6 Weight Loss Gimmicks that Actually Work:

So I recently hit the milestone of losing 10 lbs since beginning my fitness journey! I started working out with Serina (my trainer) in July so it was slow, steady and healthy! I love working out with her and I know it’s made a huge difference. We usually do high-intensity body weight movements like jump squats, lunges, hip thrusts, burpees, etc. If you want to watch my workouts she usually posts them to her IG story on Thursdays and Saturdays! I also make a point to do a cardio class every Tuesday and one day of either the Stairmaster for 25 min or Soul Cycle. On top of my workout routine, here are 6 weight loss gimmicks that actually work.

I also want to mention I do use affiliate links within this post but none of this is sponsored content. I have tried all these “gimmicks” myself and like them enough to recommend to you.

Disclaimer* I am not a doctor and am not qualified to make medical suggestions. Please consult with your doctor before undergoing any type of weight loss plan or trying any of these products.

1. BioX4:

I saw a facebook video about 4 foods that you should never eat and four things that will help with weight loss. The video was about a half an hour but shared correct and valuable info. In the end, just as we had suspected, they tried to sell us something… it was BioX4. The video was well done and was accurate and informative but the product is expensive. We did some outside research on BioX4 and found some mixed reviews but we decided to try it anyway. BioX4 isn’t a normal “diet pill”.

 BioX4 is comprised of four parts, hence the 4 in the namesake.

The first is a probiotic and I’m sure I’m not the first one to tell you that probiotics are very good for you. Probiotics are great for your gut health which allows maximum nutrition absorption and ensures regular bowel movements. There are 4 billion CFU  in each pill so you’d be consuming 12 to 24 million CFU per day. (One to two capsules with each meal, max 6 capsules per day.)

The second part is a blend of 3 digestive enzymes. These enzymes are tiny protein molecules that break down the foods you eat and unlock the nutrients for your body to absorb. As you get older, though, your production of these enzymes starts to slow down. BIO-X4 includes 3 key digestive enzymes to help you get the most from the food you eat:

• Amylase: breaks down sugars
• Lipase: breaks down fats
• Bromelain: breaks down protein and helps calm intestinal irritation

The third part is EGCG which is a natural compound found in green tea. It has been shown in several studies to boost the body’s fat-burning activity. One study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that EGCG quadrupled belly fat loss.

The last part of BioX4 is Caralluma Fimbriata extract, an Indian herb that hunters would take to reduce hunger and food “weighing them down”. It’s a safe and natural appetite suppressant.

I have been taking BioX4 for about 2 and a half months and I feel less hungry and have better digestion when I take it. It’s all natural and made in the USA, it’s also not a stimulant so you won’t get jittery. ( The small amount of green tea doesn’t make you jittery at all)

I was very good about taking BioX4 with my meals (three to six times a day max) but Jacques never really stuck to it. The one downside is that I find the capsules a little sticky – in that they stick to your esophagus and don’t go down very well- but they work I honestly notice a major difference in my regularity and hunger when I’m taking it regularly.

2. Slender Tone:

The Slender Tone ab belt is great. It’s an electric pulse that basically works your muscles as if you were to be physically exercising. You definitely get sore from using it and I noticed a difference after using it for about a month. I usually use it twice in a row (one hour and 20 min) at a noticeable but tolerable level about once or twice a week, and I know it would have better results if I remembered to do it more often. If you have a muffin top it won’t do anything, but if you’re actively working on your core it will give you a jumpstart and continue to make you stronger. You can even flip it around to use on your lower back if you have weakness or pain there. I really think it’s a worthwhile gadget especially if you work at a computer and are sitting and immobile for long periods of time. If nothing else, it makes one aware of their abs so they will maybe not snack while it’s on or after.

3. Far Infrared Sauna Blanket:

I first heard about these when I worked for Body Wrap LA. As an employee, I got to do the wrap for free anytime there was an opening or after hours when I was working so I did it all the time and fell in love.

