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My Optifast diet - Page 3

post #31 of 37
8/14/09 at 8:54am
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Originally Posted by el es dee View Post

I am no expert at this stuff, but I disagree. First, the diet I am on has been around since 1974 and is administered by medical doctors, ie someone with a Medical Degree.

Protein and carbohydrates are important, but weight-loss is accomplished by burning calories. So, explain how I would lose more weight with the diet you mention above versus the current 600 calorie per day diet that I am on.
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post #32 of 37
8/14/09 at 8:56am
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Originally Posted by Nicesuit View Post
DNP will heat your ass up. And I don't mean maybe. But you will loose buckets of fat.

Clen seems a little safer. Since my current plan is working, I will skip the balls to the walls products.
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post #33 of 37
8/14/09 at 9:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BWB View Post
I am no expert at this stuff, but I disagree. First, the diet I am on has been around since 1974 and is administered by medical doctors, ie someone with a Medical Degree.

Protein and carbohydrates are important, but weight-loss is accomplished by burning calories. So, explain how I would lose more weight with the diet you mention above versus the current 600 calorie per day diet that I am on.

It's great that the diet is working for you, but as has been pointed out, the fact that it's been around since 1974 doesn't mean much (look at the dumbass food pyramid that the FDA was promoting until a few years ago), and many medical doctors don't know much about dieting (for the majority of doctors, "don't know much" is probably being pretty generous). You yourself said 600 calories was awfully low in your OP.

You seem to be asking people's opinions of the diet in your OP, but not paying much attention to the answers.

Regardless, I hope you reach your goals.
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post #34 of 37
8/15/09 at 2:20am
Nobody would argue that you will lose more weight by eating less. I am simply trying to supply you with a healthier alternative (not to mention better results). Look up the velocity diet too. http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=133652
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post #35 of 37
8/15/09 at 1:57pm
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Originally Posted by dcg View Post
It's great that the diet is working for you, but as has been pointed out, the fact that it's been around since 1974 doesn't mean much (look at the dumbass food pyramid that the FDA was promoting until a few years ago), and many medical doctors don't know much about dieting (for the majority of doctors, "don't know much" is probably being pretty generous). You yourself said 600 calories was awfully low in your OP.

You seem to be asking people's opinions of the diet in your OP, but not paying much attention to the answers.

Regardless, I hope you reach your goals.

I understand your point. I was mainly asking if anybody has experience with the diet. It is not some new fad diet, it has been around awhile and I assumed that people here would have at least tried it. The general response that I am understanding is: too few calories and quick weight loss is not the right way to go about it and there are healthier alternatives.

While I do not think this Optifast diet is unhealthy, it would be nice to eat actual food and still lose weight. But for me, therein lies the problem. I have always been able to eat what I want without consequence. Since I have played 6 games of soccer per week for the past 10 years, I have never really had to worry about my weight. Surgery changed all of that. So, a no food option is best for me. When I transition over to the maintenance program (food), I will have to learn better habits. I guess I will not be able to go to Buffalo Wild Wings and order 3 rounds of 36 wings anymore.

In regards to the velocity diet, it seems like it is some version of Optifast: high protein, low carb. I do not mind trying it, but it has no medical supervision. With Optifast, I see a MD weekly and have blood drawn every other week. If a problem develops, it will be caught rather quickly.

One other thing. From what I have seen, I am the smallest patient in this program. There are some seriously morbidly obese people that are in the program. They probably have so many health problems that are related to weight, that whatever consequences stem from Optifast would pale in comparison.

Lastly, this is not some cheap-o diet. My initial screening cost $400 out of pocket. Then, the weekly cost alternates between $190 (blood draw week) and $140. Quite expensive but worth it.

In terms of my experience, the shakes actually fill me up. I have started riding a stationary bike at the gym for 60 minutes in the morning. I have to have a few cups of coffee to get my energy back afterwords, but other than that, I experience no hunger, dizziness or weakness.

Besides my weight gain after surgery, in June I went to see my doctor. I had general blood work done. Results said that I have early stages of renal failure. I was shocked. I see a nephrologist this Tuesday. I figured that because so many problems result from obesity, I had to lose it and lose it fast. Later tonight I will post the results of this June blood test.
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post #36 of 37
8/15/09 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BWB View Post
Lastly, this is not some cheap-o diet. My initial screening cost $400 out of pocket. Then, the weekly cost alternates between $190 (blood draw week) and $140. Quite expensive but worth it.
I can't imagine why it would be necessary to have blood work done every other week. I don't doubt that it's expensive, but the cost of a diet has little correlation with it's effectiveness. The information that's needed to lose weight is out there for free if you look for it. The value of a diet is not measured by it's cost, the length of time it's been around, how quickly it causes you to lose weight, or whether it's monitored by professionals. It's measured by whether it allows you to live the rest of your life as a healthy individual. If this process allows you to do that, then I agree it was worth the cost. However, it's not the only way to accomplish your goals, and in my opinion is not the optimal way. Losing the weight is the easy part.
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post #37 of 37
8/15/09 at 2:43pm
BWB - I'll give you some input re: 600 more calories. Yes, your diet is very similar to the Velocity diet. The same principle is at work. However, I can do the velocity diet without a doctor and without $500+ in doctor's costs. The difference *could* be that at 600 calories your body is going to freak out a bit and slow you down. If you have enough energy to run at a higher metabolic rate - and enough energy (i.e., calories) to stay closer to "normal' healthy (as opposed to shocking your body w/only a very small level of calories) then your body won't go into "protection" mode. Also, you might start to lose muscle mass doing the limited # of calories. If you aren't concerned about losing muscle mass, then don't worry about it. But you WILL lose a ton of fat on the velocity diet, even though it has more calories. In fact, it sort of "proves" that it's not all about calories. If I just knock out the bad carbs, I can eat pretty much as much as I want of protein/vegatables/fish oil/good fat - and I'll lose weight, especially if I do a tiny bit of cardio (even hard walking) and maybe a bit of weights. The fat you are burning off comes from your body using it for energy. That's good. That does not directly correlate with the 600 calorie difference we are talking about. It comes from how much energy you are burning - which requires you are operating at a high level of energy use. If your body goes into "shut down we aren't getting any food" mode, then you won't be in a higher energy use mode. As for doctors... at some point you realize they like making money. That's when you realize you need to take care of yourself as much as possible and trust doctors a little less sometimes. Sounds like you are on the right track though. Keep it up. I'm certain you can add more protein and veggies and won't have a problem. But if you are seeing results you want... that's what matters. Oh, one final note. You'll need to start adding some good fiber at some point. Brown rice, quinoa (sp?) grain, very good breads... More than a couple/few weeks without is a bad idea.
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