I have been on Alli now for 5 days and i eat healthy, record everything i eat, and i am STILL getting oily stools! Mostly in the mornings! Have i done something wrong? I stay within my 15g/meal i eat even a little less then that... is my body still getting rid of all the icky stuff that was in my system before i started the program? Im trying really hard to stay on track but i feel kind of let down when i get these side effects...any help?

Hi AlyssaKK,

It's okay to see oil when you have a bowel movement. The oil can come out mixed in your stools or separate. As long as it's happening when you are going to the bathroom that is okay. If it's really bothering you then try to focus on solid sources of fat instead of liquids. Some people find that their bodies process the solid fats differently.

Let me know if you have any other questions,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD 

 I have the same thing happening to me. I just chalk it up to loosing more yucky (fatty) stuff that my body don't need. Try not to feel bad, just think how good your doing & it's a good thing that it's only happening when you "have to go" and your not alone  :o)

 AHHHh the pizza oil effect !!  Oy vey I remember that 2nd saturday after I started the program - i woke up, sat on the edge of the bed and though, ok a little gas !  YEAH RIGHT ... more like oil slick :)    Never had it happen since though - also made me a firm believe of "trying" to keep honest !!!

 LOL  I hear yea,  I was bad today. I started out good but ended up giving in & eating nachos (of all things) & close to bedtime I was sorry! Am feeling better now so hopefully I can sleep soon. SO know what you mean by "keeping honest". 

 Haha, same here! But its kinda of like, a kick in tha butt, literally. Meaning you HAVE to eat right, or you know whats your punishment will be.

I feel your pain!  I have been on it for 8 days now and my husband keeps asking me if it's normal to have all of that orange oily stuff in the toilet!  As long as it's normal than I can deal with it, but it is a bit gross! I think I will have to start buying pany liners!

 I am new and have not started taking the pills yet. I will start on Tuesday.  How soon after eating do the side effects start and how long do they last.  I play golf and am worried about the days that I will be playing.

Hi Dlforsyth,

Welcome to the board! Please do not worry about experiencing any uncontrollable side effects if you are following the plan. As I mentioned in my previous post, you may see oil when you have your usual bowel movement or it may be mixed in with your stool. When you take alli with a meal you will excrete the fat in that meal 24 to 72 hours later. You will only excrete 25% of the fat in that meal so if you do not consume excess fat there will not be excess oil excreted. The goal is to reach your fat goals for each meal. I have a post on the beginning of this board that will explain this in more detail for you.

Let me know if you have any other questions,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

 yesterday was my first day taking the pills..and i havent even gone to the bathroom yet..i'm worried..is this normal?

Hi WvSweet09,

Many people have found that constipation is a bigger problem than treatment effects. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help with this once you know the cause. Here are some common causes:

• Fat - if you have not been reaching your fat goal at each meal this could be contributing to the problem. Many people find relief once they reach their fat goal.
• Iron - if your multivitamin has iron in it you will want to change to one without iron if you are not iron deficient
• Fiber - many people do not get enough fiber in their diet. You can take a supplement like Metamucil to help with this.
• Fluid - without enough fluid, your fiber intake will not matter. The fluid is going to help you go so try for 64 oz per day, with at least half from water
• Binding foods - the BRATT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea and toast) is used to treat diarrhea because it is binding. Cut these foods out until you are regular again. Cheese can also cause a problem so limit that for now.

Give these a try and you should have some relief,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD