Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Review - 12 Things You Need to Know
The Optavia diet, often referred to as the Optimal Weight 5&1 plan, is a meal replacement program focused on portion control and balanced nutrition to assist individuals in their weight loss journey. The program combines packaged foods with homemade meals and personalized coaching to optimize results. But, the program comes as a kit costing well over $500 and loaded with processed foods.
Our research team decided to take a closer look. All evidence shows that reducing caloric intake and adding exercise is the best way to reach healthy weight goals.
Does Optimal Weight 5&1 offer anything different to justify that hefty price tag? We looked at the kit ingredients, studied the diet plan, read user feedback, and summarized our findings for you.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan can be purchased through their Official Site.
What is the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan?
Also known as the Medifast 5&1 Plan, the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is a program that helps you reach your ideal weight and maintain the results for the long term.
With the Optimal Weight 5 and 1 Plan, you will need to purchase a kit, which consists of Optavia products such as snack bars, shakes, smoothies, cereals, soups, and other Optavia foods.
The 5&1 dietary framework offered by Optavia sets a daily caloric range of 800 to 1,000 calories. Participants are guided to consume six meticulously portioned meals throughout their day. Five of these meals are designated as Optavia “fuelings,” while the remaining meal, referred to as the “Lean & Green” option, can be either crafted at home or sourced externally.
While many participants see value in enrolling in the official Optavia program to access its comprehensive benefits and support, the diet’s design also allows for considerable autonomy and adaptability. This means individuals can comfortably navigate the diet independently, highlighting the program’s versatility and user-centric approach.
Does the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan work for weight loss?
- International Journal of Obesity – research that shows the importance of “portion control in weight management.”
- Nutrients – Some research suggests knowing portion sizes isn’t enough. The study shows tools aimed at helping the user learn portion sizes are effective.
- Appetite – suggests training is useful in learning portions.
Products Similar to Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
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| Vega One | read | |
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Optavia (Take Shape for Life) – The Company Behind 5&1 Plan
Take Shape for Life is primarily owned by Medifast (the parent company). It was started back in 2002 and is based in Baltimore from Owings Mills, Maryland.
Aside from the Optimal Weight 5 and 1 Plan, Take Shape for Life also offers the Optimal Health 3&3 Plan, Optimal 4&2&1 Plan, and Powerful Hydration to help you sustain healthy weight after you reach your weight loss goal.
Take Shape for Life also offers personal coaching and daily inspiration to help you reach your goals. You can shop for the kits and Optavia Medifast foods directly through the official website.
As of 2019, Medifast expanded the business into Hong Kong and Singapore.
Medifast Customer Service
Medifast, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is rated well by the Better Business Bureau (A+). We also took a look at the Consumer Affairs website, where there are more than 400+ consumer reviews. We found both positive and negative responses to Medifast and the customer service they offer. You can contact customer service at 888-OPTAVIA (1-888-678-2842). The address for Optavia is:
100 International Drive
18th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
As of September 2023, Optavia, LLC earned 1.5 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews. They’ve closed 394 complaints in the previous three years and 33 complaints in the past 12 months. Optavia has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
In 2020, Optavia Essential Old Fashioned Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal was voluntarily recalled due to undeclared traces of milk.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Products Available From Optavia
- Essential Bars
- Essential Shakes
- Select Shakes
- Spinach Pesto Mac & Cheese
- Honey Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon
- Buttermilk Cheddar Herb Biscuits
- Essential Baking Mixes
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Homestyle Chick’n Noodle Soup
- Red Bean & Vegetable Chili
Scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Benefits: Claims
Here is a rundown of the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan benefits and perks:
- Lose weight fast
- Select from 5 Optavia Fuelings each day (every 2-3 hours)
- 60 different Optavia Fuelings to choose from
- One Lean & Green Meal per day
- Optavia bars and foods are convenient for on-the-go
- Feel satiated (full)
- Burn off fat
The Research Behind Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
The official website states, “Our products are scientifically formulated with the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and sugar to help you burn fat and retain muscle on your health journey.”
