Anyone using Optavia?

Coleen312
Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi! I’ve been an MFP user for many years and really enjoy the features of the app and the community support. I’ve recently begun the Optavia food/healthy living plan and was wondering if there are other MFP users on the same plan?? There’s strength in numbers. 🙂 Post in this discussion thread and perhaps we can encourage each other, share tips, recipes etc.

Replies

  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    sandy_in_sandy_land wrote: »
    I am on Optavia / Medifast. I started because I did not fit on roller coasters any more and that made me sad. 2018 I lost 49 pounds to fit, mostly. I fell off over the winter. went back on March 10 and am down 24 pounds. Total lost on Medifast / Optavia 73. I am not done yet! I have another 63 to lose :) over half way there.

    Way to go, Sandy!! I’m down 31 and have about 40 more to get to my goal. I love this program so much that I’m currently becoming a coach. I believe to my soul that coaching is the key to staying healthy and living my best life.
  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    sampostu wrote: »
    I restarted it. I am on day 3. I lost 80lbs before, but gained it all back due to illness, medications and poor choices. I know the program works as long as you work it. I need to get the weight down for my health and happiness.

    I’m sorry you gained it back. I know from personal experience how devastating gaining the weight back can be. I hope you are having success sticking with the program. 👍🏼
  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    msgerstner wrote: »
    I’m starting it on April 8th. Looking forward to it, but I know until I get habits changed, I need to stay on it. I have 50lbs I need to lose, so I’m encouraged seeing how well it’s worked!

    Good luck as you begin this journey. I absolutely love this program.
  • sampostu
    sampostu Posts: 14 Member
    msgerstner wrote: »
    I’m starting it on April 8th. Looking forward to it, but I know until I get habits changed, I need to stay on it. I have 50lbs I need to lose, so I’m encouraged seeing how well it’s worked!

    Good luck! It is a program that works. I have done so many diets, this is one that is a no brainer for me. It makes it super easy. I just need to keep track of my meals and then I am fine. If you haven’t heard I suggest buying a mini waffle maker. They are really cheap and it is so much nicer for the pancakes and cookie mixes.
  • sampostu
    sampostu Posts: 14 Member
    edited April 2019
    I’m sorry you gained it back. I know from personal experience how devastating gaining the weight back can be. I hope you are having success sticking with the program. 👍🏼[/quote]

    I am in a better space personally. I was in a bad marriage, was sick and my mom passed away. It was just a great deal to manage. If possible, not sure if allowed, but when you start your coaching maybe you can message to add me. I am still eating through my old fuelings, but if I order then I can order through you.

  • sampostu
    sampostu Posts: 14 Member
    grinning_chick wrote: »
    MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »


    Everyone has an opinion, it is a shame that they don’t hold it until someone’s asks for their advice. I just read a new study that said drinking wine is as bad as cigarettes. There are constantly new studies and things that they are learning. I think that you should just do you. If something works then that is great! I think that any method that works and is healthy is a good thing. I stopped my insulin and it has only been days. This diet makes such a difference to my body.
  • sampostu
    sampostu Posts: 14 Member
    Good luck everyone!! I am happy to read your progress and new beginnings!
  • PomegranatePriestess
    PomegranatePriestess Posts: 2,455 Member
    I'm on it. I don't care that it's not popular here on MFP. I never care if something I'm doing is popular. I only care if it works. I'm down 34 pounds in just over 60 days, and I feel fantastic. I plan to continue the program, including eventually through maintenance (3+3) and will probably always use the shakes and bars at work or in a pinch, even after I've maintained for a year. Right now, this fits my lifestyle and it's working for me when other things were not. I'm glad to hear of others who are having success with it.
  • wigemini
    wigemini Posts: 1 Member
    I’m starting my 3rd week and am down 11 pounds. I’m glad to know others are here for support and conversation.
  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    That’s awesome!! I love this program! I’m down 65 and have 11 more to go to reach my goal. The entire Habits of Health system has been life changing. I’m now a Coach and loving that aspect as well. Glad you’re here!
  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    PomegranatePriestess wrote: »
    I'm on it. I don't care that it's not popular here on MFP. I never care if something I'm doing is popular. I only care if it works. I'm down 34 pounds in just over 60 days, and I feel fantastic. I plan to continue the program, including eventually through maintenance (3+3) and will probably always use the shakes and bars at work or in a pinch, even after I've maintained for a year. Right now, this fits my lifestyle and it's working for me when other things were not. I'm glad to hear of others who are having success with it.

