Any Optifast users out there?

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  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
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    My stepmom has TEN BOXES of this crap left in the pantry from when she tried it over a year ago.
    I just bothered to look at the label due to this thread ...

    160 calories per "shake"???

    That is no meal replacement -- it's diet burnout waiting to happen.
  • harisv
    harisv Posts: 15
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    My stepmom has TEN BOXES of this crap left in the pantry from when she tried it over a year ago.
    I just bothered to look at the label due to this thread ...

    160 calories per "shake"???

    That is no meal replacement -- it's diet burnout waiting to happen.

    You are supposed to do one every two hours and meal replacement here means that it was all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. If you do not like it, do not do it.
  • Wetcoaster
    Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
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    Every 2 hours? When do you sleep?
  • harisv
    harisv Posts: 15
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    Every 2 hours? When do you sleep?

    You do it 5 times a day, so you do it in a span of 10-14 hours from the time you wake up. Usually the first one has more protein and calories.
  • PHF58
    PHF58 Posts: 23 Member
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    I appreciate people responding to the nay-sayers with factual info, just taking the judgemental negativity in stride. Haters hate...
    I found Optifast to be very useful as a tool to begin my weight loss, it let me settle in with a pattern of eating and helped me control my eating. I liked the well balanced ingredients and when I started using the shakes I was eating more healthy than usual- that felt great! I wasn't tempted to eat more as I am when only doing portion control with actual food.
    All that being said, I do get shakier with actual food, to really control my portions as I am almost 60 yrs old- I was able to eat a lot more in my 40s and below. I have found it hard to make the necessary adjustments so I gained 8 pounds when i returned to food. I am using this site to try and regain control & to challenge my denial- I really have to adjust to this body! Am exercising more now also but have had some neck issues, so only walking nowadays.
  • 1976Nicky
    1976Nicky Posts: 6
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    I just started optifast last week here in Australia we start out with 3 shakes a day and veggies and salad and water and exercise I have my first weigh in tomorrow anyone else who is doing it feel free to add me as a friend
  • zilla
    zilla Posts: 46
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    I used optifast to kick start my weight loss and help break unhealthy food patterns. I lost 3kg (6.6lbs) in the first week. I quite often have the shake for breakfast as they're really easy and tasty as well as being balanced. I think this program is really good and covers all bases, but it is hard haha :P
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
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    It's not about "haters gonna hate" --- 800 calories per day is not the road to diet success.
  • PHF58
    PHF58 Posts: 23 Member
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    You know, kirkor- this is a site for Optifast users. Why push your agenda here? Let people talk about their experience with their chosen effort, not be judged by your "road to success". Geez....
  • anneg6226
    anneg6226 Posts: 4 Member
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    I've been on the Optifast 800 for 4 weeks now and I'm 16lbs down. I chose this route for a few reasons. 1) my doctor recommended taking the food choices out of my hands while I looked at the mental side of obesity, specifically how I got here and stayed here.
    We have to go through weekly classes to educate ourselves about our non-hunger triggers and emotional eating and such.

    Reason 2) It let me reset the expectations of friends and family. One of the things I discovered is-not only do some friends try to downplay or delay my success, but I think they actually lived vicariously through my eating habits. I used to order dessert and they loved to watch me eat it. Now I get "you're not ordering dessert? you're no fun."

    Reason 3) The last few weeks of the plan (it's a 16 week course) are all about transitioning to regular food. I don't see this as a problem. it's just one of the many options people have available to them. I'm straightening out my mind so my food choices have a better chance of success.

    I was reading a memoir and the writer likened her drinking to being with a boyfriend. It's all great until it goes horribly bad.
    When she gave up drinking, she treated it like breaking up with a boyfriend. Sure you're in the same social circles and it's uncomfortable at parties and maybe you hook up once and you remember why it was so bad and so on. I think I'm going to treat food this way too. It's the only addiction you can't quit cold turkey, so I'm going to treat like I'm breaking up with a bad boyfriend.
    My friends would never support me going back to a bad boyfriend, so why would they sabotage my success without certain foods or amount of foods? They shouldn't. That's how I am treating this effort. What are your thoughts?
  • cutiebbwncali
    cutiebbwncali Posts: 18 Member
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    I just started Optifast here in the Sacramento area. I am a big woman - so I started out with more product than many people in my class. Most people there have 6 products a day totalling 960 calories, because of my size I'm on 9 products a day (1440) calories. I just had my 1st weigh in lastnight and I lost 12.4 pounds in my first week. I have been sticking to product only and drinking tons of water..usually a gallon a day. I know that I'm going to have bigger losses in the beginning since I have more to loose...but seeing that number last night was a really powerful motivator. I hope everyone's having a great week!
    Kristen
  • fdholmes
    fdholmes Posts: 3 Member
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    Hi!
    I am starting this next week. I am participating in a weight management plan and they use either the optifast or HMR 800 shakes. It has been really great to ready about everyone's experience :) I am really looking forward to losing the weight and a bit nervous about the shakes. Any suggestions on shake preparation or the ready to drink shakes is greatly appreciated. I am wondering if they will work for me because I am on the go quite a bit and I worry about having to mix the powder. I do have one of those blending cups with the metal ball that people use for protein powder.

