Okay, I'm gonna jump in here.
I have a history of being overweight. I also have a history of atypical depression, meaning I obsess over food and sleep a lot (traditionally, people with depression don't eat or sleep much).
Basically, I am a bookworm/sloth that decided to try to become an athlete a few years ago. The battle continues. LOL
My first attempt was in about 91-92. I was lifting several days a week and worked up to 60 minutes of low intensity cardio (also several times a week). Very little happened. Sure, I saw some gains from the weight training, but I didn't lose much weight OR fat. I ended up taking my diet down to about 1200 calories, and I lost weight...but I never got lean. (Most likely diet overkill, and I have learned a lot since then). Then I strained my hamstring and was out of commission for quite some time.
Went off to college, put some weight (fat) back on. Never stopped lifting. Cardio varied. I am 5'6", my weight varied between 140-160 during that time. Bodyfat was probably 25-30%.
A couple of years ago, I got on the running bandwagon. That was a big thing for me. Running was, and is, difficult for me. I've had numerous hamstring strains and achilles tendonitis. I love seeing progress in running, in much the same weight that I love seeing progress in weight training. But damn, it is hard on me.
So...I moved out to CA last fall. I have not worked out regularly since September or so. I ran out of money and had to stop taking Prozac (which took care of the compulsive eating problem). As a result, I have ballooned up to about 180-185 lbs. I can't afford to join a gym right now, though that is a high priority. I'm not interested in AS yet, but I need to do something to jump-start the fat loss (particularly appetite suppression). I have taken ECA quite a bit, but it is my feeling that ECA is really the most useful when you already have a clean diet. Its appetite suppression (for me) isn't very impressive. What effect does Yohimbe Bark have?
My roommate mentioned doing Phen-Fen for a couple of months. I'm not sure I want to go that route; the heart valve stuff makes me nervous. I'd be interested in doing something like that though...
My long term goal will be to get back to running and weight training. I like doing short races. But right now, I am constantly fatigued and need something extra to get me going. The two big issues are appetite suppression and a metabolic boost. I know how I am supposed to eat; that isn't the issue here. I'd be quite happy to get back to a clean diet if I weren't fantasizing about junk food all the time.
I have a history of being overweight. I also have a history of atypical depression, meaning I obsess over food and sleep a lot (traditionally, people with depression don't eat or sleep much).
Basically, I am a bookworm/sloth that decided to try to become an athlete a few years ago. The battle continues. LOL
My first attempt was in about 91-92. I was lifting several days a week and worked up to 60 minutes of low intensity cardio (also several times a week). Very little happened. Sure, I saw some gains from the weight training, but I didn't lose much weight OR fat. I ended up taking my diet down to about 1200 calories, and I lost weight...but I never got lean. (Most likely diet overkill, and I have learned a lot since then). Then I strained my hamstring and was out of commission for quite some time.
Went off to college, put some weight (fat) back on. Never stopped lifting. Cardio varied. I am 5'6", my weight varied between 140-160 during that time. Bodyfat was probably 25-30%.
A couple of years ago, I got on the running bandwagon. That was a big thing for me. Running was, and is, difficult for me. I've had numerous hamstring strains and achilles tendonitis. I love seeing progress in running, in much the same weight that I love seeing progress in weight training. But damn, it is hard on me.
So...I moved out to CA last fall. I have not worked out regularly since September or so. I ran out of money and had to stop taking Prozac (which took care of the compulsive eating problem). As a result, I have ballooned up to about 180-185 lbs. I can't afford to join a gym right now, though that is a high priority. I'm not interested in AS yet, but I need to do something to jump-start the fat loss (particularly appetite suppression). I have taken ECA quite a bit, but it is my feeling that ECA is really the most useful when you already have a clean diet. Its appetite suppression (for me) isn't very impressive. What effect does Yohimbe Bark have?
My roommate mentioned doing Phen-Fen for a couple of months. I'm not sure I want to go that route; the heart valve stuff makes me nervous. I'd be interested in doing something like that though...
My long term goal will be to get back to running and weight training. I like doing short races. But right now, I am constantly fatigued and need something extra to get me going. The two big issues are appetite suppression and a metabolic boost. I know how I am supposed to eat; that isn't the issue here. I'd be quite happy to get back to a clean diet if I weren't fantasizing about junk food all the time.