Hoodia: Does It Really Work?

I sent away for the free sample of a 7 day supply of the Hoodia weight loss product from Nutrathin. It did NOTHING. I actually gained 4 lbs. So I respectfully emailed them to cancel sending me the 30 day supply. The ignored the email, 2 day's later automatically charged the $40 dollars and a week later, sent me another bottle. I sent Another email requesting them to tell me why they did this, and did not responde back to me to at least tell me if I neeeded to increase the dosage or anything. SOMEBODY, tell me is there any products that will work?
Thanks

I am sorry that this didn't work for you. I was really wondering if it did or not, cause it sounded to good to be true and you know the old saying there. To be honest Karla I have lost 60 pounds over the last year and there is NO miracle pill, patch or prayer...or atleast none I have found. I lost the weight with a 1200 calorie a day diet. I still have more to lose but I am looking at trying something different because 1200 calories a day just ain't much lol! I felt as though I was starving all the time. Good luck!

I know the feeling of wanting to try anything,I believe I have a thyroid prob that they can not find so I'm going to try a vit called tyrosine and a multi to see if that helps with energy.The healthy foods are what we need for feeling full and losing weight,alot of fibers,fruits,veg and protein like beans and peanut butter,and stay away from big portions of animal meats and sat fats.Also I believe in the 6 meals a day so it keeps your sugar and metab going but sched are so hard and the 2 biggest things are exercise and water.We all want a quick fix but we also know how we got where we are. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE

Hoodia Gardonii did not suppress my apetite at all, as a matter of fact, I was hungrier after taking just one dose. I'm beginning a 1200 calorie a day diet and need something to supress my hunger. So far, I've found no over-the-counter medication that works.

Just wanted to say I've tried lots of diets, atkins,weight watchers etc. I really wanted to lose weight. I had a friend who encouraged me to let go of soda and start little at a time eating healthier. It still wasn't enough so I tried this new doctor in my local town and asked him for help. He prescribed me Meridia. I have been taking it for a year I lost 35 lbs. and I have went from a size tight 18's to a 12-14. I also excerise twice a day mildly but I also watch the junk food and try to eat healthy. I think this really helped me alot. I had no side effects from the med and I went to get my blood pressure checked once every 2 months. I also read that it is okay to take this diet pill longterm but sometimes after about 6 to eight months your body will get immune to it. That's what has happen to me and now I am looking for something new because I want to lose 25 more pounds.

I have taken Hoodia 750mg, 100% pure Hoodia Gordinii and the results are impressive. I take one capsule 30 minutes before each meal. My desire to eat a full meal is reduced significantly. I have not seen any changes to my blood pressure or energy level. I suggest starting with one capsule once a day and then increase dosage until you are taking one before every meal. Regular exercise is important.

I recommend Hoodia full strength taken three times daily.

Right, wrong or indifferent, this is just my two cents on the whole hoodia craze...

I, myself, don't tend to put a lot of stock in any over the counter weight loss pill, appetite suppressant or fat blocker, etc. I can't honestly sit here and claim that they absolutely, positively don't work (because they do for some), but I tend to feel that most of them are probably working mainly from the placebo effect and whatever a la carte drug they use to 'rev up' the system. I just cannot believe that anything which has a coronary or nervous system 'jolt' effect is a good thing.

Further, I don't hold a lot of water for many so called 'natural' drugs or remedies in general. I'm not saying they don't work, but most have not been tested by the FDA, nor do we know the long term side effects. Take for instance something natural like Belladonna (Atropa Belladona). The plant and it's berries are VERY poisonous, however small doses are still used in the medical industry to aid certain eye problems, kidney malfunction and even over-active bladder functions in children. But, that's not to say that it should be put into an over the counter diuretic for fear of over consumption. I apply the same principle to things such as Hoodia. Sure it may stave off hunger pangs, but the native people who use it also GREW UP using it and their bodies had a chance to adjust to it. They didn't just decide to start taking it one day to fight the middle age spread. Who's to say what it would do to the average joe after long-term use? Sure I want to lose weight, but I'd rather do it while I'm alive rather than by decomposition!

Like I say often - I never claim to be right OR to have any medical qualifications. I can only go by what I read and research. However, I'd rather play it safe than sorry.

