I posted a question in the Supplements forum on the effectiveness of the suddenly popular Trim Spa... our WalMart now carries it. The ingredients in the ephedra-free formula don't look so bad, but I wondered what folks thought about it and if they had any experience with it, so I thought I'd post the supplement info and a news article:

http://ww2.trimspa.com/main/cef.shtml

From their website... not all the claims are outrageous--short of the diuretic, everything else looks pretty good--I'm curious about the satiety factor for those of us who aren't always satisfied with generous protein and fat:

Hoodia Gordonii™
This amazing ingredient is a natural appetite suppressant used for generations by tribal hunters of South Africa to stave off hunger during long hunting expeditions. Now available to the West, “hoodia” can put an end to late afternoon hunger pangs, and give you a feeling of fullness long before you have the chance to overeat.

Glucosamine
This ingredient is so unique and useful, it was even recognized by the U.S. Government on July 16, 2002, when TrimSpa® received an exclusive patent for its use! Glucosamine delays the effect of insulin in the body, sending glucose directly to your hard-working muscles for energy, instead of being transferred and deposited as ugly fat!

Green Tea Extract
An important ingredient long known for its thermogenic properties, green tea contributes to some major fat burning! A tiny compound in green tea, called epigallocatechin gallate, has been shown to significantly reduce food intake and, subsequently, body weight in healthy adults. Bio flavanoids and polyphenols in green tea also fight harmful free radicals within your body!

Cocoa Extract
The diuretic component of TrimSpa® COMPLETELY EPHEDRA FREE, cocoa extract can help you shed the water weight that can contribute to a bloated feeling and unsightly appearance.

Citrus Naringinine
This is a powerful citrus extract that aids in weight loss by curbing appetite. A source of soluble fiber, it is an antioxidant that prevents free radical damage.

Chromium Chelavite™
A patented form of chromium, this marvel mineral controls your blood sugar and nasty carbohydrate cravings. It also helps the body’s insulin metabolize fat, convert protein into sleek muscle, and turn sugar into energy. It’s 53% more absorbable than chromium picolinate!

Vanadium
A naturally occurring appetite suppressant, vanadium can make you push the plate away, before overeating becomes an obstacle to weight loss. It also assists the metabolism in converting carbohydrates into energy.

Glucomannan
Another “anti-hunger” ingredient, this breakthrough dietary fiber assists in weight-loss due to its ability to create a sense of fullness, even when taken in small amounts.

Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose
Reduces the desire to overeat! This hard to pronounce compound forms a nontoxic, water-based gel that creates a sensation of fullness in the stomach before it passes through the digestive system.

http://www.newsday.com/ny-hssupp0325.story

Trim Spa For Weight Loss
By Dawn Wotapka
Staff Writer

March 25, 2003

PRODUCT AND WHO MARKETED FOR: Anyone who listens to local radio -- particularly shock-jock Howard Stern -- knows about Trim Spa, because Stern is one of the product's biggest supporters. Stern says he doesn't use the stuff, but a colleague on the program, "Cabbie," credits it for his dramatic weight loss.

Trim Spa comes in several varieties, some of which contain ephedra, linked to high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, seizures, strokes, heart attacks and death. According to the company's Web site, another variety, Lipo Spa, melts fat in food "and steers it right out of your body."

Ninety pills cost $39.95. The first week is spent assessing your caffeine tolerance: Will one pill each day cause jitters? For the next nine weeks, two tablets are taken daily, then one daily in weeks 11 and 12. After that, Trim Spa should only be used five days each week, according to the label.

The company is a division of Goen Technologies and is based in Cedar Knolls, N.J. Trim Spa representatives did not return telephone inquiries.

WHAT'S KNOWN: Not much. Some of Trim Spa's ingredients -- forskolin, chromium, glucomannan and vanadium -- are not listed in the Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines. Another ingredient in some formulas is green tea extract, a caffeine-rich herb popular in weight-loss products, though its effects are unproven.

According to company literature, forskolin breaks down fat, chromium curbs sweet cravings by increasing insulin sensitivity, fibrous glucomannan gives you a full feeling and vanadium mimics insulin and enhances thyroid function.

In Texas, Goen must disclose one variety of Trim Spa may cause health problems because it contains ephedra, and no one under 17 can legally buy it there.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Proceed with caution and consult a doctor first, said Tammy Baker, a dietitian spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "If there was a pill that could really contribute to weight loss, everybody would take it," she said. "They really have not proven these herbal supplements can help."

The Healthy Weight Network of North Dakota, which monitors weight- loss plans, named Trim Spa the "most outrageous product" in its 2003 Slim Chance Awards and says some of the before and after photos are not of the same person.

Ernest Poorer, 44, of Bingham, Maine, said in an interview that he lost about 50 pounds, and most of the weight returned after he stopped taking Trim Spa. He's still listed as a success story at www.trimspa.com.

OTHER ADVICE: In a recent study, the Federal Trade Commission reported 74 percent of tabloid weight-loss advertisements and 54 percent of newspaper ads contain at least one false claim. According to the FTC and the Healthy Weight Network, you should avoid products that imply a large and fast weight loss; use terms like ancient, miraculous or breakthrough; rely on before and after photos or testimonials; misuse medical terms; promise to treat a wide range of ailments and nutritional deficiencies as well as stimulate weight loss; promote aids such as body wraps, aromatherapy, appetite patches or acupuncture; say ingredients will surround calories, starch, carbohydrate or fat and remove them; and declare that the traditional medical community refuses to accept its miraculous benefits.

OTHER APPROACHES: The FTC and Baker suggest losing weight the old-fashioned way: with lifestyle changes.

"Small, permanent changes in the long run will help you take weight off," Baker said.

First visit your doctor, who will craft an eating and exercise plan. Don't set unrealistic goals -- expect to lose one to two pounds per week. Baker also recommends starting a food diary. That way, you'll be able to tell what -- and how much -- you're consuming. Try to slice 100 calories each day from your diet.

Start exercise gradually and build up to 30 minutes each day. Park far away from stores or work and climb stairs instead of taking the elevator.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.