Common challenges when taking Orlistat

If you’re feeling a little disheartened with the results from taking Orlistat so far, or maybe you’re finding the side effects are a little ‘unpredictable’ or unpleasant, then have a read of our tips below.

I’m finding it difficult to stay motivated

Setting realistic expectations will help avoid disappointment, so don’t look for drastic changes too quickly.

Everyone loses weight at a different rate, but you should aim for a healthy weight loss rate of 1-2lb a week, with Orlistat helping you to lose an extra 50% on top of that.

Don’t get into the habit of weighing every day, instead weigh at the same time every week. Also, if you’re finding that some weeks, you’re losing more than 3lbs and others less, then set yourself a monthly target of 12lbs for example instead.

Remember, 2lb of fat is the equivalent of a bag of sugar, so it may not seem a lot on the scales, but if you pick up a bag of sugar it weighs more than you think!

Another way to keep yourself motivated is to measure yourself. If you’re increasing your exercise and muscle mass, then the scales may not represent how much body fat you’ve lost and replaced with muscle weight. Muscle is denser, so the same 2lb of fat vs 2lb of muscle will look a lot leaner and smaller.

Finally, pick a target outfit, whether it’s an old pair of jeans you want to get back into, or a new shirt – it gives you something to aim for. A midway target outfit isn’t a bad idea either, treat yourself for all your hard work!

Oops, I keep forgetting to take my tablets!

It’s a scientific fact that it can take a couple of months to get used to any new routine, so it’s not just you!

It’s tougher still to remember to take Orlistat as it’s not a typical ‘take once-a-day’ tablet, especially if you don’t need to take it with every meal if it has no fat.

Try to look at your eating patterns, do you have regular meal times, is there a meal that you know is always higher in fat than others?

As you need to take Orlistat within an hour of eating, set a series of daily alarms to within half an hour to an hour of your typical meal times.

The Medisafe app is also a very useful way to set reminders to take any medication.

Remember, you don’t have to take Orlistat with every meal, so if you forget here and there, don’t give up completely, take it when you remember again and use it to restart your diet plan motivation.

I’m struggling with the side effects

It’s common to experience more side effects at the start of taking Orlistat, the good news is these should reduce over time.

Unfortunately, it’s clear-cut when it comes to the unwanted gastrointestinal side effects – yes, we’re sure you know which ones we’re talking about!

If you eat more than 15g per meal and over 30% of your daily fat intake allowance you are pretty much guaranteed to experience flatulence, oily stools, and the urgent need to empty your bowels.

Limiting your fat intake to a maximum of 15g per meal, and spreading your daily fat consumption between all your meals will reduce these side effects.

Here’s some more information on Orlistat’s side effects and what to look out for.

If you feel that your side effects are extreme, contact us to discuss possible alternative treatments.

I’m not getting the results I want

There are a number of factors that can influence the effectiveness of Orlistat.

Orlistat works by blocking up to a third of dietary fat from being absorbed by the body, which is then passed through your stools. It is not an appetite suppressant or fat burner and only works in conjunction with a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise.

If your daily consumption of fat is above 30% of your calorie allowance, you’ll not only experience worse side effects, but your body will intake that extra fat as Orlistat won’t be able to block more.

So as Orlistat only prevents some of the fat from being absorbed by your body you still need to eat less to lose weight.

Get active!

Ideally, you should be doing at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. It doesn’t need to be high intensity like running or cycling, lower impact strength training or yoga will also increase your heart metabolism during, and after, your workout, helping you burn calories for longer. If you don’t do any exercise at the moment, even a 30-minute stroll around the park or streets will get your heart rate up.

Again, pace yourself and set realistic goals, you can’t expect to be at peak physical fitness on day one, find something you enjoy doing and slowly increase the frequency and length of it over a few weeks.