Alli Diet Pill Review – Cheaper, Side-Effect Free, More Effective Alternative Weight Loss Aids Available.
Alli Diet Pill Review – Cheaper, Side-Effect Free, More Effective Weight Loss Aids on the Market
Having reviewed the scientific literature, consumer testimonials and reviews given on independent weight- loss forum sites; I argue that there are far more effective weight loss aids than alli; that are effective without side-effects and will give you much greater weight loss llbs for £, than alli.
Does Alli Work?
Double Blind Placebo Controlled Tested?
When reviewing and comparing the effectiveness of the vast number of diet pills and aids on the market; my first criteria in judging whether the reports of effectiveness can be trusted is whether the pill has been double-blind placebo control tested.
If a study does not include a placebo; the results cannot be trusted, as it has been shown that the placebo effect can have quite a significant effect on weight loss by itself.
Alli satisfies this first criteria in that it has been shown in placebo-controlled studies to increase weight loss.
Alli was tested on a group of mildly to moderately overweight people as part of a diet and exercise plan.
Those taking Alli lost an average of 10 1/2 pounds over the 16 weeks of the study, as opposed to an average of little less than 7 pounds for the placebo group.
The advertising literature says that you can lose 50% more with Alli than you would by diet alone — they get this figure from that research. But remember that that number is an average, and the study only lasted 16 weeks.
What Is Alli?
The Alli diet pill (pronounced AL-lye) is an over-the-counter version of a medication called Orlistat or Xenical, previously available only by prescription. It is the first over-the-counter weight-loss medication to be approved by the FDA. It costs about $1.50 to $2 per day (3 pills per day).
How Does Alli Work?
Alli blocks part of the fat in the food eaten in a meal. That fat is eliminated in the feces instead of being absorbed to be used by the body. The literature says it blocks about 25% of the fat eaten in a meal.
What Are Some of the Problems With Alli ?
“Treatment Effects” – Note that these are not called “side effects,” because they are more or less the intended effects of taking Alli.
Basically, if you eat too much fat at a meal, you will be pretty uncomfortable. The exact amount of fat that will trigger these effects varies per person, but it is recommended to eat no more than 15 grams of fat per meal. Treatment effects include:
gas with oily spotting (it is advised not to “pass gas” unless you are on the toilet)
loose stools
more frequent stools that may be hard to control (”Until you have a sense of any treatment effects, it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work.”)
alli user’s share cautionary tales
Those who have strayed from the ‘15g of fat per meal’ rule offer cautionary tales on the drug company’s Web site.
“(I)’ve pooped my pants 3 times today, and sorry to get descriptive but it even leaked onto the couch at one point!” writes one user.
“(Y)a know how when you start moving around in the morning ya pass a little gas. Well, I did and then went into the bathroom and to my horror I had an orange river of grease running down my leg.”
“I’m thinking that infant diapers might be a cheaper way to go, just use them as a large pad.”
Side-Effects?
The US Food and Drug Administration has received more than 30 reports linking the drug to serious liver injury.
Alli may Not Provide Adequate Dietary Fat Levels for Absorbing Important Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Nutrients
Combining a low fat diet, which you must do with alli – to prevent ‘treatment effects’, with a fat binder will lead to quite low levels of fat in the diet.
However, many vitamins are fat soluble and can be flushed out along with the fat.
Also, many phytonutrients, which offer antioxidant, anti- viral, anti- bacterial, anti- inflammatory and cell reparative benefits, also need fat to be absorbed, so people taking alli may be getting less of these valuable substances as well.
Alli does Not Help Control Appetite (The Most Important Factor for Long Term Successful Weight Loss)
Alli’s main value is as a motivation tool; motivating users to avoid fat in foods, through the fear of public ‘pooping’.
However, alli does nothing to help reduce the appetite and it is this factor which is responsible for the failure of most diets or weight loss plans.
The difficulty and unpleasantness of ‘fighting the appetite’ makes any eating plan which doesn’t deal with the natural appetite unsustainable for the vast majority in the long term.
This would lead to abandonment of the plan, an uncomfortable and miserable existance, or a rather embarrassing situation, if the user perseveres with taking the alli supplements and is unable to over come their food cravings (which users testify is common experience)(see page 2).
The important fact is that there are far easier ways to prevent you from reaching for the biscuit tin.
