Healthy Weight Loss |
Fat reducing pills are very popular in both the bodybuilding world and amongst people trying to lose weight.
The Internet has made such supplements and medicines more accessible to people that would not normally think to buy them, and few people question if they are effective or safe, before buying online.
There are several types of diet pill on the market now. There are fat blockers which actively reduce fats from the foods you eat from being absorbed through the wall of the digestive tract, reducing the amount of energy (calories) you take in. Similarly there is a drug which blocks the uptake of carbohydrate. Neither of these pills are really safe in the long term and both have some side effects which are not very pleasant.
Fat burning pills work a little differently in that they are designed to increase metabolism that more fat can be lost. Most often fat burning pills are used by bodybuilders prior to competitions when “cutting” is most important. How the pills work to increase metabolism varies, but most contain a chemical concoction of caffeine, guarana, green tea and other ingredients which have been shown to possibly aid an increase in fat burning.
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Are fat reducing pills safe?
Although losing fat can be simpler and easier with the correct advice and nutritional products, it is absolutely essential that fat burning pills are only taken by people that are working out intensively on a regular basis. The pills should never be taken by people that are looking for an easy way to lose some weight. At best they just will not work, and at worse they could lead to side effects and ill health.
What is a fat burner?
Most people know that to lose weight, you need to eat less and exercise more. The problem is that dieting can be a physical and mental torture! A fat burner helps you move towards your weight management goals, as part of your diet and training regime.
What are the benefits of a fat burner?
A fat burner helps you to mobilize and burn fat when used in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise program.
For example, Maximuscle’s best selling fat-burner Thermobol contains ingredients that research shows could increase fat loss. This will help you feel more in control when restricting calories, helping to support your weight management goals.
Should you use a fat burner?
If you’re training hard and still finding it difficult to lose weight, or you’re frustrated by the fact that the weight is not coming off quickly enough, a fat burner could help you reach your weight management goals more quickly.
One of the features of a fat burner is that it raises your pschological and nervous energy levels – you can become highly strung. This is designed so that you exercise with a greater intensity and therefore burn more energy.
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This is the thermogenesis effect – you get hotter and work harder to burn more. It is argued that positive thinking and mental preparation before exercise can have a similar effect. In fact, much of sports and athletics coaching involves working on the psychological aspect of training to reach peak performance.
However, some research has shown that “bioactive components may support weight maintenance after a hypocaloric diet” (Belza, 2006).
Likewise, research into the effects of a green tea supplement shows it “enhances exercise-induced changes in abdominal fat” (Maki et al, 2009), i.e. you must exercise for it to be effective.
Are Fat Reducing Pills Safe?
There are many risks associated with taking these kinds of medications. Fat blockers in particular have some negative side effects, including stomach aches, diarrhea, and a tendency to interfere with other medications, notably birth control and estrogen supplements. They can also encourage undernourishment as they often block the absorption of lots of fat-soluble vitamins.
Some of these medicines are high in substances like caffeine, which can have a negative effect on the heart. These medications also don’t help slimmer to re-learn appropriate eating habits.
If you are looking to lose some extra fat, and are exercising on a regular basis, then fat burning pills such Maximuscle’s Thermobol can help to speed up metabolism to burn fat Some products such as CLA-1000 also help to break down fat.
Typical Side Effects of Fat Burning Supplements
- Caffeine – anxiety, sleep disruption, confusion, headaches, seeing flashes, tinnitus, mania and psychosis (rare and with very high doses).
- Guarana – insomnia, headaches, nervousness, anxiety, heart palpitations and high blood pressure.
- Green Tea Extract – restlessness and insomnia
- CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) – linked to increased risk factors for heart disease
- Chromium – anemia, memory loss and DNA damage linked with chromium picolinate.
- Chitosan – gas, bloating and diarrhea. Malnutrition possible due to blocking of fat soluble vitamins.
- Ephedrine- hypertension, heart palpitations, acne, anorexia, urinary tract problems, confusion, insomnia, delusions, paranoia, panic attacks, headaches and dizziness, plus many more. The worse know side effects recorded have been “stroke, heart attack, and death” (FDA, 2004). Seek medical advice before going near this stuff.
Really it is for the consumer to weigh up the risks and benefits and decide if fat reducing pills are safe for them. There is no sure answer. The best answer is to adopt a healthy diet and do plenty of quality exercise. If you do decide to experiment with a fat burning supplement it is wise to keep a diary and note any unusual feelings or behaviour. Increased aggression, anxiety, sleeplessness or paranoia and confusion could all indicate a problematic side effect of one of the ingredients and stopping the supplements immediately is the only recommended course of action.
Following a well structured weight loss system that emphasis both diet and exercise is the best way for most people to lose weight. However, many people intent on looking for the quicker, easier option, and if you are working out hard, then a fat burner may work well for you.
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Diet Pills Kill Woman – The Dangers of Too Much Caffeine
This is not actually breaking news and we are not aware of any recent deaths. However, on researching the relationship of caffeine and health I came across a report from the journal of Veterinary & Human Toxicology that reported a death due to caffeine overdose. Although deaths from excess caffeine are rare, they do happen, and with more products flooding the market contain caffeine, these deaths are likely to continue. This gives rise to a larger question, are diet pills really safe? It is a subject that we have covered already, however, the risk of death from caffeine overdose was not considered.
A 22 year-old female was rush to accident and emergency after suffering a heart attack. Her heart attack came on after consuming too many diet pills that she had purchased online. These pills were of a thermogenic nature, designed to increase metabolism by raising heart rate. For this woman the result triggered a heart attack that killed her.
Cause of Death: Caffeine
A post-mortem examination revealed that she had a caffeine level of 1,560 micrograms/ml in her blood. The lethal limit is considered to be 100 micrograms/ml. Her caffeine levels were 15 times higher than the fatal level. How did she manage to accomplish this? No other substances were found in her blood and her death was attributed to acute caffeine toxicity.
