So here is the thing…when you’re training to lose fat, efficient is the LAST thing you want to be. Now…don’t look at me like that. Let me explain…

Let me set it up for you…you started your fat-loss training and all the weight exercises were new and challenging. All the cardio was challenging. The diet part was tough. Yet you started losing fat VERY fast.

Then you started getting comfortable with the exercises – you learned them and the training techniques, you got really good at the cardio training and could really power through it. Even the diet part of it was getting easier.

Now, you would think with things going well like this (your training and eating actually improving as you were progressing) that your fat burning would actually be increased.

But then fat loss started to slow down.

You’re training as hard. The cardio is tough but you’ve hit your stride with it. The diet part is going well.

Is your metabolism decreasing? You take a few days off and eat more to try and reset your metabolism and then jump back in but things still aren’t moving.

So what now?

It’s time to go back to the start and literally go back to when you were BAD at things!

Because when you were BAD at things, everything you did seemed to take more energy. It was, plain and simple, inefficient. And in that inefficiency, you burned a LOT more calories…getting the basic idea now?

Let’s take running as an example…this is a visual thing. Look at two people…one is a first-time jogger, trying to get into shape. The other is a very experienced runner.

Let’s also assume these two people weigh exactly the same so they SHOULD be burning the same number of calories when they cover the same distance, right?

But when you see the poor guy plodding his way down the road, hardly lifting his feet off the ground and you see the OTHER guy floating past him, who do you think is burning more calories and challenging their body to a greater degree?

The guy who is completely inefficient is driving his metabolism to a whole other level than the experienced runner, even though the runner is probably going 3 or 4 times faster!

So here’s the take-home lesson. When fat loss starts to diminish, you don’t always need to work harder at the things you’re already doing…you may just need to do something completely different!

Let’s just say you’re always used to doing barbell bench press for chest and rarely do dips. Even if you push yourself on the bench press, what do you think will get you cranked up more…bench press or dips? You’ll be so not used to doing dips that your body will have to work harder just to do the exercise.

Then when you get too good at dips, switch to dumbbell bench press. Keep doing stuff you’re NOT good at!

You want to really burn some fat? Construct a program based on exercises you are TERRIBLE at or hardly ever do (maybe because you’re terrible at them).

You may have to use a lot less weight but I can promise, you’ll kick your metabolism into gear far more than when you cruise through even tough sets of exercises you ARE good at.

Try a workout based on weighted dips, front squats, wide-grip barbell rows, hang clean and press, and stiff-legged deadlifts.

Or if you’re good at those exercises, go with one that you’re NOT good at. Force yourself to do the exercises until you do get good at them, then move on to something else.

When it comes to cardio, do you do interval training on the treadmill or bike? Get out to a soccer field and do sprints there instead. Kick some butt on the stair stepper? Try some real stairs and see what happens! Or, even better, do something TOTALLY different like swimming.

I think you’re getting the general idea…when the body gets really good at something, it gets lazy and gets very efficient at it. It uses as little energy as possible and CAN use very little energy because it IS so efficient.

It might be tough on the ego, but by working with exercises you’re not good at, you’ll actually be speeding up your fat loss significantly.

And, as a bonus, you’ll probably get good at exercises you used to be terrible at!

Now, when it comes to programs, you need a fat-loss program geared towards keeping you inefficient, where the training and eating are constantly changing, never allowing your body to get accustomed to (or efficient at!) really any part of it. This not only gets you better results, it keeps things challenging and interesting.

Many appetite suppressors and diet pills require a doctor’s prescription, which means you’ll have to consult with your doctor about whether to take them or not.  A physician’s oversight is important when you are taking medication that can have negaitive and even serious side effects.

Some prevent absorption of some of the fat in your diet.  It blocks fat absorption in the stomach and small intestine, sending it out of your body instead.  You may find yourself in an unpleasant situation if you backslide and load up on fat-laden foods.  Unexpected bouts with the runs can be a most unpleasant side effect.  Yerk!

Be aware that taking diet pills too long can cause vitamin deficiencies, particularly vitamins A and D.

With other diet pills, be sure to check out the possible side effects, which may include constipation, tremors, anxiety, diarrhea, dizziness, and dry mouth.  Seizures, strokes, high blood pressure, and heart damage have been reported in a very few cases.

Click here for a safe and sane alternative, which includes the tried-and-true method for weight loss, without pills.

The kicker is most diet pills also state in the small print “works when combined with a program of diet and exercise,” a program which also works without the pills.

A good, complete liquid nutritional supplement with antioxidants and trace minerals should be at the foundation of your diet.

You may or may not be aware that one of the many causes of over eating is the result of the body’s desperate attempt to get the nutrients it craves, and is not getting, ever, in the course of the typical American low variety, fast food diet.

You will get less benefit from vitamin tablets, especially the synthetic ones; and the Physician’s Desk Reference warns that only 10% of the nutrients are absorbed.  Look for a liquid whole food suplement containing a variety of antoxidant juices and kelp for trace minerals.  Those containing marine phytoplankton, or one-celled kelp, are the best.

For sensible guidance on whole-food nutrition, look at Eating for Energy.

Unfortuately, the magic diet pill is a myth.  Some people find diet pills help to jump start their weight loss program.  But you still must change your lifestyle to a lower calorie, sensible diet with regular execise if you want to lose weight.

Countless over the counter diet pills claim to increase energy while melting away pounds.  Quality nutritional supplements is a better way to go, giving you a natural energy boost that helps burn off fat while improving overall health!

For more info on increasing energy, check out Fat Burning Furnace.