Relacore and Cortislim
 

Hello Everyone,

This is my first message so bear with me. Has anyone tried Relacore or Cortislim? Does it work to remove fat around your stomach and thighs and butt? I tried Cortislim for two weeks, and nothing moved for me.

Any input is appreciated.

Basically they're both crap.

Here are two threads from the recent past on both Relacore and Cortislim:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40708

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42630

Ah well...like every crap diet pill, they'll be history by next year - replaced by another catchy name - the marketers never seem to run out of catchy names.

I respectfully disagree with MrsJim. I do not believe that CortiSlim is "crap." I have been using it along with a weight loss program, and I believe that it has helped me with the afternoon and evening carbohydrate cravings.

Two weeks is not enough time to take the supplement to get results. I have posted elsewhere on this site about a double-blind study in which two groups of people were given either CortiSlim or an identical-appearing placebo pill. Both groups were told to follow a moderate diet and exercise plan. Not even the researchers knew which people were getting which pill (that's why it's called double-blind).

After 12 weeks, the people in the CortiSlim group had lost just under 10 pounds, and the people in the placebo group had lost just over 1 pound. So it does something, but it took 12 weeks to get there.

You have to decide whether a supplement that produces less than a pound a week in weight loss is worth the $100 you have to pay for a 12-week supply. I have the typical "cortisol" body, with fat around the midsection and thinner arms and legs, so for me it was worth it to add to my existing, and I might add strict, weight loss plan. It might not be for anyone else. Plus some people report that they feel sleepy or tired when taking it.

Jay

SW: 196 5/24/04
CW: 179 8/2/04
GW: 145

They are junk.

It's ok to disagree, we all have our own opinions :) There are several people here, though, that have said they tried it and it did nothing for them. I t hink your personal experience is unique, and might stump the experts.

Here's something interesting that I recently found in the Berkeley Wellness newsletter, from the University of CA

Originally Posted by :
Q: What do you think about CortiSlim, the new weight-loss supplement? J.B., VIA THE INTERNET

A: There’s no evidence that CortiSlim will lead to weight loss, or that it is safe. Now that ephedra has finally been banned, you can expect to see lots of alternative weight-loss products on the market—all untested and unproven.

CortiSlim contains calcium, chromium, vanadium, and a cocktail of herbs including banaba leaf extract, green tea extract, bitter orange peel, magnolia bark extract, and beta sitosterol. Green tea extract and bitter orange peel are common ephedra substitutes; they may work like ephedra and speed up calorie burning slightly. But they may also be dangerous, like ephedra, and there’s no research showing they lead to long-term weight loss. Beta sitosterol may lower cholesterol levels, but it would not cause weight loss. Magnolia bark is a folk remedy for countless ailments. In any case, who knows how much, if any, of these ingredients is in the supplement?

The main sales pitch for CortiSlim is that it will control cortisol levels in the body. It’s claimed that high levels of stress cause obesity, and that this hormone, which your body releases in response to stress, makes you store excess fat. Scientists have indeed been looking into the role of cortisol in obesity, but at this point it is still theoretical. In any case, there’s no evidence that CortiSlim will reduce cortisol, or that lowering cortisol causes weight loss.

“Who has high cortisol levels?” the ads inquire. Answer: anybody who experiences daily stress, gets fewer than eight hours sleep, and hopes to lose weight— at least 90% of the population. At $50 for a month’s supply, that’s a pretty fat business. The CortiSlim website has lots of testimonials and before-and-after photos, and a “lifestyle expert,” Dr. Shawn Talbott, who claims to have done a lot of research. We could not find even one published study on CortiSlim.

JayEll -- out of curiousity, I went looking for that "double-blind" study that you cite here and in other posts. The only place where it can be found is on the Cortislim web site. A few things jump out at me after reading it:

1. It's not a published study (the results of real clinical drug studies are submitted to medical journals, which review them for accuracy before publication). The only place this study is "published" is on the web site selling the product.

2. The only "author" listed is the man selling Cortislim. No MDs or universities or hospitals are associated with this "study".

3. The author of the study is not a medical doctor -- he says that he has a PhD from Rutgers in "Nutritional Biochemistry". I went to the Rutgers web site and they don't offer such a degree.

