Lets be honest for a moment. You’ve seen the ones with advertisements for weight loss pill-you know the ones with those amazing before and after pictures-and you’ve wondered to yourself….do they work???
Diet pill are everywhere, they tempt you from store shelves from infomercials and from glossy magazine pages, TV adds. You probably know someone who is dabbling with diet pills or maybe you have tried them yourself. Have you ever wondered how they work?
Weight loss pills can be broken down into three basic categories:
Appetite Supressants: These work just like it sounds. The appetite-regulating region of your brain (the hypothalamus) is tricked by blockage of the re-uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. As a result you feel like you’ve just eaten a big meal, so you’re less likely to overate.
Stimulants: These types of weight loss pills used to contain a combination of ephedra and caffeine to raise energy expendiure (thermogenesis) while also reducing appetite. You’re probably aware that these pills were proven in some cases to be dangerous, so ephedra was taken off the market. (Some research suggests that this may not be true, but that is the subject article) Stimulant pills now contain other ephedra-like substances, vitamins and caffeine. The idea is to increase energy and boost metabolism.
Fat Blockers: These pills inhibit the action of the enzyme lipase, which is responsible for breaking down fat during the digestion process. The goal is to prevent a perentage of the fat you’ve eaten from being absorbed into your system.
So we now return to our burning question? Do the pills work? Here is what the diet pill companies say.
- “You’ll lose 30 lbs in 30 days”
- “Achieve rapid weight loss results”
- “Burn alories and fat 24 hours a day”
- “Fights fat and delivers rapid weight loss”
The claims are amazing…too bad they are just that-claims. It’s so tempting to imagine that those benefits could be gained just by swallowing a pill. Tempting enough to make diet pills a mutibillion dollar a year industry. Hmmm, makes you kinda wonder that if that many diet pills have been taken then why don’t we look like swim suite models yet?
While diet pills showcase a few star subjects, none of whom live on your block, the world if full of real people who have lost weight and improved their lives with exercise and modified eating habits. Check out the proven benefits of exercise:
- Increased Weight Loss
- Raised Self Esteem
- Strengthens heart and lungs
- Feel good endorphins
- Improved sleep paterns
- Feel younger than ever
- Improved coordination
- Improve blood flow
- Improved mood
A pill may slightly increase your metbolic rate for a time or may suppress your appetite, and you may lose a few pounds, however, a pill alone cannot produce serious or permanent weight loss. A pill cannot deliver the same results as healthy nutrition and regular exercise.
And weight loss pills have been known to give the following side effects:
- Raised blood pressure
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Cramping, gas and diarrhea
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
The bottom line is that true weight lose can’t be achieved by a pill.
If you really want to lose weight, if you’re looking for long term health benefits then look no farther that your sneakers. That’s right, lace them up and go for a jog. Then schedule a time to meet with me.
Together we will turn you into a walking, talking, billboard for the benefits of exercise.
Best Tip:
To reach all of the above goals hire a Certified Fitness Trainer.