I often get asked what supplements are best for fat loss. My answer to this question isn’t a fat burner, protein, or creatine. The answer to this question in DIET. Yes, diet. People usually look confused after hearing my answer. They expect to hear “XYZ fat burner” or “XYZ protein”. Well the truth is that supplements need to be incorporated into an overall diet program. They should be intertwined to create a comprehensive nutrition program. Basically, supplements make your diet easier to maintain on an everyday basis. However, there are three supplements that should be at the top of your shopping list when dieting to lose body fat. They are, in order of importance, Meal Replacements, Whey Protein and Thermogenic Fat Burners.
Meal Replacements are meant to do exactly what their name suggests, they replace your meals. When your trying to lose body fat, you should be eating at least 5-6 meals a day. Two to Three of these meals could be meal replacements. So you would use two meal replacements and eat four solid food meals or you could use three meal replacements and eat three solid food meals. Basically use the Meal Replacements at your convenience to mold your nutrition program to your schedule. Some meal replacements that I like are AST’s Nytro-pro 40, Dymatize Advantage Matrix or Labrada Lean Body. All of these taste great and are very high quality. My personal favorite is the Nytropro, but they will all work great!
Whey Protein is a great supplement for losing body fat because it helps maintain and build lean mass, which will in turn keep your metabolism running at a high level. This will make it easier for you to burn off excess body fat. The best way to use Whey Protein is to take a whey protein shake post workout, and before bed. The serving size depends on your body weight. Two scoops or approximately 40 grams would be good for a man, One scoop or about 20 grams would be good for a woman ( these are very general recommendations, adjust the serving size appropriately). These shakes would be considered “meals” in a diet program calling for 5-6 meals. Some protein brands that I like are AST’s VP2 (fruit punch is awesome), Dymatize Elite Whey (Chocolate Mint flavor is the best tasting protein I have ever tried. EVER!) and Natures Best Isopure is a great protein also.
Lastly, a thermogenic fat burner can greatly increase fat loss results. When added to a solid diet and exercise program, fat burners can make a huge difference in the amount of fat lost. They are formulated to slightly increase your metabolism over the course of the day, resulting in a large amount of calories burned over time. These products should only be added if you are following a sound diet, otherwise the results will be minimal. Some great thermogenic fat burners are Nutrex Lipo-6, Isotori Lean System 7 and BSN Thermonex.
By adding these three different kinds of supplements into your diet and exercise program the pounds will be melting off in no time. Remember, no one supplement is the answer. By using the proper supplements together is how you achieve optimal results. Remember this: DIET + EXERCISE + SUPPLEMENTS = RESULTS. I guarantee that if any part of this formula is missing, the desired results will be less than optimal. So stick with the formula, and you’ll be happy in the end.
