If you've been successful using the Optifast Program, would you be willing to share how you did it with me?

Answer 1

I found this for you:

"Meet Tom Martin ARC Patient Since 1980
At the time the photos here were taken of Tom he said he had gone off the Optifast diet for two weeks during the holiday season and only gained two pounds. He is now back on the strict Optifast diet, happy that he was able to go off and not gain so much even during the holiday season, and even happier that after going back on food for a couple weeks he is still able to motivate himself to get back on Optifast.

Tom says he is very happy with the Optifast program and “would recommend the program to anyone who is serious about losing weight.” He adds, “It’s not an answer by itself, so you have to be willing to change your lifestyle and activity levels to make it work long term.”

Q: Why did you choose the ARC Weight Management Program?

A: I was part of the ARC Weight Management pro- gram (Optifast) in 1988-89, losing 100 pounds in six months. At that time we were only allowed to fast for six months and I could not afford the maintenance program. I maintained the loss for two-three years; however, things became very stressful in my life and I reverted to old habits.

In recent years I’ve tried many other diets and was able to lose weight but could not ever stick to it for any length of time. I have had some small health problems and with the prospect of my first grandchild, I began to think about the Optifast program again after the success I had enjoyed the first time.


I researched Optifast on the internet and found that ARC still had a program, so I called and attended an information session. I started the program at the end of July, 2005.


Q: What part of the program was most effective in helping you?

A: The total emersion in the program, no options on what to eat (only the Optifast product), the structure of the weekly weigh-in, watching the scale go down makes me want to keep going, and the ability to talk about what’s going on with the diet and life with a group.

Q: What new habits or lifestyle changes have you made as a result of the program?

A: My life has changed since I started the diet. I’ve begun an exercise program. I’ve learned that I can live just fine without all the fast foods and high calorie items that I used to crave, and that I don’t need food to make me feel good. I feel better about myself and my health has improved to the point where I’ve been able to discontinue my high blood pressure medication. The exercise has not only helped with the weight loss but I found that I feel better about myself and my life when I exercise daily.

Q: How much weight or how many inches have you lost?

A: In four and a half months I’ve lost 102 pounds, 10+ inches in the waist, and gone from a 4XL to a 2XL shirt. I’ve had to replace my wardrobe three times. I need to have my rings re-sized because they’re falling off my hands. I need to have links taken out of my watch because it slides one third of the way up my forearm now.


Q: How will you maintain your weight loss?

A: Once I start re-feeding, I plan to continue/increase my exercise program. I plan to use the Optifast product for at least one meal a day and strictly monitor what and how much I eat. If I have a day when I consume too much, I’ll make up for it by cutting back for the rest of the week.

Medical supervision provided by Hillary Miller, M.D."

I personally believe that there is only one way to lose weight and that is to increase exercise and decrease caloric consumption.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!!