Hello, The post on using nuts as a fat filler is great advice. I am new to the program just started yesterday.Among other things, I am a student I usually end up working on homework late until early morning and then I am up all day with normal routine my problem is snacking while I am working I really like the advice and will get some nuts today. Thanks! Optimistic.

Thanks so much for explaining this because I read all these posts about eating more fat and adding fat to their diet and I was really confused. I just figured the less fat you eat the better it would work...guess I was totally wrong! Anyway, it was very helpfull in understanding how to plan meals and knowing I should eat that much fat is kinda uplifting! I feel dumb that I didnt get that at the beginning because I've been on alli a little over 2 months now and have been pretty sucessfull but have been plateauing lately and wondering why...but thanks again

Hello Ms.Kovacs,

I read the above article.  I have been on Alli for 6 weeks.  The last two weeks I started exercising two hours a week at the gym.  I did not lose any weight the last two weeks.  I have been eating my 1800 calories, but really struggle to get the 19 grams of fat in per meal.  I have been averaging 30 grams of fat per day.  My question is this:  why should I increase my fat intake to be 60 grams a day?  Why not just stop the Alli supplement on the days that I can't reach the 60 grams of fat?  I understand about the carb percentage going up when the fat calories go down.  When I was following a 1600 ADA (I'm not diabetic, but it's heart healthy), I did not have to have so many fats.  Thank you in advance for answering my question.  Ms.Deputy

HI:

So you are saying that I have to consume 15 grams of fat with each meal for this diet/weight loss to work?

There is no way I can consume 15 grams of fat for breakfast. I am not a breakfast person and usually its cereal and skim milk.  I don't want to force those grams on myself. I thought the booklet said to not exceed 15 but you can do less.

Am I confused?

 ive just started alli in Australia and this was realy helpfull

thanks heaps

chelseayeager:

Thanks so much for explaining this because I read all these posts about eating more fat and adding fat to their diet and I was really confused. I just figured the less fat you eat the better it would work...guess I was totally wrong! Anyway, it was very helpfull in understanding how to plan meals and knowing I should eat that much fat is kinda uplifting! I feel dumb that I didnt get that at the beginning because I've been on alli a little over 2 months now and have been pretty sucessfull but have been plateauing lately and wondering why...but thanks again

 Glad these posts were helpful.  Many of us believe that "less is better" but it's not the case with alli, and if your fat was too low that may be the reason you've plateaued.  However, stay focused and weight loss WILL resume again...I promise.

It's not unusual for someone to plateau, and there's no predicting why or when someone will (many people don't!).  You can always double-check your accuracy and weigh and measure everything you eat and drink for a week to be sure.  It helps show you waht a portion "looks like" -- and it generally gets people losing weight again.

I hope this helps.

Pat

shabam440:

I am just wondering,have you ever heard of someone having a hard time reaching their recommended fat grams? I know it sounds funny, but i struggle to get up to the amount of fat grams im supposed to be eating most meals,except dinner. Breakfast and lunch are a challenge for me to get to that many grams of fat. Who knew an overweight person would have this problem! Anyone with any ideas or have the same problem,......talk to me

Nancy

 You're not alone.  Some people do have a problem -- especially at breakfast.  So we have revised to say that if someone has 5 grams of fat - or less - they can skip the capsule.  But that shouldn't be for more than one meal per day.  The other two should come in close to - or at - the recommended amount.

Hope this helps.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of this message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.

chummel:

I, too, have a very hard time reaching my fat grams.  I am not that overweight, but, for my height, I am.  So, every extra pound shows.  This is my 10th day on Alli and I have not lost a pound.  I've tried very hard to reach my amount of calories and fat, but, it has been harder than I thought it would be.  I wonder when I'll see any loss?????, if I will.......

Discouraged, Connie

 If you meet the height and weight on the back of the Starter Kit, then alli is appropriate for you.  The less weight someone has to lose the slower it will go.  That's just a protective mechanism the body has.

