Hoodia for Weight Loss?

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Have any of you tried this yet?

I just dropped $35 at Costco for a bottle of this stuff, which a couple of my co-workers are using for appetite control and weight loss. One of them has lost 79 pounds and shrunk from a size 32 to an 18 in the past year; the other has lost only 10 pounds since spring, but she has PCOS that's not well controlled, and she tends to stay heavy no matter what she does.

The thing is, I lost 40 lbs last winter and have managed to keep them off through exercise (mostly yard work and gardening chores), but I'm still over 300 and my body is frantically signaling that it won't bear this much weight much longer: my left knee feels like it's got ground glass in it, my right knee is beginning to ache too, and I'm already developing venous stasis in my right leg with edema and numbness in the right foot. My blood pressure is difficult to control. My blood sugar and cholesterol levels are normal, but who knows how much longer my luck's going to hold out?

But what's motivating me now, more than anything, is the desire to be more physically active. I want to be able to dance again. I want to play with my grandsons without gasping for breath and feeling like I'm going to have an MI any second. I want to not be in pain every minute of every day. I'm not kidding myself---I'd need bypass surgery to lose as much weight as I need to, and my insurance doesn't pay for it so it's not even an option. But even 50 more pounds off would help tremendously, and that's my goal for the time being.

I know how and where I'm going to cut back my calorie consumption, but part of my problem is that when I'm as active as I've been this summer, I eat like a horse! So I bought the Hoodia, in the hope that reining in my appetite will give me a head start. I don't eat when I'm not hungry, so thankfully THAT isn't an issue; it's just that when I'm working outside in the yard, or running around my workplace, I work up a monstrous hunger---I'm known to eat an entire steak and baked potato PLUS dessert and a large glass of milk in one setting!

So..........does anyone here have any experience with this product, and what, if any, side effects have you noticed? I'm certainly not gullible enough to believe in magic bullets when it comes to weight loss; but if Hoodia has helped anyone besides my two co-workers---or NOT---I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!

Save your money. You don't need diets and diet pills to lose weight. Go to overeaters anonymous or food addicts anonymous meetings and get help for the real problem-food addiction. They just pass a basket around at these meetings and people put in donations-usually just 2 or 3 dollars per meeting. I lost 125 pounds. I no longer have high blood pressure. I no longer get out of breath after a short walk. The book that "saved my life" was from food addicts anonymous. It's called "Food addiction the body knows by Kay Sheppard. I think the book costs about $12. Food addicts anonymous is located at 4623 Forest Hill Blvd. #109-4 West Palm Beach,FL 33415. ;)

After reading your post, I ordered the book that you recommended and have just begun to read it. Wow...this book really hits home, amazing. It looks like there are only 2 FAA meetings in my state (WA), the nearest FAA chapter is 55 miles away...but I am going to check into OA in my area. I know that this approach to weight loss is the real answer for me. Thanks so much for your post.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Update:

I gave up on the hoodia before I finished the bottle. It didn't really do anything for me except make it possible to delay my first meal of the day, and we all know skipping breakfast is not the healthiest way to lose weight. Now I'm just sticking with the basics: I've cut out all concentrated sweets and am watching my carbs (I was recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes), as well as keeping a log of everything I eat. Keeps me honest! I've dropped 15 lbs. since New Year's, a drop in the bucket compared with what I need to lose, but I'll take it. And I'm not going to waste any more money on diet products, diet books, or diet foods.

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Thanks so much Talka1. :up:I am so glad to hear that you got that great book!!!! I had read so many other books in the past but nothing helped until I got that FAA book which finally answered all of my questions. I finally found out exactly what I needed to do to save myself. I pray that you too will be saved.;)

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Thank you-much appreciated. I am inspired by your success!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
Update:

I gave up on the hoodia before I finished the bottle. It didn't really do anything for me except make it possible to delay my first meal of the day, and we all know skipping breakfast is not the healthiest way to lose weight. Now I'm just sticking with the basics: I've cut out all concentrated sweets and am watching my carbs (I was recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes), as well as keeping a log of everything I eat. Keeps me honest! I've dropped 15 lbs. since New Year's, a drop in the bucket compared with what I need to lose, but I'll take it. And I'm not going to waste any more money on diet products, diet books, or diet foods.

Good for you!!!!!!:nurse:

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

I've been contemplating trying this.

For those of you that have taken it, did you have any noticeable adverse side effects?

The one I am particularly worried about is if Hoodia causes you to become jittery or causes your heart to race. I know side effects are different for everyone, but has anyone stopped using it because it gave you the shakes? That jittery/shakey feeling is why I avoid any OTC diet pills.

Thanks!!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I did have some pretty significant palpitations, which I wonder about because I'd never had ones before that made me feel woozy. That was one of the reasons I quit taking the hoodia, although I didn't get rid of the palpitations until I was put on atenolol BID instead of QD. Luckily, my Holter monitor test results showed nothing ominous..but I'm still glad I stopped taking the hoodia. I won't take it again, that's for sure.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

If you do get Hoodia, you have to make certain that it is the real deal. They should have the certification seal from Africa. Like I have stated before, it is expensive. I have tried cheaper ones, but they did not work.

I did not have any s.e. But, you need to make sure there are no added ingredients. It should be 100% hoodia. Some of the hoodia brands have green tea, or other stimulants in them. That is when it gets dangerous. I know that I could never really take any OTC diet aids because of the caffeine content in them. But, pure hoodia worked for me in the past. Sometimes, it takes up to 10 days to work. It needs to build up in your system for some people. It was like that for me. It took about 10 days before I felt any appetite suppression.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Thanks for your replies!

I didn't even know there was a 100% Hoodia. I know I would have bought the cheap one with all of the fillers.

I might try it. I'll have to price it first.....I might be too cheap to fork over the $$$

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

The only difference I noticed was heartburn, "herbal burps" and upset stomach... This was with the genuine African hoodia.

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