9 St George Obesity Surgery Unit | Bariatric Book | Will You Be Satisfied On This Diet? The first 3-4 days on an Optifast® VLCD diet are the hardest as your body uses up all its glycogen stores (stored sugars) for energy. During these first few days your body transitions into ketosis and you may experience side effects like fatigue, hunger, lack of concentration, nausea and/or headaches. If you can persevere and get beyond those first few days, then things do get easier. Most symptoms pass by days 4-6, as the body is forced to go into “fat burning mode”. By breaking down fat stores ketones are produced, these are chemicals in the body which act as appetite suppressants. If you eat foods other than what is recommended, the ketone production is interrupted, your cravings for food will increase and you will not get the desired outcome. In the rare event that patients cannot tolerate Optifast®, please let your dietitian know ASAP so that suitable alternatives can be offered. We would hate you to miss out on your operation or have your operation date deferred because of inadequate weight loss prior to surgery. Product options Optifast® VLCD Shakes, Bars, Soups or a combination of these products. Preparation Add one sachet of Optifast® VLCD to 200 ml of cold or warm water. Stir, shake or use a blender to dissolve. For the milkshakes, adding ice to it and mixing it in the blender will make it taste better. Do not use boiling water because this will affect the nutritional content of the product. You may use more water if desired. This is based on your weight and the overall risks associated with surgery for your particular circumstances. It is usually for 2-6 weeks before surgery, and the goal is to achieve adequate weight loss and reduce the operation risk. How Long Do You Need To Be On This Diet? Some patients based on weight, BMI and medical history, may need a longer Optifast® ® program. This decision is made by your team and discussed with you. What Else Can You Eat In Addition To Optifast®? Fluids Rapid weight loss places a load on your kidneys; therefore you must drink at least 2 Litres of extra fluids a day to flush them. Most of your fluid should be water but you may also include: diet cordial, unflavored mineral water, soda water, herbal tea and limited tea/coffee with no or 30ml skim milk. No sugar, but artificial sweeteners can be added. Foods with no or small amount of energy In addition to the Optifast® you may also eat other foods that have no energy such as: • Konjac noodles (Slendier/Slim Pasta range), • diet jelly, • stock cubes, • vegetable soups made from allowed vegetables, • strained broth, • miso soup, and • diet cordial. You can also include 2 cups of non starchy vegetables from the list below. You may also add vinegar, lemon, lime, herbs and other spices for flavouring.
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