Thermogenic fat burners

[Sample00]

I have recently started an exercise/diet regime, approximately 6 weeks ago.
I am completely out of shape and am trying to change that. Right now I am working out in the gym every weekday for an hour. Combination of cardio and weights.
On the weekends I usually walk 4-6KM each day.
I have reduced my caloric intake to approx. 1800 calories.
Is there a supplement that I can add to assist in the weight loss. I have been reading about Thermogenic Fat burners and Protein Shakes but have become totally confused about both.
Do any of you health conscious/exercising kind of guys have any thoughts or suggestions.

[CaptainCrunch]

The fat burners scare me a bit because they raise your body temperature and mess with your metabolism, and since I have a irregular heart beat that could cause problems.

I don't think there are short cuts, I think your doing the right things, add a ton of water to your diet too.

I've lost weight, not as fast as I want to, but I don't think there are miracles. But I do hit the gym 5 days a week, make sure I get up to a half hour of cardio, and usually about 45 minutes of weights.

[Sample00]

ya, having a bit of a problem with the water thing but I add Crystal light to the water to help get my water intake up.
I usually make it to 5 or 6 glasses but struggle to get up to the 8.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Sample00

Is there a supplement that I can add to assist in the weight loss. I have been reading about Thermogenic Fat burners and Protein Shakes but have become totally confused about both.
Do any of you health conscious/exercising kind of guys have any thoughts or suggestions.

Don't go down the route of these elixirs. Protein shakes increase the burden on your kidneys and are not a good idea.

Keep true to your exercise regimen and limit your caloric intake. Those are the keys to healthy weight loss.

[valo403]

It doesn't seem like protein shakes would be a good idea for you unless you're using them as a meal replacement. Protein shakes aren't necessarily bad for you, but they add calories which may not be in your best interests considering your goals.

[Sample00]

well I wasnt planning on using them as a meal replacement. I was reading that protein shakes or these thermogenic fat burners might be a good way to increase the metabolism which would inturn burn some more of the fat.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Sample00

I have recently started an exercise/diet regime, approximately 6 weeks ago.
I am completely out of shape and am trying to change that. Right now I am working out in the gym every weekday for an hour. Combination of cardio and weights.
On the weekends I usually walk 4-6KM each day.
I have reduced my caloric intake to approx. 1800 calories.
Is there a supplement that I can add to assist in the weight loss. I have been reading about Thermogenic Fat burners and Protein Shakes but have become totally confused about both.
Do any of you health conscious/exercising kind of guys have any thoughts or suggestions.

Honestly, you are probably pretty keen and excited about changes in your life style, so It is natural to want to go all out, but I wouldn't go for stuff like that.

If you can stick with the caloric intake and the exercise you will do just fine. Better than fine actually.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Thermogens and protein shakes are miles apart and deserve 2 very different responses.

I've read that thermogens can work very well, but they have risks and potential side effects. Do lots of research before going near such products.

Protein serves a completely different purpose and protein shakes are not in the same ball park of risk/side effect concerns.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Sample00

On the weekends I usually walk 4-6KM each day.

You need to change that to running 4-6KM each day. Burning fat through cardio requires you to keep up your heartrate for a sustained amount of time and also burns fat better through interval training when you run (run at a regular pace and then sprint for 100 meters, run at regular pace gain, sprint up a hill, etc. you need variety in exertion). All these things will also keep your metabolism going as the increase in steady and sustained heartrate during cardio exercise (45 min to an hour) will do the same sort of thing as those thermogenic burners (you will feel hot as running is far, far less efficient than walking). It will also increase your metabolism to help burn fat while you are not exercising. Walking will help your heart and your health but won't do much for you if you want to lose weight.

[TylerSVT]

Chili increases your metabolism. make some of that.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

You need to change that to running 4-6KM each day. Burning fat through cardio requires you to keep up your heartrate for a sustained amount of time and also burns fat better through interval training when you run (run at a regular pace and then sprint for 100 meters, run at regular pace gain, sprint up a hill, etc. you need variety in exertion). All these things will also keep your metabolism going as the increase in steady and sustained heartrate during cardio exercise (45 min to an hour) will do the same sort of thing as those thermogenic burners (you will feel hot as running is far, far less efficient than walking). It will also increase your metabolism to help burn fat while you are not exercising. Walking will help your heart and your health but won't do much for you if you want to lose weight.

honestly? I'm not at the running stage yet. I can do short distances but thats about it. I am trying to get to a point where I can actually start running. The knees have had a lot of abuse over the years. First from goaltending in my youth to now being muchly overweight.
I'll get there but its gonna take some time.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Thermogens and protein shakes are miles apart and deserve 2 very different responses.

