I could sure use some guidance/help here.  I'm one of the Alli "pioneers," beginning on June 17th and reaching my goal about 4 1/2 months later.  But there has been ABSOLUTELY NO HELP from Alli for managing weight loss, adding calories slowly.  Heck, even when I record my food, it still shows my "weight loss" calorie goal.  I think for many of us, this will be the most difficult part and yet we're just expected to flounder around and figure it out for ourselves.  If we were THAT good, we wouldn't have ended up chunky in the first place :-)

I'm speculating two things might have happened:

1. The folks at Alli haven't thought far enough ahead to figure out what to DO with all of the successful people--and the DB threads show that this is a fantastic plan.
2. The manufacturer is secretly hoping we'll all gain the weight back, have to purchase more of the prouct . . .  Ah consumerism at its most insididious . . .

I've asked for at least a maintenance thread so we can have a discussion board about the process.  NADA!!  Is anyone else as frustrated as I am??

Ann

You are so right in that maintaining is the hardest part of any program.  I lose 60lbs using Nutrisystem in 2001/02.  I was even in one of their infomercials.  However, there was NO maintenance program.  They sent me an email with some guidelines though so at least I wasn't high and dry.  Long story short, I gained the weight back over the last 3 years.  This is my first week on the Alli program.

Congrats to you on losing the weight.  Hopefully they will come up with something as I know lots of us plan on joining you at our goal weights and we'll all need a program for maintaining.

 Diana

Hey there foxy Prof - I sure hope you get some answers soon.  I know you posted a few weeks ago regarding the same issue.  It's going to be a LONG while for me before I get to that point - but it always helps to read that info in advance - that when WHEN it does happen, I'll be ready.

Sher

 I read a recent thread where Betty advised a user who had met her weight that once she felt comfortable stopping the pill to stay at the same calorie level until her body stabilized, then the calories could be slowly upped to the "regular" maitnenance level (this is the one that you used from freedieting.com but not subtracting 500-1000 calories).

Balancing your nutrients in the same way that the Alli has you balance them (see Betty's post on fat grams) seems to be the best road. I pretty much average 50-55% carbs and the balance between fat and protein. While I have not been taking the pill since September 1, I am still losing fat, using the Alli diet and exercise program alone.

Hope these suggestions are of help to you.

Jim 

Thanks so much Jim,

I'm just so cared that I'll gain all of the weight back again :-)

Ann

 Hey, once you go into the maintenance plan you have about 6 months full access to the Alli boards. I would encourage you to take full advantage of the experts here to continue building on your success and developing a healthy post-Alli eating and exercise program.

By the way, CONGRATULATIONS on making your goal. You should be so proud.

You can keep going, and we can help you!

Jim 

On 11/10 on the dietician forum, Pat Baird promised an added maintenance component, hopefully by the end of the year: http://community.myalli.com/forums/t/24086.aspx 

I hope it includes access to the nutriton log and journal, because otherwise we're all booted off them a few months after we take our last pill.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil!!!  Keep asking and mybe they will finally listen to you!!

Kathy F

Congrats on meeting your goal!!!!

Thanks so much - I guess I'm just a little "miffed" that there's no exit strategy :-)

I'm doing OK, but I feel like I'm on my own:  on the plus side, I'll have lots of advice for others when they reach their goal.

I am continuing the nutrition log etc.  BUT the problem is that the daily calorie total is the same as for my weight loss plan (a whopping 1200).  I'm kind of adding slowly myself.  We'll see. Right now I'm lobbying for at least a maintenance discussion thread.

forkush:

On 11/10 on the dietician forum, Pat Baird promised an added maintenance component, hopefully by the end of the year: http://community.myalli.com/forums/t/24086.aspx 

I hope it includes access to the nutriton log and journal, because otherwise we're all booted off them a few months after we take our last pill.

I actually started preparing for this 3 weeks into Alli.

Since I found the Calorie King software to have a more comprehensive food database, I started using it back then to record all my food and measurements. 

