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Does Alli work for you?
Shajaira27
Posts: 3 Member
I did a lot of internet reading of medical/health websites and learned that out of all of the over the counter weight loss pills, Alli is the most effective.
I bought a bottle to share with my husband, it was $60 at Walmart (a bit pricey), and before I continue on this expensive trial, I would love to know how it's working out for others.
I do understand that it's not a fat burner, metabolism booster, or hunger suppressant. I know how it works, but want to hear how it's going for others aside from the clinical studies.
I bought a bottle to share with my husband, it was $60 at Walmart (a bit pricey), and before I continue on this expensive trial, I would love to know how it's working out for others.
I do understand that it's not a fat burner, metabolism booster, or hunger suppressant. I know how it works, but want to hear how it's going for others aside from the clinical studies.
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Replies
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In for the stories of everyone sh*tting their pants. I'd recommend a good supply of depends to go with them.28
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This should tell you everything you need to know.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10290083/alli-xenical-does-it-work-please-only-answer-if-you-have-actually-taken-it/p110 -
Just don't eat fat (even though fat is essential and fat doesn't make you fat) or else you will be in a very messy situation.5
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You won't hear any positive stories here (sorry). See if you can get your money back.
Most MFP users measure & log food, that's how the website is designed. The point being calories in vs. calories out are everything. If we don't control our portions in the future....we won't keep the weight we lost off.
Alli is a shortcut. It's designed to make you fear eating dietary fat. But dietary fat is not the devil. Dietary fat is required for health reasons. Fearing eating fat (or pooping your pants) doesn't teach you anything you need for maintenance. Lifestyle changes will help with that.
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Common side effects of Alli include:
•changes in your bowel function because of the unabsorbed fat,
•fatty/oily stool,
•oily spotting in your undergarments,
•orange or brown colored oil in your stool,
•intestinal gas with discharge,
•loose stools,
•a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement right away,
•increased number of bowel movements,
•poor bowel control,
•stomach pain,
•nausea,
•vomiting,
•diarrhea, or
•rectal pain.
http://www.rxlist.com/alli-side-effects-drug-center.htm
Happy sharting!14 -
Hope you've got a pair of brown pants (and a couple of spares).7
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I have to admit that we're lucky that it hasn't impacted our BM like that. Perhaps taking caution in not eating high fat foods is helping.
@RAinWA thanks for sharing the link. I didn't encounter any positive stories. I wonder if it's because people's side effects were so gruesome that they gave up early? But I appreciated the comment of the calculations of precentage of fat and it's calorie equivalence. It's not a significant amount to impact weight loss.1 -
You know thanks for mentioning this and it's side effects.
DW tried it years ago and while she didn't lose any weight, it helped IBS-C. Helps a bit of a stretch as well, as the results are, unpredictable!
Now she takes Linsess and it's expensive.
Other than cr@pping yourself I don't see much use in it. If that's fun I'm sure there are cheaper ways to get the desired result.1 -
In summary, many people have found that the side effects can be distressing enough to not be worth the minimal difference that it makes. To avoid these side effects you must limit your fat intake. Dietary fat is needed for many reasons, including vitamin absorption (A, D, E, and K) along with hormone functioning and many other reasons. Best wishes for you.2
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Shajaira27 wrote: »I do understand that it's not a fat burner, metabolism booster, or hunger suppressant. I know how it works, but want to hear how it's going for others aside from the clinical studies.
Over the counter fat burners & metabolism boosters do not exist. Back in the day I did use diet pills prescribed by a doctor.....speed I'm sure. But here I am, back again. A temporary prescription can't fix me (or the vast majority of people). To keep from repeating this same process over and over....we need to change habits for a lifetime. But first we need to figure out what habits need to change. That's where My Fitness Pal (MFP) comes in. Just measure & log everything you eat. Move more (if you can).....then log that too.
