Bad Cravings? Try this!

[Bows1]

Thank you all** What a wonderful support system of ladies!

[dcarlee]

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

To put an end to cravings for sweets & starches, try a combo of glutamine & chromium. This usually eliminates cravings in 24 hours.

• 500-1500mg L-glutamine first thing in the morning, midmorning, & midafternoon
• 200mcg Chromium with breakfast, lunch, dinner & at bedtime

I;ve tried this and it helped but for some reason the L-glutamine makes me nauseous.

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by dcarlee

I;ve tried this and it helped but for some reason the L-glutamine makes me nauseous.

How much did you take?

No significant side effects have been reported in glutamine studies though taking excessive amounts can lead to upset stomachs.

[AllieCat0817]

I want to throw in that yesterday I added Vitamin Shoppe brand Hoodia to the mix. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! I know hoodia doesn't work for everyone, and I also read that it CAN take up to 2 wks for it to kick in for some people, and for others it works right away. I also know there are fake brands that don't do jack. Vitamin Shoppe brand 500mg seems to do the trick VERY WELL for me, and I am also doing my chromium, Total EFA, and l-glutamine. I also have DLPA but probably don't need it at the moment. Also regarding the Hoodia, it does NOT totally KILL my appetite-- I don't want that.. I do want some appetite. I just don't want to be ravenous. I want to eat generous portions of great LC food, enjoy it, and not 'need more'. The Hoodia does leave me with SOME appetite which is good.

Maintenance folks not being in ketosis......... hunger CHALLENGE.

I also ordered some NOW brand Mega Hoodia from Netrition just now.... I do trust Vitamin Shoppe and NOW brand and I can say Vit Shoppe brand works for me.

I am easily able to go 5 hrs between meals.. before I was doing 3-3.5 hours btn meals and STRUGGLING at that. Now I can go 5 hrs EASILY, probably 6 hrs, and NOT be ravenous. Also my energy is through the roof.

I also got 1mg Melatonin (Vitamin Shoppe brand) and took 3 of those last night. They sell 3mg capsules as well, so I got the 1mg to see how many I'd need.

Can you say BOMB SLEEP? Maybe that is why my energy is thru the roof today too.

Vitamin Shoppe brand l-glutamine, DLPA, melatonin, Hoodia, and chromium
Health from the Sun brand Total EFA (once this runs out I will buy Vit Shoppe brand Fish Oil only (Omega 3 only)

My schedule is:
6:30am-- 1-2 l-glutamine 500mg, 1-2 DLPA 500mg (not really needed now though), 1 Hoodia 500mg
7:30am (with breakfast)-- Chromium 200mcg, Health from the Sun brand Total EFA
10:30am-- 1-2 l-glutamine 500mg, DLPA if needed
11:00am-- 1 Hoodia 500mg
12:30-1:30pm (with lunch)-- Chromium 200mcg, Health from the Sun brand Total EFA
3pm-- 1-2 l-glutamine 500mg, DLPA if needed (this is normally when I want to SNACK even if not really hungry)
4-4:30pm-- 1 Hoodia 500mg
5-6pm (with dinner)-- Chromium 200mcg, Health from the Sun brand Total EFA
9pm (bedtime)-- 2-3 Melatonin 1mg each (I also have 5HTP which I would NOT take with Melatonin)

I also have been wanting to eat after dinner which I am trying to cut out. During weight loss I NEVER NEVER ate after dinner, never and it worked very well for me. I want to get back to that. I have a strong feeling this won't be an issue. Last night we ate dinner at like 10pm at Outback... so yesterday wasn't a true test.

But today I feel freakin GREAT... zero hunger. I did eat brunch, about 470 cals. I wont eat again until 5-6, dinner. I slept until like 11 so no morning meal today. If I can happily keep my cals at 1500-1700 cals with good energy and no cravings/ravenous feeling and keep my weight where I want it, I will be very satisfied.

I know the hoodia issue may be controversial and it isn't for everyone. But for me right now, it's a good thing.

[Dharma]

Allie that's great that the Hoodia is working!! I had the strangest experience with it myself!! The FIRST time (only) that I took some, it reduced my appetite very well. After that, EVERY time I've taken it it has made me MORE hungry!!! I probably had the placebo effect on the first one though, and the brand I have maybe isn't any good. Now I have great App Suppr through IFing. It is nice to be able to go longer without food....

[AllieCat0817]

I agree. Food should NOT RULE US. I swear.

[AllieCat0817]

Bump. Cuz this is a good thread.

[inatic]

Originally Posted by Dharma

Allie that's great that the Hoodia is working!! I had the strangest experience with it myself!! The FIRST time (only) that I took some, it reduced my appetite very well. After that, EVERY time I've taken it it has made me MORE hungry!!! I probably had the placebo effect on the first one though, and the brand I have maybe isn't any good. Now I have great App Suppr through IFing. It is nice to be able to go longer without food....