4.The "study" is dressed up with irrelevant graphs and tables and scientific language. It cites a lot of footnotes to real journal articles for no apparent reason except to borrow their credibility.

My conclusion, as someone who is familiar with legitimate medical research studies, is that this is simply an advertisement for Cortislim in the guise of a pseudo-medical study. Please don't be fooled by their talk of "double-blind studies"! This is NOT a real double blind study -- this is simply standard miracle diet pill advertising tarted up to look like real medical research.

Thanks for the info, Meg! This reminds me of the Leptoprin ad that claimed they had studies to back up their claims. Oprah's magazine did a piece on them and it seems their so-called double blind study and their researchers credentials were not what they appeared, either:

Originally Posted by :
"In the case of Leptoprin-SF, another diet formula, the promotional copy boasts that during a double-blind clinical trial 'the Leptoprin-SF group experienced a significant decrease in overall body weight--an incredible 830 percent greater than the group who participated in the diet and exercise program alone.' But the actual study, published in a journal called Current Therapeutic Research, concludes that although people lost weight on the regimen, 'between-group differences in weight loss were not statistically significant.' Further comments include "OTHER HOT CONTENDERS FOR A piece of the post-ephedra weight loss dollar are Anorex-SF (the same formulation as Leptoprin-SF), advertised as "the most advanced, most powerful stimulant-free fat-loss formula available today," and Zantrex-3. The latter, which contains large amounts of caffeine-rich herbs mixed with what is described as a patented compound that speeds absorption, claims "more than five times the weight loss of America's number one selling ephedra-based diet pill." Zantrex-3 and Anorex-SF cost up to $90 to $163 respectively for a one-month supply, and both are marketed by Basic Research, which has links to a number of companies including Klein-Becker, a self-described industry leader in patented and exclusive weight control products. It's unclear whether these are one and the same company, but they seem to share headquarters in Salt Lake City. Calls to Daniel Mowrey, PhD, identified as the director of scientific affairs for Klein-Becker (as of a year ago, he held the same title at Basic Research), were referred to Louis Rinaldi, PhD, who identified himself as a consultant to the company. On the phone, Rinaldi said that Zantrex-3 was expected to be the company's hottest seller and insisted that he had at hand clinical studies supporting its effectiveness. Unfortunately, he said he was not free at this time to share those studies with the public.
"We've already spent millions in advertising for Zantrex-3," he said. "We play it pretty close to the vest because we don't want to get knocked off [by imitators] and lose our shirts. When you have a new product, you have a small window of opportunity to sell it, so we are not very forthcoming about what's in it or what the dosage should be." A check of the company's Web site, however, provides a link to the very same small trial cited by Zotrin. Perhaps it will come as no surprise that Rinaldi's doctorate in nutrition was issued by Donsbach University, a nonaccredited correspondence school that closed its doors years ago. "

Something else that is interesting and may apply in this case, from our post here

Originally Posted by :
Levitsky surveyed 150 web sites advertising weight-loss supplements and then reviewed all the published research on the active ingredients found in the supplements. Not a single ingredient lived up to the weight-loss claims advertised. In all cases, either the research cited could not be located in any journal or database, or the studies did not actually prove weight loss.

I've read in several sources that these types of advertisements claim studies done in research facilities that don't exist, that use names similar to real companies to confuse us, or that the so-called independent research facility is actuall a room down the hall, owned by the same people.

For these reasons, I never believe anything that a manufacturer or retailer claims, I look for external proof.

I really can't add much to what Suzanne and Meg said...except this quote by Jay interested me...

Originally Posted by :
I have the typical "cortisol" body, with fat around the midsection and thinner arms and legs, so for me it was worth it to add to my existing, and I might add strict, weight loss plan.

I'm assuming that Jay is a guy...I've got to say that EVERY SINGLE GUY I KNOW that has gained weight (including my own MrJim) has gained first in the BELLY AREA while their legs and arms stayed trim, and they stay that way until they gain so much fat that their bellies run out of room...guess you'd call it a "Beer Gut" but apparently the manufacturers of Cortislim have dubbed it a "typical Cortisol Body". :lol:

Gotta love the ol' marketing spin...wonder what they'll use as their gimmick next year? Whatever it is, I expect it to appear around Christmas. Of course, it'll be the same stuff, just a new wrapper. As usual.

