Fitness and Freebies Blog

Fitness and Freebies Blog

Recall: Weight Loss Supplement

GMP Herbal Products, Inc. Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of a Weight Loss Supplement Found to Contain Undeclared Drug Ingredients

Company Contact: 
Mike Le 
866-995-8585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 12, 2009 – Westminster, CA – GMP Herbal Products, Inc. has been informed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Pai You Guo, a weight loss dietary supplement, sold and marketed by the firm contains undeclared drug ingredients.  FDA lab analyses of dietary supplements distributed by the company were found to contain undeclared sibutramine, an FDA-approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss; and phenolphthalein, a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent that is not approved for marketing in the United States. The FDA has not approved the Pai You Guo products as drug; therefore the safety and effectiveness of this product is unknown.  All lots of the following Pai You Guo product are being recalled. The product is sold either in a box of 30 capsules or a bag of 10 g powder.

The products listed above were sold and distributed nationwide via the internet.

FDA advises that these products pose a threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.

No illnesses or injuries have been reported to the company to date in connection with this product.

GMP Herbal Products, Inc. has taken this voluntary action because it is committed to providing accurate information about its products and because of the concern for the health and safety of consumers. GMP Herbal Products, Inc. is working with the FDA in the recall process. It sincerely regrets any inconvenience to customers.

Consumers are advised to destroy the above products or return them to the company’s address in Westminster, CA. Consumers with questions may contact GMP Herbal Products, Inc Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm at 1-866-995-8585.  

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product should also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.

Source: FDA

November 13th, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Doomed to be Obese?

Are you doomed to be overweight? Are all your relatives overweight so you feel this is the hand you were dealt? Judging from the statistics, you might understandably think so. Fifty to eighty percent of children of overweight parents will become obese, versus only about nine percent of the children of lean parents.

Heredity may dispose you to to be obese, but it is one medical condition that can be completely controlled by each individual. This isn’t to say it won’t be more difficult for some than others, but ultimately we all have the final say-so in whether or not we become obese. Researchers are constantly trying to determine just how genes may trigger someone to be overweight and how genetic factors interact with environmental influences to promote obesity.

There has been much speculation that obese children and adults may have lower metabolic rates than lean people but recent studies do not support that data. The influence of genes may be more subtle. Genetic factors may manifest themselves in such ways as making you like sweets or fats more than another person. They also may play a role in your willingness to exercise, but one cannot forget environmental factors.

If you were brought up on fatty foods and sweet desserts, you would naturally be more inclined to follow a similiar diet as an adult. The same applies to exercise. If you weren’t brought up in an atheltic environment or one that endorsed exercise as a way of life, it is only natural you would not be inclined to exercise, either.

The bottom line? You do have the choice. People do have control over whether or not they become obese and if they do, they have the choice to make changes to correct this difficult dilemna. It does require life time changes, which is not always easy to do. You need self discipline, motivation and determination. Therefore, knowledge of how to go about incorporating the proper changes is imperative as well as your attitude in applying those changes.

October 26th, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Slenderizing Tea

If you love tea…

If you need to lose weight…

If you don’t like pills…

We’ve got a perfect and affordable solution! 

Slender Pu’reh Tea.

Used for centuries in China as an aid to digestion and boosting metabolic rate, Slender Pu’erh Tea is not your average green tea formulation.

Made from 100% pure Pu’erh, Slender Pu’erh Tea is completely free side effects, making it the perfect weight loss solution for those on medication or otherwise worried about their health.  In fact, instead of having to worry about your health as you drink this delicious herbal tea, you will be able to experience instant satisfaction of increased health and vitality.

In 7 short days you will begin noticing a significant difference in your calorie burn and weight loss – as much as 1 pound a day.

Best of all, Slender Pu’erh is beyond doubt one of the most affordable weight loss products on the market.  Try Slenderizing Pe-erh Tea!

October 17th, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Slim Ice Ice Cream

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October 6th, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Curves Come Back

If you need to lose weight, do it for health, not vanity!

Curves… are making a comeback on the catwalk. Size 12-14 model, Whitney Thompson, won the 10th series of America’s Top Model.

And:  a size 16 model is now sought after:

“Now a size 16, Renn, with her ’50s-bombshell figure, is more sought after than ever.”

This is wonderful news!

 America and Western Europe have a ridiculous and harmful preoccupation with body image and an obsession with being slim. A hundred years ago a plump woman was considered the more attractive, as was a portly man.

