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Alli
The FDA's only over-the-counter diet pill.
BACKGROUND
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Warning: Alli Linked To Liver Damage
The anticipation for a new diet pill is over as the FDA recently approved Alli (pronounced Al-eye). It's the weight loss newcomer that is quickly finding its place on drug store shelves. Alli is the first FDA-approved diet pill available without a prescription. Alli is actually a low-dose version of Xenical, a prescription drug that successfully assists obese individuals losing weight. Xenical is taken under a doctor's care while following a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Alli has the same active ingredient (Orlistat), but in a much lower dosage, and is available without the prescription.
Alli can help you lose a few pounds more than just dieting and exercise alone. It works by suppressing the body's ability to absorb fat in the intestines. By reducing fat, you reduce calories. When the body is unable to absorb these fats they become undigested waste.
Alli works best when it is used in conjunction with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and a regular exercise program. But since sticking to a reduced-calorie diet is tough and since certain foods need to be avoided while using the diet pill, Alli has partnered with eDiets, a meal delivery service that delivers Alli-specific meals to your door every week.
While some may view Alli as a controversial solution to weight loss, the manufacturers of this product have gone to great lengths to offer a comprehensive program to its users in order to make weight loss as easy and approachable as possible.
Although studies on the amount of weight loss you can lose with Alli are limited, you can expect to lose three to five pounds more than just relying on diet and exercise alone.
PRO
- May help to jump start a weight loss program
- Comprehensive website that offers support, food journals, calorie counters, meal plans and shopping lists
- Partnership with eDiets makes eating and meal planning simple and convenient
- The only over-the-counter diet pill with FDA approval
- Low-dose version of effective prescription diet pill
CON
- Some think it shouldn’t be sold without a prescription
- Not a long-term solution to weight loss
- Uncomfortable side effects
- Must be very careful to not exceed the maximum fat gram requirement with each meal
- Weight loss affects are modest
- Meal delivery services don't teach you how to consume and prepare your own calorie and portion-controlled meals
INGREDIENTS
Alli contains 60 mg of Orlistat.
ADMINISTRATION
Alli is a 60 mg tablet taken three times a day with meals that should not exceed 15 mg of fat.
DIET and EXERCISE
A low-fat and low-calorie diet must be followed while taking Alli. Since the success of Alli depends so largely on what you eat, how much you eat and when you eat, you have two choices for designing the most effective meal plan for your weight loss needs:
- You could consult with your physician or a registered dietitian to design a well-laid out diet and exercise plan.
- You could sign up for Alli's partner eDiets, a meal delivery service that creates special Alli-approved meals and delivers them to your door each week.
With the eDiets plan, you eat three meals a day plus snack and desserts. Menus can be personalized to reflect your tastes and preferences and you also have access to a registered dietitian, an online community of other Alli dieters and fitness and exercise support.
Since the fat content of each meal must be closely monitored while using Alli (no more than 15 mg each day), eDiets special Alli-approved meals meet these requirements so that your risk of side effects is kept to a minimum.
The eDiets menu includes a wide variety of delicious meals, including:
- Maple Apple Oatmeal
- Denver Style Potato Skillet with Turkey Ham
- Rosemary Pork with Brown Rice
- Oven Roasted Turkey with Savory Sweet Potatoes and Mixed Garden Vegetables
- Blackened Chicken served with Seasoned Spicy Brown Rice
- Peach Cobbler
- Sugar-free Pudding
Irrespective of which meal plan you follow, since Alli inhibits the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, it is important to take a daily supplement that includes Vitamins A, D and E.
In addition, for the best results, a regular exercise program should also be followed that includes 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If you decide to sign-up with eDiets meal delivery service, you have access to a live fitness trainer to help you customize an exercise plan to compliment your weight loss needs.
CONCLUSION
Many people have seen positive results with Alli. However, those considering taking Alli should note that side effects can include gas, and uncontrolled urination and bowel movements, especially when not following the guidelines prescribed by Alli.
Alli is not a magic pill to lose weight, but its special partnership with eDiets, a meal delivery service, makes eating and meal planning simple and convenient.
