Weight Loss Medication

Hi A.,

I know the whole weight loss thing is so frustrating. I am still going through it and I had my baby girl in Nov, 2005. My husband has been taking that Hoodia stuff. I guess it is a appetite suppresant and he has lost about 13 lbs. He just doesn't have a huge appetite and cut his portions in half. I tried it but didn't feel really different. It's worth a shot though. You can buy it at any vitamin or health food supply store. I have been doing the no-carb diet and have lost 6 lbs. in 7 days. It kinda stinks because it really isn't a diet but a lifestyle change. We will see how it goes.

Good Luck. Sorry I don't have any more info for you.

K.
Bountiful, Ut

Hi A., I work in a physicians office, adn yes there are medications. Dr's usually are not so quick just to throw you on them, so be prepared to chart your works outs, and document what you eat, so that you may build your case, in a sense. Though there are meds, there is also a great item you can buy called Hoodia. It is made with Cactus, and apparently helps to curve your appetite, so you do not eat as much. You shoud research it, and try to find the origianl one, that seems to work best. I have been told by many people it works, though I have not tried it.....yet. Also, try pilates, boy that will help out a lot, and yu can get the videos, or just rent hem from the library. Pilates strengthens your inner core muscles, and you can see a huge difference in a short time. Also, try parkng farther away from the store when you shop, take stairs rather than elevators, escalators etc. IF you can imagine this try it: Imagine pulling your belly button into your spine, you should feel it strain after a few minutes. ( I had to practice) Try walking around like that, doing it constantly for 15 - 30 second spurts.that is the philosophy of pilates, it strengthens your abs. Good luck, I lost my weight and then some, and now it is coming back, so I should take my own advice :)

I feel your pain. I have a 9 mo old daughter and still haven't lost all the belly weight, but that is partly my fault on not eating right or excercising like I should be. But one thing I do know is that the ONLY way to really lose weight and to keep it off is by eating right and exercising. Weight loss pills are soooo scary. They are dangerous and even if you happen to lose weight on them the weight is gained back quickly and it is unhealthy to lose a large amount of weight at one time. It is dangerous for your health! Some things you can try are only eating carbs in the morning and afternoon, but not in the evening. Not eating past 7pm and drinking lots of water. Then exercising at least 3 hours a week doing cardio and some weight training. It is hard to do that with kids, but that is the only healthy way to lose weight.

Hi A.,
I know how you feel, the ups and downs, my horrible problem was my obsession with my scale. I would weigh myself 4-5x's A DAY just to check where I'm at. I finally had to put it away. I did go to my Dr. She said more physical work outs not just a few sit up and call it good, she said work it for 40min to an hour. I started water serobics and lost 20 pounds in 2 months felt great. She also prescribed me phentramine. It does raise your blood pressure so if you already have high blood pressure you Dr. won't prescribe it. I only took 1/2 a pill daily in the a.m. and it worked great! Along with water aerobics, I finally bought a swim suit this year. I take my kids swimming a lot. I had to set aside my thoughts of what everybody else thought and just be happy with what I accomplished!
Hope this helps.
D. M

Don't get discouraged. It takes time to take off the weight. I once tried weight watchers and it worked for a while but it is hard when you have to measure all of your food. I started going to the gym so I could get in shape and what I was told is the best way to lose weight is cardio. I worked out for about four months with no results, once I started cardio I lost eight pounds in one week. I have gone from a size 10 to a size 6. I have never felt better.

I'd actually recommend the South Beach Diet. I just lost a lot of weight in the first two weeks. One of my friends lost 17 pounds really quickly, too. My boss lost 30 pounds and had to buy a whole new wardrobe. I know it's a fad, but it has really worked for a lot of people I care about.
I'd suggest talking to someone who has gone through it about good recipe ideas so that you can make it through the first two weeks (which can be a big challenge). It's tough to go through the withdrawal from sugar and other carbs. I decided to do the two-week first phase starting exactly two weeks prior to some good friends' wedding, and it was awesome. I felt great in my dress.
You can search online, or get the book. My friend who turned me on to it said that the official South Beach Diet book has great suggested recipes. You can eat meats, cheeses, vegetables, beans, eggs, nuts, and some other really good stuff. My husband and I like to eat this way anyway, so it hasn't been too bad.
You can do it!

