Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to lose weight? Most of us over 30 are carrying more fat
around our middles than we ought to and that’s a fact. Apart from the health
implications of being overweight, we are constantly bombarded with media images
of fit celebrities on Facebook, twitter, instagram…. It’s pretty endless. All
this adds to the pressure to lose weight and look good, and where there’s
pressure the urge to take short cuts looms strong.
Right off the bat I have to let you know that I have taken
weight loss supplements in the past, out of impatience and ignorance. At my
heaviest I weighed about 125kg and was so desperate to lose weight that I took
anything I could lay my hand on as long as it promised to burn off my fat!
Guess what? Some were total crap and a waste of money, while some worked
wonders and I lost my appetite for food completely! However, there is a price
to pay. Some weight loss supplements work, but at what cost? I suffered from
loss of sleep, heart palpitations, constant sweat and anxiety; I could go on
and on.
Today, I will be writing about the most serious side effects
that come from taking weight loss pills, no BS, just the truth and you decide
if they are worth the trouble. Personally I would NEVER advice anyone to take
them and I stopped selling them a few years ago, if you want to lose weight,
just put in the time at the gym, on the road or in the pool, and watch what you
eat!
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!
P.S ( I have been
absent for about 3 months, I am sorry, at times life just intrudes, no matter
how hard you try. Please forgive me!)
1.
YOU COULD DAMAGE YOUR HEART:
Many weight loss drugs work by speeding up
your body’s metabolism and heart rate in order to increase the amount of energy
you burn. However, because they are artificially jacking up your heart rate,
these supplements can lead to irregular heart beat (arrhythmias) and damage or
malfunctions in the valves of your heart. Another side effect that can come of
this is damage to the heart muscle itself; this insidious damage can set you up
for a heart attack later in life.
2.
IT INCREASES YOUR RISK OF STROKE:
As stated previously, many of the
substances found in weight loss supplements are stimulants and as implied, they
stimulate the heart to pump faster. The risk is that as they stimulate the
heart to pump faster, it can lead to increased blood pressure, which can lead
to a stroke and bleeding in the brain. In fact the only over the counter
stimulant I would take is caffeine, and even with caffeine there are risks associated
with overdoing it; taking a tablespoon of pure caffeine is enough to kill most
people.
The problem is that most weight loss
supplements is that they are virtually unregulated and you just don’t know what
you are really taking in.
3.
IT MIGHT AFFECT YOUR LIVER FUNCTION:
Your liver is important, that can never be
overstated. It helps your body process food and flushes out toxins you have ingested;
however weight loss supplements can put all that at risk. A 2011 study from
Mount Sinai medical Centre New York found that taking “Fat Burner” dietary supplements
that contain amongst other things herbal and tree derived ingredients could
lead to acute liver poisoning and failure. When you take weight loss
supplements your liver has to deal with the ingredients and chemical by
products that come with them and that can cause a buildup of enzymes which may
be toxic. Other research has also linked weight loss supps with cases of
Hepatitis, a form of liver inflammation that can lead to permanent damage or
scarring.
4.
DIZZINESS AND RINGING IN YOUR EARS:
One product to be wary of is “Green Tea Extract” many fat
burners contain green tea extract as a major ingredient, to the average person
it might seem assuring and natural, however there is a side effect that comes
with it. Now don’t get me wrong, drinking plain green tea is fine, but a resent
consumer report listed Green Tea Extract among its 15 supplement ingredients
“to always avoid” citing research that links the extract to dizziness, ringing
in your ears, poor iron absorption, elevated blood pressure and liver damage.
To wrap it up, I know there is pressure to lose weight and
that the older you get, the harder it becomes.
No matter how hard it gets, fat burners are just not the way to go. The
honest truth is that some will work in the short term but can damage your
health, while most of them are just crap! If you really want to lose weight and
keep it off, a lifestyle change involving dietary changes and exercise is the
only sure way to go. I know it might take a while, but you will get there.
Thanks, and do have a wonderful weekend!
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