Aliyawanders

Experience makan Orlistat ni, honestly… agak traumatic for me.

IYKYK 😂

Because of that experience, I automatically became extra careful with my food — kurang berminyak, kurang berlemak (most of the time). 

In a way, Orlistat ni ada psychological effect jugak. You think twice before reaching for oily food because you already know the consequences.

One way I manage the side effects is by using long panty liners — the 19cm ones — and I adjust how I place them. This is purely to avoid any oily stains at the back of my pants or skirt.

Because those who have consumed Orlistat will tell you… there is no stopping the oil from coming out of certain orifice.

So wearing panty liner could prevent oily patches on your pants or skirt.

So far, I haven’t experienced any clothes mishap (Alhamdulillah). But let’s be real — better safe than sorry, right?

I also drink a lot of plain water. For some reason, when my hydration isn’t enough, migraine will come knocking on the door. And not the kind you can settle with paracetamol.

So I make sure to drink about 500ml more than what I actually need. That’s about 3 litres of plain water. Usually, I’ll start to feel better shortly after. Oh and sugary drink doesn’t count.

Progress-wise, I’d say it’s been satisfactory. One month in, I’ve lost 2kg.

Now, I’m intentionally slowing things down. My goal isn’t to lose weight as fast as possible, but to lose it sustainably.

Ideally, I want to lose about 1kg a month. My target is to lose 15kg to reach my ideal weight — so that puts me at roughly 15 months.

I want to give my body time to build muscle — which, let’s be honest, is not easy for women in their 40s.

What I’m most afraid of is flabby skin and a gaunt face from rapid weight loss.

If only we could pick and choose where the fat goes…

The instructions say up to 3 Orlistat capsules a day, but I only take 2 a day, and only if I’m eating oily or fatty food.

I purposely reserve mornings for my body to absorb vitamin D. Breakfast is when I make sure I get vitamins A, D, E & K, since these four are fat-soluble vitamins.

So I skip Orlistat in the morning to allow my body to properly digest and absorb any fat from breakfast — for example, from my lactose-free (but normal-fat) milk. This way, my body still gets the nutrients it needs, especially for bone health.

More than anything, I hope I can stay consistent — losing weight at a healthy pace while improving my lifestyle bit by bit. Because losing weight is one thing, but maintaining it is the real challenge. 

I don’t just want to lose the weight; I want to learn how to live in this body better. And I’m really hoping that this time, I’m doing it in a way that my body can actually sustain. Without extremes, rebound or burnout. 

Are you on a weight lost journey as well? Share your routine with me!