People will often ask me about the various fat loss pills, powders and supplements out there.

Make no mistake, I am very “pro” supplement use, but only in minimal quantities and only where they are absolutely  of benefit.

I mostly prefer to derive my benefits from dietary sources, as much as I can, over using supplements.

But the fact of the matter is, that the fat burners DO work.  

The disadvantage?

The results are temporary.

And many of them can be unhealthy.

Caffeine and/or other stimulants have always been the core ingredients in these products that give them their effectiveness.  They all attempt to speed up the metabolism in various ways, sometimes in ways that are too aggressive or can even cause harm.  Most people over 30 may remember the days when ephedra was “the” go-to fat burning supplement back in the 90’s.  The reason it was so darn popular is because it really worked, for some people exceedingly well.

The problem was that it was also dangerous, and becoming abused in the process.  Its ability to increase heart rate and constrict blood vessels added to its thermogenic properties (body heat) and by 2006 it was banned due to some misuse and apparent deaths from the supplement.

The fat loss and body building world has always sought out the best alternatives to achieve a similar effect, be it via an herb or herbs or some lab-produced concoction.  This is a never-ending pursuit motivated more than anything by money, and people’s willingness to pay for these short-cuts to temporary results.

I personally feel strongly that anything that stimulates the body needs to be monitored closely.  It most likely can be addictive, and will most likely not produce an on-going result that the user is looking for.

For this reason, I focus much more on diet and lifestyle as a way to afford myself a more stable and long-term result.  I use supplements primarily to enhance my life in ways that are gentle and friendly to my body on the whole, working WITH my body, as compared to using a product that is literally FORCING my body to work outside of its normal everyday capacities.

I’m looking for natural and balanced approaches in every area of health and fat loss.

This is what maintains my results, and enhances my well-being, which is my first focus above all else.