Thermogenic Diet Pills and Fat Burners
Thermogenic diet pills are popular for one reason – they are currently legal to be sold over the counter, without prescription. The only diet pills to really work, such as fat blockers and carb blockers, have not passed testing or have had to be withdrawn from the market due to serious side effects. The thermogenic ones remain because so far they have not resulted in many fatalities.
The idea really is that by taking a thermogenic diet pill you increase your heart rate and metabolism to encourage you to exercise. Studies have found that when you consume caffeine you will workout with a greater intensity. Many athletes and bodybuilders drink black coffee in the morning before their cardio sessions for this reason. Although it is not known what happened in the case reported in Veterinary & Human Toxicology, there is a real risk that not exercising could be the cause of the highly elevated levels.
How much caffeine is safe?
Over-the-counter caffeine tablets generally contain up to 100 mg of caffeine. In 2004 Sweden put a restriction on caffeine tablets, limiting the number that could be bought without prescription to just 30 at a time. This was in response to deliberate caffeine overdosing.
“Overdoses of tablets containing caffeine can be fatal, suicides as well as accidents occur.” (Thelander et al, 2010).
The study by Thelander reported the case of a 21-year-old woman who had taken 10 grams of caffeine (100 tablets). She called tn ambulance afterwards and was taken to hospital but no problems were seen. Just as she was leaving hospital she collapsed after developing ventricular fibrillations (irregular and inefficient heart contractions). After 30 minutes her heart was restored but she suffered several more attacks afterwards. Doctors eventually stabilised her, but after being in hospital for 13 days in intensive care she deteriorated and died. The caffeine overdose essentially destroyed her heart, or her ability (the brain’s subconscious influence) to control her heart.
The same study looked at the toxicological results of 20 deaths attributed to caffeine overdose and in 2 of the cases ephedrine was found in the blood. Ephedrine is another chemical used in fat burners and stimulants designed to help people to lose weight.
How much caffeine in over-the-counter pills
Here are a selection of “fat burners” chosen at random by searching for “far burners” in Google Shopping results on 21st November 2011. Caffeine data taken from the product websites.
- Maximuscle Thermobol, 90 capsules. 153 mg caffeine each.
- Twinlab Ripped Fuel Extreme, 60 capsules, 220 mg caffeine each.
- Nutrex 1158 Nurtex Research Fat Burner LiPo, 120 capsules – 200 mg Caffeine Anhydrous USP each.
- Forza T5 Super Strength Fat Burners – 60 caps, 200 mg Caffeine each.
As you can see, each of these contains more capsules than the Swedish government allow to be sold on health grounds. Just 50 of the Nutrex capsules will provide 10000 mg (10 gram) of caffeine, the same amount that killed the healthy woman who Thelander and co wrote about in 2010.
Although the advice is to take one fat burner / thermogenic pill per day, some people do not read the labels and think that taking more will result in more fat burning. This is why care has to be taken as accidental overdoses do occur, and people tend to think that it is not possible to overdose on over-the-counter medicine. It is highly unlikely that anyone would take 50 fat burners in one go, however, currently the safe lower limit is not known.
How effective is caffeine?
Caffeine is certainly a stimulant, but does it really improve performance? Graham and Spriet (1991) examined the effect of caffeine on endurance athletes and concluded that neither cyclists nor runners saw any improvements in respiratory exchange ratio (used to measure fat burning) or plasma free fatty acid data (an indicator of total fat oxidation / fat burning) at rest or during exercise.
Some studies, such as the one by Namdar and colleagues in 2006 showed that caffeine actually reduces blood flow to the heart and may impair athletic performance and that as little as 2 cups of coffee reduces exercise-induced myocardial flow reserve at normoxia. Myocardial flow reserve is the rate at which blood can flow through the heart, and so impacts on the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the muscles during exercise.
Caffeine has been shown to help muscles recover after exercise, but it is also responsible for increasing cholesterol levels.
So, care must be taken if you are considering taking fat burners that contain caffeine, caffeine based energy drinks or lots of coffee. Although coffee does seem to have some advantages and positive effects on health and fitness, there are also some serious side effects of having too much caffeine.
References and Further information into fat burning products
- “Fat pills give modest weight loss” BBC News, 16 November 2007. Accessed Oct. 2011.
- “Weight Loss Products and Programs” by J. Anderson, L.Young, and J.Roach. 2008. Colorado State University. Accessed Oct. 2011.
- “Body fat loss achieved by stimulation of thermogenesis by a combination of bioactive food ingredients: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 8-week intervention in obese subjects” by A Belza, E Frandsen and J Kondrup. International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 121–130. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803351. Abstract: www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v31/n1/abs/0803351a.html
- “Effects of Citrus aurantium extract, caffeine, and St. John’s Wort on body fat loss, lipid levels, and mood states in overweight healthy adults” by Carlon M. Colker, Douglas S. Kaiman, Georgeann C. Torina, Theresa Perlis, Chris Street. Current Therapeutic Research, Volume 60, Issue 3, March 1999, Pages 145-153. Abstract: www.currenttherapeuticres.com/article/S0011-393X(00)88523-9/abstract
- “Thermogenic Effect from Nutritionally Enriched Coffee Consumption” by Jay R Hoffman, Jie Kang, Nicholas A Ratamess, Peter F Jennings, Gerald Mangine and Avery D Faigenbaum. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2006, 3:35-41 doi:10.1186/1550-2783-3-1-35. Full; article: http://www.jissn.com/content/3/1/35
- “Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults” by Kevin C. Maki, Matthew S. Reeves, Mildred Farmer, Koichi Yasunaga, Noboru Matsuo, Yoshihisa Katsuragi, Masanori Komikado, Ichiro Tokimitsu, Donna Wilder, Franz Jones, Jeffrey B. Blumberg, and Yolanda Cartwright. J. Nutr. February 2009 vol. 139 no. 2 264-270. Full article: http://jn.nutrition.org/content/139/2/264.full
- “Federal Register Final Rule – FR69 6787 Final Rule Declaring Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedrine Alkaloids Adulterated Because They Present an Unreasonable Risk February 11, 2004” FDA Online publication. Accessed October 2011.
