You may have noticed the proud sponsor of BreastCancer Network of Strength logo at the end of this week's alli television ads. But, you might not be familiar with the organization because they used to be called Y-ME National BreastCancer Organization. 

BreastCancer Network of Strength provides support to people touched by breastcancer through its YourShoes 24/7 Support Center.  As part of this center, you can talk to someone (1-800-221-2141) who has walked in your shoes because all of the peer counselors are breastcancer survivors. 

Having worked on the project, I can tell you the passion and enthusiasm that the organization has for helping those touched by breastcancer. I am proud to say that I wear their pin everyday.  Like many others, I have already provided their Support Center number this year to someone dear to me.

Oh, BTW, the BreastCancer throughout the post is not a typo, but the only way that our system would allow the first word to be used.

The lawyer also reminded me to state that The BreastCancer Network of Strength name and emblem are used with its permission which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of this product.

"For women, clothing matters. How she is dressed when she walks into an interview affects her self-esteem, confidence and her power as a woman," said Joi Gordon, CEO for Dress for Success Worldwide (DFS), a global non-profit organization that provides work attire and career support to disadvantaged women. 

For this reason, we are encouraging those who lost weight to give their professional attire to the local DFS as they lose weight. So far, approximately 35,000 units of clothing have been donated through this campaign. 

Experts say keeping pre-weight loss clothes isn't good for your new healthy lifestyle, so why not donate them to a great cause? And, as part of the support, alli has also donated $75,000 to Dress for Success Worldwide to support its clients.

Visit allimillions.com to get more info on how you can donate your clothes or volunteer with DFS in your local community.

Connie D. looked like she'd always been comfortable in her size four skin as she strutted the runway in her custom black dress, made for her by Project Runway's Laura Bennett, at last week's Millions Event. To date Connie has lost a total of 60 lbs. and looks and feels great. But, she knows the road does not end here. "When I made this decision, it wasn't for a short time; it's for a lifetime."

Nearly 50 successful alli users gathered in the Big Apple to share their stories as a part of the one-year alli anniversary. Connie and 13 other alli users are telling their success stories in a short book titled, "We Lost It."  The book is available on allimillions.com. Most of the real-life stories, including Connie's, are also on myalli.com. 

And over the next few weeks, we will introduce you to a few alli users here on the blog.

Anyone who’s looked around the weight loss section of a drugstore or watched the ads on TV knows that some products promise to help you lose weight quickly and easily. The problem is that little, if any, evidence supports these claims – and some of them are outrageous.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, more Americans are victimized by weight loss fraud than any other activity they survey. Make no mistake about it. The FTC and the FDA work hard to address this problem, but more products keep flooding into the market, making unsupported claims.

I believe this situation needs to change. I’ve spent a lot of time listening to consumers and experts on weight and health who want to see it change, too. 

Perhaps you’ve heard that GSK recently joined three organizations in petitioning the FDA to change how it regulates dietary supplements for weight loss. The three organizations are the American Dietetic Association, The Obesity Society and Shaping America’s Health.

What does GSK get out of this?
There are those who have speculated that this is some kind of anti-competitive effort by us. 

Let’s be clear. There will always be competition for alli.  People have plenty of options for sound, proven approaches to lose weight. This petition is about setting a solid standard of proof for products that claim to help overweight people lose weight.

Consumers will benefit because they will be able to choose among weight loss products that are proven to work. 

When unproven products promise quick and easy weight loss, everyone suffers. All the hype makes it harder for people to find real help to lose weight and improve their health. It creates an environment where people start to doubt even modest, truthful claims. The entire weight loss category, benefits by reducing this doubt.

A few weeks ago, Joe wrote about the Make This Year Different event that was held from January 4-7 of this year.  The event was a free, four-day program that gave people the opportunity to engage with health care professionals who could help with weight loss questions.

People asked registered dietitians and pharmacists hundreds of questions.  Here are three of the top questions and answers.

1. How do you fit exercise into a busy schedule?  For example, when you work full-time, have kids, etc.  You don’t have to hit the gym or hire a personal trainer to make a real difference in your health. Studies show that moderate exercise—such as walking for 30 minutes every day—can reduce your risk for disease.
The great thing about exercise is its cumulative effect—you don’t have to do it all at once. You can add it to your activities throughout the day by sneaking in a little extra walking into the things you already do.

What's important is including activity regularly in your routine.  Start small and work your way up. Consistency is your goal.  Go to myalli.com for additional information.

2. Do high fiber foods help in weight loss?  Yes.  Adding lean protein and fiber to a diet, especially a low-fat diet, increase satiety.  Many times, high fiber foods are also lower calorie and are a good source of other nutrients.

