By Anita Joubert
It concerns me when people come up to me in the gym and ask me “what do you use?” not what is your diet like or what exercises am I doing. People always want to lose weight as quickly as possible before a vacation, a wedding or trying to get into that new bikini. What they don’t understand is that there is no magic pill or quick way to lose weight and keep it off.
For me to look fit and healthy all year long and maintain that for over 15 years is a well-balanced diet combined with exercise. Its a lifestyle.
And that brings me to the topic of fat burners. When you check into a supplement store of open a health magazine you are bombarded with various fat burning “magic pills”. It is easy to fall into this trap. Here is why it does not work and also puts your health in danger.
what are fat burners?

Generally a fat burner is prepared by combining caffeine, l-carnitine and green tea extract. These are usually effective but may be accompanied by some complications. Immediate benefits of fat burners include body detoxication, revitalisation increase in stamina and effortless weight reduction. Unfortunately these changes do not hold for long term. These supplements help in increasing metabolic rate resulting in burning of more calories. For weight reduction burned calories should come from fat, carbohydrates and protein. Some of the modern fat burners also trigger fat oxidation process for weight reduction.
Negative effects on the body:
These fat burners with their high doses of caffeine and other stimulants will put unnecessary strain not only on your heart but also your Endocrine and Central nervous system, your body works hard to repair these systems at night and through exercise by flushing them free of toxins so adding the extra stress these stimulants will cause will likely lead to:
Putting your heart at risk: There is an increase in heart rate, overdose of which could be fatal.
Effect on nervous system: Includes hunger suppression often leading to conditions such as deliriums, hyperactivity, increased blood pressure, hot flushes, irritability, edginess and insomnia, also blood clot has been reported in cases using fat burners.
Addiction: Dosage for a prolonged duration sometimes results in addiction.
Stomach problems: Such as constipation and diarrhoea. A decrease in vitamin content in the body increasing dangers of other health hazards.
Affecting normal body movements: Loose control on bowel movements and an increase in flatulence and stool becomes oily.
Others: Headaches, stomach ache, mouth/throat dryness, dizziness and vomiting.
It is really not worth putting your health at risk for something that does not work in the long run!
A well balanced diet and good exercise regime will help you lose weight the healthy way and benefit you in the long run. However if you want to speed up the process consider adding the following natural fat burning supplements that really do work.
Increase your protein intake: 125g protein per day helps retain muscle mass, which requires more energy to sustain fat.
Fish oil: Fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed are some of the foods that are rich in Omega 3’s.
Green tea: It contains a group of antioxidants called catechins. Researchers have found that catechins help the body burn fat.
Vitamin D: A deficiency in this vitamin can interfere with leptin. Leptin is a hormone that helps promote fullness. Researchers have found that between 70 and 75% of obese people lack vitamin D. Getting adequate amount of Vitamin D can burn fat and reduce the amount of fat that gets sored by the body.
Chromium: Helps reduce hunger pangs, shown to promote weight loss in clinical studies and reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.
CoQ10: Help speed metabolism and helps lower blood pressure and keeps the heart healthy.
Before you take something always think if it will harm your body in anyway, it there is the slightest doubt don’t take it. Look after your body you only get one!!

Yours In Fitness!