How to Make Weight Loss Supplements Work For You

If you’ve seen cheesy commercials and ads for diet pills then you might be skeptical about weight loss supplements. Magic bullets rarely work, and sometimes they have negative side effects. But weight loss supplements are different.

What Weight Loss Supplements Are

Unlike a diet or an exercise regimen, weight loss supplements aren’t intended to be a weight loss program. The supplements are just supplementary. That means they support your other weight loss efforts, accelerate the process and in some cases help initiate the change.

Often weight loss supplements are nutritional substances that can be taken like any other kind of pill. Some are powders that can be mixed into drinks like smoothies. Others are like protein bars and serve as meal replacements.

What to Avoid

Since the point of a weight loss supplement is to support your main weight loss program (eating healthily and exercising), avoid any supplement that promises too much. For example, watch out for supplements that claim you won’t have to severely restrict your calorie intake to lose weight.

Specific supplements that have harsh side effects or aren’t proven to work include:

• Orlistat
• Raspberry Ketones
• Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
• Bitter Orange/Synephrine

Which Nutrients Can Help

There are supplements proven to help support weight loss when used properly along with proper exercise and a diet plan. Some function to increase fat burning, while others curb appetite.

These nutrients have proven helpful for many people:

• Glucomannan
• Lean protein
• Monosaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAS)
• Vitamin D

Make Weight Loss Supplements Work for You

Choosing the right weight loss supplement can be a challenge, just like understanding how to use supplements can be complex. A program like dotFIT can help you learn to make supplements work for you.

Basic principles can also help:

• Always follow the directions provided with supplements
• If you use supplements to curb your appetite, be sure to eat foods that are low in calories
• Replace a meal a day with a supplement intended for that purpose
• Use supplements for fat burning alongside workouts that burn fat naturally

You can find workout classes and the equipment you need to burn fat at the gym. Try our Free 30-Day VIP Pass and meet with one of our personal trainers to see what a difference gym access makes in your weight loss journey!