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| Hi July22 I have to say I am one of the few people that doesnt mind the taste of it. I have the choc shakes, I've not tried any of the others. How long have you been doing it for? Dont get me wrong I'd rather have real food but I dont find them hard to drink at all. I only have 3 days until my operation so I dont have much longer of it to go! yay Mel |
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| I have read all the things about making optifast more tolerable. And at the moment I am trying to drink my smoothie made from choc shake with a few drops of peppermint, a handful of frozen rasberries and a lot of ice. It is ok but not fantastic. I would rather just down it with the minimum amount of water and be done with it. it has taken me 10 min to have half of it so far because it about tripled in volume with the extras. Does anyone else agree with me? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reposting... Just trying to bring the suggestions together. Optifast seems to taste better when mixed with very cold water. It is best mixed with a stab blender or in a shaker container. Just a reminder, as yummy as all these additives are PLEASE consult you surgeon/patient liaison person BEFORE adding ANYTHING to Optifast. If you are doing Optifast pre Op most surgeons WILL NOT allow fruit of any kind at that stage. Some surgeons just don't allow it. Now to make them taste a little more interesting: ~Low Joule jelly crystals, just add them to 15ml of hot water to dissolve them before adding to the shakes ~Half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder,decaf coffee powder, strawberry essence, peppermint essence, coconut essence, orange essence, coconut rum liqueur style essence, low joule caramel and low joule fruit toppings in the vanilla shakes. ~Essences from the cake isle of the supermarket can be considered for either of the flavours of shakes. Peppermint, orange or Strawberry essences in the choc shakes work really well. ~There are a few companies that make sugar free syrups than can be used to flavour Optifast.One is DaVinci Syrups you can google them for an Australian supplier ~Another one is Torani Syrups, again this is the supplier I use: http://www.passthetoast.com/products/catalogue.php ?catId=6 ~If you are permitted fruit then the following options can also be used: ~Add a banana to the vanilla shake. ~Add optifast either dessert or chocolate shake into a blender with 200mls of cold water then add: ~coffee/mocha Mixer : 4 large ice cubes 2 shot of espresso add hazelnut essence. ~Mixed berry trio : scoop of mixed berries two large ice cubes, strawberry essence. ~Cherry Ripe sundae : Four icecubes one hand full of frozen cherries , strawberry essence |
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| Re posting from earlier in this thread: Some surgeons will allow Tony Fergusons or other VLCDs but most stick with Optifast for a number of reasons: ~Optifast is the ONLY VLCD which has been medically and scientifically proven to work. ~Optifast is the only VLCD that has been proven to be nutritionally balanced ~Up until a few short years ago Optifast was only available by prescription ~Optifast is produced by Novartis, a drug company who must adhere to stricter guidelines than food companies. Also the nutrition and carb levels differ from brand to brand. Pyretta |
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| Here's one I found: Hope this recipe helps: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 stalks of celery, finely chopped 1 carrot, shredded 4 tomatoes, chopped or 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crumbled 3 cups of vegetable or chicken stock Salt and pepper to taste Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion, celery, and carrots until vegetables are tender. Add the tomatoes and basil. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are softened. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and carefully blend until smooth. Return pureed mixture to cooking pot and combine with the stock. Simmer, uncovered, until soup is reduced to the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Makes 4 servings. (sewenup1) |
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| A few more hints: Savoury suggestions: ~Vegie Soup( You can add other allowed vegie to it ) Dice 1 onion and brown it in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil Add sliced celery and mushrooms and fry them off too Add 1 litre of ready made stock or stock cubes in water Then add as many allowed veggies as you like. I added zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli & cabbage and then 2 tins of crushed tomatoes with garlic & herbs. Once it's all soft & cooked through I get the potato masher & mash the veggies so they are not in big clumps. ~~~~~~~~~To make Dinner a 3 course meal! The soup, shake and Low Joule Jelly for dessert. Soup recipe: 2 lge leeks 500g broccoli 1 bunch spring onions 1 clove garlic 1 tspn dried herbs 1 litre vege stock olive oil Cut all veges up small, put into pan with olive oil and cook for a few mins, add stock/herbs/garlic/season ing and cook until soft then blitz in blender. I then water it down and bag into portions and freeze. Take out when required, microwave and add tspn olive oil when serving and mix in. ~Try a stock cube dissolved in hot water or low carb cuppa soups. ~1 teaspoon of curry powder added to the chicken soup ~Add the following to the Optifast chicken soup: 1 zucchini 1 onion 2 cloves of garlic 1 red capsicum Divide in half as this is enough for 2 days worth of veggies and put one lot in the fridge for tomorrow ~Mix up optifast chicken soup Add a splash of dark soy Add a splash of red wine vinegar (to neutralize the soy taste)Add veggies ~Optifast also now has Spring Vegetable soup |
