Hi everyone. I started orlistat Friday (29/11/13) can anyone give me some tips? I don't think i generally eat alot but I may be a secret eater. I dont eat breakfast but now I've started. So this is my eating now,
Breakfast I have a bowl of special k with semi skimmed milk. Lunch I have chicken breast with a small sweet potato (light butter) and salad with a small dollop of light mayo. Then dinner ive been eating a lot of stews/casserole lately. With lots of veg in it. Tonight im having a beef stew. I dont really eat bread and if I do its wholemeal. And ive swapped white potatoes for sweet potatoes. I really want to do this well anf loose weight. I dont drive so I walk alot or use buses. Im a single working parent so sadly I really don't have the time to be in the gym all the time.
Any help id be really grateful. Also ive not had any side effects. I do sometimes feel bloated and a bit constipated.
chelsea1987 your food is fine apart from the butter you can't have butter on these tablets because of the fat content. I personally gave up mayonnaise as it was one of my vices and the lightest mayo doesn't taste of anything personally. Potatoes white or sweet are fine i always eat the white ones all the time also with meat make sure it is lean and doesn't go over the 5g per 100g
Nuts are high in fat and i believe so are seeds. For snacks i either have Fruit, Snack A Jacks, Mullerlights or Danio Yogurts (the 0% ones) also WW do frozen puddings which are nice and only 2 or 3 grams of fat per pudding. Sainsburys do a be good to yourself range and a lot of their food is within the rules. Ryvitas with a topping make a good snack
I think I must be doing something wrong. I feel like ive lost a couple of pounds like maybe three but my nurse said I would have looser stools and ive had nothing. I even had a Chinese for my Christmas outing and took a tablet and nothing happened no loose stools or orange oil. Ive been eating good othet then the Chinese. Ive neen eating lots of stews, chilies and chicken all lean. Only using fry light too. And ive been walking alot! Im really disappointed and im worried my nurse will be too and think I haven't tried when I really have.
I also drink a lot of prune juice which helps me go to the toliet but I feel that's the only reason I go not the orlistat. But I still have a bloated feeling quite often.
Hiya i have been taking orlistat for around a month now. I'm not obese but i am slightly overweight so i just need to shift a few pounds to get my BMI within the 'normal' range. I'm 5.4" and weigh 11st.1lb with a BMI of 26.
My starting weight was 11st.5lb so the weight's coming off slowly but surely.
I haven't really had any unbearable side effects, the side effects vary from person to person. One that i have experienced is drowsiness. After or during a meal, i will take my tablet then about an hour later, i will sometimes feel quite sleepy and fall asleep on the sofa, this only happens if i sit down and chill out afterwards but doesn't happen if I'm up and about.
I try and stick to as little fat as possible in my meals because orlistat works by stopping your body absorbing around 25% of the fat you consume and it comes out in your poo. I didn't start experiencing loose stools until about a week into taking them. I think it's because i have always had slow bowel movements. If you're not experiencing loose or oily stools then it could be an indication that you are eating right and not going over the recommended guidelines of fat you should consume per meal
I suppose it's all trial and error as peoples metabolisms vary.
I also experience slight stomach cramps but they're bearable and soon go after i have been to the loo. I'm just so glad I'm not constipated anymore (which is an added bonus) I'd much rather have loose stools and be able to go to the toilet than not being able to go atall as I've suffered from bad constipation all my life
I really hope you all reach your desired weight and good luck to everyone!
I am also starting Orlistat tomorrow, I am currently obese, I way about just under 18st and want to lose about 6st. I am feeling really nervous about it, as well as confused.
Am I right in saying that I take 3 tablets a day with each meal, but only if they have fat in them?
Also really nervous about loos stools, I am at uni 3 days a week and work the others, I am on my feet quite a bit, and I am quite worried that I may poop myself whilst out. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I over exaggerating? I just want to be sure so I no wether to purchase adult diapers (seems extreme I know) or not.