Somewhere along the way the tables turned; the attitude one hundred years ago was realistic and much healthier mentally and physically. But it looks like we just may have finally come full circle.

And what do the men think?

A body survey conducted by “More!” Magazine titled the “Big Bloke Survey“, in which 1,500 men took part, revealed that men prefer women with curves.

And an even more revealing poll from the magazine FHM for men was fascinating.  Three models were lined up: Sizes 8, 12 and 14.  60,000 men were asked which body shape they preferred or felt most attracted to and four out of five choose the size 12 and size 14 models.

“Elsewhere, the recent popularity of male opinion in female media has confirmed what many of us knew already: men prefer a bit of meat on the bone.”

Imagine learning this after 35 years of struggling to remain a size 8. ..

Ref:  Why big is beautiful again

September 13th, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Women’s Weightloss Woes

Men and women have unique differences in genetic make-up.  Our respective hormones change the balance between muscle and fat and shape the size of our bones to respond to different needs.

For men it’s the hormone testosterone that determines the size of a man’s bones, causes his hair to grow, and deepens his voice. Testosterone also regulates the size of a man’s muscle mass, which in  turn regulates his metabolism. In short, the more muscle mass, the faster calories from food are burned. This is one of the biggest genetic differences between men and women and being overweight as opposed to being fit.

Recent studies confirm that women will gain weight faster than men and that they have a more difficult time getting rid gained weight through exercise. Women really do have the misfortune of being stuck with the worst part of the weight loss process – and to add insult to injury, women have to work twice as hard as men just to stay in shape. 

As if all of that isn’t difficult enough on women, us gals have the added problem of society and its
obsession with a thin body.

As the years pass, our repeated attempts to drop weight teaches the body to hang on to fat instead. This makes weight loss harder and harder. This in turn, leads to dieting that may make a person thinner, but not necessarily healthier.

Recently, a study published by the BBC showed that 62 obese women who exercised 4 hours per week and learned how to cook healthier meals felt a tremendous improvement in their self-image. They lost 9 pounds over three months without starving themselves. In addition, their blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rates improved. Overall, they felt much better.

So, perhaps its time women started to move away from achieving that magical number on the scale to just focusing on keeping their bodies healthy so as to feel good regardless of weight.  We’re no good to anyone when we aren’t feeling well.

Be well to feel better about yourself, instead of harming your body while chasing a dream.

September 3rd, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Xenical & Alli: Adverse Effects Reported

FDA Issues Early Communication about Ongoing Safety Review of Weight Loss Drug Orlistat
Review includes both prescription drug Xenical and OTC drug Alli

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is reviewing adverse event reports of liver injury in patients taking the weight loss drug orlistat, marketed as the prescription drug Xenical and the over-the-counter medication Alli.

Between 1999 and 2008, the FDA received 32 reports of serious liver injury in patients taking orlistat. Of those cases, 27 reported hospitalization and six resulted in liver failure. Thirty of the adverse events occurred outside the United States. The most commonly reported adverse events included yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), weakness, and stomach pain.

The FDA is reviewing additional data submitted by orlistat manufacturers on suspected cases of liver injury, and the issue has been discussed at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Drug Safety Oversight Board.

“The issues here are complex, but FDA has benefited from the input of the Board, including comments from representatives from three FDA Centers and several other Agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Steven Osborne, M.D., executive director of the Board.

Consumers who have used orlistat should consult a health care professional if they experience symptoms possibly associated with development of liver injury, particularly weakness or fatigue, fever, jaundice, or brown urine. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, itching, or loss of appetite.

We highly recommend the revolutionary and clinically proven, doctor-recommended new Proactol to these types of pills. Proactol™ is taken in tablet form and is made from a 100% natural and organic plant extract. It is free from allergens, artificial coloring, flavors, salt and preservatives.

Proactol is not an herbal supplement or “diet pill”. It is a unique fiber formula whose active ingredient NeOpuntia®, has been proven effective as an all-natural vegetable fat binder.

Proactol’s other active ingredient is a Soluble Fiber. Soluble Fibers when binding to fat, slow down the absorption of glucose, and keep undigested food in the stomach longer in a slow moving viscous mass, tricking our stomach into feeling fuller faster and longer. The result – you eat less and lose weight.

Safe. All Natural. No side effects.  Try Proactol.

August 31st, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Women and Obesity

According to Health and Human Services, more than one in three women are obese. And this raises their risks of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some forms of cancer.

