Hi, I'm new on here and have tried just about every diet under the sun with the same results....lose a bit and then end up putting more back on than I started with.
I'm at the point now where it is so awful that its really seriously affecting my health and I suffer from depression and agoraphobia (phobia of open spaces, or in my case...going out and seeing people) anyway, so for things to get even worse is just too much!

Decided to give Xenical a go as I don't feel there is any other way and I need the boost of weight loss to help my motivation.
I've heard all about the side effects and they sound awful but I am willing to give it a go and stick to the rules with fat allowance. One things for sure, I can't go on this way.

If anyone is taking it now and has any advice or anything about it then please get in touch. I am eager to know how you cope with the restrictions of the diet and what you have for snacks and treats and dinners? Has it helped you lose weight? and how much have you lost? Have your side effects gone away now, and how long did it take for that to happen? Is there any sort of support network for Xenical users?

Please leave a message as I need to know as much as possible before i take it, thanks.

I tried it once for a couple of months, it didn't work for me as I had a totally unsympathetic partner at the time who was also the junk food king, he spat the dummy for not getting his McDonalds etc.... make sure you don't have any diet sabotours around you!
However, it is VERY restricting, even the slightest amount of fat can be a disaster as far as side effects go, and just pray that you are not in a public place when it hits! It's very easy to misjudge how fatty some foods are. I lost a small amount of weight in the first month, but not as much as I lost in the previous one! (you have to lose a certain amount before they will prescribe them to you)
If you can use them as a tool to re-educate your palate into liking very low fat foods then go for it, if like me your problem is more to do with emotional issuse than a bad diet then don't waste your time/money, you will still have the urge to eat all the wrong stuff!
Hope this helps and hasn't put you completely off!

Hi,
I'm new here also. I was also wondering about Xenical. Ive also been researching the diet pill Meridia and was wondering which one was better, or if they are both about the same. I am also to the point of depression. I have tried almost every diet under the sun, and nothing I have done or tried so far has worked. As far as the side effects, I'm to the point to where I can do with that, just as long as it works. If anyway has lost weight with either of these, please leave a message here for us to read. Thanks...

I had success with Xenical a couple of years ago. It isn't a magic pill. Just taking it isn't going to help you lose weight - you are still going to have to reduce your calorie intake and exercise. More than anything it kept me in line. The side effects are bad if your fat intake is too high. Having taken one would always make me think twice about that cheesecake I wanted. As long as you stick to a reasonable eating program the side effects are very manageable.

What really helped me lose the weight though was that I WANTED to lose it. I know, I know, we all want to lose it. I mean I WANTED to lose it to the point that I was willing to suffer through the work that comes along with it. No pill is going to give you that drive and certainly won't do the work for you. If that were the case none of us would be here. Heck, here I am AGAIN.

I would suggest that you speak to your doctor regarding the depression you are feeling. If is only a result of your weight, the only thing that is going to help is losing the weight. However, if it is clinical depression there are plenty of medications that will help pull you out of it. You may find that treating the depression will give you the mental and emotional boost you need to persue a weight loss program. I for one discovered that was one of my biggest obstacles towards a healthier lifestyle. Suffering from depression felt like every day was covered by a dark cloud. I had a very "can't do" attitude towards weight loss and life in general. Personally, I take Wellbutrin as it helps with depression and also affects the part of the brain that controls cravings, etc. (It is sometimes prescribed to aid someone trying to quit smoking). If I am not mistaken, Meridia is similar. Anyway, I feel better overall and have a little help in the compulsive eating department. I did have to try several medications before I found the one that worked for me. And remember, these medications are only going to help if your depression/compulsivenss is brought on by a chemical imbalance. They aren't magic pills either and they won't solve all your problems or give you the self control you need to lose weight. But if you are medically depressed they can really help.

I know this sounds very cliche, but you really can lose the weight you want - you just
have to believe that you are worth it. I wish you all good luck and congratulations on finding a terrific forum for support and motivation.

Here is a link that may help you out, here is the topic we discussed in Buyer Beware a few weeks ago http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51506

IMO xenical is just like a laxative, now it does help some people with accountability issues BUT from what I've read most people find that it just gives them license to eat a big fat burger because they are gonna crap it out in 10 minutes anyway lol excuse my graphic description.

I don't think I'd touch xenical with a yard pole! I have enough trouble int hat department anyway thank you!

I think if you don't really putyour heart and mind into it, any weight that you do lose will probably go right back on and more. From what I've read (I'm doing a final year project on obesity) it doesn't help in the long term and once you stop taking it (xenical and meridia) that you tend to fall back into the habits you had before you took it, so the weight all goes back on.

Sorry to sound so negative, but if these things worked like a dream, wouldn't everyone be taking them?

I think you really have to think more in terms of a lifestyle change than any magic pill or specific diet. Try just doing one thing every day that makes it healthier than yesterday, then you'll start to feel better too, rather than relying on a magic pill which isn't really magic!

Ok sermon over!

I'd like to hear if it works for you, I really am interested in these kinds of things!

Good luck with whatever you chose