Posted by Bobbie | Posted in Relatives, Weight Loss | Posted on Fri March 12, 2010
The other day I went shopping with my mom. Since I live in BFE and the closest Kohl’s is 45 minutes away, we had lots of girl chat time.
I noticed my mom had lost a little bit of weight and I complimented her on it. It was almost like she was busting at the seams to talk about how she did it this time around!
She was back on the weight loss pill Phentermine as prescribed by her internist and has lost 32 lbs in two months.
About five or six years ago I had some success with Phentermine after I hit a bit of a wall during low carbing. Looking back, I don’t think I “hit a wall,” I just gave up due to a lack of quick results. Anyway, I didn’t really like how Phentermine made me feel – fidgeting, up all night and just all over the place – but I was never hungry and best of all I was LOSING WEIGHT!
Of course I gained all of the weight back and then some when I got pregnant with my daughter. I never did learn how to eat right.
Then about a year ago I went back to the crazy diet doctor who prescribed me Phentermine the first time around. I started losing again with little to no effort which was GREAT.
When I called his office to change my next appointment, I was surprised what I heard on his office answering machine. Apparently he couldn’t see any patients for a “month or two” until he got his prescription writing license issues figured out. Whoa! That wasn’t so GREAT. And that was the last time I have been on Phentermine.
A part of me is a tad bit frustrated at how easily someone can lose with a diet pill like Phentermine.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy for my mom and her success in getting those 32 lbs off, I REALLY am. BUT I do worry about her and the side effects. You know, like what happens when she goes OFF of it and gains EVERYTHING back. Which seems to happen to her every single time after she loses the weight.
I look at my mom who’s lost 32 lbs in two months EFFORTLESSLY. Then I look at me – I haven’t even cracked 30 lbs in 4 months, and the first thing I feel is frustration, which I think is human.
Then I look at all I’ve accomplished. I’m building serious muscle, learning patience and how to navigate a new lifestyle that I can live with long term.
I’m very proud of my slow and steady weight loss. It’s taken a great deal of effort and work. It hasn’t been easy by a long mile. Not even one day of it, but it’s getting easier as I learn and change my lifestyle.
Do you have any experience with Phentermine and/or another weight loss pill? Thoughts?
Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:26 PM
I was on phentermine 2 times. The first, I lost 15 pounds in 2 months. The second time, I gained weight my 2nd month on it. I hated the fidgeting and stuff. My doctor did instruct me to eat healthier, but I didn’t listen. I wanted the quick fix, sadly, I just gained all the weight back plus 20 pounds, which is more than I lost….GROSS!
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:27 PM
I never considered phentermine or any other get-thin-easy pill because I know… I know… that I can do it with diet and exercise. If you can do it with diet and exercise… and most of us can, you know… then why risk the vast array of problems that can crop up with these pills?
Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit´s last blog ..Drink Your Water Like You Oughter
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:34 PM
The slow weight loss is soooo frustrating, I know. But you’re right to focus on the muscle you’ve built – ultimately that is as or more important than the pounds.
The one time a former doctor suggested phen/fen, I was at the time eating around 1400 calories/day and didn’t see the purpose in an appetite suppressant. In retrospect, I’m glad I made that decision!
Gingersnapper´s last blog ..Jammies and fish
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:36 PM
I was on phen-fen. Lost oodles of weight, and look where I am now. :) I didn’t like the phen-fen, it basically made me anorexic. I would eat an orange in the morning and be good all day. How is that even right? I was on the pills for about a year, so I managed to get over the fidgeting & staying up all the time, but I remember waking up one morning and heading to the bathroom and everything going black. I passed out at my bedroom door, from lack of eating. Its no good, very awful bad stuff, man!
Jacinda Renae´s last blog ..Who knew?
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Way back in the Dark Ages (my 20s), I went to a “diet doctor” who used a regimen of pills for weight loss. What’s really sad is that I have no idea what was in a few of the pills. Fortunately, I didn’t go to him very long because it didn’t seem right that dosages should be *increased* as I went along. I may have been dumb, but apparently I had my limits. :)
Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Dick’s Sporting Goods Needs Me! (w/Giveaway Opp)
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:49 PM
I can imagine that you would be worried about your mom losing so much in such a short period. You didn’t mention if she’d changed her diet or is exercising. Are you comfortable sharing your concerns with her and maybe nudging her in a different direction?
karen@fitnessjourney´s last blog ..Giveaway Time!
