[Goddess In Training]

Hi Khuynh!

Sounds like your first week went really well, congrats! It's too bad you don't want to hop on a scale; it really is so satisfying and motivating seeing those numbers come down

I started at 267 in September. (I am 5'8") I dropped 33ish lbs really quickly and easily (well, 'easily' isn't accurate. I mean, I stuck to the plan and it worked). AFter I hit 35lbs, a stopped and carefully ate 'real food' again, from about December until yesterday.

I've started back up again (I still have a lot to lose), and am raring to go.

My hardest times are right when I get home from work - I want to stuff everything into my mouth; and weekends, when the family is used to grazing all day, and indulging in a 'treat' on Saturday night, while cuddling and watching movies. Evenings, I can get through, by having one of the Optifast chicken soups... but I am so so dreading this weekend. We seriously always order take-out (which is how I got to my size to begin with!)

Khuyn - do you have access to the chocolate shakes? They are freaking delicious. (though the strawberry ones are awesome too - they feel like 'dessert' to me - haha)

[Kiker5490]

I'm on Optifast too. Today is day 2 for me. I started this back in October but I didn't do well with all the "eating holidays" at that time of the year. Now, I really want to give this a good trial. I have been thinking about bariatric surgery (gastric sleeve). I've met with the Drs. and have started getting the prior auth done. It occurred to me that I am looking for a surgery to get me where I could be with Optifast if I just stuck with it. Optifast 800 puts me at a similar caloric count and weight loss. I really would like to do this weight loss without surgery. So here I go....day two and down 3.5 lbs. Today was easier than yesterday and I hope tomorrow will go well too. The Dr. that I am going to does not offer a support group for optifast so I am here on this site looking for encouragement and an accountability buddy. I would love to make this happen and finally be a success at this weight loss thing.

I am also a type II diabetic. I'm on 70 units of insulin which is adding to my hunger and weight loss issues. I want off insulin all together....quick!! All of my health issues are attributed to my weight. I have sleep apnea, I'm tired, high BP, sore joints, and some depression. I want to turn my health and life around. I would love it if I could get some optifast support going here. Thanks. I'll be back on tomorrow.

[Metamorph]

New to this forum. Found it while looking for info on Optifast. As somebody who really believes in eating whole foods for maximum nutrition, I'm pretty skeptical of this diet, but I'm also pretty desperate. Can't believe that you can survive on 4 shakes a day without feeling ravenous or that it doesn't negatively impact your metabolism. But as I say, I'm getting desperate, and this is better than WLS. Meeting with the doc on May 12.

[brittslosingit]

I have never heard of Optifast before. So this is a doctor-monitored program? Does insurance cover it?

[nibog]

Just had my two week weigh in last night, officially down 10 lbs!

I am on 5 shakes a day (full fast). The program is mostly covered by insurance as far as the doctor evaluations but the shakes (soups and bars also) are out of pocket. Compared to what I was spending on Dunkin Donuts in the morning, going out to lunch and going out for some dinners (never mind alcohol!) I am not finding it to be a great expense at all.

[GabbaGirl78]

Hi Everyone,
I just completed my 2nd week on the program. I am making progress, but I would like to fast forward a few weeks...This is a tough process but I know in the end it will be worth it. I just don't ever want to forget what I had to go through to lose the weight so that I don't let myself go back there.

[Kiker5490]

I have been on Optifast now for two weeks and am down 10 lbs from my last visit. It has been hard sticking to 5 shakes a day. I am still working on the whole process and have cheated. That being said, I am moving in the right direction and getting better at optifast 800 plan. I haven't reached the ketosis state yet because I still feel hunger. It is getting better and I think I would have be a lot further along if I had more will power. If I had more will power I wouldn't be on this diet in the first place, though.

