WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Hoodia users share their progress

Hoodia users share their progress

By Carrie Weil

(LOUISVILLE, May 11th, 2007) -- Twelve weeks ago we told you about several people who volunteered to let us keep up with them while they used Hoodia, a weight loss supplement that's been gaining a lot of attention for helping people lose weight. Three of our viewers gave it a try. WAVE 3's Carrie Weil has an update on their progress.

When we first met our Hoodia Hopefuls -- three people from three different walks of life -- they all wanted one thing: to cut the fat.

I would be happy if I lost 20 pounds," said Fredericka Hargis, a 50-something mother of three, and principal to many.

Kristian told use she'd "love it if Hoodia was able to get to where I was feeling better and more confident about who I am as a woman."

And Aaron said he "would love it if I felt better."

That was in February. Now fast forward 12 weeks, and the early results are in.

Fredericka told us in February that she loves to cook and even exercises regularly, but said she just could not lose an extra 20 pounds she gained over time.

So what does she think of Hoodia? "I'm real happy with my progress. I think for a person my size, 12 pounds in 12 weeks is pretty good ."

Then there's Kristian, a mom who works late nights and struggles with the munchies once home. She dropped 16 pounds in four weeks and noticed a spike in her energy level.

She had been feeling so good that found herself spending time being active with her two young girls. But when jumping on a trampoline, she hurt her back and had to go on steroids. She put on seven pounds in three days -- which was disappointing. But now, with the drug out of her system, she has lost a total of 13 pounds.

"I love the Hoodia -- I can tell a huge difference," Kristian said. "It gives me energy and makes me not focus on food."

And WAVE 3's own assignment editor, Aaron Ellis, a former fast food king, has changed his ways and also dropped 13 pounds.

"I feel a lot better," he said. "You know, pants are not as tight, shirts are not like where you feel like you can't breathe and you feel like you gotta suck it in to get into your shirts."

Hoodia is a natural appetite suppressant developed from a plant in Africa. One study found participants cut as many as 1,000 calories a day from their diet with Hoodia's help.

As advertised, our "hopefuls" said they experienced no negative side effects.

"I don't have anything associated with too much caffeine or any kind of drug at all," Fredericka said.

And while it took about a week of taking the pills for Kristian to notice a change in her appetite, she says "the only side effect I had was I wanted to drink more water."

But there was an unanticipated result. All three people told us Hoodia was more than just an appetite suppressant -- it was also a catalyst to a healthier state of mind.

The pills, they helped," Aaron said, "but it also helped to be in the mindset that 'you know what? I need to do this for myself. 'The Hoodia is a cool thing, but it just needed to be some psychological stuff as well."

And all of our Hoodia Hopefuls plan to keep using the diet aid in their quest for a better body and healthier life.

Hoodia is sold under many names and in several forms. Make sure you look for Hoodia Dex-L-10 on the packaging, and there should be a permit from the South African Department of Agriculture on the bottle.

Online Reporter: Carrie Weil

Online Producer: Michael Dever