I am absolutely against taking diet pills for vanity pounds. losing that much weight in one week.. not even one week.. is dangerous and you were already within the healthy ranges for your height. If you're not careful, you're going to drop below the healthy ranges. This group should not be for unhealthy diets or unhealthy weight loss or even unhealthy weight maintenance.

I just started taking the pills to jump start my weight loss. I eat very healthy. And my goal is in the healthy rage for my height.

I'm glad its working for you! I love the hoodia chocolate chews! It helps my sweet craving (taste like a tootsie roll) and suppresses appetite! :)

I am with hlks. A great way to jumpstart weight loss is by getting in great workouts and eating right. And enough calories. A healthy weight loss range is 1-2.5 pounds a week. Consistency is key, the weight WILL come off. Not overnight, and it won't be easy, but it will come off. Losing weight should be a life change, not a short term gimmick.

I lost 80 pounds and never once took any pill or bought into a gimmick. It wasn't easy or fun going to the gym and tracking my calories, but it was worth it. And 8 months later, I am healthily maintaining by doing what I have done since day one- tracking my calories, drinking enough water, and exercising regulary.

There is no substitue for hard work.

p.s. I saw your height/weight post in another discussion and you are currently at the low end of a healthy weight range. I know everyone has different bone strucutres (large, medium, small) but even if you have a small bone structure, your weight loss goals dip way below the low end of ANY weight range for your height. Why are you trying to lose weight? You can probably lose a size just by working out regularly and toning up without losing weight.

I don't think your needs are going to be met in this group. You don't need to lose weight.

First of all, I am so glad that everyone in this group is so freaking supportive!
Thanks guys!

Second of all...

5'9"
Small Frame 129-142
Medium Frame 139-153
Large Frame 149-170

I don't know where you all got your information but you are wrong. Whether I am small, medium or large framed, I could still lose some weight and be healthy.

Third of all...Congrats Smilelisa. You are better than me. You did it all on your own. No Hoodia. No SlimFast? I envy you.

Everytime I post something in this group you have some smartass comment to make. You think you are better than everyone else because you lost 80 lbs. Whoo Hoo! Congratulations. I never got fat enough where I had to lose 80 freaking pounds. Sorry about that. I'm am just trying to lose the wieght I gained when I got pregnant.

You used to be my friend, but for some unknown reason, you deleted me and then you wouldn't answer any of my messages or hugs. But you don't think twice about putting me down in a post. I guess you just want everyone to see how much better you are than me. You are such a wonderful friend.

You are right, though. My needs are not going to be met in this group. Why would I even want to stay in a group full of hyprocrits. YOu know, this is a SUPPORT group. That means you support people who are having trouble with something. Even if I was doing this in an unhealthy way (which I am not) wouldn't a support group be there to help instead of saying that I shouldn't be in this group and that this group is not going to be able to help me?

Thanks so much for all the help guys!

hmm...i dont see how someone can determine another person's needs or if they belong in a SUPPORT group. judgement will get you no where.

people are entitled to their own opinions, but there is no reason to criticize a person and pretty much tell them they are unwelcome in a support group

First of all, I agree that there is no reason to try to tell someone they won't get anything out of the group. If they want to be here, fine. If you think they are bordering on anorexic or something, then maybe say that, but there's no need to say anything else.

Second of all, there is also no reason to rub it anyone's face that well, "I never got fat enough to need to lose 80 freaking pounds". It's one thing to get defensive when someone is treating you with disrespect, but seriously, don't you think you might be on a board that will be read by at least one person other than smileLisa that may have gained 80 freaking pounds? Sure, it's their problem, but there's no need to accuse someone else of acting superior (whether it's true or not) and then do the same thing to anyone else on the board who might be in the obese range. You think anyone needs a reminder that not everyone gets as fat as they do?

Sorry Lisa, but I call Slim Fast a gimmick, so you really can't say that you did it all the healthy way LOL.
You stopped swimming and gained 70lbs? Odd.
Whatever. I don't know why you are all hung up on weight because your weight is not always an indication of healthy.
I would think that you should know that 225 crunches is obviously overkill. Pick up some weights instead.
If one works extensively with weights, their 'weight' would put them in the obese section of any charts. Naturally, because muscle weighs more than fat. Muscle also takes up 1/3 the space of fat, so everyone's goals will be different.

There are a variety of reasons why weight loss is harder for some than others, and asking a question about diet pills is pretty common, but not a reason to tell a person they don't belong in a group.

I suppose if a person wants to take the pills, for whatever reason, they will. I don't think they do much though.

