I am about to go on Optifast next Monday as my Doctor wants me on it for 2 weeks pre surgury.

I'm looking at the allowed vege list as I figure I will cope if I can chew on something (mainly carrots) every so often.

Because I loath cooking I normally get the Birdseye frozen veges and heat the up in the microwave. Does anyone know if the Birdseye steamed veges are as healthy as fresh?

Hi everyone, hey when on the intensive phase of Opti are you allowed the diet jelly? I can't remember?

Cheers
Gail

Hi everyone,

I'm starting on opti next week and i've been trying to round up 1 of each thing to do a taste test before i go out and buy boxes i end up not liking.

I have got everything except the chicken soup. I was wondering if anyone would have a sachet they would be willing to sell me? Of course i'll cover postage packaging and your time too :)

Also...
While i'm here. Do me a favour good people, grab a brochure from a handy box and have a read (get your magnifying glass too!) . Open to the page on Product Information. Middle column. Adverse Reactions. Second paragraph ...rapid weight loss occasionally leads to higher serum uric acid levels and might cause an accute attack of Gout etc...blablabla 2 cups of vegies and a teaspoon of oil... OK, now tell me what you take that to mean. Does it mean an additional 2 cups of vegies, ie 4 in total or does it just mean the 2 cups it has already mentioned?

I have gout. I think i'd rather have syphilis. You tell people you have gout and they think you're an alcholic! I don't drink, its not fair! Least if i said ...oooh i've got syphilis, they'd think i had an interesting sex life LMAO!! (oh and by the way, i heven't got a clue how to spell syphillis)

yes, I have. It's quite nice, I like it. I actually would make it up, spearate it in two containers, have half for breakfast, shake for lunch, soup and salad for dinner and the other half for late evening snack.

Hi just wondering if anyone has tried the new lemon dessert flavour? Thinking of getting some for my pre-op and would like some feedback on the taste of it.

Cheers
Gail

Very interesting, Rice Cake - it's nice to know that using Opti really works!
Like you, I expected to lose more while I was on Opti, but it wasn't to be.
However, I was one of the people who did it for 6 weeks. And yes, it was voluntary. I did it because I started to put weight on again, after losing quite a bit, and it was still 6 weeks to surgery and I didn't want to put more on, just to have to lose it again. I didn't do it perfectly, having twice as many veggies as allowed, but I didn't do too badly.
Like most people, I found that the first 3-5 days were the worst. After that, your body seems to adjust better. You need to drink lots of water, and allow yourself that extra rest if you can. After a couple of weeks, I was feeling normal again, but actually enjoying the feeling of not being full all the time from overeating. I'm not saying it was easy because it wasn't. But there are definite advantages if you can get past the rest.
Like Nicole, I was drinking decaf coffee and also decaf tea before and after the op.
Horseapplerancher, my doc didn't have many pre-op requirements. I had to do 2 weeks of Optifast, pay my money, talk to the anaesthetist, and turn up on the day! Of course I'd already had blood tests and a heart test before he agreed to operate, if you want to count those. He did say that if I didn't lose a considerable amount of weight on Opti, he'd know I wasn't committed and wouldn't go ahead with the op if my liver was still too large - so that probably contributed to my choosing Opti for longer, too.
Best of luck with it!
Chris

I found this article on optifast and liver shrinkage. It's quite interesting.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/81404l62j5mx7064/

I'm following optifast and never lost 4.5 Kg in a week. The most I lost is 2.8 and I have a high BMI so expected to lose more. :[img]http://ww

Maybe next week will be better since I have been doing the transitional phase prior to this week. Who knows.

Hi
My doctor said only two weeks Optifast I tried earlier than I had to but only lasted the first part of the day, as Christmas approached I was really naughty. I think when it is crunch time it is just a matter of staying strong. I've only been doing it for 3 days but I've lost 4.5kg already.
Cheers Antoinette

hey jodi, I had black coffee with sweetener while on opti and after my op also. I drink de-caf and that is allowed as fluids after the op but as far as i know not full strength coffee.

