I thought I would start a series of posts to talk about previous failed weight loss attempts I've experienced in my 20 year dieting history. Feel free to share your comments and stories as well!
I've struggled with weight issues my whole life. Even as a toddler, I was pudgy. I was always hyper-aware of my weight, this nagging issue that was always front and center of my concerns and insecurities. Blah.
My mom was also really hyper-aware of her weight. She tried every gimmicky thing out there. You name it, she tried it (and usually I tried it along with her). When I was 14, she found the miraculous Fen-Phen from some weight loss doctor. She was on it and had tons of energy and never wanted to eat. So naturally, she took me to the doctor to get me on the stuff.
From Wikipedia:
Fen-phen was an anti-obesity medication (an anorectic) which consisted of two drugs: fenfluramine and phentermine. Fenfluramine, and later, a related drug, dexfenfluramine, was marketed by American Home Products, now known as Wyeth, but were shown to cause potentially fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve problems, which eventually led to their withdrawal and legal damages of over $13 billion.[1] Phentermine was not shown to cause harmful effects.[1] Wyeth made drugs marketed as Redux and Pondimin, which were used as the fenfluramine half of the fen-phen combination formula.[2]
It was supposed to be the hottest thing in weight loss! This combination of 2 pills that would make you want to exercise and not eat- genius!
I know what kind of questions you must be thinking:
- What was your mom thinking to put you on drugs that early?
- Why were you so worried about your weight at age 14?
- What kind of doctor would prescribe that to you at such a young age?
Honestly, I don't have the answers to those questions. All I know is that I took the pills and had tons of energy.
One day in gym class (which I usually hated), I was running around and then we did sit ups. I ended up getting super, super dizzy and lightheaded. I blacked out for a couple of minutes. If the feeling itself wasn't enough to make me scared shitless, the embarrassment of having that happen in gym class at school was enough for me to put the stops on that.
Did it work for my mom? No. Like everything else, it was just one of those temporary things that you hope and wish will work out, and doesn't. Thankfully before she passed, she didn't have heart valve issues that Fen-Phen has come to be known for, and I haven't had any either, thankfully.
What about you guys? Anyone out there ever try this?
