[cmomof2kids]

Hi there!!!


Protein at every meal would do wonders for you. It really really helps. And start counting your calories. Im not messing up on this b/c I paid too much to fail. I follow the instructions with Phen AND count my calories. My doc told me 1200 per day. And why cant you drink water??? Your body cant live on tea. Water is a very important factor in weight loss. It flushes toxins and fat out of our body. All that caffeine could be making you feel like your starving. Since I started a week ago, the only thing I have had is water and milk with my cereal (to drink that is). Any other kind of liquid serves no purpose for my body. Fruit juice is LOADED with sugar and SODA is horrible for me.

Now, do I want them??? OH yea. And do I want some chocolate too?? YES BUT I have to make myself do this. No one else will. ONLY OURSELVES. I would take it 1st thing when you wake up and wait an hour to eat. WORKS WONDERS thanks to MsMartini. She gives good advice.

Hope this helps. Im just a newbie but trying to help out as much as I can. By the way... nice to meet you!

[vervie]

Thanks for the responses!

I drink a Carnation Instant Breakfast every morning because I have to put Miralax in it every day, and it's the best thing to put the medicine in. Also, as with many of you I'm in a big hurry in the morning, (long commute to work), and I don't have time to cook anything. So it serves a dual purpose for me.

I had another bad night last night, as far as sleep is concerned. Woke up constantly, and this was with the Rozerem on board. Can I expect the sleep problem to improve with time?

I already drank the CIB before I read the responses this morning, so I'll be taking the Phen at 10:00am. I hope today will be a better day.

[lovemy5kids]

The first week on phen is really bad as far as sleep goes. I've been on it about 6 weeks now, and I sleep great...except for last night that is.

Good luck today!

[msmartini]

It's different for everyone but for me, sleep became more 'normal' after about a week to 10 days.

I was rereading the earlier posts. I'm not sure how long before lunch you're taking the Phen. But it needs to be at least an hour.

I hope you get better results taking it at 10 am today!!

[jrjszats]

I would really start looking at your water. I too do not like water at all. When I'm not dieting, there are many days that it will be 5 pm and I will think, "I haven't drunk any water all day!". Since I won't want the extra calories, I will also not have drunk anything else. YIKES! NOT GOOD!

I HAVE found though that water is one of those things that if you FORCE yourself to drink it that you will start to CRAVE it. I know that sounds crazy but it's true.

I can tell you also that tea with equal would make me hungrier. Studies have shown that people who drink fakely sweetened drinks (like diet sodas, crystal light, etc.) actually consume MORE calories in a given day. There are different arguments as to why....some say that it's because those people feel like they have more room to "cheat" than others, others say the caffeine does it, others say that it creates a false craving for sugar that the fake sweetener does not satisfy and therefore they consume more calories trying to satisfy that "emptiness". Either way, I can tell you from my own personal experience that I find myself MUCH hungrier when I have anything fakely sweetened (and it doesn't matter whether it sucralose, aspertame, nutrisweet, equal, etc.). I almost feel "craving out of control".

When I started, I would drink a large glass of water (10 oz+ )when I was "starved" and then wait 15 minutes. I was amazed that many times my body needed water (it's common that you feel hungry even though your body is thirsty!) and nothing else. It's the same reaosn that they say you should eat a salad prior to a meal....low calorie and fills you up so you can then eat without concern since your main nutrients have been filled. Yes, sometimes I gagged down that water because I REALLY didn't want it but I did it because I knew it was best for me.

I remember reading some story about a celebrity who lost all her weight shortly after pregnancy. She said "No, I don't liek to exercise and eat right, but I NEED to. It all boils down to the fact that I wanted to lose weight more than sitting and eating a Ho Ho. You have to figure out which you want more."

I know some people go back and forth and say that you should eat the same way you will forever and while I agree with that for the most part, I also think you need to get VERY serious in the beginning. You can let up a little later, but if you "drift" into dieting, you won't be able to take it seriously. I personally feel it's better to go hard core into dieting and "drift" out of it (while also ensuring to NEVER drift back to that which made me gain the weight in the first place....in my case it was birthing 4 kids in 6 years so I don't think that will happen! LOL).

I know everyone is different and you definitely have to do what works for you, but you should look intently at your water intake. Our bodies do need water and they need to not to have to process something to get it. Some of that is OK, but not as our primary source. I think that will definitely help with your starving factor. Also, I always took my phen as soon as my feet hit the floor and then ate 30 min to 1 hour later. I think that helps too!