If you have insurance and/or can afford it, why not see your doctor and have him/her prescribe something like Phentermine/Ionamin? I've been on Ionamin before and it works like a dream. It's been tested, it has been PROVEN to work and it has been on the market for over 10 years. I'm sure it isn't for everyone, but I figure why not check with your doctor to see if it is right for you rather than waste money on things that may or may not work or cause you long term health problems?

Anyways, it's just a suggestion.

All the best.

~Alisha

If the Belladonna you are refering to is the homeopathic remedy, note that its toxic effects are important for its effectiveness. I've taken Belladonna a few times for headaches, and it worked well. I agree with your skepticism about Hoodia gordonii, but you shouldn't think that the FDA is the golden standard of the medical industry. There are many things that the FDA (and doctors for that matter) doesn't know that could benefit social health. And they've also screwed up many times lately. I mean, Vioxx was approved by the FDA, and we all know where that went.

Ben, I agree with you that the FDA isn't the end all, be all 'golden rule' for whether a medicine is effective or safe - they make mistakes too - however, that wasn't my main point.

I'm simply stating that when it comes to taking something, given the choice between appetite supressants which have been tested, regulated, USED for over 10 years and PROVEN to work, I'd rather choose that and have my vitals monitored by a doctor rather than take something that has NOT been thoroughly tested, has no long-term proven results and rely on observations of native plains people to convince me that it's safe.

In this day and age, a lot of people are turning to more natural remedies because they don't like 'drugs'. What I'm trying to bring to light is that just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean it's good for you. I used belladonna as an example because, rather you take it for headaches or not, the plant and it's extracts are toxic and poisonous and, unless you're a pharmacologist, how do you know you aren't mildly poisoning yourself everytime you take it? Asprin itself is derrived from willow bark but that doesn't mean you should just steep a random amount in hot water and drink it. St John's Wort has similar effects to those of anti-depressants but it's natural so taking a handfull a day won't hurt you, right? Wrong! In fact, it could induce coma if taken with other drugs. Opium will take away pain and relax muscles, but just because it's derrived from the poppy, does that mean it should be sold in Walgreens? Of course not. That's my point.

Just because hoodia can stave off hunger, I really don't think it's a good idea to sell something like that over the counter without knowing its long term effects - especially since it may or may NOT work. That's why I suggested the Ionamin - it has more than 10 years of a proven track record and it works! I'm not a 'take a pill' kind of person, but I'd rather have at least some semblance of an idea what to take and how much and KNOW that it will work for me before I take it.

After reading as much as I could about it, I decided to get the Hoodia. I am not an easy sell and seldom try diet products. In the week of taking it as directed 3 times a day. It has made no difference in the way I feel about food or in any other way. If I didnt know I was taking it, I wouldnt know I was taking it. I am going to add a dose this week and see if I feel anything. Looks like I will be sending for the refund. I am about at the end of my rope for weight loss. I have managed to lose it before but now that I have quit smoking and gotten older it seems impossible.

I've started to use Hoodia two weeks ago, and it really works for me! I take one pill just before a meal, and the hunger is gone.
I am eating as healthy as possible to make sure that the effects will last (not just popping a pill, but also changing my eating pattern). Because I'm not hungry, I don't have the urge to snack on anything.

I've only been taking Hoodia for a week now, and it is already working nicely for me. I can tell a big difference in my appetite. The research I've done says that sometimes it takes a while for it to build up in your system to really change your appetite. I dunno. I'm just happy to have found it, personally! :o)

If there were any diet pill that really worked, they wouldn't have to advertise it. The news would spread like wildfire all over the world. I'll wait until someone I know e-mails me and tells me they've found the miracle weight loss product we all want.

I have taken Hoodia Gordoni from Desert Burn for two months now and a few days of the two months, I felt like it really worked, but not at all the rest of the time. I kept taking it to see if it needed to build up. I was 20 pounds from my ideal weight and now I am 28. It seemed to increase my desire to graze. just my two cents

Hi there...my comment is mostly to Alisha. I started taking Ionamin 30mg this morning at 9:30...it is now 2:30 and I still haven't eaten ('cause I'm just not hungry). Just wondering how soon I can see results and what kind of dieting are you doing? I'm 5'6" and currently 172 lbs. I would love to be 130 lbs and fit into my size 8 jeans again!!! Hopefully by Christmas (which is an average of 2lbs a week).

