Alli - What is it, and does it work?
 

What is alli? Alli is the same medication as Xenical, but in a nonprescription strength.

How does it work? Alli blocks part of the fat you consume from being absorbed. It is a "fat blocker" and can block up to 25% of the fat.

Can't I buy fat-blockers on ebay or at the health food store? It's not the same thing. The so-called "fat blockers" that have been available for years are usually chitosan and studies have shown them ineffective. Alli, on the other hand, has been proven to work. You'll probably see a lot of knock-offs hit the market soon, but don't fall for their claims!

Does this mean I can eat french fries and butter again? Sorry! Alli works with a low fat diet to help you lose weight. If you consume more fat, you'll have more unpleasant side effects.

What kind of side effects? Since alli works to block fat from being absorbed, the excess fat must leave your body. You may have oily stools, or an oily discharge, or gas with oily spotting. You may have problems controlling your stools. :o

If I have to eat a low fat diet anyway, why bother taking the pills? A lot of people have problems sticking to a low fat diet, or any diet for that matter. Alli works for you in two ways : First it will help you consume fewer calories from the meals you eat, since the calories from the blocked fat are exiting your system instead of being absorbed. Alli claims you can lose up to 50% more weight than by following the same diet without Alli. Second - Knowing you may suffer unpleasant side effects can help keep you on track so you don't overeat or cheat. It can help to change your eating behavior.

How do I know what I can eat? The alli starter pack comes with diet suggestions. You can also sign up for the alli plan online, which we think is free as long as you have a special code from your alli starter pack. Plus, there are two books you can purchase - One is called Are You Losing It? and is a small book available at drugstores or online at http://areyoulosingit.myalli.com/BuyTheBook.aspx The other is a more comprehensive book with menus and recipes called the alli Diet Plan and is available at Amazon - the link is at the right side of this page.

Does it really work? Yes, it works :) But it may not be for you. And it's not a cheap or instant way to lose weight. You'll spend a lot of money to lose a few pounds. Whether or not you choose to try it is up to you. Like every other diet option, there isn't a 'one size fits all' answer to weight loss.

If you try alli, we'd really appreciate it if you would share your experiences. Does it work for you?

Eww... those side effects... don't sound like a force to be reckoned with, but if I'm desperate enough and my weight hits an unstoppable plateau, then maybe I'll try it.

Do they recommend it for a specific weight range?

Considering the side effects that are possible, including have to make a mad dash to the bathroom, :tantrum: I would think that someone who only wants to loose those 10 pounds before the class reunion would think twice. But then again, who knows!
http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar083...lb/0/75/2/.png

I bought the 90 count Alli yesturday - but will start taking the pills tomorrow. It recommends starting the low fat diet 2 days before starting the pills. Ever since I saw the commercial and researched it online, I have been thinking about getting them. I kinda bought it on a whim, but 2 things made me do it. Number 1 is I need an extra boost and if I eat too much fat at a meal, I will have the "slip slide and away's" and that will teach me really fast to not do that again. :) Number 2 is I had the money and if I didn't do it yesturday, it would be another month before I could afford it.

I looked at the booklets they give you and they have some great recepies and nothing fancy that will break the bank - like some other recepie books I've seen. I'm looking forward to this and I know it's not a "miracle pill". I just wanted some help to give me inspiration. I will keep everyone posted each day.

We've started a new thread in General Diet Plans for those taking alli. If you currently take it, please share your experiences and tips here - http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115809

Me too!

I just bought the starter pack today and have read through the info booklets. It claims to boost your own weight loss efforts by 2 pounds per 5 pounds lost. So I went for it. I've been eating pretty low fat for 2 weeks so I feel ready to start taking it tomorrow. They recommend that you never have a meal over 15 grams total fat in it while you take this pill and NO WAY am I gonna risk those side effects!

For the curious--a 30 day supply starter pack cost me $60.00 Stay tuned! I'll post results here, too.

cuppa

So my question is
 

What happens when you stop taking it?

Let's give this a shot!
 

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Hi all, i'm brand new to the site. First of all, i think this a great online community! Good luck to everyone and congratulations to everyone who has already made such progress. I've seen some great inspirational stories and weight trackers on here. I'm excited to get started!

