DON'T LOOK PAST the BASICS
From what I've been reading in this forum for the past several years---and it's getting worse, not better---most posters here are, for some reason, missing the basics of fat loss, and instead, are looking for some magic bullet, or worse, putting their faith in some TV or youtube guru, or some online 'trainer' who's only trying to scam their $$$.
Here's the real deal: Unless you have some known or undiagnosed medical condition, you're not a unique snowflake, different from all the rest. You will drop fat by using the same basic methods that have always worked for everyone with the discipline to follow them faithfully over time---sticking to a consistent, moderate calorie deficit composed of proper amounts of protein, fat, and carbs, weight training to build/maintain muscle mass, and performing a few sessions per week of moderate cardio for heart/lung health.
*Find a beginner bodybuilding program in the sticky threads in the 'workout programs' forum, and follow it to the letter.
*Read the information found in the stickies at the top of the 'nutrition' forum. Everything you'll find there is the plain truth with no-nonsense and no ulterior agenda other than to help you reach your goal.
If the above still confuses you, simply follow these links:
*Fierce 5 Novice routine:
[url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=159678631[/url]
If you don't know how to perform any of the exercises in this program, look them up here to learn how to do them correctly:
[url]http://exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html[/url]
*This thread will explain all the steps to figure your baseline of required protein, fat, carbs, and calories:
[url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=173439001&p=1481919401&viewfull=1#post1481919401[/url]
Get your regular-food nutrition squared-away and your eating on a consistent basis for a couple of months, and [i]then[/i] consider possible addition of a few selected supplements. Keep in mind that if there actually were a pill, powder, or potion that causes fat loss, [i]everybody[/i] would already be using it, have reached their ideal physique, and this forum would merely be an irrelevant afterthought.
[img]http://assets.bodybuilding.com/forum/images/icons/icon2.gif[/img] [b] Guessing at portion sizes or relying on food package information will fail you. Buy an inexpensive digital food scale (~$20 at any big-box discount store), weigh your portions, and track them here: [url]http://fitday.com[/url][/b]
[img]https://assets.bodybuilding.com/forum/images/icons/icon4.gif[/img]
One more time; losing body fat is basically a very simple process, but it requires attention to detail and consistency brought about by personal discipline. Despite what you may have read in the National Enquirer, heard on that ridiculous "dr" oz show, or been advised from some YouTube scammer who made all his 'progress' by using dangerous/illegal drugs, there are no substitutes for these factors.
You will succeed [I]by your own hand[/I]---your willingness to adhere to the basics of fat loss and your desire to make positive change in your appearance and your health. No one else can do this for you; no bottle of pills or powders, nor any 'special' program or 'diet' will help. [I]You must commit to changing the way you live for the long haul.[/I] Anything short of that will keep you from reaching your goal.
One other point, made necessary to mention due to almost by-the-minute posts in this forum; "keto" diets and "Intermittent Fasting" have no benefit in regard to fat loss over a consistent, simple calorie deficit. Both [I]can[/I] work to help reduce body fat, but that's only because they present just another way to [I]limit calorie intake.[/I] There's no need to use some exclusionary eating plan, or restrict your meals to some specific "eating window."
[b]Above all:[/b]
[I][b]Don't overcomplicate things; a simple calorie deficit over time consisting of adequate macro- and micronutrients coupled with an appropriate weight training program will ALWAYS produce the desired results.[/b][/I]
