LOL Wyllen, as usual you said it SO much better than I did. <G>

Ya know I'm going to have to agree to disagree. For some people the risks of severe obesity out weigh (pardon the pun) the POSSIBLITY of risks from a diet aid. It is unfair to make statements that sound so absolute and final and that have the possiblity of scaring or misinforming people who really need that medical help. You SHOULD be proud of yourself for what you have accomplished and they way you did it, that doesn't mean that a different way isn't just as fabulous.

The problems with diet aids (pills) though is that they don't help anyone maintain long term weight loss. Time and time again, it is the changing of habits instead of the popping of pills that will lead to long term weight loss. If you just take pills but don't learn that you need to change your eating habits permenantly and incorporate regular exercise into your lifestyle, you will endure the risks of taking pills PLUS end up where you were originally.

But "diet aids" are not the only alternative to severe obesity. Unless people learn to eat healthfully and exercise, the weight loss from diet aids may come... temporarily... but according to just about every study source there is, the weight will come right back when they stop taking the aid. Yes, there are different "plans" to accomplish good nutrition and weight loss... but ALL of the effective ones work on the same principle... eat right and exercise. I stand by my opinion on diet aids and "magic pills." Besides, if anyone is really determined to try them they are not going to be swayed by my opinion on an Internet site.

I suppose this is an old thread, but one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone claims something is safe simply because it is "all natural." Poisonous mushrooms found in the forest are all natural, it doesn't mean they're safe.

It's unforutnate, but many of these ads pray on people's desperation. I'm sure a lot of intelligent people (Myself included) have wasted money on supplements with the hope that it will be the one thing that gets them over their personal hurdles.

Nope. Nada. No way.

LOL. I was thinking the same thing. A coworker was trying to give me a herb for cold remedy (I had heard of it before) and the thing that came out of her mouth was "it's safe, it's not medicine." HERBS have MEDICINE properties! Furthermore, they aren't regulated so if used incorrectly (or ignorantly) they can be unsafe ESPECIALLY if you don't know the reactions to other drugs or the side effects. I've always felt if you are relatively healthy and you research what you are taking, you should be fine. I'm more likely to ask my doctor though.

Ok, so we mostly all agree that these types of pills will raise your heart rate but I guess I am willing to take that risk.

You see I am in the state of out of control binging and I can not stop. (daily) As I see it...I have 2 options:

1. Go into treatment - where I won't have access to the outside and will be able to gain some control since the food is regulated.

BUT - I don't have insurance...so I could

2. Take something to curb my appetite - which can hopefully help me stop binging

There IS a dietary supplement that actually might help! It is call SlimStyles PGX (no I DON'T work for the company!) and the reason I like is it because it contains ONLY soluble fiber which is processed in a way to absorb water and swell significantly more than other fiber supplements out there on the market. There are no additives at all that increase heart rate, or "speed your metabolism". This is NOT a "metabolic booster". This product was developed by researchers at the University of Toronto in conjunction with the Canadian Center for Functional Medicine. It clearly states that this product is ONLY an aide to appetite suppression and is useful ONLY as part of a calorie reduced diet. Here is a website concerning the research behind it:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=10170
and
http://www.smartbomb.com/drmurrayweight.html
Please keep in mind that:
1. I ABSOLUTELY do NOT believe in a magic pill.
2. Herbal medications can be absolutely dangerous, as they are not regulated under the FDA, so you don't really know what you are getting. Ingredients such as "bitter orange" can cause kidney failure, for example.
3. Metabolic "boosters" only borrow energy from tomorow for results today. This DOES catch up with you, and one will generally regain what you have speedily lost.
This fiber product ONLY claims to reduce the sensation of hunger by filling you up with soluble fiber - it bulks up in your stomach by absorbing water and thus makes you feel full with food, when you are really full with fiber. The worst that can happen is your blood cholesterol is lowered and you are more "regular" due to the bump up in fiber intake.
For you, if you want to curb your appetite, this might be one solution. You might want to do some more web research on it. I find it helpful. It is the only "supplement" I even considered taking, because it specifically does NOT contain herbal supplements to "speed things up".
Just a thought!!!!

