****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I've always been a highly active individual, as I feel the need to be physically productive. My job is highly physical too. However, in my mid 30s, there was a period of time where I crapped the bed in terms of taking care of myself, mainly eating really badly. Before that, and now, in my early 40s, I engaged in what I consider to be proper eating habits. Not dieting. I don't believe in the sustainability of 'diets'. I do believe in lifestyle changes, and creating long-term habits. There really are no truly healthy 'diets' or shortcuts to having the physical appearance one wants or the physical health one wants. Slow and steady wins the race, in my experience and education. Again, there are no shortcuts to taking care of the body. Now, after my mid-30s, it took a really long time to return to better health and weight loss. But there was some aspect of it that just wouldn't return, it was like my body just wouldn't let go of some of that gained weight. I still ate well, still worked out, had the active job. As for eating well, I stick to lots of vegetables, protein, and VERY occasionally, complex carbs like brown rice. I avoid sugar of all kinds because it makes me very sick and makes me feel almost comatose, even though I am not even pre-diabetic. Even with all this, and a couple of years of diligent attention to well-being, I still needed some kind of extra help. I tried this product; like some other customers, I avoid any kind of non-natural pill approached. I tried some of that stuff when I was much younger and it nearly killed me. This stuff is basically brown algae extract of fucoxanthin. When I first started taking this, there wasn't much info on it. However, I have been using Garden of Life supplements for many years, and since I have not had any problems, I was not too worried about trying this. Now you can find info about fucoxanthin just about everywhere, including a number of articles from the NIH, a government-driven organization. I suggest checking it out. I took this product for nearly a year. Yes it is expensive. For me, the results were well worth the expense. I also worked out as usual, worked my active job, and ate what I consider to be healthy choices. I lost 30lbs over the course of a year. I likely would have lost more had I stayed on it, but I liked the weight I was at--a weight I had not been since graduating (real) bootcamp. I kept the weight off for about 3 years by just continuing my habits. It does indeed take time. I started noticing results in about 1 month. Most (but not all) of the people on this review board that have issues with this product clearly state that they were taking much much more than they should have been; some lady was taking 9 a day?! NO MA'AM. You wouldn't disregard pharmaceutical instructions by increasing usage by 600% would you? I mean unless there is an addiction issue. So then don't do that with this. When a company like Garden of Life says start with one and after a while, build up the three, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. Like many homeopathic or natural medicines, the efficacy of it relies on a buildup of concentration in the body which does indeed take time. But once a therapeutic range is achieved, the effect is consistent and tends to work as described. Perhaps for some people this will not work. But I imagine for many people, including myself who had extra weight that would not come off no matter what, without a bit of extra help, this will work when the regimen is followed as indicated. It may take some people longer to see results. Probably at least 30 days. But after that, the weight loss is consistent and pretty great. It may not work if, say, a person continues to eat very poorly or consume junk food and sit on the couch all day--I think the results would be pretty minimal. So--if using this, expect a few weeks before results. Take as instructed; do not take 9 pills a day. Try to eat well along side taking this, and try to stay active. Even many 80 year old women and men can AND DO take walks. Even people who are paralyzed play basketball and many other sports. Be thankful for what you have and use it while you have it. I would use this again, most definitely. Cheers. Be well.
