Alli (that new diet pill)

Ok, I am generally VERY against all of this diet pill nonsense, however....Alli (the low dose version of Xenical/Orlistat) is something that has been approved by the FDA so i figured, eh how bad could it be (don't get me wrong, not everything approved by the FDA is great). So I started taking it last week....I'm sure anyone who is interested has read about the potentially wicked side effects and i just wanted to let anyone interested know that as long as you follow the diet--those side effects do not happen. I've been following a little to fat free diet since last week plus taking the Alli and i've lost 5 lbs since about wednesday of last week. IDK if that has anything to do with the pill but i'm sure it does. Other impt. info is that this pill only works on the GI (your stomach) system so you don't have to worry about a rapid heart rate and feeling jittery. Just thought this would be helpful if anyone was on the fence about taking it. Just bc it blocks the absorption of fat doesn't mean you can eat a big mac...well...you can.....but i don't think it's worth the helll you need to pay later!

oh and i haven't really been at the gym lately bc i've been so busy, but will be back next week. I'm sure that will help too!


P.S.: It's not true that the instructions tell you to carry an extra pair of pants with you...that is a myth lol omg this sounds horrible lol

---

Posted by 040508Bride

Ok, I am generally VERY against all of this diet pill nonsense, however....Alli (the low dose version of Xenical/Orlistat) is something that has been approved by the FDA so i figured, eh how bad could it be (don't get me wrong, not everything approved by the FDA is great).

---

It scares me to read stuff like this. That it was approved by the FDA doesn't make it safe - AT ALL!

Thank you so much for your review. I have been considering taking Alli but was mortified of the side effects.

---

Posted by mlny83

thanks for the heads up.. i was worried about the jitters and rapid heart rate! its good to know it doesn't happen

---

Please, this is ONE person's story. Just b/c it didn't happen to her doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Really, if you need medication to lose weight, it should be something prescribed by your doctor. Diet pills are just not a good idea. They are so dangerous - FDA approved or not.

Sorry, JMHO.

I'm glad you had good results with it -- but I don't think it's healthy or a good idea.

---

Posted by Kara and Todd

---

Posted by mlny83

thanks for the heads up.. i was worried about the jitters and rapid heart rate! its good to know it doesn't happen

---

Please, this is ONE person's story. Just b/c it didn't happen to her doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Really, if you need medication to lose weight, it should be something prescribed by your doctor. Diet pills are just not a good idea. They are so dangerous - FDA approved or not.

Sorry, JMHO.

I'm glad you had good results with it -- but I don't think it's healthy or a good idea.

---

sorry but i agree, there was a discussion about this a little while ago and wrote MANY posts about this lol. I am personally against diet pills and please be very careful taking them.

---

Posted by Espo22

you should read the thread on the 08 board that Mizzdimple posted. You know how they tell you to wear dark pants when taking this bc you get anal leakage, well it happened to one of her coworkers at work and she had to leave...You HAVE to stick to a no fat diet or that will happen

---

Yes, this thread is really what scared the crap out of me!! (lol...scared the crap out of me )

From Link

---

Pros & Cons

At most, you could lose a few more ounces (1/4 to 1/3 of a pound) per week by using Alli, which is expensive and has some serious side effects. Is it really worth it?

You could lose more weight on the Alli program than from diet and exercise alone. But the amount of additional weight is small. Alli's manufacturer is up front and honest about the potential side effects, which means that they won't come on as a surprise to users. Since Alli isn't a stimulant like other diet pills, it's not associated with any jitters, changes in energy levels, or insomnia.

But its so-called 'treatment effects' are embarrassing and negatively affect one's quality of life. Alli users experience loose stools, more frequent stools that are hard to control, an urgent need to use the bathroom, and increased gas with oily discharge. In other words, because the fat you are blocking has to go somewhere, you could experience uncontrollable diarrhea.

Alli is expensive. You can expect to pay between $1.50 and $2.00 per day to use Alli. While Alli may help you lose a few extra pounds than lifestyle changes alone, little research exists to show what happens when you stop taking Alli. Experts predict that uses will re-gain the weight lost since the pill is doing the extra work for them.

Although there's a lot of buzz surrounding it, Alli isn't a magic weight loss pill. Diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are a must for this pill to help you lose weight.

My Stance

Experts believe that healthy lifestyle changes are the key to long-term success at weight loss and health improvements. Along with that, our fitness and nutrition experts recommend staying away from quick fixes and other unsafe or questionable practices. When it comes to diet pills, we have always advised against them. And even though Alli is FDA-approved, making it safer than any other diet pill on the market, we do not recommend the use of this product. Here's why:

Alli's 'treatment effects' can seriously interfere with your daily life and well-being. You may have to take time off work, wear feminine or adult products to protect against accidents, and deal with other digestive woes. Imagine sticking to a fitness routine and everything else in your daily life while worrying about these things.

Alli does interfere with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. It's important to take a vitamin/mineral supplement while taking Alli, but that is no guarantee that your body will still get and absorb all the nutrients that it needs—especially those that need fat to be absorbed.

