What You Should Know
Optifast is a weight loss program that uses meal replacement products to help people lose weight. The Optifast meal replacement products are produced by the famous dessert giant Nestlé, of all companies! The Optifast meal replacement products consist of Ready to Drink Shakes, Powders, Soups, Nutrition Bars, High Protein Drinks, and a Optifast Vitamin and Mineral Supplements. Nestlé says that the Optifast weight loss program, as well as involving meal replacements, also incorporates, medical monitoring to assess your progress and offer encouragement.
List of Ingredients
Apart from for the Optifast Vitamin and Mineral Supplements, there were no comprehensive ingredients that we could find for the Optifast replacement meal products.
The ingredients listed for the Optifast Vitamin and Mineral List are, Vitamins, A, C, D, E, K, B6, and B12, Folic Acid, Acid Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin,Calcium,Iron, Phosphorous, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chronium, Sodium.
Product Features
The Optifast weight loss program, as well as including meal replacement products, also consists of medical monitoring. Nestlé says that if you subscribe to the program you will also have a thorough medical examination at the beginning of the program, and any necessary laboratory tests to rule out any risk factors and to determine your health status. There will also be medical monitoring of your progress, and you will be given a personalized activity plan. You will also be able to partake in discussion groups and have the opportunity to have one-on-one counseling with a registered dietician, lifestyle counselor, or a physician. There is an official Optifast website, but it seems that in order to access the weight loss program you will have to make an appointment at an Optifast Clinic. The website does not give any details of the price of the program, nor the price of the meal replacement clinics.
Advantages
- There is an official website for Optifast.
- The program includes medical monitoring.
- The website is sophisticated and easy to navigate.
Disadvantages
- The website does not give details of the cost of the weight loss program.
- You cannot order the meal replacements on line.
- You can only undertake the Optifast weight loss program in conjunction with an Optifast Clinic.
- Having to stick to a pre-prepared diet of Optifast products could become difficult.
- Though few details are given, it sounds like frequent clinic visits could become time consuming.
Conclusion
The Optifast weight loss program does seem to be one of the more serious weight loss program on the market. If what the official website says is correct, the program involves careful medical monitoring and emotional support, as well as a strictly controlled diet. The website does not give any details of the cost of the program, so we do not know if it is easily affordable or what expenses are involved in subscribing to the program. Considering all of the attention users receive from trained professionals, we would imagine it’s relatively expensive. Additionally, the program does not allow for much freedom in a user’s diet. While all of this attention could be beneficial to obese users who need to lose weight badly, those looking to drop a few pounds for aesthetic reasons may want to find something simpler and cheaper.
Does reducing the number of shakes consumed a day have any detrimental effect?
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The opti fast program in my area coat $995 to start and $320 a month plus your cost of food and supplements Shakes are $37 for 18 so if you are drinking 3 to 5 a day….well you can do the math. On the the “healthy solutions ” it would cost $653 plus diet pills @ $75 for 180 a month you also have to pay in advance.
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I have been on optifast for 106 days and have lost 65.2 pounds. I haven’t felt hungary, but I do add fibre using unflavoured metamuscile in each shake. I think it works for me, and I am please with the results. I am down from size 48 waist to size 38, and have had no negative reactions once I supplemented the fibre.
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My girlfriend and I have been on Optifast for 4 weeks now. We are having 3 shakes per day and 2 cups of mostly green vegetables. So far I am down from about 160kg to 140kg and feeling good.
I don’t find it too hard, I do crave other foods and am getting tired of the flavors and things I can do with my veg. My girlfriend on the other hand is finding it much harder and constantly craving meat.
Worth doing in my opinion
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Hi, I am about to embark on optifast, am 140kgs & a type 2 diabetic. Can anyone suffer hair loss or gallstones??appreciate learning from u all.
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I’ve lost 50 lbs in 6 months. At first, I followed the 4 drinks a day/900 cal and it wasn’t difficult. Then the constipation hit me & that was horrible. There is no fiber at all in the drink & I think that’s a huge mistake. Some people are okay with it, but I was really, really not. I changed up the diet and only drank a shake once a day, then followed calories up to 1000 each day with an online program. It worked, but I recommend lots of extra fiber and water which is kind of a drag but a necessity. Now I notice that I get upper intestinal cramps after I drink it, so maybe it’s not going to keep working. I have 10 lbs to go.
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In Columbus Ohio: The medical examination cost before program is $400 (was partly covered by insurance, paid $168).
Than every week about $100 for Optifast products and doctor visit co-pay.
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I lives i,n Delaware County, where whould I find out bout this program around my areas?
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constipated or hunger pains perhaps
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I am over 65 and I used optifast 10 years ago, is it safe to use now. I am also diabetic no medication and need to lose about 20 lbs
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I lost 85 pounds on Optifast and am very pleased. I continue to go to my support group for maintenance and feel like a new woman.
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If I can lose 35-40 pounds I will be so ecststic and fit in my clothes-right now I wear sweats all the time!My question is if I lose 40 pounds and exercise, will I have loose skin thant just hangs and have to have a tummy tuck
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Is it safe to use expired optifast?
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I have lost 36lbs. in five weeks with the program. I was overweight but not grossly, so 36lbs is considerable. I found that mixing the soups with a lot of their (recommended) vegetables really helped. By thinning the soup I could have a very large bowl of it if not two.
