How to Lose Tummy Fat Now - Get the Skinney on it

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2008

Media Inquiries:
Rita Chappelle, 240-753-8603
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

FDA Expands Warning to Consumers About Tainted Weight Loss Pills
List increases from 28 to 69 products; Agency seeking recalls

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expanding its nationwide alert to consumers about tainted weight loss pills that contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients. On December 22, 2008, FDA warned consumers not to purchase or consume 28 different products marketed for weight loss. Since that time, FDA analysis has identified 41 more tainted weight loss products that may put consumers' health at risk.

The tainted weight loss products are:

Fatloss Slimming

2 Day Diet

3x Slimming Power

Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet

5x Imelda Perfect Slimming

3 Day Diet

7 Day Herbal Slim

8 Factor Diet

7 Diet Day/Night Formula

999 Fitness Essence

Extrim Plus

GMP

Imelda Perfect Slim

Lida DaiDaihua

Miaozi Slim Capsules

Perfect Slim

Perfect Slim 5x

Phyto Shape

ProSlim Plus

Royal Slimming Formula

Slim 3 in 1

Slim Express 360

Slimtech

Somotrim

Superslim

TripleSlim

Zhen de Shou

Venom Hyperdrive 3.0

Starcaps

Slim Waistline

Slim Waist Formula

Slim Up

Sliminate

Slim Fast

2x Powerful Slimming

Slim Express 4 in 1

Reduce Weihgt

Super Fat Burner

Super Slimming

Sana Plus

Trim 2 Plus

Powerful Slim

Waist Strength Formula

Slimming Formula

Perfect Slim Up

Slim Burn

Slim 3 in 1 Slim Formula

Slim 3 in 1 M18 Royal Diet

Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Waist Formula

Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Formula

Natural Model

2 Day Diet Slim Advance

Miaozi MeiMiaoQianZiJiaoNang

Meizitang

Meili

JM Fat Reducer

Imelda Fat Reducer

7 Days Diet

Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn

Fasting Diet

Cosmo Slim

Body Slimming

Body Shaping

Body Creator

BioEmagrecin

3 Days Fit

21 Double Slim

Eight Factor Diet

7 Diet

An FDA analysis found that the undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients in some of these products include sibutramine (a controlled substance), rimonabant (a drug not approved for marketing in the United States), phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication), phenolphthalein (a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer causing agent) and bumetanide (a diuretic). Some of the amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients far exceeded the FDA-recommended levels, putting consumers' health at risk.

These weight loss products, some of which are marketed as "dietary supplements," are promoted and sold on various Web sites and in some retail stores. Some of the products claim to be "natural" or to contain only "herbal" ingredients, but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the product labels or in promotional advertisements. These products have not been approved by the FDA, are illegal and may be potentially harmful to unsuspecting consumers.

The FDA advises consumers who have used any of these products to stop taking them and consult their healthcare professional immediately. The FDA encourages consumers to seek guidance from a healthcare professional before purchasing weight loss products.

"These tainted weight loss products pose a great risk to public health because they contain undeclared ingredients and, in some cases, contain prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed their maximum recommended dosages," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. "Consumers have no way of knowing that these products contain powerful drugs that could cause serious health consequences. Therefore FDA is taking this action to protect the health of the American public."

The FDA has inspected a number of companies associated with the sale of these illegal products, and is currently seeking product recalls. Based on the FDA's inspections and the companies' inadequate responses to recall requests, the FDA may take additional enforcement steps, such as issuing warning letters or initiating seizures, injunctions, or criminal charges.

The health risks posed by these products can be serious; for example, sibutramine, which was found in many of the products, can cause high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heart beat), palpitations, heart attack or stroke. This drug can also interact with other medications that patients may be taking and increase their risk of adverse drug events. The safety of sibutramine has also not been established in pregnant and lactating women, or in children younger than 16 years of age.

Rimonabant, another ingredient found in these products, was evaluated, but not approved by the FDA for marketing in the United States. The drug, which is approved in Europe, has been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe over the last two years.

Health care professionals and consumers should report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, fax or phone.

* Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
* Regular Mail: use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
* Fax: (800) FDA-0178
* Phone: (800) FDA-1088

Information for consumers can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/weight_loss_products.htm

To learn more about FDA's initiative against unapproved drugs read FDA's Compliance Policy Guide here: http://www.fda.gov/cder/Guidance/6911fnl.htm.

For drug safety information, read: FDA's Drug Safety Initiative

Shari Rivera Sharp is an ACE certified personal trainer. She trains individuals over the age of 35, and often over the age of 50. She has special certifications to do this. I interviewed Shari on my free teleseminar Recipe to Look Better Naked Thursday July 31. She had some interesting things to say about decisions you must make before hiring a personal trainer, how to know if the trainer you are talking with is the right one for you, and what kind of exercises should you do to lose weight, help osteoporosis, strengthen unstable feet, and the benefits of swimming and water aerobics for strength and weight loss. If you would like to hear this interview, go to my blog, http://www.gettheskinney.com
Sign up for classes on Thursday nights in the box in the upper right corner and when your reply email comes to ask if you really did ask for this information say yes and then reply and ask for the link to Shari's interview. I will be happy to forward you that link.

Every Thursday night at 8:30 PM, I host a free teleseminar. To attend you must register on my blog
http://www.gettheskinney.com

This week my special guest is Jenny Stinson, M.A.
Jenny is pictured here. She is a former H.S. teacher. Jenny is a marathon coach, Wellness Coach like myself and an author. Jenny resides in the Boise, Idaho area.

