So, I've been debating on whether or not I should take some supplements. My boyfriend is a very into doing things au naturel, and thinks that I don't need them. I've always been kinda big into taking things like vitamins, fish oil, and herbs but at this point, I just feel totally lost. I feel like a total noob about nutrition, even though I know the basics. I guess I feel like what I'm doing currently is not working at ALL, and I still feel crappy physically. I'd like some opinions on a few things.

Do you need a multivitamin even if you're eating healthy foods? I just feel better when I take a multi, but I'm not sure if that is just a placebo effect.

I've also been looking into taking a fat burner and or/appetite suppressant. I tried one a few years ago, it was called Lipo 6, and it made me feel (what I imagine) like I was on crack. Do fat burners really work and do you have to follow any certain guidelines for them to work? I've also thought about taking hoodia, but the reviews on it are so hit or miss. I don't have a big budget for things like this, but I feel like I have to have some help getting this weight off.

I am on a low-cal, high-protein, relatively low-carb eating plan. So, I take a multi (just because of the low-cal), fish oil (because my fish oil consumption is hit-or-miss, and this is supposed to be super important), and fiber supplements. I also occasionally take a caffeine pill if I am feeling a little draggish for my workout. (I don't consume caffeine in any other form.) I also drink decaf green tea daily.

I have thought about taking specific supplements for weight lifting, but have not yet added anything there.

But I don't think supplements are your answer if what you're doing "is not working at ALL," especially if you're also feeling bad physically. There are some really well educated people on nutrition that populate this forum. Perhaps if you post a sample menu or give us a better idea of what your current plan is, people may be able to make some good suggestions. Eating well is supposed to make you feel good. The supplements do not make or break that, I don't think.

I take a multi and some omega-3 and call it a day... Do I need to take them? Probably not... but I don't think they're doing any harm.... I know that it's pretty much all in my head... but I rationalize it, by telling myself that it's some sort of "insurance" policy against the possibility that I might not be getting everything I need from the foods that eat, so I feel "better"...

I've never really been into a whole lot of different supplements, but I guess that's just because I'm naturally pretty skeptical... I basically think "weight loss" supplements are pretty much a scam... the modern equivalent of "snake oil"... But I'm sure there are a lot of people who will disagree based on their personal experience... I just hope whatever "magic" pill someone decides to take to just "help" them with their weight loss is safe and not going to do them any harm...

Good luck with whatever you decide to do...

I am bigger into supplements now than I used to be, and feel much better for it. I am NOT a fan of the artificial cocktails for burning fat (most are stimulant-based and that's not good for an insomniac like me, let alone a pregnant one!).

I take a hair/skin/nails complex, flax oil (just running that one out, it will be replaced with refrigerated cod liver oil), vitamin d, chromium gtf, l-tyrosine, l-carnitine, inulin, folic acid, and magnesium. I may need to add in some iron as I tend to become anemic through pregnancy and dietary iron hasn't been enough, but overall I am great with this setup. More energy, less cramps and muscle spasms, no headaches or weird bruising, and solid blood sugar control. Those were what I was looking to manage, and I've done it.

which one of those, or more, helps with the blood sugar control?

i take a multi right now and a lot of vitamin D because i live where the sun never shines LOL

Wow, Artic. I guess that is what I was curious about. I bruise very easily, but my doctor says everything is perfectly fine with me except my thyroid, and I am overweight. I don't know if hypothyroidism causes easy bruising, but I have to be extremely careful. I look like I've been beaten after moving around furniture yesterday.

I also get pretty frequent headaches, but I think those are more due to allergies and tension. Since I've been working out though, it takes me a long time to recover. My chest and underarm area has been killing me from stretches and lifting weights. My legs also get so sore that I can barely move for days. It makes it hard to do anything other than walk for exercise, but that is getting me nowhere.

Another thing is I have major acid reflux problems. I had tests done and the doctor said I'm fine, but no matter what I eat, I get indigestion. I feel like I just don't digest my food and it sits there in my stomach. I don't know if this is a sign of my metabolism being extremely low, but it seems like food and medicines just don't digest. I've tried digestive enzymes but they don't seem to do anything.

The biggest thing is that I just feel so lethargic. Last weekend, my boyfriend and I had a little mini vacation and stayed at a hotel a couple hours away. I felt really great. I woke up with energy, and I didn't sleep too deeply. Sometimes I sleep so deeply that I feel more tired when I wake up than when I went to bed. Maybe I need a new mattress or something. I really don't know what the problem is, but as soon as I came home, I was back to feeling normal, which for me is complete crap.

