Does it Work?Unsure if the latest product or service lives up to it's claims? From popular products to the latest scams, discuss it here before you buy!
I've been on alli for a week - not one problem with 'treatment effects' - prally because it's done a good job of keeping me in check. I've tried many things for weight loss, and this has been the first time I haven't wavered after a couple of days. The biggest plus has been that I feel satisfied/full all the time. Strange! My mind is now off food. I'm usually thinking about my next meal as I'm eating the current one, but now I feel kind of free/able to get on with the day.
AND the myalli.com site is worth its weight in gold to me = Really helpful.
Hey, I'm a big skeptic, but my MIL was on Xenical 3x/day for a year with terrific results and is now only taking 1 pill a day for maintenance. She convinced me to try alli. I'm now four lbs. down after week 1...you know, peeps take a daily pill for blood pressure control and cholesterol reduction, why the hubbub about one for weight control? If it works for people, hurrah.
I have been taking Alli for 4 weeks and have lost 15 pounds. For 4 weeks, I have been ON PROGRAM. I count calories and fat grams and have not strayed. Alli helped me do this. It has been a behavioral tool for me--I want to stay with in the suggested ranges to avoid te's. It may sound silly, but after 20 years of not being able to stay on a diet for more than two days, it's apparently just what I needed to stay on track. I am eating healthier than I have ever eaten in my life, and I have not experienced one te.
To be honest, I would take it if all it did was keep me on the straight and narrow, but as a bonus, it's helping me lose faster. I take one with each meal and I know it's removing 25% of the calories of fat I consume each and every time.
Well the real purpose is to use the pill to "encourage" you to follow a low fat diet so I'd stay under their limit of 15g of fat per meal. The pill itself doesn't absorb enough fat to make more than a slight difference in your weight loss but the fact that it helps you make a behavioral change in your diet is where you will see the weight loss.
I started taking it yesterday and had horrible stomach cramps and heartburn. I called the company and was told they do not offer refunds since it was an over the counter product and that the side effects were listed on the bottle. I told her it doesnt say anything about heartburn and said if you experience cramps to contact the Dr. The lady kept pushing me to see the Dr and I told her I was fine before I took the pills and now Im sick. I demanded a refund since I only took 3 pills and supposedly they are sending it to me.
I started taking it yesterday and had horrible stomach cramps and heartburn. I called the company and was told they do not offer refunds since it was an over the counter product and that the side effects were listed on the bottle. I told her it doesnt say anything about heartburn and said if you experience cramps to contact the Dr. The lady kept pushing me to see the Dr and I told her I was fine before I took the pills and now Im sick. I demanded a refund since I only took 3 pills and supposedly they are sending it to me.
I don't want to downplay your misery, but is also possible that something else made you sick -- just because one thing happened before the other doesn't mean it's the cause... I hope you feel better!
Well all I know was I was fine before I took them up until 45 minutes after taking the pill. I took 2 more that day before the meals and I stayed sick until the next day. Around noon I started feeling better so I do think it was the pills.
Thats kinda the point to the pills, stick to the plan and you dont get side effects. I've never had the side effects. Plus you are supposed to eat lowfat for 2 - 3 days before even starting the Alli. All meds effect people differently. I'm glad you feel better, Alli just isnt for you.
Here's my take, which I posted in the Atkins forum:
"I think Alli's more of a psychological aid than anything else. I did the math. Alli suggests a low-fat, reduced calorie diet in addition to taking the pill--and the pill itself works to block about 25% of the fat you eat. So, I took a 2,000 calorie diet (I'm assuming most women would be eating less). Alli suggests no more than 30% of your calories come from fat--so on a 2,000 calorie diet, that's about 600 calories coming from fat. Alli blocks 25% of the fat you consume, so that's only 150 calories blocked in a day.
If you're a woman and eating less total calories and therefore, also eating less calories from fat, the calories blocked in a day is even less than 150. So, really, you could cut out 1.5 ounces of cheese a day and avoid 150 calories...or two slices of bread. Y'know?
You need to burn 3500 calories to lose 1 pound of fat--and Alli's only going to block 1050 calories per week, assuming a 2,000 calorie diet at 30% fat. If you're eating less calories and less fat--you'll be burning less than 1050 calories per week with the Alli alone.
I know a woman on Alli and she feels it's helping her--I think spending the $$ on the pill and taking a pill helps her to feel motivated. I know there's a eating plan and exercise plan that comes along with the pills, and that's likely doing more for weight loss than the pills themselves. I'm glad Alli seems to be helping my friend feel on track, but I think the actual drug's benefits are pretty questionable, considering how few calories it actually blocks."
Hi again! Alli is doing what it advertises - blocking some of the fat I eat and keeping me in check.
It's easy to assume there's low bang for your buck, or say "it only blocks x amount, so you could just eat less cheese," but the problem comes when you don't eat less cheese, or two slices of bread. Alli is there when you slip. We all slip.
Doing the math and measuring cost of pill vs. fat blocked would make it appear expensive...if that was all it does. But it's more than that for me, so the cost is not a factor. Effectiveness is.
Soooo, from one who has taken it for a month, it's not just psychological aid. It's been a lifestyle change for the good. I'm down 14 pounds since July 4, and it was done with ease. Since I feel better and can fit into my shorts, I was able to start my fitness program yesterday = tennis, a former passion. Alli gave that back to me.
Just my two-cents. Good luck to everyone, whatever path they choose.
I just bought some and took it for the first time yesterday. I ate a low fat meal and have decided to combine with weight watchers. I have had no side effect yet. I do agree that I think it will be a motivator to me and help keep me on track - especially at work. I lost, gained, lost and am just tired of floundering. Ready to loose it and maintain!!!!
what is the minimum weight/height to take alli? If it's not listed on the package, how would a person know if Alli is ok for them to take before spending the $?
Here's my take, which I posted in the Atkins forum:
"I think Alli's more of a psychological aid than anything else.
but I think the actual drug's benefits are pretty questionable, considering how few calories it actually blocks."
I don't agree. I'm on the prescription strength Orlistat, Xenical and if you look at my ticker I was following a low-fat diet before taking the Xenical. Yes I was losing weight and lost 23lb in 3 months. However 16lb of that was the first month, 4lb the second month and only 3lb the third. I was making a lot of effort for little result.
Following the same type of diet and taking the Xenical I've lost 20lb the next two months. Xenical has made what was before a real struggle into something quite easy.
I too did the calculations and figured out about 145 calories a day not being absorbed by taking Xenical. But I'm sure like any drug, actions will vary depending on the individual and the types of food an individual eats. I would see the 145/150 cals a day as an average rather than an absolute.
I do think there are some psycholocial effects but these are as a result of the success I'm seeing rather than any placebo effect.
My father has taken Alli since it came out he has lost at least 20 lbs. He maintains a healthy diet (not overly strict though - he has a piece of cake at a party or soemthing) and exercises at least 3-4 days a week. He has only had one episode with the "treatment effects". I've seen it work so it does. I think I am going to attempt it.
alli has been good for me so far...
Still workin' for me
Good luck to everyone, whatever path they choose.
I just bought some and took it for the first time yesterday. I ate a low fat meal and have decided to combine with weight watchers. I have had no side effect yet. I do agree that I think it will be a motivator to me and help keep me on track - especially at work. I lost, gained, lost and am just tired of floundering. Ready to loose it and maintain!!!! 
Alli weight/height