- Anti-obesity Drug Suspended Due to Psychiatric Risks – MotleyHealth.com
- Health Warning: Herbal Flos Lonicerae (Herbal Xenicol) Weight Loss Pills – MotleyHealth.com
- “Massive caffeine ingestion resulting in death” by Mrvos RM, Reilly PE, Dean BS, Krenzelok EP. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1989 Dec;31(6):571-2. Abstract: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2617841.
- “Caffeine fatalities – Do sales restrictions prevent intentional intoxications?” by Gunilla Thelander, Anna Kristina Jönsson, Mark Personne, Gunilla Sjölin Forsberg, Kristina Magnusson Lundqvist And Johan Ahlner. Clinical Toxicology (2010) 48, 354–358. Abstract: www.nelm.nhs.uk/…./Caffeine-fatalities-do-sales-restrictions-prevent-intentional-intoxications/
- “Acute caffeine ingestion fatalities: management issues” by Shum S, Seale C, Hathaway D, Chucovich V, Beard D. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1997 Aug;39(4):228-30. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9251173.
- “Performance and metabolic responses to a high caffeine dose during prolonged exercise” by T. E. Graham and L. L. Spriet. Journal of Applied Physiology. December 1991 vol. 71 no. 62292-2298. Abstract: jap.physiology.org/content/71/6/2292.short.
- “Caffeine Decreases Exercise-Induced Myocardial Flow Reserve” by Mehdi Namdar, Pascal Koepfli, Renate Grathwohl, Patrick T. Siegrist, Michael Klainguti, Tiziano Schepis, Raphael Delaloye, Christophe A. Wyss, Samuel P. Fleischmann, Oliver Gaemperli and Philipp A. Kaufmann. Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC), 2006; 47:405-410, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2005.08.064. Full article (pdf): content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/reprint/47/2/405.pdf
Scientists from Italy’s National Research Council have developed a new style of diet pill. Once eaten it expands in the stomach to make the dieter feel full. The effect can last several hours, during which the diet does not feel hungry. It is made from a hydrogel, which the team developed when trying to make more absorbent nappy linings.
It is thought that the pill may help to fight the obesity epidemic. Testing so far has been limited, and before the diet pill can be marketed further testing and research needs to be carried out.
Head of research, Professor Luigi Ambrosio, realised that hydrogel may have a similar effect to gastric banding – a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach. Gastric banding is a very risky procedure and can cause long term damage to the stomach. It is thought that this new diet pill will not have any long term effects.
The diet pill is powdery when dry but when swallowed with a glass of water turns to a jelly-like ball in the stomach. It is made from an organic compound called cellulose and can be flushed out by the body. The diet pill has not been named yet, but it is being tested in a further 90 overweight volunteers who will be monitored to see how much weight they lose and if there are any adverse effects.
Professor Ambrosio said the pill should be taken about 30 minutes to one hour before each meal. It passes through the digestive system within five to six hours.
Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum said there had been products around for many years which had tried to produce a feeling of fullness. “The theory has been tried and tested in the past but it’s not been that successful. “We’d need much bigger trials but it’s a reasonable enough idea. “However, it would have to be given with the appropriate nutritional advice, you can’t live on such tablets.”
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6252720.stm
(this comment was moved from an older article)
A health warning was released on July 6th, 2009, regarding the prescription slimming pill Alli, made by GlaxoSmithKline.
The pill was released in April 2009 and hailed as a wonder drug, the the potential to help obese patients lose 50% more weight. The drug was approved after tests by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, however recent studies indicate that it may be responsible for liver damage. The drug works by blocking the absorption of dietary fats during digestion. Investigations are continuing, and if proved conclusive then the drug will be recalled and banned.
I am an ulcer patient, can I still take a fat burner pills? If yes please tell me which one to use.
Hi Nana. Fat burning pills based on green tea should be OK for you, as green tea actually helps treat ulcers. However, you really should consult your doctor first to be sure. I really would not suggest taking anything else until speaking with a medical professional.
hello mate,
I’m 19 years old and I used to be fat when I was like 16, around 95 kg, and now I’m around 72-73 kg. As I lost weight, I had hard abs, but it never showed up because of my belly fat. I still have the same problem. I’ve started going gym alot now. Is it advisable for me to consume any of the fat burning supplements?
Mahesh, if you are indeed working out on a regular basis, and doing quality (intensive) exercise, and also eating a lean, healthy diet with plenty of proteins and fruits, vegetables and pulses, then a fat burner can help you. Always read the labels to learn if there are any possible side effects. If in any doubt speak to a medical professional.
Hi I am 19 and I am in the gym 3 times a week. I do mostly strength training, will the pills help me loose fat or should I be doing more cardio instead of strength? I do not want to lose muscle but I want to get rid of fat.
I want to know if fat burning pills are dangerous for your heart or any other organs?
Hey I’m a female fourteen almost fifteen and I play tennis two or three times a week for two hours and condition. Plus on my own I weight train and “try” to eat healthy but I have this pooch on my lower stomach that I hate and can’t get rid of even though I do crunches. I have strong abdominal muscles that show above the pooch but I can’t get rid of the fat on my lower stomach. Any advice?
Hi Jessica, the key really is diet. Maybe you are eating too much of the wrong thing – sugar maybe? It is very easy to store fat in that area. If it is just a little, do not worry about it though. Just keep playing sports and exercising!
