what's up with OptiFast??

I came home with my 2 week supply of Optifast shakes from my doctor.  He requires the 2-week Optifast diet 2 weeks before my surgery.  (I'll have my date soon I'm told.)  So, I'm looking at the label on the little Optifast shake carton, comparing it to the Adkins shake carton.  And there's very little difference.  Optifast seems to have more carbs in it though.  So, what makes this Optifast so special?!?  Why can't I just do the Adkins shakes or one of the other similar high protein and low carb shakes??!!  Or why can't I just make my own the way I've been doing with the Unjury protein powder and soy milk?  I haven't calculated the cost difference, but I'm guessing the Optifast is probably more expensive than anything else.  So, tell me, what makes this stuff so doggone special?!?

Yep you got it, Optifast is more expensive. I was gonna do that program and after I found out the cost. I said that's freakin ridiculous and decided to do my own diet. I know I didn't need to do the 2 wk diet like you. But good luck with your weight loss journey.

Merideth,

Optifast is a low calorie meal replacement shake. It is based on a liquid diet of 800-1000 calories/day. It is based on the right amount of carbs and protiens according to them. HMR 800 is almost identical.

Adkins is based on low carb. According to the website the cartons are supposed to be used for snacks and not as a meal replacement. I have been doing the adkins shakes with 1 meal/day. More for convenience than anything.

To the unjury. I have looked at the unjury and know that the milk does add extra calories but not sure about the soy milk. Is it a protien supplement or meal replacement. That may be the difference.

When looking at a protien shake you are going to be more full with a meal replacement rather than a supplement.

I have done modified optifast in the past. I did 3 shakes/day and 1 meal that consisted of 6 oz of protien and 1 1/2 cup vegetables and 1 fruit/day.

Now to the cost At Sams I just bought a caron of the Adkins shakes and they were $15.28 for 12. Compared to optifast which is $25-30 for a box of 9 or 18 shakes. if you can do the powder much easier to make your own shakes and add flavors to it. Go online and put in optifast recipes. I have a lot from before. I would make a pina colada by putting water in blender, cocunut flavoring and 1/2 cup pineapple. I would do diet orange and optifast in blender. Can also use diet rootbeer. I added sugar free puddings to the mix also. When making the drink with a soda-pour drink in to blender-add supplement. Do not mix with water and soda.

Tamara

I was told by my nut that Optifast is well balanced vitaimins in addition to the carb and protein low calorie. 

I don't know why it's so special either, I had to do it for 8 weeks and it cost me a fortune!!   I couldn't stand the powder form of shakes so I bought the ready to drink ones and between those, the bars, and some soups, it ran me over $100 a WEEK which insurance doesn't cover!!   I wasn't allowed to use anything else, go figure. I think the doctors and the Optifast company have a connection to make money together off of each other. Sorta like the hot dog and the bun companies....lol   

I was sort of hoping I could make my own shakes during the PRE-op 2-week period.  I do like the whey powder shakes I make, but I put lots of stuff in them and when I'm done I have a delicious chocolate milk shake that's as frosty and frothy as anything you can get at Dairy Queen:

1 cup soy milk
1 scoop chocolate whey powder (I use Unjury)
1 tsp. smooth, natural peanut butter (no salt, no sugar, no fats added)
a banana, very ripe and sweet (I probably couldn't add that during the 2 week pre-op period.)
small handful of natural almonds
a dollop of no-fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp ground flax seed
a few packets of Splenda
crushed ice (my fridge dispenses crushed ice for me)

YUM!!  Absolutely delicious!!  And it takes me through half a day.
I'm drinking one right now.  This is my breakfast on the weekends when I get up late.  I won't be hungry again until dinner time.
(I've actually been up for 3 hours but I hadn't gotten around to making my shake until now.)

Meredith,

Could you do the shake without the almonds, peanut butter and banana. Someone mentioned a powder peanut butter that they said was delicious.

I wonder how many calories in the shake. Could be MD would want you to stay under a certain amount of calories also.

Tamara

I may email my shake recipe to my surgeon and see what he thinks.  I'm afraid he'll scold me for even thinking of doing anything besides the Optifast.  Besides, I've already bought the 2-week suppy of Optifast.  I don't really need anything else, but I'm just thinking ahead in case I get tired of drinking the same thing 4 times a day for two weeks.