Everyone wants to lose weight and improve their physique. And the fast track is to use supplementation for weight loss.
What are the advantages of using supplements for weight loss? Should you do it? If so, what supplements should you buy?
These and much more in this post. Scroll down and enjoy!!
Table of Contents
Introduction to Supplementation for Weight Loss
There’s a growing tendency for weight loss. A lot of people is starting to realize the high prevalence of obesity and unhealthy lifestyle in our society, and they are willing to lose weight, improve their physique, and change their habits.
In 2013–2016, 49.1% of U.S. adults tried to lose weight in the last 12 months (1)
Supplementation for weight loss is often the first choice for a lot of people. The claim for “take this and you’ll lose weight” is much easier and promising than saying “diet for months and you’ll lose weight”
But supplementation shouldn’t be the base of your weight loss journey. Instead, you should focus on building good dietary habits and following a correct nutrition. This is the most important aspect to start losing weight (2)
Main Supplements for Weight Loss
There are hundreds of different supplements for weight loss out there... and only a very few work.
Choosing the right (or wrong) supplement can change the entire game. These are the most effective and safe supplements for weight loss:Â
- Caffeine: 3-6mg/kg
- EGCG: 300-800mg
- P-Synephrine: 10-20mg twice a day
- Nicotine: gums of 2mg
- Capsaicin: 12-30mg
Pros of Using Supplementation for Weight Loss
Some supplements for weight loss have proven to be effective and safe. Using the correct supplements, on the correct amount and timing, can help you reach your goals and lose weight.
Can Make you Win the Competition
Supplements, if planned carefully, can set the difference between first and second position. Although for amateurs that doesn't matter than match, it may be a game changer for elite athletes.
Supplements can help you burn the remaining 5% nutrition and training can't cover. Play with the right cards, and the game is yours.
Create commitment
Probably the most important advantage of using supplementation for weight loss is not its effect on our organism, but the effect in our mind.
Using supplementation for weight loss puts money on the table. And when there’s money in between, our commitment and motivation rocket up.
Test it yourself. Buy one of the supplements I mentioned above, and see how taking it can motivate and set you on the right track to lose weight and achieve your goals.
May Supress Appetite
Some of the supplementation for weight loss works by supressing your appetite (3).
Although the effect is not huge, it can help you when you start struggling with food and hunger. This can come very handy on late stages of the weight loss journey.
The less hungry you are, the less you eat. And the less you eat, the easier is to be in a calorie deficit
Helps you Get Started
Beginnings are always tough and slow. It takes time to get started, and using supplementatscan help you jump off the roof and dive into the pool.
This is specially useful for those having hard times to lose weight. If you are overweight, or have problems losing weight, then using supplementation for weight loss may be a good start point.
Supplementation for Weight Loss Improves your Health
Not to forget, the main purpose of dietary supplements is to complement a healthy nutrition and improve your health.
The supplements mentioned before show to improve your health, act as antioxidant (4), help you achieve metabolic flexibility (5), or even stimulate the production of dopamine and serotonine (6).
Cons of using supplementation for weight loss
We've seen the advantages and benefits of using supplementation for weight loss... but not everything is going to be white here.
There are some disadvantages and potential issues you should consider when using supplementation for weight loss. Scroll down and keep reading!
Supplementation for weight loss is expensive
Main and most obvious disadvantage of using supplements... the price!
You've seen influencers or bodybuilders taking a sh*t ton of supplements. But what fraction of that comes from their wallets? Probably nothing
Supplements are expensive. The high demand puts business in a juicy situation, and these want money; as much as possible. So the easiest way to increase the profit is increasing the price of the product.... great right?
Supplementation May Shadow Nutrition
Using supplementation may shadow the effect and importance of nutrition. But if you are doing a healthy diet and using supplements for weight loss... how much of the weight lost is due to supplementation or nutrition?
I’ll let you answer that on your own... but remember to put in the comments section at the end of the post!
Hint: Look at the image below 🙂
Some supplements have potential side effects
The supplements mentioned before are safe to take, but there are still some potential side effects you must consider. Any supplement interacting with the central nervous system is at risk of hyperactivating it and suffering of shakiness, fast heart rate, insommnia... (7)
So, the side effects are real. Talk with your doctor about using supplementation for weight loss and listen to what he/she has to tell you.
Regulation and anti-doping test
If you want to compete in bodybuilding, powerlifting, weightlifting,... or any other sport in professional scale, you will be going through anti-doping tests quite often.
Natural supplementation is mostly permitted in all sports, and you wouldn’t have problems with that. But using very large doses, or using non-permmited supplements may bring some problems. And if you are tested positive... bye bye competition.
Conclusion
Supplementation for weight loss is a preferred choice by many to help them achieve their goals... but it comes with its consequences
In this post, we have seen the advantages and disadvantages of using supplements to help you lose weight. Now, you have everything you need to make your own assesment and evaluate whether you want to spend your money on supplements, or not.Â
