NOT a miracle but it does work (Alli Weight Loss Aid)

Member Name: MeganFF

Product:	Alli Weight Loss Aid
Date:	15/07/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It educates as it helps you shed fat

Disadvantages: the side effects say it all

Alli has been branded the 'miracle' diet pill. This review aims to dispell that myth.

The main ingredient of Alli is Orlistat. What this drug does, is disables some of the enzymes in your gut that absorb fat. Not all fat. And what goes in, must come out.

Orlistat is available on prescription (currently £7.20 per perscription in England) under the name of Xenical. What needs to be stated, is that Alli is HALF the strength of Xenical. The drugs look the same - little blue bullets, but the difference is in the pennys you hand over, and the strength you receive.

IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH - PLEASE STOP READING NOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

In the past, I have tried everything to lose weight. At my fattest, I was poring myself into a size 20 jeans - just. And tipped the scales at over 16 stone. well over.

After my ex left, I changed my diet to incorporate more vegetables and less junk. I dropped a stone in about six weeks, and tipped the scales to fifteen and a half stone.

For the next age, I tried everything. Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, The Soup Diet, Slimming World. Everything except the cabbage diet. I don't like cabbage much.

January 2007 I bit the bullet and asked my doctor for help. He handed me a prescription. And a warning. If you eat too much fat, it will come out. And fast.

Yes, I was put on Xenical (yes I know the review is on Alli, but bare with me) and lost two stone. And learnt a lot.

What they mean by 'what comes in, goes out' took a new meaning. Everyones heard of projectile vomiting, but hands up those that have experienced projectile diahhorea? Just me then?

While taking the orlistat based drug, you excrete more fat than normal. This makes your poop softer, which is great if you suffer with piles, and more regular. It also increases your wind production, if you get my meaning. And your fear factor.

Do you remember having the runs? Remember the stomach cramps? And how scared you were to fart (sorry, pass wind) in case it wasn't alone? Fancy living like that almost permanently? Then don't take an Orlistat based drug and carry on eating fatty foods. This drug is not a miracle. It's an education.

During my first bout on the drugs, I learnt very quickly the foods that I could eat without accidently farting orangey oil into my underwear and trousers (why is it, that your knickers are never enough to stop anything??)
Yes it washes out, but no-one wants to carry a change of clothes to the work loos.

There is one occasion that I am going to share with you. We were invited to a friends house for dinner during my drugs course. I purposely didn't take a pill with me, as I didn't know what would be served, or how it was cooked. The friend lived only ten minutes away. We left about two hours after dinner. Not even five minutes down the road, I was gripped with serious stomach cramps. I dare not pass wind, so I couldn't try that to relieve it. I drove home rather fast. As soon as I arrived through my front door, I had to leg it up the stairs for the bathroom. (I do have a downstairs loo, but I knew this was going to be nasty) I just made the toilet in time.
The ferocity that the excrement exited my bottom, stung. The wind was loud and embarrassing. After I was sure that there was nothing left in my body to come out, I turned the shower on (then I realised the reason for the bidets in posh hotels!) to clean myself up. Then i had to tackle the mess in the bowl and the lingering aroma. Seriously not pleasent.

After around six months, the drugs stopped working. This is because your body adapts to what you give it, and it gets 'used' to it. (that why you shouldn't have antibiotics for everything) So I stopped taking them.

I maintained my weight for nearly 18 months. Oh I tried over things to get it to shift, and everything failed again. So last month I resorted to following my Health Care Advisor's advice, and started the pills again. Cross your fingers for me. Another two stone off would be brilliant!

Things to note:

Alli is available from your pharmacist, but you have to meet certain criteria. A BMI of 28 or more. No heart problems or diabeties. And must be monitored regularly to make sure it's not doing naughty stuff to your heart and blood pressure.

Alli costs around £30 for a months supply (costed in Tesco today) although I've seen it as much as £50 online.

Alli is HALF the strength of Xenical. Both contain Orlistat, both do the same thing.

The drug in both is Orlistat.

My thoughts:

This seems to be the only things that works for me. It is not by any means a miracle drug. It has nasty and uncomfortable side effects.

Try everything possible before resorting to taking any diet drug (there are others available to suppress appetite)

But

If you can honestly say, hand on heart, that you've tried everything and you follow a healthy life-style, and you haven't been put off by reading this far, go and see your GP. I promise you are not wasting their time. They may suggest other things to try. But they may agree that you need medical help.

Not only will you get all the support you need, but it's cheaper. One prescription charge a month compared to £30 quid.

Summary: go to your GP - get double the strength cheaper, with support