HOODIA
i took hoodia gordonii by the vitamin company NOW called "mega hoodia". it runs about $16 - $20 for 60 capsules. i CANNOT BELIEVE HOW GOOD I FEEL, AND HOW I AM NOT HUNGRY. i need to lose 60 lbs, and was getting desparate and depressed. i eat healthy but also crave carbs and it seems that everything i eat sticks to my physique. i gain weight extremely easily and cutting back on food a little and even exercise makes NO difference. only through vigorous exercise and dramatic decrease in food does any weight come off of my body.

hoodia has increased my mood so i feel great. i am very very very excited about this stuff and i have only been on it 3 days.

i am calling it a miracle, because that is just how good i feel. i am happier, and my outlook has increased a LOT and i AM NOT HUNGRY nor thinking about food except just the little bit to keep me from getting nauseous.

i just cannot believe it. i am SO happy.

I did a lot of research before I tried Hoodia. The big thing to learn is that all of the Hoodia products out there are not created equal. Doing some serious homework is the only way to know what you are getting.

I ended up purchasing Hoodoba Pure, marketed by StrictlyHealth in Delaware. I read everywhere that there were no side effects, but I have been into natural products long enough to know that everyone is different. No side effects to most may not mean no side effects to all.

When I first took the Hoodia, I tried 2 capsules. That was a mistake for me. I definitely had side effects, felt looney and nauseated. So the next day I cut back to 1 capsule an hour before my meal, twice a day. The side effects continued but got less and less as the first week went on. Now I don't notice any side effects except an incredibly reduced appetite. It definitely works for me.

I'm not sure that Hoodia will work so well for emotional eaters. If you run to the fridge when you're sad or bored, it is probably not the cat's meow for you. But if quantity is your issue, I'm guessing that if you find the right natural Hoodia, without other ingredients in it, then you might be as happy with it as I am.

As for long term effects, I'm hopeful. I think the FDA is not much more than a front for the drug and processed foods manufacturers, so what they say doesn't mean squat to me. I would take hundreds of years of anecdotal evidence any day over "scientific" evidence. Science doesn't really "discover" anything. It only proves what's already there. The standard for me is that a product be natural, be sold by a reputable company, and be subjected to random testing to insure that you are getting what you paid for, and only what you paid for. Lots of the so-called Hoodia diet pills are nothing but junk in capsules.

The only bad side effect I have now is that my husband gets mad at me for taking a capsule before we go out to eat. He thinks I'm not getting my money's worth! Ha!

I enjoyed reading everyone's comments. Good luck and good health to all.

For those of you taking "hoodia" pills and having success, I think it's great. However, I think you should be made aware that it's highly possible that you are suffering from a placebo effect and being taken for a ride. This is an excerpt from an article posted on the CBS News website (full article here)---> http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004...C-SearchStories

**************
Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million so far on research, including clinical trials with obese volunteers that have yielded promising results. Subjects given hoodia ended up eating about 1,000 calories a day less than those in the control group. To put that in perspective, the average American man consumes about 2,600 calories a day; a woman about 1,900.

"If you take this compound every day, your wish to eat goes down. And we've seen that very, very dramatically," says Dixey.

But why do you need a patent for a plant? "The patent is on the application of the plant as a weight-loss material. And, of course, the active compounds within the plant. It’s not on the plant itself," says Dixey.

So no one else can use hoodia for weight loss? "As a weight-management product without infringing the patent, that’s correct," says Dixey.

But what does that say about all these weight-loss products that claim to have hoodia in it? Trimspa says its X32 pills contain 75 mg of hoodia. The company is pushing its product with an ad campaign featuring Anna Nicole Smith, even though the FDA has notified Trimspa that it hasn’t demonstrated that the product is safe.

Some companies have even used the results of Phytopharm’s clinical tests to market their products.

"This is just straightforward theft. That’s what it is. People are stealing data, which they haven’t done, they’ve got no proper understanding of, and sticking on the bottle," says Dixey. "When we have assayed these materials, they contain between 0.1 and 0.01 percent of the active ingredient claimed."