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| Ratatouille Nicoise Tsp Olive Oil 1 Onion (finely chopped) 4 Garlic Gloves (crushed) ½ tbsp Tomato Puree 650g ripe tomatoes (skinned and deseeded) 1 large Eggplant (large diced) 2 Red Capsicum (large diced) 1 Green Capsicum (large diced) 350g Zuchinni (2 cm slices) 12 Fresh Basil Leaves Salt and Pepper to taste 1 Bouquet Garni (The bouquet garni can be made with any herbs and vegetables. This one is to be made with slice of celery, leek, rosemary, thyme, ½ bay leaf, oregano and bail leaves and tied together) Heat oil in large pan, add onion and half the garlic and saute for 5 mins on medium heat until soft Stir in tomato puree, reduce the heat and cook 2-3 mins Stir in Tomatoes and add the Bouquet Garni and cook over a low heat for 10-15 mins until thickened Fry Eggplant separately until golden brown, Add the peppers stirring until tender and then add zuchinni and fry for about 2 mins until tender and golden. Add vegetables to the tomato mixture, season lightly and transfer to large ovenproof dish. Cover and bake 10-15 mins. Lightly fry the remaining garlic and the basil. Remove ratatouille from the oven. Discard Bouquet Garni and stir in garlic and basil. Serve hot. "From Optifast website - The inclusion of a teaspoon (5ml) of oil a day is important for those who are at risk of developing gall stones. The oil stimulates the emptying of the gall bladder, helping to prevent gall stones. Normally a teaspoon of oil (usually olive oil or another vegetable oil) is included in the daily serve of vegetables" |
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| Reposting... If I can help anyone make opti more palatable, here are some suggestions: - A shot of decaf espresso in a vanilla optifast, so good! add a couple of tbs of light caramel topping and you've got yourself a cold caramel latte. - Rosewater is a great flavour in vanilla as well. It takes away the cereal flavour from the opti. - Rub rosewater/peppermint or orange essence over the top of a chocolate opti bar...so much better Try to get creative, it's the only way to get through it. If you stick with it for long enough, you really stop being hungry. I found that a slip up really threw me off balance and caused the hunger to come flooding back. Good Luck! |
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| Reposting... Taken from the Optifast Website. If your surgeon hasn't given you any guidelines there are the allowed foods on the intensive phase. LOW STARCH AND GREEN VEGETABLES Radish, cauliflower, alfalfa sprouts, shallots, cucumber, asparagus, silver beet, eggplant, beans, snow peas, garlic, bok choy, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, squash, leeks, brussel sprouts, tomato, mung beans, celery, watercress, mushrooms, cabbage, zucchini, onions, capsicum, carrots SOUPS stock cubes, vegetable soups(using allowed vegetables), miso soup, bonox(in moderation) SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS lemon juice, soy sauce(in moderation), mustard, vinegar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chilli sauce SPICES AND HERBS Dill, all spice, paprika, fennel, basil, parsley, garlic, celery flakes, oregano, pepper, ginger, chilli, rosemary, lite salt, chives, sage, mint, cinnamon, thyme, mustard seed, cloves, turmeric, nutmeg, coriander, tarragon, cumin, curry powder, MISCELLANEOUS Artificial sweeteners, Unsweetened lollies/gum, Diet Jelly, Essence: banana, mint, strawberry CALORIE FREE FLUIDS (at least 2 litres extra per day) Water, diet cordial, tea, mineral water, diet soft drink |
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| I had a gastroscopy on Tuesday and was asleep so did not feel a thing. Don't worry, I am sure you will be asleep. Actually, looking at it, you are probably finished by now as it is Thursday. |
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| july22nd09 Congratts for taking the next step! I think avocado is a no no too high in fat but you can always check with the dietician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thanks for all the advise on how to make optifast stage more tolerable. I was dreading it, but my dietitian told me I can have the bars / soups and desserts. I was told I could have Sustagen Hospital Formula which i got in Chocolate flavor. I am only having one shake in the morning. Tomorrow morning I am going to try the trick with adding ice and maybe a drop of peperment essence. I had a soup for dinner last night with some veggies. the soup was terrible as it somewhat curdled. But I used boiling water, and read this morning only to use hot (not boiling) water. I was also told I could eat salad and light veggies (not potato or beans etc) is this the case with others? Where do you think avocado sits? just something to make the salad more appealing. 1 day down 13 to go! |
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| It will be a week tomorrow since I had my lapband surgery. I just wanted to offer some encouragement to anyone struggling on the optifast. I really struggled during the first week, but by the second week the days flew. I lost 8kgs over the two week pre-surgery opti diet phase, and now I am on the liquid/pureed phase, the optifast is a long distant memory. I'm now enjoying all the tastes of regular food and life is on the improve :o) Stick with it guys, it's worth it for a smoother surgery! Macro |
