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Consumer Success Stories

These consumers discussed their success stories before a public meeting at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women's Health (OWH) on August 8-9, 2000. The topic discussed was the safety of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. Click here for more details about the meeting . Please note that the stories below were edited and references to individual products were replaced with "[Ephedra dietary supplement]."

The following success stories do not reflect the experiences of all consumers, and it is important to understand that dietary supplements that contain Ephedra are not suitable for everyone. Consumers of Ephedra products should use reputable products, marketed by responsible industry manufacturers and distributors, and read the label and follow the directions and warnings, which were adopted by the industry as standard serving limits, warnings and precautions.

Additional consumer success stories were obtained from visitors to the Web sites and can be read by clicking here.

"My average weight was 112 until my mid-thirties. At age 38 I tried Diet Doctors with shots and pills thinking it was safe. I also tried starvation programs, fad diets, and weight loss centers. Some took the pounds off, but I could not maintain the weight loss. I enrolled in a medical program, which included an exercise trainer, nutritionist, and medical monitoring. This was an agonizing challenge that led to a disaster in my overall health, metabolism, and additional back problems. At age 44 and at 175 pounds, a new challenge: cancer. I became a cancer survivor but a weight-loss failure. At age 56 I was told I needed a knee replacement. I could not walk without a cane as my weight had climbed to 220 pounds, and it was difficult to breathe, causing extreme fatigue. An [Ephedra dietary supplement] was the answer to my prayer. Within three months I lost 30 pounds, 36 inches, and as an additional bonus my knees improved and I no longer needed the knee replacement surgery. My health continues to improve. To date, I have lost 71 pounds and 50 inches overall. This product helped me gain control of my life. This is the first time I have had no adverse events in my health.

- Betty Lou, Pennsylvania

As a past marathon runner and certified aerobics instructor I was a skeptic when it came to herbal supplements. My training had always been eat right and exercise to stay fit and maintain healthy weight. An [Ephedra dietary supplement] changed my thinking. To date I have lost 25 pounds on [Ephedra dietary supplements]. Three years ago I lost 15 pounds in three months. And one and a half years ago I used the product again and lost an additional 10 pounds in three months. As well as maintaining the weight loss, my body composition and proportions have dramatically changed. I eat more and exercise less. For me, this [Ephedra dietary supplement] took away my cravings for high carbohydrates, high sugar, and high fat foods. I found myself eating lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. It was easy to incorporate into my lifestyle. I had more energy throughout the day and I never felt drugged. Obesity is a growing epidemic. In all of the years I taught aerobics I was never able to help people take control of their weight the way I now can. Since my success, I continue to educate myself on the effectiveness of herbal supplements. I am passionate about the impact responsibly made herbal products will have on America's preventive health care and chronic health issues.

- Tracey

For 16 yea rs I...struggled with my weight. I also take medications for high blood pressure and Type II diabetes. I knew how crucial weight loss was to my health, but no matter what diet or exercise program I tried, nothing seemed to work for me. I was so desperate two years ago that I took the entire summer off from my job to work with a couple of diabetes specialists in order to get my condition under control; all that hard work, but still no weight loss. At the end of that frustrating summer my friend recommended an [Ephedra dietary supplement]. I went on to lose 22 pounds, 25 inches, and two dress sizes. For the last year and a half I have maintained that weight loss and my blood sugar readings have been at or below what is considered normal or non-diabetic. I feel so much better now. My health is back and I am living life to its fullest.

- Marilyn, Virginia

Over the past ten years or so I have tried various weight loss methods from extensive exercise, protein shakes, even to the point of vitamin B12 shots in my arms. I've lost some pounds but I've always gained them back. I was introduced to an [Ephedra dietary supplement] by my physician and lost over 17 pounds. In addition, the allergies and sinus problems I had been plagued with for years, melted away along with the extra pounds. This was very important to a person like me who lives in the middle of a pecan grove. It gave me back my energy, my self-control and it has been the only weight loss product that I've had enough confidence to recommend without hesitation to anyone.

- Lisa, Virginia

On December 3rd, 1999 in a public restaurant I happened to stand up at the table and undo the top of my pants so that I could put more food in my stomach. And my wife proceeded to humiliate me in front of the entire restaurant and pulled out this pill box and said to me, "You'll start taking an [Ephedra dietary supplement] tomorrow morning." On December 4th, I started . . . I weighed 242 pounds, I wore a size 44 pants. Could not exercise because I'm a severe asthmatic, and my asthma was only exacerbated by being overweight. Two days after I started, I was able to do a half mile on the treadmill. By February 1st I had lost 25 pounds, was able to do two and a half miles. By May 30th I had reached my goal, I lost 60 pounds. Today I presently weigh 182 pounds. I wear a size 36 pants; I run six miles a day, five days a week; my asthma is completely under control. I'm healthier today than I have been in 20 years.

