There are so many new fat burners on the market – but newer doesn’t always mean better. Before you go out and spend your hard-earned money on some hot new herb you can’t even pronounce, be sure that you have done your homework.
The first thing that you should be concerned with is: Will it hurt me? The next good question is: If it works for me, can I live on it? If you can’t live on it, you probably shouldn’t take it at all. If it does work, but you have to stop taking it, why bother at all? Whatever gets you to your goal is also what KEEPS you there, so you need to be able to do it consistently. The bottom line is that a fat burner should improve your health as well as help you lose fat.
What Consumers Should Know Before Taking Supplements
Always look for a Silver Seal that states that the supplement is manufactured at a ”FDA Inspected GMP Certified Facility” (GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice). This means that when a supplement is manufactured, the ingredients are checked on the way into the facility to be sure that everything that is supposed to be present in the supplement is there and is of high quality. Only then are the ingredients escorted into the facility. Once the supplement is made, it is then rechecked on the way out of the lab to be sure that everything that was previously checked made it into the supplement. In other words, it proves that what the label says is true.
Note: You will notice that it is very hard to find a supplement with the FDA GMP certified seal. This process costs a lot of money so most supplement companies aren’t GMP certified. The supplement fraud on the market today is exactly what motivated me to create my own line. I always have my products GMP certified and checked (I am giving them to people like Martha Stewart as well as countless other celebrities so I need to make sure it will not hurt them.)
Be on the lookout for stimulants. Many stimulants have been taken off the market, but companies still use them by disguising them and calling them something different. Look for things like ephedra, gotu cola (above 5mg), straight caffeine or mahuang. These supplements can KILL you. Don’t freak out if your supplement has a little caffeine. A small amount is good for fat loss and won’t hurt you; extra-large doses are the ones you need to watch for. Be careful not to use these while consuming other sources of caffeine or you will over-stimulate your nervous system – and that is horrible for fat loss! ALWAYS consult your health-care professional before starting a supplement program.
More is not better when it comes to taking supplements. It is possible to take too much of anything. This is why it is so important to do your homework and get help from a specialist who can look over your whole diet and lifestyle to be sure that you get the right nutrients in the right amounts. If the nutrient is stored in the fat cells (such as essential fatty acids) and you still have fat on your body, then you have a stored amount of that nutrient and there is no need to take more. Taking more only adds to that storage and can stop or slow your weight/fat loss. (Marketers will always tell you otherwise.)
Some of us, however, do need additional nutritional support, but I always suggest that people use less and keep it simple. The bottom line is that you need to know how much of each different nutrient is the right amount. Not too much or too little.
Top Supplements for Weight Loss
- Multivitamin/Mineral. It needs to be complete, and it should have all of the essential vitamins and minerals in it. Check the US RDAs (recommended dietary allowance), and make sure that they are high enough if you are trying to lose weight. Not getting enough of the right nutrients can stop weight loss as well.
- Whey Protein Shake. Many of us need more of the right kind of protein. Unlike most foods, a good whey protein shake (not soy or milk based) will increase your metabolism 25 percent. If you’re trying to lose body fat, this is THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP in the process. Drink a shake for breakfast!
- Fat-Burning Boosters are important if you have a sluggish metabolism or feel anxious, stressed or depressed. Look for L-Carnitine from a good source. Quality and amount are key here. I suggest layering the L-Carnitine with B vitamins as well as other ingredients to help cleanse your body and make you feel good.
- Calcium is great for weight loss. But I don’t mean drink more milk! If you are trying to lose weight, you can’t afford the extra calories. However, you still need to get the right amount of calcium; that is usually somewhere between 1200-1500 mg. Most multivitamins will not have that amount (it can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients and cause stomach upset as well as diarrhea). It is a good idea to have some type of extra calcium on hand. I love calcium chewables; they taste great and also satisfy a sweet tooth!
Fat-Burning Pointers
Fat burning is a very complex process and it takes time and consistency. Food is 90 percent of your success, so keep your focus on cleaning up your diet, and don’t think for a moment that any supplement is going to do it for you! You have to eat clean and exercise, and only use supplements to SUPPLEMENT your diet.
When you use a high-quality supplement and you have dosed it according to your body’s specific needs, you will then begin to see results. If you don’t feel or see a difference, your supplement may be junk. You get what you pay for – NOT ALL supplements are created equal.