I Need To Lose Weight - Can I Just Take A Pill?

February 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Are you thinking of using herbal weight loss products or supplements?

The thought that there is a magic pill out there that will melt the weight off, is very appealing. Anyone who has struggled with weight loss has at some time tried a magic pill hoping to get the body they want. It’s particularly tempting if you’ve really tried yet not been able to move past a weight loss plateau. If only it were that easy!

Diet pills and weight loss supplements are multi-billion dollar industries that thrive on your hope. You can temporarily lose weight or speed up your metabolism taking pills. But whether you are taking a drug, an herb, a tea, or a supplement, they all are a temporary fix that doesn’t address the underlying reasons you are overweight, misguided food choices, lack of physical activity, or often a metabolism that has been slowed down by, ironically, dieting.

Diet pills, worst case can be dangerous, and can have terrible side effects. Some will cause cramps, gas, diarrhea, or the dreaded, embarrassing “Alli - oops”. You know that unmentionable leakage problem. Some can increase your blood pressure, cause irregular heart beat and insomnia. Some can cause dehydration, liver problems and worst case, they can kill you.

Herbal weight loss supplements are not adequately tested for safety or whether or not they actually work, or whether they even contain what they say they contain. Most are useless at helping you lose fat. One popular herbal supplement I know you’ve heard of has been under fire for unscrupulous billing practices. The only thing that got thinner for people who bought this herb was their wallet.

Some weight loss teas contain high amounts of caffeine, which cause water loss, which looks like you’ve lost a few pounds. As soon as you drink the water you need, that weight comes right back on.

And if you find a pill that does actually help you lose some weight , realize that when you stop taking any pills or herbs the weight can come right back. And remember that the diet industry really doesn’t want you to lose the weight and keep it off - if you did, they would lose you as a valuable customer.

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to find a good weight loss program. Here are a five things to look for when choosing a fat loss or fitness program:

- Is there an unconditional guarantee? You’ve probably already wasted enough money, right? I’d say a 60 day money back guarantee would be sufficient time for you to implement a program and see whether it works for you.

- Is this program based in science or does it sound like some fad diet? Get a program that is SCIENCE based. That will increase the chances that the program will give you the results you want.

- Does the program mention that it will speed up metabolism, raise your metabolism or teach you how to increase fat burning hormones? It should because boosting metabolism the key to permanent weight loss.

- Do you need to buy prepackaged food? If so, RUN the other way. They are expensive and unhealthy to live off of. They lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables, are high in sodium, But the worse thing is they teach you nothing about proper eating or lowering your metabolism. Weight lost this way won’t stay off.

- Is there ongoing support? You want a program that will offer ongoing support of some kind - through regular emails, or blogs or forums where you can interact with the author and other people on the same plan. I like online programs for this reason - they often offer some sort of interaction. I don’t like a program where you have to go to meetings to weigh in. Who has the time to do that?

So don’t depend on any magic bullet to take the weight off and keep it off and stay healthy.

Posted by Valen | Filed Under Herbal weight loss 

Lose weight with herbal weight loss products

October 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment


When it comes to losing weight, there is a long list of dieting options available — dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills — plus hundreds of exercise programs and exercise machines to go along with it. One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal.

Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you lose weight with herbal supplements, you would have to wait for a longer time to see the results, mainly because the effects from plants and natural herbs are subtler in nature.

Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:

1. Herbal weight loss products

There are many herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products.

Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but actually have side effects. This is because these products have not been research extensively enough to discover their side effects.

Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health:

Senna
* An herbal laxative
* Main ingredient in weight loss teas
* Works by stimulating the colon
* Side effect: dehydration, colon problems, addictive.

Chromium picolinate
* A synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products
* Chromium, as a nutrient, helps regulate blood-sugar level.
* Side effects: When taken in high doses may cause damage in the chromosomes; dehydration.

St. John’s wort
* Increases the production of a chemical in the brain.
* If not used properly, may cause eye and skin sensitivity, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue and itching.

Although a lot of herbal products are claimed to be safe and natural, it is better to find out about the ingredients and the effects of the product before going for these herbal dietary pills.

Organic food

Organic food devotees believe that consuming organic goodies help their bodies as well as the environment. A person who buys organically raised eggs and vegetables claim to be healthier, and they are not spending money on doctors and prescriptions as these keep them healthier and away from the hospital. This could also be an option for weight watchers, as organic food is known to be kinder to your weight than chemically-processed food products.

3. Green Tea

Studies show that intake of green tea, or green tea extracts burns extra calories. Also, green tea with caffeine can increase fat burning by up to 40% thereby reducing fat. In a study done, people who took green tea were found to lose 2 to 3 times more weight than those who did not drink green tea. These results show that green tea is a natural product for the treatment of obesity. It also makes for a healthier dietary option as compared to caffeine.

3. Caffeine

Coffee provides an energy boost to increase fat burning. Caffeine also provides a likelihood to be active, which in turn increases your rate of calorie burn. However, one has to be careful with the amount of coffee consumed to prevent the side effect of too much caffeine.

4. Immortality Herb

This herb, whose scientific name is Gymnostemna Pentaphyllum, is known to have the following benefits:
* Increases healthy blood flow
* Reduces artery blocks
* Aids healthy blood pressure
* Increases the rate of fat burning

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

There are pills and food supplements whose main ingredient is apple cider vinegar. The benefits of this herbal option:
* Weight loss
* Improved cholesterol level
* Improved high blood pressure
* Helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis

So, you actually have quite a number of herbal weight loss options to choose from for your weight loss plan. Remember, always do some information research on the product before you go for it. Better still, discuss with your doctor for recommendations.

Posted by Valen | Filed Under Herbal weight loss