Losing weight can be frustrating, not to mention time consuming and difficult. That is why many people try to find a 'quick-fix' to solve their weight-loss issues. A lot of us would like to burn fat, but most of us do not know the facts, and therefore will not be seeing the results, even in spite of tremendous effort. Even those who appear slim, will often have substantial amounts of visceral fats around their organs, which can be tough to shift. For most of us, losing that last bit of fat would make us feel a lot better, and it is the route of many of our health and fitness goals, but just exactly how is it done?
It's no secret that bodybuilders and weightlifters carry a lot of muscle mass, and often have a very low body fat percentage. More often than not this is due to the intense training style, and religious commitment to the gym.
Carrying more muscle burns more fat in the human body, simply just by existing, so building muscle is actually one great way to burn fat! Not only this but the exercises themselves are very exhaustive, and burn a lot of calories with each session.
Knowledgeable lifters will also tell you that there is a fierce importance of quality nutrition in order to achieve the physiques they have earned. Diet plans tend to focus on protein content, while balancing the remaining macros to suit the individual's needs. The struggle lies within the ability to burn fat while preventing muscle-degeneration. Looking back, there hasn't been a real change in fitness philosophy, but modern athletes seem to be excelling at a greater rate, and achieving fantastic physiques faster and with greater ease. So what is missing, how are the athletes of today accomplishing leaner physiques if the philosophy has not changed?
The key aspect, as you may have guessed, is the advancement of dietary supplementation. Affective dietary supplements are a relatively new phenomenon. Not taking away from modern athletes, there is still a tremendous amount of commitment and dedication required to achieve such results, but it is no secret that the advancements in modern supplementation have played an integral role in the striding improvements in bodybuilding, weightlifting and more. The bar has been raised in numerous sports and competitions, and if you're wanting to keep up with the game, there are a few things you need to bare in mind. First of all, you must know your own body, in order to accurately work towards a personal goal. Also, it helps to know the market, and the range of dietary supplements available to you, in order to provide you with a competitive edge.
But do not be fooled! There are plenty of companies out there, claiming that their latest product will give you the body of a god within weeks, or that their miracle pill will rocket you to your goals. But be sure to approach these products with caution, and assess the contents and research behind the supplement. The clue is in the word, it's a supplement, it should be supplemented into your diet. While these supplements can have fantastic impacts on your health and fitness, they do not replace a healthy balanced diet, and they are not a stand alone solution. Be sure to be smart with supplementation, and to ensure that other bases are covered.
If you're confident in the quality of your nutrition, and have a good exercise plan, then you're certainly going to benefit from some of the fantastic dietary supplements available. It can be difficult to make your way through the contents label of some of these supplements, so it's often best to see what works for other athletes.
My advice to you would be to try to find out what works for athletes you admire, and start there. Once you have found a supplement you like the look of, remember to analyse your own body's response, as there is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to dietary supplementation. The most important thing, is that you feel healthy, so don't sacrifice feeling good for potential benefits, as your body may be telling you that it's not a good idea.
Weight-loss products can hit your wallet pretty hard, so be sure to follow my advice, do your research, and listen to your body! There are no miracle products, only fantastic supplements to support healthy diet and exercise.
Toby Hone
BSc (hons) Sport and Exercise Science
