I’m a big fan of supplementation. Start a conversation about vitamins and shit in any group and I can promise that it will be divided conversation, almost ALWAYS equally divided. For some, they believe there’s no point to supplementation as it just ends up being something you swallow to crap out the other end with no measurable results. The big problem is that one needs to take supplements for a significant period of time before any measurable results can/would be seen. Plus, since all people are different, supplements may not work as well for one as they would work for another. The other half are the ones that at least take a daily multivitamin or supplement in order to help themselves along in whatever they’re trying to accomplish.
For example, you can take supplements for low iron, lack of B-vitamins or if you spend all your time indoors and never get the opportunity to spend time outside, supplementing your Vitamin D can be a good idea. Actually, I wrote a really good post about certain vitamins, minerals and supplements that explain what individual supplements do and how they benefit one’s body. I’ve reposted it several times and for your convenience, you can read that post here. Despite promising myself that I wouldn’t conform to societal norms and make a New Year’s resolution, I would be lying if I said I didn’t have plans to increase my fitness in the coming year and a part of that is a new form of supplementation.
I recently did some research on some called “thermogenics.” Simply put, thermogenic supplements are intended to increase the body’s core temp, specifically in the fatty tissues, which is supposed to cause the body’s metabolism to burn fat through this increased body temperature. Since I’m not a scientist or medical practitioner, I’m sure there’s more to it than that. But it’s an interesting concept and one can’t deny that something that aids in fat burning sounds far more plausible than a supplement that’s supposed to just make you lose weight. After all, one’s fitness must always include one’s own efforts as well.
According to an article posted by HealthLine.com, “the word “thermogenic” literally means heat-producing.” The article covers different types of supplements that have a thermogenic effect on the body but outlines how the effectiveness of this is hotly debated and there’s no significant evidence that it holds any significant effectiveness. One thermogenic supplement they mention is caffeine, which is ironic. If caffeine was effective as a thermogenic supplement, I’d be a skinny bitch by now, considering how much caffeine I suck down in the course of a day. Of course , all of that will need to change since I have decided to find out for myself and have started taking a thermogenic supplement prior to working out.
It’s only been a few days, of course. But if it works, great. If it doesn’t, no harm, no foul. Seeing the effects of any supplement takes a significant amount of time, usually a few months at least. In the meantime, the same rules of life continue to apply. Stay hydrated, monitor blood sugars and check one’s blood pressure regularly. If I begin to notice anything out of the ordinary, I can drop the whole thing without issue. I’ll keep everyone posted, if and when I see any results. ☯️
The Blogging Buddhist 
This is one I had to chime in on.
First, like you, I’m a big believer in vitamins and some supplements. My personal experience leads me to believe the critics are those who have only tried cheap drug store and grocery store labels like Centrum. There’s a HUGE difference in quality just like a McDonald’s burger is nowhere near on the same level as a genuine Kobe burger cooked by a real chef. My personal go to brand is Animal Pak. It’s made for body builders and similar hardcore athletes. The vitamins come in packets inside the can. The instructions say take 2 packets daily. Since I’m not a pro body builder or MMA fighter, I just take one. That lasts me 44 days. One of the few products of any sort I’d highly recommend to anyone.
Now as for thermogenics… I’d advise in the strongest possible terms to stay as far away from them as you can. They use different ingredients depending upon the brand and what the FDA is trying to ban (which is increasingly less as corporate money holds more and more sway), but it’s all basically legalized speed. Ever seen a fat tweaker?
AGES ago, I started out like you did in this article. I was training 3 1/2 hours a day between 2 arts and working full time. When I filed for divorce also, stress went thru the roof. LONG drama short, I ended up addicted to thermogenics and energy drinks. By all rights, I should have died of a heart attack. Apparently I have a system like Charlie Sheen’s though, heh. When I finally realized what I was doing to myself, it took me 6 months to detox and get my system back to normal. I was like the walking dead; barely enough energy to crawl out of bed.
On top of that, I was taking bovine adrenal gland tablets to repair the damage done to my adrenal gland. They’re not expensive when you can find them, but the taste is something along the lines of liver cooked in rancid burnt grease with brussel sprouts and pig crap. It is an experience to be avoided.
The bottom line is all these energy supplements, regardless of ingredients, do the same thing: They put your adrenal gland into overdrive to speed up your metabolism. It’s no coincidence that chronic fatigue syndrome became much more well known about the time all these stimulants came out.
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is one of a handful of associated conditions. Bad part is that the Mayo Clinic’s article on it only covers the short term symptoms. Long term instead of weight loss, you have weight gain as well as mental and physical fatigue. Your metabolism is dead in the water, and you keep eating and drinking to get even the slightest push to get through the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“That lasts me 44 days”… bad wording. I meant that makes the can last 44 days.
LikeLike