This is where I belong, at 38 Im in at 174lbs. I have not struggled with weight until I was about 34. My goal is to get to 135. This day 2 in to my alli plan and my first weigh in is on 10/17/08. But my only confusion is that I have yet to see any changes in the way I go to the bath room. (For lack of a better term) Also, Im not sure if I should take the pill before or after my meal. Can someone please give me some feed back.

Oh my gosh!! So many new people - welcome!!! I'm going to try to comment on a bunch of posts, but first my own update.

I admit it - I haven't checked in in weeks. My weight is way up, and I forgot to take the Alli. BUT!! I am starting fresh!! I'm still down substantially from my original weight of 206.  So - I'm restarting at 194.  The big news - we finally bought our Wii!! All of us (including the kids) saved up our pennies (literally - Coinstar lets you count your coins for free if you get a gift certificate instead of cash, so we got a Circuit City gift certificate) and Sunday we bought the Wii.  Yesterday I went out and got Dance, Dance Revolution.  It has a workout mode, so I'm using it!! Yeah!! I feel really good about restarting.

So - some shout outs.

Tami - congratulations on your fantastic weight loss! When we come to Alaska, maybe we'll be able to visit you as well!!

Rosie and Susan - welcome as well!! We're glad you joined us, hope your first weeks are going well!! This journey is well worth it!

Gail - OMG 2 lbs!!  HAPPY DANCE FOR GAIL!!!!

Kathie - welcome, you've found a good group! (Although we've been a little quiet lately - I think our lives are catching up with us).

Elizabeth - Welcome!! We're glad you joined us.  I've been on Alli (and before that Xenical - the prescription version) for about a year and a half.  My experience is that it took a few days for any changes to appear.  Also, people react differently. Some people have little to no reaction, others of us (me included) do have effects.  It really depends on how much fat you eat - you need to get enough, or it doesn't work. Too much - head for the bathroom.

My biggest advice for the first few weeks, if you feel like you have gas, go to the bathroom - as it may not be just gas.  I didn't have any uncontrollable issues once I started Alli (Xenical was a different situation - stronger dose and no support group) but definitely needed the bathroom.

I'm really excited about working out again - I eat so much better when I work out.  

Finally, a note about other things.  It has been really stressful time, even outside the weight loss situation.  When you pick up a paper and hear about the credit squeeze, the housing crisis, etc., please send a good thought my way. Although we were not subprime borrowers in a mortgage we couldn't afford, our efforts to assist family through a difficult time have landed us with a short sale and the credit squeeze has affected our business.  So - please send us good thoughts, we need them!!

Take care - talk to everyone soon!

Sharona

 Thanks for all of your encouraging words, I think I will get the hang of this. This is my first time on a messge board every. It feels so good to be able to talk to women my age and with the same goals as my self. Also, we are HUGE Wii fans, we mostly box, play baseball and my two boys (17 and 9) hunt. I cant wait to tell my husband about the dance game he thinks we are still in the 80's. lol.

 Sharona,

I am so proud of you!  Happy Dancing coming your way!!!  Think of me when you exercise with your Wii :)!  I may just have to break down and get on that wagon...It looks like alot of fun.

Gotta run.  Will write more later!

Marcia

 Sharona, Thanks for the info. I had a high fat meal-boy did I learn the hard way. I won't do that again. Thanks for the response. My husband and I are being affected by the stock market drops big time. Scary time, but we will hang in there. I hope everyone has a great week!

Kathie

I am new to the Alli program. My current weight is 204 pounds. My goal is lose 80 pounds in the next year or so. I am 37. I have not thought about turning 40 yet. Maybe a little denial (my oldest went to college this year). But I do want to get in shape and feel better.

I have a hubby and 4 daughters (ages 18, 16, 10 & 7). I spend most of my time in the car driving the girls to work and school.

