Supplement questions....

The only thing I take is protein after I work out, a good multivitamin and vitamin B. I do love me some caffeine but that's just my am coffee.

I use CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), Green Tea Extract.. CLA has mostly positive reviews nothing recent.. some buff folks say they don't like it but its worked really well for me and I'm 5' 5" 184lbs.

You can either buy it separately or as part of a kit.

I use a kit by Genuine Health that combines them both (abs+ & lean+ extra strength). I don't know if they have products in USA but I've used their products on and off for years and they work well for me. My doctor OK'd it and I've lost 2" already because of healthy eating, exercise and the CLA. This is my first time having to use CLA so I definitely see the difference in weight/fat loss after having two kids.

Im very intersted in theis CLA - what is the use and what have the results been????

Actually unlike with the guy with the 6 pack said, its actually been shown to reduce body fat in overweight and obese individuals who take 3400g or more a day. For the guy with the 6 pack, its obviously useless because he doesn't appear to have much body fat so naturally it would make sense that it wouldn't work for people like him.

Now I have been trim before but after two kids and 50+ lbs weight gain for both, I have put on body fat. I am now 184.5 lbs. I've been taking this at 6000mg/daily for 9 days (lower dose previous week) and have lost 6 inches which 2 of those are from my waist in the first week. I got those results obviously from healthy eating and exercise every day but when I worked out in the past, I lost more weight but I wasn't reducing body fat %. I've lost 3 lbs in 1st week (2 lbs assumed water) but I've lost inches and KEPT the muscle I have been building this week. I am actually seeing definition in areas where there hasn't been in years since having kids. I spent a long time at the gym before I had children and never got results like what I'm getting.

They did a study of this in Toronto from a University I attended and I agree with the results 100%. They mentioned that also can't take CLA alone but it should be taken with Green Tea Extract, Forslean, etc,. You can google how much of these extracts you should be getting in a day to be effective.. I can't remember the exact number but the supplement I'm taking with the CLA has enough to be effective. There has been some research that suggests diabetics and those at risk of developing diabetics shouldn't take it. I have had my blood tested because this was mentioned in some studies and my physician says everything is great and to keep doing what I am doing.

I don't care what anyone says.. I have over 30 lbs of body fat to lose. People who have serious tone won't find it to work and I commend their results and hard work but for what I'm trying to do it works for me and I recommend it for anyone who has a lot of body fat. Just my two cents and my experience.. find out for yourself. Add me if you'd like to keep up with my results.

Can you link me to the study? I looked for it and couldn't find it

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=University of Toronto, cla

Now read the bolded, why is that? And does that not confound things? How did they control calories and macros among the groups?

And I didn't base my statement on personal experience, here you go. They all show little or no effect for CLA on body comp

Beuker F, Haak H, Schwietz H. , editors. CLA and body styling. Symposium: Vitamine und Zusatzstoffe; Jena (Thhr.) 1999

Kreider RB, Ferreira MP, Greenwood M, Wilson M, Almada AL. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation during resistance training on body composition, bone density, strength, and selected hematological markers. J Strength Cond Res. 2002;16(3):325–34

Malpuech-Brugere C, Verboeket-van de Venne WP, Mensink RP, Arnal MA, Morio B, Brandolini M, Saebo A, Lassel TS, Chardigny JM, Sebedio JL, Beaufrere B. Effects of two conjugated linoleic Acid isomers on body fat mass in overweight humans. Obes Res. 2004;12(4):591–8

Medina EA, Horn WF, Keim NL, Havel PJ, Benito P, Kelley DS, Nelson GJ, Erickson KL. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in humans: effects on circulating leptin concentrations and appetite. Lipids. 2000;35(7):783–8.

Salas-Salvado J, Marquez-Sandoval F, Bullo M. Conjugated linoleic acid intake in humans: a systematic review focusing on its effect on body composition, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2006;46(6):479–88.

Von Loeffelholz C. Influence of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on body composition and strength in bodybuilders. Jena (Thnr) 1999

Wang YW, Jones PJ. Conjugated linoleic acid and obesity control: efficacy and mechanisms. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004;28(8):941–55

Zambell KL, Keim NL, Van Loan MD, Gale B, Benito P, Kelley DS, Nelson GJ. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in humans: effects on body composition and energy expenditure. Lipids. 2000;35(7):777–82

It has been published in Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants 2006 on pgs 67 to 76.. maybe you should purchase a copy. Or come to the University and ask the Doctors themselves. I really think more research needs to be done because none of the American studies I've read on CLA even suggest that any of the studies mention specific info on the weight ranges of people who are considered obese/overweight, nor the body types, diet (other than they were permitted to eat crap food), possible thyroid issues, etc? All the studies outside of the US have suggested that CLA MAY**** help change body composition along with diet and exercise. None of the studies I've ever read from any country state what kind of body fat CLA can reduce if any.. viseral fat? And to be honest, its hard to take most American studies seriously as they only study American people who eat American food.. food, obesity percentage and lifestyle are different in so many other countries.