There are a few benefits to using an infrared sauna blanket; first, it heats you from your core and increases your heart rate giving you some of the benefits of running or another cardiovascular activity. One of the benefits of doing cardio is that even after you’re done, it boosts your metabolic rate throughout the day so you burn more calories even while resting. Becuase the blanket mimics cardio you burn calories just from laying there sweating. Sauna blankets also increase circulation which helps in muscle recovery, joint inflammation and healing of all kinds. Increased circulation can also help to reduce cellulite and improve skin health. The far infrared sauna also helps manage cortisol levels helping you to reduce stress; one of the causes of holding onto unwanted weight. I LOVE mine and I use this model.

Keep in mind to only set your sauna blanket to around 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 on the machine. Although it goes up to 70 degrees Celsius, at that temperature you actually don’t burn fat you just sweat a lot. This is great if you want to shed water weight and bloat in a pinch, but if you’re actually looking to burn fat, 55 Celsius is optimal.

4. Drink Lots of Water:

I know this isn’t a “gimmick” but it does help you loose weight. Water is essential for your body to work properly so whether it’s aiding in digestion or curing a thirst pain you’ve confused for a hunger pain, it helps to lose weight in every way it possibly can.

Drinking water causes you to feel full sooner and have more energy for your workouts. Drinking water helps you eliminate regularly and helps all your organs including your brain to work at their maximum potential. I always say the fountain of youth is just a drinking fountain but you actually have to drink the water.

You should drink a minimum of half your body weight in ounces. Basically, I weigh 131lbs now so 65oz or about 2 liters of water a day is optimal. I try for 3 liters per day as I’m working out regularly and require more, so keep that in mind. Having a large water bottle with a straw helps me do this SO much better than without it. I hate refilling it so the large size ensures I only have to fill it max twice a day rather than 6. (You should really get a refillable water bottle as single use plastic is killing our planet.) I love this water bottle.

5. Garcinia

Garcinia is another pill but it’s similar to the fourth ingredient in BioX4 as it’s also an all natural herbal appetite suppressant. It isn’t a stimulant either, so no jitters thankfully and it specifically helps you curb sugar cravings as well as your general appetite. I find Garcinia especially helpful during that time of the month if you know what I mean. My diabetic grandmother (you may remember her from our cross country road trip last month) is the one who recommended it to me as it helps her with not eating sugar. Her doctor approved her taking it so it definitely doesn’t have any sketchy side effects if taken as directed.

6. Cool Sculpting:

I had Cool Sculpting at BHPSG in January for my second time ever. The first time was last April on my thighs under my butt. Apparently, usually people need more than one treatment and since I wasn’t in LA much I never went back for my second treatment until January.

Cool sculpting is a machine that suctions to your area of fat and freezes the fat cells there so they die off and are flushed out. This happens more quickly for those who drink lots of water and exercise making me a perfect candidate.

Cool Sculpting is really supposed to be fine-tuning, it’s not like liposuction. You’re perfect for Cool Sculpting if you’re active and eat right and you just have that stubborn area that you can’t shed no-matter what!

What I love about cool sculpting is that there is no downtime. You can walk in on your lunch break and walk out about an hour later (for one area) a little cold but perfectly fine.

In January, I got the second round on my thighs under my butt and I also got, for the first time, my upper abs. I don’t know why but I’ve always had a lot of fat under my boobs like the fat cells were supposed to make it up there (into my boobs) but fell short. If I ever wore a too-tight sports bra or swimsuit it would be squishing out from under my breasts, so NOT cute. I’ll be honest, I see some results from my thigh area but I see a major difference in my upper ab area. I am so happy with my results in my upper abs. the confidence I have gained is totally worth the (roughly $750 per area) price tag.

Does Cool Sculpting hurt?

Yes, but it’s worse in certain areas. It made my thighs a little tender but that’s it. However, on my upper abs, the whole area was in a lot of pain for about a week. The pain then slowly subsided within the following week. The weird part though is that the “freezing” part actually made my skin numb for about 6-8 days. So I would bump up against something or fold my arms over my chest and not feel it touch the skin until it was putting enough pressure to hurt really badly. It was basically super tender but I couldn’t feel anything touching it until it was too late. Very odd sensation. You see full results after 90 days which means I’m just now seeing the final results- and loving them!

Thank you to The PlastixDocs for partnering on my CoolSculpting review!

I hope this helps with your fitness journey! I also recommend you check out this post from Attained Beauty for some other great weight loss tips!

Thank you for reading!