I am looking to lose at least 50 pounds.  I don't have a real goal date set yet but I guess I should.  I have been trying everything this year to lose weight and the pounds keep packing on.  I have gained 10 pounds in the past month while on a low fat diet and working out 3 times a week.  I am upping that to at least 5 days a week of a workout and cutting even more out of my diet.  Any suggestions from anyone would be great as I am really just getting frustrated and want to give up more and more.

 Hey steph,

I'm no expert, but I know exactly what you're feeling.  I, too, started out the summer on my own "plan" to lose weight.  I cut out most refined sugars and sodas, cut back on anything with enriched flour and cut out all fried foods.  I basically went to fresh fruits and veggies, low-fat/high protein options and drinking nothing but water.  I worked out 6 days a week for an hour a day and I didn't lose a pound.  I was so frustrated and couldn't figure it out.  One thing I did learn through it all was that muscle weighs more than fat, so instead of relying on the scale for results, I started measuring my body (arms, waist, hips, thighs, etc).  It turns out that I was losing inches even though my weight didn't really budge.  Since I was doing things the "right way" as opposed to the "quick and unhealthy" way, the progress was slow.  I got discouraged after a few weeks (and only a few inches) and gave up.  Now, I'm on day 3 of the Alli program and am more determined than ever to see this through and make a change for the rest of my life. 

I'm still having trouble getting a grasp on the "eat more to lose more" concept.  It's hard to break old habits (you know, starvation, deprivation, exhaustion) and embrace new ones (eating full meals and actually consuming fat).  If you read through some of the posts on this site, you will get a real feel for how this program can work for you if you really put in the effort.  No one said it would be easy, and everyone will have good days and bad days.  Just know that you're not alone and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the exact same position as you are.  We're frustrated, angry,  discouraged, but we're also motivated, strong and empowered because we have this option to help us reach our goals.

Keep working at it.  Re-evaluate what you're eating and don't starve yourself.  If you're supposed to eat 1800 calories a day, then eat 1800 calories a day.  Just make sure the foods you're eating fall within the guidelines of the program.  If you're exercising more, then you may need to eat more since you're using up more calories each day.  Your body will go into "starvation mode" if it thinks you are taking away too many calories too fast.  This could part of your problem.

Don't give up.  This is supposed to be a positive experience where you are reclaiming your health and your life.  You have tons of support on this site, so if you get down, just come here and get with people who are facing the same challenges as you.  You're not alone.

Best of luck!!

 Thanks for all of your words of encouragement.  I really need to get a real meal plan in place.  I am having a hard time keeping track of what I should eat and how much.  I have considered using the Alli meal plan however it takes so much work for me to substitute items that will suit my whole family.  It really makes it difficult to choose foods so that I don't have to cook more than one meal.  I might have to find some cookbooks to start planning my meals so that I feel like I can really follow a healthy diet that fits into my life.

I feel the same. I'm only 20 and I've gained 30 pounds in the last 5 months. I can carry my weight but I feel gross. Its like i got comfortable in my relationships and I got busy with school and work and started adding a second me! Im 200lbs and Want to get back to 150. 

Good Luck Everyone! 

 Good morning, everyone!!  I have reached a first goal for myself.  I am now under the 200 lbs mark.  I am 199.  Not much under, but under!!  My clothes are beginning to look better and I am beginning to feel better.  I slacked off on my exercise this week, but I am so motivated now to kick it back into gear.  I started keeping count of my food intake better and counting fat grams.  I was doing good with the calories, but didn't realize that I was over on my fat intake until I started writing things down.  I didn't really realize how key a food journal could be.  Now, I am ever cautious when I eat things.  I am still eating well and not starving myself.  I don't deprive myself either.  But, the control has become key for me.  I can have a few chesse doodles if I want, just not the whole bag.  So, I put some in a bowl and that is all I eat.  Things like that have given me the right tools in order for this lifestyle change to happen at a healthy rate.  I wish everyone a great weekend and will see you on Monday.  Great job everyone!!!!!

 That is awesome!!  Congrats!!

Good morning everyone. I am new to the Alli diet and struggling to get used to all this. I have always thought I ate healthy and the reason I wieghted as much as I did (at one time I was 335lbs) was because I was depressed and didnt do anything other then eat, go to a sit on my butt job and sleep. About 5 years ago I decided I was done being depressed so I completely changed my life.... And that worked for me then. I went from 335 to 240ish. I was finally able to go to Lane Bryant and buy clothes, compared to having to order clothes through a Big Womans store (paying 3x's the amount of money any thin person paid).