I am 23 and attempting (yet again) to lose the weight that I gained in college. I have been at my current job for almost a year and I travel a lot., which makes it hard to stay on track - but I've been making it a priority! I did South Beach for awhile and lost 15 lbs, which I've kept off. However, I plateaued. I eat pretty healthy usually and just need a kick start. I bought Alli last night and will start taking the pills this week. I think it will keep me on track and give me an extra kick in the butt to get moving at the gym. I started at the YMCA about 3 weeks ago and still going strong!

Has anyone had any of the awful side effects? Are those only associated with the slip-up "burger and fries" or can it happen with low fat foods too?

I'll keep posting my results with Alli...

Hi Nikki,
There is another forum for people taking alli which is really helpful. So far, the people that I know that have had one of the unmentionable accidents has been from eating food that is really high in fat... pizza...bratwurst... hamburgers. I have not heard of anyone having an accident that was following the plan as specified.

I have not had any problems yet and I have been taking the pill for over a week now. I am really careful about what I eat and writing it down.

Good Luck... I hope it works for you!

Hi alli friends!
I started taking alli 2 days ago and am also following WW. So far no problems, except I felt a little queasy last nite. Had chicken breast for dinner, low fat too. I was scared to take the pills, but what the heck, try everything once is my motto!

I just finished my first full week of alli and for me it does work. It's not a magic pill that will melt the pounds off, but the fear of treatment effects kept me honest to my eating plan. So far I've not had any side effects, but I am being very careful and aware of what I eat. I lost 3lbs this week. next week I'm going to add some exercise to my routine, which I totally neglected this week.

Alli really does seem to be a class-act as to totally informing the consumer of what it does and doesn't do, who should and should not take it, etc.

I was seriously considering it for awhile to help me beat this regain and push on to my goal, since I'm struggling so much with it all now. But reading the book that I bought over the counter (Are You Losing It?) and looking at the extensive displays in the store now that it's out, plus looking at the package and the web, I can see that it is NOT for me because I don't weigh the minimum for my height that they specify and because I don't eat that much fat, even though I had always thought I ate a higher fat diet than is usually recommended, but I guess not.

Anyhow, I wish the best of luck to those who are successfully using this program.

I am so sorry if my questions have been answered already. I quickly glanced through the support thread on this. I am always willing to try something new, but I want to know if this is even beneficial to me. I have lost 233lbs since the 1st of January 2006, by dieting, exercise (just started gym/water aerobics at the YMCA), working out, cardio, walking, etc. I have kept a diary of the foods I have eaten, as well as the carbs, and the calories. I havent "watched" my fat intake, but I have switched to fat-free/low-fat choices. My dinner tonight was only 11g of fat.

I mentioned the above items, as this is what people have mentioned that Alli recommends. I know about the "treatment effect", but since I don't eat 15g of fat per meal anyways, will this pill work for me? Should I save my money? I like the part about losing an extra 50% of your weight, but will that apply to me for someone who has already dieted/exercised? Or, is this product intended for those just starting?

Edit: After talking to a pharmacist at a RiteAid, we decided that this would not be beneficial to me. I went back and read my food labels. For breakfast I had 1g of fat, for lunch I had 6.5g of fat, and for dinner a whopping 11g. I walked 6.28 miles today, and that was my "lazy day" (no gym, no aerobics, nothing). Total calorie intake for the day was 1705 calories, and only 202.5g of Carbs( after subtracting out 29g of fiber). I think I will just continue on my own plan.

Those side effects are also in 1/4 % of people. That's extremely high! I would consider one's Omega/flax intake as well.

At my pharmacy, we won't let anyone buy the product before talking to a pharmacist. We are true health care professionals who honestly care about our patients and want them to fully understand what they are taking and that they are commited to dietary and exercise lifestyle changes. We never judge and are there for encouragement.

I encourage everyone to talk to their doctor AND pharmacist before trying this product! And good luck to all!

alli has been good for me so far...
 

Hi all! :wave:

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.

Jury's still out but things are looking up,
-Bren

Another satisfied customer
 

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.

I would say it is definitely worth a try!

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.

A brief warning about Alli.

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.:mad:

Originally Posted by cara1980:
A brief warning about Alli.

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.:mad:

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."

Still workin' for me
 

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. :smug: Good luck to everyone, whatever path they choose.

:dizzy: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!!!! :p

Alli weight/height
 

Hi,

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 $?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Azure:
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.

Kitty

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.

The side effects aren't very bad, but it may cause pre-cancerous lesions of the colon:

What?? I don't recall ever seeing that reported anywhere.

Are these addictive?