It goes on to say that, “We’ve worked with physicians, scientists, and nutritionists to create portion-controlled fuelings to make it easy for you to stay on your plan and keep the focus where it belongs: on gaining your Optimal Health.”
According to the journal Obesity Science and Practice, “Evidence-based commercial programs can be an important tool to help adults with overweight and obesity lose clinically relevant amounts of weight.”
How to Get Started With Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
To get started with Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, you need to order one of the kits. The kit will include Optavia Select Fuelings to last you for 20-30 days. This means many Optavia shakes, bars, cereals, smoothies, and dishes.
You will also have one-on-one coaching available and Optavia recipes, and an online community to assist you.
Other Optimal Health Programs
Other Optimal Health programs from Take Shape for Life include the Optimal Health 3&3 Plan, Optimal Health 4&2&1 Plan, and Purposeful Hydration. Unlike the Optimal Weight Loss 5 & 1 Plan, this program involves eating three balanced meals a day and three Optimal Health fuelings to sustain your healthy weight.
But portion sizes are still relevant, and you need to eat every 2-3 hours to stay on track. A final option is the Optavia 4&2&1 Plan. You eat four Optavia Fuelings meals, two green and lean meals you prepare, and a snack on this plan.
Optavia Premier
Optavia premier is another popular subscription plan available from Optavia. With this plan, individuals receive free meals, free shipping on all orders, and exclusive discounts. Once individuals choose their kit, the membership program ships it automatically every month.
Optavia Food – Is The Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan Healthy?
There are dozens of Optavia Fuelings to choose from on the 5&1 Plan. This includes supplements, snacks, shakes, teas, smoothies, bars, desserts, pasta, and even breakfast foods.
While these Optavia products are available individually on the official website, you can also find them in the kits. You should expect to eat many bars and shakes on this diet plan, which are processed foods. There may be Optimal 5&1 Plan DIY, or do-it-yourself, food options as well.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Fuelings – Are the Ingredients Effective for Weight Loss?
Protein
Commonly found in meats, dairy products, eggs, soybeans, nuts, beans, seeds, and legumes, this macronutrient is made up of amino acids. It helps reduce appetite, repair the body, and build lean muscle tissue.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that protein plays an important part in weight management. Additionally, the journal Obesity Facts studied the connection between protein and weight loss, concluding “participants with more adherence rate in the HPD [high-potein diet] group lost significantly more weight.”
Fiber
This indigestible carbohydrate is also called roughage in produce, whole grains, nuts, beans, and seeds. It moves through the digestive tract to help with regularity and gut health. Based on research presented in the Journal of Nutrition, “dietary fiber intake, independently of macronutrient and caloric intake, promotes weight loss and dietary adherence in adults with overweight or obesity consuming a calorie-restricted diet.”
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Found in a variety of foods, these nutrients are crucial for healthy body function. According to the National Institutes of Health – Office of Dietary Supplements, “foods in nutrient-dense forms contain essential vitamins and minerals and also dietary fiber and other naturally occurring substances that may have positive health effects.”
However, excessive vitamin intake is also associated with a higher weight, according to research published in WoD.
Probiotics
Also called good bacteria, these are live microorganisms that help promote gut health, which aids with regularity and the prevention of problems like diarrhea and constipation. According to the journal Nutrients, “probiotics, which are generally considered safe for human health, have shown some promise.”
Monk Fruit Extract
A natural sweetener used in foods and supplements, often to reduce calories. It’s more than 100 times sweeter than traditional cane sugar. Research available in the Nutrition Journal concluded, “this scoping review identifies the needs for future research to address the numerous evidence gaps related to health effects of NNSs [non-nutritive sweeteners] use.”
Optavia Side Effects: The Pain Behind the Progress
As with most diet foods and supplements, you may notice some side effects with Optavia prepackages fuelings. This is likely due to certain ingredients. Some of the reported side effects are as follows:
- Loose stools
- Bloating
- Gas
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
Medifast customers mentioned these unpleasant effects states Consumer Affairs.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Cost
You are encouraged by Take Shape for Life to join OPTAVIA Premier to make the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan easy and convenient. This allows you to buy the Optavia kits (154 servings), which have everything you need.
The Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan pyramid costs $511.50 and comes in two options: “Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan Kit” and “Optimal Weight 5 & 1 ACTIVE Plan™ Kit”. Although no longer available, other weight plan options included Essential Optimal Kit with the Habits of Health System, Select Optimal Kit with the Habits of Health System, and Essential On-The-Go Kit with the Habits of Health System – all of which cost between $292-426.
If you are eating six times per day, a kit will not even last one month. The least you will spend is $300 a month, but likely more around $400 to $500. Currently, the weight-loss plans are only available for purchase on the official Optavia website, where there is an Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan pdf available as well.
Accessories for the plan are available on various websites, including Etsy and Amazon, particularly third-party cookbooks and food journals not affiliated with Optavia.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Refund Policy
On their official website, Optavia mentions a 30-day return policy. However, individuals can only receive a refund on consumable items, meaning that opened packages can not be refunded.
Additionally, customers will need to receive a Return Merchandise Authorization Number before being able to ship back any products. Customers are responsible for shipping fees.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Weight Loss Results
According to the official website, the average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is 20 pounds, which occurs in an average of 12 weeks. But weight loss results will vary from person to person, depending on your effort and lifestyle.
What Users Are Saying
“The chocolate mint bar is smooth, crunchy, not overly minty, and tastes like a Girl Scout cookie. I do not feel like I am missing out on anything when I eat one. It feels like I am eating dessert.”
“Theses shakes are delicious. The flavor is great with no chalky aftertaste. I was able to lose over 50 lbs on this program and kept it off for over 2 years.”
“Very tasty for a nutritional snack. If you can mix it with a little egg white in place of the water it will changes the taste and consistency. A nice treat.”
The Bottom Line on Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
The Optavia Diet, specifically the Optimal Weight 5&1 plan, offers a structured approach to weight loss, focusing on portion control and balanced nutrition. While it might be on the pricier side, it offers a variety of meal plans and flexibility for users to adapt as per their needs. As with any diet, potential users should conduct thorough research and consider consulting a nutritionist or medical professional before starting.
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Christy
I meant to say junk food
Are there dairy-free, plant based options?
Hi Ronda! We found no mention of dairy-free or plant-based options. Sorry 🙁
If I have had a pacemaker put in can I be on this diet?
Hi Debbie. That’s a question we can’t answer for you, I apologize. You’ll have to speak with your healthcare provider about that. Have a great day!
Price
Janet lewis
What does this cost
Hi Janet. The Essential Optimal Kit is $428.20. The Essential On-the-Go Kit is $428.20. If you choose the Essential Optimal Kit (4&2&1 Plan) it’s $472.95.
Karen Bush (Verified Purchase)
I lost 45 lbs and 47 inches in 4 months on the 5 & 1. I have kept it of for 2 yrs. This is the only plan that has worked for me. The coach and community support along with the Habits of Health system have been great support and education. I have several friends who have used the plan. All have been successful with weight loss and have significantly improved health. Note: The fuelings are medical grade nutrition with no artificial ingredients or sugars. The high nutrition value results in feeling no hunger cravings and good energy. I learned to eat differently so that when I transitioned to all whole foods, I easily maintained my weight and energy level.
Nicole
I have 3 severe food allergies. Do they have plans that accommodate food allergies, no potential for cross contamination? My allergens are fish, shellfish & cinnamon (which is typically only labeled as spices or natural flavorings). I have been unable to take probiotics due to my fish allergy & same thing with collagen.
Hello Nicole. This plan does not offer specific plans for those with severe food allergies to prevent cross-contamination.
I would love to be able to afford this diet plan!!
It comes to about 14.00 a day. When I eliminated the unhealthy things from grocery list and the meals I bought at the drive through and take out, I realized it was affordable.
Kasie
Is this plan designed for someone with allergies to: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, soy, shrimp, and peanuts????
I am Wondering the same…
I asked the same question. I have 3 severe food allergies fish, shellfish & cinnamon.
