Different types of products for fat loss
Different types of products for fat loss
Lifebuoys, love handles, etc. - we all know these terms and we hate them. They refer to the last 5 to 10 kilos of fat on an otherwise already relatively slim body that are frustrating and that we want to get rid of as quickly as possible. Usually, the last excess pounds hang in the most stubborn places. For men this is usually the stomach and for women it is the hips, bottom and thighs. These are the areas where you put on fat first when you put on weight and these are the areas where you lose the fat last.
This is exactly where the problem lies. You can't keep your calorie intake extremely low indefinitely, otherwise your metabolism will fall asleep and your calorie consumption will continue to fall, and you can't do as much cardio training as you like. This is the point at which supplements can prove helpful.
Supplements for men and women
Men and women have different hormonal profiles and body types and therefore differ when it comes to choosing the ideal products for fat loss. There are 6 facets that differ between men and women that should be addressed: Stress, energy, hormones, hydration, appetite and metabolism.
Women need fat burners that are specifically tailored to the needs of the female body. They need fat burners specifically designed to overcome their specific physiological and hormonal barriers to fat loss.
Men can tolerate slightly stronger stimulants than women, as their bodies are generally less sensitive than the female body. In general, men have an easier time losing fat than women because they have a faster metabolism and a leaner body type. In addition, testosterone promotes fat loss, while oestrogen promotes fat storage and water retention. However, men also have their problem areas, such as the lower abdominal area and lower back. A product containing yohimbine can help to lose fat in these areas more quickly.
Different types of fat loss products
Thermogenic supplements:
Thermogenic supplements are fat burners in the truest sense of the word, as they stimulate fat burning by increasing thermogenesis - the burning of nutrients to generate heat. They help the body to increase body temperature, for which the body consumes additional calories. Active ingredients that can be used to achieve such an effect include caffeine and synephrine. There are also ingredients such as yohimbine, which cause fat cells in problem areas to release fatty acids into the bloodstream so that they can be burned to provide the body with energy.
There are certain ingredients that can be found in many fat burners as they have proven to be effective in getting the body into fat burning mode. Here are some ingredients to look for on the label of a fat burner that delivers what it promises:
- Synephrine (the active ingredient in bitter orange)
- caffeine
- Yohimbine (the active ingredient in yohimbe)
- capsicum
Stimulant-free fat burners:
Classic ingredients of fat burners such as caffeine, synephrine and, to a certain extent, yohimbine belong to the group of stimulants - active ingredients that increase alertness and wakefulness and have a stimulating effect. Some stimulants can also produce a feeling of euphoria, which is particularly true of stimulants that stimulate the central nervous system.
Although stimulants have proven to be very effective ingredients in fat burners, there are many people who are sensitive to stimulants and complain of restlessness and insomnia when using such substances. For this group of people, there are stimulant-free fat burners that do not contain any centrally stimulating ingredients.
Fat blockers:
Fatblockers prevent some of the fats ingested through food from being absorbed and utilized by the body. The most common ingredient in fat blockers is chitosan, an extract from crab shells that binds fat. Fat bound by chitosan cannot be absorbed by the body and is excreted undigested. Chitosan is the over-the-counter alternative in supplement form to pharmacy or prescription products such as Alli, which block the enzyme needed for fat digestion, although admittedly chitosan is not quite as effective as the fat blockers available in pharmacies. One problem with taking fat blockers regularly is that, in addition to fat, fat-soluble vitamins and certain minerals may no longer be absorbed by the body in sufficient quantities.
Carbohydrate blockers:
Carbohydrate blockers contain ingredients that inhibit certain enzymes in the body that are responsible for the digestion of carbohydrates and the absorption of carbohydrates in the digestive tract. As a result, some of the carbohydrates ingested are excreted undigested. As a rule, this only works with carbohydrates from starchy products, as the enzymes blocked by carbohydrate blockers are not required for the digestion of sugar.
Carbohydrate blockers are often used after so-called cheat meals to prevent the extra calories consumed in the form of carbohydrates from being stored as body fat.
Appetite suppressants:
Appetitesuppressants are supplements that reduce appetite, which results in eating less. In contrast to prescription appetite suppressants, which can often have a whole range of undesirable side effects, appetite suppressant supplements based on natural ingredients such as hoodia are harmless to health and generally free of undesirable side effects.
Hoodia is an African plant that has been used by indigenous Africans for centuries during long hunting expeditions to combat hunger. Although there are still no detailed scientific studies on the effects of Hoodia during a diet, many users report a significant reduction in appetite.
Thyroid regulators:
Among other things, the thyroid gland controls how quickly the body produces energy, how fast it builds protein and how sensitive the body is to other hormones.
The function of the thyroid gland is of particular interest during a diet as it, or the thyroid hormones it produces, are responsible for the metabolic rate. Unfortunately, thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones begin to decline during a strict and/or prolonged diet, resulting in the body consuming fewer calories. As a result, you either have to eat less and less over the course of a diet in order to continue making progress, or your diet progress comes to a standstill.
This is where thyroid regulators come into play, which can stimulate thyroid function and thus prevent diet progress from coming to a standstill the longer a diet lasts.
Cortisol blockers:
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone, as it is released in response to physical and mental/emotional stress. This hormone increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels, while suppressing the immune system and thus increasing the risk of infection.
Even though cortisol is a vital hormone, excessive cortisol levels, which often occur during a calorie-restricted diet, have some less desirable effects. In addition to its catabolic properties, which promote the breakdown of muscle protein, cortisol increases appetite while promoting the storage of body fat, particularly in the abdominal area. This is where cortisol blockers come into play, preventing excessive increases in cortisol levels and their undesirable effects without completely suppressing the release of this vital hormone.
A few final words of caution
Even though fat burners taken in moderate amounts over a limited period of time can be quite helpful during a diet, you should still not be too careless with these supplements.
It is completely normal for the body to react less and less to fat burners the longer they are taken. This is due to the fact that fat burners stimulate the central nervous system and the body gradually gets used to this stimulation until it is completely normal for it. Of course, the temptation is great to increase the dosage as the duration of use increases in order to achieve the same effect that these supplements had at the beginning.
However, this should not be done under any circumstances, as it can easily lead to a vicious circle resulting in overstimulation of the body and a collapse in the functions of the adrenal cortex (adrenal gland) and thyroid hormone production - not to mention the deep hole you will fall into when you eventually stop taking these active ingredients. Instead, it is advisable to take a break when you notice a habituation effect, so that the body is sensitized again for a later renewed intake phase.
You should also be aware that fat burners are not a substitute for a reduction in calorie intake or exercise, but only a supplement to a diet that is already working, making this diet more effective.
Last but not least, as with all other supplements, fat burners should be taken in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and the maximum recommended dosage should not be exceeded. Central stimulants in particular can have undesirable or even dangerous side effects if overdosed. Even if you are used to stimulants, you should start with the lowest possible dosage for each fat burner and increase it slowly to test how your body reacts to the product in question.
Sources: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/fat_loss_supplements.htm