Experience with Alli

try eating raw foods, check out the raw family website for advice, I added 2 raw green smoothies to my diet & all cravings for sweets, junk, etc fell away

I agree with the poster M R--pills are touted as a "quick fix" however, they usually aren't the best or most effective route. Putting on weight usually doesn't happen "quickly" and taking it off shouldn't either. We become overweight from consistently eating too many unhealthy foods and not exercising. Conversely, we become fit and healthy from consistently eating adequate portions of healthy foods and exercising regularly. It is hard work. I was working out 3-5 times per week over the past 2 years (strength training and cardio), but still the pounds did not "fall off." It wasn't until I heard a statement made by Dr. Oz on one of Oprah's shows that the truth hit me. He said, "For women, if you're not exercising, your diet has to be 100% on track." 100%?!?!?! I thought that if I was working out I could eat whatever I wanted to. Apparently, I don't have as much "wiggle room" as I'd thought. For me, it was all about portion control. I still eat 6 times per day, but if I don't want to gain weight I have to stick to single helpings (going back for that second helping is what kills my diet). I began cooking more--whole foods: vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruit. And these foods don't come with a warning label that says "if used improperly, you might have to change your pants." It takes time to change habits, but it's worth it--you've already completely changed your lifestyle by working out for 8 months now! That is a difficult habit to get into, but you've made the time--a track record to be proud of!

I agree completely with the other posters. Though I have not taken it before, my sister has had the same effects when trying another fat blocker. Plus if you look at the diet claims Alli makes, it's hardly worth the cost. They claim that you can lose up to 50% more than with diet and exercise alone in a year. That means, instead of ten pounds, you can lose up to fifteen pounds. Counting calories and minimizing empty calories using a safe program like Weight Watchers or Sparkpeople.com can help you achieve the same results without the side effects. Good luck!

Don't waste your money. Alli inhibits the absoption of fat therefore it will cause loose stools and gas (the other post speaks from experience). Once you get off of it and eat fat, it will come back on. I just saw on Fox The Berg Diet, check it out www.bergdiets.com In the end there are three components to weight loss, good nutrition, exercise and sleep.

Never taken Alli, but word of advice working out takes time and you have to be patient. There is no quick fix and you have to continue to work out. It's always calories in versus calories out so make sure you change your diet to eat balanced portions of protein and carbs and drink lots of water. I started walking in my neighborhood and got up to about 3 miles a day. I did that for about 2years and now I am finally doing aerobics and weights. I am really just starting to see the results now. Alot of people give up too quickly before they get to see the results. Also make sure you are not doing the exact same thing all the time. You need to do a mix of cardio and weights and not work the same muscles all the time. Alot of people don't even know how to properly work out. Even though I have never taken the pills I have friends who have. It's not a permanent fix, pills never are. If you can maybe join a gym and have a trainer give you a lesson in how you should be working out. You'd be surprised at the results, I know I was. Joining a step aerobic class through my park district was the best thing, too. It's only twice a week and you push yourself alot more when you're with other people. Good luck and don't give up!!!!!

I've heard that it works but only if you follow the diet plan exactly as it says. If you don't you will be spending ALOT of time in the bathroom.

Eating in moderation and exercising. No refined sugar, only whole grains. Stay off the scale. Eat when you are truly hungry, and don't skip meals. Save for a few minor adjustments if it seemed like I was gaining weight (clothes too tight during non-PMS times) I haven't had a problem maintaining a healthy size for years.

Good luck!

I'm glad you asked this question. I just talked to my Dr. about this and he said it was okay to use, but that explosive diarrhea is a possible side effect. If you are like me, diet and exercise don't always help. I read just a few responses and I'm not blessed with great metabolism. I've been doing WW and working out, but who has time to work out on a everyday with a 6y.o., 5y.o. and 3 year old? Don't have a nanny so I am the maid, cook, driver, shopper, etc. and I didn't choose to be a SAHM to put my kids in daycare or sit in front of the TV. Good luck, I think despite all of everyones responses I might try it since the responses I've read have not tried it first hand. Let us know how it works for you.

The first thing I noticed when reading your request is that you did not mention your eating habits. Consider changing them before taking pills. I've been using www.vfl.com and using Vitality for Life nutrtionals from www.melaleuca.com. This has helped me to loose baby fat. I was 202lbs 19 months ago. Today, I'm 176. A long way to go to 135 but consistency is my downfall so congrats on your workout regimen for the last 8 months!

If you want to shop online at Melaleuca at the Preferred Customer Price [PC] and use the VFL website, let me know. VFL is only $6/month.