I read something somewhere just recently that hoodia (the real deal) is supposedly hard to come by and is pretty limited. I believe i read it comes from africa, but the current 'stash' is coming from india and isnt the same.

Need to find that article.

[AllieCat0817]

Girl there are 500000 articles online saying the same thing. Either way, whatever I am taking is helping.

There is a new 'cactus' thing from India (actually it isn't new at all, its been used FOREVER in India). I put an article about the Indian cactus on the Vit/Supp forum.

Either way, it's helping. (that plus the l-glutamine, chromium etc).

[MeekNHumble]

Originally Posted by inatic

I read something somewhere just recently that hoodia (the real deal) is supposedly hard to come by and is pretty limited. I believe i read it comes from africa, but the current 'stash' is coming from india and isnt the same.

Need to find that article.

Yeah, I read the same thing, but there is a company online that has the authetic "hoodia"... Its a little pricey, but worth every penny (I read). Imma try it when I get my funds togetha (lol).

[MeekNHumble]

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

Either way, whatever I am taking is helping.

I know that's right !

Do you, Chica (lol).

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

I also got 1mg Melatonin (Vitamin Shoppe brand) and took 3 of those last night. They sell 3mg capsules as well, so I got the 1mg to see how many I'd need.

Can you say BOMB SLEEP? Maybe that is why my energy is thru the roof today too.

Feeling groggy, depressed (or more so) or have troubling dreams, these may be side effects of the Melatonin. An alternative for anyone experiencing these side effects would be 500-1500mg tryptophan or 50-150mg 5-HTP at bedtime instead. Because of the side effects it is generally recommended that people try tryptophan or 5-HTP first, using Melatonin only if these don't normalize sleep.

[AllieCat0817]

5 htp knocks me out too. I can only take it at bedtime. I just wanted to give the melatonin a whirl to see. I think I like 5htp better.

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

5 htp knocks me out too. I can only take it at bedtime. I just wanted to give the melatonin a whirl to see. I think I like 5htp better.

I have never tried Melatonin but I added 100mg 5-HTP back in a few days ago, at bedtime only, alone with GABA. It really worked but I wondered if I needed it all (it seemed like it was more than I needed, left me a bit groggy in the morning) so last night I tried the GABA only...and hour later I was still awake, so I took 50mg 5-HTP. That worked but it took a while. Tonight I'll take the 50mg at the same time as the GABA & hopefully that will work. I don't want to take more than necessary; I don't want to waste good supps.

I'm so happy this thread was bumped recently. It got me digging in my unused supplement bag and I found that I still had several amino acids and have been adding them back in the last few days with great results.

[AllieCat0817]

I do better with 50mg 5-htp. I tried 100.... but 50 works better. I read somewhere that for some people the lower dose is better.

[MeekNHumble]

I tried 100mg the second day I was on 5HTP and I didn't like the way I felt. So I lowered my dose back down to 50mg and was fine.

I may start taking them again today.

Allie... have you noticed any side effects? Do you think 5HPT will cause any neg affects in the future?

Please share your view. Thanks!

[AllieCat0817]

I never had any bad effect from it that I know of. I just can't take it during the day unless I can lay down....

[MeekNHumble]

Okay, thanks for sharing

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

I do better with 50mg 5-htp. I tried 100.... but 50 works better. I read somewhere that for some people the lower dose is better.

I suspect 50mg will be fine for me, too, though DC recommends 100mg at bedtime with 50mg earlier in the day. I don't feel I need it other than at bedtime. She says that for some people lower does (e.g. 10mg) HTP work best.

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by Meekness29

I tried 100mg the second day I was on 5HTP and I didn't like the way I felt. So I lowered my dose back down to 50mg and was fine.

I may start taking them again today.

Allie... have you noticed any side effects? Do you think 5HPT will cause any neg affects in the future?

Please share your view. Thanks!

If you're taking prescription meds it is best to check with your doctor before using 5-HTP or other amino acids. (And other supplements, too)

Before taking 5-HTP, tell your doctor if you are taking SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) anti-depression medicine.

The most common side effect is grogginess but that, I think is usually taken care of with a lower dose. I don't recall anyone having any of these side effects but they do occur sometimes. Most people seem to do well with it.

5-HTP Side Effects:

Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects.

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing, or rash.
• Other Side Effects: You may have the following side effects, but this medicine may also cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that you think are caused by this medicine.
• Nausea (upset stomach), vomiting (throwing up), diarrhea (loose stools)
• Headache, walking problems, feeling calm, restless, or anxious

[lisabinil]

Also if you're taking any of the triptans for migraines (maxalt,imitrex etc) ask your doc-you could have side effects.

[AllieCat0817]

Do not take 5htp at all if you are on anti-depressants.. from what I have read.