Nice post!..

they make the lettering so small It took a long time for me to be this size and I have finally come to the conclusion it will not come off fast!

There was a post in here on Topamax. I would like to throw in my 2 cents on that drug.

First I will say I am sure it is helpful to people and I am not saying DO NOT take it. But I want to share our family's experience with this medications. I don't want anyone to go through what we went through. This might get a little lengthy and for that I do appologize.

My son (now 17) began having severe migraines at the age of 5. They were so severe 99% of them lead to a trip to the emergency room. He would throw up so violently with them he usually ended up getting IV fluids to combat dehydration. He averaged around 4 migraines a week and at least 2 trips a week to the ER. Because of his age they would not use Imitrex, at the time it was not tested for children under 12. I am not sure if it is now or not. They did perscribe something that sometimes worked, I don't recall the name, he has been on SO much medication over the years. But it was a combo drug a narcotic, barbituate, caffiene combo. For the record we had him allergy tested, and triend an elimination diet, none of which could pinpoint the cause of his headaches.

When he was 11 we went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. We were there for 4 days of testing. They perscribed Topamax for him as a preventitive. That was in November. I will say his migraines wen from 4 a weeks to 2-3 a month. However, from November until April he went from 90 pounds down to 57. We were giving him supplements, Ensure Malts (Ensure, Ice Cream, choc syrup, malt powder for the biggest caloric punch we could find) and he still dropped weight. That was the least of our problems.

Our son became suicidal. In the course of 6 weeks he made 4 suicide attempts. One of them nearly "successful". My son had undiagnosed depression. The Topamax compunded that problems. I also have a friend who became suicidal while on Topamax. That is one of the side effects of Topamax. I am NOT saying it is a drug that should be taken off the market. But if you or a loved one is taking it, monitor them very closely!! I don't want anyone to go through what we did with our son. Iw as never told this was a side effect...I found out later. It was perscribed by a specialist over 300 miles away and he said "Follow up with your family pediatrician." Our family Ped didn't know much (if anything) about the drug and what things to watch out for. Please PLEASE PLEASE use caution with this drug!!!

I am happy to say that my son's depression has been diagnosed and treated. He will be on medication for the rest of his life...hopefully that will be a long LONG time!!

Yeah no kidding! I did Hydroxy stuff and couldn't sleep very well. BUT after a week I started getting chest pains and became so fatigued I almost couldn't walk. That was enough of that junk!! My friend who's big into nutrition told me companies mix these herbal concoctions up and although there's no ephedra in it, it's just as bad, it can still be very dangerous for your body by overworking your heart and liver.

I can say from an experienced point of view.. "magic pills" do nothing but cause a headache. I went on these hoping to help me lose 30lbs, which it did. BUT, as soon as I went off of them (even though I had changed my eating habits and started exercising) I gained it all back. While I was on them, I was severely moody, tired all the time, I had very bad back pain/arm pain etc. from feeling like I was 'high' all the time. It was a complete rollercoaster.. that ended in nothing more than my weight going down, and then back up. I wouldn't recommed these to ANYONE. If it's too good to be true-it is. And they are dangerous to your health. I know a few people that have taken them and even gotten addicted. I have came to realize that I can't find a quick way out of losing this baby weight. Eating healthy, and exercising are my only way to a healthier me.

I wish I could find a magic pill that would give me the energy to exercise! I took Topomax for seizures...I didn't lose anything except energy! I have a non-functioning thyroid and just started taking meds for it, so I am forever hopeful that my energy level will increase. I went to the doctor when I gained 50 pounds when I quit smoking (10 months and counting) but at this point...I'm ready to start smoking again! How can you exercise when you can barely get out of bed? I've been told cinnamon pills can help boost your metabolism...any truth to that?

A regular multivitamin will help.. or just added B6 & B12 to your diet. They help you function and increase your energy.