I need your help please

[bell78]

Hey Ladies and Gents,



I need some advice and I know you guys/gals can help me. Between everyone on the forum, I just know that someone has the answers that I am looking for.



I recently started dieting; I'm doing high protein and low carb because I have tried everything else under the sun and I am hoping that going "high-protein" will help me.



I decided not to do an actual diet, but to follow a calorie restriction and not go over 1800 calories a day. I know that sounds odd, but I feel a little be freer and I have more flexibility now that I can choose whatever I want to eat, within this calorie restriction. The result being that if I eat better and leaner, I can eat more food within my calorie range. THIS is specifically why I wanted to do high protein and low carb, because I can eat more proteins and feel fuller than eating less carb and feeling hungrier. I feel as though I have to trick myself.



Anyhow, my question is this; what supplements are good to take? I am a huge Dr. Oz fan and I literally write down every supplement and diet that comes on his show. I write them down and look them up later. A few weeks ago he had one on Garcinia Cambogia Extract. I have never heard of this before, I was looking into taking carb and fat blockers and ran into Chromium Picolinate and L-carnatine (I hope I spelled that correctly). So, as it happens I am trying to get my hands on as much information as possible. The extract is supposed to be a miracle supplement and I want to know if anyone has tried it. I found an article on it www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...231403591.html and did a wikipedia search (I know some of you check wiki too) and it seems legit. Please tell me if you tried it and whether or not it worked and also tell me where I can buy it. There are so many places online that sell these supplements but I'd rather get a good recommendation from you.



In addition to this I joined Bally's Total Gym, I'll be honest, it's a poor-mans gym and I'm on a budget. I can't complain too much, they have a pool and sauna and they have an aerobics area as well as the usual gym equipment. My question here is this; I have used the Elliptical and I have used the Cross Trainer. I have a bad back and I noticed that the Elliptical bothers my back and my knees, despite the fact that the trainer at the gym (they give you a free session as a new member) told me that the Elliptical would be gentle on my knees. It wasn't! The Cross-Trainer bothered me a little bit, but overall, I noticed that I burn more calories on the Cross Trainer.

I don't have "trainer" funds so I am hoping that anyone with experience in the gym might be able to tell me how I can get a good workout "that counts" that will help me strengthen my knees and back. I enjoy the Cross-Trainer, I don't mind the Elliptical too much but I absolutely cannot do the Spinning Cycle or Weights. Aerobics also never seem to be in session on my visits and no matter how many times I take a schedule home, I always miss the classes.



It's hard to lose weight and get fit when you have back and knee problems and this is why the supplement advice is very important for me but in addition, any tips or advice for equipment use would be much appreciated.



I will keep you updated on my progress, this is my first week back at the gym after one year (give or take a month or two) and I really want to keep going and progressing.



Thanks for your help in advance

[sadlebred]

The best advice I can give you is that diet and weight loss pills don't work. Lifestyle changes do. Pills didn't help you gain the weight, they won't help you lose it.

I have major knee problems as well. I don't take any supplements. Have you been to the doctor to see about your knee problems? What does your doctor say? If you haven't I'd spend the money on a doctor's visit instead of wasting it on supplements that haven't been proven to do anything.

[AAM2012]

bell78 I think Dr Oz is a hack so I can't comment I regards to those specific supplements. The only supplement I take is a multi vitamin and iron supplements. I wouldn't waste your money on supplements and would rather spend the money on exercise equipment, clothes or healthier natural foods.

Since you have a 'bad back' have you tried swimming? I know when my back is sore it helps for me to swim. Could your knee/back pain just be a generalized ache from starting a new exercise program? Is it something that you can push through? If it's something that is causing you a lot of pain then I would recommend talking to your doctor first to make sure your exercise and diet program is safe for you.

Good luck!

[wambam]

DO NOT TRY ANY SUPPLEMENT YOU HEARD ABOUT ON DR. OZ

Keep on working hard in the gym and eating whole foods. You sound like you've got a good start, keep it up.

[clseale]

Feb 25, 2014 6:29:55 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

bell78 I think Dr Oz is a hack so I can't comment I regards to those specific supplements. The only supplement I take is a multi vitamin and iron supplements. I wouldn't waste your money on supplements and would rather spend the money on exercise equipment, clothes or healthier natural foods.

Since you have a 'bad back' have you tried swimming? I know when my back is sore it helps for me to swim. Could your knee/back pain just be a generalized ache from starting a new exercise program? Is it something that you can push through? If it's something that is causing you a lot of pain then I would recommend talking to your doctor first to make sure your exercise and diet program is safe for you.

Good luck!

