Popular Weight Loss Drug Recalled: What You Need To Know About Hydroxycut

By Sylvia Anderson, AHJ Editor

An increasing number of weight loss drugs and supplements are being recalled due to their link to health problems. One that received a great deal of attention recently was Hydroxycut. Hydroxycut is marketed as a fat burner and considered to be a low cost diet aid. It was recalled by the FDA due to liver injuries resulting from the drug, some leading to death. Keep reading to find out more about the health dangers of Hydroxycut!

There were 14 different Hydroxycut products initially recalled by the FDA. They include the following:

Hydroxycut regular rapid release caplets
Hydroxycut caffeine free rapid release caplets
Hydroxycut hardcore liquid caplets
Hydroxycut Max liquid caplets
Hydroxycut regular drink packets
Hydroxycut caffeine free drink packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore drink packets
Hydroxycut Max drink packets
Hydroxycut Liquid shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural

All of these products have been recalled by the FDA and deemed unsafe for people to take. Anyone who is taking these products should stop immediately as they have led to liver damage. One 19-year-old man reportedly died after using the product. There were 23 reports of liver damage and elevated liver enzymes due to this product. The death of the 19-year-old man, according to the FDA, occurred in 2007 but was not reported to the FDA until March, 2009.

According to the FDA, Hydroxycut contains herbal extracts as well as other ingredients. It has not yet been determined by the FDA which components of the product are causing the liver damage. In addition to liver damage suffered by some who used the product, other health problems have also been linked to Hydroxycut. They include kidney problems, muscle damage and cardiovascular problems.

The company that makes Hydroxycut stated on their website that millions of people have tried the products over the years but that they are voluntarily stopping sale of the products. A spokesman for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, which is an association for dietary supplementation, defended the products stating that it does not prove cause and effect. The FDA, however, has recalled the products and advised any consumers who are using the products to stop taking them immediately. No reports have been issued from the dietary agencies that support these products as of yet.

Those who are trying to lose weight are better off to use natural methods of achieving weight loss and weight control than by taking dangerous weight loss supplements which contain harmful ingredients. This has been proved time and time again as various weight loss supplements have been recalled by the FDA and deemed to be unsafe. Hydroxycut is one of a long list of weight loss products that have been recalled due to adverse health effects. In recent years, other products have been recalled and some of them have resulted in serious injury or death to the users.

Anyone who is using the Hydroxycut products should take them back to the point of purchase, according to the FDA. This will insure that they are not taken by anyone else.

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The Secret 2 Fat Loss

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Losing weight: How often should you step on the scale?

By Jane Harrison, R.D., Staff Nutritionist, myOptumHealth

To weigh or not to weigh, that is the question. Some experts recommend throwing out the scale and measuring progress by how your clothes fit. The more common debate: If you're trying to lose or maintain your weight, how often should you weigh yourself? Daily? Once a week? Once a month?

The fact is, your weight does change from day to day. This is mostly due to the amount of water in your system, which can vary by the hour. If you eat a big salad and drink a large glass of water, that will show up as a weight gain on the scale. Many women also notice changes due to their monthly cycles. This, too, is water weight, not fat.

Watching the scale drift upward from one morning to the next, even after a day of healthy eating, can be discouraging. This can cause some dieters to give up. Many experts believe that weighing in once a week is a more accurate (and wiser) reflection of your progress.

If weight fluctuations don't drive you crazy or make you sabotage your efforts, daily weighing is an option. Whatever frequency you choose, keep these tips in mind when stepping on the scale:

Wake up and weigh. Always try to weigh yourself first thing in the morning. Your weight will rise because of your intake of food and fluids. The morning weight will be your "truest" weight.
Mind the watershed. Weight usually drops the most in the first week or two. This is usually due to water loss. Don't be discouraged when weight loss slows down. It's almost impossible to lose more than 2 pounds of pure body fat in one week.

Track it. Keep a log of your weekly weight. Shoot for a weight loss of no more than 1 to 2 pounds a week - or 4 to 8 pounds in one month. The more slowly you lose weight, the more likely it is to stay off. Also, you're more likely to lose fat, not water.

Don't panic with plateaus. It's normal to hit a plateau after a few weeks as your body adjusts to a new weight. If you do strength training, your weight may stay the same for a while, even though you're still decreasing your body fat content and getting healthier.

Set goals. After you reach your weight goal, monitor your weight. When your weight creeps up by 2 or 3 pounds, it's like a yellow traffic signal. Stay calm! It's just a signal for you to watch your diet and physical activity more closely.

Remember that success is not just in the scale. Don't become addicted to the numbers. Make sure you base your success on more than what you see on the scale. Are you sleeping better? Are your clothes getting looser? Do you feel healthier? Are you less winded? These are just as important, if not more so, to long-term health and quality of life.

So, should you weigh in once a day, once a week, once a month? The answer is different for everyone. Think about what will keep you motivated. For most people, weighing in once a week is enough to see progress without becoming a slave to the scale.

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Highly Recommended Sites:

The Secret 2 Fat Loss

New Body New Life

Cheat Your Way Thin

Fat Loss 4 You

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