Too much serotonin leads to some 'serotonin syndrome' thing or somethin. Can't ya tell how well versed I am?

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

Do not take 5htp at all if you are on anti-depressants.. from what I have read.

Too much serotonin leads to some 'serotonin syndrome' thing or somethin. Can't ya tell how well versed I am?

It is sometimes used in conjunction with SSRIs but only under a doctor's care.

[MeekNHumble]

Thanks Deb... I'm not taking any prescription drugs at the moment. I really didn't experience any side effects from 5HTP... other than a little groggieness... that was it... I felt anxious once, but I won't blame it on 5HTP. I'm always "anxious" -

[DiamondDeb]

I've never felt the need to use the product but I received this about the Hoodia scam in an e-mail:

Alright, enough is enough!

While trying to answer the reader emails we received over the weekend, I realized our inbox was flooded with no less than 11 emails in the past two days for a certain weight loss supplement.

11 different advertisements (from 11 different email addresses) for another supplement containing Hoodia!

What a waste of 'in-box' space.

Hoodia is a herb that has gained amazing popularity despite not having any research behind it. What's even more disappointing is that real Hoodia comes from Africa and I know from my previous dealings with this ingredient that there is a very limited supply that is actually coming out of Africa.

Most of the stuff on the market right now is coming from India or China. The actual use of Hoodia is patented, and the patent is exclusively licensed to Unilever (a gigantic corporation). So the chances of you getting real Hoodia in your product are slim, and lets not forget that the effectiveness of even the real Hoodia has never ever been proven in published research.

Supplement companies would be wise to remember the lawsuits that resulted from the scam ingredient coral calcium, and avoid adding Hoodia to their products until more research becomes available proving its effectiveness. And please, please....stop with the email spam.

The following was written by Mary Shomon, a well-known thyroid patient advocate. I found it interesting to note that she has used Hoodia for years, apparently with no bad side effects, and finds it helpful long-term.

[COLOR="Blue"]What You Need to Know About Hoodia Gordonii:[/COLOR]

Here are some key points about hoodia that you need to know:

• Hoodia gordonii looks like a cactus, but it's actually a succulent from the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. Bushmen from the area have been using hoodia for centuries to help ward off hunger during long trips in the desert.
• Hoodia gordonii is entirely natural -- it is not a drug. Pharmaceutical companies find it so promising, however, that they are trying to isolate the appetite-suppressing molecule, P57, to create a patented diet drug in the future.
• Only the gordonii variation of hoodia has appetite suppressant abilities.
• Hoodia tricks the brain into thinking you've eaten, and makes you feel full.
• Hoodia may work right away, or may take several weeks.
• Key results of hoodia reported include a reduced interest in food, delay in the time after eating before hunger sets in again, feeling full more quickly, and a general feeling of well-being
• Hoodia gordonii is not a stimulant, and has no known side effects.
• Hoodia appears to be safe for most people.
• I've (Mary Shomon) been taking hoodia periodically since early 2004 and find it can be a help in an overall weight loss effort.

[AllieCat0817]

I read that by Mary on the thyroid website.

There are 100000 different articles about it, and each one claims that only one company has the real one. lol

[MeekNHumble]

You know why? So they can sell theirs

I just took a 5HTP capsule. Why and the hell and I'm scared something bad is gonna happen to me? I have issues *rolling my eyes* I'm tramatized by the whole supp to suppress appetite thing. My paranoia comes from taking Phentermine in the past to supp my appetite. Those pills made me super jittery, anxious and paranoid.

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by Meekness29

You know why? So they can sell theirs

I just took a 5HTP capsule. Why and the hell and I'm scared something bad is gonna happen to me? I have issues *rolling my eyes* I'm tramatized by the whole supp to suppress appetite thing. My paranoia comes from taking Phentermine in the past to supp my appetite. Those pills made me super jittery, anxious and paranoid.

5-HTP = 5-hydroxy tryptophan - it is an effective replacement for tryptophan. It is a breakdown product of tryptophan, an essential amino acid present in most protein foods.

It isn't a diet drug like Phentermene. Amino acids are what protein is made of, something our bodies need. That's not to say they can't be abused, or that they will agree with everyone, but for the most-part they are safe supplements when used correctly. Many multi vitamins contain amino acids, too. These are not controversial diet drugs.

[DiamondDeb]

I'm sure I've said this somewhere else but it's worth repeating. Glutamine is available in both capsule and powder forms. If you are going to be using it regularly, it is much more economical to purchase the powder form. Glutamine is the only pleasant-tasting amino acid.

Also, if you are fine during the day but have cravings in the late afternoon & evening and when PMS includes moodiness, you might want to try 5-HTP instead of or in addition to chromium & glutamine. If one supplement will work fine for you there is no need to spend money on the others.

[AllieCat0817]

bump