We've Got Alli (So put on your black pants)

Walgreen's tempted me with another odd announcement recently. Their reader board said, "We've got Alli". It was just the same as when the sign said "We've got Zeno". I was intrigued, so their advertising ploy worked, but I still had no idea what (or who) Alli was.

Thankfully, Bartell's was not so coy with their ad display, and they shed some light on the situation for me. Their sign said, "Alli Weight Loss Available Here".

I then heard a teaser on a King 5 news commercial last night that said something about side effects from taking the drug. The newscaster mentioned that wearing dark pants while taking Alli was suggested. Wha? Curious, I looked up the report.

Here's a choice quote from the King 5 report, "But the weight loss drug can also have some embarrassing side effects. According to the Wall Street Journal, the GlaxoSmithKline Web site, myalli.com, warns the drug can cause gas with oily discharge and frequent or loose stools. The site also suggests wearing dark pants and bringing a change of clothes to work if you use Alli." Uh, oily...discharge?

So here's what I want to know... What are you going to tell your co-workers when you change your pants in the middle of the day every day? And will these stains come out of your clothes? What if you want to wear a skirt? (Maybe it would just be better to wear Depends...or maybe Oops! I Crapped My Pants brand undergarments.) And haven't we learned anything from the Phen-Fen debacle and the Olestra fake fat in chips? (Remember Olestra? It had similar "side effects" to Alli.)

Anyway, I shan't be taking this drug. I think the answer to weight loss is moderation in what you eat combined with getting some exercise. It's just that simple and boring. I know, because I've been working out more and eating better lately (I haven't been to Taco Bell in weeks!) and... my summer pants fit again! (And they're a light flax color, so it's a good thing I'm not taking Alli.)