Tag Archives: diet pill

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.

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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