Weight Loss with Fish Oil (Omega-3)

[Piloto]

This may sound strange. Since I started taking Fish Oil 1200mg (Omega-3) three times a day as indicated on the bottle I started to loose weight at a rate of about 3 pounds per week. So far lost 15 pounds in one month. This got me worry since I have not changed my diet or my activities. Except for daily routine walking at home and at work I do no other excersice. I have noticed however that my bowel movements at night are more regular with slightly bigger discharge amount than before. It makes me feel that I am wasting money on food when I flush. I think what it does it helps metabolize the food better and more efficient. Even my Mooney climbs better (less weight).

 

Before I was taking Fish Oil 1000mg but just once a day and never noticed any change in weight or well being. I read on the web that 3000mg daily is the optimal dose. After taking it three times I day I noticed no pain at all getting in my Mooney. Looks like all my previous minor joint pains are gone.

It appears that the difference is on the dosage. I take the CVS Pharmacy brand at meal times. The pill is big but easy to swallow. It is some sort of jelly like.

Wonder what others have experienced with Fish Oil. The web is full of positive comments about it and I was skeptical about it until I tried three times a day. 

Comments on the above are welcome.

José

[MooneyBob]

I will report back in a month. Starting tomorrow.

[Oscar Avalle]

ditto

[Hank]

I've been doing 1000 mg once a day, with no noticeable effect. May also try 3X.

[NotarPilot]

I've been doing 1000 mg once a day, with no noticeable effect. May also try 3X.

I've been taking wild Alaskan fish oil for a few years also with no noticeable effect.

[John Pleisse]

I did slightly more than this per day during a weight loss program about a year ago. All I did was burp a bad salmon odor (sorry...too much info)?

 

Chris (Marauder) has had weight loss success. I need to get on his tip. I have been invited for free air work in a friend's SuperD, a Taylorcraft Seaplane rating and a day riding shotgun in a medivac helicopter. At 6'1", 265, I am disqualified from all three. Chute max gross is 250. Open to anything I read here.

[Guest]

I did slightly more than this per day during a weight loss program about a year ago. All I did was burp a bad salmon odor (sorry...too much info)?

 

Chris (Marauder) has had weight loss success. I need to get on his tip. I have been invited for free air work in a friend's SuperD, a Taylorcraft Seaplane rating and a day riding shotgun in a medivac helicopter. At 6'1", 265, I am disqualified from all three. Chute max gross is 250. Open to anything I read here.

Might I suggest a colonoscopy? I hear the cleansing process is good for rapid weight lose.

Clarence

[mikesalman]

Do we have any doctors that could comment? I have an extra 25 lbs I would like to get rid of. This seems like an easy way, if its safe.

[rocketman]

I would not necessarily contribute Omega -3 1000mg TID as a sole contributing factor to such a significant weight loss. If you are having bowel changes with this weight loss, see your physician to be sure everything is OK. 

[Lood]

I haven't tried the oil, or any other dedicated weight loss product. My recipe to just eat less than what I burn, always seems to work. And I do try to exercise, but that's not always possible, or fun.

My kids are growing up though and I've taken up mountain biking (again) with my son. This has very good results.

[DAVIDWH]

This is sort of how it works:

 

The body wakes up in the morning and looks at the menu:

 

First choice is sugar, always eats sugar first. (No wt. loss today)

 

Hmmn, body wakes up and no sugar today, no problem the body will eat carbohydrates if no sugar available. (Again, no wt. loss today)

 

Once more, a hungry body with no sugar or carbohydrates to burn.  What to do?

 

At long last and #3 on the menu, the body void of sugar and carbohydrates begins to burn fat. Congratulations, you will lose belly fat today.

 

Finally #4 on the menu after sugar, carbs and fat is protein. Ie, total starvation and rapid muscle mass loss. Please stop after the third menu selection, or

 

for those who just want rapid results, suggest placing a solid plaster cast over right elbow.

[PTK]

There are plenty of studies that have put this to rest. Fish oils are excellent for a wide range of diseases from asthma to cancer to cv disease to ADHD, etc. etc. Reason is all these diseases have inflammation in common. There are two types of fish oils EPA and DHA. Look for a balance of both. These are the long chain ones that come from fish as opposed to seeds like flax seed.

