Day One on Phen - tell me what I am doing wrong.

[Kallidawn]

I am new & I will post my introduction in the NEW MEMBERS section, but I just wanted to get this posted first.

I started phen today, and I feel different, but I don't feel the energy or lack of appetite, like expected. I went in on a 100 tablet bottle of 37.5mg phentermine, with a girl at work, and she was feeling the normal boosted energy and low appetite. She's taken it before though (about a year ago) and she said that my order/schedule of eating, taking the pill, etc... might be why I didn't feel it.

Here was my day:

7:20 - woke up
- took phen(day 1), 2 multivitamin & 2 calcium supplement pills(which I have been doing for a week)
7:35 - ate a 120 calorie "energy conversion bar" (it is an Access bar by Meleluca)
7:40 - 25 minutes on the treadmill (I'm doing a high powered fast-walk/run on it 4-5 mornings each week)
9:00 - On my way to work I was feeling the energy, singing energetically to the radio; I was feeling great.
9:15 - Ate a yogart
10:00 - This is when the energy started to die down. From this point on, my whole day I felt mellow, calm, etc... not extra energetic at all, not even as talkative as I usually am, but I still felt clear-headed and not depressed or tired. I just was not feeling the energy I expected.
2:30 - Lunch break (I work at a call center)-I ate a ham,cheese,lettuce wrap and soda (rootbeer, non cafiene)... I didn't feel less hungry then usual. I didn't have any cravings or hunger pangs, but I usually don't anyway.
4:30 - ate a beef jerky stick
6:30 - got off work, ate a peice of toast with butter on it, and a peice of chicken cassorole

Overall, hunger & energy-wise, everything felt normal instead of supressed appetite & extra motivation. I probably ate over my meal plan of 1100 calories today, but still I ate pretty healthy, and periodically throughout the day. I still didn't feel energetic like I expected. I was a little more energetic on my way to work, but that's expected after I work out anyway. My friend suggested I could've "burned off the pill" since i worked out right after I took it, or the vitamins could've done something, or maybe I shouldn't have eaten that energy bar after phen (I know you aren't supposed to eat for 1-2 hours after you take the pill) so maybe that was where I messed up.

I am going to take it again tomorrow. My plan is to wake up at 7:15am, eat my energy bar & my vitamins, work out, then take phen about 8:00-8:15am before I get ready for work. Does anyone have any advice of anything else I should change, do differently, or other things I need to be doing (besides drinking water, since I am already focusing on that too)??

Sorry for how long this is. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Lisa Hughes]

Just a thought for you, My doctor told me not to take calcium at the same time as I take my phen. Calcium sometimes will cause other meds not to work. Maybe you should avoid it when you take your Phen in the morning. See is that helps you out. I hope that is the problem. You should also go ahead and wait at least an hour before you eat after taking the phen. Keep us posted...

~Smiles~
Lisa

[cleaninglady]

I am thinking it could've been a combination of things. Maybe taking the vitamins with the phen. effected it. And eating shortly after taking it. My suggestion would to be maybe take your vitamins with your energy bar prior to your workout. And then about an hour or so later take the phen. You should take it on an empty stomach, and wait at least an hour to eat. Make sure you drink water after you take it. At least a full glass with it.

[_JeNN_]

I agree with cleaninglady.

I am no expert by all means. Just thought I would share how I am losing weight. I drink lots of water and only water. I started out on a 1200 calorie diet but increase my calorie intake as I continue to lose weight. I will do this till I meet the 2000 calories. I listen to my body and if it feels like I need more fuel then I increase my intake.

Here is How I am Doing It...

1. WATER WATER WATER ( I drink 3-4 32oz bottle waters)
2. 1400 Calorie Diet
3. Exercise (not enough though)
4. Never skip a meal

7:00 AM Take Phen Pill with water then eat 1 hour later.

8:00 AM BREAKFAST(150 calories)

Usually I eat a Yoplait Yogurt Fat-Free and 1/2 cup of Fiber One Cereal.

11:00 AM SNACK (100 to 150 calories)

Snack List (I eat 3 snacks a day)

Quaker Granola Bars
Quaker packets (NEW) most only 90 calories
Apples
Yoplait Fat Free Yogurt
Jell-o Fat Free
Oranges
Fruit cups
All Bran Honey Nut Granola Bars
Any of those packets Nabisco makes
Baked Chips Doritos, Lays etc.

12:00 or 1:00 PM LUNCH (250 to 350 calories)

Lean Cuisine Meal
Subway Turkey Breast Sandwich with light mayo, mustard, lettuce, and tomatoes

3:00 PM SNACK (100 to 150 calories no more than 150 calories)

Choose from the snack list above.

6:30 DINNER (250 to 400 calories)

Baked Chicken/ Porkchop & vetegable
Lean Cuisine Meal

If I eat what I make my family I just count everything that I put into my mouth. I also try to just cook healthy

7:30 SNACK (150 calories)

Choose from the snack list above
I do not eat past 8:00 PM

I drink water with all my meals. I drink no less than 96 ozs of water a day. If I need something to give it flavor I use a crystal light on the go packet.

Well That is all that I do. But once again I will say I am no expert. This is just what is working for me.

I went to the doctor today for a weigh in. I started on Dec 7, 2006 and as of today I have lost 20 lbs. So what I am doing is working for me. However people are all different what works for me might not work for you. Good Luck!! I hope this helps you some or at least gives you an idea.

[LittleLady]

I agree with cleaning lady and Jenn. I take my phen as soon as I wake up between 6 and 6:30. I eat breakfast around 8 or 8;30 depending on when I took the phen. My prescription says to eat and take the pill 2 hours after breakfast, but I can't eat that early so I do the opposite. It seems to be working. I've only lost 8 pounds because I was sick with a serious cold and TOM for a week, but my husband follows the same routine and he's lost 14 pounds in a month. But men do lose weight faster than women (lucky creatures.) By the way, WELCOME!!!

[redridinghood1]

I thought phen would be a 'sure thing' as far as the expected energy boost and appetite supression, but it's not. I have 37.5 as well & if I take it too early I'm dead tired by afternoon. Like any other medication it can affect different people differently. Give it a shot but don't think you're doing something wrong if you don't see improvement. FYI, my doc has already said NO to taking a higher dose. Good luck!

[Kallidawn]

Thanks for all the comments and help! Day 2 (today) went a little better. My appetite was about the same (not huge, but not supressed so much that I couldn't eat anything) but I had more energy. Like you said, phen can effect people differently. I think (for some weird reason) it is helping me think more clearly and stay more calm, in a happy, energetic sort of way. It's different, but I'm liking it. Also I stepped on the scale and I am one pound down from yesterday.. but that could be because of many reasons, since weight can vary throughout the day. I may also be feeling great since I am waking up earlier so I can workout, and have time to relax and get ready for work. Those things, along with eating much more healthy, make phen an "extra" so if it doesn't make me lose more weight, I'm not giving up.

By the way I do have one other question. Do you think the time of day I do my work out makes a big difference? Like if I work out right before or right after I take Phen? Let me know if anyone has any thoughts on that.

Thanks,

Kalli

[Deanna150]

I know that when I take vitamin C. My phen don't work at all. But thats just me.