Alli
 

I was taking Alli but had to stopped because I was going through a change in prescription drugs that caused my digestive track to be all messed up. I plan on going back on soon. It did seem to help the short time I took them but you definitely can't eat too much fat or you will know it. Though that is the point.
They are not addictive because unlike many "diet" pills it only works in your stomach. It's not mood altering and doesn't effect any other part of your body. I'm no medical expert but I would say there is no way you can get physically addicted to it.

I heard about Alli long ago. Like Azure said it is the diet rather than the pill that makes you lose weight.
I quote some info here

Originally Posted by :
Consumers desperately searching for solution to their weight challenges now have easy access to the new FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) weight-loss drug Orlistat, marketed under the name Alli. Lest you think this is a brand new drug that will deliver the much sought after solution to the obesity epidemic, think again. This “new” drug isn’t new at all. Orlistat is simply a lower-dose version of the prescription weight-loss drug Xenical, which has had zero impact on moving the fat meter in our society. Making Orlistat available to consumers over-the-counter only means that tens of millions of people will now have false hopes of sustained weight-loss while being exposed to toxic, synthetic chemical compounds.

So this is supposed to be an old drug in a new bottle. A prescription drug made an OTC just for company profits.

Originally Posted by :
the drug interferes with the absorption of essential fatty acids. Given that most overweight people are already extremely deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and other healthy oils, this Alli drug is likely to put them in an even worse state of deficiency.

The drug works by interfering with the digestion of dietary fats, you see. That may sound great if you're eating a diet of fried foods, hydrogenated oils and processed meat products, but even if you block the absorption of those obesity-promoting fats, you're still left in a state of deficiency concerning the healthy oils like omega-3 fatty acids. And if you eat more flaxseed or take fish oil capsules, guess what? Alli will interfere with those, too, causing you to miss out on at least some of their benefits.

there was a funny article on Alli. I cannot post links so do a search for ""Miracle" weight loss drug Alli delivers more than you bargained for (diapers optional)" With the double quotes in google and you will get the article.
After coming to this forum I see that this article might be a little exaggerated.
The truth however is that if you take a high fat diet with alli you might have anal discharge. I think that is the motivating factor like it says in the article. The most motivating factor is that if you have a "side effect" in public then you will have to move to another city and hope no one has taken your video.

I find alli will make you lose only 5 of the 15 pounds you lose with it. The other 10 pounds you lose because of your diet.
But then only "we" know what "we" are going through. And sometimes "we" are ready to take that risk or do anything that will keep "us" on track.
I find only two supplements that actually work. One is Garcinia Cambogia(not recomened for diabetics as it reduces blood sugar levels and a person on insulin might get hypo) which has not side effects at all. This one i can personally vouch for. I have a sort of an eating disorder and I binge for day consuming 5000+ calories of fast food and during one such 10 day binge i actually reduced 3 kgs.
The other one is Fucothin. i cant vouch for it but i am taking it. After the research I have done on it. I find that those that "condemn" it only do so because there are no human test only lab test on mice. The human test that were conducted were not for weight loss but for it effect on cancer and it is really a superfood. So I am not losing anything by taking fucothin. I am going to go by the lab test on mice and the feedback on several forums by users that it works for them. All of them said it got rid of belly fat which is what i am looking for.

Why rubbish a drug that's been properly tested over many years with real clinical outcomes and then promote other products that have not gone through the same rigours?

Kitty

p.s. lost 33 lbs on Orlistat in just over 4 months

I am now on Weight Watchers but I posted to this thread awhile ago, and I just have to respond to Raj. What's with the confrontational tone of your post? First, I don't think you posted anything new. I think most people here are pretty aware that most of the drug's effects aren't due to the fact that it blocks fat absorption.

Your statement regarding the fact that the weight loss is just due to the diet is flawed. I know if I'm taking a pill that's going to make bad things happen to my digestive system if I go off the diet, well, I'll be more likely to stick to the diet. So it's not the diet per se, it's not the fat blockage per se, it's the fact that while you're on the pill you're more likely to comply with the diet plan.

As for the claim that Orlistat hasn't made an impact on obesity rates, how could it? Xenical was a prescription drug, and it was prescribed for a very small percentage of obese Americans. Orlistat has only been available for what, 5-6 months now? And the cost is prohibitive. Many people cannot afford the cost of the drug, so they choose not to take it. Not everyone who's taking it started when it first came out on the market, and if you're losing weight in a responsible manner, you do so slowly. So I think it will take some time to see any effects on the obesity problem.

