Weight Loss - Tablets?

[Nance]

Dear Eveyrone

I am a mother of 3 (all boys!) aged 7, 5 years, and 4 months. I have put on about 2.5 stone in weight and am really desperate to lose the excess weight, but as you can imagine, finding time to do so properly with 3 kids (and working as well) is no easy feat. All the puddings, sweets and chocolates over Christmas has not helped.

I recently received a brochure on weight loss from a company claiming to have made a breakthrough in weight loss using Cider Vinegar tablets and claim that I can lose up to a pound of fat a DAY if I took these tablets!! They claim it is healthy, and the ingredients are natural with no side effects. As I am currently breasfeeding I have not (and will not) embark on taking them while feeding but was wondering if anyone has any experience with these pills or something similar?I am a level headed IT professional, and would not normally believe or even read such claims. However, I am interested to see if anyone has used them and whether they worked, and also whether there were any side effects or indeed whether this is just another product claiming the impossible? If so, how are they allowed to print and send out such false claims??

Kind regards

Nance (& gang!)

Hi Nance - Welcome to Mumsnet, I'm sure you will enjoy using it and find it extremely useful. You're right about us lot being passionate about dieting, infact I'm about to embark on the Atkin's diet on Monday in an attempt to shift some excess bulk! I've also got 3 kids and put on weight with each pregnancy which I didn't lose inbetween, so now I've got a big hurdle infront of me. I haven't heard of the tablets you mention, but I'm going to try Chromaslim tablets (from Boots) and will let you know how I get on. I am a bit sceptical about the claims of so-called diet pills, but I've decided to give them a go, as you don't know unless you try!

Thanks Chanel No5. My sister-in-law has been toying with the idea of going on the Atkins diet as she knows people who have lost loads of weight on it, and also so it advertised on Sky television. However, the pack from Sky was quite pricey so she was suggesting we go halves (about £70 in total).

I've never tried pills before but have in the past lost weight using Herbalife milkshakes and also good old exercising and controlled low fat eating. However, I am now back to the weight I was before I started losing weight last time around!!

Best of luck with Atkins.Keep us posted on your progress and I'll certainly cheer you on!!

Nance

dear Nance,
I would be wary of trying tablets making such marvellous claims, but then, i'm a bit of a hypochondriac! I went to weight watchers when my daughter was 9 weeks old and I was breastfeeding her exclusively. I had masses to eat - they give you loads more as you are feeding obviously - and lost one and a half stone. Honestly, I was getting to 9 at night and thinking, I've still got loads left to eat! It really was pretty easy. Mind you , that was 3 and a half years ago and i could do with losing a bit more so I have bought Carol Vorderman's Detox for Life book and have just got back from the health food shop with a supply of goodies. Looks worth a try but you have to give up a lot of stuff, if only for 28 days. Good luck!

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Isn't Cider Vinegar what Emma Bovary drank in Madame Bovary? So at least it's been around for a while.

Here, they are advertising co-jointed linoic acid (CLA) which is supposed to be the missing link in the food chain in helping you convert fat to muscle. You don't nec loss weight but carry more muscle percentage and so a faster metabolism I suppose.

I'm pg so am no use for a recommendation but I used to know a guy from the States who was keen on it, certainly looked solid anyhow. (More solid than me).

I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. I know that it's boring, but we are all intelligent people who know that the only way to lose weight (And keep it off) is to eat less calories than we need in an average way. If you are busy (and with three kids who wouldn't be) I would still suggest a class. I was so anti classes before I went to one, because I imaginged weekly humiliation and the like. But what I found was support and a bit of help sticking to a diet for more than a few weeks. Like you I had 3 stone to lose and I did it from 9 weeks after my baby was born.

I have kept the weight off (except a few lbs over christmas which are going) and I have 2 kids, a full time job and I'm out of the house from 7.15am - 7.30pm. All I can say is that organisation was the key for me and not having crap foods in the house. If your kids have to get used to eating friut as snacks then so be it! Don't make excuses that you have to have high fat food in the house for them.

I know you will say you don't have time to go to a class, but if you are serious about losing weight then getting a babysitter once a week for a couple of hours is surely worth it.

I went to Slimming World, and I know other did Weight Watchers. In your head you know that diet pills are a bunch of C**P, and quick fixes don't work. I did my 3 stoone in 6 months or so, is that fast enough for you?

