The starter pack comes with 60 pills, a carrying case, and a few books. The first book is entitled Read Me First, and it gives a basic overview of the program and tips for success. The second book is the Companion Guide. It is a detailed explanation of the program. The third book is a calorie & Fat counter. It supplies you with the caloric values of hundreds of common foods & a few fast food restaurants. The last book is a recipe guide book. It contains all the information you need to make healthy eating decisions and to plan your meals.

Some people say that it’s too expensive. The starter pack is $40 and the refill packs are $60. You get 60 pills with the starter pack & 120 pills with the refill packs.  To them I say if the only reason you aren’t using Alli is because of the cost, then you are copping out. If you don’t use them because you don’t like diet pills or you want to diet & exercise only, then that is okay. But if cost is your only reason for not using it, then quit lying to yourself. A starter &  a refill pack cost $100 and will last 2 months. That’s $50 a month. We spend more than $50 on fast food, eating out, cigarettes, liquor, and etc. We spend more than $50 a month on clothes shopping, cable tv, and etc. A gym membership cost more than $50 a month at a lot of places. When I tried Nutrisystem last year it was $300 a month. Weight watchers was is about $12 – 15 a meetings. If you go to 4 meetings a month, that’s $48 to $60 a month too.  So if this is your only reason for not using Alli then really think about why you are still making excuses.

I have also read on message boards people being worried about defecating on themselves. I have been using Alli for 4 days with no issues. It’s really simple. If you want to consume more than 15 grams of fat per meal. You will have issues. If you want to not measure your meals & attempt to eyeball your food, you will have issues. If you decide to eat 15 grams a meal you will be okay. I normally eat anywhere from 5 – 10 grams of fat per meal. I do not want to chance it. It does give you a bit of gas.  But that’s about it.

Also, if you look at it from a purely numbers game, it doesn’t help you lose much weight. I read on 1 board that it was about 1 lb every 31 days. They got this by calculating the number of calories in the fat is blocked and dividing it by 3500. That is too simplistic.  Studies have shown that people lose 5lbs for every 10lbs they lose. So a 50% increase in weight loss. It doesn’t fit the math does it?  Now I believe, the real reason for the increased weight-loss isn’t the pill. It’s the accountability that the pill forces you to have. I remember on past diets, I would read the caloric value for oreo cookies & eat those. I would have a “cheat” day once a week that turned into 2xs a week. It was so easy to stop eating right. There weren’t any consequences to my actions. For the last few days, every time I have been tempted to go for the easy meal, I remembered if I did, I would pay for it later. That’s motivation to stay accountable for my actions.  I went to the Hunan House today. I wanted the lamb or maybe the duck. I love duck. I always get the duck! Fatty bastard! lol But this time, I had some steamed rice & a seafood melody which consisted of steamed mussels, shrimp, calamari, and scallops. Very healthy. That’s the reason why Alli works. It isn’t the 25% of fat calories that it blocks. It’s the understanding that if I mess up & will pay for it.

I normally try to eat around 400 calories for breakfast, 400 for lunch, and 600 for dinner.  I try to stay within 1300 to 1400 calories a day. I drink an Equate weight-loss meal replacement shake to make up for the nutrients that Alli is supposed to block.  I use my weight watchers recipe books to plan my meals. I still drink alcohol, but I do so sparingly and if I do drink I only eat around 1100 calories so I can have 300 – 400 to drink with.

Well, that’s all for now. I will update this post in a little while. Lets hope I lose some weight. My scale was 0.5lb down last time I checked. But that could be from anything. I am not going to believe it’s weight loss until it’s at least 3lbs less. My goal is 1lb a week. Figure I can lose 40lbs in 40 weeks. So by Nov 1. But if I keep that pace, by the summer time I would have lost 22lbs.  We shall see.

It’s really not all too bad. I am actually enjoying the food, I am making. I love making new meals. I made some stuffed chicken breast 2 nights ago. I stuffed it with sun-dried tomatoes and fat free feta cheese. Then I sauteed some spinach and mushrooms for the side. It was delicious.

