Are weight loss pills effective or do they have undesirable side effects?

[Deleted member 32804]

I'm currently bed bound with an illness so I can't exercise currently. But because I'm not very mobile I'm putting on weight. The medication I take also actually makes me put on weight too. So I'm trying to eat healthy to combat this.

Amazon Marketplace sent me an email regarding some weight loss fat burners and they're rated 4.5 stars. Are they actually effective? Again keep in mind I'm not in a state to exercise currently.

Thank you. Please share your experiences if possible.

 

[MrConbon210]

I'm pretty sure most of them just make you shit your brains out. They don't actually make you lose fat if you're not working out and eating healthy.

 

[Sampson]

Exercise really doesn't affect weight loss at all. Unless you're working out like 5 hours a day, every day. It's all about what you eat.

Those fat burners are a scam. There are some prescription weight loss drugs but they have issues.

 

[FTF]

Exercise really doesn't affect weight loss at all. Unless you're working out like 5 hours a day, every day. It's all about what you eat.

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That's just not accurate at all.

 

[ned_ballad]

Be careful trying to lose weight while ill, your body needs extra nutrients and calories to heal itself.

Count the calories you eat and make sure you're not going over what your body needs. Those pills are junk.

 

[Dali]

Arent those things usually a stimulant or diuretic or both like caffiene? If that's the case then they could be bad for your kidneys. Plus if all you're doomg us peeing out water weight i assume your just dehydrating yourself rather than really losing weight.

 

[Masoyama]

That's just not accurate at all.

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Exercise affects like 5-10% of your body weight. Its the difference between pudgy and ripped, but not the difference between normal weight and overweight.

 

[Deleted member 32804]

In the case that they're unhealthy, and as I say I'm bed bound, other than eating well is there anything else I can do to shave off some pounds? I'm eating salads and soups etc but I'd love to know what else I can do to get healthy. Thank you.

 

[Sampson]

That's just not accurate at all.

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I've lost 100+ lbs. Then I put it back on and lost it again.

A super intense hour of exercise -- which most people don't do, even if they do "workout" -- will only burn maybe 400-600 calories. Most people are probably jogging for 30 minutes and maybe burning 200-300 calories. That's like one cookie or a bag of chips. It's nothing. For all practical purposes, working out is not going to help you lose weight. It's like trying to get water out of a sinking ship with an 8oz cup.

Working out will make you look better if you're already at a healthy weight, and it will improve your overall physical and mental health. But it is not an effective weight loss tool.

 

[3bdelilah]

Exercise really doesn't affect weight loss at all. Unless you're working out like 5 hours a day, every day. It's all about what you eat.

Those fat burners are a scam. There are some prescription weight loss drugs but they have issues.

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Are you serious? Losing weight is nothing more and nothing less than more energy going out of your body than energy going in. And how does one do that? Besides eating less, eating more efficiently, and eating healthier, exercise - and just being more active than sitting sedentary on your ass - is a great way to burn more. And since 1kg of body fat roughly equals 7000kcal of excess energy, that means theoretically you'd stand to lose 1kg of body fat in two weeks if you maintain a 500 calorie deficit.

 

[Sampson]

In the case that they're unhealthy, and as I say I'm bed bound, other than eating well is there anything else I can do to shave off some pounds? I'm eating salads and soups etc but I'd love to know what else I can do to get healthy. Thank you.

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If you're bed bound, you should only eat 1000-1500 calories a day probably, depending on your target weight, age, and gender.

 

[Masoyama]

Are you serious? Losing weight is nothing more and nothing less than more energy going out of your body than energy going in. And how does one do that? Besides eating less, eating more efficiently, and eating healthier, exercise is a great way to burn more. And since 1kg of body fat roughly equals 7000kcal of excess energy, that means theoretically you'd stand to lose 1kg of body fat in two weeks if you maintain a 500 calorie deficit.

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500 calories are the equivalent of working out hard for an hour or eating a single bag of chips. What is going to make more of a difference in most peoples life? Putting the snacks down or going to the gym hard every day of their life?

 

[Crocks]

There are plenty of drugs out there which totally kill your appetite, so I wouldn't be surprised if they've been able to turn that into a pill.

 

[3bdelilah]

500 calories are the equivalent of working out hard for an hour or eating a single bag of chips. What is going to make more of a difference in most peoples life? Putting the snacks down or going to the gym hard every day of their life?

