What is the point of Orlistat/Xenical?

whatthegub
whatthegub Posts: 12 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
What is the point of Orlistat/Xenical if you're already following a low-calorie, low-fat diet? It seems pointless to me. You're already eating healthily, presumably with a calorie deficit, so how does taking this very expensive medication help?

Thanks

Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    No point. Eating fat creates a really bad side effect. And this certain side effect keeps your diet low fat. But on the flip side fat is good for you but too many calories is why we gain weight.
  • whatthegub
    whatthegub Posts: 12 Member
    edited January 2016
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    No point. Eating fat creates a really bad side effect. And this certain side effect keeps your diet low fat. But on the flip side fat is good for you but too many calories is why we gain weight.

    I understand, but they suggest you take it while on a low-fat, low-calorie diet. I mean, if you're already on a low-fat, low-calorie diet, how would taking the medication benefit you?
  • paulandrachelk
    paulandrachelk Posts: 280 Member
    Get rid of more fat. Tries to permanently change your eating habits.
  • rlbenn624
    rlbenn624 Posts: 1 Member
    It blocks the absorption of some of the fats that you do eat, so if you would lose 2lbs with diet and exercise alone, you would lose 3lbs taking the medication. It DOES have some disgusting side effects but if you are very strict with your diet and consume no more than 10 grams of fat in a setting you shouldn't have any problems. If anything, the fear of an "accident" kept me very honest while I was taking it. I did lose quite a bit at the time, but the diet was so restricting that it didn't take long to give it up and go back to my original weight plus some.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    It works like a "fat antabus". If you eat too much fat, you'll *kitten* yourself uncontrollably with orange goo, leaving permanent stains. Aversion therapy. You'll quickly learn that eating too much fat has bad consequences.

    Which is not a good approach. Too little fat is bad for you. You need fat. And there's nothing to stop you from eating more starch, sugar or protein, or drinking alcohol, all of which have calories. And it doesn't teach you to moderate your intake so that you're ready for maintenance after you're off the drug.

    Yeah, I think it's pointless. Good for only those who make and sell it, bad for desperate people who buy it.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,301 Member
    low fat diets are becoming old hat. Scientists are realising our bodies need a range of fats to enable us to make the hormones and other chemicals or what ever we need for a healthy life. Too much of anything or the wrong proportions are what should be at issue. Any product which strips most of the fat in what you have eaten out is leaving you at risk of malnutrition at best. One such was incorporated as the story line of the last book by a very popular author where it was deadly. Under medial supervision might be a different issue.
  • whatthegub
    whatthegub Posts: 12 Member
    Thanks for the replies. :)
  • jeepinshawn
    jeepinshawn Posts: 642 Member
    I took it years ago, was a nightmare, orange goo, stains, then I gained all the weight back. CiCo is the key for me there is no magic pill that allows someone to stay healthy and easy more then they burn
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    BuddhaB0y wrote: »
    It eliminates up to 1/3 of the fat calories you eat by attaching to them and preventing it from being absorbed by your intestines.

    The result is that if you eat a fatty diet you will hate life as you will be leaking a noxious burning tire smelling orange grease from your *kitten* staining clothing and bedding. Every time you go to the bathroom, you need a crying game style shower to scrub your greasy cheeks clean.

    Farts will become your mortal enemy and you will become wary of coughing too hard lest you let slip the grease of war!!

    I have about $1500 of it sitting in a drawer unused because the effects of it were so disgusting.

    The package does state that these are side effects and strongly recommends you eat a low fat diet, but eating a low fat diet kind of eliminates the need for it in first place.

    It's not worth it in many ways. Just follow the CICO philosophy promoted here and get a good food scale!

    This ! Thank you for sharing your story. It may help newcomers by showing them the real truth about diet pills. People come here not knowing much and often still believe that magic diet pills, multi level marketing scams, expensive shakes and so on will help them to lose weight. They need to hear the truth ! So again, thank you for sharing your story.

    And for anyone else reading this, for weight loss all that's needed is a calorie deficit. Eat less then you burn and you will lose weight. Cico. There is no quick fixes or easy way out.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    edited January 2016
    BuddhaB0y wrote: »
    It eliminates up to 1/3 of the fat calories you eat by attaching to them and preventing it from being absorbed by your intestines.