But I guess the less fat I eat, the less likely I am to need to go to the loo right?
Hi Sam first of all I'd like to wish you good luck on achieving your goal weight!
You are right about taking orlistat with meals, i find that the best time to take one is just after a meal but you can take it just before, during or up to an hour after your meal.
Orlistat works by stopping your body from absorbing around 25% of the fat in every meal and the fat that doesn't get absorbed comes out in your poo. If you don't go over the recommended amount of fat per meal, you should be okay. Only take a tablet when you've had a meal, there's no point in taking one if you haven't eaten because of the way they work. For example, if you only have two meals on a certain day, you will only need to take two tablets that day, one with each meal.
If a meal or a snack contains no fat, you don't need to take a tablet. It'd be a good idea to also take a multi vitamin before bed as orlistat stops your body from taking in certain vitamins, especially vitamin K
Try not to worry about loose stools, you'll find that you're stools will be slightly oily and softer than normal anyway, but if you remain within the guidelines, you shouldn't experience any uncontrollable accidents so you shouldn't need adult diapers I've never had an accident, i do wear panty liners as a precaution though, i place them in my underwear slightly to the back. I've also experienced slight stomach cramps but they're just letting me know that it'll be time for the loo soon.
I hope this has helped a little and good luck! Kindest regards, Elly
Hiya Sam, thankyou, I'm just glad i can help I've been on orlistat for around 6 weeks. So far i have lost 5lbs. About 1lb per week so it's coming off slowly but surely.
I think that if you skipped a meal but had a snack containing fat, it'd all depend on the type of snack you were having and how much fat it contains. the guidelines say that snacks should have no more that 3g of fat and that you don't need to take a tablet for it, so if it has more than 3g of fat, I'd class it as a small meal and take a tablet. I try to keep snacking to a minimum, if you fancy a snack, go for something like a cereal bar or a piece of fruit instead. Also, if you feel hungry between meals, try having a drink of water or fruit juice first. It can help to stop the feeling of hunger (drink plenty of fluids anyway) Food containing protein like chicken, fish and other white meat also make us feel fuller for longer so a meal containing protein can also help to stop you feeling hungry between meals.
Multi vitamins are very important, vitamins A, D, E & K don't get a chance to get absorbed into the body because they're fat soluble so they get taken out of your food along with the fat that orlistat takes away.
If there's anything atall i can help with, I'm more than happy to help, i know how much of a struggle it can be and how confusing it all is with all the guidelines and possible unpleasant side effects you take care and I'd really like to know how u get on, i really hope it goes well for you. Keep me posted!
Hi ladiea. Glad to hear your getting on ok. So since I started ive lost 6lb. But I was a bit naughty over Christmas so im really getting stuck back into it now. And ive set my self a goal of one hours power walk three times a week whilst the children are at school. Eventually im hoping to get some running in there too. My sister is getting married in November and im her maid of honour so I really must get trim. Im still not having side effects but I do notice my stools being slightly orange. I feel I dont go regularly enough so thats why I drink a big glass of prune juice in the evenings.
Thanks for the vitamins tip elly I must get some of those. X
Any weight loss between 1-2lbs per week is a good weight loss. You are doing great:D
That is all so helpful, I am feeling much better about it now, and more positive. I am fine to snack on fruits etc, and cannot go a day without water, so hopefully I will be ok with liquids etc. I just hope I really stick to it and get the results I want.
I am sure the side effects won't be that bad after all, well I hope so anyway haha.
And I will be sure to let you know how I am doing. All the best to you and thank you so much for your help. xxxx
i have been taking orlistat for around a month now. I'm not obese but i am slightly overweight so i just need to shift a few pounds to get my BMI within the 'normal' range. I'm 5.4" and weigh 11st.1lb with a BMI of 26.
you take care and I'd really like to know how u get on, i really hope it goes well for you. Keep me posted!