AshLin
01-16-2003, 12:46 PM
Hey everyone!
My boyfriends mom asked me if I knew of any all natural appetite suppresants. She is a very large woman, and an emotional eater. She has been going through a horrible time this last year with the death of some close relatives, and she is having a hell of a time sticking to her diet. She has done pretty well, but she is losing motivation and is in the "oh screw it, whats a 1/2 gallon of ice cream gonna do" mode.
Anyhow... she doesn't want to fall off her diet, and she is interested in an all natural appetite suppresant. Know of any?
Thanks!!
My boyfriends mom asked me if I knew of any all natural appetite suppresants. She is a very large woman, and an emotional eater. She has been going through a horrible time this last year with the death of some close relatives, and she is having a hell of a time sticking to her diet. She has done pretty well, but she is losing motivation and is in the "oh screw it, whats a 1/2 gallon of ice cream gonna do" mode.
Anyhow... she doesn't want to fall off her diet, and she is interested in an all natural appetite suppresant. Know of any?
Thanks!!
Sponsor
Nicksmom
01-19-2003, 12:56 AM
Last week on the news they talked about a study that they have been doing. They said if you eat three apples a day....one before each meal, you will loose weight. You can loose weight because an apple is very low in calories, but they are also really filling....so when you eat your main meal, you won't eat as much. Also, Fiber trim...you take 5 pills 15 min. before each meal...it will make you really full, so you can only eat about half of what you are used too. You can buy that at any drug store and I also think walmart carries it. It's 100 percent pure fiber...so it's really safe.
Sarah68
01-19-2003, 06:56 AM
I have to say that it is probably better to deal with the cause of this over eating instead of just trying to suppress the appetite to help.
The main issue here is one of bereavement and grief and she needs to deal with this grief before she can move on. Has she considered having therapy to help with this?
Drinking a glass of water before a meal works just as well as eating apples or taking fiber pills.
The main issue here is one of bereavement and grief and she needs to deal with this grief before she can move on. Has she considered having therapy to help with this?
Drinking a glass of water before a meal works just as well as eating apples or taking fiber pills.
AshLin
01-20-2003, 03:48 PM
Hi Thanks for the replies.
Sarah, to answer your questions, Yes she has been in therepy. She also does yoga, water aerobics, meditation, massage therapy, crystal therapy, and accupuncture. She has always had difficulties with her weight, which is now over 200 pounds, she is approx. 5'3". She does fine most of the time, although not making the healthiest choices. She is addicted to sweets and fried food. She lives by herself, and tends to binge eat. She goes to counseling 1-2 times a week, and is on anti depressants, which she has been on for over 8 years. She has had a weight problem for over 25 years.
She is so awesome, I hate seeing her like this. She'll yo yo diet, finding nothing that has worked for her. She knows what she needs to do, she knows she needs to make healthier choices, and she will most of the time.
I just want her to have natural options, so when she does decide to reach for the 1/2 gallon of ice cream, she won't want it. I'm not sure what to do, I just really love her and want her to be healthy. I know there isn't anything I can do, she has to do it herself, I am just looking for options that I can bring to her.
Thanks, and sorry for teh length.
Sarah, to answer your questions, Yes she has been in therepy. She also does yoga, water aerobics, meditation, massage therapy, crystal therapy, and accupuncture. She has always had difficulties with her weight, which is now over 200 pounds, she is approx. 5'3". She does fine most of the time, although not making the healthiest choices. She is addicted to sweets and fried food. She lives by herself, and tends to binge eat. She goes to counseling 1-2 times a week, and is on anti depressants, which she has been on for over 8 years. She has had a weight problem for over 25 years.
She is so awesome, I hate seeing her like this. She'll yo yo diet, finding nothing that has worked for her. She knows what she needs to do, she knows she needs to make healthier choices, and she will most of the time.
I just want her to have natural options, so when she does decide to reach for the 1/2 gallon of ice cream, she won't want it. I'm not sure what to do, I just really love her and want her to be healthy. I know there isn't anything I can do, she has to do it herself, I am just looking for options that I can bring to her.
