Hi Folks.... Since the beginning of the year I have now lost 12" from my waist and a total of 86 pounds! My beginning weight was 280 (maybe a hair more) and I'm currently at 194. Total cholesterol at my most recent check is down from 237 to 157. My weight loss is now averaging just under 1 pound per week and my goal weight of 180 is only 14 pounds away. I have finally been able to incorporate PGFO into my regeim and am currently taking 4 capsules per day. Jim

great results on the cholesterol test as well. congrats! Charlie

Jim, that is wonderful news!! How are you planning to celebrate when you reach your goal weight?? I think that deserves ONE BIG PARTY!!! Have you any explanation for why you are now able to tolerate the fish oil??? Just wondering....... Congrats! crumbelina :P :P :P

Wow Jim, that is incredible!!!! 14 pounds to go...when you think about the 86 pounds you have already lost, 14 must seem like nothing! What has the reaction been from friends/family? People must not even recognize you when they run into you!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Hi fellow New Englander! Sorry I didn't get back to you until now but I was busy at work and then away for the weekend. As far as finally being able to get PGFO into my routine without suffering the side effects I had experienced previously, I simply tried again...went slow (1 capsule every 4th day to start), worked my way through the itchies and weird feelings and finally overcame all of this stuff. It took me roughly 3.5 weeks to get to the point where I could take it daily. I am currently taking 3 per day. If I take a 4th one, I get back into the itchy, crawly skin feeling, but 3 seem to be working just right. The two most obvious changes I've noted is that some dry skin that I've experienced is gone and a stubborn toe nail fungus I had on one of my big toes has changed dramatically for the better. Not that my toenail has grown out and the problem completely disappeared, but the color and appearance of the nail had changed dramatically for the better and the nail is no longer brittle. I will FINALLY get an AA / EPA test done, but I’m going to wait until I’ve been on the FO for 6 months. I will likely not have my cholesterol checked until that time either as it’s pretty much expected that I would see an increase in my levels until the PGFO settles in. Another nice benefit is when I shave.....the beard simply melts off I find when I shave and I'm consuming PGFO. Jim

Good Morning RI! I've had lots of reactions, even lately...I say even lately because I've been loosing weight since early in the year and I'm kinda used to it now :) I've had overwhelming positive reactions from people....and one person who very quietly asked me "just how sick are you"? Just yesterday I attended a company fall outing and while I see my co-workers daily...I don't see their spouses. Even though my co-workers were spouting off at home about my success and the successes of several others at work who are zoning......I actually got gasps of suprise from some people relative to the radical changes I've undergone. Two of the women swore that they wouldn't even have known it was me if they weren't told so. Between my weight loss and my wife now having lost 30 pounds....we were the talk of the party. It was kinda fun garnering so much attention but now that I feel that this is realy me....people can leave me alone and I'll be just as happy :) Jim

Hello up there in Massachusetts! That's great that you have made such a dramatic change that everyone notices. It must have been fun! I'm down 11 pounds so far, although I'm wearing clothes I could only wear when I was 10 lbs. lighter than my current weight. Strange. But I am looking forward to those dramatic reactions...so far only my family and people who know I am zoning have said anything. Congrats again!!!

Congratulations Jim on your weight loss to date. :D

To jpkrueger- Don't get frustrated. I lost 30 lbs before anyone at work said anything to me. Hang in there! When the comments finally started, it was like a damn broke. Suddenly everyone commented. I don't know at what weight that will be for you, but it will happen :) -Michelle

[quote:c9444f5430="jfsoonipi"] ...I will FINALLY get an AA / EPA test done, but I’m going to wait until I’ve been on the FO for 6 months. I will likely not have my cholesterol checked until that time either as it’s pretty much expected that I would see an increase in my levels until the PGFO settles in. ... Jim[/quote:c9444f5430] Jim- Why would cholesterol increase? I though that PGFO was cholesterol-free. And how long does it take to "settle in"? I started FO on October 7th and I need to have blood drawn for tests before my Nov 17th dr. appt. I would like to know what results to expect, if abnormal, and why. Thanks, Michelle

[quote:d454d3eb13] I will FINALLY get an AA / EPA test done, but I’m going to wait until I’ve been on the FO for 6 months. I will likely not have my cholesterol checked until that time either as it’s pretty much expected that I would see an increase in my levels until the PGFO settles in.[/quote:d454d3eb13] I strongly disagree Jim. You may see an increase in HDL which is very good, and a decrease in LDL which is also very good. Also your TC should also lower. Personally, I would not wait 6 months to have the AA:EPA ratio or my cholesterol lipids checked. You will notice a remarkable difference in a few short weeks.

Wow.... You're the first person to strongly disagree with me today...and I thought I was gonna make it through the entire day. Drat! :) My assumption that both LDL and HDL will increase upon my beginning supplementation with PGFO is based on two things.... A) I could have sworn I read something Barry wrote that while the results were worse when taking "health food" grade FO, one could still see an increase in LDL at the beginning of supplementation. B) I am almost positive that when I was at Sears Labs talking with DS one afternoon about FO and my inability to take it (previous inability), that I mentioned how far my LDL levels had decreased from eating in a Zone frame of mind and the comment was made that I shouldn't be surprised to se both HDL and LDL go up for a period of time after beginning supplementation. I am fully aware that in the long term, LDL levels should markedly DECREASE and HDL levels should INCREASE...especially with exercise. If I am mistaken….please feel free to straighten me out. Jim

[quote:7f471340c4="jfsoonipi"]Wow.... You're the first person to strongly disagree with me today...and I thought I was gonna make it through the entire day. Drat! :)[/quote:7f471340c4] :lol: I knew that would get your attention. I do have my strong :twisted: ways!! [quote:7f471340c4]My assumption that both LDL and HDL will increase upon my beginning supplementation with PGFO is based on two things.... A) I could have sworn I read something Barry wrote that while the results were worse when taking "health food" grade FO, one could still see an increase in LDL at the beginning of supplementation.[/quote:7f471340c4] Certainly this would be indicative of health grade or molecular distilled fish oil as that is exactly what happened to me and many others. Please search cholesterol under Q&A to Dr. Sears. Could you please point me to that particular quote from Dr. Sears re LDL increasing with PGFO? When I started PGFO both my LDL and HDL lowered within 2 months. I then increased from 3 capsules to 4 capsules and lo and behold my LDL remained constant while my HDL increased :D [quote:7f471340c4]B) I am almost positive that when I was at Sears Labs talking with DS one afternoon about FO and my inability to take it (previous inability), that I mentioned how far my LDL levels had decreased from eating in a Zone frame of mind and the comment was made that I shouldn't be surprised to se both HDL and LDL go up for a period of time after beginning supplementation.[/quote:7f471340c4] Very interesting. I would welcome other posts to support this. [quote:7f471340c4]I am fully aware that in the long term, LDL levels should markedly DECREASE and HDL levels should INCREASE...especially with exercise.[/quote:7f471340c4] Aren't you just a wee bit interested to find out what your lipid profiles are now so that you can compare the difference in 3 months or so?? [quote:7f471340c4]If I am mistaken….please feel free to straighten me out.[/quote:7f471340c4] Well I'm posting from personal experience Jim. However, as we all know everybody has individual biochemistries :)