Alli

A bunch of us were enjoying an amazingly good - hell, I cooked it - and amazingly fatty and unhealthy dinner last night. One of the diners said, "Can you imagine if we were on that Alli? It would be out of control."


It got me to thinking as I do now and then when I'm eating poorly and thinking I need to eat right and lose weight: It's been a while. Anybody using it and having success? Are there, uh, problems?

You can use the old "a friend of mine" thing if you'd like. I understand some may not want to discuss this but I am curious about this stuff.

 

I haven't tried it. And I don't mean to shit all over it (no joke intended) for someone who struggles with weight...

But it just seems wrong to me. My understanding of the stuff is that it prevents your body from breaking down some of the fat you eat. I know it's easier said than done, but my question is, why not change your diet instead and try to go low fat--take the fat out of your diet instead of relying on a pill to block some absorption of fat? The problems with the pills, I would guess are, that 1) If you overeat, you are still going to stay heavy, because this stuff doesn't touch carbohydrates, which should be the vast majority of your diet, and 2) This stuff prevents the breaking down of some of the fat you eat, but about 3/4 of the fat in your diet still gets synthesized by your body. So my guess is if you eat the same, you'll lose some weight, because you are absorbing 1/4 less fat. But if you have a high-fat (bad fats) diet, it's going to take more than this to get fit, and even if you lose a little weight, you are still not doing your heart and your overall health any favors, because this pill doesn't block fat absorption. It just stems it off a little. Also, your bouts with the toilet are going to be ugly. Undigested fat has to wreak havoc on your intestines and you are going to be passing big wads of oil spills.

I know I end up preaching on these threads, but even if you lose a little weight by taking this pill, my guess is it is going to be unsustainable--you can't stay dependent on a pill forever, and it's a pill that is only going to get you part of the way there. You are much better off reducing the fat in your diet and changing eating and exercise patterns. That kind of weight loss will be sustainable. Plus, once you get used to eating a lower fat diet, you really don't crave the bad stuff. You just have this line you have to cross. With the pills you are still going to continue craving the bad stuff and you will remain fighting yourself. I think of fats like opiates--like any kind of addiction, really. You just have to break the addiction and then it gets easier.

 

Good points. They say you don't have the "problems" with Alli if you cut down your fats. But, hell, if you cut down your fats you are on the way anyway. Add some exercise and get it done.

That's what I keep telling myself at least.