If you can reduce the appetite, there are no cravings or ‘urges’ to fight; taking the pain out of the experience and increasing your chances of adherence and success vastly.
Alli Can’t Prevent you Snacking on High carbohydrate Snacks (Which can be Just as Calorific)
Importantly; alli can’t stop you replacing high fat snacks with high carbohydrate snacks, which can be just as calorific, and although these may be marginally more satiating than high fat foods; resulting in very slightly less overall intake of food; it is more than easy to replace all the calories you might otherwise have consumed in fat with calories from high carbohydrate snacks.
And if the appetite is not dealt with, it will drive you to seek out food to satisfy it and, whether the food is high fat or high carb; if the overall intake of calories is higher than the amount you expend; you will not lose weight.
If fat in your meals is causing weight gain; I would argue that, considering the cost of alli (a 20-day supply of Alli costs about $45 to $55); it would be far more prudent to find ways to reduce fat in meals; by learning simple tricks in food preparation, which can reduce the fat content without affecting taste; such as having oven chips instead of fried, or using strong cheese instead of lots of medium strength cheese etc.
Having studied the scientific literature extensively and from my own experience; I believe that the most effective and sustainable strategy we can take to reduce our intake of calories and therefore lose weight, is to reduce our appetite.
Our food choices are the most effective tool that we have at our disposal for helping to satsify the appetite with the minimum of calories.
However, we do not always have the means or the time to make correct food choices; we might be grabbing food ‘on the run’.
We may also find that, even with the best of food choices; that our appetites are still too high and that we are still eating more than we would like to achieve our weight loss goals.
In these instances; I believe that there is a place in a weight control strategy for the use of supplements
Appetite Control (Suppressing) Supplements
My two highest recommendations for safe and natural supplements to control the appetite are Uniquehoodia and Zotrim.
You can read my reviews of these supplements on pages 4; Uniquehoodia Review and 5; Zotrim Review.
Damage Limitation Supplements
However, even when you have taken every step to get the appetite in check; there will still be occasions where you are faced with eating highly calorific foods; such as when eating out or at special occasions; or where there is a lack of any lower calorie options, when you grab ‘food on the run’, or when you may simply feel like an indulgence and a treat. Why not?!
In these instances; I would recommend fat binders as a damage limitation tool.
The trouble with alli is that, although it is a fat binder; it is not useful as a damage limitation tool as we would then have to suffer the ‘treatment effects’.
The question is; are there alternative fat binders, which could prove as effective at binding fat but without the side effects?
Fat Binder Alternatives
The most convincing alternative I have found is a supplement called Proactol and as far as I can see, the choice between alli and proactol is a no-brainer.
It offers exactly the same fat binding benefits, at a lower price and with none of the side effects, as well as additional appetite suppressing properties.
Proactol -Superior Fat Binding Alternative
Proactol is a completely natural supplement made of the cactus Optunia ficus-indica.
The first question I had to ask, though, in evaluating this product was; are there double blind placebo controlled studies to prove its effectiveness.
I was pleased to discover that there are.
Double Blind Placebo Controlled Studies to Prove Effectiveness
Proactol’s active ingredients were put to the test in a recent ‘double blind placebo controlled cross over study.
The quantity of fat excreted compared to the quantity ingested increased, on average, by 27.4% in the group of volunteers taking Proactol™’s active ingredient, compared to those taking the placebo.
It is also Medically backed by the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC and is;
100% organically made
Has no known negative side-effects.
And is clinically proven to;
Reduce your daily fat consumption by up to 28%
Suppress your appetite and food cravings
Cut your calorie intake by 150 calories per main meal
Increase joint flexibility and energy levels
Lower blood cholesterol levels
Numerous Positive Consumer Testimonials on the Proactol Website, with ‘Before and After’ Pictures.
Testimonials can’t always be trusted, but their credibility increases where there are a greater number of original and authentic sounding reviews, combined with ‘Before and After’ pictures.
Proactols website offers a superior portfolio of testimonials, in terms of numbers and ‘Before and After’ pictures.
It also gives evidence of success stories, which have been reported in the press and which cannot be fabricated.
Further evidence of its effectiveness is the fact that it has been voted in the Telegraph, by slimmers and dietitians – for the second year running – as being one of the top 5 ways to lose weight and diet.
If you would like to read more about Proactol; you can use the link provided to visit the official Proactol website;