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How about both? They're not mutually exclusive. Leave the bag of chips and drive a bicycle to work, or walk 30 minutes after dinner.

 

[Food]

Weight loss pills can mean many different things.

You would need to be a bit more specific.

Most likely what Amazon sent you an ad for is just a bunch of stimulants. Like green tea extract and caffeine and another thing or two.

5HTP can help you control your appetite. But that is a bit controversial for long term use.

Almost any diet pill will lead to down regulating so I would not use them to get fit. Mostly, they will not help in the long term.

 

[Deleted member 32804]

If you're bed bound, you should only eat 1000-1500 calories a day probably, depending on your target weight, age, and gender.

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To be honest I probably have never eaten over 1500 calories in a day. I like food but I do check the calorie intake on the packets. I'm 30 and transitioning which is the medication I'm currently taking (contains steroids).

 

[JCX]

They will not work if you still eat a ton of calories. I tried a ton when I began trying to lose weight and they just made me feel jittery. OP, just watch what you eat as always, and be comfortable knowing you may gain a little weight while sick. As others said, exercise isn't great for weightloss.

 

[Masoyama]

How about both? They're not mutually exclusive. Leave the bag of chips and drive a bicycle to work, or walk 30 minutes after dinner.

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Walking 30 minutes is going to burn like 100 extra calories. If you want to make a difference, you need people to walk like 5 hours a day + eat healthy. That is the whole point, you have to exercise so goddamn much that is practically noise in the greater context.

To be honest I probably have never eaten over 1500 calories in a day. I like food but I do check the calorie intake on the packets. I'm 30 and transitioning which is the medication I'm currently taking (contains steroids).

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Subtract a few hundred calories from you diet and you should be OK. You will be a bit hungry, but your body does not need that extra energy.

 

[Jadusable]

Just eat less, you don't need pills lol

 

[ConanEd]

That's just not accurate at all.

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Exercise really doesn't work that well. It will make you want to eat more. The upside is if you exercise and healthy, lose weight is not that important.

IF or calories counting is more efficient.

 

[BlackRainbowFT]

It's not "only" calories in, calories out... Working out and building muscle affects your metabolism too.

 

[big_z]

They don't do a whole lot. A lot of it is placebo effect and you can take a caffeine pill or energy drink to get a similar "boost"

There is one substance that does in fact burn fat and does it really well but I'm not going to say what it is. It was pulled from market shortly after being sold due to deaths and experience being unpleasant. Maybe someday research will find a safe version but for now just watch what you eat and exercise.

 

[Landy828]

Exercise affects like 5-10% of your body weight. Its the difference between pudgy and ripped, but not the difference between normal weight and overweight.

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While that's the norm, it's never been that for me. I played Soccer for 14 years, including for a college's travel team. Despite the same diet as everyone else, I was always the "fat guy" on the team. I could run for miles and was a 90 minute starter for years. Despite keeping the same diet, I gained a ton of weight once I moved on from the sport. In order to get anywhere near normal I had to cut my calories to darn near nothing and take up running again. I can't eat anywhere near "normal" and stay "in shape". I have to eat very small portions throughout the day, and work my tail off to not be "fat".

So yeah, it was a lot about "diet", but my diet had to be water, darn near no carbs or sugar, and feeling like I was starving...lol. Once the weight is off my diet has to STAY horribly lean just to maintain at all.

I've darn near given up, but I really need to knock a lot of weight back off. Which means limiting my food to very little and killing myself with physical fitness/working out. :(

Keeping my diet "good" results in maybe 10-15lbs of weight loss with top effort over a year. Adding in working out last time I tried, dropped me by 60lbs...but as soon as I quit working out, the weight comes back with vengeance.

 

[Deleted member 32804]

What about meal replacement shakes? I have some whey protein that's designed to be a meal replacement? Are they generally healthy to take?

 

[heavy liquid]

That's just not accurate at all.

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https://www.vox.com/2018/1/3/16845438/exercise-weight-loss-myth-burn-calories

 

[FTF]

I'm not saying only exercising will make you lose weight, but combining it with a diet will work better than just a diet alone.

 

[hydro94530]

Diet pills used to work back in the 90's when Ephedra was legal. Man did they work! But yeah they were very bad for you and I actually got an ulcer from the one I was using back then.

These days? I have no idea but I have heard decent things about Old School Labs.

