Fish oil, eh?

I just read some articles that Omega 3 fish oil can make a huge contribution to your fat loss. I was wondering if anyone has ever used it, the results they obtained and reccommendations for which kind to get and how much to take?

One article said participants who lost 2.2 pounds of fat in a week took six capsules a day! Now, the idea of burping up fish oil all the live long day does not appeal to me, but I'm about 5 pounds of fat away from my goal and I'll take any little bit of help.

Thoughts?

It's always 'in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet'... when you read these articles.   Oil's good as part of a healthy diet and fish oil has some good properties but I don't think it actively speeds up fat loss. 

I'm always willing to give supplements a try, if it doesn't work what the worst that could happen??  Healthier skin, hair and nails??  Well I think I can deal with that! haha. 

I've heard if you keep them frozen, it eliminates the fish burps.

I didn't like the fish oil burps either...try evening primrose oil, same essential fatty acids/omega 3's....but vegan.  In addition to the fat loss, you'll notice shiny and pretty hair and healthier glowing skin :)

Pick it up at drug stores, walmart, target, or health and nutrition stores.  Take the recommended dose on the bottle.

Original Post by gi-jane:

It's always 'in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet'... when you read these articles.   Oil's good as part of a healthy diet and fish oil has some good properties but I don't think it actively speeds up fat loss. 

 Some studies have shown that high fat diets lead to more fat loss compared to low fat diets even when the high fat diets are significantly higher in calories.  I don't think that the added fat in fish oil is pushing anyone from a low fat diet to a high fat diet, but it might help a little bit.

Some fish oil pill promise to be burpless. I've been taking them recently, and haven't had any issues on that front.

Do they say right on the front they are "burpless?" Which ones are you taking?

I wonder how many weeks it takes before you start noticing some visible results, whether it's fat loss or shinier hair and nails.

I can't comment on their effectiveness,

but I have heard that taking fish oil following a workout is beneficial.

What have you to lose? dull hair and weak nails, that's what.

hawkeyegal - I don't have them in front of me, but I think I have NatureMade right now. And the more I think about it, I don't think they say anything. So maybe I just heard that burpless ones exist?

I guess my feeling is that you should try taking one or two a day, and see what happens. It can't hurt (unless they make you burp) and Omega3=good.

I just started taking fish oil about a week and a half ago as per my naturopaths request and have noticed an increase in my weight loss. So far I have lost 1.5 lbs in about 8 days (I have been at a plateau for a while now) So it feels great to finally be losing again. But I am combining that with diet and exercise (which I have been doing this whole time)...so Im not sure if I would still have lost if I wasnt eating right and exercising, But it has definitely helped!!

I have been taking fish oil for a couple of weeks.  I haven't noticed the fat loss increasing, but it hasn't been very long.  On the other hand, I'm taking it because my doctor suggested it as another way to help increase my "good" cholesterol, which is not as high as he would like. 

Added benefits, like healthier hair, nails, skin and increased fat loss will be nice side effects.  :)

I've been taking fish oil for two years because there have been a few studies that link it to mental health. I HAVE noticed that when I stop taking it I am a bit more irritable. I about twice what is recommended for regular use, which is less than is recommended for mental health but still better than nothing. I plan on increasing my dosage.

On the weight loss front, I don't have any opinions. I lost 20 pounds on it because I was on a calorie restricted diet (around 1200 to 1400 cals a day) and walked at least 5 times a week for at least an hour. But I also gained 35 pounds on it because I starting eating a LOT more than my maintenance weight and binging all the time and eating unhealthy snacks and then I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year ago.

I take fish oil every day for heart health. I have bought and tried several types but always had the fishy burps.  Last month I bought the Omega 3 fish oil from The Zone Diet. It is supposed to be super refined and I have not had any fishy burps at all. I hope it is okay to mention a specific brand, I'm not trying to promote anything, it is just what works for me.

I've been taking fish oil for the past year. I wouldn't necessarily say it really helps with fat loss that much. I've lost weight/fat in the time that i've taken it, but I've also worked out regularly and eaten healthy. If I eat too much, I gain, so it's not a magic bullet or anything. Also, I had surgery and had to stop taking it for a while because it thins the blood and contributes to preventing clotting, and I didn't notice any difference while I wasn't taking it. It's definitely good for your cholesterol though, and my hair/skin/nails are very healthy.

l have been taking fish oil for a year now for heart health, and l eat a lot of fish too,l haven't noticed any changes related to weightloss or shiny hair or nails, l am consistently losing 1 to 2lbs a week though because l monitor my diet and workout, or maybe l am overdoing because l also add flax to my yogurt, and eat a lot of nuts.

I've been taking fish oil for years to fight the winter blahs, I usually take one or two capsules a day with food and haven't noticed a burping problem.  I don't know about weight loss but I do think it helps with mood and also moisturizes the skin and makes my eyes less dry.  They do make "odorless" capsules but I just take salmon oil from trader joe's or whatever is on sale.

I couldn't stand the disgusting fish burps either so I take Flaxxseed oil gel pills - I hear they have similar benefits, I'm not sure what the differences are.  I never knew that fishoil thins the blood . . . if that's true, people on coumadin better check with their docs first!

I take fish oil, but I've never noticed a difference in weight loss from it. I take metagenics fish oil and don't have a burping problem from it. However you can only get metagenics from a doctor I'm pretty sure. When I got it I thought the lady said that there was something on the bottle that meant it wouldn't cause the burping. Not sure if it's the lemon, the "stabilized" part or because it's pharmaceutical grade.

I almost died from the disgusting fish burps!! Never again will I take fish oil! Found a bottle of evening primrose oil which also has the omegas in it, so does flax oil if you can find that. Much nicer stuff and you can use it on your face if you skin gets really dry too :P

The Omega-3s in Fish oils (EPA and DHA) are different than the Omega-3s in things like primrose (GLA), nuts, flaxseed etc (LNA).  From About.com:

"LNA is found in plants, nuts and seeds, and most of us get sufficient amounts of LNA in our diet. But most LNA is burned for energy rather than utilized by the body—about 5 percent is converted to either DHA or EPA. EPA and DHA are the most potent forms of omega 3s, offering the greatest potential health benefits. These two omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, especially cold-water fish such as salmon."

So, while the Omega-3s found in plant stuff are good for you, it's the stuff you find in fish and seaweed that has the greater health benefits that people talk about.  You need both of these in a healthy diet, so if you don't eat fish (and by fish, fatty fish, like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines etc), START!! :o)  And while the primrose supplements are fine for you, you aren't getting the same benefits that you do from the Fish oils. 

If you are looking for a non-fishy, pretty tasty (think orange pudding) way to get your DHA and EPA in, try Coromega supplements.  You can get a free sample from the manaufacturer (http://www.coromega.com/) and shop around for the best prices.  I liked to put them in the fridge and eat them or use them in yogurt.

I've been taking both fish oil and flaxeed supplements for years.  As for the fat loss I can't say anything because it was always in conjuction with a lower calorie diet and excercise.  They have however, made my nails like steel and my skin is a lot better.  They also help take away the extreme nausea my vitamin gives me... but only if I take them all at the same time.