Bodybuilding Fat Loss

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Do Any Weight Loss Treatments Work?

If you are seeking to lose weight, you have likely spent time looking for weight loss treatments to help you succeed. The information available about the different weight loss treatments can be confusing, and those who are serious about losing weight often try one product after another with limited success. Of course, the best way to lose weight is to limit your caloric intake while increasing your amount of exercise, but if you are like the majority of people seeking to slim down, you have probably found that it is difficult to stick to a firm regime.

If you are looking for weight loss treatments, you will need to decide if you want a prescription medication or something you can purchase over the counter. There are many weight loss treatments available over the counter and some have a greater effect than others on your ability to lose weight. If you are shopping for an over the counter medication, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, just because something is labeled as "herbal" or "natural" does not mean it is completely safe. Many herbal weight loss treatments have been recalled due to dangers posed by the ingredients acting together. Take some time to research the way the product works. Remember, natural medications are not regulated by the government in the way that prescription medications are, so use caution when taking natural weight loss products.

One of the newest over the counter medications for weight loss is Alli but this is only available in the US at the moment. This medication is a reduced version of the prescription medication Xenical. Both of these medications work in the intestines. They contain ingredients that disable lipase, which is an enzyme in the digestive tract that is responsible for the breakdown of fat so that it can be absorbed. By disabling some of the lipase in the intestines, some of the fat cannot be absorbed by the body, thus causing it to pass through the digestive tract through the bowels. This can be very effective as the body stores less fat. You will still need to watch what you eat because if you eat too much fat while on either of these medications, you will face uncomfortable side effects such as diarrhea and gas. Also, if you do not exercise, you will not see much weight loss even with this medication.

The other medication option you have when seeking weight loss treatments is a prescription that works on the brain. Medications such as Reductil work in the brain to cause you to feel full with less food. This medication affects the chemicals in the brain that bring satisfaction from eating, thus curbing some of your cravings. Again, however, without diet and exercise, this medication will not be as effective as you would wish.

The bottom line is that no weight loss pills will work if you do not commit yourself to a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. However, if you need a little added boost to help you to stay motivated and stick with your plan, then the results that you will see with one of these treatments may help. Just remember that there is no magic pill to help you lose weight. It takes work but the results are well worth the investment of time and energy.

A considerable number of slimmers try diet pills in the hope that the medication will have a dramatic effect in a short period of time and will negate the need for a controlled and healthy diet along with a vigorous exercise regime. Anyone going into a weight loss programme with this attitude is destined to fail as there is no such thing as a magic slimming pill. These treatments can only help you achieve your slimming goals- they will not achieve the goals for you! Studies of most prescription weight loss pills show that it is possible to lose twice as much weight than those on diet and exercise along but diet and exercise are clearly an important part of the mix. It is highly unlikely that someone will lose weight if they pop a pill once a day then sit in front of the TV and eat whatever they want! The most successful slimmers are the ones who stick at it and go into the whole thing with a positive attitude and realistic targets.