This is the first time I have posted a message, I hope I'm doing it right. Anyway, I have been on the plan for going on 4 weeks. My first week I actually gained weight. I was wondering if I am on too many calories. I am 5 ' 2" tall and weigh 225. My goal is 150. I have been very faithful to the menu I follow off the website. What do you think?

So I have a question..

I have been dieting fro about 6 mos without Alli, maintaining about 1500 calories and not watching fat al all. i lost about 27 lbs the.  I began Alli because I have hit a serious plateau - 2 months no weight loss .  Now my plan says I should fo 1800 calories and 19 grams of fat.  Do I need to increase my caloric intake?  I do work out 3 - 4 days per week.  Any help would be great - i am ok with 1 -2 lbs per week - just need to get the ball rolling again.

Betty,

According to the calculation on this site, I should be consuming 1800 calories per day.  However, my cardiologist has emphasized no more than 1200 calories per day.  Is there a way to adjust the calculation?

Linda 

Betty, I am just starting with Alli.  I start the capsules today.  I just wanted to say thank you for explaining in detail what I have known for years!  I have lost a lot of weight over the years only to gain back way more than I ever lost.  I'd lose 8 pounds and gain back 15.  Diet after diet and this phenomenon of gaining back more than was lost, I now weigh almost twice what I started with.  I knew it was happening and was terrified to try again because I always ended up weighing more than when I started.  Your explanation has cleared up the mystery!  Thank you!  Angie

Hi Everyone,

If you feel that the calories that you are given on your plan are too high than you have 2 options for adjusting them. You can cut back by 200 to 300 calories per day OR you can use the Mifflin St. Jeor calculation to determine what your needs are. I can't tell you how many calories you need because I do not know everything that I need to know about you. Go to http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm TO GET YOUR MAINTENANCE CALORIES ONLY. Once you have that you subtract 500 to 1000 calories per day to lose 1 to 2 lbs per week. Right now, there is no way to change your calorie level on your plan here so you can keep track using the level that you come up with for yourself.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi Angie,

There are so many fad diets getting people confused about how you lose weight and keep it off. There is no way to lose weight without consuming fewer calories than your body needs. If you do a calorie calculation on any diet that you have followed you will see that you were consuming fewer calories than your maintenance needs. Maintaining your weight loss will require that you stick with your maintenance calories. When you understand this it will impact your long-term success. From what you said, it sounds like you get it and are on your way to making permanent changes.

I wish you lots of success,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Betty,

I am having issues with my calorie intake not enough. I am eating food low in fat and also low in calories. I understand it is important to get the number of calories but am finding it difficult to fill them. My goal is 1800 and I average around 1200 for a 7 day period. I am averaging about 34 of the allowed 60 fat grams. All my nutients are in line except sodium it's too high, so when that happens  I stop eating because most everything I eat has sodium not by choice but I can't find foods with out it.

This week when I checked in I put that I was dissatified  not so much with the 1/2 lb I lost which by the way you cannot enter fractions into the check so I had to make it look like I lost 1 lb. I am dissatisfied because I e-mailed alii with some issues I was having with the web site and my frustrations with my calories etc. and Was told all the tools are on line and to use my nutrietion log and journal both of which I do everyday. So that is not the issue but Alli automaticallly assumes it is. I need help and don't feel like I'm getting it.

I also redeemed a reward for weekly text messages which I've only received the test message they send. I mentioned that in my e-mail also and it was not addressed. Please help me I really want to lose the weight and I am trying very hard to follow the program. I think maybe I need to speak to someone in person rather than on the blog. 

Thank You,

Donna 

Hi Donna,

This board is not the place for assistance with the issues that you are having. You can post these questions on the technical issues board or call technical customer service line at 1-877- 4myalli (469-2554) (M-F, 10am - 6pm EST).

I can't force anyone to reach their recommended amount of calories. I would think that it would be worth trying to get as close to your recommendations as possible to see how your weight loss responds. I do think that it's a good idea for you to keep 1400 calories as your minimum.

Good luck,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi Betty!  I have been on the plan nearly a week now and feeling pretty good.  I did have a few questions so I went to the boards.  I had the typical "are you sure that 1800 calories is what I need" problem.  They assigned me 1800.  This weekend, I decided to try to use the meal plans provided (with exchanges if necessary) to make things easier on me.  I planned out my meals for the next few days and went to the grocery store.  I feel great about this decision.  I was really full after eating my breakfast and COULD NOT finish my lunch.  I went on the website you suggested and it said my maintence calories was 1875 but fat loss was 1500.  Why did Alli suggest 1800 if that is just a "maintence" calorie plan?  Sorry to those of you who might have seen the answer somewhere else before, but I work and cannot get on here that often...so I figured I would just ask.  Thanks.

Hi alixzack

I've been on alli for about 7 weeks now and have lost 11 lbs.  The best part of this diet is the ability to plan your meals and then print out the grocery list.  The first week, I ate every thing that came up automatically.  There were things I really liked.  I put them in "my favorites".  Each week I exchange things I don't like for my favorites, but I always try a new recipe at least once a week.  I print out my meal plan, then I print out all the recipes, then I print my grocery list.  I cross out the things I already have on hand and buy the rest. I also keep a 3 ring binder of the recipes so I can find them easily and I don't have to print them again.  I'm telling you, I don't even want to go out to dinner anymore.  These recipes are easy, quick, don't require a lot of ingredients and the most important part is they are delicious!  I have never eaten so well!   

Dorene

Hi everyone!

I am new to ALLI!  4th day!  I have been reading all kinds of these messages questioning the calorie & fat amounts etc....  It will take awhile to get used to eating so much food but I know I could do it.  My question to everyone is:  You bought ALLI to lose weight.  ALLI comes with very good guidance and this amazing support system and answer/question forums.  Why is everyone questioning why ALLI says to eat 1800 and something else says 1500?  If you want to go by the other source, then why did you buy ALLI??  Why not just read all of the material and go with what it says to do. If you don't follow the plan, you probably won't get the results you should.   If you follow the plan and it doesn't work for you then you can decide to do something else.  From many of the posting in these different forums, it is plain to see that ALLI is working for many people. 

Just my thoughts..... And I understand if you(moderator) choose not to post this..and that is fine with me...It was bugging me that everyone was questioning it, as they are just starting.....

Thanks!

Cindy

I've been on the Alli program now for 3 months and I've been averaging about 1 to 2 pounds a week which I'm very happy with.  I'm wondering if eventually my calorie and fat intake will lower.  I'm at 157 pounds now and my alli plann says I need to eat 1800 calories and 19 grams of fat.  I know this may have been fine when I first started and weighed more, but will it eventually go down?  I've never been on a diet that had me eat some many calories and fat and I rarely reach the 1800 calories, because it's so much food. 

Hi Dimplz74,

I recommended using that site ONLY for maintenance calories, not for the amount needed to lose weight. If you included your activity level and were given 1875 as your maintenance than I have to question how much weight you have to lose. If you are overweight or obese I recommend recalculating your needs. If this number comes up again what is your height and weight?

Let me know what you find out,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi there - I have been on ALLI for a week now, but started being more vigilant about what I ate for a week before that.  I have not been able to exercise at all between working a lot this week and having shots in my back that were very painful this time.  I am not very overweight, but want to get rid of the extra poundage.  I have been eating low fat, and, like some others have posted am not able to actually eat the recommended amount of food/calories.  I just weighed this morning after a week and have not lost ANYTHING!!!  So utterly frustrated.  Any suggestions?  Thanks