Your 14 years old, do not even think about dieting, or taking pills. and i cant believe a proffessional would tell you to diet. your 14, your still growing, just eat fruit and veginstead of eating some rubbish, but your very young to even think about dieting, youve got alot of growing to do yet. learn to love yourself and be happy. not dieting, as its dangerous for a young person like u to be dieting, i should know, im a nurse. ignore this so-called professional. People like that make people anorexic and ill. and i think its disguisting and wrong.
Lisa, I said that diet is the key, not to go on “a diet”. There is a big difference. Most people put on weight due to a bad diet, and by that I mean eating junk food, too much sugar, saturated fat etc. Even people that are active can put on weight if they eat a poor diet, as I am sure you know.
Maybe we should not use the word “diet” in the proper sense now, instead say “healthy eating” to avoid confusion?
Did you read the last piece of advice to Jessica?
hiya I’m 20 years old and have been going to the gym just recently as I am trying to lose my belly fat as I weigh 17.4 stone but I want to lose my belly fat quickly so I can get a 6pack with a nice muscular body. so I was wondering what will help lose that belly fat in a few months and would any supplements help lose the belly fat and help muscle building and toning.
Hi Phillip, you need to start dieting. Eat fewer calories and eat healthier meals. Cut sugar, bread, rice, starchy foods. Go low GI, lean proteins. And exercise – do whatever you can. Walking lots will help. Do not touch supplements yet, not until you are fit enough to be exercise intensively. At the moment they will just add to your daily calories and will make weight loss harder.
My goal was to lose 20lbs. I lost 10 with eating a healthy diet, calorie counting and exercising 30-60mins 5-6days a week. Now it seems that I have plateaued a cpl weeks now. Should I try a suppliment now to reach my goal?
Hi Kim, I think that losing 10 pounds on a healthy diet and with exercise is proof that you can lose the remaining weight the same way. You may need to step up your exercise routines a little to burn more fat. Get more intensive, do interval training and some weight training. Also take a fresh look at the diet, maybe there are still little areas that can be improved, esp. reduction of sugar.
I am 23 yrs old and want to lose some weight. I have been working out 30-45 min 5 days a week and am not losing anything. I do not eat junk food and stay away from all sugars. I feel like I keep working and am not getting any results, Any ideas?
Hi Arielle. Although you may not have seen any noticeable weight loss at the moment you are certainly getting fitter and stronger by doing your daily workouts. This means that you can start to push yourself a little harder – get more intensive. Maybe you could measure your waist, thighs, arms, chest and see if these change. You should be building some muscle, and this does weigh more than fat, so if you are losing fat at the same rate as you are building muscle then you will not see much of a difference in the scales. Questions you really should be asking yourself are: Do I feel better? Do I have more energy? Am I sleeping better? Start by working harder. In the last 10 minutes of your workout start doing 1 minute “sprints”, i.e. train as hard as possible for 1 minute. Then slow down to recover for 1 minute, and repeat. So you do 5 sprints (intensive intervals) in the last 10 minutes. This should help burn more fat and get you fitter.
Hi all! Well I’ve been training for past 6 years and I used some fat burning pills!I had my 6 pack, I was so enthusiastic till one day I suddenly started losing not just fat but body muscle. I was eating healthy, taking proteins, so I seek medical help. My creatine level was higher than normal and risked kidney failure. So I had not just to quit GYM but also gave up on normal ordinary life style. So before to take any supplements ask yourself, what do you really need?
Good advice Emin. Supplements should be used to supplement your healthy diet, not to replace food.
I’ve been working out 5-6 days a week for the past 6 weeks and only lost 4 lb i do see an inch in my belt, and my pants legs and butt are a lot loser but the scale is not going down. I do wieght training 3-4 days out of the 6 days i work out walking or using the elipcal I am on a healthy diet no red meat only chicken , sea food , nothing fried everything grilled lots of veg. and fruits, no rice, no bread, wheat pasta if any and brown rice what do i need to do now to loose the weight and the belly fat
Hi Sophia. You are doing great. OK, 4 lb is not a lot in 6 weeks, but you are slimmer and fitter, this is something to build on. When you start exercising you need to build a foundation first, the fitter you get, the harder you can work, the more calories you burn. You may still need to reduce portion size slightly to help with the fat loss, and keep an eye on sugar (which gets in everything these days, breakfast cereals included). Switch as many foods for the lowest GI ones that you can. Keep pushing yourself with your workouts. Even if the weight loss is slow, stay positive and remember these two facts: 1. You are losing weight. 2. You are getting fitter. Both of these make you healthier, and this should make you happier. Give it time, and make small adjustments to diet as you progress.
So the issue with fat burners if you aren’t exercising is that the fat burners themselves contain a lot of calories? I’m trying to understand why dieting + fat burners but not a large amount of exercise wouldn’t help, or exactly what is it about fat burners that are bad for you if you aren’t working out a lot.
They do not contain calories, it is just that they are not so effective if you are not exercising and there is a risk of possible side effects occurring.
I am 23 years and weigh 127 kg. I want to loose about 50 kg within the next three months how should I do?.I started a healthy diet and exercising for the past 3 days, and am also drinking a plenty of water and lemon mixture. AM I ON THE RIGHT TRACK?.
Hi Maureen, yes you are on the right track. Diet is the most important part. Reduce sugar intake and keep calories low. Try to do some exercise everyday, lots of walking is a good way to start if you are very overweight. Aim to lose 1-2kg a week to start with then this will lower to 0.5-1kg per week. But just keep working at it. As you lose weight and get fitter increase your exercise. Good luck! Please come back and tell us how you are getting on.
Hi I have started gym just 12 days back but I haven’t lost no weight no fat infact ppl think and ask me I’m looking fatter.. I exercise for abt an 1 and a half hours or so.. I asked my trainer what could be done he said use fat burnering pills.. Now my question is is it safe for me.. I have a thyroid promlem now it is almost cleared.. I’m not able to decide what to do could u pls help with a good suggestion…
Well, a trainer does not always know best, he may even make a profit on selling the fat burning pills.