Then almost 3 years ago I had my son and have since balloned back up; not to the 335 but I had hit 300 a few times. So I started the working out everyday and started to actually loss wieght. It felt great dropping the wieght and being able to buy semi normal clothes again. However I haven't been able to see the scale read anything lower then 250ish. My goal weight is between 175 and 190 based on the way my body looks. I still want to keep my curves and love the idea of being a THICK woman (not a FAT one).

When I started Alli the scale that morning side I was 260 so that is where I started my Alli journey.

I started on Monday and when I first started taking the pills I had no side effects. I found myself saying 'See its not that I dont eat HEALTHY, I am just need to work out again'. BOY WAS I WRONG! Over the past two days I have been paying for the food choices I made. Based on the way my body has been reacting I eat horribly!

So as of today I am swearing off me making my own food choices without frist consulting the diet plan and second looking at the fat content on foods. I guess the pill takes a day or two to work its way through your body (as I am learning). Another huge thing I need to change is how much I work out. I have found myself being more of the I say I will go to the gym, but after a day at my sit on my butt job and the thoughts of going home to cook dinner and spend a little time with my son before bed; tend to take me as close to the gym as me SAYING I am going to the gym. I am more of a morning work out person but as a single parent where the gyms daycare doesnt open until 8 and daycare until 6 and work starts at 730, it is impossible for me to go in the morning. So I just order a treadmill for home; No more excuses as to why I am not working out.

My goal is 5% of my body wieght. I will repeat the same thing once I reach that milestone. I have learned I need to keep my goals close to me and within reach.. Not 80 or 90 lbs away. Oh and as of this morning... 3 days into Alli... I am 255 (my 5% goal is 247 this round). So I have lost 5 lbs, without working out and with my bad food choices. I cant wait to see what happens next week when I am working out.. And since I have swore off everything I eat now.. I cant wait to see what happens with me eating healthy!

Anyhoo... That is my story and where I am at now. I just cant wait for the treatment effects to be over from my bad choices earlier this week. I am SOOOOO uncomfortable!

Hi Acota71:

I read your post and loved the message you have to share.  I am the type of person who needs to learn things the hard way and it seems that you are the same way.  I'm sorry to hear about the TE's for you, but as you have already learned--you need to make different choices.

There is a woman at my work.  She is very nice and quite large--she started to go on Weight Watchers (but not going through the meetings or weekly weigh-ins). She said she was doing it with her cousins.  Well, I still do the WW myself (it works for me) and I shared that I am down about 16 lbs and asked how she was doing with the program and she said "well, I'm not going crazy with the WW thing and I am happily maintaining".  Sounded good; however, all it meant was she spent money on the books and hasn't lost a pound.    I guess we all have our reasons for getting where we are and we all have our different motivations for losing.

You said you are a single mother--I would think that son would be motivation enough.  Just to sit and play with your son--what a treasure.  I think you are going to do beautifully on this program--you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders.

If there is anything we can do to help you--just say the word.

Again, thank you for sharing your story.

I just want to say Welcome. If you really want to know where that 5 pounds went, "Look in the toilet" I have the same problem with exercising that you do. Its too bad watching a exercise show on TV doesn't do it. I have been on since Feb 14 and have lost 38 pounds. 62 to go

 Ma88ieMay:

38 lbs!  That is awesome! 

Can't say much more than that!

 Hey Everyone, I am still around just very very busy with all the kids.  Things are slow with the weight loss ( holding at 40 lbs.gone forever) but at least I have not gained any with this crazy summer schedule.  My husband, oldest daughter and myself just got back from a national art competition in Texas.  My daughter won the state of florida one and had the chance to compete at the national level.  We had a wonderful time in San Antonio, lots of nice things to do.  Of course my daughter had to buy a pair of cowboy boots.  I will be back to my normal schedule next week.  7 of the 9 kids are going back to school and the 2 little ones will be off to daycare when I go to work.   FINALLY !!!!! 10 weeks is a very long time for summer vacation.  I have been running out of ideas to keep them all busy.  I see I have some catchin' up to do on all the newbies.  Some are not so new to all of you but since I have not been on in over a month everyone is new to me.  Nyla..........Oh pal ~ I hope your summer with the kids has been great.  Are we going to start a " OFF TO SCHOOL WAGON"???? Talk to everyone next week......When life is back to normal.......Lisa 

 dgvlasak, congratulations.  I can feel your excitement.  It must feel wonderful to be finally out of the 200s.  This is a great time to find your initial motivation again.  Keeping a food journal is crucial, I think.  I use the Nutrition Log on the Alli site because it figures everything up for me automatically.  It is amazing how quickly those fat grams and calories can add up.  Hey, now, watch those cheese doodles!  Even a few of those have a lot of fat grams.  I love 'em.  I used to buy 2 bags at a time; one for me and one for hubby.  I seldom buy them now cuz if they are in the house I will eat them.  I don't have your self discipline.  I can put a few in a bowl and eat them, but I keep filling the bowl back up!  I know how great it feels when your clothes begin to feel loose.  I am presently at a self imposed plateau because I'm not eating as healthy as I should.  I'm going good on the exercise though, hence the plateau instead of a gain.  Keep up the good work.

