Appetite Suppressant - Pills

You aren't going to get much love on the pill front here.

OTC pills typically don't work, and some can even be dangerous to your health.

Unfortunately I have tried many in the past and they were all a waste of money. I never saw any difference at all, except maybe for the first day or two. Not worth it, IMO. What is worth it is lifting weights and running (again IMO... I know some hate cardio, but I enjoy it within reason), so you can eat more and don't have to suppress your appetite, but can instead rejoice in it.

If you really have a medical issue that you need appetite suppressants for, then you should see that doctor - otherwise, move more and have fun doing it.

Try other methods for a few weeks and see how you feel once your body adjusts to the new habits. If you need a snack, fresh fruit, whole grain crackers with cheese, a small handful of raw nuts, ect, are all good, healthy options to calm down cravings.

Take a look at what your eating, too. Are you getting protein, good fats, and fiber each meal? Those are really the key to satiation. And don't underestimate the impact of water. Drink a couple of glasses between meals, you can even add flavoring to help satisfy cravings. But yeah, most diet and appetite suppression pills are bogus unless it's prescribed b a doc and they should only be taken by people with conditions who need them.

I'd recommend to stay away from the pills and just eat more protein or/and fat. If you are a volume eater, bulk up your meals with lots of vegetables. And make sure you drink enough water.

For starters, it's okay to have an appetite and feel hungry. Embrace feeling hungry, because it is your body's way of telling you it's time to eat. Just because you feel a twinge of hunger doesn't mean you have to jump up and eat. Learn that first.

Next, remember to drink as much water as you want. By ensuring you are well-hydrated you can help curb any mixed signals your body is sending you.

Third, you might benefit from breaking up meals into a "grazing" type routine, if you're able to. If you eat 3 bigger meals a day, but feel ravenous in between the meals, try have 4 or 5 meals instead, but smaller. So if you'd usually have rice, chicken, broccoli, and fruit for lunch and then feel like you're starving at dinner, save the broccoli and fruit and eat it a few hours later. No extra calories, but also no need to feel like you're going to eat your arm off. I know not everyone can do that because of work or life schedules, but it can be helpful if you're able to do it.

Drink lots of water.

jkwolly wrote: »

KHaverstick wrote: »

Pharmacist here, and no, I do not have any recommendations for appetite suppressants.

furioushummingbird wrote: »

Just eat enough fat and protein to satiate you in your daily calorie allotment?

This is what works for me. Avoiding a low fat diet is what helps me control my appetite. I have a 1200 calorie daily goal, and I'm rarely hungry. I owe a lot of that to eating enough fat. I used to think I needed to eat low fat everything (thanks 1980's), and I was so hungry and miserable all the time. Much happier now, and much more successful at losing weight.

FYI, 1200 calories is still pretty low.

Yep, but I'm small; for my size, age and lifestyle, that's what MFP calculates. And that's with my goal set to lose 0.5 lbs/week. Maintenance for me (per MFP) is 1420 calories/day. I'm not advocating 1200 calories/day for the average (or larger than average) Joe.

At one time, I strongly considered going to my doctor for a prescription appetite suppressant, but before I followed through with it, it occured to me that I didn't get fat because of my appetite. I didn't overeat food because I was hungry. Instead, I had the tendency to binge on candy, cookies and pastries even right after I had eaten a nourishing meal. So I figured an appetite suppressant wouldn't be the thing. But not everyone is like this.

After reading on the forums, I have realized that some people simply experience hunger differently than others. Sort of like some people have different tolerances for pain. So some can just suck it up and tolerate hunger until meal time arrives, and others, not so much.

If you are in the "can't tolerate it" camp, then I think the suggestions of others to experiment with timing of snacks and to try eating more fat and protein and fiber are good ideas. But if hunger is seriously affecting your ability to improve your health, I think seeing your doctor is something to consider. I don't consider it cheating to get help with weight loss, but drugs, even OTC drugs, should not be taken frivolously, as you undoubtedly know.

The OTC stuff does not work. The prescription pills sometimes work. See a doc.