To lose weight you need to diet as well as exercise. If you have not adjusted your diet, i.e. reduced calories and reduced sugar, then you will not lose much weight in 12 days, fat burning pills or not.
Sort the diet out, then review in another 2 weeks.
I am a 22yr old guy, and I have been doing a really hardcore work out in gym for last 3 months . I am also using mammoth 2500 once a day with gym, ( my body is in good shape now), But I haven’t seen nearly any difference on my stomach fats, its not going down, just increasing. I don’t do a lot of abs exercise just regular (because people say my stomach will grow 3 times more if I’ll stop working out ).
I do eat a lot to stay healthy though. And I also work on computer, so sitting is mainly the whole day routine also. So my question is can I take fat losing pills just for abs? I can lose a little muscle, no problem, but I really want a lean stomach.
Hi Umar, this is your problem: “I do eat a lot to stay healthy though”. If you are working out hard then the only additional thing you need to do to lose your belly fat is to change your diet. Eat less calories and make sure what you do eat is nutritious. Check out these bodybuilding daily diets for ideas (don’t eat as much as these guys though, they are huge).
This is an update on my weight loss. Its been 7 weeks since I started exercising and have lost 14.6 kg from 127 to 112.4.I have a problem cause I do a lot of running than regular exercising so my right calf bone gets so painful that I sometimes feel that its broken, any ideas to prevent the pain?
That is fast weight loss Maureen. As for your leg – RICE. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. After you run. Stretch well and maybe take some fish oil supplement.
Hi,
I am Darshini, 23 years old. I am a software professional so get very little time to go to the gym. I make sure I exercise at home every morning for an hour. I have been following this routine along with a healthy diet for quite sometime. My body fat, esp in the thigh n arms is very stubborn. I haven’t lost an inch!!
So wanna know if the fat burning pills are an option for me and if they are safe for women? Awaiting your reply.
Before thinking about taking any pills like this you have to be sure that your diet is a clean and lean as possible. In all honesty, if you are eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar, if you are not eating too many calories, and if you are doing regular intensive exercise, then you do not need fat burning pills. People that take these pills are usually trying to remove every little bit of fat, i.e. pro bodybuilders and athletes that need to get their weight down.
What exercise are you doing for one hour each day? Maybe we can get your doing some more effective exercises. Also, give an example of a average daily diet.
I do yoga(24 surya namaskars), cycling for 30 mins and few crunches. Also my normal diet includes : corn flakes and slim milk wit apple for breakfast, 2 rotis n veggies for lunch, fresh fruit salad in the evenin and 1 roti n veggies for dinner. I want to get rid of all the cellulite in my body esp lower body and arms. I have tried intensive gyming for 3 months but it didn’t work.
Hi Darshini. Cellulite is not he same as fat unfortunately. Have you reduced weight? I assume that you are quite fit now. Is your yoga done every day? The rotis could be a problem, although 3 a day should not be too much. How big are they?
I make it a point to do my yoga everyday. I don’t eat rice as that might be fattening. The rotis are small and cooked without oil.
Sounds like you are doing the right things. Give it more time. Think about increasing the intensity of the yoga routines if they become too easy for you. Always try t make yourself fitter an healthier, and keep a close watch on those little snacks.
My name is arfan and I am taking fat burner pill and have cut down a lot on fatty foods most I eat is salads pasta wholemeal bread etc I go to gym 4 days a week is it still ok to take fat burner pills even thou I exercise 4 days a week i do a lot of walking abot in my job as well…
It is normal to exercise. Reducing refined carbs, such as bread and pasta, may speed up weight loss more than fat burning pills. Many fat burning pills use polyphenols and other extracts found in green tea that have been shown to breakdown dietary fat (i.e. the fat that you eat). There is no evidence that they will actually reduce fat accumulation as the result of eating too much sugar (carbohydrate). So I am not entirely convinced that fat burning pills taken with a low fat/high carb diet are going to be the most effective way to lose weight.
hi,great topic with great update,thanks. im 22 and ive started to lose weight for about 2month,ive worked hard at the gym(3times a week),and eat twice less than i ate before but ive just lost 4 pounds, so disapointing. ive got blood preasure too, can i use fat burning pills? if yes what kind should i use?
Considering you medical condition I strongly suggest that you speak with you doctor before taking any pills. Are you on medication for high blood pressure?
no, ive not really considered it a big deal, sometimes its normal somtimes high
Tony, I would certainly run this by a doctor beforehand, as they should know more about your condition and the impact different chemicals / drugs may have on it. Take the details of any pills you are considering and ask them to advise.
Hey, Just a quick question, I am working on my abs real hard, I use to have a belly, But now I can see abs muscles, and I love it..its great, But I will be joining office in a week[regular job], so will my belly grow back even faster then before if not work on it with the same routine ( but keeping my diet controlled )?
Lots of fit people work in offices, its just that it is easy to let your fitness and diet slip, especially with cheap canteen food and after work trips to the bar.
The key is to maintain what you have been doing. Make the time to do it. There is always time.
Yes, But other people are telling me that my belly will grow back even faster then before, when I will cut short on my workouts.
Do you think a daily walk of about 2km daily (going and coming back from office) and workout in gym on weekends can keep me fit,
I will try to hit the gym on alternate days, but for now all I have is walk and weekend workout.
hey my name is jack and i got a fat belly. not that fat thow. do you think if i take fat burning pills and work out will help me out please help me out.
Working out will certainly help. The fat burning pills will never be effective without a calorie restricted and healthy diet though. Some reports suggest that fat burning pills will only burn an additional 100 calories a day – that is just 1 slice of bread. So diet must be sorted out first.
Hello everyone.
These is another update on my weight. It’s been 21 weeks and i have lost 24.2kgs from 127kgs to 102.8 kgs to date. I am still exercising, eating healthy and drinking a plenty of water. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
That excellent Maureen, keep up he good work!