I also wonder at the high cost of these products. If the people producing it really believed that I would like it enough to continue taking it for a long period of time, the cost could be relatively low. For instance, I can buy 100 Vitamin C pills for about $30. That's a three month supply.

Perhaps the people making them are just greedy. Or perhaps they know that after a month or two, most people will stop taking them, so they charge exorbitant fees upfront to make as much money as possible. :shrug:

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Cortislim
 

I was poking around the Internet a little more and came across this press release which I thought was worth passing along: http://www.bigclassaction.com/press_.../cortislim.pdf It states that a consumer class action lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturers of Cortislim for alleged false advertising.

rip offs
 

these products are crap, like everyone has said. they are over priced vitamins. these people want only your money. I have a crushed pitutary gland. and i take the hormone gonadatrophin. it is a cortisal hormone. I take injections everyday for it. they cost 1400 dollers a month to take. everything you see on tv about cortisal products is a bunch of hooey! NO vitimin can stinulate more hormone function in your body. it might make you feel better if you lack vitimans, but they will not increase your cortisol level. ask any endocrinoligist! they are the only ones who can give you a script for a cortisol hormone that works. and get out your wallet. do not take anthing that says its a cortisol or growth hormone, or pitituary hormone product, that isn't injected.. there are no pill forms available because its not absorbed in your stomach....people may loose weight when they take a fake pill because they diet when the use it. they would loose the weight anyway. and don't believe the research studies they show you because they are hooey too. if its in the AMA you can believe it. hoped i helped. :crazy: :crazy:

You Folks Have Your Minds Made Up
 

Well, it's clear to me that the "owners" of 3FatChicks have their minds made up about this, so I'm going to stop trying to present any other side of it. Every time I do I get this flurry of contradiction complete with quotations from "real medical doctors," and it's just not worth it to buck the tide!

I'm going to do what works for me. Right now that means using CortiSlim along with my diet plan, but I'm not going to do that forever. Sure, the maker of this product intends to make money. Can you tell me about any product, any plan, any drug on the market, prescription or not, for which the goal is not to make money?

Real medical doctors used to put teenagers on amphetamines for weight loss, but goodness me, they later decided maybe that wasn't such a good idea. So I don't see any reason to blindly believe them anymore than anyone else.

No, MrsJim, I am not a male. Surprise surprise.

Jay

SW: 196 5/24/04
CW: 179 8/3/04
GW: 145

Originally Posted by JayEll:
Can you tell me about any product, any plan, any drug on the market, prescription or not, for which the goal is not to make money?

Well, there's the Canadian Food Guide! :D
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/on...rainbow_e.html

Jay, try just doing the diet plan without the Cortislim - weight loss will be the same.

Well, I tried the Trim Spa and it does not work! Anna Nicole did not lose all that weight with Trim Spa! Not sure how she did it, but that was not it. I at least got my $$$ back on that one because I purchased it at GNC and they always refund the $$$ if you are not satisfied with anything purchased from them. I have treid several others over the past years and none work. I did get a prescription one from a Dr back in the mid eighties and it worked, or maybe it was the diet plan who knows. I do know that it controled my urge to snack. It is not ont he market anymore....mmmmmmmmm...wonder why?

Thanks for the input
 

Hey Everyone,

Thank you for the great discussion on weight loss "pills" and supplements.

I have tried various things to help me lose weight, especially as I am getting older, and I have found some work for me and some don't. I don't swear by anything for everyone, each person is different by body chemistry and metabolism, I have five sisters, and none of us have the same issues with food or weight.

I think is Corti-slim works for Jay, she should continue its use, for as long as it works.

The thing to remember is there is no magic pill. More importantly, we are NOT all the same. If there was a cookie cutter solution, none of us would have weight problems.

The other thing I have discovered is as I get older, new habits bad and good develop. Things I never craved, I crave. I never ate after 6 PM, now I want to eat all night, and I wake up starving. Therefore, I have had to change my entire regime to deal with the new "me".

The neverending struggle.....hang in there.

