Orlistat /Xenical/ Alli

Sometimes willpower alone is not enough to lose weight. I had got to this point. At 110.9kgs with a Body Mass Index of 40.8 I had become desperate. I had to do something about my weight ( again). The question was HOW was I going to lose the weight this time?

Some people look down upon people like me who use weight loss drugs because they feel its cheating. Orlistat (available by prescription only) is not a magic pill. Its a drug for aiding weightloss in people who have a Body Mass Index of over 28. I still had to follow a reduced calorie, lower fat diet. Orlistat works by preventing the absorption of fats in the body so the overall calorific intake is reduced.

 If you cannot get it on prescription you can buy Alli over the counter. Its half strength and does cost a bit.

In life a mans got to do what a mans got to do. Only you know what you are going through. Only you know the restrictions and unhappiness your weight is causing you, so pay no attention to people and do what is best for you. I did and will do it again.

I first heard of Orlistat from a friend at work. She told me not to go near it because one day she was in Tesco with her friend shopping and she thought she was quietly passing wind but had a fatty diarrhoea overflow. She could not stop it! She had her friend buy some clothes from the shop then cleaned herself in the toilets. After this incident she binned what was left of her pills and swore never again. But hearing this I was more intrigued.

As Orlistat is available by prescription only I went to see my GP. He weighed me and told me to come back with a seven day food diary and see the nurse who will start a weightloss program with me.

I went home and forgot about it. I was disappointed because I wanted the Orlistat 'NOW.' After four months I went to see the nurse, was weighed and  produced a food diary. I had lost almost 2 kilograms so was prescribed the Orlistat. I was ecstatic. I was prescribed a months course. I was to lose weight, any amount of weight and come in for a weigh in monthly there I would get a further prescription until my body mass index was 28.

I steadily lost weight on Orlistat. I am happy to say I had no incident at all. Look at my post on Weightloss data and you will see how much I lost. I have no regrets.

Conclusion

I got my BMI down to 28 and my prescription was stopped.

Would I do it again?

Yes

Current Quest 28/11/13

Starting weight  28/12/2013  89kgs
First target weight                    82kgs
Second target weight               72 kgs
Third target weight                  65 kgs
Weekly weigh in on thursday morning

Method

EAT LESS & MOVE MORE

First Weigh in 05/12/2013

My weightloss data

Dr Joshi's Holistic Detox

I bought this book on ebay or amazon ( cant remember)

Top Ten Detox Rules

• No red meat
• No dairy produce
• No fruit - except bananas
• No wheat, gluten, yeast
• No alcohol
• No biscuits, cakes, doughnuts
• No jams, spreads - except honey
• No coffee, decaffeinated coffee or tea except herbal teas
• No sugar, chocolate or sweets
• No artificially produced flavourings: tomato ketchup, vinegar, mustard etc

This diet promises 21 days to a healthier slimmer you for life.

I am a partial testament to this. On this diet I lost weight quickly. On average I consistently lost 1.5kgs a week with just the diet. I had intended to stay on the detox for the 21 days but I was in tune with my body that I continued till I lost a whopping 25kgs.

I was never hungry on the diet. I was full of energy and I felt alive and positive. Unfortunately I did not prepare myself for the maintanace phase so I only kept the weight off for 3 months then it crept back up over 2 years.

I highly recommend this diet and have tried it a few times since. Do not be put off by the first couple of days when you get headaches feel a little lightheaded its withdrawal from caffeine etc. After a couple of days these usually go and you will be well and truly on your way to a healthier and slimmer you.

Remember weightloss is a marathon not a sprint ;-)

Would I try it again?

YES

Slimming World

I saw a poster at church on the high street which said weekly Slimming world meetings were being there and I thought, " why not?"

This meeting was hosted by a very friendly lady with help from her husband. They held a weekly raffle there and on that week the prize was a big hamper with lots of food. I remember wishing I would win but did not win.

The lady explained the method. There were green days and red days; free foods and sins. I bought magazines and a starter pack. I passed through ASDA and bought yoghurts. The rest is a blur. 

Conclusion

I did not grasp the concept. I returned for one more weekly meeting and called it quits. I have a friend who swears by it though and for her the results are very good.

Would I do it again?

NO

Weight Watchers Diet

I accompanied my friend to a weight watchers meeting and that is when I joined. The lady was very friendly and welcoming. I bought a starter pack and fell in love with the structure and method of points. This was my first real attempt at self tracking. I went to Ice land and stocked up on weight watchers frozen meals ( and a pack of kit kat chocolates). I loved my diary. I had no problems with this diet as I was started  on about 20 points and it was very generous.

On my first weigh in I lost 2kgs. I was chuffed because it had been easy. I kept at it for 2 months. At first I skipped a meeting, then slowly the novelty wore off then stopped the diet after 4 months. I lost a grand total of a 8kgs.

Conclusion

It was easy diet to follow and track my food. I loved going for meetings and loved the weigh ins. The weight came off steadily and was never really hungry on it.


Would I do it again?

YES

Diet & Exercise List

This list is of things/ methods I have done myself. These are my experiences. In the following blogs I will expand on each one sharing my experiences and results.

Diets/ Meetings

• Weight watchers
• Slimming World
• Dr Joshi Detox Diet
• Atkins Diet
• Fasting

Prescription diet pills

• Reductil (Meridia) now banned
• Orlistat (Xenical)

Tea

• Fitne
• Chinese Tea (I dont remember the name)
• Herbal tea( various but mostly Tetley & Twinnings)

Exercise

• Walking
• Rope skipping
• Jogging in place
• Carrying a weighted bag
• Weights
• NEAT
• Cross trainer ( at home)

Exercise Dvds

• Insanity
• Zumba
• Michaela Dodd

Gym membership

• 2 gym memberships on this quest (Currently a gym member)

Self tracking

• Myfitnesspal online and app on my mobile. My greatest discovery on this quest.

Hello! Thank you for stopping by.

I am writing this blog to share my experiences on my quest for fitness. I have been on this road for almost 15 years now so I have a lot to tell. Where do I start?
Firstly I will list the diets and exercises I have been on then will expand on each one sharing my results on each one. I believe no one method works and I am one to try most things then hold on to what is good.