Are you overweight? Obese? Need to drop a few pounds? Your not alone. There is an obesity epidemic going on. Millions of people dropping serious cash on anything and everything to lose weight. Weight loss pills are everywhere. But are these pills enough to end the epidemic.

So as you can see weight loss pills are here to stay. The diet pill industry will only get richer and richer with more and more people becoming overweight, and lot of others trying to lose what they have already packed on.

But what is a good weight loss pill. Is it an actual weight loss pill, a fat burner, a hunger suppressant, or another type?

It's true there are some bogus companies out there trying to make a quick buck on people's pain and suffering. That's true with all types of industries. But the people that buy into these fly-by-night companies and their savvy marketing campaign get sucked in, the pill doesn't work, and they feel even worse now.

What is a person to do?

Well, I hate to say it (no I don't), but good old-fashioned exercise and nutrition are your best bets when it comes to losing unwanted pounds. No pill in the world is going to work without that.

However, I'm sure you have seen those pills on those stupid late night infomercials. Eat everything you want and still lose weight-- Pizza, cake, brownies, and fried food. What??!! That all is a bunch of nonsense.

It simply is playing on your emotions. When people think that in order to lose weight they have to go on this super bland diet eating stuff that tastes like cardboard then they see this and it's like euphoria! They just have to try it. Super marketing wins out again over common sense.

So what makes a good weight loss pill?

What do you need to look for?

A good 'pill' will either suppress your appetite, increase your metabolism, or boost your energy levels. Or all three. You want to look for natural supplements. Stimulant free would be best. Stimulant based pills are dangerous. You can't judge how you will react to the combination of ingredients or the dosages.

Some side effects of taking stimulant packed pills can be anxiety, nausea, sleeplessness, increase or decrease in heart rate while at rest or exercising, anxiety, and the shakes. That's just to name a few.

I know back in my bodybuilding days when I was taking Xenadrine which had the banned substance ephedra, I would get the shakes and my heart rate would stay elevated a lot higher and longer then normal even while performing not very challenging exercises. Needless to say I dropped that rather quickly. A few deaths have even been linked to diet pills.

So it's best to go the natural ingredient route when searching for a weight loss pill. Things like Green Tea, Ginger, Hoodia, real fruit or vegetable extracts, and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). Pills that are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids are also going to be a great choice not only for weight loss but also for your overall health.

But always do your research before picking something up. You only get one body, don't abuse it by putting toxic crap in it. A lot of pills, will put stuff in it that doesn't even belong in a diet pill. Especially over the counter. Always check with the FDA to make sure it is approved.

Then of course we come back to the absolute best way to lose weight and body fat-- with sound nutrition and exercise.

Nothing beats it. Consistency and effort will get you results. Not a pill claiming miraculous results.

Do you believe in miracles?!

In hockey, yes. Not when it comes to diet pills.