Orlistat

eclemoine
eclemoine Posts: 12 Member
edited November 17 in Motivation and Support
I'm 55 and menopausal. Apparently this is the hardest time of life to lose weight. Five years ago I lost 80lbs on my own, but last year some personal setbacks put me in a bit of a spin and I put 40lbs back on. So now I've done what I thought I would never ever do. After two weeks of truly excellent discipline with a loss of only 1.8lbs, I have decided to take any help I can get. I started taking Orlistat two days ago (aka Alli?). It is a weight loss drug designed to inhibit the body's absorption of fat by about 30%. I have been eating VERY healthy to avoid the most noted side-effect of embarrassing accidents when the fat is excreted unexpectedly....yup - use your imagination - and so far I have not felt any side-effects at all. If anyone has anything to share on their experience with Orlistat I would love to hear from you. I will make occasional up-dates on my success (or lack thereof) as I go along. I would love to make some friends here so feel free to add me to your contacts.

Staying optimistic!!

:smile:

Christine.

Replies

  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    1.8lbs in 2 weeks is good. I think your expectations are off. You don't need pills to help. Just keep doing what you are doing and be patient.

    By the way. My Mom is 61, and has always blamed age and menopause for not losing easily. She's down 14lbs in 4 months and is within 5 lbs of goal. It will be slower, but it will come off.

    I keep telling her losing weight healthily (by eating a reasonable amount of calories and enjoy life while you are losing) is hard for everyone and it takes time. It took 5 months for me to get off 18lbs and I'm only 36.

    You have to be patient. This won't work if you aren't.
  • eclemoine
    eclemoine Posts: 12 Member
    Hi Kristen,

    Thank you for your encouragement. :) Its just that with so much to lose - about 50lbs, it seems like an impossibly long battle. Even then I will still be about 20lbs overweight according to the charts - but it would be comfortable for me. Don't want that "deflated balloon" look.

    Ill try using the Orlistat for a month and see if it makes a difference. I'm doing about 1200 - 1300 calories a day + 30 min treadmill 4X a week. If I don't see a significant increase in my success I'll toss them. But they were quite expensive and I hate to give up.

    Congratulations on your success with losing 18lbs! Its very encouraging to see other peoples success!

    Please stay in touch - its nice to share this battle :smile:

    Christine
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    1.8 pounds in two weeks is a really good rate of loss. I don't understand why you'd be upset with that.

    It took time to put the weight on, it takes time to get it off, too. It's taken me a year to lose 77 pounds through diet and exercise.
  • eclemoine
    eclemoine Posts: 12 Member
    Hmmmm....seems I have been just a little too impatient. I think it was because I worked so hard to take the weight off in the first place and I am just so angry with myself for letting it come back on.

    I am dedicated to getting this 50lbs off and especially to motivate my daughter who is 15 years old. God love the child she inherited my genes. But the kicker is my son can eat from sun up to sun down and not budge a pound. :/ Ah well.... I did not tell my daughter about the Orlistat. The last thing I want is my little girl to think there is an easy fix.

    Thank you for the encouragement. It truly does mean a lot to me. And stars and fireworks and balloons and whistles for your 77lbs loss! That's what I need to see. It can be done and I can do it!!

    Christine
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    If 50lbs is hard to grasp, take it 10lbs at a time. When Mom started she had an idea of where she wanted to be. She said 150 would please her. That was about 11lbs. She's now 148, aiming for 143. When you start doing it, it doesn't really seem that hard and that long. And who really cares how long it takes? Maintenance really isn't much of a picnic either - trust me.

    Teach your daughter there are no quick fixes and diet meds aren't needed. Do it for her if you can't do it for you.
  • eclemoine
    eclemoine Posts: 12 Member
    Okee dokee!! Thank you so much for the encouragement. Sunday will be one week for the Orlistat. If I don't see a significant difference I'll bring them back to the pharmacy for disposal. To tell the truth...I don't think they do anything at all. My diet is very very low in fat and although I have been taking them as prescribed I see no evidence of fat being cleared from my digestion. (That is the most tactful way I can describe things hahahah :D )

    I think my downfall is Friday nights when I absolutely love to sit down and watch all my recorded shows from the past week and get a little tipsy with my wine or 6 pack. I've cut my alcohol to less than 1/4 of what I used to have (usually at least 4 - 5 beers every night - which is what packed it back on of course). I will have to start "saving" my calories on Fridays to even things out on Friday night. :lol:

    I congratulate you again on your huge accomplishment! 77lbs is a lot of will power and personal strength. You must be a very determined woman!!

    Cheers to your Mom too!

    Christine

  • eclemoine
    eclemoine Posts: 12 Member
    Down 0.8 this week. Boy oh boy this is difficult! But as my daughter is quick to remind me - "its better than going up 0.8!" Just staying strong and keeping at it.
  • mistikal13
    mistikal13 Posts: 1,457 Member
    Set smaller goals and be patient. You are doing well and don't need the pills. Good luck!
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