Well, I haven't even been to the alli site in months, and I decided to check in to see what the buzz is these days.  I see tons of new names, and see many new stories, but I thought I would let you know how I am doing.

I lost nearly 50 pounds with alli, and, here I am, 57 years old.  I started June 21, 2007, and stopped taking the pills in April 2008.  I have continued to eat the "alli way" without taking the pills, and have not only maintained my weight loss, but have lost another four pounds as well.  Alli has been fabulous for me.  When I was taking those little blue capsules, I just pledged to myself that I would toss one into my mouth with each meal.  Once I swallowed it, there was no turning back!  I never had the dreaded TE's...not once.   I didn't even try to outwit the program.  Why would I?  I certainly had no desire to even chance the possibility that I would have a disaster.  I never gained, only lost or stayed the same....and one of those plateaus lasted for a couple of months.  My taste for the things I thought I could never live without has lessened to the point that I don't even miss those foods.

Anyway, I continue to eat the alli way, exercise daily at Curves, and have a great new wardrobe (that actually still fits me, loosely, this winter!)  My goal is lose another 5 pounds by Thanksgiving.  After that, we'll see!

Thanks, alli.   I am changed for the better! (and if I can do it, anyone can!!!)

Karol

You are such an inspiration.  Thank you for sharing your story.  Just wondering, did you do anything specific to break your plateau, or did you just wait it out?

Ally

 Hi Karol, my story is about the same as yours.  I lost 83 pounds and haven't taken Alli for about 6 months.  I exercise by doing a lot of walking, both on my job and on weekends.  I've actually lost inches since I've stopped Alli.  My weight has stayed about the same, maybe up and down a few pounds, but my exercising has made me shrink my stomach.  I had a lot of excess skin I had to tone.  I try and eat lo-cal and light foods and lots of fruit.   I also watch my portions.  My weakness is chocolate and ice cream.  Lucky for me, most of the non fat ice cream doesn't taste to bad to me.  I only eat dark chocolate and once in awhile, I will have Dairy Queen ice cream(its actually ice milk).  I think I  hit plateaus only twice in the nine months that I lost the weight.  I'm also 57.  Good luck and keep up the  good work.

 How long were your plateau's  ? ( a week, 2 weeks , a month ?) Great job & Thank you for coming back to the site and re-telling your stories. It really helps us newcomers ALOT !! It answers some questions we have and keeps us going. So any advice is surely welcomed and I will be awaiting your posts. Thanks !!!!! Amanda

 How nice to see feeback from my story, and good going for all of you!  Those crazy plateaus lasted a long time!  I could go a few weeks without seeing any change...but the most important thing was that I didn't ever gain, just stayed the same.  I figured I didn't want to try to "crash" it off, since I knew that was not in keeping with the new lifestyle I had become so comfortable with, and I knew from my past dieting experiences that I would be setting myself up for failure.

I am now at the point where I want to really hit alli hard again, and I would love to get off 10 more pounds by Christmas.  That is really a tall order for me.  I get a lot of physical activity in the warmer months, but those colder fall and winter months are a little tougher!  I will be haunting the all boards for encouragement and motivation.

Keep up the good work, everyone!

Karol

 Thanks for your update!!!!!! I am so afraid of the maintenance portion and not being on the Alli...Were you nervous about

stopping the Alli and going it alone? I am only taking the Alli on occasion now since I basically eat low fat.... but I

am afraid to go it alone once I reach my goal! Any input on maintenance?????????? Congrats on your weight loss!

 Karol : Awesome I hope all the people on here hitting plateau's read your posts because it just shows it is a part of the process ! Thank you again for posting your update and letting us know how you made it through. Please keep us informed I know alot read it but dont always post a reponse so you are affecting more of us then you probably realize. (of course in a super positive way !) Thanks a Million !!!! Amanda

Hi Amanda,

Wow, I couldn't agree more, plateau's are definitely a part of the process, and I've been discouraged by them in the past; now I plan to just keep going no matter what!  I know I'm eating good food, I write it down everyday plus my exercising, I figure it'll all pay off eventually!  Tampabayb

My plateaus  only lasted about a week.  Then I would start losing again.  I didn't start having them until the last two months or so.  Just have to work through them.  I was kind of lucky, I never wrote anything down in a journal or did any of the other things that people are doing on the boards.  I did do my weekly weigh-in though.  I just mentally made a log in my head of what I ate for each meal and made sure it was within the limits set by the program.  Maybe I have an advantage over a lot of other people in that I can set my mind to do something and do it.  I quit smoking cold turkey one day and never smoked again.  Never had an urge to either.  I just decided that I needed to be slim and healthy one day and thats all it took.  Here I am 83 pounds lighter and maintaining.  Devine intervention.

 Thanks Tampabayb, & Dave you are awesome ! I am kinda like you. I eat almost the same thing everyday Mon-Fri. So I know the calories I am taking in as I have counted them time & again therefore I dont write them down. I cant wait for a couple a months to pass to see where I am. Thanks for posting !! Amanda

Wow!  You are really doing great!

I have started "checking in" again, but I rarely take the alli anymore because I eat so low fat already.  I have a no fat breakfast, and eat low fat the rest of the day, so I have stopped taking the pills.  I am thinking that I will go back on them with lunch and dinner, however, since it does help get rid of some of the fat we eat.  I am in no danger of going over my fat grams limit, so I am not afraid of that part.

The thing about the alli plan is that it really works over the long haul.  I am such a different eater than I was before.  Anytime I had "dieted" before, I was always trying to outwit the system of "get away" with eating something that wasn't really on whatever plan.  I think I was focusing more on the weight loss than on the journey to health.  I really fell differently about that now.  My weight is still a pretty high number....but I comfortably wear a 12-14 ff the rack, so I am thrilled! 

I also think that alli is a "real World" solution.  Every other diet really seems to separate you from everyone else (how often have we said "I can't eat that" in the past!)  But with alli, I have learned to make choices without excuses.  I can eat in any restaurant and do just fine.   My latest favorite trick is a baked potato with barbecue sauce on it instead of all that butter and bacon!

Anyway,  keep up the good work!

Karol