Are you tossing your cash by buying into weight loss shakes or pills?

With so many people trying to lose weight for better health or looks, the "quick fix" weight loss market is raking it in. But before you spend your money on a diet product that promises to get that skinny body you’re working at, you want to know if these weight loss products really get you the results you want.

I won’t go into a discussion of whether weight loss shakes or pills are the better option. That’s a whole discussion on its own. I will say, however, that there are a lot of really great stuff out there that could work if used correctly. The problem is that most people don’t.

So back to our question: Are the weight loss supplements all they claim to be? Do they REALLY help you reach your weight loss goals?

Well, the answer is twofold. They do…and they don’t. It all depends on everything else you do together with them. So ask yourself the following two questions and then you’re good to go.

Your First Question: Does the weight loss supplement come with full instructions so that I know what else I should (or shouldn't) be doing?

Obviously, overeating while on the products will just defeat the purpose. You want to know how big your meals should be, what the best foods are, and how active you need to be.

Because there’s one thing you've got to understand.

There is no magical quick fix that is going to get you to super skinny, super fast. Losing weight is something that needs at least some effort. If it would be as easy as swallowing a pill, we’d all be slim!

So... before you plunk your cash on the counter, make sure that you’ll be getting the supplement along with a plan you can stick to.

Your Second Question: Do I have someone who’s in it with me?

You need support. And that’s true for anything difficult you want to do. You need someone there to answer to, someone cheering you on, someone wanting your success as badly as you do.

But more importantly, you need a coach so that you feel obliged to report success. So that the next time you’re faced with a slice of freshly baked chocolate cake oozing with cream, and your fingers and lips are itching to grab a bite, you’ll think of your coach, and the weighing in session, and how on earth you’re going to explain the lack of progress to her.

Weight loss is hard. Food is all around you, enticing you, drawing you, and you’re saying no to yourself all day. Without someone backing you, pulling you through the difficult times, cheering you on when it’s going great and rooting for you all the way through, you’ll probably give up at the first hurdle.

So, go for that supplement! You may as well take all the help you can get. Just make sure you’ve got a clear plan and someone to help you through it all the way.