You will see things that need changing. For me it was lack of movement (total couch potato) - mindless eating - and lack of veggies & fruit. Veggies & fruit are generally low in calories, including more of these leaves less room for high calorie (often non-filling) junk. Moving more can be deliberate exercise....or meeting a step goal. Even small changes add up over time.7 -
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Alli is over-the-counter but does work. I have never tried it but I encountered it in my work as a chemist. The molecule has a very unusual piece to it, so it was interesting enough to read more about. There's real research supporting its use, and it's an actual FDA approved drug, not an herb or supplement sold at drug stores.0
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Please don't the only thing you need is a good preworkout, multivitamin vitamin, weight lifting, and cardio.0
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Alli is over-the-counter but does work. I have never tried it but I encountered it in my work as a chemist. The molecule has a very unusual piece to it, so it was interesting enough to read more about. There's real research supporting its use, and it's an actual FDA approved drug, not an herb or supplement sold at drug stores.
The issue isn't that Alli does or doesn't block fat absorption - the problem is that Alli does nothing to address why someone would want to use it in the first place.
Step 1 is lose weight.......step 2 is MAINTAIN your weight loss. Does OP plan on using Alli forever? OR is eating fat (without regards to quantity) suddenly okay....when you reach goal.
Dietary fat is necessary for health reasons. Paying for a drug that makes you afraid to eat something with dietary fat in it isn't progress. OP could choose to eat low fat naturally (1980's dieting) or she can pay big bucks to take a drug that makes her fear fat.
People are fat because they eat too many calories.....whether those calories be protein, carbs or fats. We should learn portion control for all three.10 -
This should tell you everything you need to know.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10290083/alli-xenical-does-it-work-please-only-answer-if-you-have-actually-taken-it/p1
Thanks, you beat me to it. My favorite horror story:I've never taken Alli, BUT, I do have a real world story to share.
I used to work at a furniture store... about 3 years ago. We once had a a female customer come into the store. Well, she had to make a break for the bathroom quite suddenly. After some time the salesperson who had been working with her complained (I was in customer service) that the lady never came back and that he'd wasted time with her. A handful of minutes passed and I went to the bathroom. What I saw I can never ever unsee.
Without going into too much gruesome detail, there was orange poo everywhere. The lady's clothes were in the trash, soiled. The lady was in one of the stalls hysterically crying. I left and told the manager about it. She went to help out the lady and basically gave her a sheet from one of the floor model beds to cover herself so she could leave the bathroom. The manager later told us the lady said she was taking Alli and she'd basically exploded everywhere. She apologized over and over. I felt bad for the lady. How embarassing and humiliating for her that must have been. Then the other customer service girl I worked with volunteered to clean the bathroom (we didn't have a cleaning service at the time, it was a brand new store). I didn't envy her position. It was the single most grossest thing I've ever seen (and I have 2 kids...so...).
So yeah... word of caution there....7 -
Six years ago I lost 80 pounds. Then I tried it again the formula changed and it was like taking nothing.0
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Shajaira27 wrote: »I have to admit that we're lucky that it hasn't impacted our BM like that. Perhaps taking caution in not eating high fat foods is helping.
@RAinWA thanks for sharing the link. I didn't encounter any positive stories. I wonder if it's because people's side effects were so gruesome that they gave up early? But I appreciated the comment of the calculations of precentage of fat and it's calorie equivalence. It's not a significant amount to impact weight loss.
So what's the point of taking it/spending your money on it?
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I liken Alli to paying someone to follow you around with a bat and to smack you over the head with it when you eat something fatty.
You lose weight, because you reduce calories because you don't eat high fat foods, because otherwise you poop your pants.
It's a punishment drug, in my eyes.8 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »I liken Alli to paying someone to follow you around with a bat and to smack you over the head with it when you eat something fatty.
You lose weight, because you reduce calories because you don't eat high fat foods, because otherwise you poop your pants.
It's a punishment drug, in my eyes.