There is simply not enough proof either way so I'm willing to compromise. I am genuinely empathetic when I say I'm sorry that you spent money and it didn't work for you and for the others here who didn't benefit. But from my personal experience, I've lost 10" in total in the last 9 days since I've been taking it. Three years ago without CLA, I was much younger and lost "weight" but never truly lost body fat and I worked my a- off.

It's too bad everyone is so busy trying to prove me wrong instead of congratulating those who have had success with it. lol

Actually unlike with the guy with the 6 pack said, its actually been shown to reduce body fat in overweight and obese individuals who take 3400g or more a day. For the guy with the 6 pack, its obviously useless because he doesn't appear to have much body fat so naturally it would make sense that it wouldn't work for people like him.

posting for Acg67...or the "guy with the 6 pack"
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20060310/study-cla-doesnt-keep-pounds-off

"Researchers found that obese people who took the supplement for one year did not lose any more weight than those who took a placebo."

WebMD, the place people go when they are too cheap and lazy to go to a doctor.

Actually I've read several medical journal abstracts indicating that research with CLA was not useful in Fat Loss. However, go look-up Raspberry Ketones, that actually showed some promise. I'm fairly certain that ACG goes to the same place I do, PubMed.Com. Basically it publishes all kinds of medical research and there's plenty there that denounces any value of CLA. There's no need to get rude in this thread either.

I will check that out, I appreciate your input

Sorry but that's how I feel about WebMD. Any question I have, I see a doctor and never rely on sites like WebMD. Its really irrelevant to me since I'm not American.

Sorry if you feel its rude but I really don't appreciate certain people picking my posts to tell me how ineffective CLA is when other people posted about it too lol. Noticed a few people doing this kind of stuff on the forums (not to me but to anyone who says this works or this doesn't work), not supportive or helpful and honestly, it looks like their jealous.

Good luck OP and to the other poster who asked about supplements and CLA. I really hope they find something that works for them whether it'd be coffee or just eating clean

BCAA supplements are great! OP can try this as well. I personally don't them all the time but they do help for after the workout.

Is coffee good for you? Serious question here. It's not something I looked into because I hate coffee but I'm curious to know what you know

It has been published in Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants 2006 on pgs 67 to 76.. maybe you should purchase a copy. Or come to the University and ask the Doctors themselves. I really think more research needs to be done because none of the American studies I've read on CLA even suggest that any of the studies mention specific info on the weight ranges of people who are considered obese/overweight, nor the body types, diet (other than they were permitted to eat crap food), possible thyroid issues, etc? All the studies outside of the US have suggested that CLA MAY**** help change body composition along with diet and exercise. None of the studies I've ever read from any country state what kind of body fat CLA can reduce if any.. viseral fat? And to be honest, its hard to take most American studies seriously as they only study American people who eat American food.. food, obesity percentage and lifestyle are different in so many other countries.

There is simply not enough proof either way so I'm willing to compromise. I am genuinely empathetic when I say I'm sorry that you spent money and it didn't work for you and for the others here who didn't benefit. But from my personal experience, I've lost 10" in total in the last 9 days since I've been taking it. Three years ago without CLA, I was much younger and lost "weight" but never truly lost body fat and I worked my a- off.

It's too bad everyone is so busy trying to prove me wrong instead of congratulating those who have had success with it. lol

Call me whatever you want, trust me my boyfriend already has.
But I am frustrated. I've been tracking and working out for over a month and I have only lost one pound. I know gaining muscle, its denser than fat, I'm a physiology tutor, I have more book education than I need in this subject. However my body fat % hasn't changed ( 36% on 6/27 and 8/3), and neither have my measurements. So I am frustrated.

So I decided to start taking some supplements. I'll let you know what happens. At this point, if it gives my weight loss a kick start, I will gladly part with the money even if it is just a placebo. I have the same thought process on my anti-depressants, maybe it's a placebo, maybe it's not, but the one thing I do know is that I get out of bed every day now.

In addition, I have ordered a food scale and batteries for my HRM so I can get a better calorie burn estimate for my work outs.

So call me stupid and gullible, it won't be the first time this week.