Is it true?  Is there finally a magic pill for weight loss?

On February 7, 2007 the FDA approved an over-the-counter version of Orlistat called Alli. 

Orlistat was approved by the FDA in 1999 as an anti-obesity drug available by prescription only. Alli is offered OTC in a smaller dosage.

Orlistat works by inhibiting pancreatic lipases, which are enzymes that breakdown the fats we digest.  Inhibition of these enzymes will greatly decrease the absorbtion of fat into the body.  The thought is that by decreasing the amount of fat that is absorbed it will also decrease the amount of calories. 

Sounds reasonable as long as you don’t overcompensate by eating more carbohydrates.  Remember also that a drug that inhibits the absorbption of fat will also inhibit the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. 

The makers of the drug also recommend that Alli be taken in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and consistent exercise regimen.  Go figure.

Alli will be available OTC this summer.  Be sure to carefully read the side effects and think…if the fat is not being absorbed in the body, it has to go somewhere.  One of the main sideffects, loose stools, and gas with a discharge might be enough to give a second look at the magic pill.

    If you have been watch the news you may have caught this headline about A radical new fitness program suggested by Jim Karas in his new book, “The Cardio-Free Diet.”

I just have to ask, “is this guy for real?”  So I looked up his website to find out where he is coming from by making such an outlandish statement. 

Turns out that he is an Ivy Leaguer, graduating from the Wharton School of BUSINESS.  That’s right, BUSINESS.  No exercise physiology degree or health related degree at all.  

He is taughted as a celebrity fitness expert and trainer, but I failed to find a personal training certification of any kind, even a bad one

This guy has some guts to go head to head with established experts in the field of health and exercise science and make comments like, “It(cardio) kills your weight loss plan, your joints, your internal organs and immune system, your body composition, your time and, most of all, your motivation to stay committed to losing weight.”

What is he basing this knowledge on?  killing joints?  What joints?  killing internal organs?  Which internal organs?  I could not find the answers to these questions or a solid explanation of why cardio is bad for weight loss other than that it increases your appetite. 

Honestly, hunger and appetite are driven by a lot of factors.  Things like how long and what you ate before beginning the workout.  how long you are spending doing the workout, stress level, medication, etc. and etc.  to make a blanket statement that cardio increses your appetite is ridiculous.

I integrate both cardio and strength training into my workout regimen but I find no difference in appetite between the two.  I always make sure to eat adequately before and after.

I do agree with him in that strength training needs to be a part of any sound weight loss program.  You may refer back to my earlier posts about how “A Little Muscle Goes a Long Way (parts 1 and 2).

However, I cannot give very much credit to some guy with a business degree and no fitness certification who tells me that cardio is a waste of my time with no real scientific evidence to back up his view. 

I will be honest and say that even though I don’t know everything, I do know that cardiovascular exercise is good for you, good for your heart, and almost every organ in your body.  And it will help you lose weight!  The ultimate key to any kind of weight loss is to reduce caloric intake and increase caloric expenditure regardless of the type of activity.

   In another post I will explain the weight loss benefits of cardio vs strength training  so be on the lookout.