This is over now, conference was Thursday July 24, but the recording is available. Listen to how Jenny coached her 68 y/o mother-in-law to walk her first marathon. If you would like access to this recording, sign up for my Thursday class and email me asking for access to the interview with Jenny. Mention that you saw the offer here on Squidoo. This offer is valid until 1 Jan 09.

Sign up to hear Jenny talk to non-exercisers about the value and benefit of exercise and how to get started and stay motivated. We look forward to having you join us this and every Thursday night.

Here are reasons other than looking better to loose that fat now. Fat in your belly is actively producing chemicals that affect your body in bad ways. Those chemicals increase your blood pressure, make you feel hungry, increase your cholesterol and triglycerides, cause inflammation and make you resistant to the effects of your own insulin. None of those things benefits your health.

Loose fat and loose a bunch of problems. Fat loss is not quick and takes time and consistent effort, but is very beneficial. You will likely live longer healthier (restricting calories turns on genes associated with longevity). You will reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, brain disease, cancer and joint deterioration. You will probably think you look better too.

What do you say when you talk to yourself? Do you say I can do it? Or do you say I can't. Or "It's hard.". Do you eat something not on your list for the day and then say "I blew it, may as well eat what I want now.". Do you sabbotage yourself with your self talk? It isn't easy to recognize but it is easy for someone else to recognize. If they do it out of comradery and friendship it is tolerable. Get yourself a language jar. Whenever your language is discouraging or is an excuse or promotes your failure instead of your success, put a designated amount of money in the jar. It can just be a penny. It isn't about the money, its about how you talk. Then money is a reminder and a penalty. You loose when you pay the jar. Plan to give the money in the jar to someone outside your family. Every month empty it and give it away. Roll it and count it first. Put the amount on a graph that shows your progress each month and put the graph on the refrigerator. Hold yourself accountable. You are able to do this, but you have to have your language straight, then diet and exercise will work for you. Think of your thoughts and words as a foundation for all your actions. Your actions spring from your attitudes and your attitudes from your words. Are you building dynamic, positive attitudes and actions? If not change your words! Literally you will think and talk yourself thin and it will stick forever.

Ask yourself this question. Am I ready and willing to do what it takes now to loose this tummy fat? Don't worry about what you did or did not do in the past. Are you ready now? If you are, you can begin to set a goal and set yourself up for success. If you aren't ready now I have another question.

Are you thinking about starting exercise in the next 6 months? If you are then you are in contemplation. It is the second stage of change and a good place to be. You should not begin yet. You need more information. Reading books listed on this site, especially Dr. Beck's or visiting gyms like Butterfly or Curves or talking to a dietitian are your next steps.

Not ready in 6 months. Ask yourself this question? Do I think I can do it sometime? If you don't think you can, you need to talk to someone who has. Ask a person who runs the local Weight Watchers site if you can talk to someone who has done what you want to do. Maybe you think you can't do it long enough, that it will take forever. A pound a week is a good goal, so what about half a pound a week? How long until you lost enough weight to be pleased? Twenty pounds would take 40 weeks but would drop you one or more sizes. If you need to loose 100 pounds then you are looking at 100 weeks. Less than 2 years. Do you plan to live that long? Will you be eating and walking around then? It is about today. What can you do today? Not what did you do yesterday? Today is all you have, what can you do today? It has to be consistent, not perfect. What about today? Get some information. If you are ready now, don't wait, start now. Even if you can only say, I am started, do it. You can make a decision and even if you aren't perfect you are on the journey. Just think like a thin person!

Fat is stored fuel. One pound is 3500 stored calories. It isn't very dense so it takes up a lot of space. Increase your muscle mass, loose some fat and you are really going to loose the inches. To loose it now you must give your body a reason to burn your fuel reserves. The first rule for loosing fat now is eat less than you require to maintain your weight at your current exercise level.
If you don't exercise multiply your weight in pounds by 13. The number 13 is the number of calories per pound per day you need to stay the weight you are now. Cut your calories by 20%. Maintain that and you will loose. Do a little extra activity and you accelerate that weight loss.

Example: If a person weighs 200 pounds. That is 200 x 13 = 2600 calories per day. 20% of that is 520 calories. So, to loose one pound of fat per week that person should eat 2080 calories per day. Use 14 calories per pound per day if you walk 30 minutes at least 3 days per week. Use 15 if you walk 3-5 days per week for 30 minutes.

Not all calories are equal. Some foods make you use more energy to digest them and some increase your metabolic rate. Just drinking a quart of "refrigerator" cooled water per day will theoretically cause you to loose 5 pounds per year. You use that many calories to warm the water after you drink it.

DO THESE THINGS NOW!

First, make a decision to improve your health. Take responsibility for where you are now and take credit for all your progress from now on.

Second, get clearance to cut calories and do more exercise. Get yourself some top notch professional advice from your doctor, a dietician and a qualified personal trainer on those two activities also.

Third, start a landslide and it won't stop. There will be people to discourage you, (most of all your self-talk) and hurdles to jump over, climb over, or go around but build momentum to carry you through the process.

Do you know of anyone who did what you want to do? If they can, you can too. Don't make excuses, make things happen a little every day. Yard by yard it's hard, but inch by inch it's a cinch. Take it an inch at a time!

Let me know how you are doing. Leave me a message in the guest book.

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Be sure to look at my lensroll in the right column. Those lensmasters have much to offer on this topic.