M.
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Hi there,
I know all about that loosing battle! Unfortunately, Alli will only help in the short term, and I don't know the long term risks. I've found that Weight Watchers is a program that promotes long term success in a healthy way. I'm on my 13th week on the program, and I've lost 14.8 pounds so far. Waching what I eat in addition to the execise seems to be the only way to do it for long term HEALTHY success!!

V.,

I don't have any experience with Alli. I am a Registered Nurse and work part-time in a hospital ICU. I also work part-time from home doing wellness consulting. I highly recommend Shaklee's Cinch Inch Loss Plan for weight loss/management. Check out www.cinchplan.com/cpeterson.

To Your Health,
C. Peterson

If you're not getting results, chances are htat you're not doing something right...i.e. diet, exercise. cutting back. Yes, I used them all. One is no better than the other and pretty costly to boot. I just had gastric bypass. I've had numerous problems and complications and will be laid up for a year or more. Put your half-hearted effort into overtime and get that weight off to stay. Good luck honey.

I haven't really heard any good things about Alli, so I'm
a little hesitant to agree with you on taking it. But I
am a mother of two girls; they just turned one and three. In an effort to lose some of my baby weight (twenty lbs. heavier than pre-children years) I joined Weight Watchers right before Christmas. So far I have lost approx. fifteen pounds. I am also training for a half marathon and trust me, I am not a runner. I started running in Feb. and it was pretty tough at first. I like WW b/c you
do it at your own pace and even though there are weeks that I gain, I don't get down on myself like its a diet. Its more of just being aware of what I'm eating, so there's no restrictions. When I have a taste for Mexican, I eat it, simple as that. Also, if you don't have time for meetings, you can simply join online. Unfortunately I
need the discipline of weighing in at meetings. Anyway, I hope this helps. Good Luck!

I have not taken it nor do I know anyone who has....BUT, last year, I read an article about it in a magazine (I'm pretty sure it was People - if not, it was some other reputable mag because I won't read trashy, off the wall magazines). Anyhow, the article said that a MAJOR downfall of taking Alli is that it causes anal leakage!!! That's right - anal leakage! Look it up online if ya don't believe me! Not only that, but look at all the things they've had in the past that was supposed to be a "wonder drug" & they wound up killing people (case in point, Fen-Fen). Ask any doctor & he will tell you that the only TRUE way to lose weight, healthfully, is to eat right & exercise. There are way too many risks with anything else.

What I wanted to point out though, is that you may not be losing any weight because you're gaining muscle & muscle weighs more than fat. Do you feel good? If so, don't worry about what the number on the scale says.

You're probably not giving yourself enough credit - I'm sure that you look great...and like I said, as long as you feel great, then you're definitely doing something right! Good luck!

I just had baby #3 6 weeks ago today. I started doing the program I do 4 weeks ago.

Starting the last 4 weeks, while nursing, I have lost 9 lbs and 9 1/2 inches through Herbalife shakes for breakfast and a snack, and eating good protein sources for lunch and dinner and lots of veggies and berries, plums and peaches for fruit. Snack - nuts, Herbalife protein bars.

For exercise i walk and I do the Tupler technique.

I am a personal trainer and I have seen many clients gets FABULOUS results with Herbalife.

www.herbal-nutrition.com/bonniewayne/

The nice thing about this program- 100% natural, Dr recommended, and No side effects. Just good nutrition getting into your body on the cellular level!

Also - avoid the 5 wicked whites:
white flour
white sugar
white pasta
white rice
white potatoes

Good luck whatever you decide :)

No experience with Alli, but I wanted to point out something.
You say you haven't lost any weight, but have you lost FAT? Muscle weighs more than fat does, so if you're working out, and building muscle, and you only look at the numbers on the scale, you can fool yourself.

Did you check your BMI before you started in November? If so, check it again now & see if there has been a change. If there hasn't been, then something in your regiment needs to be changed. If there HAS been a change (and it's for the better), then you're on the right track! :)
Good luck!

