Opti Help Me Lose This Lard Fast Diet
Written: May 28 '01 (Updated May 28 '01)
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Pros: Rapid weight loss, confidence surge.
Cons: You have to come back to reality and eat food.
The Bottom Line: Optifast is a good program if you need to lose weight because of a health risk due to obesity.
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| azirish's Full Review: Optifast Program |
I sometimes return to my early reviews that were ridiculously lacking in content, and I repair them. Some are so bad I have to completely delete instead of overhaul. My Optifast review needed a complete face-lift so here goes.
On my quest to find the perfect diet I took a spin on the Optifast Plan. I remember a few years ago watching Oprah Winfrey lose an enormous amount of weight on the Optifast Plan. She was wearing a pair of size 10 pants and she looked fabulous dahling! I was really impressed and continued to watch her post diet body expand again. Time went by and I heard her say on her program that she was working out with her personal trainer and she preparing for a marathon. I again was impressed. Meanwhile I was trying every diet program known to mankind. I had tried Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, The Zone, The Atkins Diet, Starving, The Cabbage Soup Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, Slimfast and the list goes on.
I finally got tired of this extra 60 lbs of lard. The clock was ticking and my metabolism was sinking fast. I heard someone on a television program mention The Optifast Program and the success it has with Obese patients in hospitals. Well, I am not what is considered obese, but I am walking a very fine line. I called The Optifast Plan office near me and asked a bunch of questions.
I asked how much first. I was told I could pay weekly and I was to sign a payment contract and see a diet counselor in their office to choose a Optifast plan. There were several plans but they wanted to give me a physical and a medical exam by a Physician first before deciding what plan I would go on.
I figured what the heck. I have invested what seems like thousands of dollars on diets so far why not another few thousand, ha. I went to the Optifast office and I will break it down on what happened on my visit.
First Visit
I was a bit excited on my first visit as with all new adventures in life. I filled out some questionaires and personal info sheets. I was then introduced to a lady who is a diet counselor. She went through the program with me and she told me of the positives and negatives involved with this diet.
The adverse reactions that have occurred with some people on a purely liquid diet vary. This is why the counselor goes over Optifast with a fine tooth comb. The counselor discussed the modified plan also. This plan is something like the Slimfast program. You drink the Optifast formula for one or two meals and a solid meal of small portions with protein and complex carbs.
I was then taken in to see a Physicians Assistant. She went over my medical history and we discussed the diet aids that are available on The Optifast Program. Prescription appetite surpressents such as Phentermine are offerred. The Physician's Assistant told me I would have to see the regular Physician, who would be in the next day if I wanted the supressents. I decided to go cold turkey.
After my medical visit I went back in to see the counselor and she OKd me to move on with the plan. I decided to do nothing but the formula.
I went to the front desk where I was given two boxes of Optifast formula.
Optifast Formula:
Chocolate and Vanilla
Composition-D Nonfat dry milk, fructose, calcium caseinate, cocoa Hydrolyzed cornstarch, partially hyrogenated soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, egg white solids, potassioum phospate dibasic, salt, soy lecithin and a whole cast of characters, yada, yada, yada.
Calories-160 Serving size-1 packet
Calories from fat:25
Cholersterol-less than 5mg.
Sodium-230 mg
Potassium-470 mg.
Dietary Fiber- 0 g
Sugars- 18 g
Protein- 14 g
Vitamin A 20% Vitamin B6 30 %
Calcium 20 % Vitamin B12 20 %
Vitamin D 20 % Copper 20 %
Vitamin K 25 % Chromium 25 %
Riboflavin 30 % Magnesium 20 %
Vitamin C 30 % Folate 20 %
Iron 20 % Selenium 45 %
Vitamin E 20 % Manganese 40 %
Thiamin 30 % Chloride 10 %
Niacin 20% Phosphorus 20 %
Exchanges per serving 1 skim milk 1 lean meat
Exchange calculations based on Exchange Lists for Meal Planning, American Diabetes Assoc, Inc.
How to Prepare:
Pour 3/4 cup (6 fl. oz) cold water into a shaker or blender.
Note: They sell spiffy little blenders that work on a battery at the Optifast Officer.
Add contents of packet.
Shake vigoursly for 15-20 seconds or blend at lowest speed for 5 seconds until dissolved.
Note: This formula tastes best when consumed immediately after preparation.
A box contains ten packets. Each of those puppys costs two dollars a piece. A box will run you twenty dollars.
They also sell broths and a soup that tastes like a pea mixture with something I can't identify. Trust me after a day of nothing but formula the broth and soup are extremely welcome additions to your empty feeling stomach.
Cost:
The formula costs twenty dollars a box with ten packets.
The soups and broths run a bit less and I believe you can purchase the soups in single packets.
The Appetite Supressents when approved by their Physician cost on the average of twenty a prescription. They only give you enough for a week. I tried Phentermine for a week but I didn't like cleaning my house like a mad woman. My heart didn't like to beat so hard either. I had palpitations that scared me a mite.
The Program ends up costing you some money. I paid upwards six hundred dollars before I gave it up. There is a joining fee and you will see the formula costs add up.
You figure 5 packets a day, two days a box, approximately 45 dollars a week for formula. This doesn't count the program fee and the extra broths and soups which run you about half of the formula cost. The medication if you desire it is extra cost also.
The Program:
You are instructed to have a formula every three to four hours. You end up having five drinks and broth is free. If you want to have a soup you have to replace a formula meal with it. There are other food items offerred if you are on a modified plan.
Sure, I lost weight. The first week I stuck to the formula and broth and I lost 6 pounds. The second week I lost four more pounds. I could see my face sinking in and my stomach was deflating. I felt better because I was in a detox mode. The first week I felt bad because my body was fighting it. The second week I was becoming use to the plan and I was feeling better and detoxing.
My Opinion of Optifast:
I love losing weight fast and suddenly seeing my waist. I do not like the idea of giving up solid food. If you are extremely overweight and there is a definite health risk you need to get the weight off NOW! I recommend you look in to Optifast.
If it is a matter of self control and you can't get your big carcass off the sofa to exercise, this plan won't work in the long haul.
I have started walking four miles a day and I am trying desparetly to make my portions smaller. I have learned that to deprive yourself of solid food does not teach you the lifestyle changes you need for life long weight maintenance and health.
Optifast works to get the weight off but can you wean yourself off the formula and back to food without going nuts. It is a life long challenge and quick fixes, unless your immediate health is at stake, don't work.
Recommended:
No
Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) 250-350
Food Variety Restrictions You eat the same thing for months
Restrictiveness of Portions Practically starvation
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Epinions.com ID:
azirish
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Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Reviews written: 38
Trusted by: 17 members
About Me:
Learn to say I LOVE YOU, it's not painful and it can become addictive.
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