"Optifast Has a Hormone or Drug In It That Drains Fat Out Of Your Liver

The number is definately not calculated by this bogus set of values......  20/30 carbs per days is a ridiculously low value - and in fact quite unhealthy.  Carbs are "brain food"!! 

Ok just to throw my hat in here Donna - depends on what you're calling carbs. Atkins does very low carb - but subtract fibre and sugar alcohols. You can do very low carb but still do veggies and some beans, whole grains etc.

Most people on here who discuss low carb aren't really cutting out all "brain food". Just cutting out processed white carbs.

And IMHO cutting carbs for a short period to get into ketosis won't make you stupid or anything. ;0)

Of course good carbs are the best way to go - to get your carb balance for the day.....  Not everybody can stay just to the good stuff (self-identified carb ***** here!!). 

But I get frustrated when people advocate for dangerously low-carbing.  It is not good long-term.  There is a measure of balance to achieve the right level of carbs to sustain weight loss - and that doesn't have to be a dangerously low level of carbs.  My sister who is both a successful RNY'r (6 yrs) as well as a nurse recommended to stay at about 50g per day when in weight loss mode.

Ketosis is all well and good - when forced upon the body by the early stages of WLS weight loss.  But in reality - it does not work for long-term weight loss - just ask all of the failed Dr. Bernstein patients on this site!!!  It is the bodies reaction to starvation - and is not meant as a long-term weight loss strategy because it is unrealistic and dangerous.

Oknee...thanks back to you too.  I guess I'm quite new to the board as far as posting on a regular basis and I'm super new to the surgery as you can see.  I never considered the fact that there would be catfights on a board so specifically intended to help those of us on this long and very scary journey.  I'm quite a blunt person and tried to word all my posts in a way that would be respectful.  I enjoy healthy, intelligent debate and figured there would backlash...but am quite happy to see that only one response could be taken that way.

I actually did research BMI and BIA after Grace posted her thoughtful response and what I wrote is exactly what I learned.  I will do a search for it in a few minutes and post the article.  (yep, I'm in recovery and have LOTS of time on my hands, lol)


Laura...finding out your carb tolerance for ketosis is completely trial and error.  I found out several years ago by trying Atkins. 

http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2008/05001/Compar ison_of_Body_Mass_Index_and_Body_Composition.1842.aspx

This is one of articles I read on BMI vs BIA.  It basically says that BMI and BIA are a measure of the same thing...body composition...meaning how much lean muscle mass and how much adipose tissue.

I read another more in depth study that explained it even better but can't find it now.

Thanks for the info! The first day I do not learn is the day after I died. Remember a lesson I learned early is to read research articles with a critical eye. Writers can skew and present data to support their theory. Look for empirical data (numbers first), objective data (blinded and concurrent versus retrospective), and finally subjective data (anecdotal, conjecture,patient interview etc). Some articles present all three levels of this data while others just present the data that supports their point. You seem like an extremely intelligent woman, and don't really need to be told this. . .but the opportunity to educate the forum in general should never be overlooked.

Well hello there,

I placed a note on the Ontario Form from which you are referring to. My comment approximately was.... that when you tell people that you used a high protein diet, also tell them to check with there surgeon to what is best for each person in particular; b/c optifast has a Natural Dietary Supplement called Linolec Acid/Linolenic Acid....which helps to reduce total body fat and increases lean body mass. Please feel free to use Google, but please use Scholarly Google b/c there is alot of miss informed info on the net. Scholarly google is a medical resource site. I am a nurse Reg., with a degree in Science.

To be fair what you did was amazing, good for you for realizing optifast did not work for you and the courage to do something differnet. Many people probably have trouble with the optifast and a low carb diet does do wonders....but as far as ketosis goes that is an area you must be very careful of... as sited in the Mosby's Medical Dictionary forth addition, Ketosis "...an abnormal accumulation of ketones in the body as a result of a deficiency or inadequate utilization of carbohydrates. Fatty acids are metabolized instead....It is characterized by ketonuria, loss of potassium in the urine, and a fruity odor of acetone on the breath. Untreated, ketosis may progress to ketoacidosis, coma, and death pg. 870. Everyone has to be careful with advice.