Thanks so much, Aggie, I appreciated your opinion. It's nice to have someone express a middle path.

I decided not to use CortiSlim for a day or two just to see whether there was any difference at all--and sure enough, in the evening I kept roaming through the kitchen looking for something to eat. I couldn't figure out what the deal was, and then I remembered I hadn't taken CortiSlim. My weight loss program says no food after supper, and nothing within two hours before bedtime--but I settled on some low-fat yogurt and blueberries, and then later 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds. But it was a difficult evening.

I suppose I should just have better "will power," but it was relying on my own (not very good) will power that got me up to 196.

May we all meet our goals and keep to them.

Jay

SW: 196 5/24/04
CW: 178 8/4/04
GW: 145

Jay,
I appreciate your taking a step out from the norm and expressing your opinion on Cortislim.
I'll come clean, I've tried so many different things to help me lose weight, I could probably open my own store. I've found a few things that work for me. Maybe they won't work for some one else, but that's ok. If we were all the same, this would be a very boring place to live. Thanks for your in put and sharing your personal experience.
Nikki

You are Welcome!
 

Hey Jay,

You are welcome, it is a hard sell to let everyone know that you need to do what is best for you, but you have to love our American enthusiasm for our personal success stories - we think if we can do it, everyone can, and we are firm believers in not reinventing the wheel.

But, when it comes to weight loss, do what works for you. I am a firm believer in herbs, hypnotherapy and Citrimax, which is a herbal appetitie suppressant. But I am with you, when my hormones are raging, there is little control, if it is in my refrigerator, it is going into my mouth. So, I also have the luxury of shopping every day, I keep nothing but water in my frig most of the time, and my freezer is empty. Tricks of the trade.

Some people use worry stones, some people use lemon drops, I used to chew surgarless bubblegum.....whatever helps you stop from grazing.

The Chinese believe that you should fast for fourteen hours every day, and then you will never be over weight. So, if you sleep eight hours each night, you should stop eating 6 hours before you go to sleep. I have tried it, and it works, but hard to live up to sometimes.

Hang in there,

Aggie

Another way to keep from overeating is to eat something every 3 hours or so. At least that works for me. That way I am not starving at my main meals and pig out. I prepare most of my foods in advance (salad fixings, fruit etc.) that way I can grab them and go. I have a McDonalds about a half a mile from my office and I tell you the days the wind is just right and I smell those fries, I could almost walk there to have some of them. Those are my weakness!

Originally Posted by TerryT:
Well, I tried the Trim Spa and it does not work! Anna Nicole did not lose all that weight with Trim Spa! Not sure how she did it, but that was not it. I at least got my $$$ back on that one because I purchased it at GNC and they always refund the $$$ if you are not satisfied with anything purchased from them. I have treid several others over the past years and none work. I did get a prescription one from a Dr back in the mid eighties and it worked, or maybe it was the diet plan who knows. I do know that it controled my urge to snack. It is not ont he market anymore....mmmmmmmmm...wonder why?

Terry,
GNC told me that only 1 out of 5 people stated that Trim Spa works for them. Was the medicine your doctor prescribe for you "Tenuate"? Back in the 80's that's what use to work for me.

Tae2tas,

It was Melfiat that was prescribed. I have found nobody that prescribes it any longer. My sister took tenuate back then too, but it did not work as good for her as the melfiat did for me. Back then I only had like 20 lbs to lose and compared to what I am today, it was nothing! I would love to have only 20 to lose and wish I could lose it as easy as I used to. Those days are long gone I am afraid.

Terry,
I had never heard of "Melfiat" but I wish I had. Like you, 20lbs was all I had to loose to get into a bikini now my lbs have doubled. Tenuate worked really well for me back then. I lost 20lbs in 15 days drink loads with of water with Tenuate and the weight stayed off for a couple of years. In the last couple of years Xenadrine (RFA-1) really worked for me, but of course it's illegal now.