I think I'd rather be hit over the head with a bat than walk around sharting myself with greasy, foul smelling orange diarrhea leaking down my leg. That kinda thing really puts a cramp in your social life, you know?5 -
Back in the day I did use diet pills prescribed by a doctor.....speed I'm sure. But here I am, back again. A temporary prescription can't fix me (or the vast majority of people).
Same. I did a couple 30 day bouts with Adipex-P years ago and it was effing miraculous. Weight melted off me and I was so freaking productive it was hilarious. Definitely an amphetamine (I was young, once, I know how that feels). And yet here I are.1 -
Ready2Rock206 wrote: »In for the stories of everyone sh*tting their pants. I'd recommend a good supply of depends to go with them.
This.0 -
mrsmammahunter wrote: »Please don't the only thing you need is a good preworkout, multivitamin vitamin, weight lifting, and cardio.
no. the only thing truly needed is to eat In a calorie deficit.
OP go get a refund and buy a food scale with it6 -
mrsmammahunter wrote: »Please don't the only thing you need is a good preworkout, multivitamin vitamin, weight lifting, and cardio.
you dont need a preworkout to help you lose weight or a multivitamin.you also dont need to exercise to lose weight, exercise is for health. sure it creates a bigger deficit but its not needed for weight loss a caloric deficit is.5 -
Shajaira27 wrote: »I have to admit that we're lucky that it hasn't impacted our BM like that. Perhaps taking caution in not eating high fat foods is helping.
@RAinWA thanks for sharing the link. I didn't encounter any positive stories. I wonder if it's because people's side effects were so gruesome that they gave up early? But I appreciated the comment of the calculations of precentage of fat and it's calorie equivalence. It's not a significant amount to impact weight loss.
I took xenical for a bit, (stronger prescription dose) for a few months, I didn't, fortunately, have any accidents but it did require:
Also, most importantly. I didn’t lose any weight, you can still eat high cal without too much fat.
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Read the data - in terms of what it 'promises'. I am going from memory but I believe Alli requires you to limit fat to 15g per meal and 15g for snacks in a day, so about 60g total. And it blocks 25% of the fat calories so you don't absorb them.
At 9 calories per gram, this means you 'shave' 60 (total fat grams) x .25 (blocked) x 9 = 135 calories per day that Alli blocks. That equates to a little more than 1 pound per month. And the side effects can be BAD if you overeat on fat.Shajaira27 wrote: »I did a lot of internet reading of medical/health websites and learned that out of all of the over the counter weight loss pills, Alli is the most effective.
I bought a bottle to share with my husband, it was $60 at Walmart (a bit pricey), and before I continue on this expensive trial, I would love to know how it's working out for others.
I do understand that it's not a fat burner, metabolism booster, or hunger suppressant. I know how it works, but want to hear how it's going for others aside from the clinical studies.
4 -
It works for me, I lose about a pound a day, if you up the dose to 2 per meal instead of 1 it's the same as taking xenical (the prescription form of alli) the biggest issue is the "discharge" which makes you want to stick close to home... BUT keep your fat intake well below the recommended amount and it's less of an issue.
It does not distinguish between "good" and "bad" fat so avocados and nuts give you the same effects as pizza and french fries so make sure you count that too!0 -
It works for me, I lose about a pound a day, if you up the dose to 2 per meal instead of 1 it's the same as taking xenical (the prescription form of alli) the biggest issue is the "discharge" which makes you want to stick close to home... BUT keep your fat intake well below the recommended amount and it's less of an issue.
It does not distinguish between "good" and "bad" fat so avocados and nuts give you the same effects as pizza and french fries so make sure you count that too!
if you are losing about a lb a day,you are either crapping your brains out and its waste that is lost, or you are eating a VLCD or both7 -
kshama2001 wrote: »
Yeah, I made that post over a year ago... still can't unsee it. It's still traumitizing.2
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