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| Hey bellaboofhead good luck for your endoscopy it really depends on what type of endoscopy it is whether you are put to sleep or not but its definately one of the safer options it should be painless but they give you pain relief if you need it and if its one of the minor endoscopys they usually observe you make sure you have someone to pick u up! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hi everyone, has everyone here having surgery for July found the July group yet?? there seems to be a few names that are not on the July group surgery list. check it out if you havent found it yet...........its called... anyone getting banded July 09 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HI everyone! I have my endoscopy on Thur and am VERY scared!!! Just wondered if anyone has already had it and can ease my mind a bit?? Do they put u right to sleep or r u still awake?? How did the whole experience go?? Thanks!! Sarah :) |
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| Hi All, I just wanted you all to hear my success so you perservere with the opti and go ahead with lapbanding. I was banded 3 years ago at 111kg. I have since lost 60kg and have just had all my plastic surgery done to remove all the excess skin over two ops. Please please stick with it. Although I was supose to do optifast 2 weeks prior my op date came up quickly due to cancelation and I didnt have time. I had a scan that showed huge fatty liver but we took the chance. the lapbanding was able to go ahead. For the first 6 months I struggled and begged at times to get it out. i soon came to realise I had the band too tight and ate the c r a p that went through. I loosened it starting eating smaller regular meals combined with excercise and lost all my weight beyong my goals. It is so worth it I have changed immensely!!! more confidence and I look amazing. People comment how amaing inspirational and good I look. It is so worth it. Try your best with the opti imagine feeling ur excitemnt when you start loosing weight even before the op. I didnt get that chance but perservere find it in urself YOU ALL CAN DO IT SO DO IT believe in urselfs !!!! |
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| Hi Leanne, I am a stay at home Mum as well and I've been on Opti for just over a week. I know how you feel about staying away from the cupboard and fridge. On my really hungry times I have not eaten dinner with the rest of the family because I have found looking at their yummy food torture! lol But in saying that I have found that it has gotten a teeny bit easier everyday! Mel |
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| My name is Rowena, and I only have to be on optifast for 3 weeks, but I have the central obesity(big around the tummy area) so I figure if I give it an extra week I should be ok. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Been on opti three weeks lol here are my amature tips lol Hope this can help someone lol anyone? Drink lots of water! Lite jelly tastes better with a bit of sugar free low joule cordial of same or similar flavour mixed in before setting lol Chop up vegies and put them in little bags for snacks when you go out Walk when you can Strawberry and coffee/cap flavour are expensive because most people say they taste better a little more tolerable lol I found the coffee/cap bars disgusting and the berry crunch i got used to so i use them whenever im starrrrving for food Soups are wayyyyyy better and less expensive if you make them yourself I personally dont like most of the vegies on the list lol so have been living off zuchinni/brocoli/cauliflo wer soups also have found a few recipes on vegan/vegie sites and altered them to allowed foods And rememeber it seriously does get better!! |
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| Burbsis (not sure of your name?) I bet your counting down the days and they can't come soon enough.The wait can seem like eternity.You sure have a while to put up with optifast luckily i only have to put up with it for 2 weeks.I am also 38 and have 50kg to loose.I'm sorry to read about your cancer it must have been a very difficult time for you.Now with getting the band thing can only get better.KEEP SMILING Narelle.... |
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| I have 41 days before surgery starting optifast on monday 13 July. I need to lose 50 kg.Have had another family member banded 2 years ago and they have lost over 60 kg. I am 37 and diagnosed with breast cancer at 30, have had both breasts off, and put on a lot of weight over last 7 years and I am sick of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hi Narelle I start optifast on the 13th . I am really not looking forawrd to it. I am a stay at home mum and its going to be really hard to stay away from the cupbard and the fridge. I will give it my best shot anyway keep thinking about the liver. I mostly post on the Banded in july thread you can find heaps of other people getting banded in july there. I will post again with the link Leanne |
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| Thanks Pyretta I will give that a try! Only 6 more days of optifast for me! YAY!! |
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| hi leanne It's good to hear from you.We are about to enter an exciting stage of our life,it's great to know people who are there to support each other.When do you start the optifast stage? Good luck where ever you are keep in contact it sounds like we are at the same stage... Narelle |
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