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post. I came into this tread because I took Relacore for about three weeks back in April… I didn’t take it for weight loss (although I do need to lose a lot of weight). I took it because it has a lot of B vitamins in it. I was looking for something to reduce stress. I actually went into GNC to buy Kava and was informed that it is no longer on the market due to the fact that it causes liver damage. So Relacore was suggested to me help reduce stress.
After taking Relacore for three weeks I did notice a difference in my moods. I was also working out everyday and I did see that it help to speed up my weight loss. That was the good thing about taking Relacore. The bad thing about taking it was I stopped getting my period for 3 months.
Not sure why that happened I did a little of my own research on Relacore. Turns out that Relacore has DHEA in it. What I found out in the research that I did about DHEA is that it is a hormone that science does not know much about. It is thought to be the “youth” hormone because people produce the highest amounts of DHEA after puberty and in their 20’s. Also in the my research it said that one of the side effects that young women have taking DHEA is they lose their menstrual cycle and grow facial hair.
Needless to say, I don’t take Relacore any longer. Just in case you were wondering yes I have started getting my period again and no, I never grow facial hair.

Since I saw this post I figured I'd pipe up and add my input. Though this isn't really a note about Cortislim, but I did look up the ingredients in Cortislim and I did notice something that has been said to be dangerous (Citrus Aurantium) which is also an epehdrine type drug. It seems there are a lot of companies out there that don't have the best interest of their consumer at heart. They make a concotion of everything they can think of that has been rumored to help people lose weight and toss in some dangerous things as well. A lot of weight loss pills now say "Ephedra free" but then if you look at the ingredients, they are using something that is just as dangerous. I think the question to as is: Are you really willing to risk your life/health using a drug that MIGHT help you a little bit?

I will say I am not innocent of trying to take supplements to help me lose weight, but I think I realized that if there was anything out there that really helped that doctors would be recommending it and you would hear tons of stories not related to advertisements about the "miracle" drug. There hasn't been anything like that. If you believe in yourself, you can put down the bottles of expensive pills and work on a healthy way to lose weight.

My view is never rely on something because it is "natural", there are plenty of "natural" plants that will kill you. Hemlock is perfectly natural but I have no plans to ingest it.

No to Cortislim
 

My experince with cortislim was not a good experience. It made me extremely tired the whole time I took it. I contacted the company I was one of the many who had the problem. My two coworkers, have lost no weight or inches using this product. It is nothing but a vitamin. Sorry I say no to Cortislim. :cool:

Hey everyone,

In response to Nelie's post above, I can find nothing that says that Citrus Aurantium is dangerous! But it is true that herbal medicines can be dangerous if taken in excess. That's true of just about anything. And no herbal medicine specialist would ever, ever suggest that someone should take hemlock!

If people would just read and follow this part of any label: "Take only as directed. Do not exceed recommended dosage"--there would be far fewer problems with supplements as well as with drugs.

Tylenol (acetominophen) is a bona fide dangerous drug that does liver damage. Check it out! But you don't see the FDA yanking it off the shelves. Why is that, do you suppose? Could it be that there is a lot of money involved?

All I'm saying is, don't believe every negative thing you read about supplements. Something other than science may be going on. Read a lot of information from many sources before deciding to try anything.

JayEll,
Whatever you feel you need to take to help you lose weight, that is your choice. My point is more that these "herbal weight loss" companies are preying on our difficulties with losing weight. The article I read recently about Citrus Aurantium was in a magazine saying that it has the same effects as Ephedra. There have been laboratory tests with Citrus Aurantium which caused heart problems, especially if mixed with caffeine. Unfortunately, if you look for "Citrus Aurantium" on any search engine, you only get "Buy now!!!!!!" I did find a few websites with articles referring to the tests done and the associated negative side effects, but it wasn't the particular article I was looking for. Since I am going through my health magazines again, I will see if I can locate the article when I do.

My only experience with one of these companies was Metabolife. I bought a bottle, took 1 pill, it made me sick and I threw out the bottle.

I agree with what you said about people taking supplements, but there have been problems with supplements in the past when people were taking the recommended dosage.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I am a big advocate of "finding one's own plan" but I just have to jump in here!

JayEll, we are just worried about your health, and hope you will do more research by acredited medical facilities before you take any more of these pills. Your hunger when you skipped them was self-fullfilling, don't you think? You thought you'd be hungry, so you were, imo.

It always amazes me that anyone would take a daily supplement that is untested and unproven, with who knows how much of these "magical" ingredients! Why would you put these things into your body - of your own free will, and at megabucks, no less? The Cortislim people should be paying you to be a guinea pig for them!

