Supplement Review

Weight Watchers…. A 2009 failed experiment

Weight WatchersWeight Watchers overhauled their diet plan system in 2010, so I technically embarked on the old system when I did it in 2009. Under the old plan, ” you could use your points anyway you like. But we now know if you use your points wisely by eating foods rich in protein and fiber — these foods fill you up, keep hunger at bay, and help you lose weight in a healthier and more nutritious way,” Kovach says WebMD.

Weight Watchers has been around for over 40 years and they have continued to revamp their company and their system. I have to admit that the current plan, Weight Watchers 360, looks pretty darn sexy and appealing. Furthermore, Weight Watchers is one of the most recognized companies when it comes to weight loss, so they are clearly doing something right and helping people sustain smart weight loss the right way.

I decided to give it a try in 2009, after the birth of my first child. After the first few months after having a baby, the pounds just melted off. About six months post baby,  I still  had about 20 pounds I wanted to lose and joined with a friend. It seemed expensive to me at the time and the time to attend meetings and travel to a meeting really irritated me. Counting points and thinking and trying to figure out points of food I was eating was time consuming and I did not enjoy it. I often found myself saving up points for later and then eating wayu too much at the end of day because I would be so hungry. I stuck with the program for 6 months. About 2 months into the program, I stopped attending meetings and would walk by the meeting location and keep going- I figured that instead of talking about it, I would get out there and just do it. I stuck with the plan for 6 months and abandoned the plan right before Christmas.

1. Why didn’t I stick to the program?

Since hindsight is 20/20, I can honestly say now that the support groups and number counting was too time consuming (for me). I know that having a support system can be critical to helping one lose weight, but my time and money would have been better spent in a group spin class/kick boxing class/ in a running group or with a personal trainer. Talking about food only made me hungrier. The second aspect was lack of sleep. Being a new mommy and spending lots of nights awake with a hungry baby wrecked havoc on my metabolism and I didn’t realize it at the time.

2. Who would I recommend Weight Watchers to? 

Weight Watchers is an awesome program with an excellent support system, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. I would recommend Weight Watchers to anyone who enjoys being in a social support group, to anyone who feels like they have a lot to learn about nutrition and portion control, and to anyone who feels overwhelmed by the daunting goal ahead of them.

I would also suggest the program to anyone who is tired of their current plan. Sometimes we just need to change things up a bit. My taste buds enjoy variety and there are only so many chocolate protein drinks I can consume. Plus, some restaurants have Weight Watcher icons on their menu. When I see those, I know that particular dish is healthier and can opt for that dish and not feel guilty.

 

 

Hydroxycut: My Go-To Supplement From 2003 – 2005

Hydroxycut

According to WebMD, “Hydroxycut is a group of dietary supplements sold as both weight loss and fat loss aids. The active ingredients in most Hydroxycut products are:

  • Lady’s mantle extract (alchemilla vulgaris)
  • Wild olive extract (olea europaea)
  • Komijn extract (cuminum cyminum)
  • Wild mint extract (mentha longifolia)

There are no studies on the safety of any Hydroxycut product. But the FDA investigates when it gets reports that a supplement may be harmful. And sometimes the agency orders recalls of unsafe products.” (Full article: Hydroxycut).

One of my Army buddies introduced me to Hydroxycut while I was serving in 2003. There were fewer formulas of Hydroxycut at this time and my best comparison would have to be the Pro Clinical formula that is offered today.  I was instantly hooked! Not only did I lose those unwanted extra pounds, I was able to push harder through afternoon workouts (which were usually the second workout of the day). Hydroxycut gave me energy without feeling jittery and helped suppress my appetite.  I stayed on Hydroxycuton and off for over a year. During a regular workday, I fell 15 feet and broke my wrist (fracturing a small bone in two places), which required months in a cast followed by months of occupational therapy. Due to this injury, I stopped taking Hydroxycut and stopped most of my training.

Continue reading →

Xenadrine…. First Diet Pill I Ever Tried

Xenadrine

According to Web MD, “One of the most popular weight-loss supplements in the United States — considered a ‘nutritional supplement’ and not a drug by current FDA standards — is Xenadrine, made by the New Jersey company Cytodyne Technologies. The main ingredient in its original formula, Xenadrine RFA-1, is ephedrine, derived from the ephedra plant. Ephedrine increases metabolism, the process by which fat cells are broken down and converted to energy, and it suppresses appetite. The effects of ephedrine are like those of amphetamines, also known as speed, and for some they can be deadly. Ephedrine can raise one’s heart rate and blood pressure, so people with heart conditions and high blood pressure are warned against taking it.” Full article : How Safe is Xenadrine?

I was introduced to Xenadrine while reading a Fitness magazine when I was in my early 20’s (so, about 10 years ago, more or less). At the time,  I was active and exercised regularly, but still wanted to drop 10 more pounds. So, off to GNC I went. This was my official trip to GNC, and most definitely not my last. The friendly salesperson had no problem pointing me to the diet pill section and was kind enough to offer stronger diet pills than Xenadrine,  but I declined. I picked up my bottle of Xenadrine and headed home to give them a try. Continue reading →

The Zone Diet

The “Zone Diet” has to be the first diet I ever really tried and stuck with. According to WebMD, the “Zone Diet “offers more than just claims about weight-loss. By retooling your metabolism with a diet that is 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbohydrates, The Zone diet authors contend that you can expect to turn back encroaching heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Another much-touted advantage is better athletic performance. Sears doesn’t come right out and claim he has found the cure for heart disease or diabetes or discovered how to win athletic competitions. Instead he provides glowing anecdotes from people who have taken The Zone diet to heart.”

I started following the Zone Diet my first year living on a mountain resort as a snowboard instructor in the late 1990s. Hey, it did Jennifer Aniston a body good so it was going to do the same for me. My life was all about 30/30/40. The Zone Diet took a lot of work to get the right balance of protein/fat/carbs and I found that I was able to stick with the diet 75% of the time. Basically, I always fell of the wagon at night-time when it came time to eat what everyone else was eating. Many a night my diet was abandoned for McDonald’s french fries or a tasty burrito.

I was able to memorize the perfect 30/30/40 breakfast of cottage cheese, fruit, and almonds and ate that for years, mostly because it didn’t require any thought. To be honest, I don’t even like cottage cheese and fruit all that much. I have no idea how I ate it for almost 4 years. Trying to obtain 30/30/40 often left me counting calories constantly. Did I lose weight and keep it off while adhering to the Zone Diet? Yes, I lost 15 pounds when I started the diet and kept it off for 4 years while I stayed on the diet. Did I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what I could eat and how much I could eat? Yes, I felt like it was taking over my life to the point where I dreaded the holidays with my extended family.

Why did abandon the Zone Diet philosophy? I ended up abandoning the diet because I joined the Army. I ended up putting on 10 pounds during Basic Training because I got to eat and eat and eat. It was awesome. Why have I never chose to get back on the diet? It was too much work. Now days, I need to be able to cook one meal that my whole family will eat and I will not deprive myself of french fries if that’s what is on the plate.

1 2 3 4
Website Powered by WordPress.com.