Sources for supplements? Also good news.

[Phoenix]

Hi-

Good news first. I've lost 10 lbs in about one and a half weeks! (Yes, yes, I know - probably water weight; but I'll take it! It's a great motivator.) I even went on a full day excursion for a whale watch (Fantastic!) and didn't go for any of the fast food rest stops for food. Had protein bars instead. :)

I finally reached my doctors and they have approved all my supplements. I would like some advice on a brand ond source for Magnesium Malate. My health food store doesn't carry it. Anyplace to order it over the internet that isn't too expensive but is high quality?

Good luck to all of you!

Phoenix

[Tatsujin]

Congrats!!! Way to go.
Thought you might find this interesting and motivational.
Keep going!

Its Only Water

June 9, 2007 11:25 AM

Among the comments and congratulations was a message from Ty who has been on Evolutionary Fitness for two months and has lost 9 pounds. At 43 he feels the best he has in years. Why not? It is easy with the right technology.
Some may say that the loss is only water, as though this is a bad thing. It is true that fairly rapid weight loss is accompanied by water loss. But the critics seem to think that the weight will come right back when you start drinking water again. It has almost become a mantra to say that rapid weight loss is mostly water loss, seemingly as a criticism of dieting or weight loss. I think this criticism is over-stated and likely in error.
Individuals losing weight do not typically drink small amounts of water. They usually drink more because the water loss gives them a slight feeling of dehydration. If they hit a new steady state weight, their water intake and use go back into equilibrium and they do not gain or lose water or weight from that point on.
The water loss that accompanies some, but not all weight loss, has not been extensively studied, but is surely a good thing. Unless there is a loss of tissue (fat or muscle), the water loss must come from extra-cellular sources. This means that blood volume drops and tissues in nooks and crannies all over the body lose some water, including the skin.
A drop in blood volume would be beneficial to most overweight people because it lowers blood pressure.
The question is, what is binding the excess water that releases it when excessive caloric intake ceases or when the body goes into negative energy balance. I don't think many know or have researched this question. Salt is a factor. Fatty acids in the blood stream are somewhat resistant to water, though they do incorporate water in their interior. So, it is unlikely that the reduction of blood fats contributes to water loss. Muscle is another source and this, indeed, does carry water. But, a loss of weight on Evolutionary Fitness is not accompanied by a loss of muscle. Indeed, Ty likely has gained muscle even as he lost those 9 pounds.
So, some substance that is binding water to cells is the likely source of the water loss. I suspect it is the carbohydrate. A gram of CHO binds about 9 grams of water. Flush 100 grams of CHO and you take as much as 900 grams of water with it. Where is all the water? In the blood stream bound to sugar coated cells, on proteins in the muscle, skeleton, and organs bound by the sugars stuck there. All over skin cells that are on the verge of glycosylation. In short, stuck on nearly all cells by gummy sugars lodged there from excessive intake.
Evolutionary Fitness eating also drops salt intake since you eat no prepared or manufactured foods.
Then there is the inflammation that is produced in over weight individuals. This makes all tissues swell (water retention) and the blood vessels become more permeable and leak contents into interstiticial tissues. Inflammation is like a balloon of water that becomes leaky all over. That is your body on inflammation. I suspect that the reduction of inflammation is a major source of loss of water. When you lessen inflammation by reducing excess caloric intake and dramatically cut simple starches and sugars on Evolutionary Fitness, all that puffiness that is a sign of water retention through inflammatory processes disappears. Your body volume drops when you reduce inflammation, which is how you can lose many belt or dress sizes in so little time. The abundant antioxidants of the Evolutionary Fitness way of eating further reduce size by inhibiting inflammation.
I think a loss water is a good sign so long as you are retaining muscle as you lose weight. Or, preferable, as you lose fat and reduce inflammation. It is body composition, not weight that ultimately is the goal. The lean look will only come when you have successfully reduced your body's inflammatory burden.

Enjoy.
Marc

[Mitra]

Good going, Phoenix :D. Even if it is water weight, it's water you didn't need.

I can't help with US suppliers for your supplements, but Magnesium Citrate is OK as well if you have problems finding the malate.

[gitfiddle]

Way to go, Phoenix! I get Magnesium Citrate from
http://www.swansonvitamins.com. They only recently began offering it.

[Missy]

Ten pounds is awesome Phoenix!!!! Keep going!!!!!! :D

[maxlharris]

I like netrition.com. I dunno if they stock Mg Malate, but they stock darn near everything else.

[Phoenix]

Hi-

Thanks for all your comments and support. It REALLY helps!

Missy, I have to have magnesium malate because I have chronic fatigue syndrome; but thanks for the source suggestion. I REALLY need magnesiium.