It's possible you're eating more calories than you realize -- very, very easy to do!  I suggest you weigh and measure everything you eat and drink for at least a week to be sure your numbers are right.  Often that helps people...and of course it's always good to add some activity.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of this message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.

tampabayb:

Hello Ms.Kovacs,

I read the above article.  I have been on Alli for 6 weeks.  The last two weeks I started exercising two hours a week at the gym.  I did not lose any weight the last two weeks.  I have been eating my 1800 calories, but really struggle to get the 19 grams of fat in per meal.  I have been averaging 30 grams of fat per day.  My question is this:  why should I increase my fat intake to be 60 grams a day?  Why not just stop the Alli supplement on the days that I can't reach the 60 grams of fat?  I understand about the carb percentage going up when the fat calories go down.  When I was following a 1600 ADA (I'm not diabetic, but it's heart healthy), I did not have to have so many fats.  Thank you in advance for answering my question.  Ms.Deputy

 The alli diet is based on 30% total calories from fat; 20% protein and 50% carb.  That's similar to the diet of the American Heart Association, the American Diabetic Association and the Dietary Guidelines.

One of the main points of the alli Program is to get people into a consistent, healthy pattern of eating, exercising, journaling, etc.  so varying calories and fat falls away from that.  In addition, the claim that :alli helps people lose 50% more weight than just diet alone" is based on over 100 research studies using the formula of calorie distribution above + 1 capsule with each meal.  I can't speak to what the results might be if that's changed.

I hope this helps.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of this message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.

Jancy16:

so if I reach my fat intake goal of 15 grams of fat per meal, and accidentally go over say 3 grams, am I going to experience treatment effects?  Just wondering because in the comanion guide on page 20, people who can have an intake of 1800 per day can have up to 19 grams of fat per meal...do they always experince treatment effects since they are eating more than 15 grams of fat per meal?

Hope that makes sense.

~J

 Fifteen grams of fat is actually the average amount of fat per meal in the four alli calorie levels.  The overall composition of the alli diet is 30% total calories from fat; 20% protein; and 50% carbohydrate -- so the 19 grams represents 30% of the total daily calories converted to grams and divided among three meals.

TE's can vary.  Each person has their own threshold, so to speak.  Some will get serious TE's if they go over by more than 5 grams;  I don't believe there's a magic number once someone goes over the 30%.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of this message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.

tbirdebbie:

Ok, this is week 3 for me and reading all these posts I am getting confused.  I have lost 6 lbs. so far.  What I am getting confused about is reaching the fat grams per meal.  I can not do this by eating fatfree or low fat items.  Am I suppose to be going over the 15 grams per meal in order for the alli pill to work?  Am I suppose to have treatment effects for this to work &help me lose more weight?  Most meals I consume are from 5-10 grams of fat and stay below on my calories.  I know that I am eating better these days and am dropping a pound or so each week but I do not have a complete understanding of reaching the fat grams.

HELP!
***DAZED & CONFUSED

 You're correct about using less FF items.  In many cases the LF and regular are just what you need to get you to your recommended amounts.  You're not supposed to have TE's but eating the recommended amount of fat (and other foods) not only provides a healthier, balanced diet but it's the way that alli gives best results.  Not eating enough fat - as you've read above - will slow down weight loss.

So you can sprinkle some nuts into cereal or a salad; add some chopped avocado to sandwiches or salads, etc. to bring your fat up as well as use regular or LF salad dressings.

I realize this goes against all we've been brainwashed to do - eat as much FF as possible - but it's true.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of this message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.

pearlgrl:

HI:

So you are saying that I have to consume 15 grams of fat with each meal for this diet/weight loss to work?

There is no way I can consume 15 grams of fat for breakfast. I am not a breakfast person and usually its cereal and skim milk.  I don't want to force those grams on myself. I thought the booklet said to not exceed 15 but you can do less.

 

Am I confused?

 We're saying it's important to have whatever the recommended amount of fat is.  That can vary from 12 grams per meal to 19 grams depending on the calorie level.

That said, it's fine to have the breakfast you're accustomed to eating and skip the capsule (anytime it's 5 grams or less), but that shouldn't be for more than one meal per day.  The other two should be as close as possible to your recommended level.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of this message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.

