Weight-Loss Supplements Part 3: Why Would You Want To Anyway?

This is my final post on weight-loss supplements, and then my intention is to stay away from the topics of food and weight, despite the former recipe-oriented nature of the blog and despite my enormous knowledge and fascination with nutrition facts.Writing these posts has taught me that the messenger cannot be divorced from the message. (And don't you always go read the author bio on the back of a book?) You'd think someone supposedly* twenty pounds underweight would be the ideal person to give advice related to weight loss, but I actually want people to read my blog and it seems my sharing on this subject's a turn off.
*I say "supposedly" because it might be the case on a different body, but my body seems to work fine.

Do we love the moon more when she is new than when she's full?

So, why would you anyway? Why take a pill/supplement/substance when good diet and exercise, optimized sleep, minimized "bad" stress (good stress, so-called "eu-stress," like challenging yourself to do your best, is actually beneficial), meditation, good breathing, can accomplish what you're after?
The first, important answer goes back to the issue of cleansing that I banged on about in both the previous posts. If you're carrying excess, you know that it's protecting you, and when you shed the excess you need a graceful way to escort out the sequestered toxins. Unless you really know what you're doing--and perhaps even if you (think you) really know what you're doing, don't do this alone. Even aside from the fact that support is so necessary to release, people respond differently to different herbs and it's best to have the help of an expert when you go to figure it out.
Then there are the other medical issues to do with hormones--primarily thyroid, adrenals, and reproductive hormone balance--in these cases the supplements are often indicated to bring about balance, and release of excess weight is part of the balancing process. Therefore, these interventions shouldn't really even be called "weight-loss supplements." You're likely to notice that you feel better in all kinds of respects, and the release of weight won't be the first thing you notice.

Aside from the vital issues of toxins and hormonal balancing, to me, the answer is process rather than product. In other words, the choice to take weight-loss supplements is about day to day activity, not the end goal of released pounds and/or inches.
The supplements I myself take tend to be stimulants and appetite suppressants. I will note right away that even the best appetite suppressants (caralluma, hoodia) may not work any better than just drinking loads of liquid. And much as it freaks me out, I admit a little MCT oil in my tea suppresses hunger better than the encapsulated options for a longer time than the small amount of calories by which it exceeds them. So, why do I do this, when I actually don't mind feeling hungry? Process again--it's not why, it's when. I don't mind being hungry, but sometimes it's distracting and I need to focus, for work or because I'm around people. I don't always do this, but sometimes I take some appetite suppressants coupled with some stimulants (mostly caffeine--pills as well as beverages if I'm really tired or spacy). That way I can focus on being present for that which I wish to be present to rather than having this nagging nuisance. I don't think it's habit forming, but I also don't do it that often. But it's so much more convenient than having to figure out eating (but that's mostly me with my allergies, etc.).
Beyond "weight-loss" supplements -- Bettering my best What it boils down to is that I use these supplements when I want/need to do better than the best that I can come up with by myself. The hormone-balancing supplements (especially rhodiola and relora) can help with this too. This is really about performance enhancement, not weight loss. Together with caffeine, caralluma, hoodia, B vitamins, there are a few other performance enhancers in my toolkit. I'll leave you with their names and links to some basic information about them:
Phosphatidylserine -- this phospholipid supposedly goes straight to the brain, and you definitely feel its effects right away. In my experience, it's almost as good as a benzodiazepine for stopping a panic attack, without the unwelcome stupefaction--in fact it makes you feel smarter. People take it for enhanced performance on tests, too.
The other two are newer to me:
Huperzine A -- extracted from Chinese club moss (and note that mosses have a venerable worldwide history of medicinal use, just like cactus and seaweed)
Vinpocetine -- this is periwinkle! (Well, and relora is from magnolia, and peony is very effective in bringing sex hormones into balance...) 
The interesting thing is that all three of these are used in treating Alzheimer's. If they're helpful in restoring impaired cognition, it makes good sense that many people are using them to support and maintain--and perhaps improve--their baseline cognition.
That's where it's at for me. If something will help me do better than the current best I can offer, I'll accept its help. 
Don't look for weight-loss supplements. Look for helpers for detoxifying, balancing hormones, and enhancing performance.