 

[Masoyama]

While that's the norm, it's never been that for me. I played Soccer for 14 years, including for a college's travel team. Despite the same diet as everyone else, I was always the "fat guy" on the team. I could run for miles and was a 90 minute starter for years. Despite keeping the same diet, I gained a ton of weight once I moved on from the sport. In order to get anywhere near normal I had to cut my calories to darn near nothing and take up running again. I can't eat anywhere near "normal" and stay "in shape". I have to eat very small portions throughout the day, and work my tail off to not be "fat".

So yeah, it was a lot about "diet", but my diet had to be water, darn near no carbs or sugar, and feeling like I was starving...lol. Once the weight is off my diet has to STAY horribly lean just to maintain at all.

I've darn near given up, but I really need to knock a lot of weight back off. Which means limiting my food to very little and killing myself with physical fitness/working out. :(

Keeping my diet "good" results in maybe 10-15lbs of weight loss with top effort over a year. Adding in working out last time I tried, dropped me by 60lbs...but as soon as I quit working out, the weight comes back with vengeance.

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Everyone has a stable weight that they can reach by a healthy amount of exercise and balanced food. That stable weight is usually healthy, but it might not be aesthetically for you. Exercise helps with the final step when you go from healthy to fit, but it cannot help you to go from obese to fit. There are way too many calories in food to be able to compensate them by exercise alone. It seems your healthy stable weight and your desirable aesthetic weight do not align, which is why you have to kill yourself.

 

[Jadusable]

https://www.vox.com/2018/1/3/16845438/exercise-weight-loss-myth-burn-calories

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Well if Vox thinks so I guess that's that

I don't buy it, exercise is a great component of losing weight. It's not required but it helps out a ton.

 

[Another Castle]

Diet pills work because of the undesirable side effects. Many folks use them as supplement to leaner diets and exercise. I personally don't care for this method as you're just temporarily tricking your body and I assume you don't plan to continue shitting your brains out in to your toilet for the rest fo your life.

 

[PanickyFool]

The last time I lost 100 lbs I helped kick it off with some fiber supplements to try and feel fuller.

But since your body is not getting as much sugar as it is use to, you are going to feel tired.

Well if Vox thinks so I guess that's that

I don't buy it, exercise is a great component of losing weight. It's not required but it helps out a ton.

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Exercise is a great way to keep weight off after you have lost it. Not a big help in loosing.

 

[spootime]

If the diet pill you're referring to is a strong appetite suppressant then yeah they would probably help. They aren't going to make the weight magically fall off faster though.

 

[Cocolina]

Fat burners can make you sweat excessively. I had a coworker who was on them and he was basically a wet patch on legs.

 

[Driggonny]

I take bupropion for depression which apparently can also be part of prescription diet pill plans to reduce appetite. Not sure if it's that common, but I got that a lot when I first started taking it "oh, the diet pill?" If I don't take my other pills in conjunction, the bupropion makes me feel jittery af and wanna punch a hole in a wall lol. Seems like the options are pills that make you poop more or feel like you're on meth so that doesn't sound worth it if you're not super desperate. (although I'm sure whatever isolated dose would be lower than what I'm on)

 

[LastCaress]

Exercise really doesn't affect weight loss at all. Unless you're working out like 5 hours a day, every day. It's all about what you eat.

Those fat burners are a scam. There are some prescription weight loss drugs but they have issues.

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Yeah no. Exercise is very important. You can loose weight without exercise, and you can exercise without loosing weight, but you can't really say that exercise isn't relevant

 

[Biestmann]

How much are you OP, and how much have you been putting on since being bedbound?

 

[Landy828]

Everyone has a stable weight that they can reach by a healthy amount of exercise and balanced food. That stable weight is usually healthy, but it might not be aesthetically for you. Exercise helps with the final step when you go from healthy to fit, but it cannot help you to go from obese to fit. There are way too many calories in food to be able to compensate them by exercise alone. It seems your healthy stable weight and your desirable aesthetic weight do not align, which is why you have to kill yourself.

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I'm a thick guy even at my "healthy" weight, just pointing out it can be different for different people. Everyone in my family, on my mothers side, is "big". Not much we can do but work our tails off to try not to be. My grandfather owned a farm, and worked in the fields daily...dude was still north of 300lbs.

Edit** Just realized you meant "kill yourself" as in working out...HAHA.... the wording looked/sounded bad there at the end, despite myself using that term on the regular.

 

[Lkr]

Watch requiem for a dream and then decide if diet pills work

 

[collige]

Don't waste your money on that bullshit.

