Nowadays, it seems that everyone wants a quick and easy way to lose weight. At present, we are a fatter nation than ever before and the average size of everything seems to have increased: the size of our takeout burgers, the size of our cars, and the size of our waistlines. The best course of action in our fight against weight gain is to scale down the size and portions of our meals and snacks, and move our bodies more often. Good old fashioned diet and exercise is still the best defense for our ever-increasing weight problem.

While there really is no ?quick fix? for weight loss, there are certain measures people can take that do come in tablet or capsule form. Some weight loss supplements have been shown to effectively supplement a reasonable diet and solid exercise program, and have stood the test of time so that they are not considered ?just a fad?. Let's look at some of these supplements and what they can do for you.

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is an oil capsule that you take with each meal. This supplement hit the health food stores about a decade ago and they could not keep it on the shelves or re-stock it fast enough. CLA helps metabolize fats in the body and bloodstream, and there is even some anecdotal evidence that it staves off hunger. Clinical tests have shown time and again that people who have supplemented their diet with CLA over a substantial period of time have lost more weight than those taking a placebo. Even though it is no longer the fad pill of the moment, CLA has stood the test of time and is a great additional to a sensible weight loss program.

More recently, hoodia has hit the market as the best supplement for effective weight loss. This is an herb, and comes in capsule form. It works by controlling hunger and decreasing appetite. Because we are so accustomed to eating large portions of food, this type of weight loss supplement is really helpful for a lot of people. Appetite control is crucial for weight loss. Loss of control can really sabotage one's efforts to lose weight, because the sense of accomplishment you get from watching the pounds slip away diminishes and leaves you frustrated. If you can control your appetite, your chances of sticking with your weight loss program increase and you gain confidence and satisfaction seeing your progress. For people who benefit from this type of control, hoodia is a great supplement for you.

Sugar intake in the United States is at its highest. Even though many new foods are labeled as ?fat free? or ?low sugar?, our sugar consumption increases with each passing year. Many of the food labels we read are misleading, as they lead consumers to believe that ?fat free? or ?low sugar? means ?low calorie?. This is simply not true, and people end up eating more and more of these foods that are void of nutrition and very easy to overeat.

Some people have an almost uncontrollable craving for sugar, and these people would benefit from supplementing with chromium picolinate. Chromium is a trace mineral that is often difficult to get in sufficient amounts in one's diet. It can be taken once or twice a day in capsule form, usually in a 200 mg dosage. Chromium functions to control one's craving for sugar, and works at the cellular level to do so. Along with healthy consumption of fruits and vegetables and a concerted effort to lessen the intake of empty calories such as cakes and cookies, chromium picolinate can help maximize your weight loss efforts.

There are a great number of things you can do to maximize your weight loss efforts. If you find that the hours in your day are limited, you can wake up just a half hour earlier and get your exercise in then. When you eat your dinner, try substituting that side of French fries with an extra helping of the broccoli you prepared instead. Park your car an extra 50 yards from the supermarket entrance, instead of trying to find the closest parking space you can. When you watch TV, do pushups or sit-ups or jumping jacks at the commercials, instead of eating a bag of potato chips mindlessly through your program.

Despite these efforts, some people just have a more difficult time losing the weight. If you are one of those people, the supplements mentioned here can really help and can easily be incorporated into your daily regimen. Try these daily, along with some healthy new habits and you will be well on your way to maintaining your weight loss and getting into the healthy shape you deserve!