I'm just going to go ahead & ditto all of this right here. I can't even keep track of all of the miracle drugs Dr. Oz (and every other celebrity Dr) has found from the depths of the rainforest, or Indonesia, or some other exotic sounding location where tribes have used it for years). If there was a miracle supplement, we wouldn't be a country full of obese people. You're of to a great start with your diet plan! Focus on that & some lower impact exercises, and you'll be much happier (& healthier) in the long run. Good luck! 

[gt7301b]

Here are my thoughts.

Eat more real foods and fewer processed foods.  I think this will help more than some miracle drug.  I think low carb does work, but it is a difficult lifestyle to sustain long-term.  I've found reducing heavy carb days works for me, without leaving me with crazy cravings.

The calories listed on the gym equipment is crap, my treadmill tells me I burn 2x what my heart rate monitor says.  If you want an accurate calorie burn wear a heart rate monitor.

Even if money is an issue, I think you should work with a trainer for a few sessions to get tips on exercises that work with your health issues.  Spend your money here rather than on supplements. Strength training group classes are also a great place to get tips on form. 

Try other low impact exercises such as biking, walking, or swimming.

Don't try and make too many changes or add too much exercise at once.  You want to make healthy and sustainable changes.

[runaways]

Yeah, you kind of lost me at Dr. Oz. He probably was legit once upon a time when he started his medical career, but he's pretty much devolved into a quack who will shill anything for $$$.

Other than that, ditto everyone else. They're awesome and know what they're talking about.

[mrshandy]

I agree with everyone about Dr. Oz. It sounds like a good start.

My husband and I recently cut sugar out of our diet and it's done wonders. It's in so many different things that you don't realize. We found a ton of recipes for Paleo/Whole 30 on Pinterest. I would start there for your diet.

Good luck on your weight loss journey.

[clseale]

I can't get past the fact that this supplement was googled, and wiki'd, and therefore it seems legit. You can always find the answer you're looking for. Here's another article:
www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/garcinia-cambogia#.

Also, kind of related, I had a drink w/vodka and tamarind in it once, and it was freakin delicious!

[Deleted]

Stop listening to Dr. Oz, he's a (very convincing) quack. High protein and low carb is great, but I'll reiterate what was already said - not processed food, REAL food.

[starburst604]

Feb 25, 2014 0:26:16 GMT -5 bell78 said:

Hey Ladies and Gents,



I need some advice and I know you guys/gals can help me. Between everyone on the forum, I just know that someone has the answers that I am looking for.



I recently started dieting; I'm doing high protein and low carb because I have tried everything else under the sun and I am hoping that going "high-protein" will help me.



I decided not to do an actual diet, but to follow a calorie restriction and not go over 1800 calories a day. I know that sounds odd, but I feel a little be freer and I have more flexibility now that I can choose whatever I want to eat, within this calorie restriction. The result being that if I eat better and leaner, I can eat more food within my calorie range. THIS is specifically why I wanted to do high protein and low carb, because I can eat more proteins and feel fuller than eating less carb and feeling hungrier. I feel as though I have to trick myself.



Anyhow, my question is this; what supplements are good to take? I am a huge Dr. Oz fan and I literally write down every supplement and diet that comes on his show. I write them down and look them up later. A few weeks ago he had one on Garcinia Cambogia Extract. I have never heard of this before, I was looking into taking carb and fat blockers and ran into Chromium Picolinate and L-carnatine (I hope I spelled that correctly). So, as it happens I am trying to get my hands on as much information as possible. The extract is supposed to be a miracle supplement and I want to know if anyone has tried it. I found an article on it www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...231403591.html and did a wikipedia search (I know some of you check wiki too) and it seems legit. Please tell me if you tried it and whether or not it worked and also tell me where I can buy it. There are so many places online that sell these supplements but I'd rather get a good recommendation from you.



In addition to this I joined Bally's Total Gym, I'll be honest, it's a poor-mans gym and I'm on a budget. I can't complain too much, they have a pool and sauna and they have an aerobics area as well as the usual gym equipment. My question here is this; I have used the Elliptical and I have used the Cross Trainer. I have a bad back and I noticed that the Elliptical bothers my back and my knees, despite the fact that the trainer at the gym (they give you a free session as a new member) told me that the Elliptical would be gentle on my knees. It wasn't! The Cross-Trainer bothered me a little bit, but overall, I noticed that I burn more calories on the Cross Trainer.

I don't have "trainer" funds so I am hoping that anyone with experience in the gym might be able to tell me how I can get a good workout "that counts" that will help me strengthen my knees and back. I enjoy the Cross-Trainer, I don't mind the Elliptical too much but I absolutely cannot do the Spinning Cycle or Weights. Aerobics also never seem to be in session on my visits and no matter how many times I take a schedule home, I always miss the classes.



