OPTIFAST
Program offers 12 weeks of meal replacement to help you lose weight.
BACKGROUND
The OPTIFAST plan has been considered the ace of liquid-based diets since 1974. The meal replacement drinks and bars are recommended by physicians for patients weighing more than 50 pounds over their ideal weight or with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. OPTIFAST is recommended to help obese individuals prepare for gastric bypass surgery as well. All participants have full access to professionals like doctors, dietitians and counselors.
The OPTIFAST program follows strict guidelines to ensure the health and safety of patients with three key areas of concentration - medical, behavior and nutrition. Patients have an initial medical exam to make sure they meet the program criteria.
Progress is monitored during weekly one-on-one and group counseling, to help encourage healthy lifestyle changes.
PRO
- People will lose weight on the introductory phase.
- Your weight loss is monitored by their experts.
- Proven results with over 80 clinical studies and over 1 million participants since 1974
- Program gives support and counseling along with weight loss
- Medical monitoring while on the program
- Offers decrease in cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels
- Great tasting meal replacement shakes
CON
- Doubtful that most healthcare professionals would recommend being on a meal replacement plan for any extended period of time
- Program consists of all liquid diet
- Expensive
DIET and NUTRITION
To participate in Optifast, you must first complete a preliminary medical exam. You will be assessed to determine any risk factors and make sure you are a good fit for the program. After passing that exam, you are given a personalized weight loss plan that is based on your current weight and your goals. You are monitored throughout the entire process. Your meals will consist of the Optifast shakes and meal replacement bars.
EXERCISE
You get a customized activity plan for your fitness level and schedule.
CONCLUSION
Maybe the OPTIFAST meal replacement is nutritionally sound, but there are plenty of other programs that have you making sound choices with real food. This program is also very expensive. This combination can only lead to the conclusion that there are other choices that would come before OPTIFAST.
Common Misspellings
optyfast, opti fast, optifast progarm
Related Diets: Juice Diet, Slim-Fast, Medifast , VF Smoothie
> Leave Feedback
User Feedback
(Page 5 of 7)
Week 5 I am down 24lbs, and am happy with that, but I know it could be more. With the summer season here, and all my camping trips etc, I have been cheating, but try to do it with healthy low cal foods. Had a few bad weekends...beer, burgers, etc, which slowed my weight loss down, but didn't stop it. Going to try and keep to the diet, but it isn't easy. I did find however, that I could eat a spinach and tomato salad with a very small amount of low cal dressing, and still lose 6 lbs in a week. I also found that a half cup of frozen mixed fruit in the vanilla shakes, makes it taste much better...it's cheating a little bit, but only about 60 calories per shake, twice a day, and it's worth it to have a second flavour added to my diet. The vanilla by itself is terrible. Berry metamucil works too, but not as tasty. Anyway, this diet does work if you keep at it, but I think you really have to change your lifestyle to maintain the loss, but that's what we needed to do in the first place. I will report back as things progress.
Just finished my first month. How exciting, 14lbs. 18.5 inches. I had no idea how much an extra 10lbs. make you feel. I have never been more comitted. Can not wait for last 16lbs to come off.
Just started yesterday and am doing fine. Dr recommended having a very light eating day with salad and lots of water the day before starting it to 'prime the pump'. I need to lose about 50, which I put on during a pregnancy in my 40's--altho I've always struggled with weight. I would encourage everyone not to cheat--I met a woman in the waiting room who had reached her goal, she looked fabulous, and she said "follow the rules, don't cheat, it will work". I'm committed.
I did Optifast 2 yrs ago and lost 48lbs. V V happy. Bad attitude has caused me to regain so I am back on. First few days are sometimes the hardest but I learnt that if you stick to just one flavor and do the ready-made initially it will help break the habit of "thinking" about food and that is the real goal. You just go to the fridge get out your shake, and do it. No thinking. Like most people who are overweight, I obsess about food whether it is eating or not eating. We can do this!!!!
i lost 5 kilo (about 10 pound) in one week using optifast
In Australia the shakes are about $50 per week. 8 bars cost you $25 and the soups cost $25 and is available in most chemists. Drink ater and exercize. I also add Chromium tablets to reduce the cravings. Much better than Tony Fergusson for me.
I started Optifast 4 weeks ago. Starting weight 326 and I'm down to 309. Very pleased with my progress which is a huge motivating factor for me to stay on this very strict plan. The only time I find myself thinking about food is when I'm around food preparation and the smells. When I start thinking about it - I remove myself from the environment and re-focus on why and how I got to this point. It is very difficult to do - I focus on one day at a time.
