One the most widely prescribed diet pills is Orlistat. It is not available buy over the counter without a valid prescription. So this article discusses the alternative option and choices you have.
Orlistat is a weight loss medication that’s only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Each Orlistat capsule provides 120mg mg of the drug which belongs to a class of weight management medications and supplements that are known as fat blockers.
Like all fat blockers, Orlistat has the ability to act on dietary fat when it enters the stomach and stop it from being absorbed.
Fat is a high energy food that contains nine calories per gram, and this weight loss medication has the ability to block up to 30% of any fat that’s consumed, so taking the drug has the potential to lower the daily calorie intake by a significant amount.
The best time to take it is just before eating, while eating, or shortly after eating a meal. This ensures the drug is active in the stomach while the maximum amount of fat is present.
Taking it too early or too late would result in timing issues that could greatly decrease it’s fat blocking effect.
Content Table
What Is Orlistat?
Orlistat is a prescription only weight loss medication and so should only be obtained after consultation with a qualified doctor. Orlistat is also sold under the brand name Xenical.
On no accounts attempt to purchase from the internet.
The potential benefits and ramifications of taking Orlistat are often misunderstood.
For one thing, the fact that it’s prescribed by doctors appears to give it extra credibility with people who wish to lose weight.
The truth of the matter is, a number of over-the-counter supplements offer a greater level of support and provide better results. The reason for the drug’s prescription only status largely stems from the fact that it’s use can entail negative aspects that require close supervision.
Another notable point about Orlistat is it’s only intended for overweight adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or more.
People with lower levels of obesity will not be able to attain it at all and it should never be considered a magic pill. Orlistat is intended to support existing weight loss efforts that are being made with diet and exercise and, when doctors prescribe the drug, they don’t just recommend diet and exercise, they insist upon it.
Anyone who fails to get with the program and make adequate progress will find their access to the drug is removed.
How Does Orlistat Works
The fat blocking ability is due to Orlistat’s ability to interrupt the normal action of a digestive enzyme called lipase.
Although up to 70% of any fat consumed will still be digested and provide the body with calories in the normal way, the percentage of fat that is successfully blocked will pass through the stomach and intestines untouched and exit the body with the stool.
However, although the idea of pooping away the pounds sounds good in theory, the fact of the matter is, people who don’t exercise the correct dietary constraints are likely to get more calories than they need from the fat that is not blocked and could continue to gain weight while taking the drug.
Limiting Factors and Other Important Orlistat Usage Considerations
Due to the way fat blockers work, there is no point in taking them with a meal that contains little or no fat.
People who are serious about losing weight should be trying to eat this kind of meal more often and those who do so on a regular basis may find they start losing weight without the need for extra help.
However, the average Orlistat user is unlikely to have such a low fat diet and there is always the danger that a love of fatty food could encourage the use of the drug as a cheat pill. Eating too much fatty food would be a big mistake.
Orlistat is intended for people who consume a level of dietary fat that accounts for no more than 30% of their daily calorie intake.
Eating a greater percentage of fat would not be conducive to weight loss and would only serve to give the drug a greater mass of fat to block.
WhenOrlistat is given too much fat to block it causes the stool to become unusually greasy and soft and it’s progress through the intestines may become so accelerated it could result in an urgent need for the toilet.
The possibility of vitamin deficiency can also be an issue for people who are trying to lose weight withOrlistat.
A number of important vitamins, including Vitamin D (needed for an efficient immune system), are fat soluble and the body can only obtain fat soluble vitamins from dietary fat.
Prolonged use of fat blockers may cause the body to run short of these vitamins, soOrlistat users may need to use an appropriate vitamin supplement to compensate for the vitamins they have lost.
What Are Alternative Options ToOrlistat?
Alli is often positioned as less harsh or watered down version of Orlistat.
Alli Vs Orlistat
Alli is a reduced strength version of the fat blocking drugOrlistat.
LikeOrlistat, Alli is solely powered by the drug Orlistat, but it only provides 60mg per capsule. It provides twice this amount and is only available to people who have a prescription from their doctor.
No prescription is needed to obtain a supply of Alli, it can be purchased over-the-counter from Boots, Rowlands and most other pharmacies.
Although its true to say some Alli users say the drug works well and has helped them to lose weight, there are also a lot of people who say it did not help them at all.
It’s possible that the reason for such conflicting opinions lies in the way the drug has been used.
Like it’s prescription-only big brother, Alli is designed to support the existing weight loss efforts dieters who are already making with diet and exercise.
People who fail to eat a sensible diet and do not try to keep active are unlikely to see good results and may even continue to gain weight.
