Hi- I just started Alli 5 days ago- and have always been regular and now almost nothing. finally last night I ate a high fat dinner and still nothing. I am drinking plenty of water-what could this be? thanks for any suggestions. 

 Hi Tonya,

That's not a comfortable place to be!  Thinking about the food you're eating, does it include fruit and plenty of fiber?  I know when I had that problem, I added more fiber and fruit and everything came out fine...so to speak :0)

Good luck!

Ela

 Hello Tonya -  I have had the same problem.  I normally only go to the bathroom every 2 weeks, or so.  That is miserable to most people, especially since my husband goes daily.  I have seen physicians, and nothing really changes that.  When I started on the alli, it took 4 or 5 days for me to start going.  I still, depending on what I eat, may or may not go.  I have started increasing my fruit and also water, so I hope it helps.

Anne

Hi Tonya,

It may take a few days for your body to adapt to the change in the digestion of fat.  It is important that you sdo stay near your fat gram target, since this is how Alli works.  Going too low in fat, means that there is little fat to block which means fewer calories blocked.  Your body does need fat to work efficiently, it is the fat that lubricates the stool and allows it to pass smoothly through the GI tract.  Fiber and water are essential also, they in essence create the bulk.

Have you also started taking a multivitamin? Iron can cause constipation also.

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 Thanks to all that responding: I have not started a multi-vitamin at this point, However I have not felt bloated or gassy feeling. just not going. I really thought after I had ate the high fat meal that I would, but nothing yet.

I will not give up-after all the responses from all of you and the support I am more determined to stay on track.

thanks again,,

 Well, I am not quite sure what is happening with my body right now, I went and bought some fiber choice tablets to see if they would help and as of saturday I was miserable. finally Sunday I had to go 1 step beyond and take a laxative. I have kept my fat at or somewhat above the 15 and I am drinking plenty of water..as ANYONE had this problem and will it pass in time or should I just stop taking this?

 I am having the same problem.  I eat a lot of salad, a bananna a day, peaches, blue berries etc. so plenty of fiber.  I keep my fat in take at about 18 grams but I too am having constipation problems.  My husband keeps asking me if i want him to get me a stool softener or laxative but since i've heard horror stories about the runs or oily runny stool i didn't want to start something I couldn't stop.  Heck I even ate black beans for lunch which usually goes right through me and its been 8 hours since the beans and nothing!  No gassy problems either.   I thought maybe i'm one of the lucky ones who wont get those horrible side effects but now its just the opposite.

Hi mommyv3,

Constipation is a problem which has been experienced by many alli dieters during the initial few days of therapy.  There are various factors that do contribute and this situation usually resolves itself after a few days.

Any change in diet and exercise does effect your bowel movements.  Have you started taking a multivitamin also? Iron and calcium can cause constipation.  Also are you eating 18 grams of fat per meal or is it per day?  Our bodies do need a minimal amount of fat to function efficiently, our bowels need the fat to lubricate the stool so that it will pass smoothly. 

Even though you are eating fiber, you need to get it from multiple sources, soluble and insoluble fiber.  Whole grains or a fiber supplement are fine, our bodies should be getting 30 grams per day.  The stool softener or laxative will not cause treatment effects and can be used as needed. Keep yourself well hydrated also, it is the fiber and water that forms the bulk and the fat that lubricates.

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 I"m only eating 18 grams per day.  You mean i have to have that much per meal?
I have not started the multivitamins but i have always taken and still take individual vitamins that my doctors put me on a few years ago.  so nothing in that way has changed.

Hi mommyv3,

You may need to increase the total amount of fat you are eating per day.  Optimal results with alli are seen when you are eating well balanced meals where 30% of the calories come from fat, this is roughly 15 grams of fat per meal (keep in mind that 25% of those fat grams will not be absorbed).  A healthy way to increase the fat is by adding some of the foods high in omega 3, like a teaspoonful of extra virgin olive oil, a few nuts, avocado, a whole egg.

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 Well the constipation problem is over and things are back to normal :)  YEah!! 

No runny bowels either... regular as can be.  Guessing here that it just took a few days for my body to adjust.

So nice to not feel like i have rocks up there anymore  or a gigantic cork lol

 It's day 3 for me and so far, so good.  No treatment effects or abdominal discomfort.  I've been eating 15-18 gms. of fat per meal, with a fat-free breakfast (I take no Alli at that meal).  I also found that one of the flax-seed oil capsules I take has a gram of fat in it, so I count those as well. 

In the past, I would eat a very low-fat diet when losing weight.  Eating a little more fat seems to keep me feeling a bit more full. 

I've been eating lots of fruits/veggies and include some bran every day.

SophiaDemonte:

Hi mommyv3,

You may need to increase the total amount of fat you are eating per day.  Optimal results with alli are seen when you are eating well balanced meals where 30% of the calories come from fat, this is roughly 15 grams of fat per meal (keep in mind that 25% of those fat grams will not be absorbed).  A healthy way to increase the fat is by adding some of the foods high in omega 3, like a teaspoonful of extra virgin olive oil, a few nuts, avocado, a whole egg.

Hope this helps.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 I see now where i've been going wrong.  I was seeing it as 15 grams daily not per meal.   Although i don't eat much and am full i'll have to add a teaspoon of extra verigin olive oil as you suggested or a few nuts.  I did have one meal yesterday where i had 16 grams of fat.