It sounded too good to be true.

Last week, the first FDA-approved weight-loss drug, Alli ( pronounced al-eye), once sold by prescription as Xenical (orlistat), hit store shelves. Until then, the options for dieters looking for that over-the-counter quick fix were limited to dietary supplements like CortiSlim and Trimspa, which aren't required by the government to prove they're either safe or effective.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] CHRIS ROSENBLOOM FIT TO EAT Have a question of general interest? E-mail Rosenbloom Related: • More on food and drink • Restaurant reviews and search More Rosenbloom [an error occurred while processing this directive] • Chris Rosenbloom, Ph.D., R.D., is a member of the nutrition faculty in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State University.

Enter Alli — a drug that acts on the gut, not the brain, binding an enzyme called lipase to block about 25 percent of fat eaten in a meal. For every 10 pounds you could lose with diet and exercise, you can lose an additional 5 pounds using this drug.

But here's the catch: As the manufacturer of the drug clearly states, "Alli is not for everyone. It's for the consumer who can follow a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet for weight loss."

The key to using this drug successfully is to keep your intake of fat grams to no more than 15 to 20 per meal. Go over that limit, and you could find yourself having to heed nature's call at the most inopportune moments. Another side effect is decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and other nutrients, so Alli users should take a multivitamin-mineral supplement before bedtime.

One more tip: Remember that calories still count. The focus of the meal plan is on counting fat grams, but we don't want a repeat of the last low-fat dieting craze when dieters loaded up on fat-free snacks that were loaded with sugar and calories.

Whether this drug is right for you is a decision you should make with your physician. (For more information on the drug and the weight-loss plan, visit www.myalli.com.)

Here's a suggestion: Before you try the drug, why not first see if you can follow the dietary recommendations that go with it?

Stick to it and chances are good you won't need a magic pill to reach your weight-loss goal after all.

With that in mind, at left is a week's worth of 15-grams-of-fat (or less) breakfasts, lunches and dinners to help you learn what it takes to stick to a low-fat diet.

7 breakfasts

1 hard-cooked egg
1 slice whole-wheat toast
1 teaspoon
soft tub margarine
1 teaspoon strawberry jam
6 ounces orange juice
Coffee with 2 teaspoons
half-and-half
(Total = 12 grams of fat)

1/2 cup Cheerios mixed with 1/2 cup Fiber One cereal
One cup low-fat (1 percent) milk
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
6 ounces cranberry-apple juice
(Total = 6 grams of fat)

2 Flax Plus frozen waffles
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon
soft tub margarine
8 ounces fat-free milk
Hot tea with 1 tablespoon
whole milk
(Total = 12 grams fat)

1 packet reduced-sugar maple and brown sugar oatmeal
1 medium banana
6 ounces apple juice
1 plain English muffin with 2 teaspoons soft tub margarine
(Total = 10 grams of fat)

Au Bon Pain Honey
Nine-Grain bagel
1 tablespoon cream cheese
16-ounce iced cappuccino
(Total = 15 grams of fat)

2 ounces (about a 2-inch cube) 50 percent reduced-fat sharp
cheddar cheese
1 slice 100 percent whole-wheat toast
Whole orange
Coffee with 1 tablespoon whole milk
(Total = 12 grams of fat)

8 ounces low-fat Stonyfield Farm vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup Back to Nature Classic Granola
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
(Total = 5 grams of fat)

7 lunches

MorningStar Farms Parmesan Ranch Chik Pattie
on a light wheat sandwich bun with sliced pickles, lettuce
and 1 teaspoon light mayonnaise
1 ounce (about 16 chips)
Sun Chips
Handful baby carrots
Iced tea sweetened with
artificial sweetener
(Total = 15.5 grams of fat)

Small fat-free whole-wheat pita pocket stuffed with 3 ounces chunk light tuna in water,
1 tablespoon light mayonnaise,
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
20 grapes
Diet soft drink
(Total = 7 grams of fat)

1 cup Progresso chicken noodle soup
4 RyKrisp crackers
4 wedges Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb cheese
Fresh pear
(Total = 12 grams of fat)

McDonald's Southwest Salad
with grilled chicken
Newman's Own Creamy
Southwest Dressing
Bottled water
(Total = 15 grams of fat)

Chick-fil-A Chargrilled
Chicken Garden Salad
Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce
Carrot and raisin salad
Large iced tea
(Total = 15.5 grams of fat)

Healthy Choice French Bread Vegetable Pizza (6 ounces)
Garden salad with 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette and 1/2 ounce feta cheese
Diet soft drink
(Total = 14 grams of fat)

Subway 6-inch turkey breast sub (lettuce, tomato, mustard
and peppers)
1 cup Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup
Small bag baked potato chips (1 ounce)
Bottled water
(Total = 12 grams of fat)

7 dinners

2 ounces (dry) whole-grain
spaghetti, cooked
1 cup Newman's Own Sockarooni marinara sauce
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
Green salad with 1 tablespoon Ken's Lite Caesar dressing
1 slice Italian bread
1/2 cup chocolate pudding made with 1 percent milk
Small glass red wine
(Total = 14 grams of fat)

3 ounces chicken breast strips
and 1 cup snow peas stir-fried
with 1 teaspoon peanut oil
1 cup whole-grain instant brown rice
1 cup won-ton soup
Calorie-free sparkling flavored water
(Total = 14 grams of fat)

3 ounces farmed Atlantic salmon
Medium baked potato with fat-free sour cream
Steamed broccoli and cauliflower
2 Fig Newtons
Iced tea
(Total = 15 grams of fat)

Patio 5-ounce cheese and bean burrito
1 ounce reduced-fat shredded
cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce and diced tomato
1 whole-wheat pita, cut in wedges and baked in oven
1/4 cup salsa
Diet soft drink
(Total = 14 grams of fat)

Healthy Choice chicken teriyaki bowl with rice
6 mini frozen egg rolls
Steamed pea pods
Apple slices
Bottled water
(Total = 15 grams of fat)

3 ounces grilled tenderloin steak
Grilled tomatoes, squash, mushrooms and peppers
6-inch ear of fresh corn with
1 teaspoon soft tub margarine
1/2 cup sorbet
(Total = 13 grams of fat)

Wendy's large chili
10-ounce baked potato
Junior Frosty
Total = 15 grams of fat)

Chris Rosenbloom, Ph.D., R.D., is a professor of nutrition in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State University. She'll answer nutrition questions of general interest. Send your questions to her c/o The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eighth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. Or e-mail her at dietitian@ajc.com.