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Bobbie Reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Karen, I’ve voiced my opinions to her, but in a way it’s like you have the daughter on one hand who really isn’t “qualified” to give the advice, and the mom on the other hand who is getting the diet pills from a “doctor” whom is “qualified” so I don’t know how much she listened to my advice or took it to heart. We talked at great length about what happens AFTER she loses the weight and gets off the pills, but I’m not sure if she has a real plan. She knows she’s always invited to join me at the gym, but I don’t think she ever will. :(
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 3:51 PM
I tried them years ago. Scary, heart racing stuff. Sure you lose some weight, but its not sustainable. You can’t stay on them forever and you gain everything back.
Stay the course my friend, you’re doing great!
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 4:02 PM
What is BFE? I never heard of this pill. I think like you do… what happens when your mom or anyone comes off and they go back to how they ate. But it is the same with me and my past diets. I ended them and started eating crap again. I wonder if anyone can lose weight and keep it off if they don’t change how they eat and maybe how they view food.
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Bobbie Reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Ha ha! BFE = Bum F*$# Egypt. Basically in the middle of no where or no man’s land. LOL
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 5:22 PM
How about this perspective; fitness the slow, steady, and natural way really doesn’t get any easier with time, but it gets exponentially more rewarding….
Emergefit´s last blog ..All those little bullets; the story of slow death…
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 5:39 PM
I just don’t want to see 10 years down the road, all the problems that this pill caused for people’s health. (Remember Phen-Phen?) You’re right, you have gained serious muscle, and that won’t just go away. And, I cringe when people say this, but muscle ways SO much more than fat! (But you already knew that.)
Angela´s last blog ..
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 5:46 PM
13 years ago, after the birth of my daughter, I went to a “Diet Doc” – The “doc” was way way overweight but in my desperation I still wanted the phentermine!!! I lost 60 pounds in 3 months ~ I was back into my size 14′s (which is my goal size once again)
After the 60lb loss, I went thru a time where I was unable to afford the pills so I had to stop taking them and promptly gained all 60lbs back plus another 10 in less than 6 months….
Tried them once again about 6 years ago and had an emotional reaction from hell…… crying constantly (I am NOT a crier), panic attacks, paranoia, mood swings….
Won’t go that route again….. Just have to get myself back on track to get in shape the right way with diet & exercise…..
Tina´s last blog ..What Stresses you OUT?
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 6:17 PM
I never tried Fen Phen (mostly because I’m a chicken about taking medication that’s not absolutely necessary) but my best friend did and she lost weight so fast it was shocking. And then she had to be evaluated for cardiac damage once someone decided to pull the emergency stop cord on the heart attack train of that drug combo. I think slow and steady allows your brain to adjust to the idea of a new lifestyle, rather than just thinking about how simple it all is…because it’s certainly not going to be simple to keep it off long-term and I wonder how they wean people off of those pills? Does your mom know what her transition to maintenance is going to look like?
Denise´s last blog ..Day 48 – Things haven’t gotten worse, so that’s something
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 6:43 PM
slow and steady always wins the race. you are learning new health and workout habits, which you will have with you for life. diet pills don’t teach you how to eat and workout properly.
love2eatinpa´s last blog ..Last Night’s Dessert Buffet and Weigh-in
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 6:51 PM
You hit the nail right on the head.. people that go on these pills never learn the right way to lose weight & keep it off long term. Then they gain it all back & more & it is an endless cycle. The quick fix never lasts life long.
You are doing it right AFG! Keep it up!
Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Protein & Protein Powder Recipes
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Fri March 12, 2010 at 10:53 PM
People who use pills and drinks and anything else that does not come out of nature will never learn SELF CONTROL!!!!
when you look at the big picture of diets and changing your life style it all comes down to learning self control.
when you have a pill changing your bodies natural progression at losing weight it never going to end good! and you going to end up putting the weight back on
THE BIG MOUTH – http://www.mrbigmouth.com
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Sat March 13, 2010 at 12:27 AM
I actually have a bottle of alli pills in my cupboard that were given to me over a year ago- part of me wants to take them just to see what happens…but I guess I feel like that would be betraying my dedication to a healthy natural way of life…food for thought :)
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Sat March 13, 2010 at 1:08 AM
I remember in 7th grade seeing girls popping Dexatrims and sharing them like they were red hots.