As far as weight loss the key is to simply consume smaller portions of the right foods and excercise regularly. Aim for "zero" carbs in your diet and consume any little carbs before noon. Eat a lot of protein. The best protein is fish. They contain all the good things and very little bad things like saturated fats.

[aviatoreb]

…. I think what it does it helps metabolize the food better and more efficient. 

 

José

 

So you are running your body LOP now?

[Danb]

Just watch Dr. O z

[aviatoreb]

I did slightly more than this per day during a weight loss program about a year ago. All I did was burp a bad salmon odor (sorry...too much info)?

 

 

I am also do not like the fish oil.  I have on occasion taken Pumkin seed oil.  I do not know if it would do the same thing that Jose' is describing, or even what/why what he is describing is happening, but I can say that Pumkin seed oil is also very high in Omega-3 AND it is very pleasant tasting.  It comes in pill form, but you can also buy it in little bottles like olive oil ad it is really nice on a salad.  No kidding.  It is really pleasant tasting.

[Marauder]

I did slightly more than this per day during a weight loss program about a year ago. All I did was burp a bad salmon odor (sorry...too much info)?

Chris (Marauder) has had weight loss success. I need to get on his tip. I have been invited for free air work in a friend's SuperD, a Taylorcraft Seaplane rating and a day riding shotgun in a medivac helicopter. At 6'1", 265, I am disqualified from all three. Chute max gross is 250. Open to anything I read here.

Ah, the fish oil burp. I know it well. I have been taking fish oil along with a whole host of supplements since 2002. I can attest that the supplements have done nothing to help weight lost. They have helped with other things like joint pain, etc.

As for weight loss, at 6'4" in 2001 I weighed 292 lbs (about 70 pounds more than my playing weight). I did what I knew best, I exercised. Every night I exercised 3 hours in a gym. And the weight came off. I went down to 210 and I could eat everything I wanted. Only problem was keeping that schedule was impossible. So, the 3 hours became less over time. And the weight crept back. At 225, the pants still fit, so that was an excuse for keeping the extra 15 pounds. When I hit 240, I still had my "38's" in the closet, so I started wearing them. When I hit 260, the "40's" came out and when I finally hit 280, I knew I lost the battle again. I did this wonderful expansion from 2002 through 2008.

In December 2011 I was at 278 and I decided to tackle it again. This time, the game plan changed. Instead of trying exercising endlessly, I took a different path. I started using an app called LoseIt! It is nothing more than a basic calorie counter. Coupled with reasonable exercise, I took my weight all the way down to 199 (just to see if I could do it -- funny how competitive us pilots are). I have since gone back to a more natural 220 pounds and have held it.

It is all about calorie in and calorie out. I eat what I want, but know what calories I take in every day and what calories I burn. To aid with the calorie out piece, I use a device called a FitBit. It goes with me everywhere. It also tracks your sleep. It automatically downloads to the app I moved over to; "myfitnesspal". The nice thing about "myfitnesspal" and "LoseIt!" Is that both contain bar code readers and will upload anything you scan. Thus eliminating a manual entry step.

I wish there was a magical pill, but the reality is the statement "you are what you eat" , is true.

 

[Rhumbline]

This comment should in no way, shape or form be construed as advice and is anecdotal so do your own homework.  I too had been taking large daily doses of fish oil because of its ostensible benefits and because I am not fond enough of fish.  I have since moderated my intake, however, due to a study I read last year linking high dosages of fish oil to an increased risk of prostate cancer. 

 

The problem is, I don't know how you're supposed to know what the hell is and isn't good for you as there seems to be conflicting data or studies on so much of this stuff every time you turn around.  Just so I don't develop any stress related maladies worrying about it, I've started to approach the problem with an "everything in moderation -including moderation" attitude.

 

One of my favorite bumper stickers: Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway    

[MooneyBob]

I just stopped to empty my fridge every night in preparation for next day food shopping. I could drink a gallon of milk in one day. When I go shopping now my cart is full of fruits, vegetables and fish. No bread, no red meat, very little cheese, soy milk ( I love that cheese and milk). Our shopping trips went from twice a week to one in two weeks. After while I could buy size 34 again and all of the sudden there was more money for AV gas to spend. And finally I can make the Steam Boat slope all the way down in one shot.

