How is the CLA/GLA going?

[got2luv]

I never got hungry from the combo... in fact I lost my appetite... maybe that's because these huge pills are like a meal all by themselves!!!

Sleepy... nope, I have tons of energy now, but I don't feel like I'm on speed.

Cold... now there's one I have experienced... but maybe that's because the fat was going away.

[Cutie]

Originally Posted by Karber

Just reading the postings on CLA/GLA? WHAT? LOL

Can someone bring me up to the 20th century with this? What is it? and what is it suppose to do? And where do u get it? And is it harmful?

Am feeling a little left out right now.....and am pouting! There is something old that i didn't know about.

Can someone enlighten this old lady?

<<SNIFF>> <<SNIFF>>

Thank you,
K

sorry to have missed this earlier...I was distracted by someone making a terrible face at me...ahem

here's some cla & gla info for you to read at your leisure

Essential fatty acids are good fats that occur naturally in food. They are just as important as the vitamins and minerals a body needs to function properly. Two of the hottest EFAs for weight loss and weight control are gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The problem is most Americans don’t consume enough of these EFAs to reap their benefits. Supplementation can change all that, and put Americans back in shape. Along with a balanced diet and daily exercise, a GLA/CLA combination product may soon be a key component in any successful weight control program. Americans can not only lose weight, but attack that age-old problem of keeping it off. Good fats are not just weight loss agents; they are keys to weight control. These two EFAs provide Americans with a simple, natural, and effortless solution to achieve their personal weight goals.

How to Conquer GLA Deficiency In a healthy body
GLA can be synthesized from linoleic acid, which is found in certain oils, grains, and seeds. But due to a number of common dietary and lifestyle factors in today’s society, most of our bodies don’t make that conversion. The main metabolic roadblocks are trans fats (man-made fats), sugar, smoking, alcohol, aging, and illnesses such as diabetes. All of these factors affect the body’s ability to convertlinoleic acid into GLA and efficiently burn fat. But Americans are not easily convinced to quit smoking, or change their eating habits. For the most part they can’t control their illnesses, and certainly have no say in the fact that they are getting older. What they want is a simple solution to their weight problems. Luckily, GLA is found naturally in seed oils like borage oil (20-24% GLA), evening primrose oil (8-10% GLA), and black currant seed oil (about 15% GLA). Supplementing with these oils provides GLA in a usable form, so the body can bypass the conversion process and get down to the business of burning excess fat.

The Science Behind GLA and Weight Loss
GLA is not just another fad. In the 1980s many studies focusing on GLA as a natural aid to weight reduction were published in prestigious medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine. These reports documented GLA’s definite promise in the battle of the bulge. Scientists like Dr. David Horrobin, a former professor of medicine at the University of Montreal, and Dr. M.A. Mir, a researcher and consultant at the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff, identified two calorie-burning mechanisms that GLA helps to regulate. Simply put, GLA does two things to boost your metabolism. First it activates an under-active fat in overweight people known as brown adipose tissue (BAT) to burn calories. Second, GLA activates the ATPase metabolic process, commonly referred to as the “sodium pump”.
In fact, GLA can stimulate the sodium pump to use up nearly 50% of the body’s total calories. Recent published studies on animals confirm GLA’s promise in the weight loss arena. These studies show obesity is linked to low GLA levels, and supplementation can correct or normalize these levels. Furthermore, supplementation in obese animals reduces food intake and weight gain. A Japanese researcher published a study in the Journal of Nutrition confirming that dietary GLA can reduce body fat both by increasing the metabolism of BAT, and by affecting the enzymes involved in the metabolism of fat, as well as glucose. Perhaps most interesting of all is the hypothesis that GLA, like other fatty acids, has the potential to elevate levels of serotonin, a brain chemical which contributes to the feeling of fullness. By elevating serotonin, you will feel satiated sooner, eat less, and not be tempted to overindulge. So not only does GLA have the ability to increase the body’s metabolism and burn fat, but it may work as an appetite suppressant as well. But science is not going to convince everyone. People need to see results. In a study involving GLA, Dr. Mir reported his subjects lost from 9.6 to 11.4 pounds over a six-week period. Dr. Horrobin described GLA as “a safe, non-drug way to stimulate the body’s metabolic activity and burn off fat.” Horrobin believes nearly one-third of all overweight people are metabolically impaired, interfering with the burning of excess calories. That’s over 38 million people in the United States alone!

