When you have been struggling lose weight for some time, it can be tempting to find some sort of “magic cure” such as a herb potion, diet pills or similar.

I often see on weight loss forums on the Internet adverts for such things. For example, there is a specific herb advertised as “all natural,” implying that it cannot cause any harm.

Of course, just because something is all natural doesn’t mean it’s harmless; some mushrooms, for example, are all natural yet are deadly. (In fact, the herb in question—which I shan’t name for legal reasons—was found to cause certain liver problems, and did not have proven benefits.)

The thing is, when you are trying to find a solution from a feeling of desperation, you are likely to make a poor choice. Tablets, herbs and other “miracle cures” can seem terribly tempting. But be aware that when you put these things into your mouth, you are self-medicating.

It is my strong opinion, based on repeated warnings that I have read, that any medicine should be taken only under guidance and advice of a proper health professional. If you are tempted to take any sort of dietary supplement, it is an excellent idea to find out what you can about it, and then see your doctor. Let your doctor (or, where applicable, other health professional) tell you more about the product, whether it is safe, whether it works, and whether there are better alternatives for you.

Generally, taking a dietary supplement without professional guidance can—if it works—easily lead to weight loss followed by weight gain after you stop. I don’t think you want to spend the rest of your life having to take a supplement in order to cancel out the effects of poor eating habits; wouldn’t it be better to find a way to correct the eating habits instead?

That’s why my recommended approach to weight loss is (1) check with a doctor in case there is a medical reason; then (2) find valid and effective ways to undo the emotional problems causing your poor eating habits.

In fact, emotional eating is the topic of my next article next month (12th January).

About Paddy Landau

Paddy Landau has written 11 articles on Challenge Oxfordshire.

Based near Oxford, Paddy Landau is a qualified Life Coach, Master NLP Practitioner and Master Hypnotherapist. He specialises in helping people who have been struggling to lose weight to do so enjoyably and permanently.

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