And besides that, when you switch into "maintenance" on the Alli board you will get a full 6 months to use the food and diet logs. All that you can't track is your weight, but you can do that on your own.

best of success to you.

Jim 

Hi Ann,

Your success happened much faster than anticipated. I have put the requests for a maintenance plan in so I know that it is being worked on. For now, you can determine your maintenance calorie needs so that you won't have to worry about gaining your weight back. Go to http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm to get your maintenance needs. Your activity level may vary so do not overestimate what you are doing. You can use this number as your calorie budget and this board as your source of support. You can share whatever issues come up while you are maintaining and I will assist you whenever possible. The best way to get through this is live it. I am not going anywhere so you won't be alone.

Congratulations on your success,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

OMG Betty - I knew I could count on you:  I just didn't want to "bug" you with another to Betty post.  I will go to the website, and hopefully I'll have lots of advice for my "friends" on this website when they go through maintenance.   

I've actually lost another couple of pounds since beginning maintenance - so it's a good thing I decided to stop at the goal I'd set.  I've even got a "new" pixie-type short haircut (now that I actually have cheekbones and a chin :-)  

 I'll be in touch.  Thanks for the offer of help.

Ann

I have a question Betty....

I haven't had much success recently with my diet.  I've found myself continuously going over my calories and even though I'm renewing my commitment every morning to doing it, by the end of the day, I'm over my calories again.  I think this is maybe a good point for me to just kick into "maintenance" mode.  I'm 5'8" and 155 pounds (and currently a size juniors/8 jeans) so I'm at a healthy weight, and really look pretty decent.  I'm happy with my weight loss but was sort of hoping to lose a few more pounds. (5-10 pounds more if possible)

I'm considering moving into a maintenance mode, but making my maintenance 100-200 calories less than what would actually be my maintenance calories.   I should still lose some weight, right?  Obviously it would be slower weight loss than I enjoyed with my previous diet, but I would continue to lose until I reached the point when the amount of calories I'm taking in equal my maintenance calories.  Am I thinking this through correctly?

I guess I think this might be a better plan for me since 1) I already am at a decent weight and 2)If I can't stick to the maintenance calories, then theres no reason for me to try to continue losing weight because I won't keep it off anyway.  I think that my second reason would really help me discipline myself and to not exceed the calories I'm supposed to take in. 

I'm gonna continue exercising 5 days a week.  I currently do either a workout video or jog for about 50 minutes.  I have a heart monitor that I really like that helps me keep myself in the proper intensity.  The only weakness I have is strength training.  My work out videos do a pretty good job of some strength training (Tae-Bo, The Firm) but I just don't enjoy strength training for some reason and so I certainly don't go out of my way to do extra.

Yesterday I took a fall on my run, so I'm afraid I won't be exercising much this next week due to a hurt knee (great timing with the holidays, huh?) but I'm confident that I'll start working out again once I can freely move my knee again. 

Hi Ann,

Please do not ever hesitate to ask me a question. I am here to take care of you, not vice versa :o) I can guarantee that whatever you have to ask me is on someone else's mind as well. I know that you've been here since the beginning, but that doesn't mean that you have met your quota for questions. There are a lot of new things to learn and it's easy to forget things that you were told months ago. I hope that this is clear and that you will reach out whenever you need to.

I love that you cut your hair. You really are a new you!

Congratulations,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi Lilnoelle,

Congratulations on your success!  It sounds like you are definitely at a weight that would be good for maintenance. I usually recommend taking off enough weight that you are comfortable with and maintaining that before going further. This give you a chance to get used the changes that you have made. The small calorie deficit that you are planning will result in more weight loss over time. Your activity can also take off more inches without any weight loss.

I am sorry to hear about your injury. Make sure that you give yourself time to heal and see a doctor if the problem continues. I know that it annoying to get injured, but things like this happen and it's important to heal correctly.

I am here for any questions so let me know if there is anything else that I can help with.

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD