The truth is,who of us isn’t unhappy with our weight or shape?!

So, have you ever been tempted by those products that you can get in the drugstore or in a nutrition store, like GNC, with NO prescription, that claim to “melt the fat away,” “return you to your teenage weight,” or “slim you down by 6 sizes” in no time and  with no work on your part? If you were in a crowd and asked this, you probably would not raise your hand because you think you’ll look gullible and stupid, right? But, again the truth is, who of us has not at least thought about buying and trying one of those over-the-counter miracle weight loss products?

Ok, I admit it – I sure have. And recently too – summer before last. I not only thought about it, but I bought a month’s worth of the new wonder product “Hoodia” at a time when I was so frustrated with my appetite (for simple carbs mostly) and my weight. I should know better, shouldn’t I? BUT, I never took them because every time I looked at that fancy packaging and the unbelievable claims, and remembered that the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) has no regulatory powers at all over food products (which these are considered), so they have not been tested to see  if they work or if they are dangerous, I couldn’t take them.

What am I getting at here? One of the biggest selling weight loss products in the past few years has been “hydroxycut.”  Recently, the FDA has received at least 23 reports of people who had had bad health effects from hydroxycut, including one person who required a liver transplantation due to liver failure. Other adverse effects seen from this diet aid include heart problems and muscle problems leading to kidney failure.

The FDA is now officially warning consumers to avoid all products that contain hydroxycut. This diet aid is available in many formulations – including pills, drinks and powders – and can be the only product in a certain brand or can be combined with other diet aids into one product. So, if you have some weight loss aids at home, look at the label and do not take it if it contains hydroxycut.

Better yet, throw away any and all the weight loss products you have bought, and don’t buy anymore. What to do to decrease your appetite and to help your weight loss along? Try something novel: walk for 30 minutes per day and drink lots of fluids!