Awww really sorry to hear she said no. I am taking Alli at the moment which is the same as Xen only half the strength, but I know my doctor will give me Xen when I go back.
It really depends how determined you are to do this. The vast majority of weight loss people have on Xenical is nothing to do with the fact that it reduces the fat absorbed. It's more because they don't want the consequences of eating too much fat, so that makes then make healthy choices. If you have the willpower to do it, you can do it without Xenical.
Think about it logically, Xenical blocks about 30% of the fat you eat (is that right?). If you eat a total of 45g of fat over the day, that means there will be around 13.5g of fat that you eat but don't absorb. Each gram of fat contains 9 calories. So each day, you are reducing your intake by 121.5 calories.
So bearing in mind, that to lose just 1lb you need to reduce your calories by 3,500...... you can say Xenical is directly responsible for 1lb of weight loss every 28 days or so.
I'm not trying to put anyone off here, but instead show you that the reason people lose weight on Xenical is not really down to the fat it cuts out of your diet (well around 1lb every 28 days is) but the fact that it keeps you on the straight and narrow, you don't eat that chocolate bar if you fancy it, or have that take away.
So if your doctor won't give you Xenical and you can't afford Alli, you can still do this. Dieting isn't easy, I know, but with enough determination and support you can do it hun. Best of luck xxx