You’ve probably tried many diets over the years (remember the grapefruit diet?) only to find that when you ‘finish’ your diet, the weight you lost creeps back on, and then some extra! Following a ‘diet’ for weight loss is not a long term solution, it’s only a bandaid solution. Permanent weight loss lies in challenging your existing food and lifestyle choices, and then making the decision to eliminate those unhealthy habits. There's no magic wand for fast or permanent weight loss, but with some planning, commitment and a little extra motivation with certain herbs and nutrients, you can fast-track your weight loss.

Turning bad habits into good habits

Too often, when you’re trying to lose weight, you tend to make a lot of changes to your food and lifestyle all at once, pulling you out of your comfort zone.  Trying to change everything at once for weight loss will leave you feeling deprived and irritable, making it all too easy to fall back into those old bad habits. Those extra kilo’s didn’t appear overnight, and your weight loss will not happen overnight either. Ideally, weight loss should be slow and steady as you begin to implement healthy food and life choices, creating new good habits.

Fast-track weight loss with herbs and nutrients

When you decide to lose weight, you want it gone! Many of us are unhappy with our weight and it can impact how you look, feel and think about yourself. You can fast-track weight loss to help keep you motivated while gradually implementing a new and healthier lifestyle. Garcinia cambogia, Raspberry ketones, Glucomannan and protein have become increasingly popular.

Garcinia cambogia

The dried rind of Garcinia cambogia contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA) which can assist weight loss in two ways; by blocking new fat production and helping to reduce appetite. HCA stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, resulting in weight loss and a healthy lean body composition. HCA also increases serotonin (neurotransmitter) levels to help regulate eating behaviour and appetite control. Dosages of 300mg-500mg HCA, three times daily, have been used for weight loss.

Raspberry ketones

Raspberry ketones are naturally occurring compounds found within red Raspberry fruit which have fat burning properties. Raspberry ketones increase levels of adiponectin. Adiponectin regulates glucose metabolism by increasing insulin sensitivity, reducing the amount of glucose available to be stored as fat and helps regulate fat metabolism. Look for natural Raspberry ketones; synthetic Raspberry ketones are not approved for use in Australian therapeutic products.

Glucomannan

Glucomannan is a well-studied soluble fibre that acts as a bulking agent which swells in the presence of water, so helps you feel fuller quickly and prolongs that feeling of fullness, contributing to appetite control and decreased calorie intake. Glucomannan also helps to slow down the digestive process of carbohydrates, helping to maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Recommended dosages for weight management vary from 1.24g-3g daily in divided doses for 5-8 weeks.

Protein

Protein uses a lot of energy while it’s being metabolised so helps to increase fat burning. Protein also affects chemical messengers which are responsible for feelings of hunger by helping to reduce appetite, slow down digestive processes and promote a feeling of fullness.

Find out more about Herbs of Gold products for Fast-Track Weight Loss here If you’d like some professional advice on weight loss, in conjunction with healthy food and lifestyle choices, or which herbs or nutrients might be best for you, 'ask a Naturopath' at Mr Vitamins today.