My target is 1600 calories and 54 grams of fat per day.  With the help of the food journal, I've been sticking to this very well for over a month but I've only lost 5 pounds.  

I'm wondering if it matters whether the fat is evenly distributed among the foods at a given meal.  For example, is there a difference between the following two meals?  

English muffin (100 cal, 1 g/f), light yogurt (100 cal, 0 g/f), 1 cup apple sauce (100 cal, 0), 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (190 cal, 16 g/f) = 490 cal, 17 g/f 

Cornbread (150 cal, 5 g/f), 1/2 cup cottage cheese (110 cal, 4 g/f), granola (110 cal, 4 g/f), crackers (130 cal, 4 g/f) = 500 cal, 17 g/f 

I prefer to eat a lot of low-fat foods so I often have to add something really high fat like peanut butter to meet my fat target without going over my calories.  Is that different than something like Meal 2, where the fat is spread evenly among the calories in the different foods?  I know that I need to consider the targets for the different food groups to maintain a healthy diet and etc.  But I am wondering specifically if there is a difference between these two kinds of meals that changes the amount of fat or calories that is not absorbed by my body as a result of the Alli.  

I hope my question is clear.  I'm just trying to figure out how to eat what I like (I'm a picky eater) while staying within my limits.  I'm exercising for an hour and a half 4-5 times per week, so I would like to be losing more weight.  

It sounds like you're doing a good job so far. So keep up the good work! Here's a few comments. First, to answer your question: No, it doesn't matter where the fat comes from. However, it's best to have "healthier" fats like peanut butter instead of regular butter; or seafood in place of red meat a few times a week, etc. You've done a really nice job of describing two meals that contain the proper amount of fat. The only comment I have is the second is mostly carbs. From a straight nutrition poing to view it might have been better to drop the crackers (granola and cornbread were already consumed and have a little more cottage cheese + a fruit. It just helps get a little more of the food groups into the meal. As for the 5 pounds. Keep in mind that everyone loses at a different rate. Some of that is hormonal, some is that people who have the most to lose generallly lose the fastest -- at least in the beginning and then it tapers offf. Sometimes there's an underlying medical issues that slows, or prevents, weight loss. If you haven't had a complete physical - with lab tests - you might want to have that done. You're doing a great job with the exercise, and that's a big accomplishment. Stay positive because you're doing well. Please let me know if you need anything else. Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian

 Hi, I just started alli today, and my main question is if you should take alli if you are eating a meal that contains primarily healthy fats such as seafood, nuts, avocado, or olive oil.  These fats have essential nutrients, so should we skip alli when we eat healthy meals so that we can benefit from our food?  I realize that it may slow down the weight loss process, but we're doing this to be healthy, not in a hurry right?!   Thank you.

Good question.  The answer is "Yes" take the capsule at each meal.  The goal is to lose weight AND to develop healthier eating patterns.  Remember that alli blocks only 25% of the fat in each meal -- not all of it.  So for best results, take one with each meal.

Let me know if you need more.

Pat