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I think it's the FDA who's on the backs of liquid diet manufacturers
because some of them (Opti-Fast was one of them) are somehow claiming
that it's easy to keep the weight off once you lose it.
And, of course, it isn't.
The whole controversy about whether or not they're harmful for you is
another story, as is the theory of behavior modification being the
better way to go.
BTW, the boxes are gone. I gave them to someone who has been on the
diet before so she's aware of the pitfalls.
- C.J.
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| I find this attitude rather amazing...
My Optifast group was told that the fast only did 2 things:
1) fast weight loss
2) a break from food related habits
Specifically, it was NOT:
1) a long term solution
2) a miracle cure
3) without dangers
We were also told that the secret to long term success was to
understand why we ate and attempt to modify and control our eating
behaviour. In addition, we were told that the paying attention to the
readings, reviewing them, and attending some form of long term
maintenance sessions had a high correlation to maintaining the loss.
In the beginning, we were told that we had a greater than 60% chance of
gaining the weight back. We were also told about the behavior patterns
that were typically associated with successful maintenance. Out of the
10 people that completed the fast in my group, 4 of us are still in
some form of maintenance group, and are successfully controlling our
weight. Most of the rest did not make it to their goal, dropped out of
the maintenance program, and at least some of them have regained.
It sounds to me like .-1's roommate either did not have a very good
supervision group (by the way, not all supervised fasts are the same,
and not even all Optifast groups), or didn't pay much attention to what
they had to offer. Maybe both. My group is VERY particular about
allowing people to repeat. They usually require the approval of a
personal physician, and not just the desires of the participant (the
first time just requires the approval of the group's physician).
I have to ask what is meant by the phrase "Doesn't work in the long
run"?
The Optifast program has 2 distinct parts: The fast for weight loss,
and Behavioral Education for maintenance.
The fast works for as long as you fast. At 400 calories per day, you
can reach about 40 lbs, unless you die first. That's why it's
medically supervised.
The behavioral education doesn't work at all, unless you do. It's
kinda like going to a "touchy feely" course at digital. It presents
information, and gives you tools. Whether or not you use it is
entirely up to you. It's more than just wanting it, though. You have
to be willing to work hard for it. In Optifast, the tools they provide
include establishing an exercise program, nutritional guidelines, meal
planning guidelines, food diaries, calorie counters, group therapy
sessions, and a whole lot more. The more tools you put to use, the
easier it is to accomplish your long term control goals.
Well, I guess you can see you touched on one of my hot buttons. I feel
that people who make generalizations like .-1 are as bad as the ones
who claim to have the miracle pills. Of course, based on the info that
MY group provided, I'm having a hard time understanding what beef the
FDA (or whoever it was) is having, but you can be sure we'll talk about
it at this week's meeting.
By the way, I started in January '90, lost 140 lbs, and I've been
maintaining ever since. Of course, I walk, count calories, plan my
food-exercise routine and attend the sessions religiously, so I use
quite a few of the tools provided. I also expect to work hard at this
for the rest of my life.
Doesn't work in the long run, indeed. Harumph!
-JP
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| The problem, JP, is that some people go in with closed ears. Opti-fast,
etc, can talk all they want about long-term maintainance etc...but
what people see is that they had a friend who was obese, and 4 months
later is now THIN, and they want the same miracle cure.
While Opt-fast and other programs may not be at fault for this
misperception and selective listening of their clients, they do
provide the means for such people do go on fasts that are
very unhealthy for them (either because they lose too much weight too
fast, or because they gain it all back immediately and that's even
worse, health-wise).
It's just another example of something that has great potential when
used wisely, but that has a very high potential to be dangerous to
those who are less wise, and thus the government has an interest in
protecting those in the latter category.
I won't even interject *my* opinion of it...
D!
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| Not forgetting that the advertising, despite any messages given later,
doesn't make it clear at all that opti-fast is no more than a short
term expedient.
I *will* give my opinion, as someone who lost 100+lbs and has still
done so, by sensible eating and behavioural change - fasting is not a
good solution for the vast majority of the human race who are obese.
- andy
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| Well, we did talk about this last night. Evidently, Sandoz has advertised a
few too many half truths in their literature. That's what the feds have taken
issue with. After group, I also watched channel 5 Boston's Chronicle program on
dieting. I found that interesting, too.
On the show, however, a dietician made a comment that the slower the weight loss
the better the chances of maintaining it. This made me wonder. I understand
that there is a positive correlation between the two. I don't believe that the
relationship is cause and effect, though. My personal feelings are that a
gradual weight loss thru "sensible eating habits" and a quick weight loss
followed by a respectable period of maintenance thru sensible eating habits
yeild the same chances of maintaining for the long term.
I do agree with Andy. Fasting is dangerous. It should not be considered unless
you are at great risk due to weight (as I was). The chances are very good that
any diet that does not deal with a person's food related behavior will not
result in long term success. By the way, I will NEVER go on a fasting diet
again, because I refuse to allow myself to regain weight to the point where it
is necessary.
Let me add that I tried many diets, including the "eat like this", "don't eat
any...", "eat only...", and working with a dietician to learn sensible eating
habits. The reason why none of these were successful in the long term was
because none of them ever dealt with my relationship to food: WHY DO I EAT??
For me that's why Optifast worked.
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