Diet has become a four letter nightmare in our home over the last several years, for me in particular.
Children, four of them to be exact, are the worst thing to ever happen to my body. I was fortunate (ha ha, not!) enough to gain 60 to 70 pounds through each of my pregnancies. To make matters worse, I never lost all my pregnancy weight after my second and third pregnancies, so I continued to pack the pounds on.
Because I am still in the military, I am bound to weight standards. I may not always agree with them, but I still have an obligation to uphold and set an example for my junior sailors.
Once each of three younger children were through the breastfeeding phase, game, as the saying goes, was on. Funny thing about that… it was always just before the Navy’s semi-annual physical fitness assessment, which meant, one month, one month to lose way too much weight. Instead of eating right and exercising, I tried to find the fastest, easiest way to lose the most amount of weight in the shortest time possible.
In 2009, without researching, I picked out the first product I saw on the shelf, Hydroxycut. It nearly became my worst nightmare. That was the year that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested Iovate Health Sciences Inc.; voluntarily recall most of their products. There were 23 reports varying in nature, all affecting the liver. One case reported was a death due to liver failure.
Without hesitation, I stopped taking the product and immediately made an appointment with my health care provider. Hearing a death was associated with the product was enough to scare me. I was fortunate enough to not experience the signs and symptoms reported, but you can never be too careful. My provider listened to my concerns and at my request, ran all the tests necessary to ensure I was in good health.
Whew! I escaped that health scare.
What I took from this, eat right and exercise. Yes, it takes more of an effort and sacrifice to get healthy, but in the long run, I will have my health. Today, I take time to research what I am putting in my mouth, how much I can put in my mouth and what the health benefits might be. I have taught myself, it is okay to slip, not to be hard on myself. I know I am not 100 percent and it will take work.
There is nothing wrong with taking supplements to maximize weight loss, but what the consumer needs to understand is ensuring they follow the recommended guidelines provided by the distributor.
It is important to discuss all dietary and fitness options with a physician before starting any plans.
Sources:
Personal Experience
“Warning on Hydroxycut Products” , http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM152222.pdf