The future of hoodia is not yet a sure thing. The project hit a major snag last year. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which had teamed up with Phytopharm, and funded much of the research, dropped out when making a pill out of the active ingredient seemed beyond reach.
****************
I am overweight too - by at least 100lbs - and I KNOW what it's like to feel at the end of your rope and desperate for a magical pill/diet/potion to get the weight off. Sometime in the future it may be POSSIBLE that the US will be able to grow and harvest this plant, but right now, it is still in the trial and TESTING phase. No one knows the long term effects this plant-produced chemical will have on the 'average joe' who hasn't grown up consuming it and it costs a fortune to produce even the barest minimum of the active chemical (see full article).

Shannon, it's important for me to state that I am NOT a pill touter of any kind, BUT, I mentioned Ionamin above because it has been clinically tested and proven to AID those who have an increased appetite. It will not get the weight off you magically - it should be used in conjunction with a healthy, balanced eating and exercise routine as directed by the physician who prescribed the medication. Some people need an extra kick to help them break cravings and bad eating patterns so they can STICK to a healthy eating plan. The idea behind this is that once the patient is weaned off of the drug, they will have learned portion sizes and replaced the previous bad eating habits with good ones - thus not needing the medication anymore. If you go back to eating junk and/or generally OVER-eating, the weight will come back. That's par for the course on ANY diet program, whether it be Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Atkins, et. al ad nauseum.

I also suggested Ionamin because I used it 10 years ago to lose a substantial amount of weight. I did keep the weight off for a year and a half, but a change in countries and money flow helped me right back into my old habits - hence the weight gain.

I have now opted to do a medical weight loss program (now available online and over the counter) called Medifast. It's a meal replacement plan that has been around for 23 years with a proven track record. It is also endorsed by Johns Hopkins Medical Center. The plan has been tested and studied by JHMC (the tests are always ongoing to improve the program) and is well balanced and formulated to increase the rapidity of fat loss while preserving muscle. I started my program on June 29, 2005 and as of today, I have lost 30 lbs. I also exercise and consume a minimum of 80 oz of water a day.

I have no affiliations with any company or product. I pay Medifast MY hard earned cash - believe me, they do NOT pay ME! My payment is received when I see the scale move steadily downward and in my clothes which now hang like sackcloths.

That said, it is because I am overweight and have struggled with it my entire life, that I want to help other people realize that over the counter 'pep' pills endorsed by thieving snake oil salesmen are not your only option. There are other programs and SAFE medications out there that will work (if approved by your physician). We may be an obese nation, but research has come a long way since the use of speed and starvation. It's just up to the individual to tap into whatever resources you have to research what is available and to make an educated decision.

I wish you all the very best.

Alisha

In spite of what the numerous advertisements keep saying, Hoodia is NOT A CACTUS! The genus Hoodia is a genus belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae (the "milkweed family"), which has some members (like the milkweeds) native to Europe and North America, but the family is most widely represented in South Africa.
It is NOT a member of the family Cactaceae (the "cactus family"), which is an exclusively American plant family.
The families are not at all closely related.
A person with little or no knowledge of botany might look at a Hoodia plant, hear that it grows in deserts, and call it a "cactus", but a company that is marketing it should know that it isn't a "cactus". What else don't they know about it?

I've only recently heard of hoodia and discovered this blog during my research. The comments are very helpful, thank you to all. I want to lose about 25 pounds, but I'm very short so it's a lot of weight on my frame. After reading about some of the successes on this blog, I decided to try it My local healthfood store had Source Naturals 250 mg tabs (I'm glad I didn't have to mail order it). I take one tab three times daily.

I think the observations about placebo effects are well taken, and I've been keeping that in mind--but I have to say, for the two days I've been taking hoodia I'm very pleased. I just took it this morning and it woke me up (I don't drink coffee). For the last two days I've felt jazzed and actually EAGER to exercise. No appetite. After I write this I'm going to the gym.

My plan is to continue the hoodia, 3-4 times daily, increasing the dosage as feels necessary, and graze on veggies and low-fat protein. The mere thought of this in the past would depress me, but right now I'm inspired and looking forward to it. But it's only day 3.

ANOTHER CONSIDERATION: Maybe I missed it being mentioned above, but I wonder about interaction between hoodia and anti-depressants. I take Wellbutrin and Lexipro. Perhaps hoodia is more or less effective when the brain chemistry is already being altered or regulated by these drugs. Not having a medical background, I have no clue.