Thanks, and sorry for teh length.
quackers
02-24-2003, 12:49 AM
Hi Ashlin, while it's true that most ppl 'emotional' eat to some extent, others do it far too often and it then becomes a health problem. Most ppl who are overweight/obese are not that way because of choice, no matter what they say. And I should know, because I am one of them. I have been overweight since I was about 8 or 10 ys/o. I never started the dieting thing till I was about 30. I'm 40 now and just starting to lose weight. and the reason I'm losing weight? Because I developed 3 autoimmune diseases. I was at 298 pounds in December 2002. I'm now 248. I was at 231 but gained the 17 pounds with water retention. Started a water pill on the 18th (I had to do something quick as it was effecting my Asthma. I plan on stopping it as soon as I can come up with a natural diuretic that I feel I will continue with and not just lay it by the way side) and I've lost 4 pounds since then. After 10 yrs of yo-yo dieting I had finally decided it was all for a lost cause. At one period I had lost 47 pounds on a Richard Simmons diet, was excersising regularly...my 15 y/o 'miss attitude' god-daughter came to live with us and I slowly but surely gained it all back and added another 38 pounds! In 9 months no less!!! Talk about emotional eating. Anyways, I've been using an Apple Cider Vinegar tonic (ACV)...I havn't really noticed that my appetite has changed but I also havn't gained (or lossed) anymore weight either. I've been taking it for 2 months (altho not faithfully this month). 2 teaspoons ACV with the 'mother' in it (that's the brown flakes you will see floating in the bottle and it HAS to have the 'mother' in it), 2 teaspoons raw honey and 8 ounces of water, 3 times a day. Research Apple Cider vinegar or even just plain vinegar online and you will be surprised at everything you can do with vinegar and how good it is for the human body. Or better yet, there is a post I made just a few minutes ago about ACV. Gosh...I can't remember where I posted it at, but it was in this forum.
And there are other natural appetite suppresants. One is fibrous vegetables: Celery, radishes, carrots, broccolli, cauliflour onions (any kind), peppers (any kind)...all of these will fill you up quicker than you can believe PLUS onions and peppers are also good for colds/flu/headaches/arthritis and plain ol' body aches and pains (something to do with capsicain..I think that's how it's spelled). They are all calorie free and taste a heck of a lot better raw than they do cooked, plus when you cook them..they lose all their nutrient value!!! I love them with ranch dressing and keep a fresh bowl of them in the fridge all the time. Plus they have natural...I repeat...NATURAL appetite suppressant, ummmm...(for lack of better word)'values' in them. Can't think of what they are called right now. Also, when you excercise (keeping your heart rate above 115 beats per minute for 15 minutes), your body release's 'NATURAL' feel good endorphins that helps your body to combat pain and hunger. It is recommended 30 minutes of vigoris excercise 3 times a week. If she is not able to excercise vigourosly, even just plain ol' walking is better than none. And eventually she will get stronger and stronger and be able to walk further and further. Or a stationary bike which she can use in the privacy of her own home. they do come in 'small' floor models. All it is, is bicycle pedals attatched to a frame and sits on the floor. You sit in a straight backed chair and pedal. Even that, is better than nothing. And then there's a book...I believe it is called 'super foods' or something like that. It extols on the vitamin, mineral, antioxydents and all that good stuff...how eating the wrong foods together can be detrimental to our health and eating the 'right' foods together can benefit body, soul and mind. Ok...I ran down stairs and got the book I was talking about and it is a cook book by Delores Riccio. Can u believe it...I've had this book since 1992 and have never used it! However, I have been trying to go 'natural' since all my diagnose's and I think I'll leave it out and give it a try! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif Good luck and let me know how you're b/fs mom is doing. Take care and be safe
[This message has been edited by quackers (edited 02-23-2003).]
[This message has been edited by quackers (edited 02-23-2003).]
And there are other natural appetite suppresants. One is fibrous vegetables: Celery, radishes, carrots, broccolli, cauliflour onions (any kind), peppers (any kind)...all of these will fill you up quicker than you can believe PLUS onions and peppers are also good for colds/flu/headaches/arthritis and plain ol' body aches and pains (something to do with capsicain..I think that's how it's spelled). They are all calorie free and taste a heck of a lot better raw than they do cooked, plus when you cook them..they lose all their nutrient value!!! I love them with ranch dressing and keep a fresh bowl of them in the fridge all the time. Plus they have natural...I repeat...NATURAL appetite suppressant, ummmm...(for lack of better word)'values' in them. Can't think of what they are called right now. Also, when you excercise (keeping your heart rate above 115 beats per minute for 15 minutes), your body release's 'NATURAL' feel good endorphins that helps your body to combat pain and hunger. It is recommended 30 minutes of vigoris excercise 3 times a week. If she is not able to excercise vigourosly, even just plain ol' walking is better than none. And eventually she will get stronger and stronger and be able to walk further and further. Or a stationary bike which she can use in the privacy of her own home. they do come in 'small' floor models. All it is, is bicycle pedals attatched to a frame and sits on the floor. You sit in a straight backed chair and pedal. Even that, is better than nothing. And then there's a book...I believe it is called 'super foods' or something like that. It extols on the vitamin, mineral, antioxydents and all that good stuff...how eating the wrong foods together can be detrimental to our health and eating the 'right' foods together can benefit body, soul and mind. Ok...I ran down stairs and got the book I was talking about and it is a cook book by Delores Riccio. Can u believe it...I've had this book since 1992 and have never used it! However, I have been trying to go 'natural' since all my diagnose's and I think I'll leave it out and give it a try! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif Good luck and let me know how you're b/fs mom is doing. Take care and be safe
[This message has been edited by quackers (edited 02-23-2003).]
