Anyone who has been on a long-term weight loss journey has likely gotten to the point where they’ve seemingly tried it all. 

When we don’t get the results that we want, we’ll sometimes hit a point of desperation, and we’ll often resort to what we believe to be “quick fixes” through different weight loss options, one being diet pills. 

Diet pills have quickly taken over the diet industry, and while the results may be alluring, they can actually do much more harm to our bodies than good. So, how can we step away from those quick fixes and get healthier, long-term results that we want? First, it’s important to get rid of the mentality that diet pills are the solution.

Why should we stay away from diet pills?

We’ve all probably been there before. We see an ad on TV of a diet pill that promises to get us the results that we want in a short amount of time, and we instantly want to give it a try. Or, maybe a friend, coworker, or family member brings up a diet pill that has worked for them, and you’re eager to try it as well.

The truth about these diet pills are that they aren’t sustainable and can have some long-term effects on our health. Diet pills may work for some people in a very short amount of time, but there are many drawbacks to look out for as well. 

If they aren’t sustained, people who take diet pills may gain more weight back than they’ve lost. Diet pills can also have a number of other effects such as causing high blood pressure, causing organ damage, and in general, changing your metabolism for the worse.

At the end of the day, because diet pills are FDA approved, they’ve become a core point for bringing in more money into the diet industry. The diet industry wants you to fail because they know that out of desperation, people will continue spending and buying these products.

So, what can we do instead?

Start with the physical.

Before diving into a big lifestyle change like weight loss, it’s crucial that you start with the physical. This includes scheduling a physical appointment with your doctor, doing your labs, getting blood work done, and getting the numbers that you need and making sure your body is in check before embarking on the journey. 

Certain medical conditions require special care, attention and plans, therefore working with your doctor to get the information you need is the best place to start. 

Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself by asking your doctor specific questions that you may have about your health.

Equip yourself with the proper ongoing support.

While exciting, your weight loss journey can also be an intimidating, isolating journey to go through. One thing that you won’t find at the doctor’s office is the ongoing support and accountability that you need to ensure that you are working towards your goals, and making the progress that you need to be making. 

This is exactly what I’m here to do. To serve as that one-on-one source of guidance, accountability, and support that you need in order to accomplish your goals and create a structured plan that is tailored entirely to your life.

Remind yourself of how your body works.

Sometimes it’s as simple as reminding ourselves that when it comes to calorie restriction, our bodies were not made to work that way. 

Our body continues to adapt and when we live in a period of restriction or starvation, it’s not only unhealthy, but it sets us up for the potential of gaining even more weight back than we lost.

Remember that living  a practical, moderate and healthy life while maintaining your ideal weight is possible. By taking a team approach to your weight loss journey, making sure you have the ongoing support that you need, and letting go of the mentality that you need to restrict, take diet pills, or use a series of weight loss options to get your results, is key.