My Alli Experience

So, I started taking Alli diet pills. I'm not going to lie, I was very skeptical. I had done a great deal of research and read and listened to the horror stories associated with Alli. It took me a good week before I was brave enough to try it. I was terrified of the side effects. About a week ago I buckled down and started taking the pills. Let me tell you how it went.
First, Alli recommends that you start a low fat diet a few days prior to taking the pills. I was already on a "low-fat diet", having switched to skim milk about a year ago. I try to avoid fatty foods, but by no means do I dedicate a substantial amount of time to it. When I started taking the pills there was really no reaction on day 1.
Day 2 was pretty much the same. There was really no noticeable side effects from taking it. I have to say that for the first week the only thing that I noticed was weight loss. Now, I have to tell you that on day 1 I was motivated and walked four miles. After that, I didn't exercise at all. I lost three pounds last week without working really hard for it. So the bottom line is I went from 252 pounds to 249 pounds in one week, didn't really exercise, and didn't really change my diet. I felt better than I have in a long time. Fat can really bring you down.
Now what I have to say is that after such progress it's easy to start taking things for granted. Saturday we had pizza night. Pizza has a very high fat content. After taking Alli for one week my body wasn't absorbing as much fat as it used to, so needless to say, there was a reaction. Pizza is my weakness, and I ate more than I should have. I will say that it's important to watch what you eat and stay away from fatty foods. Moderation is the key. I walked around and felt bloated for most of Saturday evening and part of Sunday, but now I'm back on track. We'll see what happens this week.

Buying Alli

As of my last post I had started a low-fat, low calorie diet and was going out to buy Alli. Today I made the purchase. I bought the Alli Starter Set for $42.00. The general price that was quoted in most of the articles that I've read was between $50.00 and $70.00. For the most part I find that this is true on the store shelves, but shopping around online you can get a better deal and never leave the comfort of your own home. If your interested in trying this product you can purchase it by checking out low-impact-fitness.com. I found it here for as low as $31.00. This came in handy as I had to start dieting prior to Alli anyway. You can also find a variety of low impact home gyms and elliptical machines at Low Impact Fitness.

I've just opened the Alli Starter Set box and this is what was inside:
1. A package of pamphlets and booklets
a. Read Me First (an instructional guide for the use of Alli)
b. Hi (welcome to the Alli Weight Loss Program)
c. Quick Facts Cards (A small key chain card set with suggestions on the following topics:
i. Avoid
ii. Best Choices
iii. Limit Fats
iv. Alli Dosage
v. Portions
vi. Snacks
vii.Shopping
viii. Cooking

d. Companion Guide (suggestions on how to integrate Alli and your daily lifestyle changes in order to boost weightloss.
e. Healthy Eating Guide ( includes daily menu variations)
f. Calorie and Fat Counter (Lists common foods' calories and fat content)
g. A daily journal for recording your meals.

2. A 90 count bottle of Alli Diet Pills
3. A carrying case for your daily dosage of Alli.

The overall message in the content of this product is that you have to use Alli as directed, and that it is a product meant to enhance your weight loss, not to be the sole cause of it. With this in mind, I'll start taking the pills on Saturday. Between now and then I'll read the enclosed literature and get to know a little more about the Alli Weight Loss Program.

Taking the Alli Challenge

Well, this is it! I'm taking the Alli challenge. I've finally made up my mind to take the Alli Diet Pill in order to assist in losing weight. Of course, the key to my endeavor is diet and exercise. I've read allot of research on Alli and listened to many satisfied and dissatisfied users. A friend of mine had been on the Alli diet for about a month before he left for Australia on an exchange program. He was very satisfied with the diet He was looking to lose some weight without exercising a great deal. So this is what he did. He stopped exercising all together. He followed the directions for recommended use as indicated by the Alli Weight Loss Plan. This is to say that three days before he started taking his Alli diet pills he started a low-fat diet. He told me that according to the Alli Weight Loss Plan you can't have any more than 19 grams of fat at any one meal. This is because the Alli Diet Pill is a fat blocker. It prevents a percentage of fat from being absorbed by your intestines. Given that the fat is not absorbed it must be excreted and that's why you must be careful about your fat consumption. In his experience 19 grams of fat or less per meal didn't produce any notable change in bodily functions. The directions are very specific and he made sure to ensure that I knew this. By going on a low fat diet three days before taking Alli you ensure that all of the excess fat is out of your system. He said that if you were to go eat a Fast Food meal and take Alli the following day you would certainly be unpleasantly surprised.
The dissatisfied users, for the most part, all complain about exactly that; the diarrhea associated with taking Alli. In one instance the weight loss candidate was very happy taking the pill for three days until he had eaten at McDonalds. He was then disappointed with the results and advised others not to take the pills. I think that the bottom line is that Alli, as with all medications, needs to be taken according to its directions. If not, the side effects will follow.
So, given all of this information and research that I put into this thing I have come to this conclusion. First, I need to lose weight. I'm 36 years old, 250 pounds, and suffer with degenerative disk disease. My lower back pain prevents me from doing a great deal of exercise, although I can participate in some low impact upper body and cardio vascular training.
Second, today I start my low fat diet in preparation to start the Alli Weight Loss Diet. I have to recognize that Alli Diet Pills are a dietary supplement, not a diet in itself. The low fat diet and regular exercise program are going to provide the weight loss. The Alli is going to help to speed the weight loss along. I have great hope that this is going to work, and I'm finally going to start losing weight in a manner that I can keep it off. Third, I will purchase the Alli Starter Pack tomorrow so that I can read the instructions for myself.
In a final note; my friend reported 3-6 pound of weight loss per week without doing any exercise. I am sure that this will work. I'll keep posting my progress. Maybe it could work for you as well.

