I might be insane but I decided to start this week even though it is labor day weekend.  I am 25 years old and currently weigh 197.  I was at the doctor the other day and this nurse was like, honey you know you should be a lot thinner!  I was so upset because even now I don't think I look that bad.  I know I have put on some weight, but geez, she made me feel like a cow!!  So I decided to start this program.  I started the diet on 8/26/08, so today is the first day I am actually taking the alli pills.  I have a question though, I have started the diet and I am staying within the calories and fat grams but I am so so hungry all the time.  My mom said it would probably take a while to get over it because my body is in shock from the drop in calories that I am now eating.  I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and how you dealt with it?

Your mom is right..... it will take just a bit for your body to adjust.  I too feel the same way but what I have learned is to listen to your body.  Between your three main meals (make yourself eat breakfast) is to have a snack.  Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, dessert (yessssss--- I tried the pinapple angelfood cake on alli and it is delish).  You just have to make sure to account for your calorie intake.  I find that the two snacks take the hunger edge off.  Plus make sure you drink lots of beverage (no-cal or low cal)..... that helps a bit too.

Keep it up..... its just your adjustment phase.  its funny though..... You really have to have a mind set for this, keep focus.... this is for YOU.  I started on Sunday and I kid you not I really do feel better and already had a comment of "Are you loosing weight?" ----LOVE IT!!

I started my diet two days ago and started taking the pills today!  I'm quite hungry too .... we just need to get used to it.  For me, I've been eating horribly all Summer so I'm not surprised that I'm having a tough time.  I'm on Jenny Craig, which has worked for me in the past, and hoping that combining it with Alli will keep me from cheating and help me stick to my meal plan each day.  

So HI EVERYONE!  I think its normal!

And don't let your nurse get to you - I had a PCP come in once when she first met me and she said 'you are really fat' - LOL!  Her english wasn't great but it did upset me a little - why I'm not sure - I knew I had a weight problem.  You're not a cow and look - here you are doing something about it!  Good luck!

 Hi!  I started this week, too.  Some comments on the hunger.  First, I think a lot of hunger is mental.  Just try to get busy and ignore it and see if you can forget about it.  OK, so maybe that doesn't work ...

I think your stomach does shrink after you have been eating less for a while.  I know that it expands when you have been overeating for a while so if you have had that habit you can eat more and not feel as full.  It'll take some time to reverse that and the hunger feelings won't last if you stick with the diet.  Eating fruits and more healthy, bulkier veggies and grains also leave you feeling fuller for longer. 

Also, liquids do help when you feel hungry, at least a bit.  I have been drinking a product called Fuze slenderize that has surprised me by really seeming to reduce hunger sensations.  (I drink a half a bottle mixed with water about once a day in the middle of the afternoon when I am most hungry.) I usually don't fall for gimmicks so I don't know if they got me this time or if it really works. 

Good luck!  I am going to need it, too!

 I started this week too. Hey how much water are you drinking? Drinking liquids really helps with the hunger issue. I am drinking more liquids and am less hungry.

Julia

I just started taking Alli on Sat. the 23rd.  I work in a bakery and it is a real challenge.  I am just so paranoid about side effects that I have cut the fat back drastically.  I need all the buddies I can get on this journey!  Good luck everybody.  We can do this!

Linda

CW 245, GW 160

 Hey Linda welcome to the group! Wow a bakery, now that's will power! We're here for you.

Julia

 I to have started on the 23rd.  I started a low-fat diet a week before and lost 5 pounds.  Wow was I surprised.  I cut my portions way down.  The nice part about Alli is that you can still eat some of the things you like.  I am not sure I would have called it Alli as much as I would have called it Panic.  I am so afraid to eat fat that I panic.  No real side effects to speak of.  But I do support this product 100%.  I am looking forward to chatting with all of you on here.  Good Luck and keep smiling

 I started this week as well - I don't know what i did wrong but i already experienced 'treatment effects" (gross!

and i did not have more than 15 grams at any given meal that day- i do not know what the problem is!

but lets help each other

can anyone give ideas of what they ate?

i have a hard time writing down any suggestions?