Sounds like you have a lot more going on than can be addressed with supplements alone....

Are you being treated for the the reflux? the hypothyroid? You say you bruise easily and that you are lethargic and your doctor says you're "fine"... Well, I'm sorry but you need to tell your doctor that you are not "fine" and in fact you feel like "crap" as you put it... And insist upon getting to the bottom of all this.. If you keep getting the "you're fine" response when you indeed don't feel "fine" than it's probably time to find another doctor...

Yes, I am being treated. I haven't had my thyroid levels checked since February though because it is so expensive. I'm also moving soon, halfway across the country, so I don't want to get insurance right now. I am currently taking 75 mcg of Synthroid. He also has me on Pepcid and Prilosec, but it only helps temporarily. I was on a lot of antibiotics last year and I think it messed up my gut. I am taking digestive enzymes and eating yogurt, but it's not really helping, so I'm not sure how long it typically takes to get back to normal.

So far I have liked my doctor because he was the first to tell me I had a thyroid problem after going through a bunch of goons that told me I was depressed. It's been frustrating. I told my doctor I was having horrible headaches and he said it was my sinuses, and that I should take this OTC stuff. Turns out it had tylenol in it, and taking OTC pain pills daily made my liver enzymes high, so I had to go get an ultrasound to make sure my gallbladder and liver were okay, and absolutely nothing was wrong. 130 bucks down the drain. Then my potassium was being depleted by the diuretics he prescribed for my extreme water retention, so I had to start taking potassium.

I feel like I'm just a big old mess. I can't seem to get my body working properly.

I'm sorry you're going through all that.... Dealing with health issues is never easy... I know for myself that even if it's bunch of stuff that seems completely overwhelming... that there is help out there and that we can hopefully figure out what's wrong... and come up with a plan to deal with it... I know easier said than done.... and the outcome might be the one that I want... but it helps a little to put my mind at ease...

I don't know if this helps at all, but knowing that you are hypothyroid at least gives you a starting point with what might be causing some of what's going on...

And you're not "a big old mess" even though I know it might feel like that... you're someone who is doing your best to find out what's wrong with you and do something about it...

I'm wishing you all the best...

All I usually take is a multi vitamin and an omega 3 pill. I'm going to stop taking the omega 3 pill though when the bottle is empty. I will still take the multi to make up for anything I'm missing in my diet.

You see, I usually have labs done yearly and I think I would like to see where my body is at in "clean mode". By that I mean, no supplements and at a normal weight. That way I know what ground zero is and can work with that.

I guarantee you, as you start to lose weight, you'll feel much better.

I guess I lean towards the anti-medication/vitamins side. I've seen too many instances where I and people I know have had bad side effects of different medications or medications causing the need for MORE medications.

I take no medication, just supplements. I'm pretty anti-med, too, but if I can manage my health better with more of a certain substance better to take that than suffer the consequences down the road and end up on a prescription, I think!

Natural supplements are the way to go, try to avoid anything that contains stimulants. Also, if you eat a lot of natural planets and vegetables you can get plenty of nutrients out of them that you would find from natural supplements. But, if you're the type that doesn't like to eat too much vegetables then natural supplements is your best bet.

I take flax pills in order to ensure I get my omega 3's (I have a seafood allergy). I also take vitamin D and calcium w/ magnesium. More recently I started taking a vitamin B complex as well.

The B's have been huge for me; I originally started taking them in hopes of increasing my energy level, but instead they actually helped my anxieties! They've been severe for years, to the point that they interfere with normal, every day functions. I've been feeling more "normal" since I've been on them.

I take a multi and omega 3, but I also added in DHEA, as recommended by my doctor when he saw that my free testosterone was low. This causes weight gain (or harder maintenance/loss) and low sex drive- and I can tell you, after being on it for 3 months both things have improved drastically! I feel like a different woman! However, I'm not sure if I noticed much change from the others, just form the DHEA (and just because I had a problem to be fixed). I still take them anyway.

I take a multivitamin because I've had deficencies in the past that cased major problems, and I've got no desire to repeat that experience. I think that when you restrict calories, unless you're being really careful about what you're eating, you're probably missing out on some micronutrients.