The Best Way to Lose Weight With Supplements

People looking for that magic weight-loss bullet often turn to supplements to melt away fat and reveal that ripped physique. But using supplements as the sole means to lose weight is a recipe for disappointment. As their name suggests, supplements should be supplementary to achieving any weight loss. Instead, use supplements in a three-pronged strategy that also includes diet and exercise.

Diet

• When it comes to weight loss, diet is perhaps the most important factor in achieving your weight loss goals. To lose weight and stay healthy, begin with a balanced diet that will not only burn excess fat, but provide you with the energy you need throughout the day.

  While different diets advocate different macronutrient ratios, follow a sensible guideline when constructing your diet, generally including 30 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrates and 30 percent fat. However, take these macronutrient ratios as guidelines that are not set in stone. If you're looking to build muscle, increase your protein intake; if you want more energy throughout the day, add more carbs.

  Consider the amount of calories you take in throughout the day. A typical diet usual diet usually revolves around 2,000 calories for an average adult. Once again, adjust your caloric intake based upon your activity level.

  Finally, factor the quality of your food into your diet. While you can potentially devise a 2,000-calorie diet with the proper macronutrient levels revolving around cheeseburgers and milkshakes, these are not your best food choices. When it comes to carbohydrates, choose whole grains and carbohydrates high in fiber, with a low glycemic index. Avoid processed foods and other carbs high in sugar. As for fats, stick with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats over saturated and trans fats. In both instances, you will find better nutrients generally in natural products over processed foods.

Exercise

• Exercise is another crucial aspect to weight loss. To lose weight, you really only have one goal: burn more calories than you consume. While a balanced and healthy diet will get you on the right track, exercise will make up the difference. When it comes to exercise, consider two primary forms: aerobic and anaerobic.

  Anaerobic exercise is essentially strength training and weight lifting. Anaerobic exercise burns fat by increasing muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn throughout the day. Aerobic exercise, also known most commonly as cardio, will burn calories as you perform the activity, such as running or swimming. If you are looking to loose weight, incorporate both forms of exercise.

  If possible, perform strength training and cardio at different times during the day or alternating days. This allows you to rest between workouts, letting you work harder, while also keeping your body in a fat-burning state more frequently.

Supplements

• Finally, incorporate supplements into a weight-loss plan for improved results. Take supplements to increase energy, provide vitamins, break down fat and boost metabolism.

  When shopping for supplements, look for products that contain caffeine, green tea extract, yohimbe, alpha lipoic acid, conjugated linoleic acid or a combination of these ingredients.

  When starting a supplement regimen, follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely. Use these products on a cycling basis, gradually increasing your intake, followed by periods where you are off the supplement.

  Many fat-burner supplements also include some sort of energy booster as well. Many people have increased focus and energy, while some feel jittery and erratic. Stop taking any supplement if you feel uncomfortable using them.

  Finally, do not replace diet and exercise with weight-loss supplements. Instead, use them to help you lose more weight on a healthy diet and also provide you with more energy to complete your workouts.