I have a question if you could answer it, or anyone could that would be great. The thing is I dont eat I mean NOT much AT ALL. So yet I put on weight and can't take it off. So do I need to start eating to loose weight? I was reading your post and it makes sence to me I just dont understand how I  CAN LOOSE IT? I dont even know how I put it on to begin with, BUT I DID! If anyone has an answer it would be SOOO helpfull and much needed. I am a single mother of 4. 15b,10g,4g,2g I work evenings as a cook and waitress so whe I do have time to sit and eat its LATE and I dont even have much of a stonach to eat. Like I dont have room to eat much, So I dont understand how I put on this weight.

Thank you whoever answers me.       Thanks  BIG MOMMA

                                                                    Upstate NY

Hi Betty,

i understand about eating all you cal for the day. I am have trouble reaching that goal. i am on the 18oo cal plan right now and im eating at the most sixteen hundred cal per day. im eating more then i would eat for breakfast. What to do?

 Ms. Kovacs,

       I made a post and was directed to this post. I am concerned about eating 19 grams of fat per meal. I've been on Alli since Sept 6th. I keep track of my calories and fat intake and am doing I think good on calories about 1500-1600 a day but my fat intake is extremely low about 6 for breakfast 10 for lunch. I do tend to make my fat goal for supper but the others are low. What do you suggest I do? I have not had any side affects and if I increase my fat intake, I'm afraid I will.

                                                               Thank you

                                                                            Angela

Newbie here

 I have always been the type to eat just one meal a day.  I am not big on junk food. I love fruit and veggies.  I am 5'3'' and I weigh 192 lbs.  I have lost 10 lbs over the last 6 mths.  I want to drop 15 more.  Is it true for me to assume that my body is holding on to the one meal a day that I have grown accustomed to and not allowing me to burn any further? 

Hi Hottttmomma4,

The best way to know how your body will respond to more calories is to try it for at least 2 weeks. Use the site with the calculation that I recommended and get YOUR MAINTENANCE CALORIES from there. Once you have that subtract 500 to 1000 calories per day to lose 1 to 2 lbs per week. Make the commitment to stick with the level that you come up with and see how your body responds. I have a feeling that you will begin to see weight loss from this.

Keep me posted,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi Dawnienurse2,

There is no reason why you can't stick with 1600 calories per day. The 200 calorie difference won't be enough to negatively impact your weight loss. A 1600 calorie diet needs 53 grams of fat so be sure to reach that.

Good luck,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi Angela,

This post is about calories and I have another post specifically about the benefits of reaching your fat. Take a look at that and you will get the answer to your question. I wrote that post because this question is very common and reaching your fat grams is going to give you the optimal benefits from this plan.

Let me know if you have any questions once you read that,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Dear Betty,

Alli says nothing anywhere about as you weigh in less at certain weights you must have LESS calories as you continue to lose weight!!!! I started out at over 200 pounds and 1800 calories. Now that I weigh 180 I should only be consuming 1200 calories. Alli said nothing to me about this. They should warn people!!!!! It should happen at the check-in when you reach at certain wieght.

Hi Shashadow,

I see that you posted this thought on a separate post. Just in case you missed the response that roocal wrote here it is:

I beg to differ, shashadow.  As you drop weight, you will drop into a different calorie and fat count class.  You can look into your Alli starter or refill material and see the chart for yourself.  Or find it here on the website. 

My response to you is that I am not sure where you get 1200 from. I don't know your height or age, but 1200 calories does seem low for 180 lbs. If you did your calculations are are sticking with the recommended 1 to 2 lbs per week than this is fine.

I hope that this clears things up for you,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

I've been on a 1200 calorie diet since August and have been losing weight.  I started Alli on September 17th.  I'm 52,  5'6 and weighed 195 at that time.  I didn't increase to the 1800 calories Alli recommended, but instead stuck with the 1200 with appropriate fat grams.  I lost 3 pounds this week and suffered TEs only after consuming a 3 oz steak with evidently more marbling than I thought.  I did have some of the orange oil before that on my 3rd day of Alli.  Would I do better if I increased to the 1800 calorie and increased fat grams or was my TE my warning that I need the lower fat grams?  Thanks for your time.

Kathy

Your post explains my life.  After years of yoyo dieting and getting more and more sickly a,long the way, about a year ago I made a decision to choose health and strength over being a certain size.  I started eating healthy but my body did not know what to do with all the calories I was feeding it, so I gained 20 pounds.  Alli came along at a good time -- I was established in my healthy lifestyle, unwilling to go back to a starvation crash diet lifestyle, but wanting very much to see less fat rolls and fit into my old clothing.  Three months later and I am 6 pounds away from my goal.  The weight loss has been slow but consistent and real.  For the first time in my life, I am approaching my goal feeling stong and healthy.  When it comes to dieting, I guess it's true what they say: slow and steady wins the race!

Betty,

I am new but I know there is no way I can eat 1800 cal a day. I normally only eat between 1200 and 1400 cal a day.  If I ate what they say I should eat I know I would gain not lose. Sounds like this comes up a lot. Sorry for questioning your expertise.

ronda 

Hi Kathy,

I am not sure what your activity level is so you are going to have to select the appropriate level. I did your calorie calculation:

• Sedentary - 1967
• Lightly active - 2118
• Moderately active - 2270
• Very active - 2421

The goal is to lose 1 to 2 lbs per week, even though more feels better. You want to lose as much fat and as little muscle as possible and the rate that you lose weight will impact that. Take the calories for the appropriate activity level for you and subtract 500 to 1000 calories per day to lose 1 to 2 lbs per week. Your calorie needs are not very high so taking off 1000 calories per day may bring your level too low. For now, keep 1200 calories as your minimum.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Hi Triababe,

You are right on target with this one. The beauty here is that not only will you "win the race" by taking it slow, you will also be able to maintain your success. No one wants to go through regaining their weight back.

Congratulations on your success,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Betty,

I'm wondering if maybe my activity level is too high for the 1200 calories I've been eating.  I usually do somewhere between 1 and 3 1/2 hours a day on the treadmill.  I make sure to get in at least 10,000 steps a day, usually ending up with more than 20,000, sometimes over 30,000.  Some days I put in a little strength training and others I do a workout dvd.  I started all this exercising in August and was on 1200 calories.  I just finished my second week of Alli and am wondering if I should up my calories to the 1800 that are recommended.  Is 1200 calories too low for my activity?

Thanks,

Kathy