Orlistat ?

[Wish3]

has anyone even prescribed orlistat or Xenical by a GP ? I’m 3 weeks in & does not seem to be working for me just uncomfortable! Any other suggestions that I could ask GP for ?

Thank you

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

These are the previous posts about Orlistat which may help, Wish3 healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Personally, I don't believe there are any quick fixes, it's all down to finding a plan that you can stick to. You got a lot of advice here healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

You could join the Daily Diary and see what others are doing and our other events, clubs and challenges.

Good luck

[gerry1949 Visitor in reply to moreless]

It does work as it binds to fat in your gut. The result is several sessions of the runs. I found with an hours swimming every day it reduced my weight quickly.

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 10 kg in reply to gerry1949]

Hi gerry1949, thanks for your support and welcome to our weight loss forum.

May I ask if you're still on your own weight loss journey or just visiting, either way is fine by us.

Here's the link to the pinned posts where you will find everything.

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Good luck 🍀

[gerry1949 Visitor in reply to TheTabbyCat]

I prefer to do my own thing. My doctor prescribed Orlistat and it has worked for me. How much the swimming routine contributed to the weight loss I cannot tell. My weight reduced from 120kgs to 110kgs pretty quickly but any further loss has proved difficult. Cutting sugar is the next challenge.

[Pict123]

Hi I was prescribed orlistat a few years ago. I gave up in the end.The doctor said that if I ate anything with fat content above 3% then I would get diarrhea. You really have to watch the fat content in your food for orlistat to work.

Good luck

[gerry1949 Visitor in reply to Pict123]

and by doing so you will lose weight. Cut out sugar as well.

[gerry1949 Visitor]

Exercise like swimming and a mile walk every day will help. Giving up sugar too.

[ForestryPine6]

I was prescribed Orlistat and stayed on it for 15 months no help at all except for the mess it leaves in underwear as you don't realise it's like brown water and smells, I stopped this when they went to give it to me in hospital, no weight loss at all, it's sugar and to many carbs are the problem I wish it had worked as I exercised Mtn Cycling over 3 hour's 3 time's a week or the gym on cardio and weights, still no luck, unfortunately it's what we eat, some fats a Dr would advocate like Greek Yoghurt 5% fat is better than other yoghurt full of sugar.

[Wish3 in reply to ForestryPine6]

thank you ! No change for me either ? Trying the calorie way getting disheartened! 🤦‍♀️💪🙏

[vj0804 5lbs Restart Feb 2024 in reply to Wish3]

Hi Wish3 . I've never tried this, but also I wouldn't as have heard far too many awful accounts if its effects. I also feel that this isn't something to rely on over the long term. For me, calorie counting has never worked - I have tried far too many times and somewhat attribute this to subsequent regaining (plus extra). I am having a lot of success currently (and have done so in the past) with reducing carbs. I lost just over a stone in four weeks at the beginning of January by eating a 'usual portion' of protein (e.g. a chicken breast, or steak or a portion of chili con carne, or bacon/sausages, or eggs (although they make me feel sick for some reason)) with lots of veggies (favouring green leafy where I can), some fruit (berries and natural yoghurt make a good dessert), nuts and small amounts of cheese for snacks and a dribble of cream in my coffee (2 per day max with maybe a couple of cups of tea with just a splash of milk each time, or herbal). I'll add a dressing or a sauce if I like, or a small knob of butter to veggies, which is so satisfying! I still have a very small portion of cereal (usually porridge, sometimes Dorset Cereals granola with honey, or bitesize shredded wheat) with semi-skimmed milk for breakfast as I really enjoy this and can't seem to kick the habit. But this is then the only carb for the day (no bread, pasta, rice, noodles, potatoes, etc. nor cakes/pastries/chocolate/sweets, needless to say).

The first couple of days are quite hard (for me: headaches (not too bad), massive cravings for sugar/bread etc, and generally feeling rough), so a certain amount of willpower is needed for a short time but once the first couple of days are out of the way, I couldn't feel better! Plus the weight drops off quickly in the beginning then slows down a bit; however, I'm still seeing around 2 pounds a week, which I'll take ;).

All that said, I fell off the wagon a couple of days ago and have been eating rubbish such as toast, biscuits and chocolate and have put three pounds back on. So, today I am back to it! I don't really know what caused this, but life happens and for me it is the knowledge that I can get back on it - and easily - that makes me no longer fret about a day or two of having 'what I wanted'. And it feels empowering knowing that if I want a small slice of cake on my son's birthday, or whatever, then I will and there's really no harm done! I haven't yet had to negotiate Easter, my birthday, a summer holiday, or Christmas, but I know I will have to and I will possibly plan in some 'treats' if that's what I feel I need to do, but my mindset is firmly on keeping to plan (90% of the time) forever.

This may not work for you and as anyone will say, we should all probably consult with a doctor before changing our diet drastically. I spoke to mine and he was surprisingly in favour of it. He was reticent about the slight increase of healthy fats, but admitted that the profession is starting to acknowledge that sugar (the white stuff added to everything) is the enemy rather than fats, although he was very reluctant to talk about reducing carbs in general. One step at a time!

Hope this helps, but if it's not your thing then I know that many people have success with moderating calories (one of my friends lost 7 stone over a year with slimming world, and swears by it although he regained a couple recently. However, he has the 24-hour support of his wife who makes his meals, does his shopping, weighs and measures, etc, and I think that this would probably help anyone!), although for me this just leaves me hungry and prone to a binge!

All the best with whatever you decide to do, but do keep on trying to find out what works for you - it really does matter!

Vx

[Wish3 in reply to vj0804]

thank you ! That’s so helpful & keep loosing ! Well done 👍 yes the key is a little of what you fancy in moderation !

I need moderation 🤦‍♀️👍🙏💪

[ForestryPine6]

Watching the calorie intake and simple walks will help all the best 👍

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs]

Hi Wish3, I was prescribed Orlistat many years ago. The weight fell off or rather out of me. Horrible stuff. The worst part about it was it demonised fat as being the cause of my weight problem when in fact it was sugar and carbs that had made me overweight. I’d been on low fat diets all my life, reducing fat to zero was compensated by carb intake so when I came off the Orlistat my eating habits were such that the cravings for sugar were higher than ever and the weight piled back on and more besides.

Next time GP prescribed Orlistat again I handed it back and went down a completely different route which for me has produced better results long term although I still struggle to keep the sugar/carbs low enough to maintain it. Even so I’m happier and enjoy food more now. I read about lowering carbs and reintroducing healthy fats into my diet. See fatismyfriend.co.uk and videos by Dr Robert Lustig on The Skinny on Obesity and take your own view on whether it would work for you too. Good luck!

[Wish3]

thank you will look at this ! 👍🙏

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Wish3]

I think this reply is for PandQs

This is the first of The Skinny on Obesity videos - well worth your time at just 12 minutes youtu.be/h0zD1gj0pXk(Not working as expected?)

[OceanaSkylla Restart March 2024]

I'm on Orlistat and it took about 4 weeks for it to start working. Along with Weight Watchers, I lost 42 pounds.

[Wish3 in reply to OceanaSkylla]

oh thank you 🙏 maybe I need to persevere with it then ! Yes I’m following my old weight watchers books too ! Haven’t the energy to go back atm too heavy ! 🤦‍♀️💪

[OceanaSkylla Restart March 2024 in reply to Wish3]

You're welcome. 🙂