Alli doesn't care whether the fat you ate was from a Big Mac or a healthy serving of salmon. Even though all types of fat aren't bad for you, Alli will take both good and bad fats out of the body. Dietitian Becky thinks this issue is 'very important,' despite its lack of mention in the press and in the Alli support materials. Healthy fats are important for your overall health, and blocking them can have negative effects.

The diet recommended by Alli is questionable. 'I'm not sure I understand the Alli diet,' says Dietitian Becky. It calls for a reduced-calorie diet (based solely on your current weight) and an equal intake of protein, carbohydrates and fat (about 30-33% each). In comparison, most dietitians medically- and research-based recommendations are 10-35% protein, 20-35% fat, and 45-65% carbohydrates, with a calorie level based on your current weight, goal weight, goal date and exercise level. Alli's diet is low in carbohydrates, the body's preferred source of fuel, which should make up the bulk of your diet.

According to the Alli diet, a person will take in about 533 calories from fat (59 grams) each day. 'That's really not that low-fat,' says Becky. The Alli pill will result in 25% of those fat grams (15 grams) to be excreted and unused—a total calorie savings of just 135 calories per day. Over the course of a week, the calories you save by excreting that amount of fat will result in about 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound lost. If you consume less than the 30% of fat recommended, your weight loss results will be even smaller—a matter of ounces.

The Bottom Line

Taking a pill doesn't teach you how to create a healthy lifestyle that you can live with long-term. By making permanent changes to your diet that you can actually stick with, you're likely to keep the weight off for good. Alli does require some dietary changes, but it isn't a long-term solution to the battle of the bulge. Dietitian Becky says that you really have to ask yourself if the benefits of Alli outweigh the risks. 'Is losing an extra 1/4 pound weekly worth the discomfort, cost, and embarrassment that Alli causes?' she asks. 'For some the answer is yes. But for many others, no.'

---

I just think people should hear both sides.

ETF link.

---

Posted by jjk1007

---

Posted by Espo22

you should read the thread on the 08 board that Mizzdimple posted. You know how they tell you to wear dark pants when taking this bc you get anal leakage, well it happened to one of her coworkers at work and she had to leave...You HAVE to stick to a no fat diet or that will happen

---

Yes, this thread is really what scared the crap out of me!! (lol...scared the crap out of me )

---

yeah exactly, i felt so bad for the girl. Can you imagine that happening

---

Posted by 040508Bride

Ok, I am generally VERY against all of this diet pill nonsense, however....Alli (the low dose version of Xenical/Orlistat) is something that has been approved by the FDA so i figured, eh how bad could it be (don't get me wrong, not everything approved by the FDA is great). So I started taking it last week....I'm sure anyone who is interested has read about the potentially wicked side effects and i just wanted to let anyone interested know that as long as you follow the diet--those side effects do not happen. I've been following a little to fat free diet since last week plus taking the Alli and i've lost 5 lbs since about wednesday of last week. IDK if that has anything to do with the pill but i'm sure it does. Other impt. info is that this pill only works on the GI (your stomach) system so you don't have to worry about a rapid heart rate and feeling jittery. Just thought this would be helpful if anyone was on the fence about taking it. Just bc it blocks the absorption of fat doesn't mean you can eat a big mac...well...you can.....but i don't think it's worth the helll you need to pay later!

---

I am glad it's working for you and without the side effects but do you think if you maintained the same diet without the pills you would have lost the same 5 pounds? I think you would have since you are on a non fat/little fat diet and it was your 1st week. JMO. Good luck!

---

Posted by jjk1007

---

Posted by Espo22

you should read the thread on the 08 board that Mizzdimple posted. You know how they tell you to wear dark pants when taking this bc you get anal leakage, well it happened to one of her coworkers at work and she had to leave...You HAVE to stick to a no fat diet or that will happen

---

Yes, this thread is really what scared the crap out of me!! (lol...scared the crap out of me )

---

LOL LOL LOL I was thinking of trying it but after reading some stuff I think maybe I'll hold off using it.

---

Posted by Espo22

---

Posted by jjk1007

---

Posted by Espo22

you should read the thread on the 08 board that Mizzdimple posted. You know how they tell you to wear dark pants when taking this bc you get anal leakage, well it happened to one of her coworkers at work and she had to leave...You HAVE to stick to a no fat diet or that will happen

---

Yes, this thread is really what scared the crap out of me!! (lol...scared the crap out of me )

---

yeah exactly, i felt so bad for the girl. Can you imagine that happening

---

That girl wears black everyday now....

http://www.nycityweddings.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=416955&Highlight=WOW

---

Posted by Mizzdimple

---

Posted by Espo22

---

Posted by jjk1007

---

Posted by Espo22

you should read the thread on the 08 board that Mizzdimple posted. You know how they tell you to wear dark pants when taking this bc you get anal leakage, well it happened to one of her coworkers at work and she had to leave...You HAVE to stick to a no fat diet or that will happen

---

Yes, this thread is really what scared the crap out of me!! (lol...scared the crap out of me )

---

yeah exactly, i felt so bad for the girl. Can you imagine that happening

---

That girl wears black everyday now....

http://www.nycityweddings.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=416955&Highlight=WOW

---

awwww did people say things when she went back to work

---

Posted by SoontobeMrsO

Thank you so much for your review. I have been considering taking Alli but was mortified of the side effects.

---

are you kidding your like a size 0