82/365 Thou Shall Not Take Diet Pills

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

I believe in myself; you should also believe in yourself. Having said that, do not take diet pills unless they are prescribed to you by your doctor. Even then, be aware that they can be addictive.

There are two major types of diet pills: appetite suppressants and fat absorption inhibitors. The first is basically a trick on your brain to make you not feel hungry. These pills feature serotonin and catecholamines, neurotransmitters that alter mood and appetite. Fat absorption inhibitors like Alli stop enzymes that can break down fat. If you don't break down fat, it won't enter your body (remember, it has to leave somehow...ew). This is cheating. Be accountable for the foods you eat and the fats they have.

You may not be able to apply my mind over matter mantra if you are genetically predisposed to be obese. This comes from a mutated gene that inhibits leptin, the hormone in adipose tissue that tells you that you are full. In this case, diet pills may be an answer. My solution for you though would be to count those calories. Plan out your meals and control yourself. Diet pills trick your brain and your body. Be your own master and take ownership of the energy you consume and the energy you release through exercise and daily activity.

Bottom line: diet pills are unnecessary in most cases. They can be addictive. Taking a pill to trick your brain and body to keep you from eating or absorbing energy will not help you live healthily.

In health,

Lauren