please tell me about optifast???

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR POST.   HOW LONG DOES THE PROGRAM RUN? SHE STARTED LAST DEC.  SHE GOES TO A DOCTORS OFFICE, AND OUR INS. WILL NOT PAY HER ANYTHING FOR IT,  BUT THEY PAID FOR MY SURGERY AND MY FILLS.    SHE EATS OATMEAL, IN THE AM,   THEIR SOUP AT LUNCH,  A SHAKE AT 2:00PM AND HER OWN DINNER AT 5:00PM WITH HER FAMILY. SHE IS LOOSING ALL THIS TIME,  AND NOW UP TO 75LBS.   I BELIEVE SHE IS GETTING HER FOOD OVER THE INTERNET NOW,  SO THAT MIGHT SAVE HER A FEW BUCKS.   THAT WAS MY CONCERN,  GAINING IT BACK,  AND NOT LEANING HOW TO EAT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFO:::: BEST OF LUCK MY FRIEND. BRIDGET K.

Bridget, it is my understanding that only certain medical institutions are qualified to dispense Optifast.   Optifast is a patented product of Novartis and must be supervised under doctor's care.  The Emory program only allowed liquids but you could purchase the protein bars and that's about it.  That also sold soup but it had to be purchased extra. Insurance did pick up the cost of my lab work which was conducted every two weeks for the first two or three months.  Insurance did not cover the major food expense.  The program I was in lasted for 6 months and I paid around $5000.00.  After six months you could extend for additional weeks but it cost.  At the end of six months, I was sick of liquids and wanted food.  I did cheat occassionally but rarely.  My cheating consisted of things like tuna fish, etc.  I truly believed that after all the counseling and sufferring thru this program with liquids, I personally would never gain the weight back....wrong!  Much easier said than done.  I began moving back to my old bad habits and the weight gain came quickly.  I have seen it sold on Ebay.  I had to sign a release form that I would not sell any of my products on Ebay or they could prosecute.  I have heard that others are allowed one meal a day on the program.  It probably depends on the Optifast program you are attending.  Emory also offered a shorter Optifast program for those patients preparing to undergo WLS.  My boss had to lose so many pounds before his surgeon would allow gastric bypass surgery to take place.  He was on the program for about 2 months.  It did help with his insurance approval as well.  Since I was denied by insurance, I elected to go with Optifast at that time thinking I would not need WLS.  Unfortuntately, my weight loss did not last and one year later I appealed again and finally was approved with much argument on my side and others.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.  One thing, they really tried at Emory to teach me good behavioral habits but it just did not stick.  I would recommend it to those that need quick weight loss for preparing for WLS but other than that I would never go through it again.  I personally could lose as much weight or more with something like the Atkins diet and it's much cheaper.  Take care!

When I did Optifast it was through a clinic that did nothing but Optifast.  I was seen weekly by a doctor and a nurse.  I only had shakes.  A friend did it and would eat a meal once a day while on business trips.  At that time, there were no other products, but the shakes.  The next year I did Medifast (same thing) through a hospital. The problem with Optifast is not losing.  I lost 105 pounds in 6 months and felt fine while I was doing it. The problem is keep the weight off. When I did the pre-surgical psychologist consultation, she told me I was a good dieter.  I was surprised.  Yes, I've lost 105, 70, 50, 50, 30 etc.  pounds.  She then told me that she had seen a number of pre-surgical candidates who had never lost more than 6 pounds.  My problem was keeping the weight off.  I expect that the band will help me, not only lose the weight, but keep it off.  That's what I'm really looking forward to. And yes, I do know where Madison is.  It's down on the coast.  I've been there and it's a lovely town.  I live up in Central Connecticut.  The good thing about where I live is that when global warming really kicks in and Connecticut loses its coast line -- I'll still have a home.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST.    I WILL LET MY SISTER KNOW THAT SHE SHOULD RETIRE SOON AND MOVE. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY.   THAT IS THE ONE THING ABOUT MY BAND I LOVE.   IT IS WITH ME EVERYDAY,   AND I'M NOT PAYING FOR IT EVERYDAY,  JUST MAKING GOOD CHOICES. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU MY FRIEND BRIDGET K.