Nicole

hello all, I did opti for half of yesterday than blew it. I am curious to know how long we should do this optifast before surgery? My doc says for two weeks prior. However, I have read about people doing a whole 6 weeks prior. I want to do good, but I keep on thinking it wont hurt me because i'm not going under until feb 12th. I would like to know if the people doing it for a whole 6 weeks are voluntering or does the doc highly regard this practice? thanks.

Can someone give me a detailed account of the preop diet requirments from their doc thanks

Also I have been eating like no tomorrow...I feel like I am starving can anyone relate and give some advice. I know it's wrong but i'm just so....tired I guess?

im on opti but can i have black coffee with sweetener

Hi All
Well I'm on day 3 and I feel truly dreadful. I haven't cheated at all but feeling hungry and lethargic. I've been going walking every morning but by about 1 I need a nap :[img]http://my which is not like me. I'm trying to be kind to myself and my hubby is helping out with the kids which is great. Anyway I hope that I feel a lot better soon. I'm still really excited about the operation on the 12th January.
Thanks for the advice Antoinette

Antoinette,

The first 3-5 days can be really hard for some people as your body moves from using the energy from what you eat to burning the stored energy in your body. This is called ketosis.

Once you are over that hump and you are burning the excess fat, you are not as hungry and it all becomes much easier to continue with the Optifast.

One important thing to remember is not to cheat with extra food other that what your dietitian may have suggested. If you get energy from another source your body will go back to normal mode and it will be like when you first started Optifast all over again.

Hope that helps.

Peter.

There are a few of us doing optifast after christmas although I started early doing the transitional phase. You do 1 optifast and 2 salad and proeint meals, 1 fruit serve, 1 dairy serve. then you move onto two optifast a day and do 1 meal...it's all on the optifast website so you could effectively start tomorrow on two a day and will then be a step ahead and it's so much easier to break it in slowly and not go cold turkey.

Also, make sure you have the extras like the jelly and stock cube drinks and salad. It makes a huge difference...and your two litres of water.

I failed a few times trying to do it cold turkey and thats why I opted to start transitional and it has really not been as hard so much easier to stick to.

I go onto the three a day after xmas as well, although some days, well most, I am doing that now, it just kind of happened, it became easier.

If you get really hungry have another optifast or get the pudding and make 1 up and put it into two containers and so you can have half an optifast instead as well if you are seriously starving.

I have 1/2 lemon pudding for breakfast, a shake for lunch, jelly for morning and afternoon tea, a soup and salad for dinner and the other half of the optifast pudding in the evening. Every time I have an optifast product, I follow it by a 300 ml glass of water as well...that gets me in 1 litre a day and then I get in the other over the course of the day.

I think the only downside to optifast is that they don't sell their products individually so you can try them before buying a full box.

Hi All
Well I thought I would check out the optifast thread cause I'm freaking out about this stage :[img]http://sm I know it is the first step to a better life but it is still a worry thinking about how I will survive for two weeks on Optifast. I tried to Opti - starve once before and I think I only lasted 3 days. Any suggestions on getting through it. I'm due to have surgery on the 12 January which is very exciting so I really have to start the day after boxing day.
Ant

Did anyones period go haywire on optifast? Since starting it, I am bleeding ever so lightly though, every few days. Then it stops then it starts again. I have a Mirena coil and was fairly regular with the slightest of period, now I am all over the place and my coil causes alot of pain when I bleed, like contraction pains to the point sometimes I can't move for a few seconds because it is so intense. I take buscopan to help and it does, but usually only once a month, now I am popping buscopan every second day!!!

So, now I am worried something has gone wrong with my coil :[img]http://ww

Thanks everyone, I have been having the bars and they seem to suit me better - the soup is not good, but will retry in a few days. Interesting about the runs I was worried it would cause the opposite - so am actually relieved!
Chook

With regard to the amount of time you spend in the loo...