Do keep in mind that the effects of taking Alli in comparison to just dieting and exercising alone are just the difference of a few pounds. It is necessary that you consult with your medical practitioner before taking Alli.
Common Misspellings
Alle, Ally, Alli Diet, Alli Pill, Alli Diet Pill, Allu, alli.com
Featured Diets
Related Diets: eDiets, Advantra-Z, Contrave, Hydroxycut, Orlistat, Xenical
User Feedback
(Page 3 of 19, 369 total comments)Cheryl
hey everyone, I am looking for something to help boost my weight loss. I am a yo-yo dieter and really need to stick to something and commit to changing my life. I am a mother of a 1 year old and 3 year old,and a full time student, so I keep myself very busy. I am 26 yrs old, 5'5", and weigh 144lbs. I really only have about 9 lbs to lose to reach goal #1, but in reality I would love to lose 19 lbs. I feel like if I have that "fear" of going over 15g fat It will help me stick to the plan. One tool I have found helpful in my LONG journey of weight loss is using the online food journal at
posted Apr 15th, 2010 9:27 amwww.thedailyplate.com
It is a great tool to help you keep accurate calculations of how much you are eating.
does anyone have any suggestions, if it is or is not worth me trying this diet? The comments posted so far have made me confident. Is anyone in my weight range that can fill me in on their experiences?Best of luck to the rest of you, and wish me luck. Today is going to be day #1 of my healthy eating habits.
gelnhausen
i am a female 31 and have tried other diets, so i decided to give alli a try. I started 7 days ago and weighed 219. In the seven days i took alli before every meal and worked out 3 days out of 7 days. All of my meals have been under 15g of fat and higher in protein, lower in carbs.breakfast i ate 2 eggs boiled whites only,half a bagel or english muffin with a tsp of butter,and 2/3 of a fat free yogurt. Lunch i ate a can of light soup progresso vegetable of roasted chicken and had a small bowl of carrots,cucumbers ,and tomatoes. for dinner i had meat of some kind and two veggies,plus a small salad. i weighed myself this morning on day 7 and weigh 210. i am so excited and i feel great. i have had little abdominal cramping. no TE. I also took a multivitamin at night like it says. I have drank at least 7 bottles of water a day.I have went down a size in pants.I would recommend this. Will comment back after week two.
posted Apr 13th, 2010 11:48 amJodi
I started this alli diet on january 10th, 2010 and as of today april 9th 2010 I have lost an AMAZING 56 pounds!! i am 23 pounds away from my goal!! i feel great and look wonderful!! i'm on a low calorie, low fat, low carb diet and i eat alot of lean pockets & veggies and drink alot of crystal light and water. this little blue pill is OUTSTANDING!!!
posted Apr 11th, 2010 10:32 amdays
Started seriously taking it in Dec. Have lost 40 lbs. as of April. I wasn't taking them religiously though and a have been through some tough times where I did not pay any attention to my food intake. So I think I could have lost more if I had stayed on track. When I am on track the weight comes of well. I know Alli has helped with me because I have never seen a loss like this before.
posted Apr 4th, 2010 4:57 pmdays
It isn't magic but it has helped me. If you stick to the program, it's great. I will continue to use this product and have recommended it.
posted Apr 4th, 2010 4:50 pmCarlene Miller-Pease
I tried it and it did not do a thing for me
posted Apr 2nd, 2010 6:47 amMandy
I want to take alli but I am scared of the side effects. Can anyone tell me if they are so bad that I won't be able to have a normal day at work? Will I be running to the bathroom every five seconds? Will I have to wear a diaper with my pencil skirts? I'm sure that would be attractive...I just really need to supress my appetite. I work at a job where food is rampant. Free, good food. I have been trying to make myself withstand it but I can't without some sort of incentive. If i KNOW that I have to keep it under 15g, I think I'll be able to do it. But I hear that other people are having the runs even when they do keep it under 15g. All in all, I just want to do if anyone has taken it while they are working 8-5.