David King (Verified Purchase)
First thing that I would like to add is that the 5&1 plan doesn’t require that you buy a kit. I would suggest talking with someone that is or has been on this plan to get an idea of what fuelings taste better. Personally, the bars have been my saving grace. I enjoy several of the other items but for the most part I’ve depended on the different bars. The first couple of days is the hardest. Especially if you consume a lot of caffeine or eat larger than necessary meals, I can attest to both of these. My wife and I started this plan again 10 days ago and I’m already down 4.5 pounds. The first time for us was about 3 years ago and together we lost over 100 pounds in about 3.5 months. This diet works…period. If my e-mail is available ask me about it. I don’t sell it nor do I represent anyone that does. You’re gonna spend $400 a month or more on groceries, may as well be on food that will help you lose the weight.
How without the plan
How can you be on this plan without buying the kit?
I eat out all.the.time.
When I first heard the price my jaw hit the floor….then I added up all my restaurant purchases within a month and I am over $800! I literally almost passed out. So for someone like me, $400 a month is a steal!
I need help in knowing what to purchase I’m just starting the program.
Do you help individuals that have a metabolic condition?
Pamela (Verified Purchase)
I lost 35 lbs in 3 months on the Optavia 5 & 1 plan. Easiest program I’ve ever done! The coaching and community support are wonderful. It’s all about learning new ways of relating to food. Yeah, there were a couple of the “fuelings” that I didn’t care for but with around 60 to choose from, I was quickly able to find those that I enjoy – including finishing each day with a decadent (but healthy) chocolate brownie. As far as “processed food”, this is about as good as it gets – no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners plus vitamins and minerals and probiotics in each meal. My energy is better, I feel more confident, my BMI is now in a healthier range and my doctor was shocked at the improvement in my lab work. Yes, it is an investment in your health but the cost is offset by spending much less at the grocery store since the majority of your meals are provided in the program. I highly recommend this program! (I’d be glad to answer any questions about the program.)
Is there a dairy free plan?
There are some dairy free fuelings (pre-packaged meals) but not many. Your choices would be pretty limited but it could be done. Fuelings are eaten 5 times a day. One meal a day is a Lean and Green which can easily be done dairy free.
Marie (Verified Purchase)
You are NOT encouraged to exercise while on the 5&1 plan, as the caloric intake is not high enough to support it. I’ve lost 35 pounds in 5 months with NO exercise at all, and that includes several vacations during that time when I was not in the plan. Yes- it is expensive. I spend about $350/month; but my grocery bill has been cut by 60%. I am learning healthier ways to prepare meals and have stopped craving sweets. My coach has been a huge help along the way- for support and encouragement.
800-1,000 calories per day, and all the processed snacks. Doesn’t sound like healthy or sustainable weight loss.
Joyce
I have not tried this product but it seems expensive and what happens when one is no longer on the program? It does not teach a new way of eating. It ‘might’ give someone a kickstart on a weight loss journey so I will give it two stars. I am on the Naturally Slim program (paid for through my employer). There are no special foods to buy or calories or points to count. Instead, it teaches a different way of thinking about food, chew slowly, eat at Hunger level 3, and stop when comfortably full. You just eat regular foods. The program costs $400 or so for a year (initially 10 weeks and then lasts a year for follow-up). It seems to me this would be more effective in the long run. I have lost almost 10 lbs in a month.
I have been off the plan for a year. I’m down 3 more inches and I have not gained any weight. So it worked for me.
Optavia absolutely does teach a new way of eating! That’s one of the many differences between Optavia and other plans.
Agree@!!!!
Anna (Verified Purchase)
ANY plan that restricts eating habits to nutritious foods in minimal amounts will bring about weight loss…so long as you live alone, or your partner is committed to following the same diet. As soon as “other” food is brought in, and someone else’s habits are thrown into the mix, the best diet in the world becomes a waste of money.
I used the Medifast plan with a doctor’s supervision for eight months. It was VERY expensive (not even including the doctor’s fees), and I only lost about 8 pounds. That 8 pounds rejoined me as soon as I met my husband. He can stop drinking beer and lose 8 pounds in one week….
I have 8 people in my household. I am the only cook. I have lost 40 lbs on Optavia 14 weeks and I feed 7 others. It can be done.