I had tried optifast when another sleever gave me some. I was weeing so much I couldn't leave the house. I've not got a strong bladder so it was even worse.

I gave up afetr a few days and spoke to my surgeon. He said he hadn't heard of people having this problem. He did let the dietician know I was having this problem though.

Anyway, I decided (before I saw the dietican) since I had till Janaury till my surgery to start on one shake a day. I did that for a few weeks, I can say it made no difference to my weight. I was pretty much the same, well 1 kg lighter after 3 weeks.

Then I went to two shakes a day, jelly, water, allowed veges, dairy (I am using skim milk for this in my tea), 1 small piece of fruit (i neglect this unintentionally) and a small serve of protein...it's on the optifast website, the transitional stage. That is where I am up to now. My first week I lost 2.1Kg

It has dramatically reduced the weeing breaking in slowly, slowly the weeing has gone down each day.

I'm staying on this stage until December 26th and then going onto 3 shakes a day and the allowable veges and stock cube drink. By the time I have hit this stage I am hoping I'll be okay!

I researched it on google and found nothing so I came to the conclusion that the increased fluid intake was the cause and I know that when people start drinking alot of water, initally they do wee heaps but your body adjusts so don't give in, it will slow down.

Hi Chook

They recommend you drink 2ltrs of water when on the opti as it helps with the flushing out of all the icky stuff in your liver. It doesn't help with the running to the loo every 15mins scenario though.

Best of luck.

Cheers
Gail

hi there,
i didnt get the cramps or nausea but i did get the runs when i first started. Expect to have the runs after surgery also...lol........just what you wanted to know hey...lol

Nicole

Hi all

Just started the opti - day 2 and it seems to make me feel very unwell - cramps, nausea and runs - is this normal, my water intake has been a bit low 1lite, could this be the problem.... if so that I can improve, otherwise???

Chook

Hi everyone

I have just had an email back from Optifast Team and they have advised that shakes can be heated but not to boiling point as it is at boiling point that it compromises the value of the product.

So go ahead guys we have the go ahead to safely heat them up a little .......... taste the difference......I love them heated.

Suzi, be careful if you are warming the shakes as it may destroy heat sensitive micronutrients and coagulate the protein.

I don't know the limit for the shakes, but they are meant to be tap water or colder.

Even the Soups can't be heated above 60 Degrees.

Peter.

Hi Rice Cake

That is a great idea.....slowly easy into it.....especially as you have the time to do this. ...it really does prepare you for the intensive stage. I did that and found it quite a bit easier.....also I think it helps you acquire a taste for it. Lucky girl you will be having Christmas Dinner.....I will be sucking through a straw....oh well its all for a good cause. Go girl

I started the optifast as well but my surgery isn't until january. I am doing the transitional stage. I decided that myself as I want to move as much weight as possible but couldn't tolerate the 3 shakes a day when I tried it initally. The dietician said that was fine and the surgeon knows, then on December 26th go to 3 shakes a day although some days I only have optifast, if I am too tired too cook like tonght.

I am glad I have this time to ease in slowly with the optifast. I'm no good at radical overnight changes.

Hi Purplehaze

I've tried the Optifast Coffee and that's my favourite. Dont have it often though cos its dearer than the vanilla and chocolate. I lightly warm my shakes which is delicious in this weird weather we have been experiencing.

Power on guys you are all doing great things.

Wow I've dropped 6 kilos in the 8 days I have now been on Optifast.....hoping to drop a little more before Dec 8. This should have helped the liver to shrink somewhat. I guess starvation really makes you look forward and enjoy the Opti hey.

Im on day 2 of opti fast as well.

Today I actually didnt mind the vanilla shakes, and they didnt leave the yukky after-taste that they did yesterday.

I have a really bad headache, but that could could be from the knee to the head that my toddler gave me before.

