Has anyone done an Optifast based program? Advice wanted!

jonesyk22
jonesyk22 Posts: 5 Member
edited November 2024 in Getting Started
Hi,

I have been using Optifast for almost 3 months. In two weeks time, I am going to start transitioning to food and I am scared as heck. Does anyone have any advice? Plz add me too!

Jonesy

Replies

  • expedi11
    expedi11 Posts: 2 Member
    I lost 80 lbs with the Optifast. I'd do it in a heartbeat again. However, it does no good to do the optifast then go back to the same lifestyle that caused the problem in the first place. The weight will go on faster than it came off.

    Example. I was losing 8-12 lbs a month. Tossed in the towel in December and went back to "fat me" behavior and promptly gained 9 lbs. A true re-programming is needed to change the behavior.

    I had been Obese for 20 years. Tried a number of things, but really didn't care. Finally woke up and did the optifast program thru Kaiser. I was able to see the measurable rapid results which gave me the pause to realize I didn't want to be fat anymore.

    Monitor, Monitor, Monitor. When I first came off product I was careful to re-introduce food slowly and track. I didn't see the weight come back on. However, behavioral drift set in and I stopped monitoring and slipped back into some of the bad habits. Ding Ding Ding....wakeup call, it's going to pack back on.

    Keep your support structure in place. It is MORE important when you come off product than when you were on product. I started a push new years day to get down to my goal weight. I now have 7 lbs extra on top of the weight I need to lose to get to that goal weight.......but the alternative is not an option. "Fat Me" got buried when I walked into my first "fat camp" meeting at Kaiser.

  • cohiker
    cohiker Posts: 1
    I also lost about 80# on Optifast in 2005. I agree with the previous post - track everything and keep your support system in place. One month after I reached goal weight, I went on a 2-week vacation including a one-week cruise. By tracking all food and keeping up my exercise program I came home at exactly the same weight. I moved away in late 2006 and lost my support group and have struggled since then. I still maintain a loss of 60# and would do the Optifast again to get rid of the 20# if it were available in my area. Definitely keep up the support - even if you do not think you need it, you would be doing a good turn by inspiring others by your success. Knowing that I was inspiring others really kept me on track.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Get with your doctor & nutritionist, the ones who should have been monitoring you during this program.
    They should have been helping you learn healthy eating patterns (with real food) over the time you've been on this program.
    If they haven't yet, it's definitely time.
    The only way you're going to maintain whatever loss you've had is to not go back to your old unhealthy habits.

    This calculator will tell you not only your BMI, but how many servings of various foods to eat to maintain that weight.
    https://www.bcm.edu/cnrc-apps/healthyeatingcalculator/eatingCal.html
  • Zenexercise
    Zenexercise Posts: 14 Member
    I am in week 30 of Kaiser optifast program. I started gaining weight in week 28 and since have gained 5 labs in 2 weeks. I am feeling anxious and concerned. Please track all your foods and do not go back to your old habits, which I think I have :(
This discussion has been closed.

Categories