Welcome! alli is the only FDA-approved OTC (over the counter) weight loss product available for overweight adults. You've probably seen our advertising (see our TV ads). But what we're really interested in is what you, the users, are saying about alli, as well as what your questions are.

You are posting to message boards by the thousands, you are blogging about alli, you are creating videos about alli for YouTube. We've also gotten thousands of phone calls and letters since alli went on the shelf in mid-June 2007.

The goal of this blog is to have a two-way conversation with you -- not just about alli but about weight loss issues in general. We're going to challenge some common notions about weight loss. And we want you to challenge and question us in return.

We want to hear from you. Tell us your biggest issues about weight loss: is it keeping weight off over the long-term? Is it hitting a plateau? Is it learning to eat more healthfully? Is it the logistics of eating healthfully at every meal? Is it the value or efficacy of nutritional supplements? Is it how and when to exercise more?

We hope you'll talk back by leaving a Comment.

Learn more about the contributors to this blog here.

Other official alli resources

myalli.com (the product Web site)

alli message board 

Frequently Asked Questions

People often ask me, "Hey, Marketing Guy, if I want to start the alli program, where do I begin? There are books, Web sites, Starter Packs, Refills. What gives?"

First of all, I'd be the first to say it's OK to ask for directions. Why just this summer, I got lost driving from Sedona, Arizona to the Phoenix Airport, despite the fact that no turns or exits are involved. It's just a straight line. But I digress.

Serious contemplation of alli should begin with a trip to myalli.com, the official product Web site. Spend a decent amount of time exploring. Be sure you end by going through the readiness quiz. It really will help you determine if alli is right for you.

If you decide to purchase alli, begin with the Starter Pack.  The Starter Pack comes with lots of booklets and tools that can help you be successful.  I also recommend joining myalliplan, which is more robust and helpful than most people would guess. myalliplan is a customized on-line action plan that is free with purchase, lasts a full year, gives access to lots of tools like recipe planning, and even has games. 

So those are what Marketing Guy would call bare bone directions.  The most direct route, if you will.  Stay tuned for more points of interest along your route.

Katrina and I thought it would be a good time to clarify this as some readers are leaving comments on the blog that are more appropriate for the alli message board. Namely, very specific questions about the use of alli: product availability, directions for use, drug interactions, etc. These comments won't be posted on alliConnect. (See our Comments policy.)

Here's why: both this blog and the alli message board are places for an exchange of information and for discussion. However, the message board is specifically designed to answer questions about individual experiences of using alli and the alli plan (like those mentioned above). It's staffed by a group of weight loss experts, including dieticians, pharmacists and fitness professionals, who are compensated by GSK but whose opinions are their own. If you choose, you can also get answers by using the contact us function on myalli.com.

The blog, in contrast, is a place to talk about broader issues surrounding weight loss, as well as to draw open the curtain on the educational marketing campaign behind alli. It's also a way to speak directly to the branding team, including GSK Consumer Healthcare VP of weight loss Steve Burton.

Stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

Useful Links

alli message board

Frequently Asked Questions about alli (on myalli.com)

Comment and Response policy on the message board

Comments policy on the alli blog

For those choc-oholics reading the blog, I just found out about a double chocolate chip alternative to the low-fat chocolate chip cookies recipe posted earlier:

Double chocolate chip cookies: Substitute 1/4 cup of cocoa powder for 1/4 cup of flour in the original recipe.  This substitution does not significantly change the calories or fat in the recipe.

TIP: Remember to measure twice. We all understand the importance of measuring ingredients, but also remember to measure the portions before baking or serving food.  So, for example, make sure that you measure 25 equally-sized cookies before baking them.  If you make less, the calories & fat that you have in your portion will be greater.