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Let me be perfectly clear: I am a skeptic when it comes to products that promise to melt belly fat while I relax on the couch. My past experiences with such supplements have been... enlightening. One time I purchased a 'detox tea' that left me with an intimate relationship with my bathroom for 48 hours. So when my friend Lena, who is as pretty as she is annoying (always looking like she's fresh out of pilates), began passionately extolling the virtues of African mango, I rolled my eyes until I saw my own brain.

Upon her mentioning that it is actually the extract of a seed (Irvingia gabonensis, for those interested), and not the fruit itself, I was suddenly inspired; I love mangoes and thought this was my chance to incorporate more of their goodness into my life. Not so fast; it's a capsule! Disappointing, but understandable.

I caved because it was a Tuesday, and I had just devoured an entire sleeve of saltines dunked in Nutella (don't judge, it's the texture), when I came across an ad for Nutrina African Mango Supplement, complete with a picture of a lovely mango that seemed to be giving me a hopeful look. I bought it immediately (and promptly regretted the decision, as this is the sentiment language of my heart). The product consists of 60 capsules taken two at a time, about 30 minutes before meals. The capsules are medium sized, have no weird aftertaste, and do not make me smell like fish (thankfully, since I once suffered a fish oil burp at work and still have the resulting trauma). The bottle is a lovely green, and the label features a mango that winked at me. My cat, Greg, is obsessed with the bottle. He knocks it off the counter daily. He has no opinion on the product, only the bottle's rollability.

Weeks 1-2: The Awakening of the Snack Goblin

I didn't expect much during the first week. The instructions asked that the capsules be taken before meals, so I set a reminder on my phone, labeled "MANGO TIME" and featuring a little mango emoji. Whenever I'd reach for the bottle, my husband would remind me with a strange deep voice, "Mango Time!" by way of a grumbled sigh.

Day 3: I realized that I was not performing my 3 p.m. pantry scan (opening the fridge and closing it, then opening the cupboard and closing it, staring longingly at the jar of pickles, then eating a handful of cereal straight from the box) with the usual enthusiasm. While the ritual still took place, I did not eat the cereal. I felt like a ghost. A confused and possibly placebo-induced ghost.

By the end of week 2, my jeans were not trying to swallow me whole. Not that I lost an entire dress size, but my stomach no longer bore the permanent red mark of a button. The bloating was significantly reduced, too (I'm guessing due to the fiber in the supplement, or my body's reaction to it). In addition, my afternoon slump was noticeably better, thanks to less of a sugar and carb crash.

Fun fact: I dropped one capsule on the floor and my dog, Biscuit, vacuumed it up before I could stop him. He looked at me with such betrayal. "This is not chicken," he said. I know, pal. I know.

Weeks 3-5: The Ice Cream Whisper

My nightly call to the ice cream freezer was always an exciting affair. Around 9 p.m. every night, the freezer would sing to me. With Nutrina African Mango, however, the vocalization has turned into more of a whisper. I still wanted a treat (because life must go on), but I could eat two cookies and be done, instead of six. The snack goblin in me was quieted, more or less. Some things I don't need to overindulge in are less of a draw when I'm taking these capsules.

I lost 4.6 pounds in five weeks (roughly). I only weigh myself on Wednesdays, for no other reason than that Monday is a fool, and Friday is a trap. I also added a 20-minute walk after dinner to my repertoire, but I think the supplement did wonders for helping me not unravel myself at midnight.

What I didn't love:

Not a miracle fat-burning bean. You can't eat a whole pie and expect the capsules to do battle with it (I tried, but the pie won, although I only had three slices, not five). Also, I had a slight dry mouth for the first few days, so I drank a lot more water (not a bad thing!). The money: it's a mid-range supplement. I spent around $25 for a month's supply. For me, that's a pizza and a half, so I've forgiven it. But please, do whatever you must for your health.

What I loved:

No jitters, no nausea, no strange heart palpitations. The hunger suppression wasn't dramatic ("I haven't eaten in 12 hours!", not a healthy state of being). My bloating was significantly reduced - I look less like a bread goblin every morning. The ease of swallowing, and no weird aftertaste.

Would I recommend Nutrina African Mango? If you're a snack-loving creature like me, who has a complicated love-hate relationship with carbs and wants some assistance without feeling zombified, I would say yes. It's not a miracle worker, but it's a solid supplement. I'll continue to take it for another month to see if the trend continues. I'll let you know if I turn into a mango or anything.

(Important disclaimer: I am not a doctor/nutritionist/healthy person who always makes good decisions and eats whole grains for breakfast. This is not sponsored, I bought the supplement myself with my own money. Please consult a medical professional before taking any supplements, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or have other health issues. Results may vary. My results may be caused by the supplement, or by my dog's judgment. Final disclaimer: I now eat an real mango every Sunday as a sacrifice to the supplement gods. Greg the cat still knocks the bottle off the counter every day. Biscuit the dog runs away when he hears the bottle being opened. My husband still says "Mango Time" in that strange voice. So there you go - my honest review of Nutrina African Mango.)

There! Now if you'll excuse me, it's 9 p.m. and the freezer has cleared its throat.Stay hydrated and keep your snack goblin at bay!