Diet and Weight Loss Tips

Hoodia gordonii (pronounced HOO-dee-ah) is also called hoodia, xhooba, khoba, Ghaap, hoodia cactus, and South African desert cactus. Hoodia is a cactus that’s causing a stir for its ability to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. 60 Minutes, ABC, and the BBC have all done stories on hoodia.

Hoodia gordonii can be found in the semi-deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Hoodia grows in clumps of green upright stems and is actually a succulent, not a cactus.

It takes about 5 years before hoodia’s pale purple flowers appear and the cactus can be harvested. Although there are 20 types of hoodia, only the hoodia gordonii variety is believed to contain the natural appetite suppressant.

Although hoodia was “discovered” relatively recently, the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert have been eating it for a very long time. The Bushmen, who live off the land, would cut off part of the hoodia stem and eat it to ward off hunger and thirst during nomadic hunting trips. They also used hoodia for severe abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes.

In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist studying the San Bushmen noted that they used hoodia to suppress appetite. But it wasn’t until 1963 when scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa’s national laboratory, began studying hoodia. Initial results were promising — lab animals lost weight after taking hoodia.

The South African scientists, working with a British company named Phytopharm, isolated the active ingredient in hoodia, a steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. After getting a patent in 1995, they licensed p57 to Phytopharm. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million on hoodia research.

How does Hoodia Gordonii Plus work?
Simply put, the brain is tricked into thinking there is enough energy (blood sugar) and doesn’t need to eat, so it shuts down the hunger mechanism.

How long does Hoodia Gordonii Plus
take to work?
The consensus is that hoodia can take up to 1 to 2 weeks to kick in, however, many people notice the appetite suppressing effects within 1/2 hour of taking a dose of hoodia.

How to take Hoodia Gordonii Plus?
An hour before meals With a glass of water. Ensure adequate water intake, because hoodia will also shut off your thirst mechanism.

Side effects of Hoodia Gordonii Plus?
There are no published reports of any side effects after use of hoodia.

University of Texas study finds diet soda linked to obesity

Diet soda, previously thought to be the health conscious alternative to regular soda, may be linked to obesity later in life. A study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio followed over 600 people ranging from 25 to 64 years old for up to eight years and found that those drinking diet soda gained more weight than their regular soda drinking counterparts.

My eyes rolled back into my head when I saw an extra pound and a half on the scale.  I didn’t remember doing anything really bad but the scale seems to think otherwise.

Yes, I feel like a disgusting blob this week.  I’ve taken two steps back and I’m kicking myself.  On a positive note, this kick might be the little boost I need to actually get off my ass and work harder.

Maybe I can take the weight I’ve gained off this week.

*crosses fingers*

So today after work I felt like getting out for a bit.  Everytime I do my grocery shopping I see this little half-priced book type shoppe and I finally decided to take a peak inside.

Honestly, the place was a disaster and the owner was one of those people who causes you to avoid a store completely just so you don’t have to talk to her.  But I rummaged trying to find some craft/art books.  The owner helped me locate the general area they would be in since the place had absolutely no organization to it. 

They didn’t have anything close to what I would find interesting so I took a mosey on over to the cooking section and eventually found a book of U.S. regional breads.  I decided to take it.

I gritted my teeth as I took it up to the front counter and told the owner I wanted it.  The front counter was completely engulfed in a see of books she was working on organizing…. I hope.  She took the book from my hand and looked it over and commented on her love of bread.

She took my debit card and swiped it… when suddenly a little middle-aged woman walks through the door, walks behind me, and then pulls on my left hoodie sleeve.  I made sure to keep my grin under control.. she reminded me of a toddler trying to get a parents attention.

Woman:  “I bet people tell you all the time you look like Michael Moore.”
Me: *almost speechless* “No this is the first time…  Is that a good or bad thing?”
Woman: “I guess that all depends.”

I restrained myself from turning around and backhanding her into last Tuesday. 

Since then I asked a few people and they all just laughed and told me I did not look anything like Michael Moore.  Although, I do have to admit, a few people did agreed. However, they did comment and say I am a better-kept version.

I almost slapped those people as well.

It was a miracle.  I stepped on the scale just moments ago and to my amazement the scale reported exactly the same weight as last week, down to the tenth of a pound.

Could it be God helping me out?  Could’ve have been that massive poo just before weighing?  Could it have been that I willed the scale to lie to me?

It doesn’t matter.  I’m just happy there was no increase.