Do Supplements Really Help With Weight Loss?

A real journey, real data, and an honest answer

Over the past few months, many people have commented on my weight loss and body changes. The question I hear most often is this.

“What are you doing?”

And that question matters far more than people realise.

Because the answer is not a pill, a powder, or a quick fix.

At my heaviest, I weighed 84.8 kg, which is 187 lb or 13 stone 5 lb. My body fat was 44.4 percent, my visceral fat sat at 17, and my BMI was 30.4. I did not arrive there overnight, and I was not going to undo it overnight either.

Before this phase of my journey, I worked with three different nutrition coaches. I invested a significant amount of money, followed the plans carefully, and stayed consistent. Despite that, the weight would not shift.

This was frustrating, especially because I am also a Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach.

A body that has always been hormonally challenged

To add important context, my hormones have never been straightforward.

All my life, I experienced bloating and painful periods. In 2018, I underwent a laparoscopy, which finally explained some of what my body had been dealing with. Then, in 2022, I began experiencing ongoing ovulation pain. I was told it was ovulation cramps, although I am still not fully convinced.

As a result, I was placed on progesterone-only birth control.

So when people ask why weight loss was difficult for me, this matters.

Hormonal disruption over many years, chemical changes from birth control, and cortisol spikes from prolonged unwanted stress created a perfect storm. Add those together, and you get a super cocktail for weight gain that you never signed up for.

This is why generic advice never worked for me.

The turning point

What eventually became clear was that a one-size-fits-all approach did not work for my body, my hormones, my stress levels, my lifestyle demands, or my low boredom threshold.

So I made a decision.

I stopped outsourcing my body and started customising everything.

What I changed and why it worked

Instead of restriction, I focused on alignment.

I review my calorie allowance weekly, not obsessively but intelligently.

I adjust my macros weekly, prioritising protein and eating for my body and hormone profile.

I train in ways that fit my life and bring me joy.

I currently train six days a week, combining Zumba, STRONG Nation, STRONG personal coaching, STRONG Nation with weights, MMA, dancing, CIRCL Mobility four times a week, and general strength training.

This might sound like a lot, but for me, it works because it fits into my life without restriction or punishment.

Most importantly, it is sustainable.

What the data shows

After 277 days, my body tells a very different story.

• Weight lost: 15 kg, which is 33.07 lb or approximately 2 stone 5.07 lb

• Current weight: 69.8 kg, which is 153.88 lb or approximately 10 stone 13.88 lb

• Body fat: reduced by 13.1 percent

• Fat mass: reduced by over 15.9 kg, which is 35.05 lb

• Visceral fat: reduced from 17 to 9

• Muscle percentage: increased significantly

• Measurements: reductions across waist, hips, thighs, arms, and calves, many by 5 to 9 cm, which is approximately 2 to 3.5 inches

Even more important than the scale, my shape, strength, mobility, and energy have changed.

I am not at my final target weight yet, and that is okay.

This is progress that respects my body.

So where do supplements fit in?

People often still ask what supplements I take.

Here is my honest answer.

Supplements did not cause my weight loss.

But for me, they supported the systems that made weight loss possible.

I use supplements to support:

• Hormonal balance

• Blood sugar regulation

• Muscle preservation

• Joint and connective tissue health

• Hydration and training performance

• Recovery, sleep, and stress regulation

This includes targeted support such as berberine and calcium D-glucarate for metabolic and estrogen pathways, magnesium for nervous system regulation, collagen, glucosamine, MSM, ginger, and hyaluronic acid for joint and tissue health, creatine for strength and muscle preservation, and electrolytes to support hydration with frequent sweating and high activity levels.

Could some people meet their needs through food alone? Yes.

Do many women with long-standing hormonal challenges, chronic stress, and high training demands benefit from strategic supplementation? Also yes.

For me, supplements were supportive, not magical.

That distinction matters.

A closing reflection

This journey has taught me that progress is not about extremes or shortcuts.

It is about understanding your body, your hormones, your stress, and your reality.

Supplements were not the solution on their own.

Training was not the solution on its own.

Nutrition was not the solution on its own.

The change came when everything started working together.

What I know now is this.

My body was never the problem.

The approach was.

Once I stopped forcing change and started supporting my body properly, progress followed. Not perfectly and not quickly, but steadily and consistently.

If this story makes you pause and reflect on your own journey, that is enough. Sometimes the most powerful first step is simply asking whether what you are doing truly fits your life and your body.

There is no single right way.

Only the way that works for you.

That is what finally worked for me.

Ready to start your own transformation journey?

If you are ready to take a smarter, more personalised approach to your health and body composition, I would love to support you.

Contact us via www.luvyabodi.com

to book your consultation and begin building a plan that works for your hormones, your lifestyle, and your reality.

Your transformation can start today.