I agree Crunchie! I wish I'd saved the money I've spent on useless 'weight loss aids' over the past 14 yrs I've been dieting for (just realised that since I've only been alive for 26 that means I've been dieting for more than half my life -crazy...) I would hate to total the amount, I really would, still it would be into the hundreds anyway. I have found nothing works other than eating less. Personally I found cutting wheat out really helped me, and exercising every day - but no magic cure. I take sea kelp (which I can afford being that its £2.50 for box of 200) to help the thyroid work more efficiently (not to be taken while b/feeding though...) My last stupid purchase was only a yr ago and it was a product packed to the gills with caffeine, 'natural' herbs etc and it cost me £25 for a months supply. Apart from the v bad side effect of shaking and nausea, it had NO effect on my weight at all. I didn't take them after a few days and I felt such a fool that I believed every word of the advert - only because I wanted to...

Good luck Nance, I recently lost 2 and a half stone (my whole 'journey' is recorded under postnatal weight loss) and it can be done with sensible eating and exercise (if you read the other thread you will see that it wasn't all as easy as I'm making out - talk about a drama queen!!), but please please don't believe in a magic pill, book or video....

Has anyone tried the Boots 5 day detox programme? I think they do a 28 day one too, but I'm a 'I want it now' kind of person so would go for the 5 day one! DH saw it recommended on a daytime prog, and i looked on their wellbeing website and they were sold out. Basically, my skin is looking crap, what with the weather, central heating at home and air con at work, plus it's all my fault - I have been scoffing chocs since Christmas Day like they are going out of fashion (stopped now) but YIKES! I've got zits on top of zits!

That sounds good Jodee, I could cope with a 5 day programme, 28 days with Carol Vorderman is too much!

Crunchie & Lizzie, you're saying exactly what I didn't want to hear but knew all along!! I wish you had let me dream a little longer that it would all disappear by magic!! Oh, well, a woman can dream........

Thanks for bringing me to my senses though!!

I think the key words in the tablets claim are the 'up to' in the 'lose up to a pound of fat a day'. Most of 'miracle' tablet style diets recommend that you take them in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet if you read the small print.
Personally, I'd save the money and promise myself a treat after losing a small amount of weight by more traditional methods

Nance, I'm sorry - I love to believe in the myth too, even for just a minute!

Can everyone just remember something. The Boots 5 day detox has been marketed to death this xmas time. Glossy promotions, reviews and Bridget Jones style lets-appeal-to-our-target-customers tv ads. Now its sold out, no suprise there. What you have to think is that just because its sold out, its not automatically as brilliant as its sounds. There been loads of similar products on the market for years, see your local health food shop. But just as I was saying before, I've spent loads on quick fix products that work temporarily and that is exactly what this is. I promise you that the same effects can be achieved by doing what Pamina's doing and buying a 2 litre bottle of mineral water and drink one a day, no coffee or tea, no fizzy drinks- only water. Eat fruit and veg for 1st day. Introduce brown rice on the 2nd and protein such a chicken or fish on the 3rd. Buy a packet of green/camomile tea to make yourself feel virtuous for 99p and a face pack to bring out all the toxins (again 99p)Do a bit of exercise every day. Do it for as long as you can without starving yourself (maybe a week) and you will have lost some weight (poss 6lbs) Your skin will have broken out in spots and cleared up again, looking a bit better. Your eyes will look perkier. But best of all you'll have saved yourself a fortune but will still have the same buzz of achievement and control over your body that is really the whole point of this type of exercise...no?

Oh and in a week you'll be back to where you started, once the caffeine, alcohol, fat, sugar has started rushing around your bloodstream again, but at least you can say you did it!

Sorry for cynicism, you don't know how close I was to buying it myself - but this time I'm determined not to fall for it, usually am a marketer's dream, but its time for me to wise up and stop falling for the same thing over again... That said, if any of you DO happen to get hold of a box, let me know how it works won't you?!

Pamina - How are things going so far? Ok, I know it's not even been a day yet, but these first few days are meant to be the worst, breaking cravings etc. I feel really naughty as I've just eaten a big chuck of cheddar, still Dr Atkins says it's ok........

To raise your morale, (and fellow dieters' everywhere) here's a cheery non-foody thought - imagine if you will the once trendy (when I was a girl anyway!) pop-group REM singing 'Furry, sobbing monsters feeling sad' (to the tune of 'Shiny, Happy People' of course) with the mad Sesame Street muppets. No, not the ramblings of someone with a carbohydrate-starved brain, but actual reality - I've just seen it with my own eyes on Nick Jr. Oh how the mighty have fallen.....