Go to a group on line that uses ALli and look at what they are talkng about. I was reading a commonly asked questions page on this stuff and decided not to try it when one of the questions was how to keep the oily discharge that seeps out your bottom from staining your clothes. GROSS! No thanks. This one is a definate look before you leap.

be careful with those over the counter and talk to your doctor it can screw up your metataboism for good when you go off them

Hi V.,
I sure feel for you! Weight loss is hard but I lost 70 pounds before getting pregnant.
I have used Alli and the important thing to remember is that it is not a cure-all. You have to continue to diet and exercise and all Alli does is assist you in the process by blocking some of the fat you take in. Since fat is the most calorie-dense nutrient, it helps you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone. But remember not all fat is bad... so make sure you take a Vitamin D supplement since it is a fat soluble vitamin. Yes, there is anal leakage, diarrhea, etc.(and it can be very unpleasant) but that only occurs if you eat too much fat. If you are not prepared to eat low-fat, then you should not be taking Alli. Alli must be taken in conjuction with a low-fat diet to avoid side effects. (If I may add, if you are not prepared to eat low-fat as a way of life, then you won't keep the weight off anyway... diets don't work, lifestyle changes do.) Of course, one could say since you are already eating low-fat, why add this drug into the mix, but you should look at Alli as a "booster" not as a cure-all. If you cheat and eat poorly, you will pay for it. In that respect, it could be seen as a way to deter you from being bad...
If I may suggest something else, have you tried eating several smaller meals throughout the day instead of three regular meals? This will help boost your metabolism by keeping it stoked all day long and prevent highs and lows in your blood sugar. When I switched to 5 small meals of about 300 calories each every 2-3 hours vs. three meals, the pounds came off. It sounds like you need a boost in metabolism more than anything. When you starve your body, your body reacts by storing fat, so if you keep your metabolism going, you continue burning calories.
Also, remember working out builds muscle, which is heavier than fat. Maybe you are losing fat but gaining muscle!
In the end I stopped taking Alli because while it is safer than fen-phen and similar drugs, I didn't want anything foreign in my system before getting pregnant. Depending on your situation, Alli could work for you.
Good luck!

I am currently on the Alli program and I love it. Go To myalli.com and it will answer any questions that you might have. Take the side effects seriously!!! Once you start taking it you will know what foods will trigger the side effects and which ones don't. With this program you are not going to lose weight overnight. It takes time. I have lost 13 pounds in 3 months. The progress is slow but healthy. Keep working out. I go to the gym at least 3 times a week. Also on the website it will help you monitor your weight lose as well.
Good Luck!!

Hi. I took Alli for about 2 weeks and I hated it. You have to distribute your fat intake evenly throughout the day. If you don't, the side effects are bad (loose stools, oily gas, uncontrollable stools). With Alli, you can't have a cheat meal or anything because the side effects will happen really fast. I have almost a whole bottle if you want them. I am not going to use them. Hope this helps.

Have you tried weight watchers? I had been about 80lbs overweight after having my second child. Nothing worked for me until I tried weight watchers. It was so easy the weight just melted off! I lost all 80lbs, plus a few more, and it was easy. It didn't feel like work at all. I went from a size 16 to a size 5 in less than a year. I would be to afrais to try diet pills.
Good luck! PS - having a friend or family memeber go at it with you is very very helpful too!

Hi Valeria,

Looks like you are getting a lot of good advice. Just thought I would share my weight loss tips (15 pounds lighter now than when I got pregnant!). Carrie H had great advice - I eat more natural foods and NO high fructose corn syrup or trans fats. I try to minimize my saturated fats. I usually eat 5 times a day, small meals and 2 light snacks (granola bar or yogurt). My weight loss really kicked in when I changed my workout routine - I started taking some classes at Bally's that were far different from what I was usually doing. When you start challenging new muscle groups or all your muscles in new ways you will boost your metabolism. Also - I drink a lot of water. This seems to be a key in any successful diet.

I do know someone who was sucessful with Alli, but I think it was because she was afraid to eat! : )

Good luck.

I tried it for about half a month. I didn't like it. It doesn't give you the jitters like metabolife. I couldn't keep taking it because I already have a very sensative stomach. It makes you have a lot of bowel movemnts and urgent ones. It seems that it only really works if you normally have a greasy diet. I don't eat fast food a lot so the majority of the time it just gave me a crampy stomach.

http://www.drnatura.com/colonix_program.php Check this out. I have not done it, but it says some people lose 10-30 pounds. It's gross so get ready!
Sam

I am a weight watcher's person because I had tried everything. Nothing worked till that and I learned it wasn't about dieting, but about lifestyle change. I have heard with Alli, may ne good for jump start but not long term. Your body needs to learn how to handle foods. I have referred quite a few people to weigjht watchers and all have had great results. The meetings are fabulous - you don't have to eat their foods all the time (I have my own recipes), you exercise as normal, you just do life, but more healthy. I am a lifer now and I love it. My kids and husband eat what I eat and we are eating more fresh than ever. Found better cereals, breads, you name it! I am happy to pass on anything I have if interested. I still get to enjoy the fun stuff too. Much better way to train the body and lose weight. As with anything, make sure your doctor knows what you are doing. God Bless! I started with little energy at a size 14 and am now. Size 4. It is the best having people around you that understand and don't judge.