- Eric, Pennsylvania

I am a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom with four small children. I have been active in sports my whole life and I've always considered myself a health conscious individual and was fairly knowledgeable in regards to fitness and nutrition. After the birth of my fourth child, my tried-and-true regime of diet and exercise did nothing to budge the extra 20 pounds I still had to lose. After 15 frustrating months of trying, I was introduced to an [Ephedra dietary supplement]. In just three short months with my normal exercise routine, and eating what the rest of my family was eating, I was able to lose 21 pounds and over 21 inches. As this product curbed my appetite and reset my metabolism, I experienced no adverse side effects whatsoever. On the contrary, I felt better than I had in years. Because the product is an all-natural, herbal product I was confident to recommend it to all my friends who were eager to know what had finally helped me keep the weight off. I have easily maintained the weight loss for almost a year now and have recommended this [Ephedra dietary supplement] to many, many people who have done the same without any adverse reactions

- Bernadette

In March of 1998 I was unhealthy, overweight, and tired. I have dieted all my life, since junior high school. I could always lose the weight, but I always gained it back. And so at age 42 I found myself resigned to the fact that I was going to live with middle-aged spread; and it wasn't a pleasant outlook. Thank goodness a friend introduced me to an [Ephedra dietary supplement]. I knew this product was different . . . I remember clearly because it was Easter weekend, and I didn't want to eat my children's chocolate Easter bunnies. For the first time in my life my food cravings were gone. I had renewed energy and I didn't feel the need for a nap in the afternoon. Within the first week, my clothing was getting looser. After two weeks, I had lost six pounds. I was able to achieve a weight loss that I had previously been unable to manage. I lost over 20 pounds in three-months time and even more importantly, I have been able to maintain that weight loss for over two years. During that time I did not experience one single adverse effect from the use of an [Ephedra dietary supplement]. But the benefits have been life-changing. I have shrunk from a size 14 to a size nine petite. In addition to the weight loss, I have tremendous energy, productivity, improved health, and as a result a better quality of life.

- Cynthia, Pennsylvania

I am a 38-year-old mother of two. I have battled my weight for over 23 years. I found an [Ephedra dietary supplement] and with it I finally have found freedom. I am free to make my own food choices, I no longer obsess about what to eat and when to eat it, and I have control of my appetite for the first time in my life. As a result of using this product I successfully lost 42 pounds over 40 inches, and four dress sizes in clothing. With using this product, I have total confidence in its safety, in its effectiveness; I have total confidence in recommending this product to anyone that is interested in losing five pounds or more. I personally have had no adverse effects from using this [Ephedra dietary supplement], nor do I know of anyone that has had any problems or adverse effects. This [Ephedra dietary supplement] has helped me to take control of my eating and my life. It's helped me to make better choices with my everyday meal decisions. I felt comfortable instead of forced into making my meal choices which has made for a much easier transition into healthier eating every day. These changes I can live with for the rest of my life instead of trying to live for the life of the diet of the day.

- Angela, Pennsylvania

I am a stay-at-home mom and I had battled being overweight my whole life; trying one diet after another. The problem has always been, as soon as I went off the diet, I would regain what I had lost plus more. I was introduced to an [Ephedra dietary supplement] last year and successfully lost 35 pounds over about five months. I lost the weight without the torture I normally experienced during dieting and have been able to maintain the loss over the last year. I had more energy and did not experience the depression that I had always suffered with my previous weight loss. Plus, when I went for my yearly physical, I was told I was in terrific health. And as an added bonus my husband also lost 46 pounds and has successfully kept his off also.

- Lyn, Virginia

I started taking an [Ephedra dietary supplement] a little over two years ago at the age of 25 to lose weight after the birth of my daughter. In only four months I had lost 27 pounds and 21 inches. I never felt deprived or hungry and I also had plenty of energy to keep up with my toddler. I must have enjoyed being skinny a lot, because I got pregnant with my son. After I finished nursing him, I started back on the product. In five months I have lost 25 pounds, 18 inches, and I'm getting skinny again. I have had no adverse effects of the [Ephedra dietary supplement] and have recommended it to several people.

- Allison, Virginia

I have been overweight for 13 years. After a long struggle with Lupus and daily steroid use, I tried exercise and a lot of different diets, you name it, I've tried it; not one of them was successful. When my friend shared her success using an [Ephedra dietary supplement] I had hope. In just days I started to lose weight. In eight weeks I lost 24 pounds, 29 and a half inches, and am still losing. I have gone from a size 20 to a 16 within that time. I now also have more energy and I [do] not crave that nightly bowl of ice cream. I even have the desire to drink water for the first time. And most of all, I have not had any adverse effect to the [Ephedra dietary supplement]. For once in my life I have also found a weight management program that actually works for me.

- Margaret, Virginia

I have worked in the health care insurance industry for the past 16 years. I have been grossly overweight for ten years. For 19 years I have suffered with chronic pain and a total loss of strength and energy due to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Needing to lose 70 pounds is what prompted me to try an [Ephedra dietary supplement]. I have lost 25 pounds and two dress sizes in five months. I am still losing. I now have the energy to exercise using weights and a treadmill. And I finally have the strength to walk up and down the railing which is something I could not do before.

- Therese, Virginia

I needed to lose weight badly, but when a friend introduced me to an [Ephedra dietary supplement] I was very skeptical. You see, I have suffered from chronic asthma for six years and have taken an arsenal of prescription drugs and regular breathing treatments. So I didn't think [Ephedra dietary supplements] would be safe or effective with the drugs I was taking. I was so glad I was wrong. I am 35 pounds lighter, I am skinner, and I can breathe on my own. I have control of my life, and of my health, for the first time in a very long time.

- Ann, Virginia

I have tried many diets in the past, I could lose weight, but I couldn't keep it off. After only three months on an [Ephedra dietary supplement] I've lost 31 pounds, lost lots of inches, and four dress sizes. I have the energy now that I had lost. I feel healthier than I have ever felt before. And, finally, I'm keeping the weight off and I love it.

- Belinda, Virginia

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