Where to get Optifast?

Has anyone ever ordered Optifast online? I know you can get it at the Civic hospital but it's too complicated so I'm looking for alternative sources.

So don't shoot me but I'm one of those odd ducks that doesn't mind Optifast and I actually like the simplicity of never having to shop, cook or do dishes and once you get into ketosis you don't really care anyway. It's mindless, I don't have to think about what to make or struggle to resist making bad choices (that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it!).

So I thought I'd do Optifast up until surgery to get a head start.

Any suggestions?

Hi Lorraine,

You can do a program similar to Optifast using a good quality protein shake.
I use IsoFlex, which is a whey protein that provides 27 gms of protein per scoop.
If you were to mix a protein drink 4 times a day and then have a small light meal, you would lose weight (probably quickly). I have 2 protein drinks a day just to make sure I get my 100 gms of protein daily.

SherryB

I did Nutribar, but couldn't handle liquid diet, ate bars with lots of hot tea. Same nutrients, same calories, same effect. Also heard good things about Boost. If you handle liquids well - try one of these "alternatives" for a few days, if it works, use instead of opticrap - way cheaper.

You can order it off eBay :)

lol

Mara

Too bad...last week I picked up a lot of Boost Diabetic for almost half price...at Rexall PharmaPlus...They are very expensive...12.99 for 6 bottles...They were on for 6.99...I wasn't sure when I'd use them, but likely after surgery...maybe after pats...They also have a boost...high protein, which I picked up, but later decided I would have to have the diabetic so no sugar...I couldn't believe it...they exchanged, no problemo...Watch for sales...I have no experience with optifast....good luck...m

I did not mind Optifast at all either.   I used Bio X whey isolate from GNC before my surgery and lost 20 pounds in July replacing Breakfast and then Lunch.   It has 30 grams of protein and it is really the only protein drink (other than Optifast) that I could enjoy.   DH loves it and takes baggies full to work - we are weird ducks too!

Lorraine

I bought the Boost for diabetics as well .. and a few high protein bars to try .. loved the Atkins bar I had yesterday .. altho my family must not have liked the effect .. hahaha .. I guess one of the side effects of high protein is lots of gas ? ....... all I can say is my yorkie is a very brave little dog for sitting beside me all the time .. LOL !! 

But yeah ... I'm doing the boost or protein shakes as well as lean cuisine for my main meal ... hopefully that works ! or Dr. Pop will shoot me :) 

Diane :) 

Has Dr. Pop asked you to do this?  Just asking, as I have no instruction yet...pats is Sept.21 and surgery...rny...Oct 1....maybe I'll be asked to at pats....m

If you like doing Optifast you might consider an Optifast program. I know they have them in Ottawa.. or at least they did two years ago. I remember Dr. Wharton talking about them. I think they're run a little bit differently out there than here in Hamilton but there may be an OHIP funded program out there similar to here.

Here they have an Optifast program that used to be private funded. Now OHIP covers the program but not the cost of Optifast itself. You go on Optifast for 12 weeks and then you gradually go back onto food.

I know a lot of people that loved the simplicity of it. It's mindless. There's no food journals, no calorie counting.. no thought in preparation or shopping so I definitely understand the appeal. They also offer a Lifestyles program that requires all of what I just mentioned and some people prefer the Optifast program because of the simplicity of it.

I'm not sure of anywhere you can buy it without a prescription or without getting it direct from a doctor or hospital except on eBay. I know they used to have an outlet in California you could order from with a prescription but I don't have enough info on that. I think you had to go in person though. I remember someone talking about it a couple years ago during my Optifast group.

Although like others have mentioned... there are alternatives. I haven't tried Nutribar myself.. but I've done Slimfast in the past. During my 2007 Optifast program Dr. Wharton allowed us to use Boost High Protein as a substitute for Optifast as we were going back onto food. For those of us that wanted to take longer to transition to food or stay on the program longer but didn't want to pay for more Optifast (back then the program cost $2750.00, that included your Optifast for 12 weeks and then a couple boxes to transition and that was it, so no one really wanted to spend more after paying all of that). Now the same clinic under different managment suggests Boost Diabetic. They taste a lot different than the High Protein ones so you may want to sample the flavours before comitting to a case.

We were also permitted to use (in 2007) a protein bar. I forget the name but we were buying them from Costco. I wish I could remember the name :(.

Anyway.. there's certainly different avenues you can try if you do your research. Just find one that gives you the most complete vitamins and nutrients.. or rather bang for your buck lol EBay may be a good one to try though if cost isn't an issue. They sell a lot out of Australia and they even have soups and the like last time I checked it out. It's been a while but usually there's something there.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I have done the full Optifast program at the Civic Annie and then went on it again another time, I was hoping to just get the shakes this time around.

MM, Dr Pop doesn't ask for Optifast or anything specific, just to lose 10-15 pounds before surgery.

I guess I have some concerns about using some of the alternatives because I was told at some point that Optifast was the only medically approved meal replacement which is suppose to cover everything you need in terms of vitamins/minerals etc but that was 12 years ago so I'm sure other things have come along since then, I'll do some research.

I'll let you know what I end up with.  Thanks again!