if i regularly eat a low/no fat bkfst...am i better off purposely adding fat to my bkfst(using real cream vs. fat free cream is one idea i have had and would LOVE to do!!!!)  eating a tsp of p. butter....

 or stick w/my cereal w/fruit i eat more mornings?

 i REALLY really really need to lose weight....so whichever is better for that....i will do.

 mainemom

If you do add fat make sure you add healthy fat, such as the peanut butter.  What I do is get around 6 to 8g for breakfast, and I have my snack in the morning about 2 hours later with around 5g of fat.  So I take the pill with or just after breakfast and it ends up working on 11 to 13 grams.  Hope this helps.

 Hello, I noticed that you were concern about adding fat.  Well, you can change your daily fat intake from 19 grams to 12 grams on the my alli meal plan.  There are lots of menu suggestions that can be altered.  But, also, if you have a clean meal with not much fat like the cereal with fresh fruit.  I'm sure that would be fine.  For instance, I eat 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal with no fat at all, chopped granny apples, slivered almonds (good fat) and strawberries. 

Also, I changed my goal to not more than 12 grams of fat per meal.  I believe you will be successful as well with switching down to this amount. You can always go back to 19 grams if you need to.   Don't forget to add your cardio and strength trainning.  This will bring the best success for dropping pounds.

Well, have a wonderful breakfast tomorrow. - prada08

mainemom:

if i regularly eat a low/no fat bkfst...am i better off purposely adding fat to my bkfst(using real cream vs. fat free cream is one idea i have had and would LOVE to do!!!!)  eating a tsp of p. butter....

 or stick w/my cereal w/fruit i eat more mornings?

 i REALLY really really need to lose weight....so whichever is better for that....i will do.

 mainemom

When this is a customary breakfast we suggest you skip the capsule (for 5 grams or less), and be sure to take the capsule and reach your fat goals for the next two meals.  The capsule shouldn't be skipped for more than one meal per day.

Many people tend to skip breakfast.  It's a very, very important meal -- and there are mountains of research that show those who eat breakfast on a regular basis tend to lose weight better AND maintain it better than those who don't.

So if you're already having a nice breakfast we don't want to turn you off.  If you feel, at some point, you'd like to add some nuts or whatever to bring up the fat and take the capsule you can certainly do that.

I hope this helps everyone.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian

So the alli pill doesnt work if your not eating a meal containing fat????? for instance for breakfast I usually have a protien shake that consists of I scoop soy protien powder 0 fat, i cup skim milk- 0 fat- 1/3 of a banana 1 gram fat - 5 frozen strawberries 0 fat and 1/2 tsp of splenda...these are so yummy and good for you as well.....so I could skip taking the pill at breakfast???

jen4064:

So the alli pill doesnt work if your not eating a meal containing fat????? for instance for breakfast I usually have a protien shake that consists of I scoop soy protien powder 0 fat, i cup skim milk- 0 fat- 1/3 of a banana 1 gram fat - 5 frozen strawberries 0 fat and 1/2 tsp of splenda...these are so yummy and good for you as well.....so I could skip taking the pill at breakfast???

Yes, you can skip the capsule in this case.  Think of it this way:  alli works on its ability to block some of the fat in the meal at which you take it.  So, little or no fat eaten = little or nothing to block.

Hope that helps.

Pat

Let me explain something to everyone in this thread.  It's very important to follow the recommendations from the alli Personal Calculator for the amount of calories and fat for each day/meal.  As weight declines the weekly check-ins will automatically drop calorie (and fat) levels when it's appropriate -- though never lower than 1,200 calories and 12 grams of fat per meal. 

Dropping the levels too quickly will not help weight loss overall, and won't give anyplace to go for maintainence.  (Less than 1,200 calories is never recommended for weight loss or maintenance.)

So it's best to keep at a consistent level of calories and fat until the check-ins lower it.  The Sample Menus are provided for those who like a lot of structure, and as a nice guide for how to distribute calories and fat throughout the day.  It's perfectly fine to plan your own menus -- as long is they include the appropriate calories and fat, as well as a variety of foods.

Cheers to all!

Pat

Hi Pat,

I started eating breakfast when I started Alli at the end of May, but I just eat it really late between 10am and 11am.  I am up until after midnight and usually eat my last meal at 10:30pm, so my stomach is not even awake before 10am.  Tampabayb

Breakfast doesn't need to be eaten at a certain time.  Different schedules put meals at different times.  I assume because your breakfast is later than usual, so is your lunch and dinner.  That's fine, and you should take the capsule with each meal.

Hope this helps.

Pat

Hi Pat,

Yes, my other meals are later, also.  It seems to be working, I'm down 33+ pounds!  I'm not the fastest one on here, but I'm not the youngest one, either :).  Thanks for answering, Tampabayb

tampabayb:

Hi Pat,

Yes, my other meals are later, also.  It seems to be working, I'm down 33+ pounds!  I'm not the fastest one on here, but I'm not the youngest one, either :).  Thanks for answering, Tampabayb

OK.  Glad to hear that.  AND, congrats on your 33 pounds.  That's a wonderful accomplishment for you and a great motivator for others!

Keep up the good work!

Pat

 You know, I've been wondering the same thing.  I don't hit my fat target for any meal and sometimes find myself adding fat just to come close. I never take one for breakfast because my breakfast only contains .5 grams of fat.  I guess we should consult with an Alli counselor.

redinthehead:

 You know, I've been wondering the same thing.  I don't hit my fat target for any meal and sometimes find myself adding fat just to come close. I never take one for breakfast because my breakfast only contains .5 grams of fat.  I guess we should consult with an Alli counselor.

Please bring any questions you have to the Dietitians Message board; we're happy to help!  We also check that board daily, and the others occasionally.

You may not hit your fat grams on the mark every single time -- but it's important to come as close as possible.  If breakfast has 5 grams of fat or less, it's OK to skip the capsule.  That shouldn't be for more than one meal per day, however.

Some people come to the program having cereal, skim milk, juice and coffee, and that's great!  Most people tend to skip breakfast, and we're really after those people to get into the swing of eating breakfast, and doing it according to the alli recommendations.

I hope this helps.

Pat