George
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look on the back of the pack it will tell u how much sugar fat and carbs, vitamins and minerals. and talk to ur doctor. this is my first day and im finding it easy. just stay away from food. and do something if u get bord. eg. a bath or walking. drink water. i find warm green teas are good and stay around people that dont bring u down. i was on kate morgan. i need to lose 14kg. im 33 i weigh 70kg and im 164cm. i used to be 96 kg moved town gained 28 kg lost 8 but isnt comming off quicker enough. but ive got will power i also go to curves. i dont think of the money i think of a better me. wish me luck!!
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no one seems to reply to the question about the amount of sugar in the shakes, bars, etc…..are there any for type 2 diabetics?
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They are a suger substitute, great for diabetics my husband is off his meds for two weeks and he seems to be stabble on his blood sugars. We are on the product together so it makes it easier. Complete meal replacements we have no other food supplements.
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I have been on Optifast for five weeks with Perry weight loss center and have lost 14 ponds and I do not follow it faithfilly. I will now. They are good tasting and I buy the ones already mixed French Vanilla. I spend less on food and now have more time to exercise. They are not expensive three dollars each you spend lots more on just one meal.
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am getting ready to do the samething have you had your surgery yet?if so how did go.
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I am getting ready to start the Optifast program for 4 weeks leading up to RouXny gastric bypass surgery. Anyone else use it for that purpose, and if so, how did you do? I also plan to use Optifast post-surgery as part of my maintence plan.
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I started the Optifast diet yesterday for the next 2 weeks prior to the RouXny gastric bypass also. The shakes are delicious. I have 4 a day and soup for dinner.
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I lost about 40 lbs from May 2009 to Feb 2010 on “modified Optifast”. Problem is, I gained back 20 of the 40 lbs I lost within 2 months, and really have been eating fairly sensibly. I just couldn’t stand the lack of variety with the diet, and the soups are very difficult to get mixed properly without a bunch of glop at the bottom.
VERY EXPENSIVE
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I’ve been on the Optifast diet for 4 weeks and have lost 15 lbs and think its a lot more. My clothes are so loose. I love it! Jackie, the first 2 weeks were the hardest! Stick with it honey.
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Where is an Optifast Clinic in Austin/San Antonia, TX area
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Austin Regional Clinic has one
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I have lost 170lbs in a year. I did the Optifast program along with excercise. Like any other diet you have to stick with it. It does work. Best program I have ever done.
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Dearest Faysha:
i read your comment on how you lost 170lbs while on the optifast diet, way to go! I have been on the optifast meal replacements for about 2 weeks now and it is the hardest thing i have done up to date. I also need to lose 173 lbs and so far i have lost 20lbs in 2 weeks. My question to you is, about how many pounds did you average to lose per week and what type of exercise did you do and are doing?
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I LOVE Optifast. It is an amazing product. I love the Vanilla Powder Shakes. I blend it together with water, ice, powder and a sprinkle of Starbucks instant coffee. I have been on Optifast for six months. I have lost 60 pounds. I drink two shakes a day and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. In the beginning, I did three shakes and two cups of veggies. After three-four weeks, I switched to the shakes a day. I could do this the rest of my life.
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pam i have a specific question can u email me at :kimorea@gmaildotcom . please
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Have been on Optifast for 3 weeks have only lost 5 pounds. Last week I gained 1 pound. What the hell is going on? I have followed the program with 4 products and 1 meal a day. I am on quite a bit of meds for A fib and Hypertension. Could it be that I have very painful arthritis and cannot do much activity? I am ready to quit. It is sooo expensive not to have lost any more than 5 pounds.Help!
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If you’re on the program it is a total meal replacement. It should be 6 products a day and lots of water. It’s most likely the “one meal a day” that’s likely high in calories and proportion. For the first 17 weeks it should be 100% product as your diet.
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I pay 300 for eaach 2 week supply of meals.
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I do I get tarted and where do I find a doctor near me to monitor me?
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I have been on the program 70 days, lost 35 pounds and have not felt this great in a long time. The program is not cheap by any means but I have multiple medical issues, needed to lose a lot of weight, They follow my progress at least weekly and are availabe to help me if I have a problem. There is also a support group when you complete the program. This is not a program for those who want the easy way out, you also have to work (exercise) to achieve.
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Does the product contain wheat?
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my daughter has been doing this for a month and only lost 14 pounds also she is starting to have double over stomach pain…why is that?
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14 pounds is a lot in 4 weeks. Tell her to keep it up!
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She is losing at a good pace.
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Make sure you are including some benefiber-type product for bulk in your diet. Could be constipation related. Benefiber is more expensive but you can buy a house brand at CVS that is more reasonable.
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What are the precations of the Optifst Diet ?
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I just started optifast yesterday.Today, after slight exertion I found myself sweating profusely and not feeling good. Prior to eating I did a fingerstick and it was 157, the highest its ever been fasting. Can anyone explain why this happened?
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I’m a diabetic also. When I started Optifast my doctor warned me that my blood sugar could bounce all over the place initially since I stopped all diabetic pills when I started Optifast. I have been lucky and my blood sugars have been between 94 and 113. Give it a little time and you should level out.
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Wondered if Mlavenia could share w/us the cost of the program. If it’s REALLY expensive I’m not going to bother making an appt @one of their clinics!
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How much sugar is in each shake? That would easily raise blood sugar. Especially without the added fat to slow digestion.
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R the ready to drink shakes soy based or lactose free
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Short answer, no. They contain milk products and all contain about 1gm of lactose, except for the vanilla powder, which contains 8-12 grams of lactose.
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