Please talk with your doctor about this. I had the same weight issues after pregnancy and found out that my thyroid was way off balance. Have him check your levels before going on any diet meds cause it could be something serious.

Hi!
I also would caution you against taking any sort of diet pills. I have two little boys of my own, and gained 40-50 pounds with each of them, so I know what it's like to try to take off all of the baby weight. But I am a registered dietitian, and would like to encourage you to talk to a dietitian, in addition to your doctor, about your concerns. I could help you, or I could give you a referral for someone whom you could talk with, if you would like.

Hi A.,

I for one do not have any experience with weight loss medication other than when I took dexatrim in my teens. That was 10-15 years ago. What a bad experience! I of course did not take them as recommended and it did serious damage to my emotional state. I was deppressed, overly anxious, one day somebody I know said "hi, H., How are you doing and that alone caused me to bust into tears. I did not have anything good to say about thoses meds. Though times are changing and I'm sure so is the meds availability.
I happened to open an email from Beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=81115&WT.mc_id=nl44. If for any reason you can't access it just try beliefnet.com . They had some insight on the drugs available by prescription and reviewed the pro's and cons of each medication. It is a websight regarding relidion, spiritulization, angels ect. The religious content covers almost every religion but I get much more info than religious convictions and beliefs. Good luck I hope this is helpful to you. If you can't get it for some reason send me an email and I can forward it to your personal email address. Good luck, God Bless, and remember most of society is overweight or obese, so you are not alone. It's good to know that you started with weight watchers and healthy meal planning. Keep up all the hard work. Sometimes we don't see the weightloss, but our bodies are much healthier because of the lifestyle changes. Don't get me wrong! I like to see my efforts as plane as day and not 30-40 years from now!
H. B.

Hi,
I know weight can be a hard thing to overcome, I too am struggling with mine. I did go to my doctor trying to find out what I could do and take, he ran some test. My thyriod was underactive. So definately get that checked out and maybe have them take a look at other hormones. Hope this helps.

I would talk to your weight watchers leader. Weight watchers work, when you work the program.

Are you eating your flex points? Are you eating your activity points?

I have found that I lose the best when I eat at least half of my flex points for the week. And also drink lots of water.

There are medications out there... but plain and simple, they aren't healthy (and are intended for obese who have larger risks by having the weight than the medication poses) and as soon as you go off them... you end up putting the weight back on.

Hi! I'm just wondering about something...any chance you were underweight before you were pregnant? Your body just might be hitting its natural balance now? I dunno. Just a thought. In any case, enjoy the little guy because the baby time is way shorter than you can ever imagine and be kind to yourself. And don't forget those postpartum blues can last for awhile.

Take care,

J.

I will not suggest any medicine to get rid of extra pounds and belly skin. Instead, I got my body shape back as pre-pregnancy by using mummy magic weight loss tea along with belly exercise and non-fat foods.

You lost 30 lbs in 8 months!!! That's amazing. Remember two things; #1 It took 9 months to gain that weight it'll take at least that to get it off, #2 not everyone will get back to prepregnancy weight. Focus on getting your shape back rather than weight. Stay positive and keep working, but set realistic goals and expectations.
P.S. If your nursing you shouldn't take any of the weight loss pills.

A.,

I am currently 8 months pregnant so I'm not sure I can fully relate to the post-pregnancy weight loss scenerio. However, I have been upwards of 70lbs overweight at one time. Like many, I tried Fen Fen, Ephedrine, and other quick fix weight loss solutions. None of them worked and moreover they come with a great risk to your health. I'm not sure what is currently on the market but I would steer clear. I think it is wise that you discuss this issue with your DR as I have heard of some women developing thyroid problems after having a baby.

