Alli - wonder drug or embarassment creator extraordinaire

[bobsticks]

Alli is the joke of the pharmaceutical world---epicac for the butt. Ya gotta love directions that essentially say, start eating healthy and we'll make your intestines implode".

Be wary of various herbal supplements and over the counter remedies for what ails ya!

Although the Fed has promised to tighten things up a bit, herbal products extolling the virtue of "going natural" have not been regulated as highly by the Fed as more established medications that go through quite a lot of experimentation and regulatory red tape before they are trotted out to market. Stuff like saw palmetto, gingko, and St. John's Wort may, on the surface, look tempting but they can have very nasty or strange side-effect profiles when mixed with prescription drugs. Some of these effects can be very harmful, like changing the body's metabolic mechanism. So, before you buy this stuff, check your doctor or a good nurse who knows about theses things....

Just a word to the wise, amigos!

Well, let's be careful treading here. As each person's metabolic rate and capacity differ, each person will find different solutions and successes. Generally, though, the key is in moderation. Of course, we as Americans aren't good at that so if a product promises to slice of sixty pounds or more of fat, so what if you have to blow out the inner walls of your rectum.

I've maintained the same weight since high school and I'm in my thirties now. Yes, excercise and a healthy diet play the biggest role. As T says, fresh fruits and veggies are your friend and any natural source of magnesium and potassium is a good thing for your metabolism. Portion size is something of which every human should be conscious...clearly in our culture it isn't self-regulated well.

At the same time, I've found that moderate supplements of ginko and fish oil combined with a fiber-high meal per day has a marvelous effect on my metabolism, and most importantly, one that's controllable. Think about the folks in our hobby that say, "more watts ain't necessarily better watts". With most supplements you will get all the benifits from taking the recommended amount or just slightly above. You can't get twenty-five times the benifit by taking twenty-five times the pills (your body will excrete any extra) but it's likely you'll get twenty-five times the side-effects.

On a happy note emaidel, any good nutritionist will tell you that when implementing a health program the first step is always a cleanse. It sounds like you've got that taken care of. Now, just back off on the tootin' juice, moderate your caloric and fat intake, and get the blood pumping with some exercise (no matter how rudimentary it may be; walking is a great starter and swimming is the best activity on the planet).

It really is about looking at everything from a wholistic point of view aimed toward healthy habits...

...and a shot of GHB now and then don't hurt eitha.

[emaidel]

(no matter how rudimentary it may be; walking is a great starter

.

I have been doing a 4-mile "power walk" each day for about 12 years. I also went on a super lo-fat diet 12 years ago with a daily intake of 20 or fewer fat grams a day. The weight all but fell off me, but adhering to such a strict diet was very difficult. I've gained back a lot of the weight I lost, but I'm healthy, have a resting pulse rate of 60, blood pressure of 120 over 80, and am 63 years old. I'd like to be thinner, but it's not so easy for me. I'm also a pretty good cook, am a certified wine snob, and that doesn't help matters much either...

And, BTW, I took the jar of the remaining Alli pills and tossed it into the trash yesterday. Those horrible stains don't wash out of clothing any too easily, even with judicious applications of products like "Shout!" and the like.

Again, BEWARE of this awful product.

[ForeverAutumn]

I'm healthy, have a resting pulse rate of 60, blood pressure of 120 over 80, and am 63 years old. I'd like to be thinner, but it's not so easy for me.

I realized a long time ago that it's more important to be healthy than thin.

I'm glad to hear that you got rid of the pills. If you want to lose weight, I would recommend a program like Weight Watchers or something similar. They will teach you to eat better without feeling too deprived of the foods that you like. It is a lifestyle that can be maintained without too much difficulty if you are committed. Stay away from places like Jenny Craig or any place where you have to eat their food. Once you go back to cooking for yourself you'll just put the weight back on.

I've also found that a good dietician or nutritionist will help you learn to eat to lose weight. It's not an easy process, but it can be done.

If you want to do it yourself, I recommend picking up a copy of Bill Phillips book, Body for Life and the accompanying cookbook, Eating for Life.

Try some different exercises too. Your body can get used to the same routine all the time. It's good to shake things up a bit. As Kex said, nothing beats swimming for a good total body workout.

Gee, you'd think that I've been there or something.