Losing weight, getting healthy, and feeling your very best is often at the top of the list for many people - though the follow-through is often tough. Under the careful supervision of experienced medical staff, the Optifast program offers the ability to finally get the weight off and transform your health. And it has been proven to be an effective weight loss solution. 

Before starting any new program such as Optifast, it is common to have questions. How does it work? And can you eat food on the Optifast program? Let’s take a closer look. 

How Does the Optifast Program Work?

The Optifast program consists of different phases in which regular food is replaced with portion-controlled shakes, soups, and snack bars. It is designed to help those who are considered need to lose weight and improve their health. It is possible to lose 15-20 lbs or up to well over 100 lbs on Optifast

The program is designed to work in phases depending on the amount of weight needed to be lost. Your needs will be addressed by a medical professional throughout the entire process to ensure that you are getting the right amount of nutrition and that all your health goals are being met.

Optifast also includes a focus on nutritional counseling, exercise and fitness, behavioral intervention, and support groups. Maintaining any weight loss requires that you address many areas of life - not just what you put into your mouth. And the Optifast program understands this. 

Aside from losing weight, there are many benefits to following the Optifast program, including: 

• Lower blood pressure 
• Lower cholesterol
• Lower blood sugar
• Reduce arthritis pain
• Maintain a healthy diet with all the vitamins and nutrients you need

Can You Eat Food on the Optifast Program?

Whether or not you can eat food on the Optifast program depends on where you are at in the program itself as there are a number of different phases. Regardless of where you start, the idea is to work toward returning to having normal foods as an everyday part of your life.  

Some individuals first start out on a diet that consists of nothing but Optifast meal replacement supplements. This includes shakes and soups. No other food is to be consumed if using the full liquid protocol.. How long you remain in this phase is customized for each person, but it is typically about 20 weeks.

Some individuals may start with a diet that consists of one meal containing regular foods per day - and the rest will be Optifast supplements. Again, the timeframe will be customized. 

Those who started on the full liquid diet will move to this protocol as their next step after doing the full liquid diet for some time.

After the weight comes off and you have undergone counseling and have a solid support group, the medical professionals will help you transition back into eating all regular foods without any Optifast supplements.

It can be challenging to regain control over food in a healthy way which is why support remains available for counseling, nutrition, and exercise to yield the greatest success. 

Learn More About Optifast

Are you interested in learning if Optifast is right for you? Under the professional care of the team at The Weight and Wellness Institute, you can lose weight and gain health.

To learn more or to get started, contact us today at  401-895-9937 . Or, request an appointment online.

Losing weight and boosting your overall health and wellness is tough - especially when you don’t know where to turn. There are so many fad diets that get promoted, as well as influencers on social media who claim to have the secret to weight loss all figured out. 

Sometimes, you just need to turn to the experts. And since Optifast is a medically-supervised weight loss program, you know your health is in the right hands. 

So, what is Optifast and how does it work? Let’s take a look. 

What is Optifast?

Optifast is a nutritional supplement that is used as part of a comprehensive weight loss program. Our programs are monitored by medical professionals and include the use of these well-designed supplements. The Optifast supplements are state of the art supplements designed to provide excellent nutrition in a reduced number of calories which allows for enhanced weight loss. We have created nutritional protocols using varying numbers of Optifast supplements per day.

One such program involves a full-liquid diet. Here, the patient will replace all meals with Optifast supplements. This includes a variety of soups, bars, ready-to-drink shakes, and shake mixes that are all available to use. The average time patients spend in this program is about 20 weeks. 

Another Optifast program includes a partial liquid diet. This uses both real food and Optifast supplements. Patients will have one daily meal of solid food while the rest of the consumption will be any of the various supplements. The average time patients spend in this program is about 20 weeks. 

Those who have used either of the above Optifast programs will eventually transition back into eating real food with the help of their support team. The medical staff will then continue to monitor the patient to provide the greatest chance for success. 

Keep in mind that your team of medical experts will determine the best way to adjust the program to meet your needs. Patients with certain restrictions, special needs, or medical conditions (such as diabetes) may still be able to participate in the Optifast program as long as it is tailored to meet their needs by the medical team. 

More Than Just Food

Diets that focus solely on food are bound to fail in the long run. 

Reaching successful weight loss and adopting a healthy lifestyle means being able to understand yourself on a deeper level - and giving yourself the support you need. The Optifast program is not just about food or supplements. 

Throughout the program, patients intend group meetings or individual check-ins. They will meet with nutrition counselors to help teach them about food and how to have a healthy relationship with it. There are also weekly medical visits to ensure everything is on the right path. And, a health and wellness program wouldn’t be complete without consulting with exercise physiologists. 

In some instances, counseling may even be part of the program because it is difficult to have a healthy body without a healthy mind. Finding triggers, breaking habits, and changing thought patterns all contribute to a patient’s success. 

Is Optifast Right For You?

If you are interested in learning more about Optifast and whether or not it is a good fit for you, contact the team at The Weight & Wellness Institute. We have programs that help patients meet their weight loss goals and create a healthier lifestyle. 

Contact us today at 401-895-9937. Or, request an appointment online.