Natural Supplement Advice and my sad Liver story :(

Hello all! I was wondering if ya'll could help me out a bit.

I just started working out about a week and a half ago when I weighed in myself at 203lbs, right now I am at 194, so I feel like I am doing pretty well...

However Im having an issue with supplements. The first supplement that I took was in 2009 and that was Hydroxcycut Hardcore liquid capsules and that pretty much made my liver swell up and I was not able to breath, speak (since that required breath) and walk without excoriating pain. Unluckily for me I was deployed in Iraq at the time and the medics didn't know what was wrong with me so they told me to wait it out. I waited out the pain for about a month and a half to go away...a month and a half later, the recall happened. So I was a bit happy about that. Years later I decided to get back out in the workout scene and started taking Jack3d that didn't end to well either, I wasn't digesting food properly and whatnot so I cut that quick. Now I am taking Xenadrine for Women and I'm getting that familiar puffiness and pain in my liver again, SO with that I am trying my hardest to find a supplement that actually has natural ingredients and none of the fluff that has been killing people and causing liver/stomach damage....

The ONLY thing I can think of at the moment is drinking a cup of black coffee before I hit the gym, so My Fitness peeps, can you help me out?? Thank you so much in advanced.

Replies

  • Scott277
    Scott277 Posts: 63
    Dont take them? Just eat healthy and exercise...........im not being cheeky its but its clearly the soloution.

    Why take supplements if they are clearly doing damage to you? You dont need them.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    why do you want to take a supplement? Plenty of people lose weight/get healthier without the need for them.

    If your liver is swelling and painful (technically the liver cannot produce pain) then that should be telling you something. Don't mess around with your liver. It's a pretty important organ in the body and not something to be damaged.
  • Why do you need suppliments?
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Weight loss supplements aren't necessary and definitely not worth risking your health for. The rare ones that work will have you put weight back on when you stop taking them.

    Coffee won't help you lose weight but it's been proven to help metabolise fat in endurance athletes, i.e. you can keep going for longer when you don't have readily available energy sources.

    Stick with MFP and it's recommended calories for 1lb a week weight loss, work out regularly doing stuff you enjoy, eat back around 80% of your workout calories to allow for a margin of error and the weight will come of steadily, sustainable and without hunger or discomfort.

    Check out the Sucecss Stories for proof using MFP as designed can have marvellous results, no expensive, dangerous or ineffective supplements needed :flowerforyou:
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Save your money. Many of these supplements are ineffective (the benign ones), some dangerous (as you've experienced).

    If you feel you need the energy boost before hitting the gym a cup of coffee sounds pretty good to me.

    Focus on eating well, getting your macros, and you should be fine.
  • wgn4166
    wgn4166 Posts: 771 Member
    Are you taking them for energy or to curb hunger?
  • If anything I would say I really don't know much about fitness aside from what the military has taught me, and that does bother me a bit. That is why I am asking for the advice. :D
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    If anything I would say I really don't know much about fitness aside from what the military has taught me, and that does bother me a bit. That is why I am asking for the advice. :D
    What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Running, hiking, cycling, classes, dancing? The best advice I can give is drop the supplements and find something (or several things) you love. Get some second-hand exercise DVDs - Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is a go-to workout for many MFPers. Go for a walk somewhere pretty at a pace enough to make you breathless. Start a walk to run programme like Couch to 5K (C25K). Go for a cooling swim on a hot day. Dance like a nutter with your mates. That and using MFP as designed is a win-win situation.
  • You are on the right track by being on MFP. Stay away from those suppliments. Search for foods that will help you out. Water is also a good way to go. Take care, please stay away from those suppliments.
  • Brown_Eyed_Beauty
    Brown_Eyed_Beauty Posts: 109 Member
    I've only tried one of those, but I don't use them anymore. The only supplements I take are approved by my dr. I would ask them before taking anything else. You need your liver!
  • If anything I would say I really don't know much about fitness aside from what the military has taught me, and that does bother me a bit. That is why I am asking for the advice. :D
    What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Running, hiking, cycling, classes, dancing? The best advice I can give is drop the supplements and find something (or several things) you love. Get some second-hand exercise DVDs - Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is a go-to workout for many MFPers. Go for a walk somewhere pretty at a pace enough to make you breathless. Start a walk to run programme like Couch to 5K (C25K). Go for a cooling swim on a hot day. Dance like a nutter with your mates. That and using MFP as designed is a win-win situation.

    I love all of that stuff, I am usually doing cardio and weights throughout the week, until Friday. Fridays are my hot yoga days so I can stretch out everything and relax during the weekend. Unfortunately I cant run at the moment since (again military) has ruined my knees and ankles so the impact of running or a jog can put me up for days. I do enjoy hiking and hitting the beach on the weekends though :D