I don't know if this is the right place to ask about this... but then, we've got different groceries and stuff to America. And a different and much smaller selection of things to choose from.

Currently I'm doing the Optifast diet... and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips from their time (like how to ignore the horrible food that's suddenly a new and huge temptation) or any recipes from the slim pickings we get to choose from... or anything?

And is there any types of Optifast besides the chocolate powder? :/

I found it good to have the optifast bars at work for lunch for a change - my Dr was ok with having them instead. They are actually quite tasty. I was also allowed to eat a cup of non starchy (so generally anything green) veggies a day. Not sure if you're allowed to do that but I stirfried mine with garlic and soy sauce (i'd have onion, bockchoy, brocolli, zuchini, snow peas).

You can also get vanilla shakes, and I know that some of the other Aussie's put flavouring in them to make them a bit tastier. I really didn't mind the shakes all that much either (after about day 3 when my body had adjusted to not consuming enough to feed a small country in one sitting).

I found it really hard to not cheat in my 2 weeks on optifast. And I admit that about 2 or 3 days before surgery, I did cheat and ate some of my DH's pasta. But because I hadn't been consuming much, I didn't really have much of a physical appetite for it once it was in my mouth and tummy, it was all in my head. Stay strong, trust me its not worth beating yourself up over it because of one silly food indiscretion if you slip up. You'll feel better being able to say that you could stick it out!

Good luck!!

A lot of people like the Tony Ferguson program better than Optifast - its the same type of thing, and lots of people's docs have approved it instead, unlike Slimfast and other more "commercial" ones, its not full of sugar etc, pretty comparable to optifast. Lots and lots more flavours though.

Its sold through Terry White Chemists or I think you can buy it online.

I also had trouble with optifast diet because i hated the shakes... so i lived off the bars (berry crunch is quiet good) soup and cup of green veges at night... there is also a mousse you can get but look it all up on the optifast web site its a great help

hi there, i've had my band on since september last year and i always still drink the optifast drinks. i've lost 75kg so far and have another 20 to go. don't your money on the optislim drinks, they taste terrible. optifast is the way to go even though it costs a bit more. wish you the very best, once your band is on and you keep getting your fills, you won't look back. it's so easy!

Hi,

It's coming down to the wire now, with my surgery booked for next Tuesday (afternoon). Problem is, Optifast is killing me.

I seem to go okay for maybe 3 or 4 days, and then slip. I can't stop thinking about all the stuff I won't be able to eat after I get the lapband, so convince myself I should have it now. I know the food never actually tastes as good as I think it will, but it's hard to stop thinking about it.

How did you all go?

Any ideas or suggestions anyone can offer would be great.

Thanks heaps.

I just heard that Optifast powder now comes in strawberry and coffee. I'd seen the cappucino bars before but those powders are new. Oh and I heard there's a vegetable soup too.

Hi Carmel,

Thanks for your help :confused:

I think all those shakes and Soups are what was bringing me down. I discovered a choc mouse that's pretty good, oh and the berry crunch bars. Managing to stay on-track with these.

Thanx again

I have been told to do 6 weeks on the optifast stage :faint:...is this normal??

You're welcome, dazey!

Teeny, it is fairly normal - each surgeon asks different things, though. I did 8 weeks of Optifast pre-surgery but I was part of a study group