Anyone heard of a magnesium malate source? I searched the internet;and most sources are being cagey and not givint you the RDI amounts so you can't calculate how much actual magnesium is in there.

Also I tried the source in the book for protein bars and shakes and the phone number goes to a place which doesn't sell anything like that. The bars in the health food stores are candy! The carb counts are as high as 30!!! Amazing.

Phoenix

[Missy]

lol...your Welcome Phoenix. :D Although...it wasn't ME that suggested a darn thing! :o :D LOL

But...well, that's not going to stop me from suggesting something now! lol....:D

What about looking into a local compounding pharmacy in your area and giving them a call. I'll bet they could get some for you?

[maxlharris]

Also I tried the source in the book for protein bars and shakes and the phone number goes to a place which doesn't sell anything like that. The bars in the health food stores are candy! The carb counts are as high as 30!!! Amazing.

So, this is the several hundreth time I've read a slag like this.

The bars in healthfood stores don't match your nutritional goals. That doesn't mean that they are junk or candy. If you are on a serious strength training program, you WANT some carbs to replenish your glycogen stores and grow your muscles. A protein + sugar formula can work very well if you lift heavy and regularly or if you do endurance sports. You can even mix with a LC diet. Google "cycled ketogenic diet."

Just because it doesn't fit your goals doesn't make it junk.

http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T159909.html
There's a link about Mag-Malate. It seems to me that if you can't find it, you can get Mag citrate (replaces malic acid (from apples) with citric acid (from citrus fruits)).

The only thing the acid does is make it easier to absorb.

What is your requirement. If you get it in shake form, like BSN's NO-Xplode, you should be fine.

[Phoenix]

Hi-

Thanks for your reply.

To clarify my statement to which you objected I didn't call the bars "junk"; but it is the equivalent of candy. And yes I can see how athletes and body builders need a bar like that; but when the bar states that there are only 2 grams carbs and when you check out the actually nutrient content and find it has 30 (and I know about deducting fiber over 5 grams, etc.) then there is definitely something wrong. I found misleading labels on many bars. Even the Atkins diet bars were high carb.

Phoenix

[maxlharris]

Hi-

Thanks for your reply.

To clarify my statement to which you objected I didn't call the bars "junk"; but it is the equivalent of candy. And yes I can see how athletes and body builders need a bar like that; but when the bar states that there are only 2 grams carbs and when you check out the actually nutrient content and find it has 30 (and I know about deducting fiber over 5 grams, etc.) then there is definitely something wrong. I found misleading labels on many bars. Even the Atkins diet bars were high carb.

That's a framing issue. Not everyone has problems with sugar alcohols, glycerine (glycerol), or fiber at all. Some (most) deduct fiber, any amount. Most deduct sugar alcohols (or divide in half). In fact, according to the de facto bible on LC, Dr. atkins New diet revolution, you deduct all of that. That's why Dr. A's bars are so "high" by your math. It's different math.

Last thing: Your typical bar is 2-4 ounces. Your typical candy bar of that weight will be considerably higher in carbs than 30 grams.

The real question though is why Malate? Why not Citrate? Or food with more magnesium.
Good LC food sources include:
Pumpkin seeds
Brazil Nuts
Halibut
Spinach
Almonds
Cashews
Pollock
Tuna
Artichoke hearts
etc.

[maxlharris]

I'm gonna apologize for tone preemptively. You're looking for help.

The only Mg Malate supplements I could find were:
1- From places I didn't know
2- In shakes/blended beverages that probably don't meet your goals.

Mg Citrate on the other hand, widely available from a number of reputable sources. As I said, the only difference is the acid used to bind with the Mg. Citrus Fruit Acid vs. Apple & Grape Acid (many whites, particularly Rieslings, Chardonnays and Gewürztraminer, get their apple flavor from Malic Acid. If you get a buttery chardonnay, the wine maker used a process called mallo-lactic fermentation, where in the ferm, they add something to change the malic acid to lactic acid, the acid found in milk and butter... way more info than anyone wanted).

Lastly, it's always best, if possible, to get your vits and mins from food sources (least I think so).

[joanneb608]

Phoenix, I get Magnesium Malate for my mag supplement through a website called iherb.com. It comes in a white bottle with a blue label - can't remember the brand name off hand. 3 tablets give you about 450 mg actual magnesium per day. I think it's a reputable source, and costs in the large bottle about $10 - $15. At 3 a day, it lasts quite awhile. I get ost of my supps from iherb.com and they ship out really fast, also they carry quite a variety of brands in things. Hope this helps!

[LisaS]

I found some at vitacost.com magnesium malate (http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Magnesium-Malate?csrc=PPCADWLT-magnesium_malate) though I've not bought that from them I've had good service from them (get my fish oil there)
go to google.com and put in "magnesium malate" and you'll find many choices.