This means obese women can lower their risk of these conditions – and in some cases, control disease – if they reduce their weight.

Proper eating and more physical activity is the way to a healthy weight. And, at the 

Kelly Pattillo, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, “If you are trying to lower the number of calories you consume, in order to lose weight, you don’t have to go around feeling hungry. Eat foods that don’t have a lot of calories but can help you feel full – like salads, citrus fruits, and broth-based soups.”

Additionally, protein in low-fat foods such as lean meats, fish and beans can make you feel more satisfied.

To help curb your appetite, consider a medically endorsed product such as Proactol.  Proactol binds fat to help you consume less of it, and best of all, there are NO side effects.

August 21st, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

PETA Insults Obese

The Obesity Action Committee is calling on people to “Call out PETA” with an Advocacy Action Alert.

PETA has created an ad that is very offensive to those who struggle with obesity.  Here is a small screenshot:

All they are requesting is that you send a polite, but firm e-mail to PETA and express your sentiments on this insidious display of outright cruelty.

Part of being a civilized society is showing respect for one another, this just doesn’t cut it by any stretch.

Please read their call to action and send your e-mail ASAP. Thank you.

August 20th, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments

Fat Fight

US health officials are so alarmed that they called an unprecedented conference on obesity in America. Their claim is: “New research shows that obesity costs the United States $147 billion a year, or $1,400 a year more, for an obese person than for someone of normal weight. What’s driving those costs are prescription drugs for obesity-related diseases such as diabetes.”  

From kids to parents to our elderly to our doctors, this matter is becoming divisive and insulting. “…the patient may view a doctor who is substantially overweight or unfit as lacking the basic understanding of the problem to put those principles into effect in his own life.”  When Weight Is the Issue, Doctors Struggle Too

MeMe Roth talks about the recent choice of Dr. Regina Benjamin and her possible clinical obesity, thereby not setting a good example for others.

Parents are being harassed and threatened by medical personnel if their child is even a little chubby – remember, many kids go through a phase whereby they get a little chubby and then grow out of it.  These “experts” fail miserably to note this common enigma.  See: Fat children ’should be taken from parents’  Why don’t they care enough about the children to consider the damage done to a child – for life – when he or she is taken away from their beloved parents?

Perhaps it’s far past time we, too have questions about this research. Such as:

  • What about all the other contributing factors to diabetes? Consider: most overweight or obese people do not have diabetes. Ref: Obesity May Be Only One Piece of Diabetes Puzzle
  • How do we know we’re being told the truth when someone is considered a “public health expert”?  These “experts” are assigned by people who have an agenda (such as deadly socialized health care)
  • How do we know what other factors the “researchers” took into consideration when determining that amount, such as hereditary illnesses, common illnesses such as colds and flu, addictions, accidents, etc.?
  • How come we’re not attacking (and getting comparable statistics on) the costly, huge expenses attributed to medically treating, schooling, housing and feeding illegals?  And how many of those illegal’s fall into the statistics of these “obese”?
  • How come they are not taking into consideration a person can be “over weight” by their standards, yet be healthier than that size 6 gal next door?
  • How come we even have “public health officials” we’re forced to pay with our tax dollars to do nothing but put us down and insult us and our doctors?

While “public health experts” are discussing the need to change people’s behavior by promoting exercise and good nutrition to the point of obsession, it would seem it’s time “We, the people/consumers”, stretched to the max monetarily, should be discussing why government feels it’s their place to interfere in our eating habits.  Just as perhaps we should be discussing the importance of our privacy rights between ourselves and our physician’s.

Another issue of concern that we hear little about is the enormous cost to us of handing out disabilit to alcoholics and drug addicts, which includes free medical care for habits they took on themselves.  These people cost society in so many ways, yet we are to believe all our medical cost woes are the fault of a government which has decided to determine what we should weigh, how and what we should eat and what determines healthy?

To stop this insanity (and insulting behavior) by these “public experts”, we do need to strongly say no to the socialized health care our government is trying to pass, and go back to coping with our weight and other health issues with our physicians – privately.  If one looks back in history, it’s quite clear we all did better without government involvment and scare tactics.

And we need to stop stigmitizing overweight people and children. This does far more harm to the psyche than weight does to the body. That, too can cost in psychiatric care – another fact we don’t see taken into consideration.

August 3rd, 2009 Posted by fitnfree | Weightloss Wisdom | no comments