Anyone use Phentermine?
My doctor won't prescribe it to me, and after research I scared myself from wanting it. But I was wondering does it really work? For people who eat like 24/7. The way I eat it seems impossible for something to make me stop eating. Like I can eat a huge bag of candy, then a huge plate of spaghetti, and then move on to a huge bag a chips. And still feel like I have an appetite for more. I don't ever plan on taking phentermine, but I'm looking into therapy, hypnosis, and maybe some natural apetite suppressants, but mainly the apetite suppressants, due to having really crappy insurance now since I'm over 18 and I have no job. But I'm scared that my problem might not be an appetite, maybe something else. So basically I'm wondering did it actually make you not think about eating (I've heard somewhere that the person actually had to remind themselves to eat, but I wanted to here from you guys) and stop eating so much?
You're only allowed to take to for 3 months at a time anyway. I was on it when I first started losing weight. I do think it helped me control my intake but I didn't under eat with it. I did not like the side affects, dry mouth, jittery feeling, etc. I finished the prescription and lost the rest of the weight on my own.
I do find that when I overeat carbs, I just want more carbs. When I eat more protein and healthy fats I do better so I stay away from processed foods, candy and grains most of the time.
Whatever you do those first few pounds are always tough b/c it means skipping the spaghetti, candy, or for me, the pizza. It is marginally less difficult for me to do that in the summer b/c I like fruit and there's all kinds of fresh strawberries, peaches, watermelon etc (not that I haven't eaten a whole 1700 cal watermelon in a day, oy). Before you make the decision about phentermine, check out the price (which I don't know) if you don't have insurance. Have you tried free groups like Overeaters Anonymous? Also hard at first but getting started is the worst part in all of this. Last but not least grapefruit sometimes has been said to have an appetite-suppressing quality and I can't find scientific evidence for it but it has helped me a lot. Good luck!
I've been taking Phentermine for over a year, I originally started after getting so heavy it was just dangerous and my doctor, who also explained the possible side effects, rationalized that my health was much worse if not dealt with than the Phentermine could possibly cause. In a year, I lost almost 100 lbs, all by eating healthy and it absolutely works, some days I would have to remind myself that I missed a meal.
My side effects were difficulty sleeping, specifically I would wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to sleep. I stopped taking it for 4 moths and just mainteined my weight but slowly I got more and more hungry and started to gain a little back (maybe 20 lbs) so I started again and once again, am simply not even thinking about food all the time and have lost 17 lbs in the first month. Now I'm not about rapid weight loss, my goal is to lose the rest over the next year but it is effective.
My sleeping returned to normal about 6 weeks after stopping taking it and while on it, I routinely had blood and health checkups, I have not seen any bad effects but am still wanting to get off it, it's not a life solution, it's a short-term solution if the problem is worse than the cure (as in my case). My doctor is very up on this drug and has many, many folks taking it, he supplements anyone dieting this way with weekly injections as well, the idea is to do it safely, or as safe as possible.
I would recommend this to anyone who is having ahard time with not eating, or with hunger so strong they can't think of anything else. In my case I beleive the Phentermine was the reason I was able to lose so easily and it has a place in dieting as a valid and effective solution, read up on it and find a doctor who has a track record of folks taking it and successfully losing weight...
Taking Pills. Medication.Side Effects. Knowing that taking these pills are bad for you. Using pills as an easy way to weight loss.
It's another drug plain and simple. I understand being overweight and hating yourself, I get that as I have been there. I dont get taking pills.
Diet pills have been around for 50 years and none of them have been beneficial in the long run.
I used phentermine about a year ago, and it helped me lose 40 lbs. But, as a previous poster stated, doctors (at least the one I went to) will only prescribe it for 3 months at a time since your body builds up a tolerance to it, and it's not effective as it is when you first begin taking it.
As far as side effects, I had dry mouth, if I didn't drink enough water, I would get headaches, and not to mention not being "regular." It works as far as suppressing your appetite, but as soon as you stop taking it, it comes back stronger than ever.
In my opinion, it's a good way to "kick start" your lifestyle change, but if you're not going to put in the work to go along with it, then it's nothing more than a crutch.
I wouldn't say easy nor would I write it off, if this were any other addiction or medical problem you wouldn't think twice about taking medication, don't dismiss it is what I'm saying. If someone is terribly overweight and medication help them get down to a healthier weight than it's a good thing and if someone can't do it otherwise, it's necessary. I for one say do what you need to do, make it happen, use what is available and do so with a doctor advising you...
Just a quick note, I've heard several mention a 3 month limit, this was not true in my case, I even asked my doctor, he said he has a lot of experience with patients taking it longer than that and it isn't an issue. I was on it almost 10 months straight and give it full credit for what it helped me accomplish...
I took it back in 2006 and lost about 50 lbs. The only side effects I really had were having trouble sleeping the first week, then I did have issues with dry mouth. My dr had me eating 1500 calories a day and at that time I exercised every day. I think it gave me energy to exercise and it did show me I CAN control my eating and lose weight.
Since I took it, I've struggled with putting weight back on because I revert to bad eating habits. I haven't gotten as heavy as I was then, but I have put on 20-30 lbs twice now unfortunately. Both times I've succeeded in getting most of the weight off by simply logging my calories and sticking to between 1200-1500 cal/day, with no meds. I'm currently working on losing from the second time I let my weight slip up and I've been keeping to my calorie limits simply by making smart food choices and logging everything.
I am not trying to be harsh but you didn't get to be 232 obese pounds by eating one tiny meal a day. You will not be able to change your lifestyle or yourself until you start getting "real" because you can not change anything that you don't acknowledge.
So, you need to go someone alone in your house in front of a mirror and really look at yourself. You need to realize that you can do this. It's not going to be easy but nothing worthwhile ever is! You are worth it! Put yourself first! Be HONEST about what you eat to yourself because no one on here gives a damn what you eat. People are here to support you and to help you up when you fall.... But if you can't be honest with yourself... You will never lose this weight!
He also gave me a little bag of cinnamon red hots and a bag of peppermints. He said eat one little peppermint and one red hot 10 min before each meal. This is suppose to kill your cravings for sweet foods and salty foods. That does seem to be working. ....