I haven't taken it - only because I'm pregnant - but my sister and her husband have been taking it. As long as you follow the instructions and don't eat too much fat, you shouldn't have problems with gas and diarrhea. They've both lost weight.

HI V..
I WASTED MY MONEY ON ALLI. I TOOK IT FOR 2 DAYS AND HAD TERRIBLE CRAMPS, GAS AND YES "POOPED" MY PANTS THAT LASTED FOR OVER A WEEK AFTER TAKING IT. I WAS ON A 1000 CALORIE DIET AT THE TIME AND WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT I HAD THOSE RESULTS. I WILL SEND YOU THE REMAINDER OF THE MY PILLS IF YOU WANT THEM...DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
I HAVE HOWEVER FOUND THE MAGIC PILL! IT IS CALLED ZYLENE. AFTER 5 YEARS OF DIETS AND DOCTORS, I HAVE LOST MORE WEIGHT IN ONLY 2 MONTHS WITH MY MAGIC PILL. I FOUND IT IN FLORIDA WHILE ON VACATION . BETWEEN MY DAUGHTER, SISTER IN LAW AND MYSELF, WE HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 55 LBS IN THE LAST 8 WEEKS. i WAS SO IMPRESSED, THAT I EVEN BECAME A DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE PRODUCT AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU A SAMPLE TO TRY. IT IS ALL NATURAL, NO CAFFINE, NO EPHEDRA AND NO SIDE EFFECTS, JUST NATURAL ENERGY, LESS APPETITE AND BIG FAT LOSS!
LET ME KNOW.
D.
www.Health4Wealth.com/DawnNelson

I have tried Alli and was happy with it. The only thing is if you eat too much fat, there are the unpleasant side effects. The greasy/oily side effects they tell you about on the bottle do happen! It definitely will get you to watch your fat eat each meal. It will tell you based on your weight and activity level how many calories you can eat a day and the amount of fat per day, it also lets you know the maximum amount of fat you can have at each meal to prevent the effects. If you are going out for a fattening meal, I would just skip the pill at that meal.
I too am having a hard time losing after my second one. With my first, I was back in my clothes in 6 months, this one is a little harder.

I tried Alli last year but had some of the side effects.
I've just started using myfitnesspal.com and it's working.
You put in what you eat and your exercise, and it's free.
It keeps you motivated and accountable :)
Good Luck.

V.,
I like many, have tried all the diets out there. I have been using the Figure 8 program through Arbonne and have been able to lose over 40 pounds since January. There is free online support and it can be used with programs such as Wieght Watchers (my cousin has used it in conjunction with WW and lost over 20 pounds). As with all the othe responses in order to be successful it takes a change in behavior but it is a great aide to give you the jumpstart you need to keep going. Let me know if you want more information or go to juliefmyarbonne.com
Good luck

First of all, if you are on a regular workout pattern, you are more than halfway there! Stop worrying about your weight and think about your body shape and size. Don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat. My guess is that you probably need to tweek your diet and you will see results. Some of the easiest things to change: only eat whole grains, i.e. no white pastas, white bread, stop eating after 7pm, eat a great breakfast, and....make sure you are eating 35 grams or more of fiber per day. A very simple book that I found to be full of great information is Dr. Oz's "You On a Diet."
Good Luck!!

V.,

I have not taken Alli so I cannot comment from experience. However, I remember when it first came out, everyone I knew was laughing about one the common side effects..."discharge" from the anus. It makes it sounds like people who take it need to wear Depends so as not to stain their pants. Now, whether that is actually the case, I do not know...all I know is that I searched for other options than taking that weight-loss drug.

It's fantastic that you are exercising on a regular basis...you are better than I am in that area! But your diet also needs to be such that it will help your body shed those extra pounds. I've been told to "cleanse and detox" to shed the pounds...but I'm unfortunately not a strong enough person to stick to that structured a diet for any length of time. So I'm going about it the slower way: I am gradually eating more and more raw vegetables, and some fresh fruits. I make sure those are the mainstay of my diet, while I throw in some lean protein (okay, and some chocolate) here and there. And I drink a tea that another Mamasource mom recommended that I LOVE. The tea, and the gradual changes in my diet are helping me to SAFELY drop the extra weight I've carried for the 2 years since my son's birth. It's not a quick fix, but it's the best way for me to get it off and keep it off. If you'd like info on the tea, let me know and I'll send you the link to the website.
~P.

