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Losing weight involves a lot of change in your body – and not just in your eating and exercise habits. Internally, changing how your body goes about burning energy as well as how much energy it burns can be a time-consuming process.
In this day and age of instant results, it’s no surprise there are weight loss supplements to speed up the process of shedding weight, whether you are just starting your diet or have hit a plateau in your weight loss journey. With peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause hitting women for years on end, there are plenty of reasons to try a weight loss supplement.
Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth it in the Long Run?
How do you know when you need a weight loss supplement? This can vary from person to person, but a general rule of thumb is when you have stalled at a particular weight for more than a month and have both increased your exercise as well as been true to your calorie goals, then maybe want a weight loss supplement that could be used.
The most important thing in deciding to use a supplement is to talk to your doctor first. Why? There may be other reasons why you are not losing weight and your doctor may pick up on a change in your health that needs addressing.
Weight loss supplements can range from fiber supplements to meal replacements to herbs to man-made chemicals that increase the metabolism.
Generally speaking, only a handful of supplements have any official track record of increasing weight loss. The most proven and reliable supplements are fiber and sometimes meal replacements.
Let’s dive into both of these and look at alternatives.
Fiber:
Dietary fiber is the part of food from plants that is indigestible by our gastric systems. Fiber – either through powder, capsule, or food – slows the digestive process down and makes you feel fuller.
Fiber also acts as a type of broom as it moves through your intestines, collecting leftover debris and sweeping it out of the body, aiding in weight loss that normally isn’t addressed through exercise or calorie reduction.
Be careful not to increase fiber too rapidly as it will cause bloating and gas as your intestines are cleaned out. Also, be sure to drink two to three more glasses of water each day as you gradually increase your fiber intake so you do not become constipated.
Meal Replacements:
Meal replacements – whether in the form of a bar, a shake, or a pre-made meal – really do work if you follow along with the plan. Usually, you substitute breakfast and lunch with meal replacements and have a snack of fruit or other low-calorie items and then around a 500-calorie dinner. When combined with the consistency of maintaining caloric goals and exercising regularly, it really does help you kick start the weight loss again.
A meal replacement was not created as a permanent option. Your body needs nutrients from whole foods, but as a temporary addition to your weight loss plan, it can help. I hope this helps when you decide if Weight Loss Supplements are worth it for you.
Alternatives:
Another way to improve your weight loss is through resistance training, weight lifting, swimming, or other strength training workouts.
You can also increase your steps, add some dance, and my favorite, mini trampoline workouts!
Disclaimer: I sometimes recommend products that I believe in. This post includes an affiliate link where I will make a small portion of income for a purchase made by clicking through the link.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.