BLessings,
Rene

[vervie]

Hi Rene!

Congrats on 4 kids in 6 years....you must be a VERY busy Mom! I have one child and she keeps me busy. Also congrats on your successful weight loss.

I'm glad someone understands my dislike of water. Most people look at me like I have a third eye when I say I hate water. Truth is, I've never liked it in my whole life. I've always been a huge milk drinker (fat free). Whenever I'm really, really thirsty, it's milk that I crave. I have tried to drink water in the past and I will try again, in earnest. but I know it will be a tough battle. Sometimes when I swallow it I actually feel ill. I know it's strange, but it's always been that way.

So, yes I'm a big iced tea drinker. Being in North Carolina, sweet tea is KING, and I've been drinking A LOT of it for many years. About 2 months ago my trainer said to me, "Look, you're probably using up 600 calories just in all the tea you drink every day". That shocked me into stopping the sweet tea cold turkey, which was HORRIBLE. I started drinking unsweet and adding Equal - I need the sweetness. I thought that was the solution, but from what you're saying it could still be a problem. Well, I've got some thinking and strategizing to do. It's not going to be easy.In fact, it's going to be much harder than not eating sweets, etc.

Today was NOT a good day. I slept horribly last night and felt very lethargic and weak throughout the day. I took the Phen at 10:00am, an hour after my Carnation Instant Breakfast. From 11:00am on I was so hungry it was extremely uncomfortable. I was at work and there was no food at all, so there was nothing I could do. And I did not drink any iced tea today either. I brought water to work with me and tried to choke that down, but I really felt bad, weak and hungry.

At 2:00 I went to Panera Bread and had a Sierra Turkey sandwich. That has satiated me until just about a 1/2 hour ago. I just ate a big bowl of cantelope and honey dew melon. I'll probably have a yogurt and a string cheese before I go to bed.

I pray for sleep tonight.

Tomorrow morning I will take the Phen at the same time I take my Synthroid - 30 minutes before I ingest anything, and see if it suppresses my appetite better that way.

I really hope things will improve and I will start to see some weight loss. I also do cardio at the gym 4-5 days a week and have a private trainer for weight training 3 days a week. I'm trying my best, but this whole water vs. tea thing is my biggest and most difficult challenge.

P.S. I read somewhere that drinking caffeinated beverages while on Phentermine is bad because the caffeine is a diuretic and it flushes the Phen out of your system before it has time to work.

[jrjszats]

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I don't check the boards as often as others do....I guess it's that busy thing...having 4 kids, homeschooling...I don't know. I have lots of excuses! LOL

ANyway, I get the milk thing! I LOVE milk! I only started drinking water as a kid when my Mom would yell at me because I could go through a gallon of milk in no time. Now I don't drink as much because I watch the calories and figure I should be drinking water. I try to save my calories for things I really want to use my calories on. LOL

How did you do taking phen earlier? Did it work for you?? I have never heard of anyone having your reaction of being starved shortly after taking phen. That seems odd to me...unless it's purely due to that lack of water intake. ?!??! I can't think of any other reason!

I also heard that about caffeine so I cut out all caffeine in the beginning. I don't have much, just a cup of coffee in the morning so it wasn't hard. I drink it again now that I am lower. I may quit again soon so I can work the tar out of this belly of mine!!

Are you on the 37.5's? Did you get them through your doctor or somewhere else? It seriously sound slike they CAN'T be phen because I was SOOO not hungry on phen.

I actually have an appointment tomorrow for my doctor to get more phen. I have some left and really haven't been on it for months, but I figure I might as well have it around for "those days" that I want to stave off mindless eating during the holidays. YKWIM? I figure that if I do this, I can go for months without having to get another appointment. When I'm there, I'll ask him if he knows why you would still be hungry on phen.

Blessings,
Rene

[susanpesek]

Hi-ho, Vervie! I have been a bit under the weather and am so glad these folks have given you such excellent advice!

1. Protein at EACH of your 5-6 daily meals.
2. Eat as much in volumous, low calorie veges as you want.
3. Drink at least 100 ounces of water every day.
4. Divert your attention when the appetite bug hits if you have eaten within the previous 2 hours. Walk the dog. Exercise. Drink lots of water. Have a huge salad.
5. Pre-plan and prop[erly poirtion a nutritious diet with baggies and write everything down.

For some of us, the phentermine does not give so much hunger control as willpower control! I remained hungry the whole time. ... BUT I did it and YOU can, too!