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!)

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robinw - Dr Atkins recommends taking a good all-round multivit/mineral supplement plus chromium picolinate 300mcg daily (acts as a catalyst for action of insulin at its receptor sites). You can get chromium in Boots. Essential oils GLA and EPA (in the Eye-q supplement again from Boots). Also L-Carnitine, though this seems to be quite hard to get hold of by itself, so I'm not taking it (you could probably get it off the internet though) as it's involved in fat transport (puts a nice image in your head!) Also Co-enzyme Q10 which helps with heart functioning and correct working of the immune system. I've heard quite alot of people say they were taking Chromium when slimming whether on Atkins or not, so you may find it helpful.

Yes, I too gain alot of weight at certain times of the month, namely when pre-menstrual. I hoping that if I shift a few stone, this weight gain will be less noticeable, as I think it's to do with hormones rather than anything else. Oh the joys of being a woman!

Hi,
Have just joined this site - it was recommended by a fellow postee on 'babycentre.co.uk'. I am 18 weeks PG at the moment, but was 2 stones overweight before I got PG, I have put on 7lb so far, but not been 'eating for 2', have not been exercising due to tiredness and nausea, but want to start again now I am feeling better.
I am dreading putting on any more weight in the next 6 months and wondered if it is safe to diet during pregnancy?

I am not so stupid as to do a detox/Atkins/1000 cals per day type diet, but is it safe to eat less than 2000 cals/ day so long as its a balanced diet and cut out fat/sugar etc. Will I harm my baby? I spoke to my midwife about this and she told me I need to eat at least 2200 cals per day, with plenty of carbohydrates and not worry about putting on weight while PG.

Any adcice greatly appreciated.
Debbie L

Hi,
Have just joined this site - it was recommended by a fellow postee on 'babycentre.co.uk'. I am 18 weeks PG at the moment, but was 2 stones overweight before I got PG, I have put on 7lb so far, but not been 'eating for 2', have not been exercising due to tiredness and nausea, but want to start again now I am feeling better.
I am dreading putting on any more weight in the next 6 months and wondered if it is safe to diet during pregnancy?

I am not so stupid as to do a detox/Atkins/1000 cals per day type diet, but is it safe to eat less than 2000 cals/ day so long as its a balanced diet and cut out fat/sugar etc. Will I harm my baby? I spoke to my midwife about this and she told me I need to eat at least 2200 cals per day, with plenty of carbohydrates and not worry about putting on weight while PG.

Any adcice greatly appreciated.
Debbie L

Hi DebbieL - I think it's sensible to go along with your midwife's advice on this one. If you try to avoid or limit the usual fattening foods (cakes, chocolate, biscuits, chips, crisps etc) which don't actually provide you or babe with much in the way of nourishment anyway (even if they are extremely tasty!) you should keep your weight gain down to a healthy minimum. Not that I did anything nearly so saintly when I was pregnant. Rather I saw it as a licence to eat and am now paying the price 3 pregnancies later! Still, have just embarked on the Atkin's diet and am hoping that this will be the right way to go for me. Enjoy your pregnancy, there is plenty of time to lose the extra weight when the baby is born.
All the best,
Chanel.

Pamina - I was extremely tempted to buy it for MIL, but at £29.99 it was way out of the usual MIL present budget (usually it's something from Poundland!)

Without wishing to gloat or sound smug, my Atkins is going well, and that is extremely unusual for me on a diet. Did a urine stick test (sorry if you're eating your lunch!) this AM which showed moderate amounts of ketones, so atleast my fat burning mode is kicking in! Someone mentioned (think it may have been Alibubbles) that a friend of hers had lost 14lbs in 2 wks on Atkins - wahay! Actually Pamina, I think this diet could work for a veggie. I do eat meat, but when faced with eating unlimited amounts of it, even I feel a bit queasy. Instead, I've been having big chunks of cheddar and thoroughly enjoying it. Also, last night had a plate of salad and mayo which was great. Do you eat fish? Sorry if this is a silly question, but you can eat unlimited amounts of this too. Also, I don't feel hungry or obsessed by food like I normally do on a diet.

PS Pamina - did you see that Detox your skin diet that I posted yesterday. Looked quite effective and I might give it a whirl sometime - not at the mo though, as I need my caffeine-free diet coke!

Pamina - Without being too scientific (because I don't know how too!) ketones are released when your body is burning it's own fat and they are excreted in your urine, so it's an easy way to check whether Atkins has put your body into fat burning mode. It's suprisingly easy to follow Atkins though, you must just make sure not to have more than 20gms of carbohydrates in the 14 day induction phase. As nutritional info is on the back of most products these days, you just need to check the carb content. I think it's about 170gms of green salad to make the 20gms of carbs which is quite a healthy plate-full! Good luck with the detoxing

DebbieL, you could ask your MW to refer you to a dietician/nutritionist to talk about how you feel re your weight. They are the experts and could probably give you some guidelines. Good luck with Baby!

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