I am finishing my second day on the Alli plan.  I have taken 6 capsules and have eaten my regular diet but smaller portions.  My diet is very low in fat and I eat alot of fruits (mostly melons and berries) and green vegetables. I  I am 50 pounds overweight according to your chart, so I obviously consume too many calories but they are for the most part healthy calories.   I have had absolutely no treatment effects - is this normal the first few days?  If I don't have treatment effects at all, will the plan work for me?  I'm wondering if fat is not a problem in my diet, will Alli still help me lose weight?  I walk 1.5 miles every morning and am very active. 

Hi 93182,

For optimal results with alli, you must follow a reduced calorie, well balanced diet where 30% of the calories come from fat (healthy fat as in fish, nuts, extra virgin olive oil), this roughly comes to 15 grams of fat per meal.  If your diet is too low in fat you will not be inhibiting enough calories to see desired results.  

Treatment effects occur when you are eating more fat recommended.  Excess fat will be eliminated, the more in the gut the greater the urgency.  Most people do not experience treatment effects while on alli.

BMI charts are established guidelines but not perfect. Other parameters include your waist size and muscle mass (muscle weighs more than fat).  

Calories are calories. When we take in more than we burn they will be stored in the body as fat.  It does not make a difference if we are eating healthy calories or not it is the quantity.  A diet high in fruit and vegetables is great, but you do need fat for efficient body functions as well as lean sources of protein and other carbohydrates (whole grains). 

Going over the literature in the starter pack and here on the site will provide you with more information

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 So I am on my 3rd day of Ali and have not had any treatment effects.  I have been within the calorie limit, but after reading your response am worried that I may not be taking in enough fat.  My meals typically consist of about 5 grams of fat.  So do I need to up that amount?

Hello. You do not need to see treatment effects in order to kow the alli plan is working. If all is well you will see the results on the scale! However, for alli to work best, and for you to get all the nutrients you need, you need to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet. The dietary guidelines suggestthat 25-30% of your calories come from fat - and this is what the alli plan recommends as well. This usually equates to about 15 grams per meal for a calorie intake of about 1500 calories. Fat is essential in a healthy diet - it helps slow the absorption of carbohydrates, it helps with mouth feel and taste, and can help your brain
"feel full". It also is necessary for the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins. I would suggest you aim for about 15 grams of fat per meal for most meals. You do not have to do it for all your meals.....but try to keep it balanced.

Hope this helps!

Best of luck on the alli plan!

 I am also on my second day and have not experienced any treatment effects.  I also think that my diet is too low in fat.  I was wondering the same thing you were.  I was wondering if the pill was working for me.  I guess I need to eat more fat per meal.  Good luck!

 i dont think you guys are reading things right on the starter kit and on this website. YOU DO NOT WANT TREATMENT EFFECTS! if you are getting treatment effects that means you are eating TOO MUCH FAT!! alli gives you a plan and an amount of calories per day and fat grams per day that is your maximum in order for alli to work properly and for you to lose weight. example. im 50 lbs over weight. moderate activity level 3-4 times a week. alli recommends me eating no more than 19g of fat per meal and no more than 1800 cal per day and no more than 60g of fat for the entire day and no more than 540 cal from fat for the whole day. i use the meal plan given on the website and i usually stay under my limits if anything my cal sometimes go over and so i work out a little more to burn those off. i have not experienced treatment effects going by the directions and plan given to me. as long as you are going by the guidelines given to you then you are doing it RIGHT!