I've been on a mission to get in shape, and when I saw these appetite suppressant lozenges at the pharmacy, I thought to myself, 'Hey, maybe these could be the answer to my sweet tooth cravings and help me get through those late-night hunger pangs.' I mean, who hasn't had that moment where the night owl comes knocking and you're tempted to raid the fridge at 2 am? Today, I want to share my experience with these lozenges and hope it might be helpful to someone out there.
Hey there, fellow good people! I'm a bit of a naive person, but I'm not so gullible that I think these lozenges are the magic bullet for weight loss. I mean, science hasn't quite gotten there yet, but I was hoping they might help me curb my sweet tooth cravings and replace those candy binges with something a bit healthier. Plus, they're sugar-free, so that's a bonus, right?
Product name: Anti-Appetite Lozenges with Coffee and Milk Flavor
Quantity in package: 10 pieces, each weighing 3.250 mg
Price: 120 rubles
Manufacturer: OOO 'I Natpharma', Russia, Moscow Oblast, Naro-Fominsk District
Shelf life: 2 years
Where I bought it: Pharmacy
I picked these up at the pharmacy, and they're marketed as a biological active additive, which is basically a fancy way of saying they're not a medication, but not exactly a candy either. You get to choose from three flavors - I went with coffee and milk.
The packaging is super cute and looks really nice, but let's be real, it's just a box. The lozenges themselves are pretty small, so you can easily toss them in your bag.
On the front, you've got a pretty model holding a coffee cup and some coffee beans. But let's get to the good stuff - the lozenges are sugar-free and contain garcinia cambogia extract.
Now, let's flip it over and take a look at the ingredient list:
isomalt, honey, citric acid, garcinia extract, coffee and milk flavor
I have to admit, I thought I could just gobble these lozenges all day, every day, but nope. It turns out they have a dosage and a duration of use. Although I think all these recommendations are pretty conditional, but supplements can't be harmless, so I'm guessing you can't overdo it. The manufacturer recommends taking three lozenges three times a day. But if the pack contains 10 lozenges, that's exactly one day's worth. And then the price of 120 rubles I paid for them doesn't seem so harmless anymore. Multiply 120 rubles by 14 days, because that's the duration of use, and we get a cosmic sum. Maybe it's better to spend that money on proper nutrition or a gym membership.
Then come the usual contraindications, individual intolerance, but it's all pretty standard - pregnant women and kids shouldn't have these candies at all.
The manufacturer explains how these candies work on a special bright highlighted circle:
The Cambodian garcinia fruit is a source of hydroxyl-limonic acid, which is a catalyst for fat breakdown, a metabolism accelerator, and a natural means of suppressing appetite.
Overall, the packaging looks great - it's stylish and beautiful, even if you're digging it out of your bag, it still looks pretty solid.
Inside was a blister pack with the lozenges themselves. It's similar to cough drops, pretty large, slightly concave on both sides.
The lozenge had a pleasant coffee and caramel aroma, like coffee candies usually smell. I really liked it, and it's ironic that the name of these candies actually makes you hungry.
But when I tried it, I realized there's some off-putting substance there. At first, the lozenge tastes like caramel, like a Chupa-Chups, it's got enough sweetness to replace your usual candies. But after a few seconds, a slight aftertaste appears, which really suppresses your appetite and desire to eat anything.
I have to say, these candies aren't bad-tasting at all. I remember those gum products for people trying to quit smoking - they had this awful flavor that made you not want to smoke, let alone live. These candies are just fine, though. They're pleasant to eat, but after you're done, you don't feel like eating anymore.
The only thing is, the effect doesn't last very long. For me, after eating these candies, I don't feel like eating for about 2-2.5 hours, and then my appetite comes back. I think it's all individual, though. For me, these candies are perfect for when I'm craving snacks, but they're either impossible or unnecessary, and I know that intellectually.
We're all human, after all, and sometimes we have situations at work where eating is just not possible, and our stomachs are literally screaming for food. It's not ideal, of course, but these candies would be a great way to suppress your appetite in those situations.
The sensation in your mouth and throat after eating them is a weird, slightly bitter, velvety aftertaste that's probably meant to deter you from eating for a while.
If you're trying to cut down on sweets, these would be perfect. Firstly, they're sugar-free, secondly, they're shaped like candies, smell like candies, and even taste like them, so you can kind of trick your brain into thinking you're not eating something sweet. It's not a slice of cheesecake, but it's still sweet, so when your body is craving something sweet, these will do the trick. I mean, it's not a Raffaello or a cake from Agzamov, but sometimes my body just needs something sweet, and that's it - it's not asking, it's demanding. If you're trying not to gain weight, these candies will be a good substitute for your sweet tooth.
I tried them with a cup of unsweetened coffee to mix up the flavor and make it more enjoyable, but that was a bad idea. The aftertaste from the candies somehow transfers to the coffee, making it unpalatable. So, it's best to just eat the candies on their own, without anything else, and savor them in your mouth until they dissolve completely. And after eating them, you don't need to eat or drink anything else, because that aftertaste is what gives you the appetite-suppressing effect. It's like someone has locked a padlock on your mouth.
The only reason I'm willing to pay 100 rubles a day for these is that the product and the idea behind it are truly impressive. I'll only be buying them as an emergency measure for rare situations. On a regular basis, I'm not willing to shell out that kind of money for a candy.
I've found these lozenges to be a solid addition to my weight loss routine. The key is not relying solely on them to shed the pounds. I mean, it's easy to gain weight, but it takes a lot of effort to lose it. You've got to put in some physical activity, even if it's just a daily walk. Drinking enough water is also crucial - I try to stick to two liters a day, but I struggle to even hit that mark. When you're hydrated, weight loss becomes a lot easier. Plus, there are tons of other benefits for your body.
That being said, I do appreciate these lozenges for a few reasons:
➕ They've helped me curb my sweet tooth
➕ They're compact and easy to carry, making them perfect for emergency situations when you can't eat
➕ They're actually really tasty and remind me of candy
➕ They're sweet, but without the added sugar
❌ They're pretty pricey
❌ The appetite-suppressing effect only lasts for a couple of hours
So, I'm giving them four stars, but I'd definitely recommend them!