The Optifast Diet Review
The Optifast diet was introduced back in the 70′s as a liquid diet plan that was meant to help those who were morbidly obese lose weight as quickly as possible in order to reduce their chances of serious health risks from such extreme weight. Dieters on this program consumed a diet that is made up completely of liquids and shakes during their weight loss journey. Once the weight is lost, solid foods are slowly integrated back into the diet so as not to risk the potential to regain any of the weight lost.
Nutrition
There are four distinct phases included with this diet plan:
Phase 1 – The Screening Phase – It is during this time that dieters are properly and medically assessed by doctors to make sure that the diet plan that they will be undergoing is not detrimental to their health. Those who are between the ages of 20 and 50, and are over 50 pounds overweight are the ideal candidates, given that they are healthy enough to partake.
Phase 2 – The Weight Loss Phase – This is the part of the program where only liquids are consumed throughout the entire phase until the desired weight has been achieved. Shakes replace all 3 meals and 2 snacks per day, which add up to be approximately 800 calories.
Phase 3 – The Transition Phase – After the goal weight has been achieved from the liquid diet, solid foods are slowly re-introduced into the diet. The foods encouraged during this phase include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. This stage is vital in maintaining the weight lost, which is why it is recommended to be under medical supervision while undergoing such a transition.
Phase 4 – The Maintenance Phase – It is during this phase that dieters are taught healthy lifestyle habits that they can take with them and incorporate into every day living.
Pros
Weight loss is quite rapid on this diet, which is a great motivators for many dieters. There is lots of support from other dieters on this program, as well as medical supervision to ensure the participant is not sacrifices his or her health while on this program.
Cons
Such a low calorie diet can have negative effects on your metabolism. In addition, the necessity to eat such little amounts – in liquid form – may be difficult for many. The program can also be expensive, costing about $100 a week in meal replacements and $500 for the program itself.
The Bottom Line
This is a diet plan geared towards those who are in dire straights and need to do something immediately about their weight before it severely affects their health. In these extreme cases, getting a jump start on weight loss is worth the effort, as long as it is done safely. If you are super healthy, and have consulted with your doctor, you may want to consider this liquid diet, even if you only have a few pounds to lose. Keep in mind that the transition phase is equally as important as the weight loss phase, or else you risk gaining all the weight back after all that effort.
