Hello. I’m Karen Scollick and I’m pleased to be leading the new Behavioral Science team for GSK Consumer Healthcare, which includes alli as well as our smoking control products.  As I mentioned in my bio, I enjoy sailing and I see a number of parallels between sailing and my new role.

Behind the images and stories that summarize these journeys exist poignant recounts of challenges that have been faced, from overcoming cravings and other temptations to managing treatment effects and increasing simple daily activity levels. We can all learn and grow from their candid comments.

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.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet alli user Cheryl H. as we filmed alli's latest commercial in her house (yes, in her house).  We chose her for the ad after reading the story that she submitted to the real stories section of myalli.com. 

Cheryl works as a pharmacist at a local independent pharmacy, she is married with two teenagers, and volunteers in her community. Like many of us, she juggles a busy schedule and did not want to take something that would reduce her ability to focus.

Being an alli user who is also a pharmacist, she is also able to share her experience with people that come into her pharmacy for help.

"When people come into the pharmacy and ask questions about any medication, it's always easier to talk about their concerns when I have actually had a personal experience with the medication myself. Since I have had personal experience with alli, I know all the ins and outs. I just tell them, if you eat right it's going to work for you, too. It's something that you're going to be able to do to keep the weight off because you change the way you eat. Unlike with other diet medications, Alli motivates you to make the necessary lifestyle changes that will make it possible to keep the weight off."

As part of the alli program, we offer meal plans and restaurant guides within the packaging, customized meal plans on myalliplan, and two alli cookbooks. Also, Steve discussed last June that alli is compatible with low-fat reduced-calorie options like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Nutrisystems,

We know that some alli users may want meal options that are convenient and fresh.  Last month we announced a partnership with eDiets and now the meal plan is available through eDiets. 

eDiets is rated #1 for best taste and nutrition by epicurious.com. And, you can choose your preferences. An example of sample meal plan could include Denver Style Potato Skillet (breakfast), Oven Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Wild Rice Salad (Lunch) and Turkey Meatballs Marinara with Whole Wheat Spaghetti (Dinner).  Professional chefs work with dietitians to create meals specifically designed for the alli program.

I tried a couple of the main entree meals and my favorite part was that they were freshly prepared and delivered right to me.  In my opinion, they tasted better because they were fresh, and they also took less time to prepare (only a minute or two).  A personal favorite was the Hoison Chicken with couscous (320 calories and 10 grams of fat for those counting).  For breakfast, I also liked the Potato Skillet with Scrambled Dill Eggs and was pleasantly surprised that it had black beans. 

What do you think about diet meal delivery? Would it make your life, and your diet easier or would you miss the cooking?

eDiets is a trademark of eDiets.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Epicurious is a trademark of CondéNet, Inc. All rights reserved.

After 18 years of marriage and weight struggles, it wasn’t until returning from a vacation last year that the Motons took their health seriously. “We looked at our pictures and we did not like what we saw,” said Jackie Trapps-Moton, 46.

Joe Moton, at his heaviest weighed 420 pounds. and Jackie weighed in at 276 pounds.  Here's their story.

Q: What was the most difficult change you made when deciding to lose weight?
Jackie: The biggest thing we learned was how to cook things differently.  Traditionally, everything we ate was fried.  But now we bake, grill, broil - we don’t fry anything. 

Q: Joe, as a man were you hesitant about dieting?
A: I’m the most non-dieting person you’d ever meet.  I saw it as something women do. But, I had to get real about food.  There was a problem.

Q: What are some cultural issues African Americans deal with when losing weight?
Joe: We think it’s too expensive to eat healthy, when that’s far from true. 
Jackie:  We tend to think the food is not going to taste good.  But I was surprised that everything I made from alli (the diet plan) tasted great and it looked healthy.

During our hour long conversation, the Motons touched on everything from having to pull one another back from the fridge to learning how to be content from eating rather than over eating.  Both have committed to an exercise regimen and it shows.  Jackie lost 54 pounds and Joe has gone from a 52 inch to a 42 inch waist.  And, the couple says they’re not going back. 

“What it really came down to is we wanted to change the outcome of our lives, we want to live for our grandchildren,” Joe said.

In the interest of full disclosure (you knew we'd say this)... The Moton's weight loss results and experiences may not be typical of all users.

It may not be the December holidays, but this week can be a week for not-so-healthy food.  Between the Bowl games, Fat Tuesday, or maybe even Super Tuesday, it's a big week for pizza, wings, beer and lots of snacks.   

Life is about choices.  If you didn't choose well yesterday, make better choices today. 

