hello,  I started my diet about 2-3 months ago and lost 20 pounds in the first month and a half.  Halfway though my weight loss I started alli, I have always been somewhat physically active but my goal was to lose another 10-15 within the next month and a half.  Over the past 3+ weeks my weight loss has stopped completely, and I'm not gaining it back either, some days I will weigh less, some days more but for the most part it hasnt moved.  What can I do to get through this?  I have been eating around 3000 calories a day and lost all the weight while maintaining 2500-3000 calories a day, now I am down to 2000-2500, should I go lower?    Thanks in advance.

 Wow! Sounds like there are a bunch of us currently stuck in plateaus! Ive been stuck for three weeks also..It also sounds like we are using the same scale. Yesterday it looked like I gained one today it was down one,blah blah blah.... Did you just lower your calories recently? They recommend to drop 200 calories if your stuck, but if you already did that I would drop any more yet.... I didnt drop any calories because I am having trouble eating the 1400 that Im supposed too....... When did you actually start Alli?

Yes I have already dropped 500 calories for the past 2 weeks and no change, I started alli about a month ago but had times where I would miss pills, I take about a pill a day, I don't want to fully rely on alli because a significant amount of my previous weight loss(14lbs) was done without alli,since taking alli I lost another 6 lbs in my weight loss period but recently there has been nothing happening.

First, let me congratulate you on your weight loss!  How wonderful to hear your news.

Secondly, I want to share the following information, which may provide some help.  Feel free to send me more questions:

Many factors can attribute a 1 pound weight gain - Menstrual cycles, high sodium intake, medications, etc.  Sometimes, even if you follow a diet plan perfectly well there are moments when your body plateaus and that is OK.  Even when the scale does not show progress, you should not feel discouraged.  Chances are that you are making progress in many other ways. 

• You are eating healthy and that is positive
• Maybe you are feeling more energetic
• Maybe your clothes are fitting better
• Maybe your cholesterol level is lowering

If you stay the course you will continue to drop pounds.  You can also help move from plateau if you increase your physical activity.  You can also do resistance exercise to your routine or cut a snack or about 100 to 200 calories from your meal plan (as long as you are not going to be very hungry in between meals).  Most importantly, stay on track.

Let us know if we can be of further help,

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LD, CPT - registered dietitian

PS: Did alli provided your calorie level?  The calories sound pretty high...usually 2500 to 3000 calories are for people who are VERY active.

Thanks for the response, I used to maintain my weight with 3500 calories a day, now I am still maintaining it with 2500.  I usually bike 3 miles a day and on days when its raining or I dont have motivation to bike, I will use the gym.  Hopefully I can get over this plateau and start losing weight again.

 Let me know if I can be of any further help to you,

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT - registered dietitian

I'm wondering if I should drop down to 1800 a day as alli reccomends, what foods will help me feel full longer and still contain little calories?  Also with my work/school/sleep schedule breakfast is not much of an option, its usually lunch being the first meal I eat due to the time I wake up, I've always wondered if I should excercise as soon as I wake up then eat lunch, basically leaving me on an empty stomach, or should I eat then excercise?

Well it seems like I may be losing weight again, I took two days off my diet and unfortunately consumed around 3000+ calories those days but didn't gain a pound, then I dropped back down to 2000-2300 and lost 2 pounds in 3 days and i've been drinking more water so its not water weight, hopefully this will start working, I will start taking alli again tomorrowto help.

So glad to hear you are losing weight again!  Sometimes, it takes a little bit of time for your hard work to reflect a weight loss, so keep going - you are on the right track.

I will recommend eating part of your breakfast or something not too heavy about 20 to 30 minutes before going to exercise.  I believe it will help you workout longer and harder.  This is science base.

Cheers,

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LD, CPT - registered dietitian

I started alli again with every meal and started eating low calorie and fat lunches(~300 cals) and slowed down on snacking, and I am down 5 pounds in a week, hopefully this will keep up, thanks for the help.

Wow!  That is great progress!  Keep me posted :)

Sylvia