Diet Pills: Are They Magic or A Waste of Money

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just take a daily pill(s) and you start to lose weight in a week?  That's what several of the diet pill manufacturers would like you to believe. Eat all you want and lose weight fast. Or so the commercials say. These miracle diet pills work in basically three ways.

3. The pills fill your digestive system with bulk fibers so you think you're full, so you eat less.
4.  The pills suppress your appetite and therefore you don't want to eat as much.
5. The pills increase your metabolism by increasing your internal temperature.

Do diet pills work?  Yes to a certain extent. Most have to be combined with a diet program to succeed. Keep in mind that when they say "Eat all you want and lose weight fast," they mean you won't want to eat as much.

Another pill that has recently come on the market is Alli. It works by blocking your stomach and intestines from digesting about 20% of the fat you eat. Alli was originally available by prescription only at about double the strength of the over the counter Alli. You have to go on a low fat diet when you start taking Alli. Some people recommending going on a low fat diet several days before taking Alli to get rid of any fat in your digestive system when you start. In addition you can't eat more than 15 grams of fat at any one time.  You can't save up your fat allotment for the day, or several days, in order to splurge.  If you break either of these rules, you suffer 'treatment effects' which include unexpected diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Alli actually recommends that you wear dark pants and bring a change of clothing with you for the first week of the program. And stay close to the bathroom.  Alli claims that in scientific studies participants have lost 50% more when taking Alli then just staying on a low calorie, low fat diet.

The advantages include having a little help to get you started on your diet. You can lose weight in a week. The disadvantage includes the expense, and in the case of Alli, the treatment effects. Alli is not a diet program you can cheat on and then return to without suffering ill effects. Some participants have reported treatment effects for several weeks after they stopped the program. Others have said they get treatment effects even when they make sure their fat consumption is within limits. 

Tips to Lose Weight Fast

Lose Weight With Prepackaged Food Program

You've probably heard of most of them like Jenny Craig, promoted by Valerie Bertinelli or Nutrisystem with Marie Osmond. The major difference between the two programs is that Jenny Craig requires a contract for a membership as well as payment for the food. Counseling is provided by Jenny Craig. There is no contract with Nutrisystem and no counseling.  Here's how to lose weight with prepackaged food programs.

You will receive prepackaged foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some programs also include snacks. You add fresh diary and produce. The meals are balanced to provide all the nutrients you need and are low fat and low calorie so you lose weight as long as you stay on the program and don't cheat.

A variation of the prepackaged food program are the meal replacement programs. You consume a prepared drink or snack bar to replace breakfast and lunch and consume a normal low fat dinner.

The advantages of the prepackaged food programs is that you don't have to think. You know what you can have. There are no decisions to be made. No carb counting. No calorie counting. The products have simplified diet programs. If you live a busy life and don't particularly like to cook these programs may be for you.

The disadvantages include the expense of the program. The prepackaged meals are not cheap.  Another disadvantage, at least in the beginning, is the shock of the small portions. Some participants recommend adding additional steamed veggies and salads to bulk up the menu. That's somewhat counter productive as one of the program's benefits is to train yourself to recognize what a portion is.   

 If you prepare the meals for your family you might find it tempting to make dinner for them and then you have only your prepackaged dinner. The reality is that you will most likely eat your packaged dinner and a portion of your family's dinner.  Of course if your significant other needs to lose weight as well and is willing to join you on your weight loss program, you could both have the prepackaged foods.

A final disadvantage is that once you go off the program you may quickly return to your old eating habits because you aren't used to making healthy eating choices. All the choices were made for you.  

You can learn how to lose weight when you jump start your weight loss program with prepackaged foods.