Thanks again for the thoughts, and good luck to all.

I have taken Hoodia DEXL10 for 3 days now. I SWEAR it makes me even MORE hungry! For me it increases the hunger.

I don't think Hoodia or ANY "herbal remedy" diet pill is going to be the magic answer for weight loss. And Anne, please ask your doctor about possible drug interactions with the anti-depressants! That's one thing that the FDA has done...tested side effects and drug/drug interactions. The majority of herbal remedies may be "safe" as far as early phase clinical trials go, but the long-term effects and efficacy are not there yet. FDA-approved drugs have to be tested for something like 7-10 years before they are allowed on the market and even then, they aren't for everyone. And yeah, just because it's "natural" and plant-derived doesn't mean it's okay. Cocaine is "natural" and tribes used it for energy and weight loss too. Maybe it'll make a comeback :P

I wish my doctor knew anything about it--she doesn't.

Update: This is my 6th day and I've lost 4 pounds. I'm looking forward to seeing if I'll be able to keep losing, or if this is just a spike. To an extent I agree with Najwah...I've had a few moments of being ravenous, but I think it's just figuring out the proper dosage and time to take it.

Three undisputable results: It gives me energy, it temporarily suppresses my appetite (at least for a few hours), and THIS IS GREAT: it seems to have killed my desire to drink alcohol. I usually drink at least 1/2 to 1 bottle of red wine per evening, which clearly has added to the weight gain. My doctor told me I was an alcoholic. I haven't desired a single glass of wine since starting this stuff.

I feel like a total guinea pig, but that's okay.

Well, it's been almost a month...and I've lost 12 lbs and still going! At this rate, I'll be down to 130 by Xmas for sure!

After reading through all the listings I think I might give it a try. I know someone who takes it and last time I saw him He did lose some weight. I am on a 1200 daily cal deit with exorcise and I have lost 60 lbs in 6 months. But now I am getting to the part where it seems like you bust your back end all week long to lose maybe 1/2 a pound and if I go any lower in cal intake I get hungry and binge. I just discovered this stuff today and it may be what I am looking for to get me through the second half of this little adventure.

I too did some research and ended up purchasing from StrictlyHealth from Delaware. I was pleased with their service and delivery was quick. I purchased one each of their 3 offerings- Hoodoba Pure, Hoodoba Hunger Block Plus and the Hoodoba Hi Potency, Feel Full liquid Tincure. My internet research found that the liquid tincture was supposed to be the faster acting and have better results.

I began with an experiment taking the Hoodoba Pure capsules as well as the liquid tincture. Honestly, I would say the tincture works better for me and it has taken about 6 days for me to say I am honestly not hungry. Research has shown that in a a large percentage of people, it can take a few weeks to really kick in. And I would say you probably should eat as healthy as you can. Starving is not good for anyone and eating right will only help. I agree that eating 5 or 6 smaller meals is the best (for me anyway).

I will update this forum from time to time. Perhaps now that the hoodoba is in my system the capsules will work better.

For the record, I am over 50 and be it thyroid, age, "mental"pause, sluggish metabolism, lack of exercise, eating improperly.... I need to lose 35 - 50 pounds. Most of the gain has come in the past 5 years or so. It is tough for me to stay motivated as the weight comes off slowly.

Oh, I also read that the Desert Burn and the StrictlyHealth were the reliable choices to order from. However, I don't think Desert Burn has the tincture available. I am familiar with the NOW brand of vitamins but have not ordered recently from them... and, Alisha- I too did the Phen/Fen (ionomin/ pondamin) and it worked great. I thought about going the Pondamin route but decided to try this first.

Hope this helps out anyone trying to make the decision to try it. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Has anyone taken hoodia cactus whilst taking prozac?

I have just recieved my hoodia extracts from HoodiThin [URL Removed] and have had two doses so far. I don't know if this is my imagination but when I drank the liquid with water it seemed to numb my mouth a bit.

Right now I feel a bit hungry but not as much as I would've originally without the extract in my system. It may all be in my mind as any placebo drug can do, but I'll see if it actually works.

