There are few things as quintessentially indicative of the start of a New Year as champagne at midnight, New Year’s resolutions, and plans for weight loss. After all, it is not a bad thing, the advent of the New Year can be a marker for new beginnings, and a new fitness journey is just as poignant a new beginning as any other. As you prepare to set new goals and get yourself on a path that will see you getting better and better, getting your ducks in a row is essential.
The question of weight loss can be contentious. Like any other venture, you may take reasonable and proper avenues to achieve your goal. There may also be less conventional and, in this case, sometimes outright dangerous methods to get to where you want to be. You must adequately undertake the weight loss process to avoid costly mistakes while keeping up a safe and sustainable momentum.
One of the most important facets of weight loss is nutrition. What you eat has a meaningful impact on what you achieve in the gym. Getting your nutrition right, or as close to it as you can get, sets you up for success in meeting your short, medium and long term goals. Gearing up for weight loss does not mean that you should begin starving yourself and creating unattainable and certainly unsustainable rules to follow. The overall consensus among fitness and wellness experts is that the least effective weight-loss method is excessive deprivation. Smart choices made in terms of food and nutrition is the way to go.
Speaking of food and the role that nutrition plays in fitness while eating right and in the proper amounts is essential, your sources are equally vital. Fruits, vegetables, meats and others are excellent sources but do not necessarily have to be the only source you tap into. There are supplements, which are manufactured to help as you take up fitness with weight loss as a primary goal. While there is no shortage of thusly-labelled supplements, sorting through all the selections to get through to the right ones is vital.
Listed below is a general guide to the best supplements to look for and use in conjunction with a good fitness plan for healthy and sustainable weight loss.
Protein
Protein is a powerhouse nutrient. Its benefits in fitness are widespread and undeniable. When it comes to weight loss, protein acts as an appetite regulator, a metabolism booster, and even a hormone adjuster. The hormones in question are those that are to do with weight regulation. Eating protein-rich foods or taking protein supplements gives the advantage of more extended periods of satiation after intake since it takes us longer to digest protein than other nutrients. This digestion process also requires more energy; therefore, more calories are used up in the interim.
Protein supplements are best represented in the form of powdered protein. It can be added to pre or post-workout smoothies or even used in food recipes if you so desire. Alternatively, you can reach for protein snack bars. They are just as filled with protein and can be used as a treat with all the benefits without any regret.
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Acetyl L- Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid that acts as a vehicle for fats to be transported to the appropriate cells for burning as a source of energy. It is, therefore, an energy source. Adding Acetyl L-Carnitine to your body through supplement intake increases your body’s ability to draw fat into the cells for burning and energy production. Fat burning replaces glucose as the primary energy source, increasing your metabolism of available fats and boosting weight loss.
BCAA/EAA
Both are amino acids that are used by the body in the production and repair of muscle. BCAA stands for Branch Chain Amino Acids, and EAA is an acronym for Essential Amino Acids. Muscle is a very effective metabolism booster, which can, in turn, form the basis of heightened weight loss. In order to keep your muscles in good repair, aptly nourished, and well built, you should take supplements that add these amino acids to the body.
BCAA/EAA supplements work best when taken while focusing on a fitness regimen centred on building muscle. They aid in the maintenance of newly built muscle and repair of torn ones so that you reap the benefits of increased metabolism, which aids in weight loss.
Having an idea of which supplements to look for, getting them from brands whose quality and standards have been proven increases your certainty that you are creating a sturdy foundation on which to build your weight loss. Give the following products a try and observe the difference that they make in your journey:
- Optimum Nutrition Protein Stix
- Precision Protein by Gaspari Nutrition
- Acetyl L-Carnitine from APS
- XTEND BCAAs/Scivation
Each supplement enhances the work you are putting into your body and places you on a weight loss path that will give you noticeable and satisfactory results. Your muscles, your waistline, and your overall health will all be much improved when all is said and done.