The CLA Breakthrough
The latest good fat to be discovered, CLA has profound fat loss and healing benefits. CLA helps reduce body fat while retaining lean muscle mass. It is also considered a necessary fatty acid both for cell growth and as a building block of cell membranes. CLA occurs naturally in dairy foods, grass-fed beef and lamb, and other grass-fed animals. Before the 1970s, Americans got plenty of CLA by eating such foods. But today we are getting virtually no CLA in our foods because livestock is no longer grass fed, which decreases CLA levels by about 80%. To compound this deficiency, over the past 20 years many misguided Americans on low-fat diets avoided the only dietary sources of CLA available; meat, and dairy products like whole milk, butter and cheese. Luckily, science has found a way to create CLA from the linoleic acid found in sunflower and safflower oils. Today CLA is available as a convenient dietary supplement. To date, there are over 500 published studies on this previously unrecognized nutrient. The first human clinical trial using CLA was conducted in 1997 in Norway. This study was later published in the Journal of Nutrition. A 90-day double-blind clinical study showed a stunning 20% decrease in body fat, with an average loss of 7 pounds of fat in the group taking CLA. These results were achieved without a single change in dietary habits, establishing CLA supplementation for the first time as a simple, effortless weight loss tool.
In addition to its ability to reduce body fat, CLA has also been shown to increase lean muscle mass. In this same study, although the participants lost body fat, they experienced very little change in overall body weight due to the increase in lean muscle mass. The end result was a stronger, healthier body.CLA is a powerful tool for the dieters of America who find themselves sliding up and down the scale with each new diet attempt. In August of 2000, Pariza presented the long-awaited results of a clinical trial designed to assess the effects of CLA on the body composition of obese men and women. In the trial, 80 overweight people dieted for several months, then went back to their regular eating habits. Like most of us, once they returned to their old habits they regained some of the weight. Interestingly, the group taking CLA put the pounds back on in a ratio of half fat to half lean muscle. This is rather impressive when you consider the control group regained the weight at a ratio of 75% fat to 25% lean muscle. With CLA supplementation, the regained weight is more muscle and less fat.

CLA, Beyond Weight Loss
The benefits of CLA do not stop at weight loss. Laboratory research over the past two decades has shown that CLA also modulates the immune response, protects against heart disease, and inhibits the growth of various cancers.12-16 In several studies, CLA has demonstrated an outstanding ability to prevent and control adult onset (type 2) diabetes, now considered to be an American epidemic. Researchers from Purdue University in Indiana reported a dramatic improvement in serum insulin response in patients taking 6g of CLA daily. Over 80% of patients experienced an improvement in the levels of leptin, a hormone that regulates both insulin and obesity. CLA may also be a potent agent for preventing osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, since it helps prevent bone loss. Clearly, research shows both GLA and CLA can pare off the pounds, while working to build a healthier body. The fat loss benefits of these potent healing giants are just beginning to make headlines!

[Caly1]

whew, I am gone for half a day and I have 4 pages to catch up on.

Welcome kartmom, I see the combo is treating you well!

Amy, I love your headbanger smiley :headbang

I'm having a rough day, don't know if tom is coming but I am craving stuff like crazy!!. I made some creamcheese muffins with a little cinnamon to kill the cravings (they're only 1 carb each the way i make them) and it helped a little. I also went shopping and bought my first suit. Now i get it home and realize that the coat has like these weird pleat things on the front. I am afraid it looks stupid, i don't know. Its just been one of those days, you know.

Anyways, I am gonna hit the hay, feeling really tired and I am gonna make myself get up and go to the gym at 6am. So have a good night everyone.

