Here’s the lowdown on the most commonly used supplements to try if weight management is your goal.
For many people working to lose weight, reducing calorie intake is doable—it’s finding the time and motivation to exercise that can be challenging. Calorie-burning supplements called thermogenics can provide you with the energy to work out and may help you burn more calories when you do. Unfortunately, they sometimes get a bad rap, mostly due to misunderstanding and misuse. Here’s the real lowdown on these commonly used supplements to try if weight loss is your goal.
What Are Thermogenic Supplements?
When used correctly, thermogenic supplements are an easy and great solution to give yourself energy, give your metabolism a boost and help you burn more calories. Don’t let the word “thermogenic” scare you. Thermogenesis is simply the production of heat, and a thermogenic supplement simply accelerates metabolic functions. Thermogenic supplements contain active ingredients to make these metabolic functions happen. They are also often combined with secondary ingredients to help you achieve your goals.
What’s In Thermogenic Calorie-Burners?
Thermogenic supplements usually contain a combination of ingredients, but it’s caffeine that often provides the thermogenic properties. Frequently a main ingredient, that caffeine can come in a variety of forms—as synthetic caffeine, or from natural sources such as coffee bean extract or guarana. Herbal preparations, like guarana, come from seeds similar to coffee beans—but provide twice the amount of caffeine.
Most thermogenic supplements contain more than caffeine-containing ingredients, though. Many are formulated with targeted ingredients to help support other goals, such as Slimvance, Yohimbe, Rose Hips or others.
How Should They Be Used?
Because thermogenic supplements contain natural stimulants like caffeine, it’s best to take the lowest recommended dosage when you first start using them. This will allow you to assess your sensitivity and adjust accordingly. Taking one 30-60 minutes prior to exercise may help you work out harder and longer, and may also help you burn more calories. You should never take more than the recommended daily dose, nor should you take a thermogenic supplement just before going to bed. Its stimulating effects may make it difficult to fall asleep and can also disrupt the quality of your sleep.
GNC Mansfield Towne Crossing located at the Target Center at Debbie and Highway 287N carries a wide variety of products for you to choose from.