Any Optifast users out there?

would like to join group. starting optifast today on my own....anyone else doing this without medical supervision? I attended the meeting but my insurance will not cover anything. for those using medical supervision...what does the blood work provide....I drink 6-8 glasses of water daily; does anyone take supplents..
Diane

I'm on week 5 of Optifast800 and I'm really enjoying the program. My last weekly weigh in was on Friday (10/25) and I lost -5.5lbs this week. I feel fantastically great!!!

I cannot say the plan will work for everyone, but it does for me. I am under medical supervision and glad my insurance picks up the actual Dr's visits and all lab tests. I think it's been so successful for me is because I've incorporated a 30-60 min walking program 6 days a week. In fact on the weekends I am now walking 3 miles in under an hour.

I do take a supplement every morning with my first shake and also have 2 cups of chicken broth in between the other 4 shakes and 1 protein bar. I am not hungry at all and the "break" away from eating is actually teaching me to make better choices once I do return to a meal plan. I have to say I am looking forward to using meals as "fuel" and also learning to better gage being hungry (which was never the case with my poor eating habits). I also drink at least 10 glasses of water daily and have completely eliminated diet sodas and coffee. I actually sleep better now and wake up with tons of energy. Even my daily headaches are gone!!!

I wish I found Optifast sooner. It has truly been a lifesaver for me.

Hi Arplatt-I just started today too. My General Practitioner Physician referred me as my statistics say I'm morbidly obese...pretty scary words when you hear it and see it on paper. I'm hoping the comprehensiveness of the plan with the shrink, dietician, trainer and of course physician will allow me to wrap my head around the way I have to live my life...forever!

Hey everyone... Anyone in Colorado? I was planning on doing Optifast again for the second time in my life. The first time it went great. So I bought tons of boxed shakes, bars and soups. I started doing it... and realized I was having allergic reaction to it all! Ahhh!!! So I would love to sell all my surplus for cheap... I just want it out of the house. The expiration dates are for 2014 in everything. Anyone interested?

You are doing great on the plan!! I started about two weeks after you did and as of last week's weigh in I am down 20 pounds, which I think is great!

I am finishing my first week but didn't actually start until two days ago, (strictly optifast bars and drinks). I weigh in tonight. I am doing it through Kaiser and they have covered all lab, x-ray, dr. costs so I just pay weekly for the program. I am looking forward to sharing on this topic, getting and giving support! So far so good so I'm very hopeful. SW/194 CW/191 GW/130 (5'3)

I'm on day one of my new journey. Just drank my very first optifast drink five minutes ago!

How are you holding up?? Just drank my first shake....

Hi, I hope you don't mind me posting here. While I am not using the Optifast product right now, I am using a similar product made by the same company. Boost.

I am from Ontario, Canada. I had my first orientation into the Bariatrics program in September. On my first meeting with the physician in charge of me in October, she stated that literally they will be putting me on Optifast for months. She didn't sugar coat it. Sadly though, they don't take into consideration if you are on a low income budget. There is no way I can afford $400+ per month on this product.

Therefore I listened and I had the blood work done, abdominal scan, and I haven't heard what any of the results were yet. That will come up in my 3 month meeting this month. When I got home I researched. While I know I can't afford Optifast, I did find that Boost had a similar product, but had additional calories. While I knew the results would not be as quick, I figured why not. It's half the cost.

Over the last couple of months, instead of buying food home, I bought the Boost instead. I am starting with a mix of the regular, high protein and diabetic. I am going to be switching purely over to the diabetic Boost due it is having the highest protein 16g with lowest carb levels. Also 16g, I have found myself less hundry on it than the Regular and High Protein. In the mean time, I ate the food I had sitting in the freezer that I had completely forgot about and had a couple goodbye meals at restaurants I used to frequent. I won't be seeing them for a very long time.

During my transition period over the last couple of weeks I noticed a couple of things.
- I am seriously addicted to Chocolate (ie Chocolate bars). Give me one peice of that and I am like a crack addict looking for the next hit. It must be avoided at all costs. So I am hoping after going through this process I am going to be so sick of chocilate flavour.

- I have a habit of bing eating bread. Therefor I wish to remove grains from my diet permanently. Even the cardiologist told me we only need Protein and a few veggies, nothing more.

- I am also addicted to McDonald's french fries. Though I think it is more the salt than the fries themselves.