[Carla127]

I used Optifast in 2009 and was able to lose 30 lbs (from 193 to 163) and keep it off for a few years. In the past year and half the weight has slowly came back on after having some family issues and increase in work stress. I've been feeling like crap and not happy with my body and my lack of energy in general so I decided to do Optifast again. I am currently at 186 and my goal is to get back to 163. This may not seem like a lot but for me it is. Hopefully I can use this forum as a support network. It is great to see other people doing the same program and seeing results!

[Kiker5490]

I am 2 weeks and 4 days into the optifast program. My Dr. did give me some phentermine at the last appointment 4 days ago to see if it will help me stick to the program better. I also decided that I need to get to the gym and work out. I am doing 30 min on the treadmill at 3.4 speed or 1.6 miles. I also am doing some weight lifting with the machines and 15 min. in the dry sauna. While it was a chore getting out there the first time, It has made a huge difference in my overall wellbeing. I was feeling a little depressed and the exercise immediately helped me. Being a T2D the exercise helps the glucose uptake in my muscles and therefore is also helping with my appetite. The exercise program is what I think will be key to my sticking to optifast. I have got to start making some healthier choices and I know that exercise is the #1 thing my Endocrinologist has been encouraging me to do.
I say all of this to encourage all of you to make the effort to do 30 min. of aerobic exercise each day and see if that doesn't help make the program more successful. (I'm trying to motivate myself as I'm typing this) I won't weigh myself till this weekend but I would be surprised if I am not exactly where I hope I will be. (down 6lbs this week or at 242 lbs.) I have a short term goal. I am going to my nieces wedding on Memorial Day. I want to look healthy and slimmer in these family photos that will be taken. If I do this right, my goal by memorial day will be 218 lbs.
I'm here in this online community for support and motivation and hopefully in my journey I will also be able to give as well as receive the support and ultimately the success in weight loss that I so want to achieve.

[nibog]

Third weigh in last night - - down another 3.3LBs for a total of 13.3LBs in 19 days!!!

Hopefully next week I will say goodbye to the 250's forever!

[StarlightMintz]

Hi *waves* and yep, it's my first post. Like the title says, I'm going to the informational meeting next week and I am hoping to start the Optifast program as soon as possible after that.

Maybe it's silly to post before I even start but I have made the decision to do the program and I am going to need all the support I can find.

For those of you who went to the informational meeting, are there questions you wish you had asked?

[nibog]

I found my meeting to be VERY informative. They had a very nice slideshow presentation and we had a booklet with the presentation to bring home to review. She covered EVERYTHING - the appointments, the cost, the program, the maintenance afterwards, etc. They also give you phone numbers so that *should* you have any questions, you have plenty of opportunity to ask them.

From the orientation to the actual starting date of the program, it was about 6 weeks. They call you and schedule you for three appointments - 1) a psych eval 2) a physical (even if you have had one by your primary, you need one by this doctor, at least in my area) 3) a meeting with the exercise coach who takes all your measurements and discusses what you can and cannot do while on the program for health and safety reasons.

Once those appointments are done, you start the program!

[StarlightMintz]

Thank you for the information, nibog. I needed to hear that it took about 6 weeks to actually get started, as I hadn't really thought about the time it would take to get the appointments in. It's going to be hard to wait as I have the mindset to start today!

[nibog]

There is a bunch of great groups on Facebook too with Optifast users. I would start poking around now and get an idea of different "recipes" (additives in the shakes) that you can try to mix up the flavors.

I did a LOT of reading while waiting to get on the program and I am so glad I did - helped me get mentally prepared - I knew there were going to be days in the beginning that were hard, but I read from many that once they got through them it was incredibly easier. I have been on the program since April 4th (25 days) and it has indeed become easy. My biggest "problem" is going "Hmm....do I want Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry??"

[StarlightMintz]

nibog, thanks for the tip about Facebook groups. Like you did, I want to get as much info as I can before I start.

It seems you have done very well so far. I think I understand the vanilla, chocolate, strawberry thing. One blog poster said she views the shake as medicine and just guzzles it down to get it over with.