Alisha - sorry to hear you are so skeptical. Hoodia Gordonii is not FDA approved. No herbal remedy is. It does reduce appetite. Just be sure to drink plenty of water (this is nothing new. same rule as always) And of course keep active. Hoodia helps to reduce appetite, but don't expect abs of steel. You still have to care enough about yourself to get out there and excercise. All the best. (keep active!)

I just found this website and I have been looking for one for a while. I'm 40, 5'3" and 177 lbs. This is the most I've ever weighed. It's even 37 lbs more than I was when I was full term with my son!

Anyway, I had a partial hysterectomy last May and it has been a total struggle for me to maintain my weight. I have actually gained 16 lbs since then. I have dieted, exercised, tried everything from TrimSpa to Lipodrene, you name it. I came across Hoodia Gordonii after googling for appetite suppresants.

After a LOT of research on Hoodia, I decided to order my 1st bottle from www.hoodiahoodia.com. I received it on Sept. 29th (approx. 1 week ago). It took about 7 days to get (it comes from Canada). All I can say is that it really has helped to suppress my appetite. I still get hungry BUT after eating a few bites I am FULL. I take one pill in the AM with water and one around 4:30. The only thing is that I have a little dry mouth but that's it. No jittery feeling at all. I just needed something to help me get started to a healthier lifestyle. Oh and I am walking every other day for at least 45 minutes.

I'm going to try this for the rest of the month and I'll try to update on any weight loss then. I don't want to get on the scale until after I've finished my first bottle.

Good luck to all of you and move your BOD!

I am a former phen/phen user, and I have tried all diets out there. Yesterday I started my first dose of Hoodia Max, and it seems to be really helping with controlling my appetite so far. I sure hope it work! Will keep updated!
Holly

I don't understand the whole concept of appetite suppressants. It is not that I'm against diet drugs - I think that if they came up with a safe way to speed up metabolism, that would be a wonderful idea. But think about it:

You take an appetite suppressant and you eat the same stuff you were eating before, only in smaller amounts. Eating less will reset your calorie needs to a smaller amount. Say before you could eat 2,500 and maintain, and would have to eat 2,000 to lose. Now you are eating 1,300 to lose and your body will reset your maintenance calorie needs to 1,800. Once you stop the appetite suppressants, there could be a rebound effect - and you now wanna eat 2,800. But say there are no adverse side effects, and you just wanna eat the same 2,500: now you are gonna gain weight rapidly, and soon you'll be back on the appetite suppressants. That is why the people I know who use them are always going back to them on an endless cycle of yo-yo dieting. It teaches you nothing about changing WHAT you eat.

Hi everyone...

I have taken Hoodia in the past and totally loved it!! I used the Hoodoba brand because from my research it was the best one to go with at the time.
Right, now I am getting ready to try Desert Burn. I have heard great things about the product as well, and if I am impressed with it I am going to become an independent distributor of it.
I still have some more weight to loose and I put faith in Hoodia to help me again.

Within the first day of taking Hoodia I noticed a huge difference in my appitite and overall mood.

I lost 12lbs. in about 2 weeks, mostly water I know, but the results I got were fantastic.
It not only curved my cravings for carbs, but it really helped with my overwhelming hunger pangs all together and the effects lasted throughout the day.

There are many Hoodia products on the market that simply do not work. They may be marked as 20:1 or 10:1. These contain fillers like from the roots and leaves. The compound that is known to have the effect on the brain is found within the body of the cactus itself.
It tricks your system into thinking your blood sugar levels are stable (killing your appitite), but it also takes away your thirst, so be sure to drink pleanty of water while you are taking Hoodia.
I used it along with an organic diet comparable to Atkins', and my results were unbelievable. I was so healthy and felt young again.

If you are getting it for free or are paying under $40.00 a bottle for a 750mg pill (the largest dose possible), then you are not getting pure Hoodia.
The going rate for a pound of genuine Hoodia Gordonii is $290.00.

Hoodoba and I also want to say Desert Burn because of the rave reviews it has received, are the only 2 brands I would recommned. If you are a diabetic I would consult a doctor first before taking it.

Not all Hoodia products are the same. Please don't say it doesn't work because of the other cheap immitation products on the market.

I cannot say enough about this little cactus. It has changed my life.