    Kristen way to go! That loss has to be very encouraging :)
  • fdholmes
    fdholmes Posts: 3 Member
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    I was reading a memoir and the writer likened her drinking to being with a boyfriend. It's all great until it goes horribly bad.
    When she gave up drinking, she treated it like breaking up with a boyfriend. Sure you're in the same social circles and it's uncomfortable at parties and maybe you hook up once and you remember why it was so bad and so on. I think I'm going to treat food this way too. It's the only addiction you can't quit cold turkey, so I'm going to treat like I'm breaking up with a bad boyfriend.
    My friends would never support me going back to a bad boyfriend, so why would they sabotage my success without certain foods or amount of foods? They shouldn't. That's how I am treating this effort. What are your thoughts?

    This is a really interesting way to put things. So far only a couple of people know I am doing this. I didn't want to have to hear about how "bad" it is for me from the choir. Its amazing how once you try to make a positive change for yourself people associate your old habits with the "fun" you.
  • annegraceucc
    annegraceucc Posts: 7 Member
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    I am writing from Canada where Optifast is by prescription and a 26week educational program while taking the optifast is mandatory. The program involves 12 weeks of optifast followed by transition back to food, weekly doctors visits, and weekly group educational seminars by a dietician, behaviour modification specialist, and exercise specialist. They stress that the 12 weeks of the optifast is the least important part of the 26 week program - learnings in nutrition, changed behaviour, and exercise being the greatest. I am in week 25 and the program has been fabulous - I have lost alot of weight and equally my eating behaviour and life style have changed. It has been a success!
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,583 Member
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    What if I told you that you could lose weight with food? The same food you can buy at the grocery store or market RIGHT now. Food that won't make you have to ingest it in shake form.

    "Oh, well, it's basically for people that have a lot of weight to lose" you say?

    Check out the ticker.

    Not a single shake. Not one. Unless you count post-workout protein shakes or milkshakes every now and then.

    If you learn HOW to eat, you don't have to go through some god awful progression of expensive shakes... JUST to get back to the same thing that got you here in the first place... food.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
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    NO.
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
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    What if I told you that you could lose weight with food? The same food you can buy at the grocery store or market RIGHT now. Food that won't make you have to ingest it in shake form.

    "Oh, well, it's basically for people that have a lot of weight to lose" you say?

    Check out the ticker.

    Not a single shake. Not one. Unless you count post-workout protein shakes or milkshakes every now and then.

    If you learn HOW to eat, you don't have to go through some god awful progression of expensive shakes... JUST to get back to the same thing that got you here in the first place... food.
    I can second this! 120lbs lost (30 before starting here a year ago) and not with one single pill, shake (other than protein or McDonalds :love: ). And not once (unless I was puking sick with the flu) did I ever eat under 1200 calories, in fact I usually eat 2000, including cake, ice cream, cookies, chips and tons of healthy real FOOD... and I still lose weight. Why on earth do you want to spend so much money just to deprive yourself????
    Read this: it's pricleless and free! :flowerforyou:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • harisv
    harisv Posts: 15
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    What if I told you that you could lose weight with food? The same food you can buy at the grocery store or market RIGHT now. Food that won't make you have to ingest it in shake form.

    "Oh, well, it's basically for people that have a lot of weight to lose" you say?

    Check out the ticker.

    Not a single shake. Not one. Unless you count post-workout protein shakes or milkshakes every now and then.

    If you learn HOW to eat, you don't have to go through some god awful progression of expensive shakes... JUST to get back to the same thing that got you here in the first place... food.

    Of course you can. No one disputes that.

    All the optifast programs (through doctors and clinics) finish the program with you eating real and better foods.

    If you do not like the optifast program philosophy. Just don't do it!

    BTW, the thread is directed to optifast users, did your right the title: "Any Optifast users out there?" if you are not an optifast user or seriously considering it, then this thread is not for you.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,583 Member
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    What if I told you that you could lose weight with food? The same food you can buy at the grocery store or market RIGHT now. Food that won't make you have to ingest it in shake form.

    "Oh, well, it's basically for people that have a lot of weight to lose" you say?

    Check out the ticker.

    Not a single shake. Not one. Unless you count post-workout protein shakes or milkshakes every now and then.

    If you learn HOW to eat, you don't have to go through some god awful progression of expensive shakes... JUST to get back to the same thing that got you here in the first place... food.

    Of course you can. No one disputes that.

    All the optifast programs (through doctors and clinics) finish the program with you eating real and better foods.

    If you do not like the optifast program philosophy. Just don't do it!

    BTW, the thread is directed to optifast users, did your right the title: "Any Optifast users out there?" if you are not an optifast user or seriously considering it, then this thread is not for you.

    Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that this was a public forum and anyone could comment here...

    I figured why not offer hope to people that are considering something that they do NOT HAVE to do. If you do it, fine. Do it. You don't have to, though.
  • PHF58
    PHF58 Posts: 23 Member
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    why be a nag about optifast!? so annoying... this is a place for support, yes it's a public place (no need to get on your high horse) and we all have our own ways, try to drop the judgementalism- it does go against the "spirit" of myfitnesspal boards you know. We all have struggled with weight and fitness, I imagine that's why we are here, and there are lots of ways to approach it.

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