[pinerunner]

One thing I did recently that seemed to shift things in the right direction was cut back on sweets. I did this after reading online about problems with fructose. For those in the medical community that take it seriously its controversial and there's been name-calling that's a bit reminiscent of LOP vs ROP.  I could write an essay on it but my boss figures I'm supposed to be writing about something else (Tb research in our group at Harvard med School; I'm not MD though, chemist).

 

Bottom line, all carbohydrates are not equal, fructose belongs in special category. Only liver can handle it and if your calories are up it can turn fructose straight to fat. 

 

We're programed to like it because otherwise we wouldn't eat enough berries etc. to get our vitamins. The food industry knows we like it and gives it to us in just about everything to maximize sales.

 

I cut out sugar in coffee and ketchup (mostly) and it seemed to make me drop three pounds right off and I hope it sends my 1-2 pound a year weight gain in the other direction.

 

I think my grandma was right; not too much candy, watch your sweets. Eat like a grown-up. 

 

Throw in some exercise (it might as well be fun) and it gets better. 

[FlyDave]

It seems that every decade milestone something different happens to the human body.

A guy I used to work with told me that when I turned 30 I would add 2" to my waist. He was right. Same thing happened at 40.

Not so bad at 50 but I did find that I got full faster and felt a lot more stuffed when I kept eating past feeling full. I found this uncomfortable, especially at night. Going to bed on a full stomach lead to a lot of discomfort and very unsettled sleep. So I try not to eat later in the evening and I keep my meals to reasonable size. I don't drink soda and I eat fruit regularly (no pun intended). I heard a commentary on the radio that just made sense: If you have to read the label to find out what's in it, don't eat it.

I also bought a Bowflex machine and an exercise bike last year. I don't like working out in a gym (getting "respectable" workout clothes, going somewhere, trying to look the part of a workout guy....) but I do like working out at home. I turn on the boob tube and work on the bowflex for 45 minutes and ride the bike for 30. I try to do this 3 times a week but most of the time I'm doing it 2 times a week. Also, as the cardio is more important, I can ride the bike whenever I want so some off evenings I'll just ride the bike (not too often - need to get with the plan). In general I feel much much better when I'm working out on a regular basis.

As other people have said, there's no magic pill. A balanced diet with portion moderation and exercise and you don't have to go on diets or plans to loose weight - you won't have the weight to loose.

[Ron McBride]

I am a border line diabetic. My Dr. is threatening medication soon.  I have been testing my blood like crazy, and some of the time it makes no sense at all.

My Dr. told me to walk for 10 minutes after eating, especially when I eat to much.   I have started to walk about a5 to 30 minutes after every meal and it looks like that I will have the sugars under control.

I take a bunch of supplements, including fish oil, I do not know if these help.   

Hopefully these changes will help reduce some weight also.

 

Ron

[Marauder]

This comment should in no way, shape or form be construed as advice and is anecdotal so do your own homework.  I too had been taking large daily doses of fish oil because of its ostensible benefits and because I am not fond enough of fish.  I have since moderated my intake, however, due to a study I read last year linking high dosages of fish oil to an increased risk of prostate cancer. 

 

The problem is, I don't know how you're supposed to know what the hell is and isn't good for you as there seems to be conflicting data or studies on so much of this stuff every time you turn around.  Just so I don't develop any stress related maladies worrying about it, I've started to approach the problem with an "everything in moderation -including moderation" attitude.

 

One of my favorite bumper stickers: Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway    

 

The reality is that no one knows for sure what is good or bad for you. Research flips back and forth based on current studies. Vitamin E is now on the list of increasing cancers.

 

One of my all time favorites is "you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day". 

[kerry]

There is a magic pill.  It's expensive.  3-4K a pop.  It's called liposuction.  Fly to Mexico and it's cheaper. lol

[Hank]

Nah, lipo removes [a few] inches but very little weight.

[bumper]

There is a magic pill.  It's expensive.  3-4K a pop.  It's called liposuction.  Fly to Mexico and it's cheaper. lol

 

 

If you opt for liposuction, have it done in small "doses" in a semi-random pattern over your whole body. Sure, it may have you resembling a golf ball, but stripped down you'll hell for aerodynamic!