Back in November, a cousin I lost touch with contacted me through Facebook. She lost a lot of weight. She said she used Solo Slim and that “you have to ask for it cause its not on the shelves.” She said it makes her very, very thirsty. I haven’t spoken with her since. I’m curious how she’s doing on it.
Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42´s last blog ..Kitchen Wisdom (Humor)
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Bobbie Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Solo Slim… that’s a new one. Never heard of that. I suppose the pills will be out there as long as there’s a market for them.
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Sat March 13, 2010 at 10:54 AM
you’re doing it the right way. and you are enhancing your health, instead of ruining it with a quick fix that won’t even stick.
liz´s last blog ..Day Three of No Frapps, and a Fabulous Shrimp Dish
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Sat March 13, 2010 at 1:03 PM
I used the OTC pills with ephedrine in them, back in the day. I don’t think they made me lose any weight but that could be because I was eating out of vending machines in those days. Losing weight gradually over time gives you a better appreciation for how hard it really is to lose weight. And by really working for something, it makes it yours in a way that a quick fix never can.
jord´s last blog ..rest day
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Bobbie Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Jord thanks for visiting & commenting.
Hard work really makes it that much sweeter, doesn’t it? :)
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Sat March 13, 2010 at 4:47 PM
Have you seen the film Requiem For a Dream? If you wanna scare someone shitless about taking drugs, that’ll do it.
Harry´s last blog ..Small Adjustments
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Sun March 14, 2010 at 6:46 PM
I was on phen-fen, I loved it! dropped about 60 pounds in 2 months. After I was able to get pregnant and carry full term.. But gained back everything plus within a year. Slow and easy is the way for me!
Amy´s last blog ..True Slacker
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Tue March 16, 2010 at 1:18 PM
I have never tried that one. But let me tell you, I did try Metabolife (back when it was chock full of whatever stuff they eventually took out of the product because it was causing heart attacks).
I was bouncing off of the walls. I was anxious, moody, jittery and felt like I had so much energy I didn’t know what to do with it. I was rarely, if ever, hungry.
I stayed on it for two weeks. It helped curb my appetite and I was able to begin eating less. But then, I decided to get off of it and do the rest on my own. I am so glad I did! No more heart palpitations, or paranoia or anxiousness.
I have also tried Hoodia. It too has the same affect on me that Metabolife had.
I think the best way to do it is the natural way.
~Kellie
The Chubby Girl Diaries´s last blog ..Back in action — kinda
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Tue March 23, 2010 at 11:12 AM
I don’t believe its fair to say that everyone that takes medication or uses weight loss aids aren’t learning self control or will gain the weight back. I have a bottle of Phentermine on top of my fridge right now. I don’t take it every day but do take it about 3 days a week. Because I take it – does not mean I’m not working hard and busting my hump to get the weight off. Ive lost 32.8 pounds in eleven weeks. That’s right at 3 pounds a week.
I’m curious what people’s opinions of weight loss surgery are – if they feel so negatively of other aids such as medication. Are people taking the easy way out by having the surgery vs losing it all naturally?
I have mixed emotions on both. I don’t and wont rely on a pill to get the weight off. I put it on myself and will take it off myself. However, I appreciate it being there when I need the energy for a really great work out – it does nothing for appetite control for me, if anything I eat more and have more cravings when I take it.
I have a friend who had Lap Band done three weeks ago. Before her surgery she told me she was eating whatever and however much she wanted because she knew the weight would come off after her surgery. The comment was slightly offensive to me however, I also see muscle tone and definition in my arms and legs where her arms have already started to become flabby and flop in the wind. I also like knowing I have the ability to eat want I want and how much I want, when I want. She will be limited for the rest of her life. She is even now having to take infant medication because her digestive system can not handle adult dosages. I don’t want to live like that but she is happy.
Who are we to judge? Just because we would not walk down that road does not make it wrong.
This is a great topic though! Ive thought of making it a post topic in the past.
Linds@ramblingsofafatgirl´s last blog ..Were home!!
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