However, when used in the correct way, Alli can help dieters to improve on their existing results by around 50 percent. That means anyone who is already losing 1lb a week through diet and exercise could start to lose 1.5lb per week.
How Alli Works
The Orlistat provided by Alli interferes with the normal function of a specific digestive enzyme. It’s called lipase and science has established lipase is responsible for digesting 10 to 30% of dietary fat.
Because Orlistat stops this important enzyme from doing its job, people taking Alli will obtain up to 30% less calories per day from the fat in their food. There are nine calories in every gram of fat consumed, so (when used correctly) Alli certainly has value as a weight loss aid.
What Happens to the Fat That’s Blocked by Alli
When fat is blocked it doesn’t just magically disappear, it remains in the digestive tract and has to be passed from the body with the faeces.
However, the fat retains its normal consistency and texture and its presence in the faeces invariably makes it greasier and softer than normal.
The Negative Aspects of Alli Usage
Problems arise when people who are taking Alli continue to eat a lot of fatty food such as cheese, chips, burgers, and cream cakes.
Because the lipase enzyme has been rendered inactive, a greater amount of fat will pass through the digestive organs in an undigested state, causing the faeces to become so thin and oily, bouts of diarrhoea may attack at the most unexpected and inconvenient times.
The potential for vitamin deficiency is another important consideration Alli users need to bear in mind.
Certain vitamins that are necessary for good health can only be obtained from dietary fat. So people who are using Alli may need to use a supplement that provides them with the fat soluble vitamins their body requires (Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K).
Why Alli May Not Be the Right Diet Pill For You
There are a number of important considerations potential Alli need to keep in mind.
First of all, the medication is not intended for long-term use and should not be used for any longer than six months.
Secondly, it offers very little benefit to people who are purposefully avoiding dietary fat and successfully maintaining a diet that is extremely low in fat.
However, Alli’s real great failing is the restricted level of benefit it can offer. All it does is block a percentage of ingested fat.
Although the fat blocking ability of Alli can reduce the daily calorie intake, this is unlikely to be enough to help the average person to lose weight.
Controlling hunger urges is one of the greatest problems dieters face and Alli is incapable of taking hunger pangs away. Nor does Alli speed up the metabolism or do anything else that is likely to result in accelerated calorie burning or encourage the body to start burning its fat. Worse still, customers who buy Alli don’t even get a money back guarantee.
PhenQ – A Natural OTC Orlistat Alternative
A natural option – PhenQ is also a fat blocker but contains natural ingredients and far less likely to cause side effects
PhenQ Vs Orlistat
PhenQ is a diet pill that was brought to market in 2015 and has become a virtual industry standard weight loss supplement.
At the time, one of the things that allowed it to stand out from other products was the promise that it offered the power of several diet pills rolled into one. It is also positioned as phentermine over the counter alternative – a natural option for anyone not wanting to take a chemical based weight loss drug.
The other thing that made it unique was the presence of a powerful new ingredient called a-Laceys Reset.
The cherry on the cake was the promise of a 60-day money back guarantee.
This was more or less unheard of at the time. Even the manufacturer that were willing to offer a guarantee were only offering 30 days.
PhenQ set a new precedent. Now a number of other diet pill suppliers are also offering 60-day guarantees and it is possible that such a guarantee period may become the new norm.
Now the history lesson is over, let’s take a closer look at the products itself.
Notable Features
- Each tablet is designed to provide multiple benefits.
- A full ingredient profile is provided
- Free worldwide shipping
- Past customers say the pills work
- 60-day money back guarantee
Main Claims Made For PhenQ
According to the official PhenQ website, the tablets encourage weight loss in five ways:
- Speeding up fat burning.
- Preventing further weight gain by blocking the production of new fat cells.
- Curbing the appetite, so there are no hunger cravings.
- Preventing the energy “dips” caused by dieting.
- Gently enhancing the mood to prevent diet-related grumpiness.
Key Ingredients
One tablet provides:
- L-Carnitine Furmarate (150mg): Research conducted at the University of Rome shows supplementation with L-Carnitine may be good for fighting fatigue. It is also known to be useful for enhancing the mood, so its presence here is doubly beneficial.
- a-Lacys Reset (25mg): An exciting new ingredient that was developed by Nutraceuticals International Group. The volunteers involved in one clinical trial lost 7.24% of their body fat and showed a 3.8% increase in muscle mass.
- Nopal (20mg): A plant extract that is renowned for its ability to suppress the appetite and can further assist weight loss by preventing the absorption of dietary fats.
- Chromium Picolinate (10mcg): A mineral that helps prevent the elevated blood sugar levels that can trigger a desire for sweet food.
