Does the Optifast Diet Work? First Hand Experience with the Optifast Diet

Does the Optifast Diet Work? - Well, as someone who has first hand experience with this chosen weight loss method, I can say in all honesty yes it does work. I have been overweight since I was a young child. Growing up in an Italian restaurant my parents owned did not help at all. I didn't try many weight loss products growing up. I did work out though. To my dismay, even though I was working out, I still wasn't losing any weight. All I would do is tone up. Going to the gym 5 times a week to tone up is fine if your 150 pounds, but when you really need to lose pounds it is very discouraging. I didn't have much knowledge of how to lose weight, calorie counting, or any diet products besides Dexatrim. That was the main diet pill when I was growing up. I never did like diet pills, they seem to only work a few weeks and then I felt like the affects wore off.

About six years ago, a co-worker and friend had told me about Optifast. Immediately, when I heard of the restrictions, (no solid food at all for the length of time you are on it), I freaked out and said, "No way can I do that". He started the diet and lost about 30 pounds the first two weeks. I was inspired. So, I went to the hospital that had the Optifast program available. With all my friends supporting me, and yet in the same time doubting I could do it, it encouraged me all the more. Pretty much in a nutshell this is what the Optifast program is like: First, you have to pass a health exam. You do not need to be in perfect health but your heart has to be strong and other major organs. Diabetics, depending on how severe a diabetic you may be, you can also be evaluated for the Optifast program and possibly be accepted. Next step after all lab work comes in and you are approved by your physician or the programs Dr. Lab work is usually done weekly to ensure everything in your body is still functioning properly and the diet isn't putting a strain on your heart. Next you then start your support classes, two times a week. I was in with a mixture of some who have already lost weight and some who are just starting. I think the support is great, the meetings can be time consuming but it isn't just for accountability but also for sharing.

For the first two weeks of the Optifast program I was on restricted caloric intake. The class provided a menu and slowly got my body down to taking in no more than 1300 calories a day. That alone was causing me to lose weight. Then I had to purchase the Optifast shakes, which are all your nutrients. They can be costly, but if you add up the expenses of eating out and food shopping they equal themselves out. Next is what can you have besides shakes? Well, not much. Basically you have to consume 5 shakes a day. According to the class, your body burns normally 900 calories a day just lying in a bed. So, in order to keep your body packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients you must have at least 5 shakes a day.

Besides the shakes, I was allowed to have chicken broth, beef broth, sugar free jello, and coffee. No sugar, only sugar substitutes. No carbohydrates of any sort. The reason is, once you start Optifast, your body goes through a cycle called "ketosis". Ketosis is when your body thinks it is starving so it begins to burn the stored fat and also helps get rid of the hunger pangs. During the Optifast diet, it is very critical you do not eat anything that may bring your body out of Ketosis. If you do, you will have to reengage your body to get back into Ketosis and that process can be grueling due to going through fatigue and hunger pangs all over again for at least a week, or sometimes longer. While you are on the Optifast diet and in Ketosis, you must drink at least a gallon of water a day. The water is necessary to flush the Ketones out of your body; these also contain fat cells that your body is ridding you of. The water not only helps rid your body of the fat, it is critical you drink that much water to flush Ketones because if Ketones build up in your liver than you can have a more serious issue on your hands and potentially die. It sounds scary, but not impossible to avoid.

While on the Optifast diet, I lost an average of 3 to 5 pounds a week over a period of 6 months. At the end of 6 months, I couldn't take it anymore. Only because I was happy where I was at a nice 160 pounds and I wanted to go out and show the body off, oh and eat. I lost 90 pounds in that 6 months period. The whole time while on the Optifast diet, I had more energy than you could ever believe, I continued to work out, and I became a lot more educated about the foods I ate.

It has been 6 years since I did the Optifast and yes, I have gained it all back. The reason why I gained the weight back wasn't because the Optifast diet didn't work, it was because of myself. I lost sight of the importance of exercise and eating right. I gained a little here and there and wasn't too concerned. I would love to do Optifast again, but you really have to mentally prepare yourself. You have to be determined and not allow anything get in your way. For those of you struggling on any diet, it isn't the diet's fault that you didn't lose weight or keep it off; it is about self-love and dedication to living a healthier lifestyle. I think we all know this, but do not like to be held accountable for it. With the exclusion of those who do have any type of Thyroid issue or other health condition that can cause weight gain. You have my sympathy. I may follow up with this article, with another on "How to Survive Mentally on the Optifast diet."