Im doing pretty good, I havent even once been tempted to eat anything, last night hubby and Lily had McDonalds and I didnt even want any!

Hi, I'm day two optifast and so far so good. Couldn't sleep last night which could be due to any number of things, just taking it one day at a time. I walk past about 6 coffee shops daily (I only drink soy hot choc). Has everyone seen the coffee optifast, I only saw it for the first time the other day. My favourites are the strawberry and vanilla shakes, choc mousse and the choc bar (not the cruch one) however I noticed they have lemon mousse and a few others now.I'm about to put on some steamed vegies or salad and its amazing how much you look forward to them.
Peter, you are doing so well as is everyone else.

What's happending to me.....day 7 and I am enjoying all the optifast products.....it seems to be even controlling my head hunger....hope I haven't spoken too soon!!

Hi everyone

I haven't tried the opti yet going to give it a go tomorrow.

I am on Tony F. Day 4 but really day 2 as I slipped up on Tuesday. Does anyone get stomach cramps and pains with these? I am wondering if its the milk extract in it as I have IBS.

Cheers
Bx

When doing opti, the first few days can be bad while you body goes into ketosis (starvation mode) once over the hump things are much easier and you are not as hungry.

But if you eat other things, it stops it from working the way it is designed and you will feel bad and hungry.

Peter

Hi everyone

I haven't tried the opti yet going to give it a go tomorrow.

I am on Tony F. Day 4 but really day 2 as I slipped up on Tuesday. Does anyone get stomach cramps and pains with these? I am wondering if its the milk extract in it as I have IBS.

Cheers
Bx

Try adding some flavouring to it, it's usually allowed.

Since you like the Strawberry, try adding a few drops of strawberry flavour. It might save you some money as the strawberry shakes are quite dear.

Peter.

Has anyone else found that the vanilla shakes leaves a really gross after-taste?
I dont mind drinking it, the taste isnt too bad (although my favourite is the strawberry flavour), but the taste it leaves afterwards is disgusting.

haha you guys are hilarious! I can just imagine the TT segment!!

I tried the optifast pudding today. I would definately have them again!

Points on the pudding:

It's alive. After you eat it and every time you drink, the pudding gets bigger and bigger inside you. It's like it doesn't want to ever leave you. It's in love with your insides. It's like that water saver crystal stuff you use in the garden, it just keeps expanding.

Possible Outcomes:

1. Normal Digestion will set in and the pudding will eventually set out and off down the S bend

2. Trip to emergency room with bowel obstrucion from optifast pudding and a segement 1 day later on TodayTonight about how a woman got a bowel obstruction from optifast pudding and is suing for $$$$$$ but the company rep wont talk to Today Tonight and a) punch camera man + b) decline to comment.

Rowena, are you having any else besides the Tony Ferguson?

Rice cake, the first 3-4 days are usually the worst and generally get much better after that. The first few days is the time your body starts going into ketosis. This is when you body starts to go into starvation mode and your liver starts to convert fat cells into energy. It is very important to drink at least 2 litres of waters and don't cheat as it will just drag out the bad feeling. Once you are in ketosis it is much easier.

Tickled Pink, be careful what you read on the internet about optifast as it may not apply to someone who is trying to shrink their liver before an operation.

Try to stick with whatever your surgeons dietician recommends. My dietician preferred that Optifast or Clini-cal were used 3 times without vegetables. But if you couldn't cope, you could add up to a maximum of 2 cups of certain vegetables a day, as long as no additional fat or calories were added.

From your list the following were recommended Asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower, celery, chives, cucumber,eggplant, garlic, ginger, lettuce, mushrooms,onions, parsley,spinach,tomato,squash,watercress, zucchini. Also allowed are Green beans,mint,basil,coriander,salt,pepper,curry powder,stock,soy sauce,chilli & Vinegar. A low calorie (diet) jelly was also ok.