CW 160lb

GW 130lbs

 I need buddies, bigtime!

I have been reading lables like crazy and writing everything I ate down.  I'm a little surprised at how much I have learned by doing that because I thought I was pretty aware of fat content.  I bought a lot of low and no fat foods and to start I am under the fat grams.  I know I will need to increase them later, but I am giving myself some time to adjust to the pills and hopefully avoid the TEs.  So far, so good in that department. 

Good luck, everybody.  Check back in here and let us know how you're doing!

Caroline

 I'm starting today and am a little nervous about the "treatment effects".  I decided to get started while I had some time at home rather than waiting until I go back to work on Tuesday.  From some of the things I've read, I think I'm going to be glad the restroom is right next door to my office!  :-)

Hi, I'm starting for real this week too.  I'm about 26, and I'm going to be 27 at the end of Oct. I want to get skinny before my birthday then do a whole weight-loss montage at my bday party then.  Really wipe the smiles off the ppl who make the fat jokes and look at me with that pity look.  I'm 160ish now, and I want to get to at LEAST 135, and my goal is 125.  You're right it's people who make us feel the worst. I didn't think I was so fat, but my married friends keep citing it as the reason I'm not married, and that upsets me.  I'm always hungry, but what I found is that initially if you eat small, small bowls of cereal every time you're hungry (healthy stuff like reg cheerios) then that takes care of actually being physically hungry.  The second part to it is the spiritual part of it.  I'm used to snacking on cupcakes and sundries all day, so I can feel them actively not being there too.  I think once you train your mind to do something else or you figure something else to do every time you want to eat a snack when you shouldn't technically be hungry, it'll even things out.  It's a brain battle.

Good morning!

I too started this week. I started the low fat on Tuesday (8-26) and began taking the Alli Saturday. I too am hungry, but it is starting to subside somewhat. I did find I was not reaching my fat intake requirements at first. Once I made more of a conscious effort to do that I seemed more satisfied. Tomorrow will be one week and other than drinking too much beer Saturday night, I'm hanging in there. (Even with the beer I stayed within my calorie limit.) We'll see what the scale shows tomorrow.

I am almost 48 years old and have battled weight the majority of my adult life. The last time I lost 50 lbs I swore I would never let myself go again. But here I am again:( It really is a life style! I commend you for making the effort and you should also be very proud of yourself despite the comments of your nurse with no people skills! Do this for yourself and the added bonus will be the next time you "strut" into that doctor's office. You go girl!!!

Hi everyone! My name is Chris, and I'm a 21 year old woman the University of Kentucky. I just wanted to say, I start alli on saturday sept. 6 (I gave myself a full week to adjust to the diet), and I totally agree with what Julia said.

I took a nutrition class over the summer, and they said the stomach naturally holds about two cups- TWO CUPS- of food at a time. But its elasticity can hold up to seven times that without making you sick. 

Drinking water will fill your belly. I am used to having a full belly all the time (because I'm a crazy snacker) so sometimes I feel that I'm hungry when really I'm just not full. Fruits and veggies are good options too, but I'm struggling with that a little because I love crackers, cookies, and chips. Slowly I am making changes though! 

Good luck everyone! I know together we can support one another, to make real changes in our lives for the better! ; )

 I started the diet and exercise on 8/22 and the pills on 8/27 and so far, no TEs and as of this morning I am down 3 pounds!  (When I started the diet I was 197.4, the pills at 195.2, and now 194.6.)  That's about 3 pounds in two weeks and I am delighted. 

I have been recording every mouthful since I started the diet.  It's a lot less restrictive than I thought it would be and I am surprised to see that I need to increase the fat I eat.  I had bought a bunch of non-fat diary products, but I think I can use low fat cheese or 1% or 2% milk and still be ok.  I can have peanut butter and little treats, but I really have to watch the portions and the snacks.