It's hard to lose weight and get fit when you have back and knee problems and this is why the supplement advice is very important for me but in addition, any tips or advice for equipment use would be much appreciated.



I will keep you updated on my progress, this is my first week back at the gym after one year (give or take a month or two) and I really want to keep going and progressing.



Thanks for your help in advance

You've gotten some great advice here so far, but I wanted to comment on one thing you mentioned. Why can you not do any weight training? It's a really important part of your overall fitness. Not only does it help keep your bones strong, it also helps you to burn more calories at rest. Most people plateau very quickly with cardio alone.

[pag41989]

Feb 25, 2014 9:38:16 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

Stop listening to Dr. Oz, he's a (very convincing) quack. High protein and low carb is great, but I'll reiterate what was already said - not processed food, REAL food.

I was picking up a chocolate chip cookie for my DD and the lady behind the counter was trying to convince me to get one as well because "Dr. Oz said in his latest episode that you can eat whatever you want on the weeekends as long as you eat healthy during the week"  ^o)

Dr. Oz is definitely a quack and I refuse to watch his show. My sister has bought into the garcinia cambogia and didn't understand why she wasn't losing weight when she was taking the pills but still eating mcnuggets and fries every day. These ladies have definitely given you excellent advice. The key is a healthy diet with the right foods and exercise. There is unfortunately no short cut or magic pill. 

[Deleted]

Feb 25, 2014 14:26:06 GMT -5 pag41989 said:

Feb 25, 2014 9:38:16 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

Stop listening to Dr. Oz, he's a (very convincing) quack. High protein and low carb is great, but I'll reiterate what was already said - not processed food, REAL food.

I was picking up a chocolate chip cookie for my DD and the lady behind the counter was trying to convince me to get one as well because "Dr. Oz said in his latest episode that you can eat whatever you want on the weeekends as long as you eat healthy during the week" 

Dr. Oz is definitely a quack and I refuse to watch his show. My sister has bought into the garcinia cambogia and didn't understand why she wasn't losing weight when she was taking the pills but still eating mcnuggets and fries every day. These ladies have definitely given you excellent advice. The key is a healthy diet with the right foods and exercise. There is unfortunately no short cut or magic pill. 

Agreed. I eat more/differently on the weekends but I certainly don't eat 'whatever I want'. But honestly anytime anyone starts a sentence with "Dr. Oz says" I immediately lose interest.

[Wines Not Whines]

I'm of the opinion that you should talk your doctor and get a physical before taking any supplements other than a multi-vitamin.

Re strengthening your back and knees: You need to work on strengthening your core, and probably your hips and leg muscles (quads, hamstrings) that support your knees. You can't really strengthen your knees by themselves, but you can strengthen the supporting muscles. Whenever my knees get achy, I can tie it to an imbalance somewhere else (usually my hips or IT band).

Does walking hurt your knees and back? I think walking and the elliptical are the gentlest cardio activities I can think of. If those bother you, then work on strengthening first. Squats, lunges, planks, etc. Yoga and pilates are also good and low-impact.

[shorewife]

I would just like to add that the supplement industry is largely unregulated so you really do have to be very careful about what you take. Many of the claims made by supplement companies are unsubstantiated (and don't need to be since they are not regulated by the FDA), and you just don't necessarily know what you are getting when you take these kinds of supplements.

I agree with the others about spending the money you were going to use on supplements on a few sessions with a trainer. It might very well be that the answer to your back and knee problems is strength training. A trainer will help you with the exercises themselves as well as your form, whether it is lifting weights or even your form on a piece of cardio equipment (i.e. - maybe it is set up wrong for you and hurting your knees, or maybe you are hunched over and hurting your back).

Best of luck and keep us posted!

[ebeth]

while I agree that you should skip the Dr. Oz supplements, I watched his show on a snow day recently and there was some good information there. Cameron Diaz was on, they talked about poop, the relative sugar content of various fruits, Cameron Diaz says she eats lots of greens and protein most of the time but occaisionally eats hamburgers and fries, they gave some examples of what balanced meals look like on a plate, and I'm almost entirely off coffee after watching that show. it wasn't anything earthshattering (for me) but good info nonetheless, so I can't hate Dr.Oz too much.

[clseale]

Feb 25, 2014 15:47:58 GMT -5 ebeth said:

while I agree that you should skip the Dr. Oz supplements, I watched his show on a snow day recently and there was some good information there. Cameron Diaz was on, they talked about poop, the relative sugar content of various fruits, Cameron Diaz says she eats lots of greens and protein most of the time but occaisionally eats hamburgers and fries, they gave some examples of what balanced meals look like on a plate, and I'm almost entirely off coffee after watching that show. it wasn't anything earthshattering (for me) but good info nonetheless, so I can't hate Dr.Oz too much.