[This message has been edited by quackers (edited 02-23-2003).]
kat721
02-24-2003, 01:29 PM
Posted>>>She has done pretty well, but she is losing motivation and is in the "oh screw it, whats a 1/2 gallon of ice cream gonna do" mode. <<<<
Ashlin, has anyone checked your boyfriends mother for either hyperglycemia(Diabetes)
OR HYPOGLYCEMIA ?
A lot of over weight people with either of these 2 problems often get over looked for lack of diagnostic understanding of the two parts of an endocrine problem.
I am not over weight at all but I intimately know that feeling of eating the ice cream until it's gone and making any old excuse for it.
I thought it was emotional eating too until I had a glucose tolerance test and had my blood sugar fall 2 numbers shy of a COMA!!!!!
I 've seen a lot of doctors and no one ever thought to give me the GTT because my overnight fast blood sugars ALWAYS came back so normal I looked perfect.
Add to that that I don't drink or smoke and don't fit the mold of someone with the metabolic problem that causes these conditions, I was saddly over looked and undermedicated to the point my life was in danger.
Coma stage drops is some scary stuff.
And you don't know it's happeneing if it's never been identified.
You just eat eat eat because the brain is trying to save it self because GLUCOSE is the only real food the brain uses and it depends on metabolized food to exist.
So by reason of survival instinct, the body immediately begins to crave sugar and all logic and sensibility goes out the window and there we are with the must have Ice Cream syndrome.
I now take Glucophage every day to make my cells more receptive to the massive amunts of Insulin my body produces.
Diabets have a pancreas that does not make enough Insulin. That's why they take Insulin.
They take Glucophage because their cells of the body are closed as receptors to the insulin so they have what is called Insulin Resistence.
Hypoglycemics have Insulin Resistence too but their resistence is at a different eentry level than Diabetics so the body does get some signal and it goes into hyper production of Insulin but it can't use the Insulin due to the faulty receptors so then the sugar drops and there is this whole systemic body crash.
For people with this problem the anser is Glucophage too but they don't need the Insulin because their Pancreases are cranking out plenty.
However, over time, if the condition persists long enough the Hypoglycemic turns into a Diabetic because one day, the over worked Pancreas just gives out and shuts down Insulin production.
It is my very personal belief that ALL over weight women who have horrible sugar binges should have a consult with a REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST
This is the specialty who know the most about the problem which is almost always linked with female problems and eventually an autoimmune disorder.
When the endocrine system is involved don't mess around.
Get to the specialist for a full evaluation and personal guidence.
kat
P.S. Oh and about those emotions,blood sugar problems will make one an emotional wreck.
Hormone problems will make someone an emotional wreck.
With women with these kinds of problems the dysfunction of the Pancreas contributes to the dysfunction of the estrogenic hormones which contributes to the emotional imbalance of the individual.
Ashlin, has anyone checked your boyfriends mother for either hyperglycemia(Diabetes)
OR HYPOGLYCEMIA ?
A lot of over weight people with either of these 2 problems often get over looked for lack of diagnostic understanding of the two parts of an endocrine problem.
I am not over weight at all but I intimately know that feeling of eating the ice cream until it's gone and making any old excuse for it.
I thought it was emotional eating too until I had a glucose tolerance test and had my blood sugar fall 2 numbers shy of a COMA!!!!!
I 've seen a lot of doctors and no one ever thought to give me the GTT because my overnight fast blood sugars ALWAYS came back so normal I looked perfect.
Add to that that I don't drink or smoke and don't fit the mold of someone with the metabolic problem that causes these conditions, I was saddly over looked and undermedicated to the point my life was in danger.
Coma stage drops is some scary stuff.
And you don't know it's happeneing if it's never been identified.
You just eat eat eat because the brain is trying to save it self because GLUCOSE is the only real food the brain uses and it depends on metabolized food to exist.
So by reason of survival instinct, the body immediately begins to crave sugar and all logic and sensibility goes out the window and there we are with the must have Ice Cream syndrome.