With 100+ excess pounds to shed, I found myself searching for appetite suppressants on Google. Hoodia came up and I read all the wonderful things the website had to say about it. Immediately, I searched for the side effects of Hoodia and found this forum. After reading all the comments here, I'm most struck by Jan's remarks. Truth is, being overweight in a thin-obsessed society is no fun! Though I desperately desire to be thin, I also realize I'm equally desperately drawn to eating huge quantities of food to stave off loneliness, sadness, depression, etc.

I don't think the answer to my predicament will be found in a pill taken three times a day. Though I want to be thin, I do not want to die trying. Would that there were a pill or formula with no side effects! I lost weight before by excerising and modifying my eating habits. I think I'll try this approach again.

Robyn, if this is really more of a blood sugar stabilizer and not an appetite suppressant, kind of like Chromium Piccolinate and Garcinia Cambodja, and there are no dangerous side effects, I think it might be worth a try actually - if you, while on a diet, suffer from sugar cravings. For a regular dieter - save your money. The initial article said it was marketed as an appetite suppressant, but Missy's post describes it as more of the latter.

My SIL has a major sweet tooth and she had great results from Garcinia. It allowed her to stick to her diet. So I think for some people, this might be helpful. But you are absolutely right: the answer is in dieting and exercising. At best any supplements will help you stick to that diet, but won't make you lose weight.

I have a great and free suggestion for you to try: www.fitday.com It is free, and allows you to track what you're eating. Who wants to do that everyday? Nobody, I'm sure. But it is really helpful when you first start a diet to do it for a few days and see if you are eating too much or too little, or too much carb too little protein or anything else like that. It helped me a lot.

I am 100lbs overweight and have all kinds of health problems. I'm basically a ticking time bomb. As you can imagine I too have tried everything. They say the weight loss industry is a multi billion dollar business. Well I've certainly contributed to those dollars, believe me! If you name the diet, I've done it. I'm really at the point that I want gastric bypass but my ins co won't let me and I don't have 20,000 dollars to pay for it. I just heard about Hoodia yesterday and spent about 6 hours surfind the internet learning as much as I can. Now knowing the real deal with the plant, I opened the wallet yet again buying the 750mg version. I'll come back here around Thanksgiving and post an update as to whether it works or not for me. I am also going to start walking to get some exercise as I know that no matter how good hoodia might suppress appitite, it won't work by itself and some form of exercise is required.

My biggest problem is snacking after dinner. I think that is where I do the most damage to my weight. I am about 20 pounds over weight. I have never taking diet pills and usually assume they don't work. I do, however, have faith in herbs and have seen them work and that is what made me decide to give hoodia a try (besides the fact that my thighs began to touch...aaauuugghhh!) I planned to take the hoodia only at dinner time because the rest of the day I don't over eat. I tried it last night and was pleasantly suprised. I felt satiated and had no hunger pangs (which is what usually makes me give in). I stayed up until 2:00 am without feeling any hunger. I am thrilled and hope it continues to work like this for me. We also just bought a Bowflex Extreme so I am hoping between not snacking at night and working out I will solve my weight dilemma.

Hey Guys,

Here are my two cents on what's going on in the Hoodia market place. Firstly, NewsTarget (Truth Publishing) have tested the top 17 products claiming to contain Hoodia and of that only 6 passed and contained REAL Hoodia. Says something, doesn't it. Here's the report: [URL Removed]
So many people aren't experiencing the positive results of Hoodia because they aren't using real Hoodia!

Secondly, a company called EthnoAfrica in South Africa, is an actual Hoodia farmer and they supply most of the REAL Hoodia manufacturers with Hoodia. There web address is [URL Removed]

Hopefully this will shed some light on the subject and educate the consumer...

So there's my two cents. :)

I started my own blog using Yahoo 360. I am blogging my DAILY results with Hoodia. So far I could not be happier with the results Hoodia has provided. If you'd like to follow my Hoodia journey, here's the link [URL Removed]

.. and Chris.. thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

Just an update...as of Oct.27/05, I've lost about 23 lbs taking Ionamin and it's only been 2-1/2 months! I'm down to 150 (I'm 5'6") and want to get to 125-130!!! I eat sensibly (when I'm hungry) and I do alot of walking at my job. This stuff is awesome!!!

Now, just to find my knight in shining armour!