Diet pills?

[UndertheCedartree]

Has anyone sucessfully lost weight using diet pills? What ones did you use and what doseage?

Medications which prevent fat absorption will only be helpful in weight loss if a significant portion of your calorific intake is from fats. If this is the case, I imagine cessation of intake of the fats would be more pleasant than the digestive side effects of said fats making their way to your bowel undigested.

However, you may have been prescribed them for other reasons so this isn't alone isn't a reason to cease their use, more to understand what their function is,

I was prescribed these a few years ago when they were fairly new out. They are also sold over the counter as Alli. There used to be a forum for users of Alli which I found useful at the time. As previous posters have said My Fitness Pal is brilliant for tracking not only calories but nutrients too. You're definitely right to go for less sugar and more protein - when you use MFP you will be able to see the amounts of fat/protein etc you are eating. Some of it will be an eye opener for you - lots of hidden ingredients might be what's made your progress slow. Only other tip I can give you is to buy black knickers! Good luck 😊

@joggingon - thanks for the advice

@gronky - I have rarely had any digestive side effects because I try to stick to a low fat diet. But it has been explained to me that the smaller amount of fat will still not be absorbed? I am taking Orlistat purely to lose weight.

Thanks, @jaggynettle

Your tdee is high because you're a few stone overweight. You need more calories to sustain that weight.

I'm 5'4" and my tdee is 1500 with light exercise (ie a walk of around one hour per day).

I'm 10stone, so just within acceptable BMI.

As a pp said, cut down your calorie intake by about 500 to begin with. You'll find it harder as you lose so make changes that are sustainable in the long term.

If you’re on Facebook have a look at TeamRH or Rebelfit. They both have a similar approach to calorific intake and a common dislike of programmes like Slimming World.

But it has been explained to me that the smaller amount of fat will still not be absorbed? I am taking Orlistat purely to lose weight.

That's correct (that they will reduce absorption) and there may well be other good reasons why you've been prescribed them but if your diet is already low in fat, they won't have a significant impact on your calorific intake.

Let's be honest here, you haven't put on weight because of your medication, you've put on weight because you are eating well over 2000 calories a day of mainly junk food.

It's ludicrous of you to say that diet pills aren't doing much when you are eating refined crap all day and snacking on hot cross buns, chocolate and weetabix!

It'll take time but you need to stick to 1200 calories, drink lots of water, eat healthy food and weigh and measure everything you eat, including the milk in porridge and hot drinks which should be part of your calorie budget. And ditch the diet pills.

@Gemma2019 - I have never had a weight problem before taking these meds and it is well known in psychiatry and recorded side effects that they make people put on weight. So I think it is more complex than you suggest. I'm not eating 2000 kcals otherwise I would be gaining weight (I'm not). Do you really call porridge, salad and stirfry as meals - mainly junkfood? A hot cross bun has about 150kcals and a weetabix 60kcals - so hardly massively calorific snacks! The diet pills have been prescribed by a professional so no I won't ditch them as they are helping if not as much as I would like.

Thank you @agingdisgracefully and @babblebee

I know portion size isn't an issue as I eat off children's plates!

I've battled with my weight for years and the only thing that has really worked for me is intermittent fasting. Everything else just seems to make me obsessed with food. With intermittent fasting I only eat between noon and 8pm. When I first started I restricted my calorie intake during that period but then I started doing couch to 5k and now I run a short distance every day and pretty much eat what I like between those hours. I don't eat after 8pm or in the morning at all though. I've lost about 5 stone over 9 months. I'm pretty sure this is the only way that has worked for me because I don't feel deprived at all. I just don't eat breakfast - and of course I don't snack all evening like I once did!

Isn't metformin a diabetic medication?

I know a fair bit about appetite supressants if you want to PM me. I don't sell them btw.

@TranquilityofSolitude - thank you for sharing your experience and it is great to hear you are doing so well. I will have a look into it as I'd love to be rid of this extra weight this year!

@SandyY2K - thanks. Yes, metformin is a diabetic medication. I think it works to help losing weight by stopping all the sugar turning to fat.

I'm dieting by counting calories. I have 1400 calories 4x a week & 1600 calories on my 3 work days. This is realistic for me.
I've got nearly 3 stone to lose.

I've already lost 2 stone by calorie counting - at the time I did 1500 a day but didn't stick to it every day yet the weight fell off.
I also workout 3x a week now.

If I want snacks I'll try a drink first such as a tea or coffee made with skimmed milk.

If I still want a snack I'll have a mixture of carbs & protein.

Eg. A Babybel Light cheese with 2 crackers,
Or 4 almonds & a carrot,
Or a Petit Filous fromage frais with an apple.

Those snacks are maximum 100 calories.

If I need a bigger snack eg 200 - 250 calories I'll have a protein bar especially after a workout.

I like Eat Natural Maple & Peanut bars, & Optimum Choc Caramel protein bars.

All these snacks are low in sugar & saturated fat.
In fact all the food I eat is low in those things.

I know portion size isn't an issue as I eat off children's plates!

You can load up a child’s plate just like an adults, or eat too much of the wrong things. You’ll need to weight portions until you know exactly what one looks like.

My advice too is cut out fruit juice as it's empty calories & sugar, you're better off using up the calories on a piece of actual fruit eg a banana or apple which is lower in sugar & higher in fibre than fruit juice.

Switch to skimmed milk.

Switch to lower fat cheeses - you will be amazed at how much saturated fat & calories are in full fat cheese.
Try Babybel Lights, & small portions of reduced fat cheddar, or maybe feta cheese.

Keep a food diary for a week & include everything such as how much butter, mayo, sugar, honey, sauces, oils & even flavoured vinegars you eat.

Try low calorie meat substitutes such as quorn, soya mince.
Also chick peas are a good source of protein.

Thanks @LilyJade - sounds like you're doing really well. Thanks for all the examples - really helpful.

But was it prescribed for diabetes or weight loss.

The people I know on it, were prescribed it for diabetes.

@PurpleDaisies - yeah, I see your point but no the plate isn't piled up. Due to circumstances I can't generally weigh my food but I'm pretty au fait with portion size so don't think that's the issue.

Why can’t you weigh your food? How do you know your portion size isn’t totally off?

But was it prescribed for diabetes or weight loss.

I don’t think it’s currently licensed for weight loss.

Thanks @LilyJade - that is all very helpful. I did a food diary last year for my dietician to look at. She said I wasn't getting enough dairy, but apart from that was quite happy with what I eat. It's definitely worth doing again as I know bad habits can creep in. I like Babybels so will definitely try the light ones - thank you.

@SandyY2K - it was prescribed for weight loss. I don't have diabetes, nor am I pre-diabetic.