[got2luv]

Originally Posted by Karber

Just reading the postings on CLA/GLA? WHAT? LOL

Can someone bring me up to the 20th century with this? What is it? and what is it suppose to do? And where do u get it? And is it harmful?

Am feeling a little left out right now.....and am pouting! There is something old that i didn't know about.

Can someone enlighten this old lady?

<<SNIFF>> <<SNIFF>>

Thank you,
K

Ok, this is going to be a long post... lemme put in my comments first before I paste the long explanation of what CLA & GLA are. CLA was found naturally in dairy products and beef until they started changing the way the cattle are fed. It is natural and it is a supplement. It is NOT a miracle pill

CLA works by preventing fat cells from maturing (getting bigger) and blocks them from filling with fat. At the same time it is promoting lean muscle growth.

Most people either stall on the scale weight or slow down.... my theory is that it is because the fat cells are not getting to fill up with fat so they retain water for a while.... usually in a few weeks you will start to lose scale weight again. Mean time, you are losing inches.

The best dose is 3400mg of CLA. Which can be found at Walmart in the vitamin section under "T" (Tonalin 1000-CLA) Most of the pill form is only about 750mg of ACTUAL CLA so you will need 5 per day to get the 3400mg, no matter what the bottle says the dosage is (see chart at bottom of this post) Alot of us are taking liquid CLA from Netrition... you get all 3400mg in one dose. Borage oil can be found anywhere.

NOW for the looooooooooooong explaination. (Ya ready for this?)

Most effective daily dose...
CLA 3400 mg
GLA 1000 mg



Amy beat me to it!!!! I edited it out. Not so long now!!!!

[tom_912]

Wow its great to have so many here now to help out giving advice, its a race now to help out!!! WTG Amy, Michelle, Trish and everyone else!!!! The cla/gla is working its wonders in our house. The whoosh fairy visited and I'm down 2 lbs and trish 4 lbs I'm down a pants size and trish can wear 14's comfortably and can get into 12's....omg isn't this wonderful!!!!!!!! I am so proud of her and she's looking hot!!

Have a great day!!!! you all!

[abbynormal]

Quick update. I'm going on 2 months on the combo:
bust -3
waist -2
hips - 3.5
thighs - 1

Feeling great about the inches. Ate ok yesterday but a little high salt so I'm kind of swollen this morning. I had left over corned beef that I didn't want to go to waste so I ate it. I'm sure this is just a temporary water thing.

Tonight should be fun. Several of the ladies I work with meet on Tuesday nights after work and bring their craft projects. Since I am running out of time (must be finished by Thursday night!) on mine, a couple of them are going to help me. I'm making necklaces for 6 bridesmaids. I'm really pleased with how they are turning out. The ladies here are going to help me with the keepsake boxes. Pictures forthcoming when complete.

[veronicac]

thats great Abby you must be so happy..

does anyone know if borage oil or cla have an affect of birthcontrol pills???

i measured today

neck-1/4
chest-1 1/4
hips-1 1/2
thigh-1 1/2

im so exited this is only since 1/9/06

[Caly1]

good morning everyone. I am up .5 lbs this am . I really think tom is coming so I am not to worried about it. I couldn't get out of bed this morning, i don't know what the problem was. My alarm clock went off at 5:30 and then I reset it to 6:00. Well it went off at 6:00 and the last thing i remember was stretching and throwing off my blanket to get up. But the next thing I know its 7:30 and I'm just barely getting up. So I won't beable to go to the gym this am, maybe I'll make it this afternoon.

I want to tape myself to see if I have any progress but I am alittle scared

Congrats on the inch loss abby, that is great!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

[Caly1]

you too Veroniac!!! That is great!. I really don't think it would affect birth control condidering there are no chemicals in either. But don't take my word for it, well I didn't get pregnant while DH was home so....Try doing a web search on it or call your doc.

[kidj4]

at least it's not one that i've seen in all the zillions of cla/gla threads!

is this something that we will need to take forever to maintain the results??

tia ~ kidj4
(i'm starting today!! **fingers crossed**)

[135Bonnie]

Good morning friends.

