April 14, 2008
The My Alli Weight Loss Plan
They My Alli Weight Loss Plan was created by nationally recognized nutrition and weight management experts who understand the challenges of losing weight. Read more about one of those experts who has joined the alli team, Dr. Gary Foster.
Gary Foster, Ph.D. is a renowned leader in the field of weight management and behavior change. Dr. Foster is a Professor of Medicine and Public Health and Director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has previously served as Clinical Director of the Weight and Eating Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Dr. Foster is a frequent presenter at national and international meetings and has treated overweight patients in individual and group settings for over 20 years.
Begin with meal planning
Life is tempting. Fast-food advertising encourages you to grab and go — often at a good price that could cost you in the long run. If you know what to expect from the outside influences, you can avoid the setbacks that lead to weight gain.
In this section, you'll find resources including meal planning, articles, and information that can help you:fight cravings, survive slip-ups, and control portion size. You can also discover which popular low-fat diets work with the alli™ program. Just view alli-friendly diets. Some diets are not a good fit with alli, because they allow high-fat foods that can cause treatment effects while using alli capsules.
With alli, you need to stick with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet. Find out more about the debate on low-fat choices.How many daily fat grams and calories are right for you? Check out the target fat & calories charts.
Four ways to fight cravings
Has this happened to you? You see a chocolate bar in a magazine, so you take a walk to the nearest vending machine. Or you're in a movie theater, and the smell of popcorn drives you to the concession stand. These triggers are hard to handle.
What can you do?
Get moving. Physical activity can boost your mood just like food can — and it uses up calories, rather than adds them Swap foods. If you crave a salty snack, have some salted celery or a lettuce salad with lemon juice and a sprinkling of salt. If you want something sweet, try sugar-free hard candy or a fruit-and-ice smoothie with no-calorie sweetener.
Distract yourself.
If you can do something else for just a few minutes, the craving may pass Drink water. Sometimes thirst disguises itself as hunger. But make sure you're not substituting water for food; you still need nutrients as part of a healthy diet.
Survive the occasional slip-ups
Weight control is not like walking a tightrope — one misstep and you're done. If you slip, don't fall overboard with bad choices. Here are a few tips for recovering:Accept that mistakes happen. Forgive yourself and focus on what to do differently next time Persevere with your goals. Avoid "all-or-nothing" thoughts of giving up Identify triggers.
Try to understand what events or circumstances led to overeating. Anger, stress, loneliness, or the blues are common. Be ready for them Turn your back. When you sense a trigger, change direction. If you're in the kitchen, or near food, go somewhere else. Just walk away Do the math. If you want to be sure you have a low-fat diet, count the grams of fat in your daily food choices and compare them to the number of grams of fat suggested for your calorie level.
For more on daily fat and calorie targets, check out the target fat and calories chartsWatch portion sizeOne of the easiest weight loss strategies is to control portion size. Get to know the amount of food you eat. Often, we get in the habit of eating a certain amount of food to feel satisfied. And if we're served more food, we'll eat more.
Studies have shown that the more food people were given to eat, the more they ate, regardless of their feeling of satiety.If the full plate is important to you, try using a smaller plate. Or keep portion sizes the same, but cut calories by lowering the fat in your dishes and adding more low-calorie ingredients like crunchy vegetables and leafy salads. Pay attention to the "energy density" in foods.
All foods have a specific number of calories within a given amount (volume). Foods such as desserts, candies, and processed foods are high in energy density. A small volume of these foods has a large number of calories. But some foods such as fruits and vegetables have low energy density. So you can have a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories — and that can fill you up without the downside of calorie overload.
10 quick tips for portion control
Leave a portion of what you're served on your plate. Ask for a "to go" container so you can have the leftovers for another meal. Don't be fooled into thinking if you skip the bread, you're free to have a larger portion of steak. Cut back wherever you can. Ask for salad dressing on the side, and use one fewer tablespoon of dressing whenever you have salad.
Make gradual changes in portion size for lasting results. If you want larger portions, add more fruits, vegetables, and beans into your meals. A deck of cards is about the size of 3 ounces of cooked meat. A baseball is about the size of one cup. Use these visual cues when looking at portions. Don't let deprivation lead to a splurge. If you have a smaller entrée portion, fill up the rest of your plate with vegetables and a green salad.
Measure foods at home so when you eat out, you'll know how much pasta or rice you may be eating in a restaurant. Read food labels to get familiar with the calories and nutrients you're getting in each serving. Value meals may be good for the wallet but bad for the waist. You may be better off choosing individual items in smaller portion sizes.
Posted by FastWeightLossTips at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2008
Alli weight-loss pill: Does it work?