Today is a day that celebrates a choice: The anniversary of alli's FDA approval.  We wanted to celebrate this with you by offering a $15 coupon available on myalli.com and in USA Today's lifestyle section on today (2/7/08).  So, if you choose to begin a low-fat diet, you can get the alli weight loss boost and get $15 off your alli purchase.

I had a great time at the alli booth at Team Prevention Walk it! Philadelphia with Pat Baird, RD, one of the myalli.com experts. Pat was representing alli as a sponsor of the event. She was providing healthy eating and weight loss tips, as well as education about alli, to those who stopped by. I wanted to share a story from the event:

An alli user approached Pat at the alli booth. She said she had lost 38 pounds thus far which gave her the confidence to complete her first race, an 8K, that weekend. She told Pat she was excited about approaching Thanksgiving and the holidays with a new outlook, as she now knows she can cook and eat healthy, watch portions and not cheat.

As she put it: "Let's face it, the first two mouthfuls are the best anyway, and who needs more after that?"

Holidays, food and eating are a part of all of our lives as the year ends. I can point you to holiday tips on the alli Web site where it guides you to eat until you're satisfied, not full. But I also wanted to share this weight loss journey story and the "two bites" tip with you. Whether it's chocolate chip cookies or stuffing, I think it's one that really resonates.

And again, in the interest of full disclosure, this user's weight loss results and experiences may not be typical of all alli users.

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.

I know "safety" is a key concern for people before they put anything into their body, whether it's food or a pill. That's why I find it interesting when I'm asked how alli can possibly be the only FDA-approved weight loss aid.

I get asked questions like "there are so many products available in the weight loss section of stores and/or online - how can only one be FDA-approved?" The answer is that getting FDA approval for a new over-the-counter drug is a rigorous process where studies of safety and effectiveness are carefully scrutinized. Let me give you a little background.

To gain FDA approval, OTC medicines need to prove safety and effectiveness before they can be sold. When we applied for over-the-counter status for orlistat, under the name alli, we relied on the scientific knowledge gained from over 100 clinical trials, 30,000 people who had participated in clinical trials, and 28 million prescriptions written for it around the world.

By contrast, guess how many clinical trials the maker of a supplement or herbal weight loss pill needs to submit to the FDA before it's sold "over-the-counter"? None.  They may have them, but they aren't required to share them.

Most people incorrectly believe that dietary and weight loss supplements are FDA approved

Millions of Americans are using dietary and weight loss supplements. In fact, according to our study conducted in 2005, one-third of respondents who have tried to lose weight report having used dietary supplements. And half the survey respondents mistakenly believed these supplements are reviewed and approved by the FDA for their safety and efficacy.

That surprising misconception was reported in a large survey conducted by the University of Connecticut (and funded by GSK). A key finding (download PDF of study abstract):

• Over 50% of those surveyed mistakenly believe the FDA approves weight loss supplements for safety and almost 50% believe the FDA reviews them for effectiveness.

It's my hunch that this kind of confusion about weight loss supplements is fueling Americans' use of unproven and potentially unsafe options that aren't approved by the FDA.

How do we change misconceptions about herbal weight loss supplements?

• How do we correct the misconceptions that people hold about the differences between weight loss supplements and weight loss medicines? 

I'd really like to hear your thoughts.

P.S.

To be "over-the-counter" means you don't need a prescription to buy something from a grocery store or pharmacy.  Vitamins, paper towels, weight loss supplements - they're all sold "over-the-counter." But to be an OTC (also stands for over-the-counter, are we confused yet?) medicine, a product needs FDA approval and proof of safety and effectiveness before it can be purchased by consumers "off-the-shelf."

People often ask me, "Hey, Marketing Guy, if I want to start the alli program, where do I begin? There are books, Web sites, Starter Packs, Refills. What gives?"

First of all, I'd be the first to say it's OK to ask for directions. Why just this summer, I got lost driving from Sedona, Arizona to the Phoenix Airport, despite the fact that no turns or exits are involved. It's just a straight line. But I digress.

Serious contemplation of alli should begin with a trip to myalli.com, the official product Web site. Spend a decent amount of time exploring. Be sure you end by going through the readiness quiz. It really will help you determine if alli is right for you.

If you decide to purchase alli, begin with the Starter Pack.  The Starter Pack comes with lots of booklets and tools that can help you be successful.  I also recommend joining myalliplan, which is more robust and helpful than most people would guess. myalliplan is a customized on-line action plan that is free with purchase, lasts a full year, gives access to lots of tools like recipe planning, and even has games. 

So those are what Marketing Guy would call bare bone directions.  The most direct route, if you will.  Stay tuned for more points of interest along your route.