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The capsules are described on the Protein World website as "a supplement designed to reduce the amount of fat you digest, ignite your metabolism, and increase the rate that your body burns fat." The language of burning or melting fat is incredibly attractive to someone who, like me, carries a fleshy bagel around her waist, despite regular exercise and eating like a monk.There is something strangely enticing about the idea of such painless violence. But, of course, it's not that simple. "My best advice is understanding that this will be a lifelong endeavor," says obesity and family medicine physician and former athlete Dr. Spencer Nadolsky. "Many people are able to lose weight but most people are unable to keep the weight off because they resort to their old habits. Find a way to sustain the caloric deficit (your preferential diet and exercise plan) and get a good support system. Using protein supplements is a tool to help but they aren't magical."They might not be magical, but they have their place. As Dr. Nadolsky says, protein powders are useful in treating obesity because they can help retain muscle while "in a caloric deficit," i.e. on a low calorie diet. But just adding them on top of your diet won't do much for weight loss and becoming reliant on a meal replacement rather than learning how to eat a balanced diet for the long run may make it harder to stay healthy.
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