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Conference rocks::weight_control

Title: Weight Loss and Maintenance
Notice:**PLEASE** enter notes in mixed case (CAPS ARE SHOUTING)!
Moderator:ASICS::LESLIE
Created:Tue Jul 10 1990
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:933
Total number of notes:9931

522.0. "Opti-fast vs. Medi-fast (and JH)" by CIVIC::WEBER () Thu Oct 19 1989 14:30

    I'm in need of some advice. I'm trying to determine the pluses and
    minuses between optifast and medifast. A major issue for me is money.
    Another major issue of timing. The only Dr. I know in Merrimack who
    does it won't have an opening til the end of November. So here are
    some of my questions. 
    
    Who in the So. NH area does medifast?
    What's needed to get JH to pay for Medifast? For optifast?
      (Except for being 50+ lbs overweight I'm perfectly healthy, will this
       be a problem?)
    
    What parts of either program will JH pay?
    (As I mentioned above money is a BIG factor for me. For me to do this I
     need to have JH pay for as much as possible, in other words 80% of
     everything except supplements. )
    
    Program wise which is better? Why do you say that?
    
    When I spoke to the woman at medifast she estimates 3lbs/wk for women,
     what does optifast estimate?
    
    Any and all comments are welcome. If you are more comfortable sending
    me mail please feel free to contact me at CIVIC::WEBER.
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    nancy
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
522.1Been there.... WW, that is!NETMAN::LAGOYThu Oct 19 1989 19:2319
    i know someone who did both programs.  after failing at optifast
    (this person lost 47 pounds in 11 weeks and gained back 54 in
    about 6 month) this person is now doing medifast and is not doing
    so well at that either...  they are both equally expensive.  JH
    does pay for 80% but you have to pay first and JH reimburses you.
    i'm not sure how you get this "approved" however.
    
    what's the hurry for losing weight?  i think you would be better
    off to try Weight Watchers..  it DEFINITELY is CHEAPER, and is
    more successful in the fact that WW teaches you HOW to eat...
    without deprivation.  at $26 to join and $8/week, it makes a lot
    more sense financially, too.  these fasting programs work FAST,
    but you're not learning anything about behavior modification..
    
    are you going to be able to handle FASTING during the upcoming
    holiday season and keep your sanity too?
    
    peggy
522.2Good but not for me.CSC32::R_LECOMPTEEVERY knee shall bow...Tue Oct 24 1989 19:5215
    I started Medifast this week. I am not paying first but billing
    John Hancock directly. I think it really depends on your agreement
    with the Dr.
    
    A note on WW. I loved WW, I lost about 30 lbs. The thing was though
    that everyone was always thinking about food. Thinking about what
    you were going to eat for the next meal, thinking about how many
    exchanges you had left etc.etc.  I gained it all back plus more.
    
    Just my experience. I still think they are a great organization and
    that it does work. It just wasn't the answer for me.
    
    
    Rothel
522.3Same here.MSDOA::MCMULLINTue Oct 24 1989 20:5310
    Rothel,
    
    I had the same experience as you with WW.  I always assumed it was
    because I had too much to choose from on WW, but I think you're right
    to say you are always thinking about food.  I'm not condemning WW, I
    just need a stricter program and I have to be stricter with myself even
    when I do lose weight.
    
    Virginia
522.4I'm ConfusedAIMHI::DANIELSFri Oct 27 1989 12:4011
    I'm probably showing my ignorance, but after one has finished a program
    of whatever Opti-fast or Medi-fast is and have lost the desired weight,
    how do you maintain it?  Or does one only eat Opti-fast for the rest of
    your life?  I hope I don't sound sarcastic, because I'm not, and I
    truly don't understand what these two programs are about, or how you go
    back to eating.
    
    Confused,
    
    Tina
522.5You must change eating patternsCOOKIE::WILCOXDatabase Systems/WestFri Oct 27 1989 14:527
Tina,  basicly, you have to change your pre-fast eating habits.

I'll confess I'm thinking of trying one of these methods depending upon
how heavy I am after this pregnancy.  I'm a tried and true WW member but
have been at it so long I sometimes think I need something drastic to
get the weight off.  Then I would follow WW to keep it off.
522.6Fasting programsCIMAI::SHAMELMarsha ShamelFri Nov 03 1989 14:5624
I feel a need to reply to the comments about not learning behavior modification 
on the fasting programs.

I have recently joined the HMR program at Emerson Hospital.  This is a fasting 
program (liquids only), basically 520 calories a day.  It is medically 
supervised.  the program is a lot like Optifast.

The major piece of the program is the maintenance and behavior modification.
As a matter of fact while I will be on the fasting program about 4 months
(losing just under 60 lbs), I will be on the maintenance piece for 18 months!
This program is very serious about learning what to eat and not changing your
style.  If you are an afternoon or evening eater or restaurant eater, they
work with you to learn the better choices.

I joined this program for two reasons - the fast weight loss (I need positive
feedback fast) and the committment to behavior modification through the
maintenance phase.

One final comment - there are lots of programs and lots of ways to lose
weight. Finding the program that works for you, accounts for your style of
living, and then committing to it are the secrets to success.

Good luck to all of you!