What about meal replacement shakes? I have some whey protein that's designed to be a meal replacement? Are they generally healthy to take?

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They're fine, they do what they say. I'm generally a fan of the chocolate-flavored Soylent.

 

[Deleted member 41520]

Are you serious? Losing weight is nothing more and nothing less than more energy going out of your body than energy going in. And how does one do that? Besides eating less, eating more efficiently, and eating healthier, exercise - and just being more active than sitting sedentary on your ass - is a great way to burn more. And since 1kg of body fat roughly equals 7000kcal of excess energy, that means theoretically you'd stand to lose 1kg of body fat in two weeks if you maintain a 500 calorie deficit.

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But exercising doesn't affect that deficit too strongly. If you're eating 2700 calories a day and your body burns 2500 a day, doing half an hour of moderate exercise a day will only bring you up to like 2800 calories burned, and that's probably an upper limit.

The rough proportions I've heard is that it's like 20% exercise, 80% what you eat.

Having lots of muscle helps you burn more calories at a rest... but eating carries the vast bulk of weight loss necessity

 

[Masoyama]

Uh, I'm not the kind of person that thinks that way, but I don't think I'd say that to other people, even if you're joking.

I'm a thick guy even at my "healthy" weight, just pointing out it can be different for different people. Everyone in my family, on my mothers side, is "big". Not much we can do but work our tails off to try not to be.

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Kill yourself as in exercise a lot , dude, not suicide. Jesus Christ.

 

[Jadusable]

Exercise is a great way to keep weight off after you have lost it. Not a big help in loosing.

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I don't agree at all. Exercise was a tremendous help in losing weight for me. What's not to love about an extra 500 calories to work with for the day?

 

[Kenzodielocke]

Eat healthy, eat a lot of different healthy stuff, eat less than you need, about a 10-15% calorie deficit. This will take long, but will be lasting. Good luck!

^

That's if you can't exercise at all - but I really doubt you can't do anything, can you?

 

[Deleted member 38573]

Well if Vox thinks so I guess that's that

I don't buy it, exercise is a great component of losing weight. It's not required but it helps out a ton.

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i'm sure it helps out "a ton" if you exercise like a professional athlete... most people don't.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/428523-calories-burned-in-a-30-minute-strength-exercise-session/

livestrong are usually decent when it comes to this topic. i know how shoddy nutritional websites are though, so don't take this as gospel

 

[Deleted member 32804]

Thank you so much everyone. Please continue to share advice. But yeah I really appreciate it.

 

[Landy828]

Kill yourself as in exercise a lot , dude, not suicide. Jesus Christ.

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See my edit, I realized it right as I posted. You're a fast repsonder X-D.

Derp

 

[BobbeMalle]

Working out isn't really about burning calories, in a diet it's mostly about increasing metabolism

 

[Osahi]

If they worked doctors would prescribe them and people would use them more. They are snake oils that have one function: being laxative, so you shit your bowls empty.

Exercise really doesn't affect weight loss at all. Unless you're working out like 5 hours a day, every day. It's all about what you eat.

Those fat burners are a scam. There are some prescription weight loss drugs but they have issues.

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Don't know about that. In the months leading up to my marriage I started jogging regularly and I lost weight on a steady pace without really changing my diet. Had to stop because I busted my knee, and the weight just came back. A combination of diet and exercise is the best way to lose weight.

 

[MegaManTrigger]

Working out isn't really about burning calories, in a diet it's mostly about increasing metabolism

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It depends on the type of exercise. If you're doing weightlifting, you will increase your resting metabolic rate with the additional muscle mass. However if you're just doing cardio, then all you're doing is burning calories without necessarily increasing the metabolic efficiency.

Exercise really doesn't affect weight loss at all. Unless you're working out like 5 hours a day, every day. It's all about what you eat.

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Idk how you can say exercise doesn't affect weight loss. Diet and Exercise together has an impact on weight loss. You don't need to do a 5 hour exercise junkie kind of workout.

 

[LastCaress]

People need to take exercise way more seriously. Obviously this is the wrong thread for this debate because the OP is among the people who really can't exercise, but for those that are reasonably healthy and have a permitting lifestyle, you should be doing way more. 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3 times a week isn't going to make you lose weight (it will help) in the same way that only eating healthy 3 times a week won't.
I once tried one of those fat binding pills, it's horrible, you just end with steatorrhoea