Pssssh, I hate him just for the bolded. NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT SHOW!

I kid. I'm sure he's knowledgeable in a lot of things, I just don't like the way it screams infomercial every time there is a new latest & greatest fad.  

[ebeth]

Feb 25, 2014 15:53:11 GMT -5 clseale said:

Feb 25, 2014 15:47:58 GMT -5 ebeth said:

while I agree that you should skip the Dr. Oz supplements, I watched his show on a snow day recently and there was some good information there. Cameron Diaz was on, they talked about poop, the relative sugar content of various fruits, Cameron Diaz says she eats lots of greens and protein most of the time but occaisionally eats hamburgers and fries, they gave some examples of what balanced meals look like on a plate, and I'm almost entirely off coffee after watching that show. it wasn't anything earthshattering (for me) but good info nonetheless, so I can't hate Dr.Oz too much.

Pssssh, I hate him just for the bolded. NO GOOD CAN COME FROM THAT SHOW!

I kid. I'm sure he's knowledgeable in a lot of things, I just don't like the way it screams infomercial every time there is a new latest & greatest fad.  

oh, it's not because he was all 'coffee is evil.' or anything. and I don't watch everyday so who knows what craziness is happening when I'm not watching.  

on the show I saw cameron diaz was saying that she drinks like 1L of water as soon as she gets up in the AM and that it wakes her up and gets her going or whatever. so the next day I tried downing 1L of water in the AM instead of coffee and I didn't miss the caffiene at all really so I've just kept doing that instead of coffee.  I'll still make myself a cup or two in the french press on the weekends, but it's not really a necessity anymore, and I was a heavy drinker of the coffee. 

now. none of this is groundbreaking information.  cameron diaz is certainly not the first person to suggest drinking a bunch of water in the morning, but for some reason I was receptive to the information and now I pretty much just don't drink coffee any more.

[Wines Not Whines]

Feb 25, 2014 15:47:58 GMT -5 ebeth said:

while I agree that you should skip the Dr. Oz supplements, I watched his show on a snow day recently and there was some good information there. Cameron Diaz was on, they talked about poop, the relative sugar content of various fruits, Cameron Diaz says she eats lots of greens and protein most of the time but occaisionally eats hamburgers and fries, they gave some examples of what balanced meals look like on a plate, and I'm almost entirely off coffee after watching that show. it wasn't anything earthshattering (for me) but good info nonetheless, so I can't hate Dr.Oz too much.

I've seen his show maybe 5 times, and I swear he's talked about poop every single time. What the hell.

[emjacobs]

Feb 25, 2014 17:01:58 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Feb 25, 2014 15:47:58 GMT -5 ebeth said:

while I agree that you should skip the Dr. Oz supplements, I watched his show on a snow day recently and there was some good information there. Cameron Diaz was on, they talked about poop, the relative sugar content of various fruits, Cameron Diaz says she eats lots of greens and protein most of the time but occaisionally eats hamburgers and fries, they gave some examples of what balanced meals look like on a plate, and I'm almost entirely off coffee after watching that show. it wasn't anything earthshattering (for me) but good info nonetheless, so I can't hate Dr.Oz too much.

I've seen his show maybe 5 times, and I swear he's talked about poop every single time. What the hell.

Poop is important!

[ckinla]

I also have bad knees from decades of ballet dancing, and a bad back from a car accident. YOGA and WEIGHT LIFTING is what helped. Running used to be really painful - I could half run/half limp, but it was awful. Now I can run (even without knee braces). Weight training really sucks at first - it's hard as hell and it hurts, but I promise it will do you wonders. And I swear, after you do it for awhile, it becomes fun.

I hate the elliptical - it's boring and I find it really really hard to push myself to the limits I need. Try swimming? Rowing machine? I know you said the spin classes are not convenient for you, but they're amazing - if you can ever get to them, definitely do it.

And I know others have mentioned this - but if a supplement could make you skinny, I swear we would not have an obesity epidemic. The majority of your calories should come from whole grains, veggies and fruits - don't eat 1800 calories of junk. I personally think low-carb "diets" are insane, but if you can sustain it, then go for it. Ultimately it comes down to calories out/calories in, but eating nothing but junk and empty calories isn't going to do you any favors.

[runaways]

I'm kind of curious to see if OP actually comes back to this.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2014 10:11:54 GMT -5 runaways said:

I'm kind of curious to see if OP actually comes back to this.

ditto.