You are also overlooking the basis of weight maintenance - learning to control your (over)eating for the rest of your life. When you are truly ready to change your body, you won't need a pill to do it. I am living proof of that statement.

Think about it, okay JayEll? We want you to succeed and be healthy at the same time!

Sounds like Jay might be working for Cortislim.....I am so sick and tired of this commericial I want to throw my radio and smash it every time it comes on!!!! My Dad is taking Cortislim...It is not working for him. Besides, am I wrong or is a doctor supposed to do blood work on someone before they diagnose them with a hormone problem??

I have been browsing this thread...
I also have the so-called "cortislim body", and do have elevated cortisol levels.
I have an endocrinologist who has done loads of bloodwork on me. I think she's a vampire in disguise at times, although the last test was for cortisol and involved a liquid other than blood.
I also have elevated insulin, elevated testosterone, elevated liver enzymes, and digestive hormones that only work 1/3 of the time they're supposed to. I don't have a normal or any mestrual cycle. ALL of my weight is concentrated in my abdomen and hips, to the point where I developed a thing called a "pannus". There is no muscle involved, its ALL fat. And it was caused by the elevated insulin, cortisol and testosterone.
I have bloodwork done every 3-6 months, varying... I've had more blood done in the last 6 months because of the elevated cortisol levels. That is typically a sign of a tumor, so my doctor has been checking to make sure that I don't have one.
I've also had MRIs, CT scans and get an ultrasound every year.
That's the only way to treat an endocrine disorder. Things like Cortislim won't help me lose weight: all the exercise and dieting I've done hasn't helped very much either. My endocrinologist applauds my effort though, and I'll keep doing it because it makes me feel better.
:mouse:

YES they are supposed to check bloodwork before diagnosing a hormone problem!! I am hypothyroid and they checked my blood before they recommended any form of weight loss plan for me or prescribed meds! I have my levels checked every 6 weeks to regulate my hormones.

Yes it takes a lot of bloodwork to figure out if your body is out of whack hormonally. I have PCOS and it took a while for that to be diagnosed even though I suspect I've had it since puberty, considering that is where my biggest weight gain occurred. I would say that 90% of the population has the bulk of their weight in the abdomen/hips, I know I do. Recently re-reading the South Beach Diet book, Dr Agatston blames simple carbs (increased insulin/insulin resistance/etc) on that, thus the "beer belly" syndrome and although I didn't believe it at first, after doing low carb then south beach diet, most of my weight loss has been from my stomach/hip area. Anyway, it is a good marketing ploy in general to say "if the bulk of most of your excess weight is here then you have a hormonal problem" when 90% of the population has their weight there.

Originally Posted by Jana:
You are also overlooking the basis of weight maintenance - learning to control your (over)eating for the rest of your life. When you are truly ready to change your body, you won't need a pill to do it. I am living proof of that statement.

Jana, I love you! :love: That is exactly it!!! When you are ready to do this, and you are serious about it, you take yourself in hand, with the help of your Higher Power, and you deal with the issues you have with food. You deal with them in a way that doesn't take magic pills, locks on doors, and is something that you can do for the rest of your life. You change your life, for good, and you keep on doing it, even after you reach goal weight. This, at least for me, is about becoming healthy (which includes losing my excess weight), not just about weightloss.

Just had to chime in and express my enthusiasm for how succintly and perfectly you stated this! :goodvibes:

Davidzee, I do not work for CortiSlim. Jay

Thank you, Laurie! Reading your response is the best thing that happened to me all day... and I've had a very good day, so that's saying a lot!

:thanks: Jana! :grouphug: You lifted my day up, too! :D

This was too good NOT to crosspost...
 

Just in case any of you missed Suzanne's response in the ********* thread below...here it is...

Originally Posted by Suzanne 3FC:
Our website is based around weight loss with a healthy diet and exercise, without the use of diet products such as weight-loss supplements. It didn't start out that way. Well it did, sort of, but the purpose was to encourage weight loss in a healthy and cost efficient way, which meant spending your money on enough healthy foods to support your diet, or a treadmill, etc, and not on unproven or gimmicky products.

