Maybe you've heard of Optifast, but you're not quite sure exactly what it is. Maybe you stumbled upon this blog looking for dieting information. In either case, I'll explain the nitty gritty here.
There are two types of Optifast. The most common version is called Optifast 800, and is the only available option at most clinics. The other type is called Optifast 70, and is available at only one clinic in the country that I am aware of. Most of the things written on this blog apply to both versions, but there is a definite difference and I will try to point those out as I go.
Optifast is powdered nutrition. When mixed with 8 ounces of water, a single serving package of Optifast provides you with 1/5 of most necessary nutrition your body requires. 5 Optifast "shakes" a day are required to stay fully nourished, and lose weight safely.
While Optifast provides 100% of most things your body needs to function fully, there are a couple things that must be gained elsewhere.
First and foremost are calories. A single package of Optifast 70 contains about 80 calories, therefore your daily caloric intake is only about 400 calories. Optifast 800 contains about 160 calories per serving, which not surprisingly equals out to 800 calories per day. This is the primary difference between the two products. The total calories you consume per day on Optifast is probably shocking, but if you are looking into starting the weight loss program then your own body can probably supply this missing ingredient. When on Optifast, your body is deprived of the calories it needs to do basic functions. It is then forced to use energy stores, namely fat.
Now we're getting somewhere. Optifast gives you all those vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive, but litteraly starves you of energy. This forces your body to begin a cycle of fat burning called Ketosis. You can follow the link if you want to learn more about Ketosis, but the basic idea is that once the emergency stores of energy are used (glycogen), your body will consume fat non-stop. This is the key to Optifast. After the first day or two on Optifast, all of your stored glycogen has been used and your body will not stop burning fat for a single second. Ketosis can only be interrupted by consuming food, which is obviously something you don't want to do while fasting anyway.
This is not 100% true of Optifast 800 though. While you are in a constant state of Ketosis on Optifast 70, you will consume too many calories on Optifast 800 to stay in Ketosis permanently. After you take a shake on 800, your body exits Ketosis and uses the calories from the shake instead of fat for a short amount of time. Once those calories are exhausted, your body re-enters Ketosis until its time for another shake.
The difference that matters to those on Optifast, is summed up in that last paragraph. You will lose about 1 less pound every 10 days on Optifast 800 as compared to Optifast 70 because of Ketosis. Not only does your body have to burn double the calories on 800, but Ketosis is also interrupted 5 times daily. Unfortunately, Optifast 70 is only offered at Kaiser Permanente's Positive Choice in San Diego, CA as far as I know. But Don't fret. Optifast 800 is still a wonderful product that WILL help you lose weight.
I will be back with more on the products in future posts.
There are two types of Optifast. The most common version is called Optifast 800, and is the only available option at most clinics. The other type is called Optifast 70, and is available at only one clinic in the country that I am aware of. Most of the things written on this blog apply to both versions, but there is a definite difference and I will try to point those out as I go.
Optifast is powdered nutrition. When mixed with 8 ounces of water, a single serving package of Optifast provides you with 1/5 of most necessary nutrition your body requires. 5 Optifast "shakes" a day are required to stay fully nourished, and lose weight safely.
While Optifast provides 100% of most things your body needs to function fully, there are a couple things that must be gained elsewhere.
First and foremost are calories. A single package of Optifast 70 contains about 80 calories, therefore your daily caloric intake is only about 400 calories. Optifast 800 contains about 160 calories per serving, which not surprisingly equals out to 800 calories per day. This is the primary difference between the two products. The total calories you consume per day on Optifast is probably shocking, but if you are looking into starting the weight loss program then your own body can probably supply this missing ingredient. When on Optifast, your body is deprived of the calories it needs to do basic functions. It is then forced to use energy stores, namely fat.
Now we're getting somewhere. Optifast gives you all those vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive, but litteraly starves you of energy. This forces your body to begin a cycle of fat burning called Ketosis. You can follow the link if you want to learn more about Ketosis, but the basic idea is that once the emergency stores of energy are used (glycogen), your body will consume fat non-stop. This is the key to Optifast. After the first day or two on Optifast, all of your stored glycogen has been used and your body will not stop burning fat for a single second. Ketosis can only be interrupted by consuming food, which is obviously something you don't want to do while fasting anyway.
This is not 100% true of Optifast 800 though. While you are in a constant state of Ketosis on Optifast 70, you will consume too many calories on Optifast 800 to stay in Ketosis permanently. After you take a shake on 800, your body exits Ketosis and uses the calories from the shake instead of fat for a short amount of time. Once those calories are exhausted, your body re-enters Ketosis until its time for another shake.
The difference that matters to those on Optifast, is summed up in that last paragraph. You will lose about 1 less pound every 10 days on Optifast 800 as compared to Optifast 70 because of Ketosis. Not only does your body have to burn double the calories on 800, but Ketosis is also interrupted 5 times daily. Unfortunately, Optifast 70 is only offered at Kaiser Permanente's Positive Choice in San Diego, CA as far as I know. But Don't fret. Optifast 800 is still a wonderful product that WILL help you lose weight.
I will be back with more on the products in future posts.
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