Vitamins??

LisaD1025

Does anyone have any input on the use of vitamins to aid in weightloss? There have been a lot of studies done recently, and I know everyone is different, no one thing works the same for everyone, and there is NO magic pill that will make the weight disappear. That's not what I am after -- I'm just wondering if anyone has incorporated any kind of vitamin (B, D, Chromium, general daily multi-vitamin, etc.) into their healthy eating / exercise routine, and if they seemed to improve their results. Did they help with weight loss? Energy levels? Cravings? Anything?

Thank you!!

LisaD1025

Anyone??

JustJennie1

If you know that there is no "magic pill" then why ask if there are any vitamins out there to help aid in weight loss or curb the appetite?

The only "magic pill" is diet and exercise.

Vitamins are good for nutrients but unless it's a diet pill or an appetite suppressor you will not lose any weight taking vitamins.

With that said, however, vitamin D, calcium, a daily multi, coQ10, Omega 3's just to name a few are very good for you.

wolfchild59

If you're eating a healthy, balanced diet, you really shouldn't need much in the way of extra vitamins. I have a multi-vitamin that I take only on days that I haven't really eaten the right combos of foods (not enough veggies, low calcium, etc.) but found that if I took it every day, I was going into the 300-400% on most of my vitamin amounts.

I do keep some iron on hand since I know I'm bad about eating enough foods with iron in it, so I'll take that on days my iron numbers are really low. And I also keep zinc around that I take when I start getting sick to ward off colds.

The only thing I take daily is a methylcobalamin derived B12, because my doctor recommended it after I'd had a bunch of tests done for things late last year. It hasn't helped me lose any weight though, and it's been awhile, so I can't remember why the doctor recommended it. I think it had something to do with energy levels and red blood cell-something or other.

bathsheba_c

Vitamins are very good for you if you have some sort of deficiency, or if you are concerned that reducing your calorie intake is giving you fewer opportunities for sufficient nutrition. However, they have no significant impact on appetite or metabolism, so they aren't going to help with weight loss. You also should be careful because some vitamins are fat-soluble, not water-soluble, and so it is possible to take too much of them to the detriment of your health.

wolfchild59

Oh, and I see a lot of people posting here about taking Omega-3 pills. But, again, if you incorporate things like the right nuts, flax seed, or fish (salmon is best) into your diet, then you can forgo that pill as well.

*edit* - just can't seem to spell things right today. :P

somanyrhoades

I have been taking vitamin D, 800 IU daily. I was diagnosed with a deficiency in vitamin D (I live in Ohio, and the sun doesn't show it's face for 6 months out of the year). My levels were are 16, and they should be 32 to 100. I felt pretty crappy, had random aches and pains, no energy, sleep disturbances etc. After I started taking it I noticed a substantial change in my energy levels and the fact that I was no long having random stabbing pains throughout my body allowed me to exercise more. I would also like to say that I did this under the direction of my doctor, this wasn't something I chose to do on my own. As far as weight loss goes there really isn't a magic pill, like you said. Eat a well-balanced diet and you should get all the vitamins you need (unless you are a vegetarian and then you may have problems with B12, which is only found in animal products). I would also like to mention that you shouldn't start taking anything (even a vitamin) without consulting your doctor first. there are some drugs and conditions which are affected by vitamins and/or natural supplements.

kikimommy

On the advice of my nutritionist, I do Omega 3 Fish Oil (Whole Foods brand - quality very important), Vitamin C, and Magnesium. She actually recommended Calcium/Magnesium, but I recently read that Calcium supplements do more harm than good so I went to straight Mag. I have always been a clean and healthy eater, so it was surprising to me that she recommended these. However, the more I read up on it, I learned that our food sources today are just not what they used to be nutritionally - even when you eat clean. My goal with taking them is to be healthier.