How to DIY a Homemade Drink to Lose Weight Fast and Detox
If you’re trying to kick start weight loss, you’ve probably heard that you can make some natural homemade drinks to lose weight fast.
While there is no silver-bullet for losing weight, there are definitely some fat burning drinks you can incorporate into your routine.
Today I’m going to share my top fat-burning ingredients, and how you can use them to start shedding unwanted pounds fast - and keep a healthy body weight for the long term.
Read to the end - I’m also sharing my recipes for each ingredient!
The Bottom Line
- Natural smoothies are the perfect homemade drink to shed unwanted weight since they’re filling, quick to prepare, nutritious and made exactly to your taste.
- Filling up with liquids will help you lose weight
- That’s why detox water and infused drinks are also an effective tool in your arsenal
- How fast you will lose weight depends on your overall plan, as explained here
- Certain ingredients like cayenne, green tea, coffee, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil can actually increase fat burn
- Protein is the macronutrient most likely to produce fat loss
Options for home remedies to lose weight fast
As you’ll see in a minute, smoothies can be your best bet in your efforts to lose fat or maintain a healthy weight - if you’re clever with your choice of ingredients.
But there’s more:
Based on numerous studies, for example this one, as well as my own experience, one of the critical factors in the success of your diet efforts is: are you enjoying your new healthy habits?
I mean, how enjoyable can it be, to only eat full plates of vegetables? or just proteins all day? Are you doing the kind of exercise that you could enjoy, even a bit?
The best 3 options
Given that the key is to find a healthy eating habit that you'll enjoy adopting, there are a few options available, and one of them stands out as a winner.
After researching and trying everything I could put my hands on, I've narrowed down the various known natural weight loss remedies, to these options:
- Smoothies
- Detox water
- Juices
So, which one do I believe is the most effective and fun?
I actually use all three, but the first and second options seem to be the best for daily consumption, while the third (juices) is more of an occasional treat.
Which option should you choose?
1. Smoothies
Blended smoothie beverages offer a rare opportunity to actually enjoy your new healthy eating habits:
- You get to choose the taste - combine the healthy ingredients to come up with a taste you really love (or choose among the many smoothie recipes available). This means you’re guaranteed to enjoy it!
- If there’s a healthy ingredient you don’t like - no problem, you can mask its taste by adding other ingredients you do like into your smoothie
- You can drink smoothies as a meal replacement, as an additional to a meal, or as a healthy snack - there’s always a great opportunity to enjoy it
- Since smoothies and smoothie bowls are easy and quick to prepare, they serve as an ideal breakfast on the go. Healthy nutritious breakfasts are a critical cornerstone in your weight loss efforts.
- Smoothies have other important healthy advantages, so they can serve as an important part of an overall healthy eating habits that you want to adopt.
2. Detox Water (infused water flush)
Our modern lives expose us to an alarming number of preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, pollutants and cancer-causing chemicals.
If you’re suffering from headaches, fatigue, constipation, bloating, belly fat, food cravings, low energy or mood swings, this might be the result of daily exposure to these toxins.
Turns out there’s a simple way to try and counter the effects of this excessive toxin exposure, called Detoxification cleanse.
Experts don’t really agree on a definition of what a detox or cleanse is, but the general idea is to drink certain ingredients that are supposed to help your body get rid of toxins, such as cucumber, ACV and lemon.
It doesn’t necessarily involve fasting or limiting your food intake, but it does mean you’ll be seeing more of these ingredients on a daily basis.
But that's not all...
There’s another side benefit of detoxing: pollutants and toxins are attracted to our body's fat cells, and our body stores them. Thus, getting rid of toxins also means getting rid of extra pounds.
So, what’s the best cleanse to lose weight?
While drinking plain water is detoxifying and fat loss friendly in itself, inserting detox ingredients into the water means it’s much more enjoyable to drink, while giving you the extra health benefits.
So, has this gotten you looking for infused water ideas? Check out our top detox water recipes here.
3. Juices
A question I’m often asked: are freshly squeezed juices good for losing fat, or should I stick to smoothies?
The full answer is given here, but the bottom line is - smoothies are superior to juices in most cases, therefore we’ll focus on smoothies here.