Hi i’m Nagaraj. i’m 24 and i’m working in a private concern fully a system work of about 10 to 11 hrs a day. my weight is 98kg. i feel very diffcult to walk or climbing steps and feel very lazy. and also mu body is very loose like water filled. till now i haven’t did any exercise or diet control. just today i joined a gym. i want to loose weight and want tight body. there is no one to help me how to lose weight and how to plan the diet and exercise. pls help. can i take fat burner pills? i beg u to help plsss
Hi Nagaraj. Do not take any pills. You have only just joined a gym, so it will take time. You need to learn how to exercise and also how to eat healthily. Get your diet under control, learn about the role of sugar, refined carbohydrates and junk food and how it makes you fat. Exercise and diet together will help you lose that weight, diet pills will not really help you much at all. This weekly fitness workout should get you going. Feel free to ask any question on any subject here on MotleyHealth. We are here to help and guide you.
Thanks for your good works. I think am okay after reading from all the other people. I will poose questions after embarking on your recommendations and advises to the other comments. Thanks
Hi, I am 28 yrs old female and weight 57 kgs. i dont seem to lose my weight further, how much hard I try. I go to gym 3-4 times a week. Please suggest.
How tall are you Rachna? What is your diet like?
Hi, I’ve been doing P90X for over a month now. I’m taking fat burners called Thermo Fat Burn by Apex. My question is do I have to take a meal with every supplement I take of these fat burners? A lot of times I don’t have time to scavenger up a meal, I would like to know if it’s safe to take them by themselves.
What does the label say Matt? I am not familiar with Thermo Fat Burn so cannot advise. All I can say is that eating extra to take a fat burner seems counterproductive. What is in them? Be careful with fat burners, some ingredients are far from healthy.
Hello my name is Nawaf and I weight about 123 and I’m 18 years old I’m really overweight and would like to start on a diet and a gym exercise problem is that whenever I go to the gym the trainer tells me to run 15 mins on the tread mail <I think that is what it is called and after I get back to him he just tells me to run for 20 mins on the tread mail apparently that lead me to leave the gym because he keeps increasing 5 mins per week which is making me angry because there is no real advice anyways I read all your wonderful comments above and a fat burning supplement isn't something that I want to use unless necessary please reply to what I should do
Hi Newaf, what other machines are at your gym? Increasing the time you run and the speed at which you run is a good way to get fitter and lose weight. You could do some power walking on max incline too, aim for 45 minutes walking uphill. Or do interval sprints on an elliptical.
I was working out quite vigorously for the past 2 years or so (heavy weight lifting, intense cardio sessions, gnarly circuit training/condition, and mma 5-6 days a week) which eventually led to having knee surgery last september. I put on some weight needless to say, and I still haven’t really fully recovered from knee surgery. My lifting is still intense (barring squats and anything that seriously involves my knee) and going on 4-5 days a week, I also can still do bike stuff (which can be intense, just not as intense as sprinting or longer distance running).
Because I am getting tired of holding off on cardio I am getting ancy with this weight gain. Would it be a crime if I used fat burners to just get close to my normal weight, i was at 155, now I am at 170ish? (never done supplements other then whey protein in my life) Also anybody know anything about oxyelite? My brothers been taking it, it seems like it works. I am just not sure
Hi Cody, we cannot really advise on any product. Just read the label and make sure you understand the possible side effects, and know what it is that the pill is trying to achieve. Really, with that much exercise you should lose weight with a healthy diet. If your diet is not improved then a fat burning pill is not going to be the answer. As for oxyelite, a quick search suggests that it is a thermogenic which means it will boost your metabolism by making your more active. Essentially it speeds the rate at which your body burns energy. Some people will react, such as sweating or jitteryness, others will not. Some people may need to rush to th bathroom while taking it, others not. The only thermogenic that I have come across before in the my studies is Sibutramine which was eventually pulled due to causing heart problems. If you are taking any other medication at the moment, either prescribed or off the shelf, speak to your doctor first as sometimes ingredients can be in both.
hi im sheref, wanted to know whether fat burning pills will help me loss additional 11 kilos. i weigh 94 kilos and my height is 6ft and 2inch i go to the gym for 4-5 times a week. i want to know the side effects of these pills! if i took the supplement for one month and quit it, will it have any affect in my body?? thx!!
Hi Sheref, that is the big problem – “will it have any affect in my body?” there is no way of knowing. Best bet is to be patient, exercise hard and eat a healthy and calorie restricted diet. If you are working out 5 times a week you should lose that weight eventually without pills.
Hai iam very OVERWIGHT from childhood and i have thyroid i am trying very hard to loose fat but not loosing.Its becoming very hard can i use any fat bruning pills? my weight 75 kg hight 5’2 plz help.
Hi Mouli. What action have you taken so far? If you are not losing any weight then these pills are not going to help at all. Are you exercising? Have you changed your diet and lifestyle habits?
Hi i am 25 , a size 16-18 and have been lazy for a long time and thats why i have put on the weight. I am ready to make a change. I have some healthy food in the kitchen now but i am thinking of buying some fat burners from the local gym suppliments shop. is it safe for me? i am a little worried about the side affects too.
Cas, if you are worried then do not risk it. Start following a healthy diet and get active. A healthy diet is more than just eating “healthy food”. You need to eat a balanced diet that does not exceed your daily calories requirements. Regular exercise is vital too. Exercise 3-4 times a week, eat a healthy diet and you will not need to waste your money on fat burners.
Hi. My Name is Bijan. I’m about 188 centimeters tall and 106 kilogerams weight. It’s about six mounth that I start my carrier as a Rugby player.First I was about 111 kilogerams , but during a one month period working hard at Gym and eating Salad I loose about 5 kilos. For your Information I go to gym 4times a week and in rest of the days I have to attend my Rugby trainings. Now I wanna Ask if these kind of Fat burners are suitable for me?