Started GLA/CLA 1/19 and took measurements. I swore I would not remeasure for a week but I had to peak at a few this am. Lower abs down 2 inches!!!! waist down 2 inches!!! Momma mia--I am so happy. Thanks for getting me on this all of you.

[cqueen]

Good morning.....

I only took the CLA by itself for 1 day and felt energized. I added the GLA yesterday and felt quite sluggish. It's also makes me a little queezy for about 2 min. but does pass. I felt this morning that my tummy area didn't poke out as much. I was tempted to measure, but will hold off until it has been one week.

I am hoping to be able to post some results. *Keeping fingers crossed*

Cheryl

[kycowgirl]

WOW I got to work one night and have 2 pages to catch up on . I love logging on and seeing new people here

I am always cold even in summer. Its about 52 underground all the time so I keep my heater going lol. When I first started taking the combo, I was hot all the time, but now I am back to being cold again . Loss of insulation I guess . I have totally lost my appetite with this combo, no cravings. Sometimes I have to make myself eat something

I have compressed the CLA/GLA info from all my research for the new ones, hope it helps explain everything.........

Some of us prefer the liquid CLA from Netrition. One bottle which is about $23.00 lasts a full month. You just take 1/2 Tbsp a day to get your full dose. We also prefer to get our Borage Oil from Netrition. Take 2-4 a day. It has a higher GLA content, and more pills per bottle than wal-mart brand so less pills there too. So by getting them both from Netrition, its alot cheaper than taking all the caps from stores.

How CLA & GLA work .....

Q: What is CLA?
A: Different from a weight loss supplement, CLA us a "dietary" supplement clinically proven to reduce body fat. It helps prevent fat regain too. So you retain lean muscle mass, which helps burn calories and increase your metabolism. CLA from pure safflower is completely safe. There are no stimulants of any kind, natural or artificial.

How does CLA work?
A: CLA prevents fat from being deposited into the cells by speeding up the body's fat metabolism. CLA also helps the body metabolize existing fat deposits. This fat then returns to the blood stream where it is used as energy by muscle cells and the liver. A simple consumer friendly version of these scientific clinical studies for the physiological mechanism is as follows:

CLA works to reduce body fat by preventing fat accumulation in at cells. Fat normally enters the fat cell through a “door” that is controlled by an enzyme, the “key”. By acting on this enzyme, or “key”, CLA keeps the “door” locked. When the “door” is locked, fat cannot enter the cells thereby not allowing the amount of fat to increase in the cells. The less fat that is present in the cells, the smaller and less mature they become, this helps to reduce the level of fat in the body. CLA works to increase lean muscle mass by enhancing the enzyme activity in muscle cells. The increased presence of fat will be burned in the muscle cells, thus building up lean muscle mass.

Recommended CLA dosage:
3400mg a day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How does GLA work?
A: Numerous research studies have examined the role of GLA for improving health, specifically in the area of weight loss. GLA from borage oil causes less body fat to accumulate. Borage oil owes its healing power to the presence of essential fatty acids, the most important of which is GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid. (While borage oil is often used interchangeably with evening primrose oil, ounce for ounce, borage oil boasts more than twice as much GLA.)

Recommended GLA dosage:
1000-3000mg a day

Guidelines for Use
Taking borage oil with food may boost GLA absorption and minimize unpleasant side effects.

If you take an anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medication, check
with your doctor before trying borage oil.

The are no other known drug or nutrient interactions associated with borage oil.

Possible Side Effects ...
Borage oil may cause loose stools and minor stomach problems.