3. Does alli work for men?  Yes, alli is for overweight women and men.  In fact, there is a message board forum dedicated to the guys on alli.

Even though the chat room and phone line have closed, videos from weight loss experts are still online through the end of January.  You can also continue to get advice from your local pharmacist.  You may not know this, but many pharmacists have earned certification as weight control counselors as part of their continuing education. 

More attention has been given in recent years to how media portrays beauty, especially among women. Some brands have begun to challenge the stereotype that to be beautiful, you have to be stick thin. You may recall Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty which celebrates women no matter their age or size. A new TV ad for the campaign, featuring a little girl, was recognized in one of TIME's 2007 Top Ten lists.

You don't have to be a size two to be beautiful, as the models portrayed in advertising for alli have demonstrated. You also don't have to be a size two to be high fashion.

This month, alli and Vogue magazine have partnered to provide a new weight loss tool for overweight women - a 2008 alli calendar. The January 2008 issue of Vogue includes a 28-page pull-out calendar featuring real, beautiful, fashionable women for every month along with motivation tips for losing weight.

In addition, three mini-episodes on healthy entertaining will be posted online on ShopVogueTV in March, September and December 2008. I'll try to remember to post on the blog when they're available for viewing.

As the calendar says, "Resolutions are good, but action is better." I hope the alli Vogue calendar will be a real motivator to stick with your action plan, and have a little fun while you're at it.

Losing weight tops almost everyone's New Year's resolution list. And this year, for the first time, an FDA-approved weight loss product is available to help.

The alli team thought very carefully about how to structure a theme for this time of year while being consistent with the alli approach. To help guide our thinking, we commissioned a survey that asked 2,000 people their opinions about weight loss options and their past New Year's resolutions.

We found that three quarters (73 percent) of adults who plan to make a serious attempt to lose weight in 2008 agreed that receiving outside help from a dietitian, pharmacist or other healthcare professional would help them achieve their weight-loss goals. However, only a fraction (17 percent) of these adults said they would actually seek this level of support.

This was the foundation for our idea: a free, four-day program to give people the opportunity to engage with health care professionals who can help with weight loss.

Mark your calendar for Jan. 4 - 7, 2008 between 10 AM and 6 PM Eastern daily

You may hear about Make This Year Different in our TV ads. Visit the site to find out more on how you can engage with a healthcare professional, even if you are not taking alli.

Here's what you can do as part of the event:

• Chat live with a registered dietitian or pharmacist January 4th - 7th from 10am-6pm


• Watch videos by weight loss experts


• Call 1-866-551-DIFFERENT for tips from weight loss experts


• Learn about GSK's partnerships with the American Dietetic Association and the American Pharmacists Association


• Lastly, learn how alli can help you lose more weight

Hope you'll tune in if you are overweight.  This can be your opportunity to make this year different and to seek expert advice from a registered dietitian or pharmacist.

Note: you do have to register for the chat sessions but it only takes a minute.

The annual ranking of the Top Ten Most Memorable Product Launches of 2007 put alli at #5, sandwiched between Domino's Oreo Dessert Pizza and Oreo Cakesters. Of course, the iPhone was #1.

On a more serious note, alli is #4 on TIME's Top Ten Medical Breakthroughs of 2007. We're honored to make this Top Ten list. It helps get the word out that alli is not just a diet pill, it's a new, breakthrough approach to healthier eating and a healthier lifestyle.

It's been a busy year for the alli team. And it will be a busy year ahead as we continue to support alli with an integrated educational campaign, both online and off. We wish you and yours all the best for the holiday season. Eat wisely, exercise and have fun. See you in January.

Colleen Laing, a blogger writing for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer notes that she picked up a copy of are you losing it? while waiting in line for a prescription.

Her biggest takeaway came from a quote on page 10 by Gary Foster, Ph.D., director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University. "Weight loss is about self care. It is about taking time for self care. It is about changing your attitude, your behavior and your lifestyle," says Dr. Foster. 

And, he weighs in on how to accomplish this: "Don't make time for yourself - take it! ... you are worth taking care of." As Colleen puts it:

Remember in the airplane when the flight attendant says "put your oxygen mask on first, then your child's." That's the idea here -- if you're not taking care of yourself, how can you take care of others? Burnout is on the horizon, temporarily staved-off by a few donuts, a couple frappuchinos [sic], a brownie here, a cookie there.

- Colleen Laing for the Seattle Post Intelligencer

As the book says, the big question isn't whether a weight loss program can change your life, but can YOU?

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.