janlaw1:

 Can you please discuss the pros/cons of eating below your calorie/fat limit.  I am on 1600/54grm.  and I am having a hard time reaching them (funny that was not the case only a few short months ago!).  I have lost 12 lbs. in seven weeks, but this week was barely 1 lb.  Is that normal or should I be making every effort to reach my 1600?  I have been  averaging 1300/33.

I suggest you go to the very first post on this thread; and the very first post on the thread: ****READ FIRST: Why you need to reach your fat..."  Both were written by one of the other dietitians that cover the alli message boards.

Also read some of the posts that follow because you'll see how people improved their results when they were closer to their recommended levels.

Hope that helps.

Pat

 I just started about a week ago and find it difficult balancing the calories, fat, carbs and fiber.  Experts say too much carbs isn't good for you.  Then you say that the calories and fat have to be at a certain place.  It's hard to find something because if it's high in fiber it is also high in carbs.  What do you do in situations like this?  I have found myself going a little bit over in calories and a little under in fat intake.  What can I do?  Eating higher fat/low cal foods are kinda hard to find.  Any suggestions?

Hi "drbjaded,"

I found that the easiest food to add in needed fat with minimal calories are olives.  They are 5 calories each, the ones stuffed with the pimentos.  Each one has about a half-gram of fat.

Peanut butter is good, too.  It's 8 grams of fat for 1 tablespoon and 95 calories.

You can add nuts and cheese to salads, too.  The ratio of fat to calories is high on those.  One big nut like a pecan is about a gram of fat.

I end up lower in fiber than where I want to be most days, and, too high in saturated fat and sodium, and, very low on iron, but, you know it's not about trying to get it perfect, just good enough.  Dieting is hard enough already!

:-)

Olga

drbjaded:

 I just started about a week ago and find it difficult balancing the calories, fat, carbs and fiber.  Experts say too much carbs isn't good for you.  Then you say that the calories and fat have to be at a certain place.  It's hard to find something because if it's high in fiber it is also high in carbs.  What do you do in situations like this?  I have found myself going a little bit over in calories and a little under in fat intake.  What can I do?  Eating higher fat/low cal foods are kinda hard to find.  Any suggestions?

You've gotten some good suggestions from Mother of... and I would add that I'd recommend taking this in samll steps.  First try to stay close to the recommended amount of calories and fat each day. 

You can take a look at the Sample Menus for your level to get an idea of how to distribute each throughout the day, and also see that you can have a variety of foods.

When you feel more comfortable then you can look at tweaking you sodium, fiber etc.   This is a new process and it takes a little time to learn any new skill so be patient with your self.

You can also start a new topic on your own and you'll get a faster reply from one of the dietitians.  If you'd like me to reply, just put "Pat, please read" in the subject line.

I hope this helps.

PAt

 Im confussed you mean I have to eat 1800 calories a day to loose weight... I dont eat that now.. I am a diaetic, and very careful what I eat....

The amount of calories and fat that's recommended when you register for the "myalliplan" is generally very accurate.  That's because it's based on all the personal information you provided.

The meals plans are all based on the guidelines of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetic Association so they should suit your needs.  Even if you choose not to follow the Sample Menus precisely, and use them as a guide to plan your own menus, you'll still have the same distribution of nutrients: 30% fat, 20% protein and about 50% carbohydrate.

Pat

The program "Biggest Loser" has them lose the max they can per week.  I love to watch the program to stay motivated and to listen to their tips.  I realize these people have a lot of weight to lose but it is perceived that it is ok to lose that much weight.  What is your take on this?

suecr:

The program "Biggest Loser" has them lose the max they can per week.  I love to watch the program to stay motivated and to listen to their tips.  I realize these people have a lot of weight to lose but it is perceived that it is ok to lose that much weight.  What is your take on this?

 The degree of weight loss is a personal, and sometimes a medical, decision.  We do know that as little as 5 or 10% weight loss can greatly improve risks for heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems related to overweight and obesity.

It's good that the show keeps you motivated.  What's most important is that people do it safely, eat a health diet and drink water and other fluids.  Sometimes a doctor's supervision is advised.  I hope this helps.

Pat

I am starting Alli on Monday..I bout my starter kit on Wednesday and just had a visit with a nutritionist today who did a RMR on me and my results were 2150 cal. And she gave me a diet that says I need to eat no less than 1985 up to/ and possibly more than 2200 a day. With a fat intake of about 60 grams. Which was a BIG shock, since I usually have a hard time eating 1800 cals a day.

I was wondering if this will affect me using Alli? Is there any special steps I should take since according to My Alli Plan I should be eating a lower number of calories?

 My calorie goal is 1800 Calories, but this is more food than I'm used to.  I do better w/1200-1400 calories.  My current weight is 227.5 and I'm 5'6".  I have tried other diets and it seems that their target calorie count for me is 1200 calories.  I work and have problems getting in the activities and my job is sedentary in nature.  Please advise.

Hi Leslie,

I started alli very close in weight and height to you.  I found 1800 calories too much and after a few days, I dropped down to 1600 calories per day.  It's worked out fine for me.  The alli plan is not an ultra-low calorie plan, though, nor is it an ultra-low fat plan.  Remember that with the alli pills, you'll get rid of about 150 calories a day in the fat that alli eliminates for you, so, sticking to 1600 calories is more like a 1450 calorie per day diet.  Anyway, my suggestion is to try the alli menu meals or variations of them to hit the calories and fat grams for each meal, and, then, after a couple of days, if that isn't feeling good to you, drop down to 1600 calories per day.  I wouldn't drop down below that, not without giving it a week or two.  Losing more than 2 pounds per week is not the best way to lose weight.  Also, make sure you hit your fat gram targets with each meal rather than "saving" up your fat for one bigger meal per day or not reaching your fat grams at any of your meals.  It's important to reach the fat grams or the rest of your diet/nutrition doesn't add up.  If you don't have enough fat grams, you might end up with too many carbs or more protein than in the alli plan. 

Bottom line, try to have 30% of your calories from each meal be from fat, and, don't have more than two teaspoons of liquid fat (butter, oil, salad dressing, mayo) per day while taking the alli pills or you'll risk getting cramps and diarrhea.

Good luck to you, and, welcome!

Olga