I decided I should spend more time focusing on myself this year. Getting in shape seems like the best thing for me. I really want to be successful in this. I went to the grocery and bought low fat, whole wheat stuff. The girls are having a hard time accepting this sort of food. I hope that they come around before I give in and ruin my own diet.

I actually bought the alli started pack about 3 weeks ago. I was afraid to begin. The Treatment Effects worry me. I began changing my diet last week. I began taking the alli this morning while I was still groggy and didn't have time to think about it.
My biggest problem is that I cannot seem to eat enough food to reach the calorie goal for each day. I find I am always about 500 short. Especially if I eat healthy foods. I had the same problem with weight watcher points, I had to eat junk food to get anywhere near the daily points. I can't do that with this diet because I don't want any effects.

Lori

 Happy Dancing For You Tami!!  Four pounds gone forever!!!

Sodium is so sneaky...it's even high in some of the prepared low cal meals that look like they'd make a good choice for our diet plan.  I've started using Lemon Pepper to add flavor and avoid adding salt.  But I really like salt so that is a difficult thing for me to do...

I lost 3 pounds and 2 more inches this week.  I need to work on my stomach so I have a balance ball in the living room.  Maybe if I trip over it often enough, I'll actually start using the thing!

Hope you are having a great week!  We've had snow already-yeah!!

Marcia

 Congratulations on your commitment Lori!

Try adding a snack or two throughout the day to get the extra calories.  I like lowfat flavored yogurt, some nuts, and fresh fruit or veggies.  Hard boiled eggs are good to keep on hand also.

There are a couple of threads on this website that discuss the need to get your calories and fat grams that might offer you some advice.  Good luck!

Marcia

 Heya Wendy,

I began taking Alli about a year ago. I have maintained a regular exersize schedule, stuck to the plan, and well ... I feel like a million bucks! I have lost 60 lbs so far!

I have been heavy all of my life and started last year at 235 lbs ... I now weigh 175 lbs and I just bought a new pair of size 10 slacks ... they look awesome. My goal is 160 so I have a little way to go yet but I'm on a roll! :D I am a believer in that anyone who is serious about losing weight and changing their life ... can do it with Alli!

All my best ~ And keep up the great work everyone!

E.M. Bell

Good Afternoon Team 40ish!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted, probably because of the other ways of communication.  Anyways, I just wanted to say Hi and Welcome to all of our new members!  Glad to have you here with us!!

I also want to send out a HUGE Happy Dance for all of the losers!!

Way to Go - Happy Dancing for ALL of YOU!!

I'd love to go back and give responses to the individual posts, but just don't really have the time right now!

Did want to say congrats to you Sharona on the purchase of the Wii - I'm loving mine - been doing the wii fit just about everyday.  I also got Mario Cart and it is sooo fun!!  I think we'll get the Dance, Dance Revolution at Christmas time.

News on my front - I quit smoking on Monday - this was a plan my husband had for his birthday present - that we both quit smoking for his birthday (which was Sunday).  Well, I'm proud to say that I'm still smoke-free, but my husband is having a huge struggle with it.  My biggest problem right now - I am an eating machine - seriously!  I've been stuffing myself until my stomach hurts, but then I find room for more.  I think this is better than smoking, but I have to find a way to rein the eating in, and I'm not having any luck so far (coming from the girl that just shoveled in 4, yes 4 pieces of pizza at lunch - OMG).  At least I'm still exercising everyday, but I'm sure it's not going to be enough to avoid gaining weight - especially the way I've been eating.  Oh well, I'll try to work on the eating, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it right now - my main focus is to not smoke!!  I can't gain too much weight though, I gave away all of my clothes that were too big, and I refuse to buy new big clothes, if you know what I mean.

Well, I think I'm going to go take a walk and try to burn off some of the pizza I just ate :-)

Welcome again to all our new members and a shout out to the Fab Five!!

Take Care!

Bobbi

 Bobbi;

I loved the House Party Pics!  What an exciting few weeks you've had with the House Party, Sharona's visit, all the celebrations-wow!  You rock!!