I lost all of the weight after I went to a nutritionist. I was on a 1200 calorie diet and doing an hour of cardio (fast paced walking/jogging, hiking, or bike riding) every day and 20 minutes of weights 3-4 times per week. The weight did not come off easily but eventually this combination of diet and excercise worked. I preferred having an individual help me problem solve on a weekly basis. It helped me to stay motivated and trouble shoot areas in my diet and excercise regime. I may link up with a nutritionist after my baby is born for the added support. So far I have gained 28lbs but I definitely expect to gain another 10 or so in the final 8 weeks. Also I would recommend the Bob Greene book "Total Body Make Over" if you are looking to ramp up your exercise routine. It is great!

Anyway.. not sure if any of this helps as everyone's weight loss journey is so individual. Please feel free to email me with any questions ____@____.com.

M. J

Doctors are going to be very reluctant to put you on a diet pill.

They do work but most have side effects and the doctors would rather see you exercise to get it off. I would definitely mention it at your next visit, but my doctor told me it takes 10 months to put the weight on and the same to take it off.

Sometimes longer or shorter if you had a C Section and need more recovery time or if you're breastfeeding it sometimes comes off quicker.

I would definitely have your thyroid checked, and your doctor may even test you for diabetes, depending on what your pregnancy was like.

My friends all advised me to do more cardio and try weight training it builds muscle faster, which increases your metabolism, which burns more calories.

Also, some weight loss meds have terrible side effects, even the prescription meds. One in particular is known to cause major heart rhythm irregularities.

So if you do choose the prescription or herbal diet pill route please be very cautious.

It sounds like to me that you have plateued. Basically you have to step up the exercising a little more. As far as the nutrition goes, it sounds like you are right on track. Also remember your body is going to need more fuel if your workout is going to increase. Remember whole grain is the key, no refined junk.

I dont know what kind of exercise you do, but I find that some kind of strength training is the best for weight loss, and body shaping. I prefer pilates. It feels really silly when you are doing it, but it works. Just buy a tape and feel the burn. Hope that helps.

K.

Are you still nursing?? I have found that with all 3 of my kids I don't lose any weight (except that immediate baby & water 20 lbs) until after I am done nursing. I just weaned my 9 month old and am anxious to get busy. I did weight watchers too after my first and lost all my weight in 3 months - post nursing. Good Luck!!

Weight loss drugs can be very dangerous. My mom had to be rushed to the hospital for just taking an over-the-counter diet pill. Remember what happened with that Fen Fen diet pill? My son is 16 months old and I still cannot flatten the tummy so I know how you feel. Maybe you could try a personal trainer at a gym to help you get over the hump and lose those last few pounds. I worry about taking any type of medication when we have such precious lives in our care. Good luck!

Hi A.,
I had the same frustration and I talked to my doctor and she just adivised me to keep doing what I am doing. Very frustrating! It has been easier to lose weight since I stopped breast feeding but I am still working my butt off and seeing very little results compared to my younger days of excercising and weight loss success. Sadly it is harder to lose weight as we get older . . . yuck! Anyway, I have joined a goal setting and fitness log on self.com. I did the fitness challenge last february and it did help to keep records. Iit is important to vary cardio and strength training and to eat lots of vegetables! Good luck with your endeavors. Let me know if you ever need a work out buddy. We live north of Mt. Tabor.

HI. I know how you feel. i have been over weight my whole adult life. I know that eating right and getting exersise is the way to go. Get your blood work done to make sure you don't have any physical problems that are causing the weight gain. Good luck.

No medication! It's terrible for you and messes your metabolism up for the long run...it's a very short term, harmful solution!

1 - Change your workout EVERY 4-6 weeks. Add 5-10 minutes to your cardio routine or increase the intensity

2- Hire a personal trainer to give you a new routine

3 - Try the core program instead of points or vice versa

4 - Try the WW Wendy Plan - search online for details

5- Try Michael Thurmond's 6 Week Body Makeover - It's a high protein, low/smart carb, veggies, no sugar, eat 5x/day, intense program but works if you have willpower.

Good Luck!

A.

I have never tried any weight loss meds from a doctor but my mom has and everytime she would take the pills she would lose the weight then when she would stope the weight would come back fast with a few extra pounds. I know that its frusterating I am in the same boat!!! I think you should just talk to your doctor and maybe he/she will have a better idea.
A.