Is there such a thing as a “fat stripping tablet” that strips fat and not my sleep, sanity, or savings? I’m fully aware there’s no pill that overrules physics, but if there’s a modest, evidence-backed nudge out there, I’m curious which one is the least embarrassing to admit I tried.
Ground rules I’m hoping we can stick to:
- Non-prescription options only. Not trying to audition for a pharmacy commercial or a court date.
- Actual human evidence preferred over rodent miracles and influencer before/afters taken 4 minutes apart.
- Safety matters. I like my liver, my heart rhythm, and the ability to not panic at a loud toaster.
Stuff I keep seeing, and what I want to know about each:
- Caffeine + green tea extract (EGCG): Is EGCG adding anything beyond caffeine, or just an expensive way to collect liver enzymes?
- Glucomannan/other fibers: Is “take before meals and chew slowly” the only real trick here? Any brands that don’t expand into a small mattress?
- Berberine: Modest help for appetite/insulin? Or just yellow capsules and yellow… everything?
- Capsaicin/capsiate or cayenne blends: Any noticeable thermogenesis without turning dinner into a dare?
- White kidney bean extract (carb blocker): Placebo with branding, or actually noticeable when pasta happens?
- Garcinia, CLA, L-carnitine, chromium: Is any of this still a thing, or have we collectively agreed to move on?
- Apple cider vinegar tablets: Any difference from liquid beyond saving tooth enamel and your friends’ noses?
Red flags I’m hoping to avoid:
- Yohimbine, synephrine/bitter orange, DMAA/DMHA and similar “why is my heart texting me” stimulants.
- Hidden laxatives/diuretics marketed as “fat melt.”
- Proprietary blends where the label says “trust me, bro.”
How do you define “works” in the real world?
- What measurement do you trust for fat loss (not just water/glycogen): waist measurements, photos, DEXA if you’re fancy, or something else?
- Over what time frame do you judge it? 4 weeks? 8 weeks?
- What’s a realistic effect size for a supplement that isn’t fantasy? Half a kilo a month? More? Less?
If you’ve had a positive experience, can you share:
- The specific product and dose, how long you used it, and what your diet/exercise looked like at the time.
- Side effects (sleep, mood, heart rate, GI fireworks).
- Any interactions or “wish I’d known” moments.
- Whether you used third-party tested brands (USP/NSF/Informed Choice) to dodge mystery sprinkles.
Bonus points for:
- Links to actual RCTs or at least decent meta-analyses.
- Tips for timing (e.g., fiber pre-meal, caffeine pre-workout) that didn’t backfire.
- Ways you decided “nope” early (e.g., resting HR up, sleep wrecked, appetite rebound).
If the answer is “the only thing these tablets strip is your wallet,” I can take it. I’m already doing the unsexy basics (protein, steps, sleep, veggies). Just wondering if there’s a least-worst helper that doesn’t require a new cardiologist or a hazmat suit for the bathroom.