Alli is a nonprescription weight loss aid for people 18 and older who want to lose weight steadily and slowly. Alli, the brand name for a medication called orlistat, works differently from weight loss pills that curb your desire to eat. Because of the way this medication works in your body, a low-fat, low-calorie diet is used with Alli to give you optimal results.
How Alli Works
Alli works in your digestive system by inhibiting the amount of dietary fat your body absorbs and stores, according to the manufacturer. The maker goes on to state that Alli can block up to 25 percent of the dietary fat you consume. Alli doesn't speed up your heart rate, suppress your appetite or affect your central nervous system. Eating sensibly -- not restrictively -- is a part of the Alli diet plan. You don't need to give up fat completely, as this is what helps your body absorb other vitamins. However, when on the Alli plan, you do need to limit the fat in your meals.
Alli Diet Basics
Take Alli with every meal you eat that contains fat -- usually three times a day -- either while you eat or up to an hour afterward, states the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Limit your fat intake so you get no more than 30 percent of your calories from fat, or 15 grams. The NIH suggests dividing your daily fat, carbohydrates and protein between all three meals. If you eat a meal that's high in fat, you're more likely to experience negative side effects using Alli. These can include gas, diarrhea and oily spots on your undergarments.
Meal Tips
Planning your daily diet while taking Alli requires some detective work on your part, specifically with label reading, says the NIH. When you go grocery shopping, choose foods containing less than 30 percent fat, paying particular attention to prepared and processed foods such as salad dressings and breads. Focus more on vegetables, whole grains and fruits and limit servings of meat, chicken and fish to 2 to 3 oz. per meal. Choose lean cuts and make sure to take off the skin. Select reduced fat or nonfat milk and milk products. Use vegetable oil when you cook.
Alli Cautions
Take a multivitamin when using Alli, advises MayoClinic.com. Along with dietary fat, this medication may also restrict absorption of fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D and E. If you take blood-thinning medications or suffer from diabetes or thyroid disease, talk to your treating physician before taking Alli. Alli isn't appropriate for people who've had an organ transplant, take cyclosporine or already have problems absorbing food. If you don't need to lose weight, don't take Alli.
Reasonable Expectations
Successful weight loss using the Alli plan includes integrating exercise into your lifestyle, as well as changing your eating habits and the way you think about food. However, weight loss with Alli likely won't be astounding. According to MayoClinic.com, most people lose an additional 5 to 7 pounds when taking Alli's prescription-strength equivalent, Xenical. With Alli, you may expect to lose an additional 3 to 5 pounds each year in addition to the weight you lose from dieting and exercise. Talk to your treating physician to see if Alli is your best weight loss option. If you choose the Alli plan, your doctor can give you specific dietary recommendations, says the NIH.
Member Comments