After years of not sleepy well, with excessively high energy and being even more excessively under weight, doctors realized that I had Hyperthyroidism. (Hyperthyroidism means your thyroid makes too much thyroid hormone which affects metabolism, heart, muscles, bones, and cholesterol.) I was given Radio Active Iodine treatment and now I have to take thyroid medication for the rest of my life. Most people that are on thyroid medication take one specific dose and it makes them feel “normal”. They stay on that dose indefinitely and besides waiting an hour before eating in the morning, have a “normal” life. I am not one of those people. My medication never balances out and I have been changing it almost faithfully every six months for the last seven years. It’s been difficult. I fluctuate in weight and energy and stress about continuous doctor’s appointments and blood work. Three weeks ago, I searched the internet for something, anything, that helps regulate metabolism and supports healthy cholesterol (other than Cheerios). I found Garcinia Cambogia Extract from Source Health Labs. Hopeful, I decided to give it a try.

Garcinia Cambogia is a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit, sometimes called tamarind. Taking the veggie capsules is suppose to suppress your appetite, help lose excess fat and weight, block fat from being formed, support healthy cholesterol, and manage Cortisol.

There are tons of companies out there, though, that produce Garcinia Cambogia so how do you know which one to choose? I searched for a company that offered 60% HCA, which I heard from a doctor was the best level. (The HCA extract from garcinia cambogia supplement aids in weight loss by doing two things: It helps to block fat, and it suppresses your appetite. HCA blocks fat by inhibiting a key enzyme that your body needs to make fat from carbohydrates. HCA also suppresses appetite by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in your brain that makes you feel good. By increasing serotonin levels, HCA improves mood and suppresses the drive to eat.) I also searched for a company that had their label on the bottle and had accessible contact information. After calling the company and speaking to an actual employee, I settled on Source Health Labs.

Source Health Labs makes their Garcinia Cambogia in the U.S.A., following strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and meticulously analyzing every batch in their lab to guarantee the highest quality. They shipped the Garcinia Cambogia and it arrived within the week.

I’ve been taking Garcinia Cambogia for a total of two weeks now. Three times a day, I take two veggie capsules 30 minutes before a meal. I’ve been taking medication for the last 7 years of my life so it’s easy to remember. I never really noticed a difference during the first few days. I went about my daily routine and didn’t change anything other than taking the pills.

On about day four, I realized I actually had more energy than normal. I wasn’t eating any differently and I didn’t feel more full during meals but I wasn’t in desperate need of an afternoon nap. I weighted myself; I wasn’t losing or gaining weight. I wasn’t exercising any more or any less, but something was different. Could I even be a little bit happier? I wasn’t sure.

On day seven, I weighed myself again; nothing changed. I thought about my eating patterns; nothing changed. I thought about my energy level; lots had changed. I had danced around the living room with Athena several times. I had run up and down the stairs more frequently and felt less annoyed doing it. I didn’t nap during the day but I wasn’t overly tired or miss it. Was it from the Garcinia Cambogia? Nothing else had changed.

I’m two weeks into taking the Garcinia Cambogia and I started to run on the elliptical cycle again. I’ve only been doing it for three days, but it’s a start.

When I went for blood work a few days ago, the doctor lowered my thyroid medication. It’s the lowest dose that I’ve been on in seven years. I can’t say if it’s because of the Garcinia Cambogia or not but I’ll know more when I return in 3 months for more blood work.

The reason most people take Garcinia Cambogia is for weight loss. I haven’t had any noticeable differences in weight since taking the capsules, but my energy levels are certainly higher and I’m feeling better about myself. I’ll continue to take the capsules for 3 more months and see the blood work results during my next doctor’s visit. I guess we’ll see in time. For now, I’m going to bump up the exercise while I have the extra energy.