Over the years, though, we've received thousands of email from people that shared their experiences with these products, and that's when we started to research them. The email we've received have been shocking, scary, sad, and disturbing. This is probably the number one topic of email we receive.

We are upset with the government for basically turning their backs on the public. I know that legally, their hands are tied, and they can't just stop these products from being produced, unless they fit a certain criteria. Uselessness isn't on that list. Proving the claims on their labels also is not required, unless it claims to actually cure a disease, such as cancer. Therefore, they can claim weight loss success all they want, and don't have to prove it. They can sell sugar pills and tell you it will cause weight loss, and it's legal. Even when they do have grounds for taking action, it takes ages due to all the red tape! How many people lose their money in the meantime?

Providing the listed amount of ingredients also isn't required. No one is monitoring them. They can tell you one pill contains xx units of xxxx but it can contain ZERO, or even dangerously high levels! No one ever knows, and they usually are not accurate. Plus, they frequently contain contaminants such as lead.

Something else they do that is a method of tricking the consumer is to make claims that their product is so "revolutionary" that it is patented. Yet if you actually take the time to look up the patent, you'll find otherwise. Yes, a patent exists, but it's patented for doing something else. PLUS, a patent on a weight loss product does not mean that it works, or is safe. Consider the man that patented e-coli as a weight loss method! I've read the patent. He claims that you can take a certain amount of e-coli and crap your weight away. You'll be dehydrated and you'll lose your appetite. He does go further to explain that if you take too much, that it could mutate or have dangerous effects.

Many OTC diet supplements, however, don't bother to warn you of any side effects. Many of these pills, marketed as "all natural", can have serious side effects if you take too much, or if you use them while taking prescription medications, or even if you have health problems such as heart disease or kidney problems. No one is giving you a physical exam before suggesting you take their product.

We've heard from women that became very sick from these products, some of which were hospitalized. They had no recourse, no one to turn to. Why does it take something serious for people to realize that all they need are a healthy diet plan and exercise?

Another thing to consider is that some people have a psychological dependence on them, even when the product has been proven not to work. They still believe they work, so subconsciously, they eat less. This can be argued as a good or bad thing. On the one hand, we want to think that anything that gets a person to eat less is good. On the other hand, what is the true price of this behavior? Money is just part of it. It doesn't help in the long term, as we must be able to naturally control our behavior and eating habits, if we want to be successful in keeping the weight off.

Regarding deecanadiana's comment about taking trimspa while pigging out, I don't see where you get that. True, you can take trimspa and pig out and it won't help you lose weight. But, you can take trimspa while eating healthy and it still won't help you lose weight. It isn't the trimspa that is doing it, it's the healthy eating. If you eat right, you don't need the pills.

Perhaps you are taking something that works as a stimulant and makes you a nervous wreck, and you get that lack of appetite and nausea that comes with stimulants. Of course at the same time, the rest of your body is suffering the effects, such as your heart. This leads me to another false claim - no stimulants. Just because a product does not contain ephedra, doesn't mean it doesn't contain stimulants. The marjority of the labels we've read with that claim DO contain them. Caffeine is a stimulant. Guarana is a stimulant. There are a lot of "natural" ingredients on their lists that are actually stimulants.

Bitter Orange, or Citrus aurantium, is another stimulant and this one appears to be very dangerous. Consumer reports has it on their Dirty Dozen list of most dangerous supplements, but you see it in so many weight loss mixtures, with claims that it's safe and natural. I fully expect this to be the next item banned by the FDA. Of course that kind of action takes forever. In the meantime, they do warn people not to take it. We are working on a very detailed report on this item, which will appear in our diet guide to supplements in the near future. I'll also post it here, in Buyer Beware, when it's done.

The above is just an example of why we take a strong stand against weight loss products. Some might even say our website as a whole is anti-weight loss supplement. I don't dispute that. We know that healthy diet and exercise really works. Why take unnecessary risks with products that have never been proven to be safe or effective? Is it really worth it?

Eat less, move more :)

It's Junk
 

Yeah, well I took it religously...you know any quick fix. But it didn't work! Surprize....diet and exercise is the key! It's funny that I can be a nursing student and still fall for all these gimicks...