    How are you doing these days @PomegranatePriestess ??
  • msthang444
    msthang444 Posts: 491 Member
    mrscarnevale wrote: »
    I am doing Optavia, in my third week and 21 pounds down. So thrilled! I was leary when it was specialized foods, but they work and taste okay to great. There is also a transition time to wean off the specialized foods and eat table foods. I need the weight loss so bad (130 pounds total weight loss needed) that I was considering surgery. This is healthier and gives me more control than surgery does.

    I just started! Day 3
  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    mrscarnevale wrote: »
    I am doing Optavia, in my third week and 21 pounds down. So thrilled! I was leary when it was specialized foods, but they work and taste okay to great. There is also a transition time to wean off the specialized foods and eat table foods. I need the weight loss so bad (130 pounds total weight loss needed) that I was considering surgery. This is healthier and gives me more control than surgery does.

    How are you doing?🙂
  • LIFOtheparty
    LIFOtheparty Posts: 24 Member
    I tried it for about a week, and yes, it works. But only because you're consuming like 1,000 per day. You could eat real food at a 1,000 limit and lose just as much. I do think some people would benefit from being on a very structured plan that doesn't require them to think about cooking or grocery shopping. But honestly, the food is terrible. I think out of everything I tried, the 2 things I didn't hate were the Lemon bars and the Chocolate brownie. Part of that could be that I'm not a big sweets person. If you love sweets you might find the food more appealing.
  • kcmcbee
    kcmcbee Posts: 179 Member
    Has worked well for me.
  • Ginoa
    Ginoa Posts: 7 Member
    as others have mentioned, you're eating around 1000-1200 calories or so a day if you're adding in the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and protein serving. If you have a hard time choosing meals and prepping or tracking in general, it takes the guess work out of dieting. I would highly suggest changing your calories on MFP to match your daily macros and calories you are consuming on optavia. This way when you complete the month or however long you're doing it, you'll then be able to just log and track on MFP the same calories and macros. This will make it easier to add a couple hundred calories every couple of weeks to kinda reverse out of that large deficit.
  • Coleen312
    Coleen312 Posts: 322 Member
    ladybosworth wrote: »
    Over the last 8 months I have lost 70lbs!! Optavia worked great for me. I was obese with a 34BMI. I needed the structure and the boundaries to stay on track. I also love the Habits of Health textbook and workbook that are part of the program. I learned so much about habits and how food and nutrition work and how to stay on track afterword. I just finished transition and am in my first week of maintenance (or as they like to call it now optimization). I am using MFP to track my stuff these first few weeks to ensure I stay in track. Also doing Pilates now and will increase my exercise activities. I am very thankful for the program.

    Way to go!! Very inspiring! I'm down 68 lbs with 8 more to go. Nervous and excited about transition!! Meanwhile having a ball coaching people. I love this program!!!
  • dotcomee
    dotcomee Posts: 36 Member
    My father used the Medifast (it was called Optifast when he used I think) several times. He always gained the weight back when he went back to eating regular food.

    He always felt really good while he was on it however, and had a lot of energy and in generally a good mood. So it seems healthy as long as you can learn to keep the weight off afterwards.
  • Stacivogue
    Stacivogue Posts: 325 Member
    I'm back on the plan friend me and let's encourage each other.
  • skydiverterri
    skydiverterri Posts: 6 Member
    I have bounced between counting calories, Optavia/Medifast, weight watchers and Isagenix for years since having babies and gaining weight from that. Optavia seems so hard to follow because much of the food is very sweet or very bland and it’s a pretty rigid program. I just can’t stay eating the same thing day after day. It got too boring. At least when I am counting calories I can eat a variety of food in moderation.
  • bossymomd
    bossymomd Posts: 38 Member
    I was on it and lost 40 lbs. I didn’t learn anything except to eat high protein low carb every 3 hours. When I tried to transition to real food I got no help from my sponsor and wound up gaining all of the weight back plus it’s expensive

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