I now take Glucophage every day to make my cells more receptive to the massive amunts of Insulin my body produces.
Diabets have a pancreas that does not make enough Insulin. That's why they take Insulin.
They take Glucophage because their cells of the body are closed as receptors to the insulin so they have what is called Insulin Resistence.
Hypoglycemics have Insulin Resistence too but their resistence is at a different eentry level than Diabetics so the body does get some signal and it goes into hyper production of Insulin but it can't use the Insulin due to the faulty receptors so then the sugar drops and there is this whole systemic body crash.
For people with this problem the anser is Glucophage too but they don't need the Insulin because their Pancreases are cranking out plenty.
However, over time, if the condition persists long enough the Hypoglycemic turns into a Diabetic because one day, the over worked Pancreas just gives out and shuts down Insulin production.
It is my very personal belief that ALL over weight women who have horrible sugar binges should have a consult with a REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST
This is the specialty who know the most about the problem which is almost always linked with female problems and eventually an autoimmune disorder.
When the endocrine system is involved don't mess around.
Get to the specialist for a full evaluation and personal guidence.
kat
P.S. Oh and about those emotions,blood sugar problems will make one an emotional wreck.
Hormone problems will make someone an emotional wreck.
With women with these kinds of problems the dysfunction of the Pancreas contributes to the dysfunction of the estrogenic hormones which contributes to the emotional imbalance of the individual.
kat721
02-24-2003, 01:40 PM
oh sorry, yu asked for a naturl approach. My sugestion here is to make sure your boyfriends mother never has sugar with out protein. That's probably why she goes for the ice cream.
But Ice Cream isn't the right sugar choice.
she would be better off with an orange or some piece of fruit with a tall glass of non fat milk.
Or She sould use a very natural whole grain bread with some sesame butter and a glass of non fat milk.
When people have these binge problems the root of the problem is more about getting the brain fed so the instinctive survival trigger can stop going into fail safe emergency reaction.
Look up the Web site for the American Diabetic Assn and you will find an absolute wealth of wonderful natural information to address the issues your boyfriends mother might have. They even put out a monthly magazine that is a wonderful resource of lifestyle help not only for Diabetics for for anyone who simply wants a more Holistic and healthy life style.
Being informed is your first line of action.
But Ice Cream isn't the right sugar choice.
she would be better off with an orange or some piece of fruit with a tall glass of non fat milk.
Or She sould use a very natural whole grain bread with some sesame butter and a glass of non fat milk.
When people have these binge problems the root of the problem is more about getting the brain fed so the instinctive survival trigger can stop going into fail safe emergency reaction.
Look up the Web site for the American Diabetic Assn and you will find an absolute wealth of wonderful natural information to address the issues your boyfriends mother might have. They even put out a monthly magazine that is a wonderful resource of lifestyle help not only for Diabetics for for anyone who simply wants a more Holistic and healthy life style.
Being informed is your first line of action.
Merrida
02-25-2003, 07:33 PM
Please be extra careful of considering this supplement for an overweight, undiagnosed woman who is trying to combat emotional instabilities and has eating problems take anything with ephedra in it! Please,...I know this is just my opinion, and I cannot possibly know anything about her medically, but from everything I have read, ephedra is incredibly dangerous even for healthy people, but it is strongly, strongly discouraged for people who are dealing with emotional issues (because the stimulant affects brain chemicals), and for people with medical problems (which it sounds like from your post) this can make her heart go crazy.
People have DIED on that, even quite healthy people including some personal trainers in otherwise good athletic health. This is so close to being banned it is scary.
All of her "treatment" options are passive. The acupuncture (she doesn't "do" anything, she just has to show up), the massage therapy (again, she doesn't "do" anything), and even with medication, it's passive because it's something she "takes."
She may need some other types of exercise, in addition to what she's doing, perhaps greater frequency, perhaps indulging more in the exercise sessions per week and tapering off on the other treatments she does... Looking for an "appetite suppressant" pill is another passive treatment. She does so many of those and they aren't working, maybe an option would be to redirect her energy from passive approaches to ones which require she puts forth more energy on her part...as something different.
Exercise is a natural appetite suppressant, it burns calories, it raises your metabolism, it builds strength, it gives you energy, enhances your endurance, raises endorphins (feel good chemicals), raises seratonin levels (which is what many anti depressant medications strive to do), it is empowering, it is social (and it sounds like she needs to get out of the cave she's created before she is swallowed up),...
There are all womens' gyms to try that are less intimidating, such as Curves. But I'd think that if she's looking for a natural approach, something more aggressive with exercise will help her regain control (and she feels out of control now, so she over eats).