Bijan, just focus on getting fit and eating a healthy diet for now. At 106 kg these fat burners are not going to make a huge difference if you are exercising hard and eating a healthy diet.
I am a 51 year old female who has not had a menstrual cycle for over a year now. I am taking atenalol for an adrenaline-induced heart arrythmia and I am also taking a statin for slight high blood pressure. I am unable to do strenuous exercise due to getting very winded, yet I need to lose a lot of weight. Is there a safe helpful fat burning/metabolism increasing pill I can take to help lose the weight, without damaging my heart?
Hi, I really suggest that you do not take any fat burning pills until you have spoken with the doctor who prescribed your heart arrythmia medicine. Are you able to walk? If so, start a walking plan, and start eating a healthy but calorie controlled diet.
Hi. I am 16 years old 5’7 and weigh 134 lbs. i want to cut weight for wrestling and i have a six pack but not completely cut like i plan on. I am a vegetarian and eat a 60g protein shake after workouts. I was wondering if a fat burner pill will help me lose the fat. I work out pretty religiously like 5-6 times a week sprints and long distance runs and heavy lifting. is it safe to take these pills? thank you. sean :)
Hi Sean, all we can suggest is that you read the information provided with any pills in full and take note of all the possible side effects. As mentioned above, most have some side effects and the severity can vary a lot. It is a choice that you have to make for yourself. Although, as a wrestler, do you really need to cut maximum fat? Surely focusing on fitness, strength, speed and flexibility plus specific skills training, sparring etc. all get you in good shape for fighting. The pills could potentially hold you back – insomnia, confusion, heart palpitations – you do not really want to risk any of this if you are training to be a wrestler.
Hi. I am 26 years old, 6′ height , 256 lbs as of yesterday. I started going to gym regularly from 2 weeks(except sunday), previously I used to go 2 times a week. Daily I am doing cardio for 1hr on Elliptical and do some weights for another 1 hr for a specific body part. I m a software engg and most of my work will be sitting on chair the whole day.
My Diet is
6:00 am (while going to office)———– 1 Banana
8:30 am (break Fast)———————- 2 slices of wheat bread and ———————————————— 1 omellet and small coffee
11:30 am (lunch)————————– 2 medium sized tortillas(Home ———————————————- made) with home made curry———————————————— (Indian)
3:30 pm(After coming from Office)——— 1 glass of non fat milk with ———————————————– Oat meal and cereals
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm ———————— Gym(1 Bottle of Protein)
8:30 pm ———————————- 2 Chicken Thigh pieces grilled
Recently my friend told me to take fat burning pills and do excercise inorder to reduce my body fat fast.I have a doubt whether there are any side effects regarding this. And also I am also very disturbed sleeper, never had a sound sleep.
Could you please help me regarding this, How am i doing, do I have to change anything in my diet.
Hi Sunil. Well, first off, if you already have problems sleeping do not take fat burning pills as they are likely to contain a lot of stimulants which will make sleeping even more difficult. If you are managing 1 to 2 hours exercise a day then you do not need pills IMO. Your diet looks good really, let’s give the diet and fitness plan a month before deciding if anything needs changing.
Hey , I’m Madhav . I’m 16 years old , 5’10 , 72 kgs and an asthmatic patient . Which would be the best fat burner for me ?
P.S.- I work out for all the 7 days in the week since 1 year but not the height constricting exercices since I still want to go .
What is the way out of this maze for me?
Hi Madhav, regarding fat burners, the safest option is to not to take any at all. Can you re-phrase your question about exercise please, thanks.
Hi,
Im going for Gym for the past 1 year. When I started the gym I was 106 kg. After started using treadmill my weight started reducing day by day and now I pushed my weight in 80′s. Even after continuing the workouts also I couldn’t push it more to 70′s.
I did regular exercise but didn’t follow the diet properly sometimes I take non veg twice in month tats why I didn’t get proper result I guess?
I also tried “Protein powder” for stamina. Now my coach suggest me to try 30 fat burn tablets supported by protein powder to lose more weight in shorter time. Can I go for fat burn tablets. Kindly provide a reply?
Hi Sudharsan, that is something for you to decide for yourself. What are you goals? You mention your coach – are you focussed on getting fit for sport or losing fat? What do you mean by “take non veg twice in month”?
Hi Motley,
My ultimate goal is to reduce my weight and make me fit. I not interested in looking muscular.
I’m doing workout for about 12 months. So can u pls tel will these pills help to reduce the weight. I mean bcoz of taking non veg it would would have added my calories.
In that case to lose weight (I assume you mean mostly fat) and get fit you need to increase cardio. Make sure that at least 45 minutes of your workout is cardiovascular in nature, such as running, swimming, cycling, rowing etc. Most fat burners will only provide some stimulants to encourage you to exercise more. I still do not understand what you mean by “taking non veg” once per month. If you mean that one day each month you are not eating any vegetables, just protein and fat, then there will be no problem with this. The single most important factor for losing weight is to reduce total calories and increase exercise.
Thanks motely. Can I have ur mail id. Pls ? Some questions I would like to ask u personally.
Sorry, we do not currently offer private advice. We may introduce personal advice at a later date, but that will be a premium service.
First of all I would like to appreciate ur valuable help,
I’m saravanan 27 years old my weight is 88 kgs ,im going to gym every day im burning 300 cal by running in treadmill and 50 cal by cycling and then 15 min low weight lifting. Problem is I could not stop eating non vegs im eating twice per week.
will u please advise me about my thought of fat burning pills? and will you advise me for diet food schedule?
