Does Hoodia Contain Substances That Are Banned For Elite Athletes?

Travis, I have two questions for you. I am a triathlete, who due to a few recent injuries, has gained 15 pounds. I am now on the road to recovery but even with all of my training I can’t lose any weight. I was wondering before I try a Hoodia product, does it contain any substances that is banned for elite athlete use? (Assuming it is a 100% Hoodia product). Also, how long do people usually take Hoodia for? Once you stop taking it, do you gain the weight back? Thanks for your time! -Heather

Heather:

A triathlete…wow! Good for you! Hoodia does not contain any substances that are banned for elite athletes. Authentic hoodia is just a supplement that contains the powdered form of the hoodia gordonii plant. It’s basically an herbal supplement. Furthermore, hoodia is not a stimulant or anything like that. The hoodia gordonii plant contains a molecule called P57. This molecule tricks the brain into thinking you are full. The idea behind hoodia supplements is that if you feel full, you’ll eat less (consume fewer calories). Thus, you’ll lose weight.

Being an active athlete like yourself, you probably burn a lot of calories. As a result, your daily caloric needs are probably very high. I wouldn’t think you’d want to limit the amount of calories you consume – especially when you are training or are participating in an event.

I understand you are recoving from an injury but it sounds like you are still very active as you are currently in training. Since hoodia is just an appetite suppressant, I wouldn’t recommend it for you unless you are hungry all the time and as a result you eat more than you should. As a triathlete, I doubt you suffer from overeating! I’m sure you get hungry a lot as your metabolism is probably very high, but I doubt your hunger drives you to overeat. If it does, then hoodia might be worth considering.

In regards to your other questions, the time people take hoodia varies. Most take it for a short time period (less than 6 months) but I know of some who have been on it for over a year. My personal opinion is that hoodia should only be used as a temporary solution to help you get your diet back on track. I don’t like to see people use it as a long-term crutch.

Also keep in mind that hoodia doesn’t always work for everyone. Some people just don’t respond to it. It can work wonderfully for one person and not do a thing for you! The only way you’ll know is by trying it yourself. It can also take several hundred milligrams of hoodia per day for it to work effectively – as much as 3,000mg. And it can take up to 3 weeks before it starts to “kick in.” If you decide to try hoodia, keep these points in mind.

Remember, hoodia is just an appetite suppressant. If you stop taking it the only thing that might happen is you might not feel as full as you did when you were taking it. Your increased hunger could cause you to overeat, which could lead to weight gain. However, stopping hoodia alone will not have any impact one way or another in terms of your weight.

If I can be totally honest with you, I would look for another solution in shedding those few extra pounds. You might want to consider a company called Global Fitness. For just $10 you can take their program for a 30-day test drive. What they will do is design a program just for you and your specific needs. They’ll design a diet and exercise program to help you reach your weight loss goals. I’d rather see you spend $10 for a solution that will probably be more effective for you then see you spend $40-$60 on a month’s supply of hoodia that may or may not work.

I hope this helps.

Travis Van Slooten

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