FJ,
I think that you need to need to avoid thinking (or even perhaps hoping) that there are supplement pills that will burn away the excess weight you mentioned.
In the case of Hoodia, I remember talking about it with someone more knowledgeable and he mentioned that it is a controlled product in South Africa and that access to it is very difficult, which casts doubt on the ability of companies to obtain the "real" stuff and that they probably obtain supplies grown in other countries (or whatever).
I also understand that this (accessability) is why a major Pharmaceutical company (I think it was Pfizer) is spending millions in trying to develop a product based on Hoodia (or a synthetic replicant thereof).
I think your best bet is to set a not too ambitious plan, say over the period of one year
to lose the 80 pounds you mentioned (I think losing 6-7 pounds a month is easily achievable).
I agree with Kars on the metabolism suggestion. He mentioned he mastered it and perhaps it would be helpful if he elaborated a little.
I believe that anything one has to do to speed up metabolism will help the weight loss process immensely.
Which reminds me, I also have to lose the 20-25 pound spare tyre around the waist I accumulated during the past 3 months whilst being inactive, recovering from my smashed ankle.
Good luck to you (us).