Just started today. It's a little hard getting used to not eating. I will update this ite as the diet progresses. Starting weight 263
Well this is an update it's been 23 days and cheated a couple of times during those days and I hate myself for it. the days that I did cheat I didn't eat anough to put the pounds on or anything and less than reasonable portions but it stopped me from losing the weight for those days. I am still determine to lose the weight and I am very proud to say I am down 20.2 lbs (visualize two sacks of 10lbs potatoes or 20lbs of butter) and it is going to be 3 weeks tomorrow, that is so encouraging. I already am seeing it in my clothing went down a couple of sizes in my pants and got rid of a blazer that was way to big for me. People already stared noticing I figure when it 25-30lbs then I will get more comments. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks .
I have been on the Optifast diet for 7 weeks. So far it seems to be working my Blood pressure is down from 130/102 to 126/80 and I have lost over 35 pounds. The diet is simple because you know exactly what and when to eat, however a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought about cheating on the diet. I pay about 103 Dollars a week for food and have to pay about $25 every 2 weeks to the insurance company for the doctor visits. I hear people say the diet is expense but I would disagree. I used to eat out everyday for lunch and dinner, I know that that I was spending more then $100 a week on food. I still have about 65/70 pounds to lose before I get down below 25 BMI. I won't really know how well this diet will work out in the long run but it seems to be working so far.
Wow, I was on Optifast over 10 years ago. Lost 86lbs. stuck to it all through the program, did not have the bars or the soups, could have lost some more but felt so healthy for once in my life. I managed to keep it off for 4 years, then started to have some emotional problems went on prozacs and started to put it back on 2-3 pounds a month until I then stopped taking the medication but kept putting it back on, about ten pounds a year. Now I gained most of it back and since I did so well on it before I finally decided to go back on. I have started Optifast again, I have been on it for 12 days, the last 4 days I found it really hard and ate some solid foods not enough to gain what I had lost (12.5lbs) up to date. I really know that if I stick to it, you dont want to put food in your mouth and you see the weight just drop off. When I was on it before I did not miss meals with familly and friends, i would enen acommpany them to any restaurants and have the chef mix my shake and have it served with everybody else meal. I am more determined and not quitting, by the way I dont set goals. I just watch it drop off and I feel better and want to walk, bike move ect... Its a change than having to get off a chair and go some place than the washroom or bed. I know it works thats why I am more determined
I started Opti Fast. I did not pay a $550 initial fee. However, I am going to a doctor for bariatric surgery and this is the prep. I would not do this diet without being under a doctor's or nutritionist's care. I am doing the plan where you can eat one meal a day. It has been 2 weeks and I have lost 10 lbs. Yes, there is hunger. Yet, I have found that it is getting easier. Because it balances your blood sugar levels, I am not having overwhelming cravings. In addition, I feel that since my addictive trigger, food, has been removed for the most part, I am having an easier time of it.
WHERE CAN I ORDER THIS ONLINE ??? HELP ME PLEASE... THANKS !!
I went on Optifast March 2007, and lost 40 pounds in 12 weeks and surpassed by goal. It was the best program, and I didn't want to go back to food. The first 2 weeks are the hardest, then you don't think about it. I have regained 15 pounds since Feb, as I had surgery and was stuck at home. I am back on Optifast, day 2, to regain control again. I am hoping 6 weeks will be enough.
l REALLY need to lose weight fast but l am scared to start , reading the comments about the hunger l dontknow. STOP!!! am l in control or the food. l shall keep you informed l am in Australia
I started Optifast for 1 week. It was hard. I didn't realize how much I thought about food. I did lose 5 lbs but got sick and couldn't continue. I am thinking of starting again, however, it's t's hard to get past the taste of the foods. There isn't hardly anything I like. The prepared shakes are a lifesaver. You should take one with you whenever you leave your house and a bar or two also. It upsets me that the shipping is so expensive. I wanted to order a case of prepared shakes for about $60.00 but the shipping was $20.00 and I just wouldn't do it. It makes the product just too expensive. I'm trying to decide what to do now.
I'm only on the second day of the program and I'm very worried about my self control. I love the program so far and it sounds very promising but I wish I had gotten a little more preparation to start the diet. I've already snuck a handful of Goldfish and I keep eyeing the food on tv. I am only 21 and I weigh 214 pounds, I want to lose 65 of them. I just hope that I won't corrupt myself and not allow the weight to come off. Do you know if you're allowed to eat any 0 calorie foods like carrots or something to curb the food cravings between shakes?
I have been on the diet for 2 1/2 weeks now. I have already lost 17 pounds and only have 25 to go. The first 2 weeks are hard, but adding splena into the shakes really helps. I also add hot sauce into the tomato soup which is really good. You do after about 10 days feel like you are finally in control instead of the food controlling you. It really is worth every penny. Maintaining will be hard, but not as hard as losing it!
Started last September, I lost 80 pounds via a weight management clinic which included Optifast for twelve weeks. I have followed the program, and have kept the weight off. With the right balance of exercise, diet and medical supervision, Optifast worked for me!
In Australia, Opti Fast costs about $60-70 per week and now has bars and soups available. That is VERY cheap if you stick to it becasue remember, it's not like you are buying other food!
See 109 more diets