As for your claim that it's just a drug company trying to make more money, well duh! That's how things work. Allegra did the same thing. I'm there there are hundreds of drugs that became non-prescription, and I'm sure drug companies wouldn't have pursued non-prescription status if it weren't profitable.

And while I applaud your general approach of critical thinking, I scratch my head at this statement:

The other one is Fucothin. i cant vouch for it but i am taking it. After the research I have done on it. I find that those that "condemn" it only do so because there are no human test only lab test on mice. The human test that were conducted were not for weight loss but for it effect on cancer and it is really a superfood. So I am not losing anything by taking fucothin. I am going to go by the lab test on mice and the feedback on several forums by users that it works for them. All of them said it got rid of belly fat which is what i am looking for.

How could you be putting something in your body that you can't vouch for? How can you be taking any pill that wasn't tested on humans? If you're so concerned about the effects of a drug that has gone through many clinical trials, why aren't you concerned with a drug that hasn't even been tested on humans?

I'm gonna try it!

This is not a miracle drug and they let you know right of the bat. If you think that you can eat like a mad man/woman this isn't the case. All this does is allow people the opportunity to add some benefit to your already existing HEALTHY diet. I just started it. This morning, of my 350 cal breakfast,2 waffles with jelly, coffee with creamer and a pear, 130 cals of that is from fat intake. Alli will help block it and send some of it out of the body. But you must watch your fat intake or Alli will give you adverse effects ( pardon my bluntness but it'll give you the runs). The pills aren't addictive and if you want to have a high fat meal on occassion don't take the pill before you eat. No adverse effect. I figure, I'm committed to the program, and this way I can focus on losing 10 lbs and Alli can help me add maybe another 5b to my loss without doing anything else. If it can help keep me on the path and can assist me in getting from 156-@141 instead of 146 why not? Of course, I'm also a short termer on Alli. 2 bottles and I'm done. Everyone has to make their own decision. No miracles here. Don't expect one just hard work.

I tried Alli and....
 

Hey all,

I wanted to talk about my experience with Alli. I bought the starter pack read all the instructions and informational material and figured that it was pretty easy. It was pretty easy. According to your weight, it tells you about the highest amounts of grams of fat you should be having at each meal. Mine was 18. It worked well when I didn't eat to much fat and there were no unpleasant side effects. However, one day at work, the salad bar where my office usually orders from had a flood and we could not get food from there. I had many bad experiences with other restaurants that had salad so I didn't want to order. So we decided to get beef patties w/cheese for lunch. I thought it was a bad idea to take the pill with this meal because I was certain the amount of fat was over the limit. I took the pill anyway and OMG :o at first everything was okay while I was at work. I had a little gas and that was all. I usually eat lunch around 1 to 2pm. When I left work at 5:30pm I was still pretty okay. As I approached my home, I began to have horrible stomach pains... and I felt like I had to go to the bathroom immediately. I felt as though I could not hold it. The pains were intense and I had to have my husband drop me off in front of my house, so I could run in while he looked for parking. When I finally reached the bathroom, it came pouring out like a faucet. I felt releaved at this point, but didn't know that it was not the end. When I wiped myself, the tissue was orange, and it look like water. I thought Wow :whoo: this is crazy. I got up and proceeded to carry on with my daily home from work routine, but found that my stomach still hurt and I had to go back to the bathroom, this time I unleased so much. When I wiped the same thing happened but it was a lot more. When I looked in the toilet I was shocked.. the orange stuff I had seen on the tissue was all over the toilet bowl. Apparently, the orange stuff was all the grease/fat from my food, it was great to see that the product actually worked, but I was pissed at how many times I had to ****, which was about 3 for the night.

The great thing about Alli is that it works, and the unpleasant effects will stop you from eating the wrong thing and taking the pill. However, if you know you had too much fat, you just don't have to take the pill, which is also not good cause then u may eat it anyway. All in all I took it for 1 month and lost about 5 pounds, without working out.. Just walking a bit more, cutting soda and juice from my diet and eating better. Imagine if I had been working out and not cheating on my diet once in a while....

Well any questions let me know....:):thanks:

I'm on Xenical and its working for me. I've also changed my diet but its little things, like knowing that I am going to crap myself if I pick between meals and that's enough NOT TO!! :D

I started alli today
 

hello all,

I just was so happy to have found this board, I have started alli today, so am looking forward to seeing how this works. I hope all will share they alli day with me also. I am off to bed, and will check back in tomorrow....nice to have found this site.

nancy