I'm not trying to replace diet and exercise with a magic pill, but if it helps me reach my goal I would consider adding some kind of weight-loss supplement to my diet. Not looking for a miracle here, just a little boost to what I'm already doing

Does anyone know which ones are generally considered to be relatively effective and safe?

Well I dont take supplements designed to burn weight - but I do take ones that I believe will make me healthier.

I take centrum performance as a multivitamin. It seems to cover off the holes that I see in fitday when I look at my nutrition breakdown. I try to cover off as many as possible of my needs with my food - but I found that to control my weight I needed to axe a few things from my diet.

I also take omega 3 fish oils, garlic, zinc, high dose of vitamin C and starflower oil.

I think that they work because I feel pretty healthy.

If we are not feeling healthy we cannot do ourselves justice when it comes to activity.

Work as in "raise your metabolism and burn fat"? They don't exist.

As Omega said above, supplements like vitamins and fish oil and so forth for all over health - worth a try.

Supplements to lose weight? Don't waste your money.

LOL yeah, kind of expected to hear that. Well, guess I'll just keep at what I'm doing now then

I do not believe in any magic pill, but I started taking a natural supplement called new age. It is stuff like licorice root and many others that naturally control cravings and suppresses the appetite. I have only been on it the past week, and I already feel a lot better and not as hungry.
I am on epileptic meds that seemed to increase it, so I did not want to go back wards.
As for them mixing together, I was ok'd by a biochemist after ready all the ingredients. So works for me

Here is a link to a very interesting medical study regarding accelerated weight loss with a high daily intake of dairy calcium. The study discussed that calcium supplements (tablets, I suppose) are not nearly as effective.

Obesity - Calcium and Dairy Acceleration of Weight and Fat Loss during Energy Restriction in Obese Adults[ast][ast]


So it can be as simple as fitting in a litre of lowfat yogurt (about 400kcal) into your daily calorie limit. On my carton of lowfat yogurt in the fridge, it says 40kcal and 120mg calcium per 100mg e.g. 400kcal and 1200mg calcium in one litre.

I try to do it like this: 400mg bowl of yogurt and a banana for breakfast. (lunch...), 200mg yogurt and apple for afternoon snack, (dinner...), 400mg yogurt and a 350ml pineapple juice for evening snack. I try to keep both lunch and dinner to 250 calories each, large servings vegetables, skinless chicken breasts, tuna, sardines, etc. A few wheat crackers with lunch to get fibre... Capers to get sodium. Olive oil and cashews to get fat...

I am not hungry at all, and I am losing weight at a good, steady pace. My mind is clear and I feel better, with more energy than I've felt in years. This after about 5 weeks on this "diet", if you can call it a diet.

One small serving of rice or pasta per week, no bread, no potatoes.

Research does indeed indicate that calcium can have an impact on weight loss.

Calcium For Weight Loss

Science supports dairy calcium for weight loss

Milk, Calcium and Weight Loss

Many authorities promote 1000mg calcium per day.

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium

The following calculator may give inspiration on things that could boost your calcium intake.

Calcium Calculator

Calcium can be calculated using FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

You can see that while research indicates that we would all benefit from a calcium intake of at least 1000mg – there is some uncertainty as to whether there is added benefit in it ALL coming from dairy sources. Some research indicates that a vitamin tablet with the correct level of calcium would cover this. I more than cover mine from nutritional sources simply by having 4 low calorie fat free yoghurts every day.

There are tons of supplements out there that can help aide in weight loss, but from experience the best way to find out which one is best for you is to try them. CLA is a great natural fat burner that has always worked well for me. You can get it at the nutrition store in liquid form, 1000 mg. The one that works best for me is combined with Omega oils. Just be sure to continue to eat right and exercise and this is a supplement not a replacement. :-)

I agree with Carrie - CLA is probably what you would want to try. I used it for a 4 month period a couple of years ago and it did accelerate my fat loss compared to the previous 4 months with the same diet and exercise. I thought it might be snake oil, but at the end of the day I felt like I was helping myself out. Even if it is a placebo, it doesn't have anything in it that will hurt you, should you choose to try it.

Whatever you do, don't take any of that Xenadrine stuff, there have been recent studies linking it to severe liver problems, and there is A LOT of caffeine in those things. It will make you crazy and potentially very sick.

I don't know if this is along the line of what you are looking for but I am taking what is basically a fibre supplement, it's called PGX daily. It is supposed to make you feel fuller for longer and it seems to be working for me, but it may be psychological lol. It does not say it will increase metabolism or help burn fat, I don't believe in anything that claims it can do this.

But definitely take a multivitamin and maybe extra vitamin C. Avoid excess vitamins A, D, E and K as these are fat soluble and can build up to toxic levels. All other vitamins are water soluble and excess amounts will just be removed via urine and sweat. Calcium is good too. But again be careful with calcium supplements, as excess calcium can lead to muscle weakness, impaired heart and kidney function, calcium stones in the urinary tract and lowered iron absorption (leading to anemia).