Hi

 I do not mean to discourage anyone, but I would like to present some ideas because I am having doubts as to how useful Alli can really be. Alli blocks a certain amount of fat from being absorbed, we are told that approximately 25% of the fat we consume will not be absorbed. We are told to adopt a reduced calorie diet, in some cases 1500 calories a day, in some, 1800. Obviously, this alone would be enough to cause a noticeable weight loss in almost anyone who is completely sedentary. However, this is not really the point I want to make. We are also told to adopt a low to moderate fat diet, this would mean getting about 20-30% of our daily calories from fat. Let's suppose that someone on Alli were to consume 25% of their calories from fat, a reasonable amount. If someone were on the 1800 calorie a day plan (like me), that would mean that 450 calories a day would come from fat. If Alli blocks 25% of the fat we consume on a 1800 calorie a day diet, then that would mean that 25% of 450 calories from fat was being blocked, which equals 112.5 calories a day that are passing right through our digestive tract and not being absorbed. In a 30 day month, this would equal 3375 calories. The thing is, one pound of fat equals about 3500 calories! In other words, according to the facts we have been given by the makers of Alli, taking it everyday for a month would NOT EVEN EQUAL ONE POUND OF WEIGHT LOSS FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH! And this is assuming that you are on the 1800 calorie a day diet. The numbers are even worse for those on a 1500 calorie a day diet. If you were on the 1500 calorie plan, you could take Alli for an entire year and your weight loss (from Alli alone, not from dietary changes) WOULD NOT EVEN BE 10 POUNDS FOR A WHOLE YEAR OF TAKING Alli. If you were on the 1800 calorie plan, your weight loss from Alli would be just under 12 lbs.  Maybe the makers have made deliberately modest claims, although I find this highly unlikely. Personally, I have already lost 70 pounds without the help of any diet pills. I wanted to try Alli to see if it could help me break through a plateau and lose 20 more. I would be interested to hear any insight anyone has.I will post this in other message boards because I think it's something we all need to think about and if I am mistaken, I would be delighted to have someone explain to me how I am mistaken, because it seems to me that the numbers don't lie. Alli says it blocks 1/4 fat. 1 lb=3500 calories. Ya'll do the math and tell me if I'm wrong. I'm sure that the majority of us have turned to Alli because it requires a Herculean effort to stick to 1500 or 1800 calories a day. If we could do that, we'd be thin already! I wish everyone the best of luck, and I know that for some, weight loss can seem impossible; I know that that's how it seemed to me for a long time. I just hope that people aren't putting too much faith in a drug that might only be marginally effective

 

I had the same thought!  I also have lost 73 pounds with 20 to go.  I am trying Alli to get me over the plateau but there are many meals that I have only 5-6 grams of fat so I also was wondering how it would work for me!  Keep me updated on your progress.

I understand everything you wrote and you're right.  It doesn't add up.  What it does do, I think, is motivate people to eat healthier foods.  By spending money on the pills, I don't want to feel like I've thrown the money away, so I am eating better with lower fat and so is my hubby.  I think some people think it's a magic pill and they can continue to eat as they have in the past.  They will have a rude awakening.  But, perhaps the bad "treatment effects" will discourage them from eating so poorly and remind them.  Also, the effects may just discourage them from taking the Alli pill.    All I know is that I needed a boost and it seems to be working.  I know I'm going to be successful and I feel better already with just 2 days in.                Marsha

I'm so glad you brought this up emily.  I had been doing the exact same math and coming up with the same questions.  Are we missing something?  Mary

I think that you should try the drug. Sometimes you can't do everything yourself, not everyone is as good as you are about losing weight. I want people to try the drug and if it doesn't work for them then let them make that major decision. For the fda to approve this drug means atleast something has to be just right about it. so stop complaining enjoy your blessing. I am glad that you lost all of your weight. Now lets see if I can lose mine