posted Mar 26th, 2010 9:12 amMichelle Brum
I have been taking Alli for 3 weeks and sticking to the plan. I have lost 8 pounds. No kind of leakage. I also don't excercise. Great pill to take, but expensive. Will keep taking it until I lose 13 more pounds
posted Mar 25th, 2010 1:21 amjudi
i have been on it for over a month. dont eat a lot. eat healthy. got my sketchers shapeups. i havent lost shit. in fact i've gained weight. ive always eaten healthy. i thought this would help and it didnt. waste of my time
posted Mar 15th, 2010 10:24 pmsophie
since i started alli 1 week and 2 days i have lost 4lbs. i stay under 14g and work out at least 3 times a week. yes the first day i felt a bit of the side affects but nothing horrible just go to the bathroom when you feel you need! stick to the guidelines or pay the consquenses Good luck every one!
posted Mar 12th, 2010 2:11 pmMrs. Manczuk
A very good girl friend of mine just underwent a liver transplant because of Alli. She took the pills in order to lose a few stubborn pounds, her two sisters had had success with it so she figured she might as well; but unfortunately, she became very sick and needed to have her liver replaced.
posted Mar 10th, 2010 4:15 pmThere maybe great results for some but there are people like my friend for whom this had become life threatening. PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST before taking this medication.
She never had problems with her liver before this unfortunate incident.
melissag87
i bought alli 2 days ago im going to start tomorrow..when it comes to diets i get obbssed with counting calories an i walk an run for 45 minutes a day..so i hope this works for me because i tried alomst everyything my goal is to lose 60 pounds by july so wish me luck =-)
posted Mar 9th, 2010 9:13 pmleezette
Ive been wanting to get on a diet pill... and i have not yet chosen one.. i want my moneys worth?! is this really a great one.... and just reading all these comments about bowel movement, scary.. does it happen after you something to eat or just whenever?! also, lets say i get on this pill and 4 months from now, i want to stop taking it.. will my weight come back, obviously if i keep eating junk food, but what if i stop eating all that.. just little concerned?! also i see that some have lost 2lbs in a week some 5lbs in 2wks.. but how much inches have you lost?! im in a size 11 jeans and want to go down to a 7.. is this alli thing good enough... i know i also have to exercise and watch what i eat! ANY ADVICE wouold be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
posted Mar 9th, 2010 4:22 pmMommie of Three kiddos
I used Alli for 6 months while doing Weight Watchers. I walked 4 miles a day for 5-7 days a week. I was losing on average 3-6 pounds a week. Never had any TE mentioned in previous posts but then again I never went over 12g of Fat a meal. Works great if you are ready to lose weight and ready and committed to stick to a diet program.
posted Mar 7th, 2010 4:07 pmEach person is different. One can only know if this is right for them if they try it themselves and follow the program as recommended. it may work for you but not for your friends. Best of luck for everyone :)
jAee
it was good
posted Mar 4th, 2010 2:39 pmGrizzbailey
I have been on Alli for about three weeks and I have lost 10 pounds. I have not had any "treatment effects" that were described in the booklet or on the website.
posted Mar 3rd, 2010 12:49 pmIf you restrict the oily food you consume and use non fat foods and non fat sprays, you will not have the side effects, at least that is what I have been doing. Also I have been staying well under the recommended fat intake percentage and keeping a diary of the foods that I eat each day, calories and fat percentage in each food are calculated and that also very helpful, in planning other meals.
Renee Allen
I started taking alli today...I watched my intake today...I hope that I have good results...though I'm worried about going to the bathroom when I am out in public.
posted Feb 24th, 2010 8:09 pmheidi
After one week on alli i started having pain on my right side and my stools turned white. yes pure white. no joke. I was told its a sign of liver damage so I stopped taking alli and was 100% normal in about 2 days
posted Feb 18th, 2010 9:58 pmTHEONE
I STARTED ALLI ON TUESDAY SO FAR NO SIDE EFFECTS THAT I CANT BARE. I TRY TO STAY IN MY 1800 CALORIE INTAKE WITH LOW FAT WILL CHECK BACK IN WHEN I FINISH MY 60 DAY SUPPLY.
posted Feb 17th, 2010 5:36 pmBecky
I have been taking Alli for three weeks. I love it! No side effects if you change your way of eating. I have lost 16 pounds.
posted Feb 17th, 2010 11:22 am