Sounds awesome! Are there any caveats?
Of course there are. Like other things in life, too much of a good thing stops being good to you.
In our case, you wouldn’t want to replace all your meals with smoothies, and there’s also a limit to the amount of vegetables that you should consume at any one time.
Our complete guide to losing weight with smoothies covers this in more detail, and in any case you should always consult your physician or Registered Dietitian before starting any diet or changes to your nutrition.
It’s also important to bear in mind that to shed those extra pounds fast and maintain the healthy weight you’ve achieved, you would need to change not just your nutrition.
You’d want to consult with a physician or fitness expert to plan for regular exercise. Choose the kinds of activities that you’d enjoy, at least a bit.
For example: do you like the pool? Swimming would be your best bet; Have a friend with whom you could enjoy walking or running frequently? It’s a golden opportunity!
Don’t forget other healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, and relaxing activities such as meditation and massages.
What's important in a DIY homemade fat burner drink?
Hydration is Key
You know that drinking water is important, but did you know it can help you burn fat?
Drinking water has been associated with fat loss thanks to it’s ability to fill you up and prevent overeating. Even better, ice-cold beverages take energy to heat up in the body so they can help burn calories.
This makes a great case for drinking smoothies, as they are mostly liquid and often ice-cold.
Another important addition is to drink flavored water - I'm referring to diy infused water that's quick and easy to make at home, as explained here.
Protein is King
Protein is the master macronutrient for weight loss, for two main reasons:
- Protein is the most satiating macronutrient. This means that compared to both fat and carbohydrate, protein will keep you full the longest. In one study, just increasing protein lead to weight loss of 1 pound per week.
- Protein will help you lose weight since it revs up your metabolism and increases the number of calories you burn thanks to an effect called thermogenesis.
This basically means that your body burns enough calories breaking down protein to partially offset the calories protein provides.
It’s no wonder I’m seeing people who drink protein-packed smoothies lose weight much more effectively.
Fat Burners are Perks
While totally optional, certain ingredients can provide a fat-burning boost, so include these whenever possible for maximum results:
Cayenne Pepper
Thanks to the spicy compound capsaicin, hot peppers like cayenne actually rev up metabolism while suppressing appetite.
This effect is especially potent if you aren’t eating much spicy food to start with, so if you hate spicy food… this is the perfect trick for you!
Green Tea
It’s not just the caffeine in green tea that boosts metabolism (but that helps too).
The antioxidant EGCG in green tea has been shown to literally burn fat by taking it out of your fat cells and using it as energy. The best part? It’s mostly belly fat.
Want a stronger alternative still?
Coffee
If you’re a coffee lover, you might have rejoiced at learning that drinking between 4 and 6 cups per day can increase your metabolism enough to burn an extra 150 calories per day.
But there’s a catch…
This effect is temporary, as you will build up a tolerance. So I suggest rotating your coffee intake, with at least 1 week per month totally coffee-free.
Note: caffeine has undesired side-effects such as energy drain. Therefore it is not a recommendation to drink more coffee.
Having said that, if you’re already drinking more than a cup a day, it might be a good idea to rotate and keep one coffee-free week per month.
This is your chance to try natural energizers that don’t have the negative side effects of coffee, and at the top of the list - Maca. Click here to learn more about Maca and other ingredients with exceptional health benefits.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
In order to burn fat, you need to regulate blood sugar, and this vinegar has been shown to do just that.
By reducing blood sugar levels after meals, vinegar has been proven to help obese people lose 4 pounds.
It's not all good with ACV and here are some of its known lights and shades.
Coconut Oil
Thanks to medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), coconut oil can help you lose weight and especially cut down your belly fat. MCTs are great for fat-loss because the body uses them as energy before more easily than other fats.
The fat in coconut oil also helps reduce appetite and leads you to consume fewer calories overall.
Tip
I’ve found coconut oil to be a great addition to smoothies, as it adds both to the flavor and the creaminess of the smoothie. 1 tablespoon of coconut oil per serving should be great.
Be sure to use an extra virgin, cold pressed coconut oil such as this one, and not the refined ones.
