Hey guys and gals,

I've been on alli for a few weeks now and I have had a major disruption in my normal life. Because of that disruption, I've completely fallen off the wagon. Well ok, maybe not so dramatic, but instead of watching my calories I'm just trying to eat somewhat good, ok sometimes, and I'm not doing my portion control. I'm still taking alli (which by the way these little explosions that occur never happen at a good time) so at least that's still in check. I need some encouragement here please. It's easier right now just to give up and I don't want to but yet I have so much that's going on with work and home that it just seems easier. Any advice? 

Dear Luvingthesun,

Funny you should mention about falling off the wagon.  I just logged on and was about to post about how I fell off the wagon today...fell off, burned it, and buried the ashes is more like it.  My alli day started off wrong because I forgot to take my alli capsules with me to work.  Plus, I hadn't prepared my breakfast and lunch as I normally do, so I set myself up for failure.  While I was at it, I had dinner at Golden Corral.  I had fried catfish and fried shrimp and broccoli (yeah, I know...what a culinary oxy moron).  Now I'm headed to the gym to work off the extra calories and the guilt.

But I said all that to say this.  I've been on alli for about 3 weeks now too.  I've lost 13 pounds as of the other day.  I cannot gain 13 pounds back in one day.  You fell off the wagon today?  OK.  That's today.  It's over.  Tomorrow is another opportunity to get it right.

One of the things that sold me on alli is that no where in their literature or website have I read that their product is so super-duper that we'll never mess up.  In fact, what I read was that if you know you're going to eat a high fat/calorie meal, don't take the alli.  (Otherwise, expect the "little explosions," as you put it.)  Don't give up.  Tomorrow's coming.  You and I both gave in today, but I have resolved not to give up.  Have you?

I have concluded that losing weight this time is a journey.  So far, I'm enjoying it.  But I'm still pressing on and moving forward.  So can you.  This is more than a diet; it's a way of life.  It is a way to improve my quality of life.

We're in this together.  Don't give up; you can make it.

Now I'm going to put the whole bottle of alli in my purse instead of worrying about trying to fill up the carrier thingie every night.

P.S.  As much as I enjoyed my catfish tonight, I was stuffed!  I told myself as I was leaving the restaurant that the food was really good, but it wasn't worth the discomfort of being so stuffed.  Neither was it worth the guilt.  I've got a lot of "stuff" going on in my life too.  I don't need anything extra, especially things that are preventable.  Other than today's mishap, I'm really enjoying eating healthier and exercising more.

Hope I've been able to encourage you today.

 You know, the only thingI can equate it to is smoking. I smoked for 15 years, and I just made the decision to quit... I did what I had to do and I quit smoking... I picked up a cigerette a week after I quit and I coughed so hard and it was so bad, that I never picked one up again.

It has been 9 months since I quit.  For a while, everytime I got stressed out, I wanted to smoke... but then I remember how bad I coughed... the yearly sickness, the money I was spending, etc.

So now, it is the same thing.  I am grossly overweight and I don't want to do this anymore.  I don't want the looks people give you when you're as big as I am.  I don't want to hear people say how great I used to look. I don't want my kid to grow up without a mother.  At the end of the day, we all do this for different reasons, but I do it for me.  Because I want my kid to have a mom in 20 years.

So right now, I have a current "distraction" and I just have to believe that nothing that is really worth it is easy.  I walk away from the food that I want and if I wait 1 minute and I still REALLY want that food, I will have a little bit of it.  But I have had enough cake, ice cream, giant steaks, etc. for a lifetime...  and I just want to go back to the place when I was healthy.

I don't know if that helps you, but I really hope that it does and you don't let your distraction get you off target and acheiving your goals.  Good Luck!

 Hey Jenny,

I see in your tag line that you're getting married in March.  Congratulations and best wishes!  Wow, do you ever have an opportunity of a lifetime here!  Do you realize that your wedding is 8 months away, and there is every possibility that you can achieve your goal weight by then and look absolutely beautiful on your wedding day?  Imagine yourself right now, standing in front of your wedding photographers, smiling, happy, and delighted with not only your new husband, but also with yourself!

Let me tell you that you're not going to get there by doing just OK and not doing your part.  Alli is not a magic pill.  It simply will not work unless you take in the right combination of calories and fat grams.  Getting used to eating 4 oz of meat seems hard at first, but it's not.  There is SO much food on your menu for the day, that 4 oz will be quite satisfying if you eat three planned meals and two snacks. 

Sure, you've got a lot going on now and it's likely to get even more hectic as you get closer to your wedding day.  That doesn't mean you can't get on track right now, and stay on track.  You'll be so glad you did!

I can't wait to read your post in February saying Yee Ha!  They had to take my dress in sooooo much!!! Thank you my Allis!!  You'll find lots of buddies here to help!

Best of success to you!

Mary

 Well this must have been the week to fall of the wagon because I did exactly that also. I was doing really good when the county fair came along and low and behold I just had to have fair food. So one corndog and cheesecurds later I felt just blah. On top of that I injured my foot by tearing a tendon and the doctor said it would be at least 3 weeks of healing time and am not suppose to walk on it at  all so there went my exercising that I was just getting use to doing. I gained back 2 lbs and am feeling bad. Oh well I guess I will just pick up the pieces and start over again.

Roxanne

 Roxanne, do you have weights?  You can do upper body while your foot heals.  Something is better than nothing.  Hang in there!

Mary