I've read that thermogens can work very well, but they have risks and potential side effects. Do lots of research before going near such products.

Protein serves a completely different purpose and protein shakes are not in the same ball park of risk/side effect concerns.

so whats your take on Protein shakes for weight loss?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Smart diet + meaningful exercise + time = lasting success.

Simply put......there are no shortcuts.

[Raekwon]

Take a look at this book. It breaks down most of what you need to know about what a body needs and why. This is not a diet book.

The Testosterone Advantage Plan: Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, Boost Energy

http://www.amazon.ca/Testosterone-Ad...9832358&sr=8-1

[-TC-]

my advice.

Don't try and rush. Build good habits in reagrds to diet and exercise and stick to them. Increase the frequency and intensity as your body allows. It took time for you to get to where you are now ans it will take time to get back from there.

Be patient and stick with it.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Smart diet + meaningful exercise + time = lasting success.

Simply put......there are no shortcuts.

Originally Posted by -TC-

my advice.

Don't try and rush. Build good habits in reagrds to diet and exercise and stick to them. Increase the frequency and intensity as your body allows. It took time for you to get to where you are now ans it will take time to get back from there.

Be patient and stick with it.

I am in it for the long haul.

When you start down this path, you get a lot of information thrown at you by various sources. I wanted to make sure I am not missing out on something thats good and proven. Anything to help, right?

I have become a bit of an information junkie in regards to this "fitness thing". I'm also tracking everything I do and eat. I just like making sure I have all the right information.

[Thor]

If you lift weights protein supplements are very useful as its often hard to get your required protein intake from just meals. I used to take 1 scoop of protein powder in my meal replacement mid morning shake (myoplex) and 1 scoop of protein right before bedtime.

I'm also weary of thermogenics, if you want a boost you could always drink coffee (no sugar) before you go exercise. I used to just wake up, drink 1-2 cups of coffee and a few cups of water, go exercise and it worked great. The key I found for me was eating 5-6 times a day in small portions, 3 big meals is not ideal and if you break it up like that into smaller meals spread out through the day it works great.

I went with the body for life program, it is all about working hard and planning not only your food but your exercise and documenting everything. As with this obviously you know diets don't work, so I'd give body for life a read, good book with loads of good info. The workouts are tough if you are doing them correctly, but you'll love the results.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Sample00

so whats your take on Protein shakes for weight loss?

Used as a supplement to a well rounded diet protein shakes and fat loss do not really work together. You'd be increasing your calorie intake unecessarily. Now if you're working out a lot and find a need to increase your energy levels and help your muscles build, protein shakes can be effective. It seems like your goal is to shed pounds of fat as opposed to adding muscle (although you'll do both if you work out and eat well) so protein shakes might not fit in at this stage. So I guess the answer is it depends, which doesn't help you all that much I guess.

I use protein shakes as a meal replacement for the most part, instead of eating a full meal after I get home from the gym at night, especially if I get home after 9, I'll have a protein shake with some fruit. Same thing in the morning instead of going for a bagel or other far less healthy choices. The only time I really use protein shakes as a true supplement is when I'm in the midst of a particularly strenuous routine at the gym, which has been a while for me due to a variety of annoying injuries. If I'm doing the 45 of minutes of cardio and a half hour of core type workouts I don't usually find a need to increase my protein intake over what I get from my regular meals/meal replacements.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Sample00

honestly? I'm not at the running stage yet. I can do short distances but thats about it. I am trying to get to a point where I can actually start running. The knees have had a lot of abuse over the years. First from goaltending in my youth to now being muchly overweight. I'll get there but its gonna take some time.