    The result is that if you eat a fatty diet you will hate life as you will be leaking a noxious burning tire smelling orange grease from your *kitten* staining clothing and bedding. Every time you go to the bathroom, you need a crying game style shower to scrub your greasy cheeks clean.

    Farts will become your mortal enemy and you will become wary of coughing too hard lest you let slip the grease of war!!

    I have about $1500 of it sitting in a drawer unused because the effects of it were so disgusting.

    The package does state that these are side effects and strongly recommends you eat a low fat diet, but eating a low fat diet kind of eliminates the need for it in first place.

    It's not worth it in many ways. Just follow the CICO philosophy promoted here and get a good food scale!

    I don't know about Orlistat but I've yet to experience the gross side effects of Alli. Even when I go over fat grams, I don't get any side effects. The next day I do go to the bathroom more but no leakage or orange stuff anywhere.

    I take it because it's a visual reminder to try to do my best and make good choices. It's not like I'm counting on it to work like magic.
  • Chillipants
    Chillipants Posts: 23 Member
    I like the tablet and it is definately giving me a much faster weigh lost, this week I had a 9lb loss. I think a lot of the tablet is psychological as you don't want accidents and for me and other people I have spoken to it curbs hunger. Touch wood I've had no side effects and try to keep each meal at 15g of fat or less.
  • RosieRose7673
    RosieRose7673 Posts: 438 Member
    BuddhaB0y wrote: »
    It eliminates up to 1/3 of the fat calories you eat by attaching to them and preventing it from being absorbed by your intestines.

    The result is that if you eat a fatty diet you will hate life as you will be leaking a noxious burning tire smelling orange grease from your *kitten* staining clothing and bedding. Every time you go to the bathroom, you need a crying game style shower to scrub your greasy cheeks clean.

    Farts will become your mortal enemy and you will become wary of coughing too hard lest you let slip the grease of war!!

    I have about $1500 of it sitting in a drawer unused because the effects of it were so disgusting.

    The package does state that these are side effects and strongly recommends you eat a low fat diet, but eating a low fat diet kind of eliminates the need for it in first place.

    It's not worth it in many ways. Just follow the CICO philosophy promoted here and get a good food scale!

    Oh goodness! This had me cracking up! While I know that all is true, your description was hysterical!
  • suzyjane1972
    suzyjane1972 Posts: 612 Member
    BuddhaB0y wrote: »
    It eliminates up to 1/3 of the fat calories you eat by attaching to them and preventing it from being absorbed by your intestines.

    The result is that if you eat a fatty diet you will hate life as you will be leaking a noxious burning tire smelling orange grease from your *kitten* staining clothing and bedding. Every time you go to the bathroom, you need a crying game style shower to scrub your greasy cheeks clean.

    Farts will become your mortal enemy and you will become wary of coughing too hard lest you let slip the grease of war!!

    I have about $1500 of it sitting in a drawer unused because the effects of it were so disgusting.

    The package does state that these are side effects and strongly recommends you eat a low fat diet, but eating a low fat diet kind of eliminates the need for it in first place.

    It's not worth it in many ways. Just follow the CICO philosophy promoted here and get a good food scale!

    Oh goodness! This had me cracking up! While I know that all is true, your description was hysterical!

    You need to read the thread above.....its brilliant.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    BuddhaB0y wrote: »
    It eliminates up to 1/3 of the fat calories you eat by attaching to them and preventing it from being absorbed by your intestines.

    The result is that if you eat a fatty diet you will hate life as you will be leaking a noxious burning tire smelling orange grease from your *kitten* staining clothing and bedding. Every time you go to the bathroom, you need a crying game style shower to scrub your greasy cheeks clean.

    Farts will become your mortal enemy and you will become wary of coughing too hard lest you let slip the grease of war!!

    I have about $1500 of it sitting in a drawer unused because the effects of it were so disgusting.

    The package does state that these are side effects and strongly recommends you eat a low fat diet, but eating a low fat diet kind of eliminates the need for it in first place.

    It's not worth it in many ways. Just follow the CICO philosophy promoted here and get a good food scale!

    Oh goodness! This had me cracking up! While I know that all is true, your description was hysterical!

    Haha Me too! An awesome endorsement for this pill :lol:
This discussion has been closed.