Other benefits of Borage Oil...
Reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis
Clear up acne and rosacea
Alleviate inflammation associated with lupus
Prevent nerve damage (neuropathy) due to diabetes
Combat damage from multiple sclerosis
Ease cough and soothe throat disorders
Treat Alzheimer's-related memory deficiencies
Reduce stress and high blood pressure
Nourish nails, scalp, and hair
Counter impotence and female infertility

[kycowgirl]

Originally Posted by kidj4

at least it's not one that i've seen in all the zillions of cla/gla threads! is this something that we will need to take forever to maintain the results??
tia ~ kidj4
(i'm starting today!! **fingers crossed**)

tia, it says "It helps prevent fat regain too", so I would assume that if you maintain your good eating and exercise habits it would stay off. Everything in them is natural oils your body needs but doesnt get enough of, like your vitamins, so I guess its a personal choice to keep taking it or stop when you reach goal. I havent really seen any studies on that yet, but I am always looking for updates. We choose to keep it as part of our daily vitamins for life but I know alot cannot afford that. If I find any studies on this, I will be sure to post them

[ginamw1965]

Hello Everyone,

Does anyone know if Pepcid AC would cause the combo to be less affective?

I have acid reflux almost daily - but have been just suffering through it most days. Then there are days like today that, I just can't take it anylonger.

Wondering if it absorbed the combo or not ?

Thanks for any help in advance,

Gina

[kycowgirl]

I take Nexium every day for Chronic Acid Reflux and it doesnt hurt it, I would assume pepcid would be the same?

[Caly1]

Bonnie, congrats on your inch loss! 4 inches in a few days is fantastic!! I'm glad that the combo is working for you.

Cheryl, the gla did that to me too. I felt horribly sick after taking it the first few times but my body adjusted and I no longer have problems.

[ginamw1965]

Originally Posted by 135Bonnie

Good morning friends.

Started GLA/CLA 1/19 and took measurements. I swore I would not remeasure for a week but I had to peak at a few this am. Lower abs down 2 inches!!!! waist down 2 inches!!! Momma mia--I am so happy. Thanks for getting me on this all of you.

Woo Hoo for you Bonnie - I'm doin the happy dance for you. Keep up the good work girl - just wait it will be melting off sooner than you know. Congrats.

Gina

[135Bonnie]

Originally Posted by ginamw1965

Woo Hoo for you Bonnie - I'm doin the happy dance for you. Keep up the good work girl - just wait it will be melting off sooner than you know. Congrats.

Gina

Thanks Caly and Gina. I will give this a couple of weeks and if it keeps going well, I will post before and after pic. I want to wait because the inches are coming off but the scale is the same--a phenomena so many of you experienced.

[ddog27]

Ok I realized yesterday that I was doing this CLA/GLA thing all wrong. First I was not taking enough and I was taking half in the morning and half in the afternoon. After reading how much I should take and that almost everyone was taking their CLA/GLA all at one time, I decided to give it a try. I took 5 CLA (From Wal-Mart) and 4 Borage oil (Also from Wal-Mart) and I took them all at once this morning. I noticed a marked difference in my appetite today and I feel like I have more energy. I like it so far and I think I will keep doing it this way. Thanks guys for all of your help!!

[am2106]

Plus I'm trying to get up enough posts to make me a senior member so I'm allowed in the exclusive playground!

When you all measure, how exactly do you do it? Do you hold the tape so that it's just taut, so that it doesn't even have any pressure at all, so tight you can't breathe? I need to figure out a system of measuring. I know I'm losing inches, I just don't know how many. I got all excited one day because I thought I had lost 1.5; but as I went on, I realized that I probably had held the tape differently. If I measure so that the tape barely has any tautness, then I've actually gained inches! (I know that I haven't.)

You know, I wonder if taking the CLA/GLA separately is enough to affect appetite. I didn't think much about it; but when I took them together, I did have a decreased appetite. Then I started taking them separately as I saw recommended; and it's still better than it was, but I think it was better taking them together. Plus, less to have to remember at lunchtime!

Also, it's kind of interesting, but I've had chocolate (dark chocolate - allowed on South Beach!) in the house for about a week - it's almost all still there! Now I'd like to attribute that to my renewed willpower and dedication - but I think realistically it's due to the CLA/GLA.

Next time I order from netrition, I'm going to get the Borage Oil and Flaxseed Oil from there. See what the Flaxseed oil does for me.

Anna

[cqueen]

When I measure I hold the tape to where it doesn't sink into my skin, so I guess that would be no pressure.