Medifast/Optifast

Anyone do Medifast for any period of time? If so, what were your experiences. I did Optifast once in my early 20's. I'm 40 now and thinking about doing it again. Any Los Angeles referrals to doctors who sanction Medifast or Optifast?

I did Optifast in the 80s and regained the weight in about 18 months.

In May, 2002 I went on Medifast (which you can now buy online or via an 800 number). I don't want to be accused of SPAM so I don't want to post the specifics.

I lost 82 pounds between May and November. I started to exercise about 4 months into the program. On average I lost 3-4 pounds a week which for me was amazing (I'm hypothyroid).

I know there are many who will tell you not to do a VLCD. . .but 15,000 doctors sell Medifast. It may not be right for everyone, but it was right for me. I not only lost the weight I felt great (except for the first week when I WAS hugry and a little woozy feeling).

My doctor ran blood draws about every 6 weeks and monitored me. If you have more than 10 pounds to lose I would not recommend a VLCD without medical supervision.

If you have any more questions about Medifast please feel free to ask me.

sme is on that I believe. I'm not sure where he/she lives (pardon me if that's rude, but I don't remember the gender)

thanks Patricia but I was successful from 18 to 30. From 30 to 40 I've tried everything under the sun, low cal low fat, atkins (moderate success), lots of exercise, and an underlying and very irritating thyroid problem as well as PCOS. I'd like to do the Optifast/Medifast again as that's what I had the most success with. I was not bored with the program, in fact, I liked that I it was simple and uncomplicated.
When I weaned back to solid foods I did very well also. When I did it before I did not live in Los Angeles, therefore I have no reference point for this area.

I'm asking for a referral in the Los Angeles area of a doctor/clinic that supports this method of weight loss if anyone would be so kind.

Thanks so much for your reply. I appreciate your support.

Hi Kevlar,

I notice that it has been a few years since you did the medifast program and I was wondering how you are getting on now. Have you managed to keep the weight off?

Jim

Hello Jim, welcome to the forum I hope Kevlar will read this.

May I ask if you have tried other diets yet?

Hi Saskia,

The diets I have tried the most actively are the GI diet and the zone diet. I think they helped on some level but what I found is I can only really loose weight if I exercise seriously. I've been following a program of interval training after reading this article: Best Exercise to Burn Fat. I do six 30 second sprints on one of the cycling machines and three 45 second sprints on the cross trainer all with slow exercise to recover in between.

I find that if I go to the gym three times a week my weight comes down otherwise it doesn't.

Jim

I think exercise is also the most healthy way to lose weight, Jim. I like your 'diet' Obviously it wouldn't do any good if one is stuffing oneself every day with junk food, but with a normal nutritious diet and even "sinning" from time to time, my personal experience has also always shown exercise if the most effective to keep extra kilo's away

With the season of feasting upon us I think no matter what I do it's going to be a challenge to keep the pounds off. I've just joined a gym and I am trying to go a minimum of 3 times a week. Hopefully that will provide some level of balance.

Well, as long as you take small servings of everything I think you will get out of this festive period OK - especially if you are joining a gym

Thanks Saskia,
Good advice. I will try and keep the portions small.