Hi Saravanan, just work on getting fitter – doing more exercise. Keep your workouts varied. Your diet should be well balanced and consistent. I am not sure what you mean by “im eating twice per week” – only eating vegetables twice a week? What do you eat the other days?
hi i am Rida,
i am 27 years old, i was 63kgs before joining office and now i am 85kgs after 4 years, i have tried many things to loose weight like yoga,swimming,gym however still my weight is not reducing so i have stopped everything. now again i have again started gyming from last 2 months and work out for 2 hours 4 days a week eat pappya 1kg everyday, but my weight has increased to 86kgs. i am very disappointed, my friend has told me to try fat burner which is for womens however i am worried of side effects someone told me that in future it will effect my pregnancy. please advice which fat burner should i take.and how to reduce weight my target is to reduce 20 kgs.
Rida, why on earth are you eating 1 kg of papaya a day? That will certainly add to your weight. Reduce food intake and eat a healthier diet before even considering taking any pills. You are also right not to take any medication without consulting a doctor if you are pregnant. So my advice, do not take any fat burners. Aim to do 45 minutes of exercise a day, keep it light if you are in the later stages of pregnancy, and eat a healthy diet.
Dear Motley,
Again this is Nagaraj who wrote on jan 2 2011. at that time i said my weight is 98kgs and just joined a gym. However i stopped going to gym within a week. within october my weight came to 110kgs and i was totally shocked. Then immediately i started going to gym regularly along with strict low cal diet. Like.
Morning – three wheat bread with two egg white.
Mid morning – 1 large cup of fresh juice without milk, ice and sugar.
Afternoon – Just one cup of boiled vegetables.
Mid afternoon – 1 small cup of black tea without sugar.
Night – one small bowl of oats and one full apple ( medium size )
I wont take anything other than the above and used to drink three litres of water everyday. I joined gym on oct 8th with 110kgs and on November 8th my weight weight came down to 85kgs. Truly amazing. Still i’m following the same diet and exercise. But my weight is coming down from 85kgs since 45 days. Really frustrated. I tried changing my diet, changing my work out. But no use. My age is 24. height – 160cms. I know that 85 is not my weight and i want to bring it down to 70kgs. Kindly help pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!:-( :-(
Hi Nagaraj, for now focus on your fitness, you are making great progress, you cannot really reduce the amount you eat any more without risk of being malnourished, so just keep working on burning calories through cardio and strength training. Well done, keep up the good work.
hi right now my weight is around 88kg and height is 5″11 and i am doing a gym 6 day in a week. and i want loose my weight little bit fast can i take the fat burner pills. and how much weight should be of my according to my height.
Hi Akash, that is your call entirely. Understand the possible side effects, and understand that diet and exercise will make the main difference. If losing fat fast is the no.1 criteria. why not exercise twice a day? As for weight, according to the BMI your ideal weight is between 65 and 80 kg.
hi thank u for ur reply,
i have started taking whey protein with water from 2 weeks however no results yet, pls let me know in how many days will i come to know the results. i have stopped eating papayas and also note i am not pregnant now however if i consume any fat burner pills will that affect my future pregnancy?
My rountine is as follows-
- morning 1.5 spoon of whey protein with water and women calcium sandos
-then after 30 mins black tea – then got to gym and work out for an hour
- once back take 1.5 spoon of protein the after 1 hr i have 2 boiled eggs white
– then after an hour have lunch 2 chappatis and vegetables – in mid evening have 2 apples and 2 spoons of protein
- then for dinner have 2 chapatis and at night before going to sleep again drink 1.5 spoon of protein with water.
please suggest me if i am no the right track, bcz my weight is still not reducing.
Regards,
Rida.
Hi Rida, why are you taking protein powder 3 times a day? What sort of workout are you doing in the gym? To lose fat you need to eat less, not more. The only exception is if you are doing a lot of exercise, and 1 hour a day is not classed as a lot.
Please let me know much protein powder should I take? and how many times should I take protein powder in a day?? I am doing normal exercises and cardio.i am not able to understand the correct diet for myself as every dietitian views are different.can you please guide me with my work out and diet for weight reduction?
Regards,
Rida
Hi Rida, if you goal is to lose weight (lose fat) then you should eat a balanced diet and get daily exercise. You do not need protien powder to lose weight – protein powder helps you gain weight (muscle).
Hi,
I am a 23 years old male,
I have been gyming since the last 8 months (2 hours, 4 times a week minimum) and I lost 14 kgs, which is not a lot considering the 1 hour cardio and weight training, I do feel fitter and better but the results are slow,
I sill continue to gym, and have been told to use fat burners to increase my weight loss.. i was 120 kgs now i am 106kgs..please advise
Hi Rachit, 14 kg is good weight loss really. You do not mention your diet – there is no point in taking a fat burner if you are not changing your eating habits. Sort the diet out and you will lose weight quicker without the need for pills. Maintain the 2 hours gym, and keep getting fitter and stronger.
hi, thanks for the reply,
well my diet was very big and voracious which is the reason for my weight gain,
but since the last 1.5 years I have started thinking before feeding my self,i am not a believer in a crash diet or banishing most products from the diet,I eat whatever I want but in portion and in control.I eat 3 basic meals which are not that big in portion,luckily i am a person who doesn’t like sweets,sodas,chocolates,ice creams, fried stuff etc., so very less of all that.
I do the usual less carbs, more proteins, less fat etc, have loads of water and green tea.
So do I try taking some fat burners?
Rachit, I really cannot advise you either way, the choice is yours. Understand the possible side effects and make a decision for yourself. If you do chose to take them, monitor your progress carefully. If they are not working for you, stop immediately. If you suffer any side effects, stop immediately.
what might be the possible side effects?
when I google it…almost every problem is listed…BP,heart issues,headaches,acne…etc..
what are the major side effects faced by most users???
I don’t have any major health issue as of now(thank god)
Read the label of the product that you chose, do not rely on what is written on websites other than the official website of the manufacturer. Products changes all the time, many websites are out of date. Speak to a pharmacist, they will be able to give you the best explanation for any product – they should do this for free.