Weight loss supplements

Has anyone tried the Garcinea Cambogia (not sure if that is spelled correctly). I need to lose approximately 40-50 pounds. I am only 33 and already started taking blood pressure and high cholesterol medication. I do not want to take this!!!!!! I have heard about this supplement everywhere and wanted to know if anyone has had any success?? I am mostly interested due to the increase in energy level it is supposed to give you. I feel like a blob after I eat and have no energy to do more than what I am right not/ Grant it, I work full time and have two children that I run back and forth to practices and games 5-6 nights a week. After that and housework I am done. I know I need to exercise and change my eating habits....just curious if others have tried this.


Thanks,
Futurehealthy&skinnymomof2

Replies

  • Escloflowne
    Escloflowne Posts: 2,038 Member
    A balanced diet and exercise is all you need, don't waste your money!
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    Save your money. There's no magic pill or supplement that's going to do the work for you: weight loss happens by creating a caloric deficit by eating less and/or exercising more. If time limitations make workouts challenging, start by focusing on your diet - don't make any drastic changes, just start by tracking and logging your food honestly (use a food scale) so you can figure out where you're at and start to figure out places in your diet that you can make adjustments. Once you've got the hang of that, use the settings on MFP to establish a daily calorie goal and start working towards hitting that. Eating nutritiously is more likely to give you the energy you're looking for. There's no evidence that supplement does anything but make your wallet lighter. :)
  • chelstakencharge
    chelstakencharge Posts: 1,021 Member
    A balanced diet and exercise is all you need, don't waste your money!

    EXACTLY!!!! Do not put that crap in your body. I did it with hard work and determination....so can you!
  • emilyisbonkers
    emilyisbonkers Posts: 373 Member
    stimulant type diet pills WILL raise your blood pressure, you already have an issue with this.. don't be a fool
  • BenjaminMFP88
    BenjaminMFP88 Posts: 660 Member
    Waste of money. There's very few supplements that actually work for weightloss and there banned in most countries. A caloric deficit and some good exercise will get you there more efficiently.... Unfortunately, you can't buy will power
  • _db_
    _db_ Posts: 179 Member
    It sounds like it works the same way that soluble fiber works. Psyllium fiber (metamucil, et al.) is likely as effective, if not more so.

    From webmd:

    "Possibly Ineffective for:

    Weight loss. Taking garcinia fruit rind extract doesn't seem to decrease weight, fat breakdown, or energy expenditure in overweight people. There is some mixed evidence that garcinia might help people feel full even when eating less, but it's too early to recommend garcinia for this use."
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    I'll second (fifth ?) the recommendation to not use supplements.

    What are you eating? This will play a huge part on your energy levels and how you feel in general.
  • Nancy_hc
    Nancy_hc Posts: 123 Member
    I have not heard of this supplement - sorry. I would recommend incorporating fish oil pills and maybe CLA into your routine. When I first had signs of high cholesterol a few years ago I started doing this and It went away (and has stayed away) quickly. That being said I have also stopped eating fried foods (a major contributor to high cholesterol) and cut back on things heavy in sugars and salts. Small changes go a long way!
  • Nancy_hc
    Nancy_hc Posts: 123 Member
    ... Psyllium fiber (metamucil, et al.) is likely as effective, if not more so.

    This too. a High fiber diet will help contribute to weigh loss.
  • links_slayer
    links_slayer Posts: 1,151 Member
    i've got some snake oil i'll sell you for 1/2 of what they're asking for the stuff you're interested in. pm for info.
  • Wilhellmina
    Wilhellmina Posts: 757 Member
    A balanced diet and exercise is all you need, don't waste your money!

    Totally this!
  • dlbaron
    dlbaron Posts: 79 Member
    I work in a natural food/supplement store, so I am highly aware of the Dr. Oz-created buzz surrounding garcinia cambogia. My coworker tells me it has been used for thousands of years for weight loss and has only recently become popular again for that purpose. I have asked her and many customers about it, and no one has actually told me that it's helped them lose weight. Coworker says it helped her not gain when she was eating a lot and other customers have given completely inconclusive, unhelpful answers such as, "I like it."

    As a critical thinker who needs evidence to determine whether or not something works, I bought a bottle and have been trying it myself. One time I was having a really bad sugar craving, I took the recommended dose, and it did kill my sugar craving. That could be because it is the stevia sweetened liquid form and it may have been enough of a sweet taste to get me over the sugar craving. Other than that, I have seen absolutely no difference at all. In fact, I've been eating terribly lately and have gained weight. The garcinia has done nothing for my metabolism or appetite. Don't bother buying it.

    The best ways to improve your health and lower your LDL/blood pressure are improving your food choices and adding in exercise. You don't need to totally overhaul your life right away and turn into a gym rat who lives only on lettuce; just make the changes where you can. Do you have 10 minutes a day that you spend watching TV? Take a 10 minute walk instead. ANY amount of exercise you can add will help. If you often grab fried fast food while you're rushing between places, each week make big batches of meals you can easily reheat or bring to go and have those instead. Since you're lacking energy, also consider how much sleep you are getting. Lack of sleep is a major contributing factor to weight gain, and obviously, getting enough sleep will increase your energy.

    I obviously do not dismiss all supplements as a "waste of money," but trendy ones like garcinia cambogia/HCA usually don't work. If they do, it's because people simultaneously make improvements to their diets and exercise routines. Some supplements that may actually help you lower blood pressure and cholesterol are omega-3 fatty acids and garlic extract. Also make sure you are getting enough fiber. For energy, if your diet isn't fulfilling all your nutritional requirements, a food-based multivitamin could help. B vitamins also always increase my energy. A sublingual B vitamin complex may help. But DIET, EXERCISE, HYDRATION, and SLEEP are the things that give me the most energy!