I am a diabetic and this supplement helped me particularly, to lose weight. Also, people with Thyroid disease benefit from the effects of this supplement, many people with individual medical problems will do well from many different ways of losing weight, that is why there are so many suggestions on this sight. BUT first and foremost you must check with your surgeon and/or NUT. I didn't mean to offend anyone and I was not aware that there was so much miss leading info being spread on this site. I just to this site for support for myself and I thought I was helping you out. I am not a means to a debate, just a friend trying to help. I am very qualified to give advice I went to York University for 4 years and Doctors and NUT attend for many more and we are more than willing to be corrected or help out.

Please, don't upset your self over this...maybe you could of just contacted me directly to have this discussion before reporting it to the community and to become such a debate. I am only 9 days post op and this was very upsetting for me to see. Talking to people directly first, is always the best pathway to a better understanding and less harmful!

All the best with your recovery and weight loss.

Tracy

Tracy Apologies if this thread upset you, certainly not my intent and am sure not the OP's intent. Your thread initiated an issue that has needed to be addressed for a long time, that of misinformation being reported as fact, and a caution to forum readers to give and take all the advice they want but always do the research for yourelf to ensure its validity. As a nurse you know a well informed patient is a good patient.

Hi,
Thanks for your concern, I totally agree, a well informed patient is a wise patient.  Nurses are the first to advocate for patient knowledge and for standing up for yourself. But, I do not feel my information was wrong.....the explaination may at that time fallen short but my intent was good and acurate.  Everyone that has responded says that they look everything up that they research it over and over ...well, why has no one research this Natural dietary Supplement ...it has good research, double blind Studies...etc., some pro and some uncertain but the cencusis is positive and further reasearch is being done, as we speak.  Lastest research shows that it  is a  important suppliement  used for adding in cures or easeing pt suffering. The Argicultural Minister of Canada has called for further research on the drug for producing leaner animal meats.....all kinds of research on this product.....look in the scholarly google site. But wieght loss is our focus and it does help to redistribute fat from the liver,  not for everyone. but good news for some! 

On a positive note if there is an issue out there, I am glad it has been brought to the forefront for discussion, but my comment should not continue to be its catilist, you will lose ground and defeat the purpose.
Thanks- again for your concerns!

Fellow RN here- What is most important about being a nurse is being able to share information accurately and in a way that people who are not medically educated can understand. People become wary when Health Professionals offer information that is not supported by good evidence.

I tell all my patients to stick to well respected medical sites on the web- Ie Cancer Society, British Medical Journal etc. The internet is a very democratic place, any one can post anything, true or not. So fellow OH members, don't take for fact things you read on this board. Do your own research and ask your doctor/nurse/nutritionist for advice. They aren't perfect, but they do know you and your health situation. What I do as a patient is my choice- based on my health, lifestyle etc.

OP posted about Optifast: "there is a hormone and drug in the optifast that helps to drain fat from the liver and around the heart."

Optifast has no hormone or drug that has been proven to reduce fat around the liver. I can find no good evidence, from research, that Linolec Acid does anything to remove fat from the liver. OP If you do have evidence, please post the link.


BTW -- Optifast does NOT have Linolec Acid.
Here are the ingredients from the Optifast site.

total milk protein, fructose, maltodextrin, canola oil, soybean oil, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, sodium caseinate, sodium chloride, potassium phosphate dibasic, artificial flavour, mono and diglycerides, citric acid, magnesium oxide, choline bitartrate, aspartame*, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, copper gluconate, manganese sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, BHA/BHT (to preserve freshness), colour, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin A palmitate, riboflavin, chromium acetate, Vitamin E acetate, folic acid, sodium molybdate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite, biotin, Vitamin D3, cyanocobalamin.