Has anyone used the Optifast diet?

I'm trying the Optifast diet and wondered what others' experiences have been on the diet. How much did you lose and how quickly? Thank you.

how much weight should i loose if i am 155 pounds and 13 years old?

Answers:
Please do not try fad diets that rarely work in the long run and consider a healthy life style change.

Read this excerpt from the book "Dieting for Dummies" by Jane Kirby: "Don't cut your calorie level drastically when trying to lose weight; this strategy will backfire. Your body is programmed to defend your usual weight, so when calories are cut severely - to fewer than 800 to 1,000 a day - your metabolic rate adjusts to conserve the few calories you do give your body."

The following healthy living recommendations will help you if you’re trying to lose weight, tone up your muscles, have aspirations of building lean muscle mass, are attempting to get a wash board stomach, or just want to feel better:

*1) Burn more calories then you're consuming everyday and measure your results using the following formula: Calories Consumed minus Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) minus Physical Activity minus the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). A website that explains this formula in more detail and will help you determine how many calories you need to reach or maintain a certain weight is at http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm

Get an online, desktop, or cell phone diet and fitness calculator. This will allow you to easily calculate the above formula, set goals, log your daily calorie consumption, and register your physical activities.

Set realistic goals for your ideal body weight. Here are two websites that will calculate a suggested body weight:
Adults: http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm
Teens/Children: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/weight/bmi.html

It is difficult and unhealthy to lose more than one or two pounds per week. There are 3,500 calories in a pound. If you eat 500 fewer calories per day for a week you will lose one pound. If you burn through exercise 500 more calories per day for a week you will lose one pound.

Here are two articles on how to break through a weight loss plateau:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/86/99147.htm
http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/18/102117.htm

*2) Eat natural and organic foods found on earth versus something created by a corporation to make money. Eat meals in small portions throughout the day and take a good multi-vitamin supplement.

Do not try fad diets or diet pills. Avoid “High Glycemic Load Carbs” (sugar, pastries, desserts, refined starches such as breads, pasta, refined grains like white rice; high starch vegetables such as potatoes) and drink lots of water. Read this article for more information on high GL Carbs:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates.html

The following are food pyramids and several articles on what you should eat everyday:
Food Pyramids:
http://www.rayandterry.com/html/images/PyramidLRG.gif?osCsid=26a424be471d1337e7c2f105d5c64d9d
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
Antioxidant Superstars - Vegetables and Beans:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/104/107638.html
Antioxidant Loaded Fruits:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/104/107640.html
Good Carbs Mean Better Weight:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/100/105783.htm
The Benefits of Protein:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/85/98824.htm
Some Fats Are Good For You:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/49/40075.htm
Antioxidants in Green and Black Tea:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/104/107641.html
What You Should Eat Daily:
http://www.oprah.com/health/yourbody/slide/slide_yourbody_healthfood_201.jhtml
Best Foods to Fight off Disease and Keep You Healthy:
http://www.oprah.com/health/yourbody/slide/slide_yourbody_healthfood_101.jhtml

*3) Perform cardiovascular, core, and/or strength training on most days. Read a book or find a certified trainer to make sure you're doing all exercises correctly.

The following is a website and numerous articles on cardiovascular, core, and strength training:
Exercise Prescription on the Net
http://www.exrx.net/
Starting an Exercise Program:
http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/startexercise.htm
Strength Training Basics:
http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/trainbasics.htm
Cardiovascular Machine Workouts:
http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/cardiowork.htm
Balance Your Way to a Stronger Body:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/64/72314.htm
Understanding Your Training Heart Rate:
http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/thr.htm
Exercise Errors:
http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/errors.htm
Getting a Flat Stomach:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/71/81365.htm
Weight Lifting - Does Order Matter:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/80/96440.htm
Encouraging Exercise in Your Kids:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/95/103524.htm
Strength Training Safe and Effective for Kids:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/32/1728_81005.htm

*4) Get plenty of sleep. Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety.

*5) Educate yourself continually on health issues and make a life long commitment to good health. A great free publication is “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005”. A reputable test you can take to measure your biological age is at http://realage.com
Look at all areas where you can enhance your health. For example, make improvements in the quality of the air you breathe. Review outdoor air quality forecasts where you live and get an indoor air purifier.

Send me an email or yahoo instant message to "gainbetterhealth" if you have any questions and good luck!

*Click on all the source links below to get the full benefit of the recommendations. The answers presented to your health questions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Other Answers:

Is this possible?

no nned to be rude but......

What the **** is that?

5'5 1/2 " & 122lbs - How can I loose 10 lbs in 2 weeks?!?

optifast first time i am hearing not nutrients dear use more proteins food to burn your fat., Eat egg's white not a ovary (That contains more fat), Soyabeans (Add soyabeans flour in wheat flour make in chapathi's)., Black channas (Add water in nite and eat at morning during your wakeup) you looks very charm jimmy

How much should i loose? what would u suggest 20 or 30 pounds?

indeed no

i am male 13 yrs, weight 145 lbs, height 5'7. Am i overweight?

Hi there, I am theresa and YES! I am doing the optifast diet. It is wonderful. (after the first 10 days). DO NOT CHEAT! AND SWIM SWIM SWIM!!! If you will follow the plan exactly (you have to be under a dr'.s supervision, right?) you will lose about 10 lbs the first week (when i started i weighed 248 lbs and i lost 14 lbs. the first week the more you weigh the more you lose) then it will level off so that you lose 4 to 6 pounds every week until you have reached your goal. IT DEFINITELY WORKS but only if you follow it correctly. It doesn't work if you eat. I have lost almost 60 pounds so far and all that in 11 weeks. It goes fast if you are faithful. I have a friend who lost over 80 and she is tight and firm because she swam (as her doctor directed) 30 minutes every morning and 30 minutes every afternoon to tighten as she lost. I cannot swim that long, but i am trying. Good luck and YOU CAN DO IT! This is NOT a fad diet! It is medically supervised only! These other bozo's don't know what they are talking about. Go Go GO!

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Has anyone used the Optifast diet?

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