Back in June I wrote about the alli first team, the first 400 or so consumers who tried alli. A few of the first team members who appeared in the news, most notably Caryn Eyring, who was featured in People Magazine on July 9, 2007. She told People she'd had only one "alli oops" episode and that alli was forcing her to "eat healthier." (This is a repeated theme, BTW, from alli users.) 

Now you can see Laura, a real alli user (i.e. not a professional actress although she has great stage presence) on TV in a new :30 second spot. It's posted to alli's YouTube channel. For updates from other alli users (including John and Laurie) visit real alli stories on myalli.com. Oh, and you can submit your own alli story here, and chances are, you'll see it on myalli.com.

alli has sold over 2 million starter packages to date (and adding tens of thousands every week). That's a lot of people learning how to eat better (fewer calories in) and get more active (more calories burned).

As Margaret Meade said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." 

I'm following anecdotally (I can't read everything) what the hundreds of thousands of people who started using alli in June have to say about this new and unique combination of a fat blocker and food education program. To date, over 100,000 messages have been left on the official alli message board. Over 5 million unique visitors have visited the product Web site, myalli.com.

In addition, tens of thousands of users are talking to each other about alli in blogs and online discussion groups they've formed themselves. One of the biggest is alli allies on Weight Watchers. See our new blogrolls in the right-hand column for more links to online communities.

Can these two million alli users change the way Americans define meaningful weight loss and how best to go about it? Can a committed group of Americans combat weight loss myths? Is it a revolution yet??

P.S. The screen grab above is from our public service Web site questioneverything.com (short for "question everything about weight loss"), which started the ball rolling before alli launched by providing food education and provocative discussions about weight loss myths.

If you have a question about the alli program, let me know.

N.B. See this new GSK study reporting on product satisfaction from controlled clinical trials.

Yes, purchasing alli is an investment (US $50 for the starter pack; US $60 for the refill). But you may not have to pay for it out of pocket. alli may be reimbursed as part of flexible spending account (FSA) plans just like any other FDA-approved OTC drug.

In September 2003, the IRS announced that over the counter (OTC) medicines are reimbursable using some health plan flexible spending accounts.  Money put into these accounts is not taxed and can be used to pay for OTC medicines in addition to other uncovered medical expenses.

Until now, some guides to FSA programs have pointed out that weight loss supplements are not reimbursable. This continues to be true, but does not apply to alli, which is FDA approved.

Reminder: you should check with your plan administrator for eligibility requirements if you want to be reimbursed for alli with your remaining 2007 FSA account or when planning for 2008.

La Dolce Vita is not just the name of a Federico Fellini film. The expression has come to symbolize something the Italians know well: living the good life.

Here’s something else the Italians know: If you’re overweight and have high blood pressure, modest weight loss (a five percent or greater reduction in weight) can help bring your blood pressure down to normal. 

Italian researchers reported that finding recently at the 61st Annual Fall Conference of the American Heart Association's Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

Dr. Roberto Fogari and his colleagues at the University of Pavia asked 220 overweight men and women with stage 1 hypertension (140 - 159 systolic blood pressure; 90 - 99 diastolic) to lose at least five percent of their body weight in six months.

His team gave the patients diet advice. Some also received Xenical (120 mg orlistat), the prescription version of alli (60 mg orlistat). More than half (52 percent) of those who met their weight-loss goal saw their blood pressure return to the normal range.

Food for thought, as they say. And of course you should seek medical advice from your doctor if you have hypertension (aka high blood pressure).

[via WebMD]

P.S. See our earlier post on how to set realistic weight loss goals.

A registered dietitian wrote last week in the Memphis Commercial Appeal that not one single patient has asked her for advice about alli. It surprises her. And truthfully, surprises me also. 

Losing weight is hard. We all know that. Why go it alone? Getting advice from your doctor, local pharmacist or a registered dietitian can be helpful if you're making diet and exercise lifestyle changes.

Let me share a few resources for one-on-one weight loss support, several of which are free.

1. Talk to your local pharmacist with general questions about weight loss (free).

2. Attend one of the free alli events GSK is hosting across the country. Each event will have a registered dietitian and/or a pharmacist on hand to answer questions. Currently, the alli Experience mall tour is scheduled for 12 cities, including Philadelphia, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Houston.

Note: if you are attending one of these events, we'd love to hear from you. Leave a Comment below.

3. If you want personalized advice for any weight loss plan that offers gradual and realistic results, you can search for local dietitians through the the American Dietetic Association. As a partner with the ADA, we encourage you to seek out registered dietitians to learn more about healthy eating habits.