8 Unique Things You Must Know About Weight Loss Pills

Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and self-discipline to stick with a weight loss program and wait for the end results. Many people want to find the magic shortcut that will make the process just a little shorter and less difficult. Many over-the-counter and prescription pills are purchased for just this purpose. They are available from pharmacies, natural health food stores, and even online. But are these weight loss pills the miracle drugs they claim to be? Or are they just a waste of money?

How Does A Weight Loss Pill Work?

The prescription of weight loss pills work in one of these three ways. They are:

@ Increase Your Metabolic Rate - All good weight reduction pills contain certain active ingredients that can elevate your body's metabolic rate thereby helping to burn more calories which in turn signifies rapid fat loss.

@ High Energy - Weight reduction pills are also known to contain certain ingredients which can boost your energy levels giving you excess stamina to exercise better. This in turn translates to more calories burning.

@ Appetite Control - Most weight loss pills are also made up of certain compounds which can help to control your appetite and prevent you from binging on high-fat foods.

Who Should Take Weight Loss Pills?

Weight loss pills are most often recommended for people who are medically obese...people whose weight is causing serious health concerns. Even with weight loss pills, the treatment of obesity involves exercise, counseling, dietary changes, and behavioral changes. But weight loss pills are not only used by obese people. They are also sought after by people who want a quicker way to achieve the weight goals they have set for themselves. As long as men and women continue to compare themselves to the select few beautiful, skinny models on TV screens and magazine pages, there will be a strong market for weight loss pills.

Could Weight Loss Pills Be Dangerous?

Weight loss pills are a medication just like any other type of drug. You need to be very careful about the ingredients of any medication that you place in your body.

ALWAYS Consult Your Doctor

Work in consultation with your natural health care provider if you decide to try an over the counter weight loss pill to help you lose weight. Your doctor can assess your overall weight management goals and he or she can help you monitor the success or side effects of the medication. Be very cautious about the weight loss pill you decide to try.

Know Your Source

Weight loss pills purchased over the internet may be coming from the garage of a t-shirt salesman (this actually happened!) If you decide to buy your weight loss pills online, make sure you research the company you are buying from so that you can be sure they send you the appropriate supplementation.

Read the Ingredients

Some weight loss pills contain the ingredient like ephedra (also known as ephedrine and ma huang.) This stimulant has recently come under a lot of scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration for its links to illness and side effects. Ephedra has been shown to cause heart attacks, seizures and strokes. It is a powerful and dangerous stimulant that can damage the central nervous system and the heart.

As a word of caution, many weight loss pills marketed today contain other unhealthy ingredients apart from ephedra that can promise big things but can cause serious damage to your health in the long run. So, stay away from all weight loss pills which contain the following compounds;

@ Bitter orange

@ Chitosan

@ Chromium

@ Conjugate linoleic acid

@ Country mallow or heartleaf

@ Green tea extract

@ Guar gum

@ Hoodia

Watch Out For Dependency

Weight loss pills that contain amphetamine or other stimulants may cause withdrawal symptoms when you decide to discontinue the medication. You may become addicted to these types of pills and be unable to stop taking them. The long-term use of weight loss pills may increase your chances of developing serious side effects. Stimulant based weight loss pills can cause Adrenal Burnout Syndrome, which can take years to fix.

The Bottom Line On Weight Loss Pills

1. ALWAYS check with your health care provider. Make sure he or she knows which pill you are going to try and arrange for your progress to be monitored.

2. If your doctor prescribes a weight-loss pill for you, make sure you follow the instructions he or she gives you. If you decide to purchase an over the counter weight loss pill, you have to be careful about that. DO NOT OVERDOSE to try and gain faster results.

3. Use weight loss pills in combination with behavioral modifications, dietary changes, and an exercise program to ensure that if you do achieve weight loss results with the pill, you will be able to discontinue their use without hampering your progress.

4. Monitor yourself carefully while you take the weight loss pill. Record your progress as well as any side effects you may be noticed. And be sure to report both to your health care provider.

5. Unless your doctor advises you differently, plan to take the weight loss pill for a maximum of six to eight weeks. These products are not meant for long term usage and side effects can occur.

6. If you are not losing weight, stop taking the weight loss pills. Consult with your health care provider on any lifestyle or medication changes you can incorporate to achieve results.