Good luck with the smoking.  My plan is to quit this month too!  Now that alot of my stress at work has been removed I know I will succeed.  Are you going cold turkey or using a stop smoking aid?  My dr. has written me a prescription for some new drug that she recommends.  Her nurse is using it and has quit with no weight gain, no problems, and he says no urges to smoke.  Insurance doesn't cover the prescription so I don't know if I will use it or the lozenges.  Lozenges helped last year.

I guess I have to get on the Wii wagon, especially with the Dance Revolution or whatever it is called ;)!  I need to change up my exercise.  Can you imagine all of us Dancing at home at the same time?  It adds another dimension to our "Happy Dancing" call out-lol.

Take care and good luck to everyone this week!

Marcia

 Hey girls!!!

Just thought I'd finally check in. Here it goes.... and the number is........ 190 . Okay I only lost .4 so to this board it officailly doesn't count but it's better than nothing. Considering that i haven't done so well.  Yesterday I had a day off from school so I got the morning to myself! It hasn't happened for awhile so I enjoyed it. I went into town ( for those of you who don't know town consists of like 500 or less people and  not a street light in the county don't blink)  anyways, I walked along the river and took pics. The leaves haven't changed a whole lot yet but they are starting. Then I went up the hill to the Dam and walked around in the woods hiking for about a total of 1 1/2 hours of total walking time. I felt so good!  It was a beautiful day and when I download the pics I will send them to the FAB FIVE!!!  I love the name!!!  

I'm so jealous of you Wii girls!  I think that Dance Dance Revolution would be awesome. That is my kind of workout. There is a woman who does arebocis in "town" also it starts in Oct. around the 20th . I may start it again . It is Mon and Wed even. and I may be able to swing that after volleyball. I always love to DANCE!

Bobbi, I am so proud of you with the smoking!!! I have heard that it is so hard ! I have never really smoked ( besides a few when I have been drinking)   but I am so proud of the both of you for quitting! What a great present to both of you !  I wish you continued success! 

HELLO to all the newbies again!  We are becoming the place to be aren't we???  I wish I had time to check out all the post , also . but  I have a lot to do. I may get some time on Friday.  

Hope that all is well with everyone and congrats to all our LOSERS.  ( I didn't get to watch it yet but I will)  Take care.

Gail

 Tami;

How are things going?  Have you been to the gym?  I start back next week.  I wanted to give myself time to adjust to my new work schedule before attempting to add something else.  Work has been great!  Today I have training with the Union for Shop Stewards so I am trying to catch up with everyone before the weekend starts. 

My body doesn't know how to handle the time change yet. LOL  I sleep for a few hours then I get up, watch tv, walk the dogs, and eat.  Then I sleep, get up, do the dishes, clean something, and lay down.  When it gets close to time to get up I can't go back to sleep because I'm afraid I'll sleep through my alarm!

We had real snow this week.  It will probably melt off today.  We are expecting rain and warmer temps. 

Better run.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Marcia

 GAIL LOST 0.4...HAPPY DANCING COMING YOUR WAY!

My philosophy is anything down is good.  Even staying the same can be just fine!  I think I need to buy a better scale too.  One with great big numbers so I can read them without my glasses.  Or maybe like they have at the docs office with the balance near your eyes or a digital print screen in front of my face.  You know I need all the help I can get-lol!

Glad to hear you are getting into walking again.  The pics are awesome!

Marcia

 ElizabethS;

You'll definitely notice bathroom changes if you go over your fat grams!  Like Katheen said, if you feel like you have gas, head to the potty.  I don't think it matters if you take alli before or after your meals as long as it is around the same time as you eat so as to get the greatest effect.  I pack my food so I keep my alli in my lunchbox.  I try to make things as easy for myself as I can-that's just what works for me.  You'll get the hang of things and find what works for you.

Hope this helps and congratulations on your commitment to a better life!

Marcia