Why should I use an elliptical trainer?

You probably have seen a machine with two long handles at the cardio section. Some people call this machine as Elliptical Exercise Machine or Elliptical Bike. Some call it Cross-Trainer. So, what exactly are Elliptical Trainer or the so called Cross-Trainer?

It is an exercise equipment that combine the movements of the stair climber, treadmill, and the exercise bike into one. It combines the movements and benefits of hiking, cross country skiing, and biking. With elliptical exercise equipment, your legs travel in an elongated circular motion. It is as if you are standing on a cross country ski machine but instead of your feet moving back and forth, the machine forces them to move around in an oval pattern (hence elliptical).

Here are the major benefits of elliptical exercise machines:

1. The most important aspect of using an elliptical trainer is the reduction of impact. It provides the similar type of workout as jogging but without the wear and tear on your joints. Because of your weight, jogging actually places a great deal of stress on the back and joints. If you have ever jogged a lot and without a good pair of jogging shoes, jogging can be hard on your knees, ankles, shins, and back. With elliptical bike, because your limbs remain in continuous contact with the machine, its operation limits the impact to your joints. That’s why most fitness experts recommend the elliptical trainer to people who have a hard time exercising because of physical ailments such as bad joints and arthritis.
2. Depending on the intensity, you may burn more calories with the elliptical trainer compared with the treadmill or the exercise bike. The actual workout feels like a brisk walk even though you are exerting as much effort as a good run. Elliptical trainers burn the between 8 and 12 calories per minute. Not too bad.

   

3. If you choose an elliptical trainer with dual action handle bars, you can actually get a true cross training workout that uses your whole body, including your upper body. But, for me, I prefer not to hold the bar because I tend to move slower. Without holding the bar, I feel that my abs will actually work slightly harder in stabilizing my body.
4. For those who want to work out your lower legs, the elliptical trainer uses all of the muscles of the lower leg. Therefore, you will strengthen and build your lower legs.
5. Another great thing about the elliptical trainer is that you can move at a comfortable speed while allowing for the occasional burst of high intensities.
6. Safe to use. When you stop, the machine stops. The amount of resistance on an elliptical trainer will determine how much effort it will take for you to keep your feet moving. The speed will be determined by your own movement.

   

7. For those who is looking for a home gym cardio equipment, consider this machine. Elliptical machine uses very little electricity and is economical to operate. Because of lesser impact, there is less wear and tear of the machine, making the maintenance quite low compared with treadmill.

For those who are overweight or who has chronic knee problem, I highly recommend cross trainer. It does less harm to your knees and I am sure you will like it.I have been using this machine since two years ago and I have no complaint about it so far. Once you use one, you will be hooked. The machine at my fitness club actually has a LCD screen showing few cable TV programs (ESPN, MTV and Star Movie). I never like doing cardio, but now, you know why I like this machine so much.

Via munfitnessblog.com

Check out the elliptical machines and health assessment tools available at My Fitness Spot. www.low-impact-fitness.com

5 tips on staying fit

1. Vary your exercise routine - Keep things interesting by doing different types of exercises. Strength train with free weights, smith machines, body weight, isometrics. This is made easy by usinhg the convenient home gyms offered by total gym. Wear weighted vests. Vary cardio by running outside in the park, beach, mountains, use the elliptical, treadmill, recumbent bike, jump rope. I think strength/weight training is the most important part of any exercise routine and should be done at a minimum of 3 days per week. More is better, but at least 3 days.

2. Cultivate the internal with mind/body exercise - Do yoga (I prefer vinyasa) and/or tai chi along with chi gung. This not only stretches your muscles and strengthens your bones, joints and sinews, it also allows you to mentally just relax and let go. This is the "Yang" to weight trainings "Yin".

3. Eat well - Never ever "diet". I rather use the term "nutrition plan" than "diet plan". Eat good foods and stay away from the processed junk (white rice, white noodles, sugar, fast food, fried food). Eat plenty of green veggies (broccoli, spinich) and whole grain breads. Have an occasional glass of really good cabernet wine. Drink plenty of water.

4. Have at least one hobby - Find something that you just flat out enjoy and could do for hours and hours. Something that you can spend hours in a bookstore reading about. I have two hobbies: Martial Arts and Macro Photography. Teaching and practicing martial arts is my greatest joy. Trying to take that "perfect" macro photo (the hunt) is a great joy as well.

5. Love - Have someone/something in your life that you love (and loves you back). A wife, husband, kids, dog. Anyone/anything that brings you love. Everyone needs this.

via City-Data