Pamina - I meant 'chunk' not 'chuck', although that's what I might be doing later if I keep pigging on Cheddar!

Pamina - I can't remember if it's 'kitten' or not either. Will have to ask dh as he's the font of all things useless! Glad to hear everything is going well on the diet front - keep up the good work!

Lizzer, glad you have got your sensible head on (not that you have an un-sensible head - that's me - oh you know what I mean!). You are exactly right, I should be ditching the caffeine and drinking gallons of adam's ale (so my mother always calls it). I hadn't actually seen any of the hype about it on TV/mags, dh saw a snippet the other day and told me about it.
I think I am hoping for a miracle cure for my skin, I can't believe I'm still battling with spots, and now the wrinkles and grey hairs are appearing (mostly in the past 21 months - bless you ds!)
Maybe it's just as well it's sold out all over town, I can't afford it at the mo anyway and will treat myself to a 99p facepack instead !

Pamina, you are right! It's on automatic for the people.

Jodee, yeah you're sooo right, don't know where my sensible head came from this morning?! I've nothing to feel virtuous about now though-after chips and choc cake for lunch....Guess I'll take my own advice and stuff it, ahem!!

Jodee (and Pamina too!) - There was a 'Detox Your Skin' diet in last Saturdays 'M' magazine which may be of interest to you. The journalist who wrote the article tried it, and before and after photos of her skin under UV light showed quite impressive results (also does help you to shift a few pounds to boot!). You have to be on it for 2 weeks and must not eat:- sugar, all dairy products, all wheat products, alcohol, tea, coffee, cola, chocolate and red meat (yes, I know it sounds more like torture than a diet!).

A typical day's intake would be:-
MORNING - porridge made in microwave with half soya milk and half apple juice (few raisins if you need extra sweetness) and hot water with lemon.
11AM - fruit or fresh veg juice.
LUNCH - baked potato and salad or sushi, or any kind of fresh, filling vegetable or fish soup made without milk or cream.
MIDAFTERNOON - small handful of unsalted nuts (not peanuts) and seeds, especially pumpkin as it contains zinc which is very good for your skin.
DINNER - a veggie stew such as home-made ratatouille with brown rice and a few lentils, kidney or flageolet beans for protein or fresh fish with potatoes and veg, natural soya yoghurt with stewed fruit.
TIPS - sip 2 litres of still mineral water throughout the day. Alternate with herbal teas, preferably organic. Start this diet at the weekend as you may suffer headaches and lack of concentration for first 48 hours (yikes!). Take a good multivitamin/mineral supplement 10 mins before main meal, and one antioxidant supplement. (You're also meant to do body-brushing before your bath/shower, but really it would be a miracle if any of us could find the time!! Still, you can get them from The Body Shop).

I know that I'm going for the quick (I hope!) results of the Atkin's diet at the moment, but I may give this one a whirl when I reach my target weight to 'cleanse' myself of all the oil, cream, cheese, meat etc that I'm having to force (without to much effort) down my throat on Atkins. Here's to purity of body and mind!

Oooh Lizzer, you didn't - no brownie points for you!
But really - I think you have got a great head on your shoulders and dispense some very good advice, plus give us a smile when we are feeling blue

Chanelno5, thanks for that - it does sound a bit like torture! Phew, if anyone else is willing to go along with me, I'll try it, but I'm also addicted to carbs so how will I survive!

Pamina - This is nothing to do with diets, but rather along the theme of naff presents, I think I've come up trumps. Saw a real beauty in a craft shop yesterday - a lovely water feature of ........The Grim Reaper! Aren't those things supposed to help you relax?

I've just started the Atkins diet (from Jan 1) It's not worth sending off £70 as I did. I'll never watch the videos or listen to the cassettes. Just buy the New Atkins Diet book from a book shop. The ketostix for testing your uine from Boots, saving about £60 to spend on all the prawns and steak you need to eat! !

I also tried the boots 5 day detox at the same time, no effect at all, only green poos!

I have lost about 5 lbs though and you can see the difference . I'm never hungry as I just have a piece of cheese if I get peckish while cooking. I've had to cut down on the salad, I think I was eating too much of it for the first 4 days as nothing was happening.

A friend lost a stone in 14 days on it, mind you she is Italian and has pasta twice a day, so cutting out the carb certainly worked for her. Here's
hoping - Good luck all!!