Liz

 acota71, with a 5 lb loss you are off to a great start.  The main thing is to stay focused.  Alli will work for you if you work with it.  It is almost impossible to keep up with the calories/fat you're eating without filling out some sort of food log.  I personally like the Nutrition Log on the Alli sight because it keeps a running tab on the amount of calories, fat, protein, etc. that you consume daily.  Some people think it is too time consuming, but once you get the hang of it, it only takes a few minutes to do it.  Another great sight to use if you need to know the calorie/fat/nutritional contents of what you've eaten is The Daily Plate Calorie Counter.  It even lists most of the restaurants.  Whatever you can't find listed on the Nutrition Log you can find here.  My advice is, (1) Follow the plan. (2) Keep a food log. (3) Never, ever compare yourself to anyone else.  You will sometimes read about people who lose a lot of weight rather quickly.  Accept your own personal weight loss speed, and celebrate each lb gone.  Alli is designed to help you lose 1-2 lbs weekly on the average.  Anything more is just 'gravy' ,so enjoy your 'gravy' if you get it, but don't expect 'gravy.'  Got that?  Let us know how you're doing.

Liz

 Hi Lisa:

It was good to hear from you again.  I think we have all been too busy to post as much as usual this summer.  I suppose there is too much going on in the summer that demands our attention.  Speaking of things that demand out attention, with all of those kids I don't see how you find time to post at all!  You must be a little dynamo.  I know you are proud of your daughter.  What sort of art does she do?  Paint?  You probably mentioned it before, but with all of the new posts I am sure I've missed a few.  Gosh, just stay away for a day or two and there are dozens of posts to catch up on!  I'm glad you had a good time in Texas.  I was in the airport there once for a layover but that is as close as I've been.  I imagine you're very busy at the moment getting everyone ready for back to school.  Did everybody go to Texas?  They should do one of those reality shows on you and your brood!  I'll bet it would be entertaining to say the least.

Liz

 Hi

I have just started using alli about 3 days ago.  Little history - I have been the chubby kid all my life; I hated the "weigh-in" days at school where the teacher weighed everyone and make a bar graph or some other chart on a poster (supposedly to teach us about graphing, but horrible for self-esteem).  I topped 100 pounds in grade 3, but was always a bit muscular (no one ever guesses that I wegh as much as I do).  I was in 3 sports every school year through to high school (basketball, volleyball, softball) and PE was my favorite class.  I hated the fact that I seemed to be exercising ALL the time, yet, in general, gained about 10 pounds every single year.  And yes, I have been to the doctor several times to check for any thyroid or other conditions, and there is nothing wrong with me apparently.

I hit 213 pounds by the end of my senior year volleyball season (wore a size 16) and until the end of college, continued with the +10 a year.  When I hit about 250, my body stablized, and I stayed there for a long time (until a horrible first marriage brought an extra 30).  When that marriage ended poorly, I lost the 30 (it is amazing what deep depression can do).  That was about 8 years ago.  Now, happily married to a supportive hubby (thanks to God!) I am up to about 262 (I say about, because I live outside the US most of the year and my scale is in kilograms, so I am constantly doing conversions).  I want to get to a healthier weight because my husband and I are planning on starting a family soon - I figure even if I can't keep taking alli capsules during a pregnancy, hopefully, the exercise and eating habits will actually BE habits I can follow.

I joined Curves Women's Fitness about 8 months ago, and while I have not lost much weight, I am down 2 pant sizes (I was actually at about 270 8 months ago, so I am only down a net of about 8 pounds, but I am much more fit).  I actually enjoy going to curves, and while I was previously only doing the 3 workouts a week, I am going to aim for 5 now that I started alli (perhaps I can get up to 6 in a good week - they are closed 1 day a week).  Without trying to be a spokesperson for curves, it really is a good workout for someone who does not like to work out - which is me!

Anyway, as of today, I have registered with 262 as my starting weight and 180 as my ultimate goal weight.  I have very large hands and feet, and a previous doctor told me that I would never be a small person, so I think 180 is reasonable in the long term.

So, that's me!  I hope this site keeps my spirits up, and, while I am thinking about it, I will get off the computer now and hop on the stationery bike here at home right now!