For appetite, eat more fibre. By eating foods that take more time for your body to break down, you are postponing your hunger. there are tons of food eating tricks that may be healthier for your body and accomplish the same results and be cheaper than the pills.

So long as one is exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, that's what counts.
if you want to help a person, offer some info about their question.
Below is a bit of info about hoodia to know before taking it.

If hoodia does affect liver function, it may also interact with other medications a person is taking. The San Bushmen are a tribe of hunter-gatherers, and probably did not take same pills for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, and other diseases, that we do, another reason why unconfirmed reports of safe use by the San should not be relied on.

People with diabetes should be cautious about using hoodia. One of the theories about how hoodia works is that it tricks the brain into thinking that it has enough blood sugar. Without proper feedback regulation, it's possible that a person's blood sugar could drop dangerously low while taking hoodia. And with the regular hunger mechanism turned off, the normal warning signs may be suppressed, until it's too late.

Hoodia is believed to suppress not only appetite but thirst. There have been unconfirmed reports of shepherds in Africa who took hoodia to take the edge off hunger pains, but died of dehydration because they didn't feel thirsty.

And as a general precaution, because the safety in pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with liver or kidney disease hasnt been established, these people in particular should avoid hoodia.

I was thinking about trying those pills. That's good that they helped you. If it is true that you are less thirsty on them, be sure to also make sure you drink 6-8 glasses of water or other fluid drink a day to avoid dehydration.

Just blue,

I gained weight not just because I stopped swimming competitively, but because I formed an unhealthy relationship with food. I found comfort in food, I used it as a drug intsead of as fuel. I found myself eating not when I hungry, but lonely, angry, tired, thirsty, bored, you name it... It is not a oh I just stopped swimming thing.

I include my emotional journey and transformation as far as not using food as a comfort in my journals. Not everything about me can be summed up in 3 paragraphs in the support group info page, you know?

I also did not soley drink slimfast. If you look back through my journals dating from January 08-September 08, you will see a daily detailed food log of everything I ate. Everything. I don't cook, never have,(and I am also not a breakfast eater) but I found that a slimfast and some fruit got me going in the morning. As I said, you can find all of my food logs in my journals from my entire 80 pound weight loss dating Jan-Sept 08.

I am now an athlete. I have transformed myself into a person who is capable of doing 225 crunches, running long distances, etc. I am not just being obsessive and saying randomly that I am going to do 225 crunches a day. Nor am I suggesting that anyone else do that. It is part of a training program. In addition, I also lift weights 3x week. That is also listed on my profile.

I think that sums it up :)

Thank you for the info on hoodia. I got 30 pills when i bought them and I don't plan on buying anymore when they are gone. I just started taking them to jump start my diet and once they are gone, I will do it all on my own!!!
Oh yeah, and since I started taking it I have been drinking water like crazy!!! More than I ever have before! I get well over the 8, 8oz glasses a day!

I didn't mean to offend anyone else when I said those things to Lisa. I have problems with her, not anyone else and I am sorry if I hurt anyone else's feelings or made anyone else feel bad.

Okay, I think things got WAY out of hand on this post. Lisa is a very "in your face" kind of person and believes in tough love. She just tells it like it is. She felt that you didnt need to lose weight, and didnt want anyone who DOES have a large amount of weight to lose to think that Hoodia is a fix all. It does take hard work and dedication. I dont think she was trying to minimize your efforts. I dont think she was trying to say you didnt belong here. Everyone is free to use this site. But maybe a private message to Lisa would have been more appropriate, rather than a public spanking? We are all adults here right? What happened between you as friends, certainly isnt any of our business and I'm pretty sure none of us are interested in hearing about it. Brooke, if you really feel you need to lose weight, then more power to you, and good luck. I think Lisa was just concerned for your health. Lisa, we all know(all of us who know you),you had good intentions. Everybody just chill okay? This is a support group, not a sounding board.

I agree with MrsBarker 100%. Lisa is a big tough love person which is why the people who are friends with her love her. She cheers you on when you do good and kicks you in the butt when you are slacking and we do the same for her.
Brooke, I understand that is it hard to read intentions out of type written words but I'm sure that what Lisa said she meant out of concern for your health. She only knows what helped her to be successful and she just wants to help other people be successful 2.
That being said I have tried hoodia and it didn't really work for me. When I took it, it made me feel sick. That could have just been my personal reaction to it and if it works you then good for you! Just take care of yourself ok? This is a support group and no one wants to see you get sick or become unhealthy.