There is no magic pill to help you lose weight and build muscle. Many people want an easy way to get fit quickly that doesn't require actual work. The truth is, fitness is acquired through consistent exercise at a high enough intensity to challenge your body. Muscle definition is only visible if your body fat level is low enough to expose the underlying musculature. In order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Building muscle requires application of enough resistance to stimulate growth while consuming sufficient calories (especially protein.)
The ease of which your body builds muscle or loses fat is genetically determined. For some people, gaining muscle or fat is very difficult. For others, achieving leanness and muscular definition can seem impossible. I fall into the latter category. I engage in two or more hours of intense cardiovascular exercise on most days of the week, but I still must be mindful of my portion sizes at meals to keep from gaining fat. I do not currently lift weights consistently, although I have an extensive history of doing so, yet I have a very muscular body. Each individual should become familiar with his or her body to know how to choose a workout and diet plan most beneficial to achieve desired goals.
It is best to get nutrients from natural foods. Supplements should be used to enhance the diet, but certainly not to replace healthy meals. People I see in the gym often ask me what kind of protein powder or drinks I use, when the truth is, I can't even remember the last time I had a protein shake. I prefer to get my protein from lean meats such as chicken breast, lean cuts of beef, and egg whites. I also consume a lot of soy, other legumes, and nuts. On occasion, if I do not have any prepared food with me after a workout, and feel like my body needs calories, I will pick up a Muscle Milk Light or a Zone Perfect bar to tide me over until I am able to eat a sufficient meal, but I try not to make a habit out of this. The
Fat burners and energy supplements are extremely popular everywhere. I see my Zumba participants and gym goers alike walking around sipping Red Bulls, Monsters, Speed Stacks, Crunk Juice, and anything else claiming to give them the drive they need to work out. I was blessed with extra natural energy, but sometimes even I need a pick-me-up. Usually caffeine does the trick for me. A nice, large mug of black coffee gets me pumped up! On occasion, I will drink an energy drink, but I try not to exceed the recommended dosage. I don't enjoy feeling jittery and like I'm going to jump out of my skin. People who drink them excessively build up a tolerance and psychological addiction. Exercise itself is a high for me. I may not feel up to it in the beginning of a session, but after about five minutes, the endorphins are surging through my body, and I'm in the zone!
For the last photo shoot I prepared for, I was instructed by a competetive bodybuilder to take a fat burner every day to get the last couple of pounds of fat to budge. I took his advice, but I honestly don't think it made much of a difference. I felt nauseous and jittery after taking it, and I don't think it gave me any more energy. That was nine months ago, and half the pills are still in my medicine cabinet. It is my personal opinion that fat burners are not necessary to achieve a lean, defined body.
Because I teach several high-impact fitness classes each day, I feel that my body does need some extra nutrients difficult to find in food sources. I take Glucosamine Chondroitin and Fish Oil daily for joint protection. I think it makes a difference. If I go for a while without taking it, my ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and hands ache more than usual. I eat lots of vegetables every day, but I also take a multivitamin to ensure my body gets what it needs. Something else that could be considered a supplement that I have recently started using regularly is a performance beverage. My favorite is Gatorade G2. I used to get light-headed, dizzy, and sometimes even queasy when teaching a class, especially in the heat. Sipping a drink with electrolytes before and during my class has really helped to eliminate all of that. I tried the calorie free versions of sport drinks, but they don't seem to work as well to enhance my performance.
There are lots of supplements on the shelves of health food stores that could be used to make your body work at its optimum level, and it could be worth looking into if you have a disposable income. I think that all those crazy chemicals are designed to help out elite, professional athletes, and are unnecessary for the general public.