- Calcium Carbonate: Scientists at the University of Tennessee have discovered a relationship between calcium and fat loss.
The only other active ingredient is a proprietary blend called Capsimax Powder and we are astonished to see the label on the bottle breaks it down into its constituent parts.
- Capsicum Extract (8mg): A hot pepper extract that has has proven fat burning abilities and is fast becoming equally respected for it’s prowess as an appetite suppressant.
- Caffeine Anhydrous (142.5mg): A fast-acting source of energy that is also a proven thermogenic fat burner.
- Niacin Powder (4.5mg): An important vitamin (B3) that is essential for an efficient metabolism.
- Piperine Extract (3mg): A back pepper derivative that helps ensure other ingredients are absorbed easily.
The Ingredient Potential V the Claims Made for PhenQ
The marketing material makes many claims for the abilities of PhenQ and they can all be supported by the abilities of the main ingredients.
This is a good thing because nutrition experts agree a multifaceted approach to weight loss delivers the best results. So any pill that is designed to duplicate the effects of several diet pills should work very well indeed.
PhenQ is a true alternate option to Orlistat and one that doesn’t expose its users to potential side effects.
How to Use PhenQ
The first tablet of the day should be taken with breakfast and the second one with lunch.
Important Health Considerations
There isn’t really a lot to worry about with this product, but some common sense is still required. If you are pregnant or nursing a child you will need to give it a miss.
If you have an existing health problem, or are currently using medication, you will probably still be able to use PhenQ, but you will need to play it safe and check with your GP first.
What People are Saying About PhenQ
Some comments read:
“These are the best slimming pills I have ever tried. They are easy to take, don’t cause side effects, and are in a class of their own when it comes to burning belly fat. I’ve already managed to drop down from a size 16 to a 12 and I am no longer troubled by any of the old urges for crisps and sweets.
“All I can say is WOW. These tablets are the business. I didn’t really like how Orlistat (Xenical) made me feel so I switched to PhenQ. I knew they were working from day one because they took all my hunger cravings away. They’ve blasted a lot of my fat away too. I’ve lost around 6″ from my waist and haven’t felt so fit and alive in years.”
After Sales Service & Guarantee
The PhenQ customer services department can be contacted via an online form on the site and telephone support is offered during normal business hours.
The PhenQ website also has an online chat facility and, going by our own experiences, representatives appear to be available 24-hours a day. Such a good level of customer service is impressive. So is the 60-day money back guarantee.
PhenQ Vs Orlistat Summary
PhenQ is a quality product designed to provide dieters with all the tools they need to succeed. It contains a number of powerful ingredients that should be capable of delivering the promised combination of weight loss benefits.
Customers say the formulation works, and the pills come with a generous money back guarantee and an excellent level of after-sales support. We are impressed with PhenQ and are confident in its ability to help people make their dreams of weight loss come true. We view PhenQ as a more natural, safer and viable alternative to Orlistat.
Purchasing Options and Additional Information
PhenQ is only available from the official site. It cannot be purchased in the shops or bought elsewhere online.
Free international shipping is available and the price can be as little a £26.00 per bottle is the buy 3 get 2 free offer is chosen.
One bottle should last one month. Typical incentives include, price discounts, extra bottles of PhenQ, and/or free bottles of a companion product.
Over the Counter Orlistat and Alternatives – Final Thoughts
Alli is not a cheap diet pill to buy, so the lack of a guarantee is a big issue. People who are seriously overweight may be able to obtain the prescription only version of Orlistat (Xenical) and this will bring the price down to the cost of a monthly prescription.
Even then, neither version of Orlistat offers a great enough level of weight loss support and both options come a poor second to top-rated diet pills like PhenQ.
All the top diet pills offer multiple benefits, are suitable for long-term use, and have a money back guarantee to provide customers with extra peace of mind.
Orlistat is a fat blocker. That’s all it does. Fat blocking is but one of a number of ways to prime the body for weight loss success. Most good diet pills are designed to offer support in multiple ways.
The one-pronged approach to weight loss offered byOrlistat is very old-hat. PhenQ is an easily a better option thanOrlistat. It’s a multi action, multi benefit diet pill that’s a good choice for just about anyone who has the need to lose weight.
PhenQ contains an ingredient that has proven fat blocking abilities, but fat blocking is not its sole or primary aim.
PhenQ is an appetite suppressant, that’s geared to helping the body burn its excess fat, block the creation of new fat cells, and give dieters the full support they need to lose weight.
No prescription is needed, anyone can lose weight with PhenQ and, unlikeOrlistat, it’s a diet pill that comes with a money back guarantee.
