New to optifast.
TallWander
Posts: 3 Member
Well I started my journey today, I am a little skeptical about it but am willing to put my best foot forward and see what happens. Any advice or inspiration would be greatly appreciated 
My decision to go this route vs surgery, was two fold. Surgery seems too drastic a step and with the support of the clinicians and the biweekly check-ins, I am sure it will be all the accountability I need.
My decision to go this route vs surgery, was two fold. Surgery seems too drastic a step and with the support of the clinicians and the biweekly check-ins, I am sure it will be all the accountability I need.
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Replies
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Hi there,
My decision was very similar to yours. This was my step to take before surgery, and so far I have no regrets. I've been on the full fast for 25 weeks and it is going very well. The classes have been very thought provoking and I think I'm making some permanent changes in my relationship with food. I've also found incredible support online through blogs, reading the experiences and thoughts of others. I'm blogging my own experience at optifastadventurer.blogspot.com. Feel free to friend me for support, and visit my blog if you would like.
I wish you all the best!
Christy0 -
In Canada we have the optifast 900 program (900 cals a day as opposed to the 800 one in the US. So not too different really). Here, you have to be obese and also have some medical issues related to your weight in order to get into the program. I did it last year, it's a 12 week course of only shakes, followed by a 6 week transitioning to food. During shakes and transition time i went from about 310 lbs to 248. Since then I've lost more and I'm at about 215 right now. The entire time you have to go to weekly classes run by nutritionists, behaviourists, and exercise specialists. Is it the same requirements south of the border?
My best advice is to get the recommended water in, take the fiber supplements as directed and don't eat outside of the regime during that time. That goes for both over and under eating, too. Some people end up in the hospital if they don't eat the full amount of what they're supposed to-- their desire to lose weight rapidly overcame reason and damaged their bodies as a result. Get your regular bloodwork done and follow the Dr's orders.
There really isn't a need to be skeptical about optifast as long as you remember and take into account it's just a way for people who are obese to get a chunk of weight off in a short amount of time. It will not *stay off* unless you make all the changes to the long-term eating you're going to be doing afterwards. That's pretty much the main reason why people gain weight back-- they don't follow a proper eating program after they go off product.
For both medical and weight reasons, I'm on the shakes part-time during the summer (I have heart issues and it keeps my water levels under control for some reason). While my goal isn't specifically to lose more while on shakes, I do think it'd be a nice side benefit this summer, too. I think optifast isn't for everyone, but if you qualify to be in a program and you follow it the way it's supposed to be followed, it will get you losing weight. It can also provide motivation to lose more once you're back on regular food, too...0 -
Hi everyone...
I'm also new here and wanted to introduce myself. I will be going back in a week for my medical clearance and body assessment. I decided to do this because I applied for life insurance with my husband and I found out that I am pre-diabetic. My mom recently passed in February from ovarian cancer and my dad is diabetic so this was enough to scare me straight and make some lifestyle changes. I will be doing the full fast and I've been doing some research and know I am in the right place. 0 -
Hi!
I have my first "class" for the optifast program this evening, and I expect to start the shakes by next week sometime. I'll be doing the Canadian Optifast 900 program, so 12 weeks of total meal replacement then the transition back to food. I have about 100 pounds to lose to be "healthy", which will still be a good 35 pounds above the BMI range for my height. I feel like I've tried everything, so this is my last hope to avoid surgery and improve my health. I've been told I have insulin resistance (pre-diabetes), I have joint pain and inflammation issues, and I just feel much older and more tired than I am. I am super excited to get started with the program! It is great that there are some supportive people here, as some of the comments on the message boards are quite negative. I wish everyone all the best with your programs!0 -
Hi everyone...
I'm also new here and wanted to introduce myself. I will be going back in a week for my medical clearance and body assessment. I decided to do this because I applied for life insurance with my husband and I found out that I am pre-diabetic. My mom recently passed in February from ovarian cancer and my dad is diabetic so this was enough to scare me straight and make some lifestyle changes. I will be doing the full fast and I've been doing some research and know I am in the right place.
Best of luck on your Optifast program! It has been really wonderful for me, and I'm thankful every day that I started Optifast. It is completely do-able. I think what sets the program apart is the group that you attend. You'll learn so much about why you eat, and examine those issues. This was key for me. Let me know if I can lend support to you. I'm blogging my experience on optifastadventurer.blogspot.com
Take care,
Christy0 -
Hi!
I have my first "class" for the optifast program this evening, and I expect to start the shakes by next week sometime. I'll be doing the Canadian Optifast 900 program, so 12 weeks of total meal replacement then the transition back to food. I have about 100 pounds to lose to be "healthy", which will still be a good 35 pounds above the BMI range for my height. I feel like I've tried everything, so this is my last hope to avoid surgery and improve my health. I've been told I have insulin resistance (pre-diabetes), I have joint pain and inflammation issues, and I just feel much older and more tired than I am. I am super excited to get started with the program! It is great that there are some supportive people here, as some of the comments on the message boards are quite negative. I wish everyone all the best with your programs!
Congratulations on your decision to give Optifast a try. I can relate to your story in that I felt that this program was worth trying before weight loss surgery. I'm so glad I did it! With over 100 lbs to lose, I never believed I could do it, and now that I'm nearing my goal, I feel a sense of accomplishment and feel physically more energetic and confident. My aches and pains have vanished with the pounds. I hope this is the case with you as well. Let me know if I can be a support.