But I definitely agree that an appetite suppressant is not the answer because that which is causing these behaviors is not being addressed. She may be in therapy but evidently she is not making suitable progress,... so to keep doing something that isn't working is a self-fulfilling prophecy of self-flagellation.
My best wishes go out to her because your caring for her is quite evident. I hope she finds the help, in whatever form it needs to come in, as soon as possible.
------------------
Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!
Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.
[This message has been edited by Merrida (edited 02-25-2003).]
People have DIED on that, even quite healthy people including some personal trainers in otherwise good athletic health. This is so close to being banned it is scary.
All of her "treatment" options are passive. The acupuncture (she doesn't "do" anything, she just has to show up), the massage therapy (again, she doesn't "do" anything), and even with medication, it's passive because it's something she "takes."
She may need some other types of exercise, in addition to what she's doing, perhaps greater frequency, perhaps indulging more in the exercise sessions per week and tapering off on the other treatments she does... Looking for an "appetite suppressant" pill is another passive treatment. She does so many of those and they aren't working, maybe an option would be to redirect her energy from passive approaches to ones which require she puts forth more energy on her part...as something different.
Exercise is a natural appetite suppressant, it burns calories, it raises your metabolism, it builds strength, it gives you energy, enhances your endurance, raises endorphins (feel good chemicals), raises seratonin levels (which is what many anti depressant medications strive to do), it is empowering, it is social (and it sounds like she needs to get out of the cave she's created before she is swallowed up),...
There are all womens' gyms to try that are less intimidating, such as Curves. But I'd think that if she's looking for a natural approach, something more aggressive with exercise will help her regain control (and she feels out of control now, so she over eats).
But I definitely agree that an appetite suppressant is not the answer because that which is causing these behaviors is not being addressed. She may be in therapy but evidently she is not making suitable progress,... so to keep doing something that isn't working is a self-fulfilling prophecy of self-flagellation.
My best wishes go out to her because your caring for her is quite evident. I hope she finds the help, in whatever form it needs to come in, as soon as possible.
------------------
Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!
Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.
[This message has been edited by Merrida (edited 02-25-2003).]
kat721
02-26-2003, 09:54 PM
posted>>>All of her "treatment" options are passive. The acupuncture (she doesn't "do" anything, she just has to show up), the massage therapy (again, she doesn't "do" anything), and even with medication, it's passive because it's something she "takes."<<<
Extremely good point here.
EXTREMELY!
And probably at it's basic the very best of any Holistic alternative next to reassessment of diet and nutrition.
Please note I said diet and nutrition.
Not a diet, like for weight loss, but a diet for wellness as in an every day life style.
But that thought about exercise, a very necessary consideration.
As I mentioned before to look on the Diabetes wed site for food guidence,You will also find information on fitness because the key to any Diabetics success in controlong blood sugar also rests in EXERCISE.
It simply has to be done.
There are so very many body dysfunctions that are put into a better mode of operation because of exercise.
Probably a good cardio vascular one would be the best.
Walking is highly recomended for people who can't or don't want to do strenuous exercise.
I read an article recently regarding the benefits of walking. If a person does nothing else but walk a couple of times a week then that is sufficient for good health.
I am currently using an exercise bike with dual action handle bars to regain my strength from being ill for so long.
I've always done Yoga but my cardiologist told me that yoga was too passive and I needed more of a cardiovascular work out.
So that's a good perception about treatments of a passive nature not being the real core answer to getting ones body back into step with wholeness.
Kat
Extremely good point here.
EXTREMELY!
And probably at it's basic the very best of any Holistic alternative next to reassessment of diet and nutrition.
Please note I said diet and nutrition.
Not a diet, like for weight loss, but a diet for wellness as in an every day life style.
But that thought about exercise, a very necessary consideration.
As I mentioned before to look on the Diabetes wed site for food guidence,You will also find information on fitness because the key to any Diabetics success in controlong blood sugar also rests in EXERCISE.
It simply has to be done.
There are so very many body dysfunctions that are put into a better mode of operation because of exercise.
Probably a good cardio vascular one would be the best.
Walking is highly recomended for people who can't or don't want to do strenuous exercise.
I read an article recently regarding the benefits of walking. If a person does nothing else but walk a couple of times a week then that is sufficient for good health.
I am currently using an exercise bike with dual action handle bars to regain my strength from being ill for so long.
I've always done Yoga but my cardiologist told me that yoga was too passive and I needed more of a cardiovascular work out.
So that's a good perception about treatments of a passive nature not being the real core answer to getting ones body back into step with wholeness.
Kat