There have been other post stating the same things as you mentioned about the math and how it doesn't add up.  Most of us realize this isn't a magic pill that isn't going to make our fat disappear over night, it's just a tool to help us on our journey.  I've been on South Beach Diet for 3 months and have lost almost 30lbs, but wanted to try Alli to see if it helps me through the plateaus and the threat of the "treatment affects" are enough to help keep me on the straight and narrow, also I've already noticed that I'm not just grabbing a bite of this or that without thinking about what it is and how much fat it has.  They have said all along that it isn't for everyone, and to lose weight we have to committ to the whole plan, diet and exercise.  Most of us are hoping it helps us lose it faster, and from reading posts of others who were on the prescription strength pills it seems they lost pretty fast, even those who didn't follow the plan, but they suffered the side affects.  Anyway, the way I see it, I've certainly blown money on worse things and if this does help keep me inline and IF it does help me lose a little more weight then it's worth every penny.  If I don't lose more or faster at least it's help keep me on the plan.

Marie

mraniewicz:

I understand everything you wrote and you're right.  It doesn't add up.  What it does do, I think, is motivate people to eat healthier foods.  By spending money on the pills, I don't want to feel like I've thrown the money away, so I am eating better with lower fat and so is my hubby.  I think some people think it's a magic pill and they can continue to eat as they have in the past.  They will have a rude awakening.  But, perhaps the bad "treatment effects" will discourage them from eating so poorly and remind them.  Also, the effects may just discourage them from taking the Alli pill.    All I know is that I needed a boost and it seems to be working.  I know I'm going to be successful and I feel better already with just 2 days in.                Marsha

Marsha... I think you hit the nail on the head.  If people are motivated to eat healthier because of the unwanted 'treatment effects' one will win in the long run!  This is no magic pill... it takes lots of hard work to lose weight and this is a tool to help people do just that. ~ Colleen

i agree but that would be false advertising and hearing we could lost 50% more is the reason we all went running out to buy it in the first place.

I FEEL THE SAME WAY YOU DO MRANIEWICZ, YES YOU CAN DO THE MATH ALL DAY CONCERNING ALLI, BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR ALLI I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO START EATING HEALTY. I HAVE BEEN ON THE ALLI PLAN 2 DAYS AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AND MYSELF. THESE PAST 2 DAYS I HAVE BEEN WATCHING MY FAT IN-TAKE AND CALORIES, AND HONESTLY HAVE LEARNED ALOT ABOUT FOOD, BECAUSE OFF ALLI. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH ENERGY THESE PAST FEW DAYS I FEEL GREAT AND PLAN ON CONTINUING MY HEALTHY EATING HABITS WITH OR WITHOUT ALLI.

   So what?!?!?  If the product helps men and women think about what they are putting in their mouths and instead helps them put down their fork...then so what!  How is it going to hurt you in the long run?  And if you have lost weight already and are happy with your current situation and its working for you..then kudos to you...others may not have the same willpower and even if it's only a small amount that they lose over time, it is STILL A LOSS!  For me..I have 9 lbs to lose to get back to my weight of 120 (I'm 5'4") after suffering a back injury and I take this only at night to keep me from snacking on my favorite food..peanut butter.   To others this may seem silly, but to me it is important..and just as important as 90lbs is to someone else. 

Stop for a moment, look in the mirror and remember how you felt 70lbs ago. Probably not as self assured (smug?!? superior?!?) as you feel today I'll bet.  Think about it. 

Thanks amandakjackson.  I wonder who is really writing all the negative posts, could it be other diet companies that haven't worked for all of us.   I view Alli as an internal monitoring system.  It will keep us on the right track eating healthy, which I had gotten away from.  Regarding the cost, you don't have to take one if you are consuming a low fat meal, such as a breakfast of Cereal, banana, milk, yogurt.  They will probably last longer than a month.

How can anyone be so judgemental about Alli after 2 days into it.Ease up, relax and enjoy the journey.

remember that you are buring some calories by working out everyday. It is recommended to workout 5 to 6 days per week. One during cardio and the other weight training then alternating. The weight comes on so easy. It takes hard work, and being commited to yourself to get the weight off. I lost alot of weight 30 lbs And let me tell you it was hard. I had to drag myself to the gym sometimes knowing if I just do it 15 min then I'll leave and then after 15 min it became 45 min. I had baby #2 and lost control and gained 65 lbs. Now I need to lose 25 more. I believe this will help get it off just alittle bit faster than without out it.