the beginning of my journey
I first heard about raspberry ketones from a well known tv doctor. This was a little over a year ago when I was beginning my weight loss journey. I was not taking any supplements at the time, recently started eating healthier and started walking and working out at the gym a couple times a week.
Before watching the show, I had never really believed that a supplement could help me lose weight, I was 100% convinced of the “eat healthy and exercise” way to lose weight. After watching the show and looking into the supplement a bit more I decided to give it a try, it’s inexpensive and I was willing to try anything (within reason) to lose weight. I knew from research that raspberry ketone was natural and safe, so I didn’t have much to lose (other than LB).
This one decision, accepting the supplements in my weight loss mix has certainly helped me lose 30 pounds or more.
How does it work
Warning: brace yourself, as I may talk a bit nerdy in the following paragraphs.
Raspberry Ketone helps with weight loss by initiating lipolysis. Lipolysis is the breakdown of fat, in essence, Raspberry Ketone takes fat from a stored state, which is common in obese and overweight people, to a state where the body can use it for energy. Fat is a form of energy that is underutilized in those of us who have tons of weight to lose. This ability to initiate the breakdown of fat is a big reason why the supplement is effective.
The regulation of adiponectin, which is linked to the above, is another reason why raspberry ketone is helpful for weight loss. Adiponectin is a hormone that has been found to be linked to obesity. High levels of adiponectin have been linked to thinness, the reverse is also true, with low levels linked to obesity. Adiponectin tricks your body into thinking it’s skinny, so high adiponectin levels tell your body “Hey you skinny, start acting skinny” and the body responds by letting go of the fat. Raspberry Ketone has been found to increase adiponectin levels, which in turn increases the body’s metabolism, leading to fat loss.
This concludes my description of how raspberry ketone works, if you are not a fan or you are a nerd, now you can start reading again!
Benefits
Obviously the number one benefit of Raspberry Ketone is weight loss and specifically fat loss. Some have also found that it helps suppress appetite and causes you to eat fewer calories. I have never tried to track this down as I feel like it would be quite complicated. I have never felt fuller than before starting the supplement. I’d be interested if anyone has actually tested this on themselves.
Side effects
Raspberry Ketone is natural so it is considered safe, there are no known negative side effects. Having said that, there are things to look for and people who shouldn’t be taking the supplement. The supplement was created for adults, so it is not recommended that children or adolescents take raspberry ketone. You should also pay attention to the ingredients, as sometimes companies will add fillers, binders, or additional ingredients. Sometimes these ingredients are not safe or have additional side effects. I personally stick with pure raspberry ketone. Also, women who are pregnant or lactating should not take the supplement, you should not take any weight loss supplements when you are pregnant or lactating.
My results
Since I also exercise and eat healthy every month, it is hard to judge how much of my weight loss is coming from this supplement, but I do know that my losses increased after starting the supplement. I’ve also tried it in a couple of different ways, but nothing 100% definitive as to its effectiveness. My goal has always been to lose weight, so I don’t want to affect that goal by doing a proper test and potentially wasting time not taking a supplement that is helping me. For those reasons, my results section for this will be somewhat speculative based on my limited testing and the way I feel about the supplement.
I have been taking raspberry ketone since I first found out about it. That is why it is without a doubt the supplement with which I have had the most success. On average I would say that I could probably attribute 2-3 pounds of my weight loss to the raspberry ketone supplement. On average I have lost about 6-7 pounds per month for the last year, so 2+ pounds is a good chunk of that.
Suggested dosage
There are tons of opinions on the recommended dosage, I have always chosen the highest to maximize my losses. In my research I found that the optimal dose is 500mg twice a day, so that’s what I take. I have also seen lower doses suggested, but since there is certainly no harm in taking 1000mg a day and there is very little difference in cost, I opt for the 1000mg a day.
Who should and who should not take the supplement
I’ve already touched on this briefly in a previous section, but I’ll clarify it below.
Who should not take this supplement
- Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant
- If you are under 18
- If you take a medicine that you think may be affected (talk to your doctor)
Who will benefit from this supplement
- Anyone who wants to lose weight who does not fall into a category above
*Of course, for legal reasons I must point out that none of this constitutes medical advice, you should always consult your Doctor with any concerns you may have.
my brand options
In this section, I will describe the brands I currently take as well as the brands I have taken in the past and note whether or not they were successful.
I currently take an Ava Falco Raspberry Ketone supplement. You can find a link to their Amazon.com page in the section below. You can also check their website http://www.AvaFalco.com
