Losing weight involves a lot of change in your body – and not just in your eating and exercise habits. Internally, changing how your body goes about burning energy as well as how much energy it burns can be a time-consuming process. In this day and age of instant results, it’s no surprise there are weight loss supplements to speed up the process of shedding weight, whether you are just starting your diet or have hit a plateau in your weight loss journey.
How do you
know when you need a weight loss supplement? This can vary from person to
person, but a general rule of thumb is when you have stalled at a particular
weight for more than a month and have both increased your exercise as well as
been true to your calorie goals, then you may want to think about a weight loss
supplement. The most important thing in deciding to use a supplement is talk to
your doctor first. Why? There may be other reasons why you are not losing
weight and your doctor may pick up on a change in your health that needs
addressed.
Weight loss
supplements can range from fiber supplements to meal replacements to herbs to man-made chemicals that increase the
metabolism. Generally speaking, only a handful of supplements have any official
track record of increasing weight loss. They most proven and reliable
supplements are fiber and meal replacements.
Fiber
Dietary
fiber, sometimes called roughage, is the part of food from plants that is
indigestible by our gastric systems. Fiber – either through powder, capsule, or
food – slows the digestive process down and makes you feel fuller. Fiber also
acts as a type of broom as it moves through your intestines, collecting
leftover debris and sweeping it out of the body, aiding in weight loss that
normally isn’t addressed through exercise or calorie reduction. Be careful not
to increase fiber too rapidly as it will cause bloating and gas as your
intestines are cleaned out. Also be sure to drink two to three more glasses of
water each day as you gradually increase your fiber intake so you do not become
constipated.
Meal Replacements
Meal
replacements – whether in the form of a bar, a shake, or a pre-made meal –
really do work if you follow along with the plan. Usually, you substitute
breakfast and lunch with the meal replacements and have a snack of fruit or
other low calorie item and then around a 500 calorie dinner. When combined with
consistency of maintaining caloric goals and exercising regularly, it really
does help you lose weight.