Hoodia Gordonii

Quite honestly, it all depends on what your definition of “work” is. As most of us already know, the ONLY way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit. We have to use up more calories than we consume.

That leaves us with two options: Diet and weight loss products that “work” by helping us with creating a calorie deficit- and those that can’t ever work because they don’t do anything. Let’s get started with diet pills, then move on to popular diet plans. So do diet pills work? Again, it depends. Some are powerful stimulants that will artificially boost your metabolism and reduce your appetite. Others are nothing more than a mix of fiber or common herbs, these are the ones that don’t do anything- except empty you wallet. However,  an appetite suppressant wil help you create a calorie deficit, if it’s strong enough.

So bottom line, do stimulate pills really work for weight loss? Only if you like the idea of being constantly filled with powerful stimulants for weeks or months. I would encourage you to research some of the side effects of powerful stimulants. Then you have to ask yourself this question: If I couldn’t keep the weight off before I went on that stimulant pill, why would I be able to keep weight off after I stopped using it? Something to consider.

Next, does ANY popular diet or weight loss plan really work- permanently?

For example, does the South Beach Diet REALLY work? If it creates a calorie deficit for you, yes it can work. You will drop weight.

However…

Extensive research from UCLA has shown that people on commerical did lose weight, but within two years 83% had gained back more weight than lost. Their research determined people who did not go on a diet, were better off from a health standpoint than those who did.

If you need more proof, just look at the facts:  Nearly two out of three Americans are overweight or obese while spending 40 billion dollars every year on fat loss products. Think about that, if any popular weight loss plan worked permanently- would so many people still be overweight?

So rather than ask yourself: Does NutriSytem really work? Does the Hollywood Cookie Diet work? Does any fad diet work? Or do “crash” diets work? Ask yourself: How can I REALLY lose weight?

If you answered “I need to create a small daily calorie deficit,” you’ve taken the first step towards becoming a weight loss success story. Using more calories than consumed can only happen one way: You have to change your past weight gain habits over to better weight loss habits.

If you can do that totally on your own, that’s awesome. If you can’t, there are books that can help. I failed at losing weight for thirty years. Over those 30 years, I lost and gained back over three-hundred pounds. I tried a diet shortcut or two. And yes, I wondered; do weight loss shortcuts really work? I was temped to see if there was a shortcut to lose weight.

In the end, the only weight loss “system” that worked for me was the one I put together myself with the help of an e-manual called New Body New Life. It taught me how to recognize my weight gain habits, and most importantly, it taught me how to change them to new weight loss habits.

As I said, if you can recognize and change your habits on your own, that’s all you need to do for safe and natural weight loss. The amount of money and time you’ll save by avoiding weight loss scams will be huge.

On a VERY interesting side point, when you change those habits, it will give you the self discipline to do whatever else you put your mind to. So even if some diet shortcut like Hoodia really did work- it can’t give you what changing your habits does:

A whole new level of discipline, confidence, and self respect. And most important the knowledge of how to keep weight off for the rest of your life.

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Currently one of the most publicized forms of natural weight loss products in America, the hoodia diet has been hailed by some as a miracle weight loss program. With features on major news networks such as CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, and BBC it has become one of the most talked about new diet programs. Even Oprah has shown support on her “O” Magazine. For the most part it has received positive reviews and is now in higher demand than ever before.

What is Hoodia?

Hoodia gordonii, also known as hoodia, xhooba, khoba, Ghaap, South African desert cactus, is a rare botanical that grows exclusively in the semi-deserts of South Africa. A cactus like plant, it grows in clumps of upright stems is considered a succulent and not a cactus. It can take approximately 5 years before the plant produces its pale-purple flowers and is ready for harvest. While there are over 20 types of hoodia, only the hoodia gordonii variety is believed to have appetite-suppressing properties.

How Does It Work?

Used by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert for numerous years to ward of hunger and thirst during hunting trips, hoodia has only recently been recognized in the United States and Europe as an effective dietary supplement.

Scientists have found several compounds in the plant that helps with appetite suppression. It contains a steroidal glycoside molecule known as P57 that is 10,000 times as active as glucose, resulting in the nerve cells in the mid-brain trigging the feeling of fullness. Simply put, the compounds in the plant trick your body into believing it is full.

Hoodia in the Marketplace

A mainstay of all hoodia diet programs, Hoodia supplements can be purchased in various forms including pills and liquid extracts. These supplements may be noted as having pure hoodia or the hoodia may be only part of the complete makeup of the supplement. These supplements can be purchased from representatives of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) certified manufacturers. Check your local drug store or check out hoodia products available on the Internet.

Keeping it Real

Due to the rarity of the plant and its limited growing area, fakes and counterfeits as well as diluted hoodia products are running rampant in the marketplace. Real hoodia is very rare, controlled and expensive. The South African government has strictly regulated exportation of hoodia to the rest of the world. Hoodia is a CITES – an international agreement between countries to protect and regulate international trade of animals and plants – making it impossible for all the products advertising themselves as a hoodia supplement to be, in fact, real. Studies have shown that as many as 50% of hoodia products contain little or no hoodia at all.

Is Hoodia For You?

If you want a low to no risk dietary supplement the hoodia diet could be for you. But due to strict guidelines and growing restrictions, hoodia is not as available as it seems and can be quite expensive. And be sure to keep in mind that what you see may not be always be what you get – just because it says hoodia that does not mean that it is hoodia. Shop for reputation as well as product to help guarantee you are getting what you paid for.

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