The following from your list were not shown choko,cress,dill pickles,leeks,marrow,okra, radish,shallots,silverbeet,swede,,tomato-puree,turnip, & snow peas

The following from your list were to be avoided carrots, pumpkin, & peas. Also to be avoided are Potato,parsnip,corn,avocado, & legumes (beans,peas etc)

Peter.

oh my god i have just woken up at 1045pm with the worst cramps in my legs!!!!!

I drink about 3 litres of water a day, and I am on the tony ferguson. This is my 3rd week but this cramp brought tears to my eyes and it wont go away.


OW OW Ow

Hi Rice Cake - im sorry you too had a bad time on the Opti.. its a good thing you not going till January hopefully you'll be back on it Aok by then.. i reckon it took me a good 4-5days to feel OK.. the first 3 were HELL.. Im on day 9 and had the cramps again last night - the dietician said to drink more water - but i really am drinking heaps & heaps.. I feel better in myelf now though - not really looking for food as long as I have the Opti ready to go when everyone else in the house is eating im ok (this time last week i thought i'd never get used to it - but i really am)..

Tickled Pink - thanks ...I did get the list of vegies from my Dr to but not many on the list.. Also, allowed lite jelly, which was yuk to start with but ive tried a few flavours &the strawberry "lite" jelly is quite ok - cant taste the sweetener in it..

Molly

I was doing some research the other night on opti-fast and came across a list of all the 'free' vegetables that you are allowed to eat when doing the pre-surgery diet (all the list that my surgeon gave me says is no potato, sweet potato or corn).

Just thought that I would pop it up here for anyone interested

alfalfa sprouts
artichokes
asparagus
bamboo shoots
green beans
bok choy
broccoli
brussel sprouts
cabbage
capsicum
carrots
cauliflower
celery
chives
choko
cress
cucumber
dill pickles
eggplant
endive
fennel
garlic
ginger
leeks
lettuce
marrow
mushrooms
okra
onions
parsley
peas
pumpkin
radish
shallots
silverbeet
spinach
swede
squash
snow peas
tomato
tomato-puree
turnip
watercress
zucchini

Molly, I have been on the optifast a few days now and had cramps the first day. I've given up on it again..I get so drowsy and lethrgic, my words get all tangled, I can't think straight, it's really affecting me. It is seriously like when I have had seizures, eaxact same brain space..none. I can't stand it, it's left me in tears,

I am going to restart antidepressants then go back on it. My surgery isn';t till January and so I was doing the transitional phase to start with, just to get more ahead, but am puttinhg it on hold till next week. I want to do 4 weeks of optifast before my surgery.

Hello,

Well im into my second week on the Opti-fast &have lost 4.3kg - im absolutely thrilled!!! What a tough week it was but i was sooo excited to get weighed yesterday..

prob a dumb question - but..... are we allowed 1 final meal before surgery (like a few days before)?? I am supposed to go to a dinner on sat night (get sleeved Monday) and im only going if im allowed to eat "normally" - does anyone know if this is a big No No or its so close it doesnt matter???

Molly : )

Hi Magic Princess,

thanks for the tips - i did have some clear broth yesterday that had salt in and there is a little salt in the salad dressing im using - so im getting a little but still not enough,, the cramps were good on tues & wed night but came back with a vengance last night.. Ive even had them a couple of times today when sitting down.. I spoke to the dietician yesterday and she said just try drinking more water -but im drinking heaps & heaps (well over 2litres) which is a huge effort for me.. & getting up 3x a night to go to the loo (also unusual for me)

The Opti-fast is generalyl alot better today, im not lethargic and the aching muscles have gone & generally feeling better about it all. I still am waiting till i get the ketosis thing of feeling 'good" and not hungy - maybe tomorrow (i hope).. Its funny though cause while i am really hungry i dont fell like eating anything naughty which is good - i think if i broke the cycle i wouldn't get back on it.. its all or nothing for me..

Thanks everyone for your tips and encouragment - this site is fantastic!

Molly : )