My husband tried using phentermine for awhile, but he was just biding his time to qualify for a gastric bypass, so I don't know how serious he was. It did seem to curb his appetite somewhat, and he eased off the soda intake a bit.
If you feel you must try phentermine, go ahead. I hope you could use it as a tool to jump-start yourself into a healthy lifestyle of healthy diet and exercise. But then what happens when you stop taking it? As far as weight/diet/exercise etc. are concerned, at least for myself, I am guessing that, as far as my own health and weight loss are concerned, I would have to say that exercise has been about 25-30% of my own loss and health, and my diet/way of eating has been the rest. So getting that part under control is absolutely crucial to your success long term!
If you are somewhat reluctant to go the prescription route but still want to get your appetite under control, here are my personal tips for that:
1. Drink a glass of water at the very first sign of hunger. Many times (for me anyhow, because I exercise a lot), the thirst and hunger signals get confused.
2. Get rid of those sugars and easily digested carbohydrates. They do not fill you up and leave you hungry and empty, a recipe for overeating. I don't touch anything carbohydrate that isn't LOADED with fiber - i.e. veggies, fruits, or sprouted grains if I do eat grains, which is very very sparingly. Your body needs the healthy fats and proteins to feel satisfied. A book I liked was "Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It" by Gary Taubes. I know some people don't care for his science, but it does explain why the "calories in, calories out" theory just does not work (and why I failed Weight Watchers in spite of doing it PERFECTLY for an entire year....)
3. Do not drink your calories. Fruit juices are empty calories and loaded with sugar - eat fruit instead. Watch the sodas, fancy coffee drinks, etc. Cut down on the sweet stuff a little bit at a time.
4. Consider a fiber supplement prior to meals and snacks. If you drink a tall glass of water and take fiber 10-15 minutes prior to your meals, the fiber will get to your stomach first and help you feel full. If you begin eating nice and slowly, hopefully you will take in much less this way. Just be sure to start this slowly, you don't want side effects.
5. Get enough sleep! At night, don't sit around watching TV, playing on the computer, etc. It's a recipe for mindless snacking. If you are sleeping, you can't be eating
6. Slow down your eating and focus. No more eating standing up in the kitchen while watching TV. No eating behind the wheel of the car. Only eat when you are truly hungry. Put a little bit on a small plate and leave the rest on the stove or in the fridge. You can go back and refill that small plate as much as you'd like, but don't set a huge portion right in front of you.
7. Consider using a website or phone app to track what you are eating. Sometimes just the hassle of doing so will stop you from eating. You can also see a nutritionist and have them go over what you are doing and provide feedback if you need the accountability of another person.
Good luck! I hope you can take the first steps toward being healthier no matter what you decide to do
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