To be honest, I didn't see any positives. Not to gross anyone out, but these pills caused me to have horrible gas and diarrea(sp?). Alli can cause liver damage later too. Join weight watchers. It's awesome and so much better for you.

Hi! I don't know anything personally about Alli, but I have a lot of reality with what you're going through because I had the same problem. I don't know what your diet consists of, but when I started eating organic healthy food that wasn't processed and had ingredients I could pronounce, the weight started coming off!! I didn't deprive myself, but I chose organic ingredients and didn't eat anything artificial or foods that had a lot of white sugar and flour. I've lost 13 pounds so far and it's still coming off.

Valarie,

I was a size 12 and in three months a size 6! The key is jump starting your matabolism. The first time I did the South Beach Diet-not a diet person. Loved it and it became a lifestyle for me as far as watching the amount of white bread and sugars. There is so much sugar in everything! The second time I had a more balanced diet at that point so, I became a part time vegeterian. I included more fish and veggies during the week. I ate meat only on weekends. When I eat treats, I do it on the weekend. As far as the excercise, I need to prioritize that more but...don't.
Just find a way to jump start the matabolism. Then the pounds will melt off!

L.

I have not tried Alli, but I did lose 35 lbs in 9 months on Jenny Craig with very little increase in exercise (I walk mostly during my lunch hour, so exercise is sporadic). Although the food is expensive, I thought it was worth it. I have been on maintenance for 3 months and have maintained my weight because of the portion control and eating 6x per day.

I was like you, I had started to exercise and did not see any results. I had done Jenny back in the 90's and knew it worked. I got a promotion at work so I told myself I would use the increase in salary to pay for Jenny. I am so happy I did it. I haven't been a size 8 since college and that was 20 years ago.

Ugh. Pills. If they *really* worked, would we be a nation of obese people?

Alli is a fat blocker. Like the instructions say, avoid eating too many fatty or greasy foods and keep a change of clothing handy. Well, if you're going to significantly reduce the amount of fat you're eating anyway and pay attention to what you're putting in your body you really, honestly don't need to take the drug.

It is awesome that you have stuck to a regular, consistent workout routine since November - that's 8 months and is fantastic! Many people can't make it that long, so you are to be commended for your dedication.

What have you been doing about your diet? I don't mean going on some stupid diet that cuts out carbs, makes you eat cabbage soup, or tells you that you need a colon cleanse (hello, heard of fiber? it's one of the best natural colon cleansers out there!). Have you been tracking what you eat? How many calories per day are you consuming? Are you avoiding processed foods, refined sugars, and focusing on natural foods that are nutritionally dense? In all honesty, you may wish to take that money that you are considering spending on Alli and go to a nutritionist. Heck, your insurance might even cover it!

A few other general things to consider about weight loss:

-You'll have plateaus from time to time where it seems like you can't lose a pound or get out of a rut. This is the time to evaluate your exercise/nutrition plan and make changes.

-Make sure you're eating enough calories each day. Think of your metabolism as a campfire and the wood that goes on the fire as calories. If you don't continue to put enough twigs or kindling on the fire it burns out - in other words, if you don't put enough calories in your body metabolism will slow down. If you put too much wood on a fire, the fire is smothered and all you are left with is unburned wood - if you put too many calories into your body, the calories stick around and are stored as fat. (I can't take credit for this analogy btw, it was on the Today show)

-If you are not doing strength training, begin immediately. Muscles require more energy while at rest, so you're actively burning more calories with more muscle mass. Also, if you do circuit training with your lifting, the strength training activities are somewhat cardiovascular in nature. Thirty minutes is all you need and you don't even have to go to a gym.

I did Alli last summer but did not really stick to it like I should! My dr said it was ok but not the best! If you eat to much you will really have a bathroom problem for sure! Where do you live? I am in Aurora and have started a weight loss clinic at Rush Copley medical Center in aurora in Dec! It is new and I am one od the first ones too! And I am actually losing weight now too finally! It took me a few months to adjust and the dr told me when I lost anything at all he will prescribe something for me and he did and that was the beginning of may when I had lost .6 lbs! We go every 3 weeks on tues nights! Then in 3 weeks after that I lost 2 lbs and then the next 3 weeks I lost 7! My insurance covers it 100 percent! Would you be interested? If so let me know!
S. B
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

I tried it. I was faithfully taking it for about a month, and it did nothing. So I gave up. i am one of those that if I don't see results, I get discouraged. Maybe you will have better luck!