But it’s my birthday. Another year old… can’t say another year wiser. Another year drunker that’s for damn sure. Having a great time! So what are my goals for this year that I won’t keep you ask? To lose weight. …hahahahhahahahah!! I know good one. I am not a fat chic, but I want to lose weight. I could be considered by some to fluffy. Though I do not consider myself a bunny so I can’t be fluffy. I have joined a gym. Well almost, I am waiting to get paid because I like to put things off. I have had the money, got the money, & don’t want to spend the money. But I set a hard commit date as my  next paycheck. I want to finish my certification so I can transfer in to the IT industry. I also want to be divorced to my 1st husband by this time this year. Other than that, I want to love my kids, my mate, and my family. Throw a little world peace in the mix so I can sleep well at night and we have a fuckin good year!

I am drunk and don’t plan to write for long. Let me spell check this post & back to watching the Cook master( hahahahaha) I go!!

Hi,
My name is Nichole. Funny thing. I went to the bar. Had about 3 double shots of crown royal and came home and googled AA forums online. I am not an alcoholic. The 1st step is my life has become unmanageable. My life isn’t. My life is great. I am a housewife. I don’t drink until the kids to sleep and I am managing my life really well. I go to college and have an A gpa. ( 3.76) It’s not unmanageable. I am not even sure I have a problem. All I know is occasionally, I feel lost. I feel that if I don’t drink, what would I do? I cook, clean, take care of the kids. I don’t really have a lot of friends. The ones I do have jobs and can’t spend a lot of time with me. My fiance’ is a recovering NA 26 years clean and goes to bed at 11pm. I don’t know… how do you know if you are in need of AA. I went to an AA mtg one time. At the time, I didn’t even drink. It appeared to be a bunch of whiny babies who wanted to have a boo hoo fest. I felt depressed. Life isn’t bad. It’s great. I woke up. lol. I don’t drink because I am sad. I drink out of boredom. ( I get to leave the house woo hoo!! lol)

I am 30. Started drinking.. ironically when I went to the Army. Well that’s a lie. I drank from 17 – 20 but had my 1st daughter and stopped. Went to the Army in 07 and started drinking again. I enjoy it. I like it. I am home all days with the kids. During the school year they are gone, but once they get home its extracurriculars times 10. I am a helicopter mom. I hover and I am proud of it. lol But I don’t have anything that is for me. I tried exercising. I tried a book club. I tried marathons. Nothing worked. Drinking does. I go to the bar and play the video games and have a good time. Occasionally someone flirts and it’s great. I don’t even drink at home because that would defeat the purpose. I like to go out. My fiance’ doesn’t really.

I can’t say I am a AA. My life is great. I have 2 great kids. A wonderful man. We take trips we have a ball. what is unmanageable?. And I don’t believe that functional alcoholic b.s. If you are functioning and not hurting anyone what’s the problem?? ( I know disease lol but the sun breeds skin cancer. lol I am not too concern with my health right now. Like the old adage says, ” only the good die young.” lol )

Only reason I think I am here is guilt. My fiance’ is a NA & AA survivor. I think i makes me feel guilty like what’s wrong with me? He doesn’t say anything. He said you’re an alcoholic if you can’t go the bar 30 days in a row and just drink 1 drink. bullish is what i say. Who wants to go the bar and drink 1 drink for 30 days?? I mean if you bet me a million dollars ok. But other than that… I go to have a few drinks and enjoy myself. So he is no help.

I just wish.. I guess my point is what’s wrong with coming home and having a few drinks? Is it a certain quantity you must drink before you become a functional AA? Where do you cross the line? I drink less than I did 3 years ago. Am I wrong for wanting to drink. Does anyone who drink regularly equate addiction? I guess I don’t know what is the litmus test to be an alcoholic.

I hate this. I hate being the only person in my home who drinks. I see the other people who don’t drink. They are boring. They want to fall asleep at 9pm and never want to do anything other than movies and dinner. I am confused right now.