- I have no "real" support from family or friends. Family helps by driving me to appointments, but when I tell them I can't have chocilate or cookies or anything like that, what do they do? Give me chocolate and cookies as gifts for Christmas. Gee Thanks. In the trash they go, My mother was so bad that once she heard what the specialists had to say at the Orientation, she no longer supported the program, because she didn't like it, and therefore, I shouldn't like it either.

- Prior to starting this, there was no full button.. seriously. Unless my stomach was hurting, I had no indication that I was full or my appetite actually satisfied. This is forcing me to question my bodily responses and how my mind reacts.

- I have issues when drinking water that I need to work on. When I was around 11 my stepmother forced me onto a calorie restricted diet. When I got home from school she would make me down 3x16oz glasses of water in less than ten minutes despite my complaint of my stomach hurting. Then she made me go walking. So now I have an aversion to drinking anything other than a few sips of water at a time. I need to get over that.

- Realisations that my eating habits are a result of my litteraly eating my anger and frustration instead of simply telling someone to bugger off. People pleasing and anger eating did. So now I have points to work on with my cousellors.

What am I starting out as? 400lbs, age 35 at 5'7"tall. I want to lose at least 200lbs. I would be happy with that.

I am starting out with a slightly altered plan. Taking the Boost Regular x2 (240 cal + 41g carb + 10g Protein) and High Protein x2 (240cal + 33g carb + 15g Protein) for the first month and a bit to use them up and then transitioning over to Boost Diabetic x4 (190 cal + 16g carb + 16g Protein, gluten free).

I have developed four under 190 cal recipes to use should I wish to replace 1 Boost meal with something different during this month.
I will be keeping my calorie limit at 800 calories once I am over to the diabetic boost. I will still drink my coffee in the morning so calories from that are included but will be slowly transitioning to a decaffinated coffee. Decaf herbal teas with no milk or sugar are also still in the mix.

Diet soda is the bane of my existance and I know I am going to have a harder time quitting that than I did smoking.

Sorry for my introductory post being so long. I just think it is great that this thread exists and I finally have some people to communicate with that are going through some of the same things I am.

If you wish, please feel free to add me. Those using the product or going through the bariatric programs. I could use any support and advice.

I did optifast as well.. in transition now.. I lost 56lbs in the first 4 months.. I feel fantastic.. I don't consider this a "fad diet"... It helped me develop a different relationship with food. and I look at food in a totally different perspective now.. I will agree this diet is not for everyone.. and it takes a super dedicated person to be successful... If you want to lose weight and keep it off you will.. You will make the necessary changes to make that happen. Anyone can put weight back on... People have to do what works best for them. So don't knock people who use different methods then you do!

Cheers Optifasters!!! xoxo

Amazing posts from people who sell it.

Today was Day One. I am on the Optifast 800. I was fine through out the day. But now I feel myself getting a little lethargic. Originally my Doctor wanted me to consider the surgery, but I felt that this might be better for me. The Doctor spoke to me at great length about the different surgeries, benefits and risks. But I really never got too much information, of what to expect from Optifast. I was instructed on how to follow the plan and that it will work. But to what degree will it work? Should I expect 2lb a week lost.....or something a bit more substantial? I am determined to get healthy and lose the weight. All your stories are so inspiring, you should all be so proud of yourselves and the journey you have taken. Looking forward to meeting/talking to all

I will be starting Optifast on Jan 13. I have a friend who has been on it since July and he has lost 140 lbs! I have tried losing on my own with "real food" but have not been able to do it. I am looking forward to the group support and accountability. I am going to get a jump start on it doing a modified 2 week program starting Sunday w/2 or 3 shakes and 1 meal/day. Wish me luck!

The one thing I have taken away from Optifast during my weight loss journey is to use it as a platform to better eating and better habits all around.

Even when I do eat a my one meal, I am now trying to make myself more aware of the nutrient content and how it's going to be beneficial to me. I look at food now as fuel and not the emotional buffer I did month's ago. I treat it like it's "just a meal" and do not get caught up in the emotional aspect that is did once before.

As for "cheating". Heck I've done so during the holidays and never did I pull the rip cord and start a downward spiral. I acknowledged that I did and got right back on track. That's a powerful thing to do and I hope that others like me can use this to our advantage and (emotional) gain from being on Optifast.

Good luck and may everyone be happy and healthy in 2014.

Aim high and hope you all reach your goals.

MDW

Congrats! That totals 48 lbs! Good for you -- I can't wait to start