I don't buy it. Walking burns calories. Burning more calories than you take in = weight loss. I've met hundreds of people that have lost vast amounts of weight based on having walking as their ONLY exercise. I'm in a group called "Taking Off Pounds Sensibly" (TOPS). I went to a TOPS conference in Halifax last August and many people attending were seniors that you wouldn't likely see out running. And many of them got down to the goal their doctor set for them on walking ALONE. The Nova Scotia king lost 76 pounds to his goal by walking the perimeter of his farm. He said he used to walk the perimeter once per day and his weight was staying the same. So he tried something different. Walking the perimeter twice per day. That did the trick. He started losing and didn't stop until he had lost 76 pounds. Though he did admit that walking twice a day meant less time sitting on the coach watching TV and snacking.

What I did to lose my weight was swimming. I wasn't racing, just leisurely swimming... I doubt my heart rate was much above normal. But it did the trick.

Now, running/jogging will get you to your goal FASTER and be better for you. But you are right... it is bad on the knees. Which is why most public swim pools offer aqua jogging classes. Just type aqua jogging into Youtube to find out what it's about. I know a guy that was using it to rehab his bum knee and he said it worked wonders for him. Jogging that actually HELPS your knees... whoda thunk it?

BTW - I have recommended it in similar threads and I'll swear by it - use Loseit! It's an app for the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. But if you don't have an i-device, just go to loseit.com and create an account and log everything there. I have been given subtle hints that I'll be this years Ontario weight loss king, and I owe it in no small part to this application.

One other thing.... I took a shortcut to goal. All cardio, no weights. If I had an hour to exercise, I wanted to burn as many calories as I could. However, I should have taken the time to rebuild lean tissue. Right now I am thin, but scrawny thin. And that means low metabolism. So I'm trying to put on muscle after-the-fact. It would have been better if I went a little slower and kept the muscle mass. So keep up the weights... it will pay off eventually.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I don't buy it. Walking burns calories. Burning more calories than you take in = weight loss. I've met hundreds of people that have lost vast amounts of weight based on having walking as their ONLY exercise. I'm in a group called "Taking Off Pounds Sensibly" (TOPS). I went to a TOPS conference in Halifax last August and many people attending were seniors that you wouldn't likely see out running. And many of them got down to the goal their doctor set for them on walking ALONE. The Nova Scotia king lost 76 pounds to his goal by walking the perimeter of his farm. He said he used to walk the perimeter once per day and his weight was staying the same. So he tried something different. Walking the perimeter twice per day. That did the trick. He started losing and didn't stop until he had lost 76 pounds. Though he did admit that walking twice a day meant less time sitting on the coach watching TV and snacking.

What I did to lose my weight was swimming. I wasn't racing, just leisurely swimming... I doubt my heart rate was much above normal. But it did the trick.

Now, running/jogging will get you to your goal FASTER and be better for you. But you are right... it is bad on the knees. Which is why most public swim pools offer aqua jogging classes. Just type aqua jogging into Youtube to find out what it's about. I know a guy that was using it to rehab his bum knee and he said it worked wonders for him. Jogging that actually HELPS your knees... whoda thunk it?

BTW - I have recommended it in similar threads and I'll swear by it - use Loseit! It's an app for the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. But if you don't have an i-device, just go to loseit.com and create an account and log everything there. I have been given subtle hints that I'll be this years Ontario weight loss king, and I owe it in no small part to this application.

One other thing.... I took a shortcut to goal. All cardio, no weights. If I had an hour to exercise, I wanted to burn as many calories as I could. However, I should have taken the time to rebuild lean tissue. Right now I am thin, but scrawny thin. And that means low metabolism. So I'm trying to put on muscle after-the-fact. It would have been better if I went a little slower and kept the muscle mass. So keep up the weights... it will pay off eventually.

umm, I am walking just not running. I'm on a treadmill everyday M-F for at least one half hour and then I walk 4-6KM outside on S and S. I can run for short bursts but not up to prolonged running yet. So, when you say, "I dont buy it", I'm not sure I know what you mean.

with the gym time (treadmill) I also do weights for one half hour. So in total I am in the gym for an hour every day from monday to friday.

I use an app called livestrong. its through the website www.livestrong.com. I input everything into the app to monitor what I stuff in my mouth and what I do for exercise.