Smoothie fast fat loss recipes
Here are my top 5 fat-burning smoothie recipes, based on the ingredients that I’ve found to be the most effective.
1. Icy Spicy Fusion - Lemon Pepper Smoothie
This smoothie tastes like a frozen lemonade with a spicy kick.
Ingredients
- 2 lemons, juice only
- ½ cucumber, sliced with peel on
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Squeeze the lemon and combine it with all other ingredients in your blender jar.
- Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes depending on your blender.
For crushing ice, you’d want to use a powerful personal bullet blender or high performance blender. Learn more about these here! - Drink while ice cold for even more fat burning power!
2. Banana Green Tea Smoothie
Green smoothies are popular cleansing drinks, but this beverage is even better - it gives you the fat-burning boost of green tea.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons ground flax
- 1 ½ cups chilled green tea
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Brew your green tea and ice it, or leave it in the fridge overnight to chill.
- Combine all ingredients in your blender jar.
- Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes depending on your blender.
3. Fat-Fuelled Latte
This fat-burning hot drink uses coffee and coconut oil for fat-burning synergy. This isn’t your typical smoothie, but a blender is still required. Add half a banana for surprising creaminess!
Ingredients
- 1 cup brewed coffee, hot
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ¼ cup canned, full fat coconut milk
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
Instructions
- Brew your coffee and add it to the blender with the coconut oil, milk and cinnamon (if using).
- Blend until frothy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Enjoy hot.
4. Apple Cinnamon Fat Burner Smoothie
This sweet smoothie tastes like an apple pie, but actually promotes weight loss.
Ingredients
- 1 apple, cored and quartered
- 3 tablespoons hemp seeds
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in your blender jar.
- Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes depending on your blender.
- Drink while ice cold.
5. Almond Coconut Breeze - Tropical Weight Loss Smoothie
This creamy shake has tropical vibes, and fat burning power.
Ingredients
- ½ frozen banana
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in your blender pitcher.
- Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes depending on your blender.
- Drink while ice cold for even more fat burning power!
Flavored water recipes
If you're looking for the best infused water ideas, look no further!
Here's our top detox water recipes you can easily start making at home today:
1. Cucumber Mint Cleanse Water
This cleanse water recipe is full of goodness and has a fresh cool taste.
If your sweet tooth calls for it, replace the salt with a few drops of liquid Stevia sweetener.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 8 parsley leaves
- Optional: a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Slice the cucumber to thin pieces
- Insert ingredients into a regular pitcher or a Fruit Infusion Flavor Pitcher such as this one.
- Cover with ice about a third to half of the pitcher, then fill to top with water.
- Store in your refrigerator. Refill with water when finished.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Lime Water
This cleanse water recipe is full of goodness and has a fresh cool taste.
If your sweet tooth calls for it, replace the salt with a few drops of liquid Stevia sweetener.
Ingredients
- 3 squeezed limes
- 3 spoons apple cider vinegar
- Water and ice to fill a 3 quarts pitcher
- A few drops of Stevia sweetener
Instructions
- Insert ingredients into a pitcher.
- Cover with ice about a third to half of the pitcher, then fill to top with water.
- Store in your refrigerator.
- Refill with water when finished.
Up to 3 refills should be good before you lose much of the flavor.
3. Apple Cinnamon Infused Detox
This recipe makes drinking water a whole new experience. If you’ve ever had issues drinking enough during the day, this recipe will get you addicted…
I recommend using a cinnamon stick rather than powder, since the powder tends to form clogs in the water and isn’t that pleasant to drink.
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Water and ice to fill a 3 quarts pitcher
Instructions
- Cut the apple to thin slices and remove the seeds.
- Insert ingredients into a pitcher.
- Cover with ice about a third to half of the pitcher, then fill to top with water.
- Store in your refrigerator.
- Refill with water when finished.
Ready to feel the burn?
Try incorporating some of these fat-burning ingredients and recipes into your routine, and you’re well on your way to losing those extra pounds fast.
Along with a high protein diet and adequate hydration, special ingredients like cayenne pepper, green tea, coffee, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil can increase your metabolism and start burning extra calories effortlessly.