Take care,
Christy
optifastadventurer.blogspot.com0 -
Curious to know how you were allowed to stay on for so long? They stopped me at 18 weeks and reintroduce food. Where are you located?0
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Welcome to Optifast. i just attended my first meeting today and have sucessfuly completed one week of the plan. i have witnessed some amazing results of people in my group and friends who have done optifast. the weight comes off and stays off. the first week might be a little hard, but drink lots of water and the tip is to not dread the change in eating habits. one assumes that getting on a diet has to be hard, but it's only what we believe. wishing you the best of luck in your journey.0
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Congratulations! I had RNY in 2003 and have gained all my weight back. I am doing 12 weeks of Optifast and 12 weeks of transition back to food. I am in week 10 of transition. Going through a complete program that addresses behavior, exercise and nutrition has been the key for me. I've found consistency has been a critical factor for my success thus far. I have made no goals regarding numbers related to weight loss. I am following the program and taking one day at a time.0
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Curious to know how you were allowed to stay on for so long? They stopped me at 18 weeks and reintroduce food. Where are you located?
I am in San Diego. At my clinic our Optifast groups run for 20 weeks. After 20 weeks, if we still have weight to lose, we are able to continue the fast, with weekly medical monitoring and joining a new 20 week group. I feel great, and when I get to be 15 lbs from my goal, I'll start Progressive Food Encounters (PFE's) and begin the transition to food, and off Optifast shakes. Then I'll attend an 8 week maintenance class on full food. After that we are free to attend a monthly weigh-in and attend meetings with a dietitian. I anticipate that I'll probably not finish this program until the end of the year. It will depend on my behavior with food. This program has taught me the value of group support, so if I feel the compulsion to overeat once I'm maintaining, then there is an OA-type of group that I can sign up for. I'm pretty serious about this process this time around!
I have noticed that around the world there is a wide variation in how clinics run their Optifast programs.0 -
Well, today is officially the first day of my program! I am going to have my first shake in about 1/2 hour. I'm so excited that this day has finally arrived! Here's to making the changes that will help me be healthy...for life!0
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Well, today is officially the first day of my program! I am going to have my first shake in about 1/2 hour. I'm so excited that this day has finally arrived! Here's to making the changes that will help me be healthy...for life!
I wish you all the best Chiquita!! I haven't regretted it for one minute. It has been an incredible experience of personal growth. Feel free to add me for support. You can do it! The first week is the most challenging, but totally do-able!0 -
I start optifast on Friday! Loking forward to it, but also a little nervous.
Anyone is free to add me as a friend, I would love the support!0 -
I start Optifast for 12 weeks starting tomorrow (in Canada). I feel ready to start this but I'm also quite nervous. I'm very social and drink alcohol at most social functions and I'm not sure how I will fair this month alone where I have 4 birthday parties and Halloween. Friends will pressure and sabotage without realizing they are doing it. Hoping some others here may have some tips for coping in social situations...I don't feel comfortable telling my entire social circle either so I'm really at a loss as to how to handle this.0
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Hi Sasha,
Congratulations on your decision to give Optifast a try. I like to chuckle with my friends and say that giving up alcohol was more difficult than giving up food! Sounds crazy, but during the time of my complete fast, which lasted 36 weeks, I learned how to not eat or drink in social situations. The best advice I got when I started Optifast was to NEVER cheat. Not one bite, not one sip. And when I went through the crappy first week when your body is adjusting, I knew I never wanted to have to go through that again.
Everyone is different, but the people who succeed on this program, are the ones who have made the decision to stand up for themselves and their health, and "own" their decision about what to eat and drink.
When I went to a party, I drank sparkling water, diet soda, etc. When I went out to dinner with a group I wasn't close to (like distant business folks), I either told them that wasn't hungry, or I would order a dinner salad and push the lettuce around. Most people don't pay much attention to what you eat or drink, especially at a pot luck. I got stuck at a sit down Easter luncheon when I had to pretend to eat. It worked out, but I was careful not to put too much food on my plate so that it wouldn't be wasteful. Some of my optifast colleagues ordered chicken soup and just ate the broth in social situations. I avoided all foods off program, though.
For my closest friends, I told them about my special diet. I took boullion packets and ordered a bowl of hot water, and then I could eat soup during the main course. I brought my drink packets and a shaker bottle. Everyone got used to my diet, and it was very, very rare for someone to offer me something once I had initially declined to eat. It happened every now and then, but I smile and stick to my decision.
The weight is going to FALL off of you, and people will begin to notice and will be very encouraging. Most of my work colleagues didn't know what specific diet I was doing, but they knew I wasn't eating socially, and were very supportive.
You don't owe anyone an explanation for what you are doing, but you can share as you feel comfortable. Right now, I'm in maintenance and I feel like all of those times I said "no" to everything have made it so much easier for me to decline foods that I don't want to eat anymore. I had a weekend filled with social engagements and while I drank a glass of wine at the first two parties, I decided not to drink or eat cupcakes at the last one. It was just fine, and I felt really confident that I could make healthy, balanced choices.
That behavior pattern was established in me during the fast.
Just my two cents! I wish you the very, very best and I would be happy to be a supportive friend if you would like!
Take care,
Christy
optifastadventurer.blogspot.com (I've blogged my entire Optifast journey, and there are lots of references to social situations!)1 -
Thanks Christy for your feedback and encouragement! It's great to hear someone didn't find it too difficult and I agree - I need to be assertive and stand up for my health. I'm not as nervous now - thanks!0
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Thanks, Christy.
I will check out your blog now.
Considering starting Optifast.
Not sure I have the willpower....need to read some success stories.
I just cannot be trusted to make food based decsions, so Optifast may be my best bet.
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