Hi:

Thanks for the info. So I decided to up my fat in take.  I had a sandwich for lunch one day--rye bread but with some mayo--trying to have 15 grams of fat for lunch is hard too.  For dinner its not so hard.  But I have had no treatment effects and only once saw anything oily in my stool. I have to say that I have been eating and taking the pill and although my stool is much darker than ever (So I think that's the fat) I have lost NO weight and I started on June 28th which was a sat.  I have not lost one pound.  Like another person posted, I know my clothes are more loose but I think the 14lbs I lost prior from May until I started Alli were from old fashioned dieting and exercising at the gym.

I really though alli would help me --boost me a little.  Am I expecting something too soon? Should I keep taking it?

I might finish this month--the 90 pills and then stop.  Anyone else having some slow progress???

I only need to lose 40 and so far I did lose 14 but before Alli. Now nothing! Am I not eating enough fat?  I didn't have a high fat diet before but at dinner I can eat 15 for sure.  Lunch, not really.  I don't eat junk very often and dinner I might have cheese or meat so the fat is there.

 I think Im in the same boat as you.  I started at 253lbs and thru good old fashioned exercise and healthy eating I managed to drop down to 179lbs.  But, due to circumstances I had to stop my exercise routine and my eating habits took a slight turn for the worse.  I got back up to 195lbs.  I felt discouraged after my unexpected ordeal and decided to try Alli.  I have been on this product for 2 1/2 weeks now and have seen no weight loss. 

Perhaps for individuals who have experience in keeping meals and snacks balanced and low in fat  - Alli may not be the best choice?

It seems to me, if a person is eating the right amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates....Alli is simply taking away the fats the body needs and, therefore, putting a stop to weight loss efforts.

If anyone can shed any light on this please do.  If healthy eating and exercise is all it takes...then Alli, along with all other weight loss supplements, seems a waste of time and money.

By the way, if Alli works for you that is wonderful!  I'm not knocking Alli's efforts in trying to change the way people look at and consume foods.  I'm simply trying to understand some of the mechanics behind Alli.  Thanks!

pearlgrl:

Hi:

Thanks for the info. So I decided to up my fat in take.  I had a sandwich for lunch one day--rye bread but with some mayo--trying to have 15 grams of fat for lunch is hard too.  For dinner its not so hard.  But I have had no treatment effects and only once saw anything oily in my stool. I have to say that I have been eating and taking the pill and although my stool is much darker than ever (So I think that's the fat) I have lost NO weight and I started on June 28th which was a sat.  I have not lost one pound.  Like another person posted, I know my clothes are more loose but I think the 14lbs I lost prior from May until I started Alli were from old fashioned dieting and exercising at the gym.

I really though alli would help me --boost me a little.  Am I expecting something too soon? Should I keep taking it?

I might finish this month--the 90 pills and then stop.  Anyone else having some slow progress???

I only need to lose 40 and so far I did lose 14 but before Alli. Now nothing! Am I not eating enough fat?  I didn't have a high fat diet before but at dinner I can eat 15 for sure.  Lunch, not really.  I don't eat junk very often and dinner I might have cheese or meat so the fat is there.

 

If I'm reading correctly, and you have not lost one pound since June 28th (one month) something is wrong.  It could be from not enough fat and/or not enough calories; or too little (or enough fat) and too many calories.  At the end of the day, a calorie is a calorie, is a calorie.

So-oo, when people are in this situation I recommend they weigh and measre everything they eat and drink for at least a week.  It's a great way to learn what portions "look" like and usually results in some weight loss.  That's because it's very, very easy to underestimate portions and a few extra here and there can add up.  The result is no wieght loss.

I hope this helps.

Pat

Please post additional questions on the main portion of the Dietitians message board.  Feel free to mark it "Pat, please reply" if you'd like me to answer. My colleague, Sylvia Melendez (who is terrific!) also covers the board.  We don't check this thread frequently as we meant the top post for information only -- but we weren't clear about that.