hard-to-remove fat in places like the hips and stomach.
Verdict
Leanbean also comes with a 90 day money-back guarantee, is certified by GMP and produced in an FDA approved facility.
It’s the best fat burner on the market for women, period (but not recommended as a birthday gift for your girlfriend).
You can order it directly from their official website. They offer one, two and three month packages ranging from $59,00 to $185,00.
Learn more: visit Leanbean official website
2. Hourglass
Hourglass is a popular fat burning supplement.
The creators saw all the hype that surrounded most supplements and created something based purely on science – proven that it works.
Ingredients
Hourglass contains 9 ingredients, including:
- Vitamin B6 and B12
- Vitamin D
- Glucomannan
Also – Capsimax, green tea extract, guarana, chromium and bioperine.
How it works
Most of the ingredients have been studied and proven to have a beneficial effect on weight loss, either by increasing metabolism or increasing satiety.
However, it does contain a proprietary blend called Capsimax, which has been tested in two studies.One of them was on young people with a normal BMI and it is not clear if it would have the same effects in overweight people.
Verdict
Other than Capsimax, we feel that this is still a strong supplement that can be recommended without losing sleep over it.
You can get a 3-month supply from their official website for $150,00, which is slightly cheaper than Leanbean and comparable pills.
Best weight loss supplements for men
(Supplements for men and women need to be different because our hormones are different too.
We’ve done the research.
We’ve studies ingredients, online reviews and company backgrounds.
Finally, we can give you the best weight loss pills for men you can currently buy:
1. PhysiqueSeries Fat Burner by Transparent Labs
Transparent Labs are just what their name suggests: transparent.
No hidden ingredients, no non-scientific bullsh*t. Just results.
The PhysiqueSeries Fat Burner is another impressive product that has worked for a lot of people.
The reviews speak for themselves:
“TL really nailed it with their products . Energy is always there. Mood is awesome. I believe these guys do it right and safe. Thumbs up 100%”
Ingredients
It contains proven ingredients like:
- Green tea (50% EGCG)
- Caffeine anhydrous (pure caffeine)
- Cayenne pepper extract
How it works
Combined together, these will increase your metabolic rate and make you burn more fat.
It also contains forslean, 5-HTP, L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, salicin (white willow bark extract) and Synephrine HCL.
These work like energy-increasing nootropics to pull you up from the fatigue that often comes with losing weight.
Verdict
All in all, this is the best fat burner for men currently on the market.
3 of the 9 ingredients are scientifically proven to help with fat loss and the rest are proven supports of the common side effects that happen with losing weight, like fatigue and irritability.
You can buy it for $49,00 on their official website. One bottle will last for 60 days.
Learn more: visit official website for best price
2. Instant Knockout
Have you ever felt that the supplement you’re taking probably wouldn’t work for the best athletes in the world?
With Instant Knockout, it actually does.
It was first developed to help fighters with their weight cut, which is a notoriously hard part of fighting – some even say the hardest.
It’s used and backed by MMA stars like Diego Sanchez and respect coaches like Greg Jackson, the man who trained Jon Jones.
Ingredients
Instant Knockout comes with everything you’d expect from a top-quality fat burner:
These are the main ingredients:
- Green tea extract
- Cayenne pepper seeds
- Glucomannan
Along them, you also get caffeine anhydrous, vitamin B6 and B12, GTF chromium, zinc, piperine and green coffee bean.
How it works
Together, these ingredients form a potent fat loss combination that is proven to work with elite athletes, who are already very lean – losing weight is even harder for them!
You can read more about the effects of each ingredient on their website.
Verdict
There aren’t many supplement around that are backed by professional athletes.
If Instant Knockout works for the hardest weight loss case, it will work for you too.
You can buy it from their official website. One month’s supply will cost you $59,00 and for three months, you’ll pay $185,00.
It is pricier than other fat burners, but it comes with an impressive 90 day money-back guarantee.
Side effects from using weight loss supplements
Look, supplements for weight loss do work.
But only if:
- You also work (in the gym and in the kitchen)
- You are smart about taking them
If you’re not smart and try to take too much or combine them with other supplements, the side effects can be nasty and include:
- High Blood Pressure
- Insomnia
- Mood Swings
- Dehydration
- Even death
These aren’t kid toys – don’t mess around with them.
Make sure you’re using the best weight loss pills in 2018 that you can find to get the best results.
First of all, if you see “proprietary blend”, run as far away from that supplement as fast as possible.
A proprietary blend is a fancy name for a mess of ingredients that could be anything that the company decides to put in – meaning, there’s no transparency.
Enough said.
On the good ingredients side, the main problem is caffeine.
Why? Because regular caffeine overdosing can really jack up the hormonal system.
The problem: we get used to caffeine really easily.
But that only means that we don’t feel the effects as much, not that they aren’t still there.
You’re still getting adrenaline spikes that are burning up your nervous system even if you feel like you could fall asleep after a cup of coffee.
For healthy adults, a safe dose is up to around 300mg-400mg per day, with no single dose larger than 200mg (and even that may be too much).
Takeaway: limit your caffeine intake.
So, what’s the conclusion on supplements for weight loss?
I’ve been real in this article, and I’ll be real here:
Supplements for weight losssu only work if you do.
You can’t expect miracles from them, and anyone who is promising miracles is selling a big, fat lie.
So, if you have a good diet and exercises regularly and want to lose weight faster than go for:
Physique Series Fat Burner for Men
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15266516
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17981720
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2912010
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7486839
- http://ajpendo.physiology.org/content/269/4/E671.short
- http://ajpendo.physiology.org/content/268/6/E1192.short
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-tea-and-weight-loss
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15614200
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