Is Alli the solution to your weight-loss woes? A Mayo Clinic specialist discusses the effectiveness of Alli, an over-the-counter weight-loss pill.Another drug is available to aid your weight-loss efforts, but this time you don't need a prescription.
Alli (pronounced AL-eye) is meant for overweight adults who are struggling to shed excess pounds. With its easy access and weight-loss promises, is Alli your answer to losing weight permanently? Here, Donald Hensrud, M.D., a preventive medicine and nutrition specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., answers common questions about Alli.
What is Alli?
Alli is the reduced-strength version of orlistat (Xenical), a prescription drug to treat obesity. It's approved for over-the-counter sale to overweight adults 18 years and older. Alli is meant to be used in conjunction with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and regular exercise.
How does Alli work?
Alli promotes weight loss by decreasing absorption of fat by the intestines, which reduces the number of calories you absorb.Lipase, an enzyme found in the digestive tract, helps break down dietary fat into smaller components, so it can be used or stored for energy. Alli works by disabling lipase, which prevents the enzyme from breaking down the fat while it's in your digestive tract. The undigested fat continues through the intestines and is eliminated through bowel movements.
Alli is taken with fat-containing meals, up to three times a day. Because of how Alli works, it's recommended that you eat no more than 15 grams of fat with each meal. Eating higher amounts of fat can cause unwanted effects, such as urgent bowel movements, diarrhea and gas with oily spotting.
How much weight could I lose using Alli?
Alli can help you lose weight, but the weight loss likely won't be great — perhaps just a few pounds more than you would lose with diet and exercise alone. Only a small number of studies have evaluated the effectiveness of Alli. And many of the weight-loss estimates are based on studies conducted on its prescription-strength counterpart, Xenical.
The average weight loss for prescription-strength Xenical is modest — about 6 pounds greater than diet and exercise alone after one year. So at half the strength, Alli could conceivably result in an average of 3 pounds lost in a year in addition to the approximately 8 pounds you could expect to lose from diet and exercise alone.
When shouldn't I take Alli?
You shouldn't take Alli if you: Are at a healthy weight Are taking cyclosporine Have had an organ transplant Have problems absorbing food The drug also may pose risks for anyone who takes blood-thinning medication or has diabetes or thyroid disease.
Orlistat decreases the absorption of certain fat-soluble vitamins — for example, vitamins A, D and E. If you're taking Alli, you need to take a daily vitamin supplement (at a time different from when you take Alli) to prevent potential nutrient deficiencies.
How long do I need to take Alli?
According to the manufacturer, most weight loss occurs within the first six months. Many people who take medications to lose weight regain the weight they lost when they stop taking the medication. Therefore, to keep the weight off, many people continue taking medications indefinitely along with eating a low-calorie diet and exercising regularly.
How does Alli fit into a healthy weight-loss plan?
As you consider Alli as a weight-loss aid, make sure that you make every effort to exercise, change your eating habits and adjust any other lifestyle factors that have contributed to your excess weight. Alli isn't the easy answer to weight loss and is meant only to supplement — not replace — a healthy diet and regular exercise.Work with your doctor to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of Alli or any other weight-loss drugs. As a team, you can create the most effective weight-loss plan for you.
More information about Alli here.
Posted by FastWeightLossTips at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2008
alli Weight Loss Pill
Time is ticking on the miracle diets, the untested, the untrue. Now you can look at weight loss differently.alli™ is the only FDA approved, over-the-counter weight loss product. But it’s more than just a pill. It’s an innovative weight loss program.
The pill works by preventing your body from absorbing some of the fat you eat. And the program includes an individually tailored, online action plan to help you lose weight safely and gradually.What makes alli different?FDA approval makes alli different. And the customized plan was designed for use with alli capsules to give you the support you need to succeed with weight loss.
With your hard work and alli, you can lose about 50% more weight than with just dieting alone. That means if you could lose 10 pounds through dieting, you could lose 15 with alli.So what’s myalliplan™?Losing weight is easier with support. That’s why the alli program includes an individually tailored action plan called myalliplan. When you purchase alli and register online, you’ll get a free customized action plan.
When you check in online, you’ll receive immediate feedback and specific guidance, developed by weight management experts.When you’re not online, you can still partner with alli when you use the portable reference guides inside the alli starter pack. They include the “Read Me First” Guide, Welcome Guide, Companion Guide, Calorie & Fat Counter, Healthy Eating Guide, Daily Journal, and Quick Facts Cards — the tools you need to be successful with alli.
Can I do this?
Absolutely. If you’re willing to challenge yourself, to do things differently, then you can experience weight loss success. But if you aren’t committed to limiting your fat intake and calories as part of the program, then you shouldn’t buy alli.
Posted by FastWeightLossTips at 09:48 PM | Comments (0)
