Optavia

[LJSDesigns]

Has anyone here done the Optavia diet? If so can you tell me about your experience? Did it work for you? Did you have any problems with the "fuelings?" Did it really help change the way you look at food for the long run? TIA

[AmieN1]

Yes it works- and fast. Some of the fuelings are disgusting but there's lots of ways to 're-invent' them. I became really good at that. It worked well for me for a long time, until it didn't. It was hard to make almost completely different meals for myself & my family. I still try to eat a lean & green for dinner in general, but I definitely gained a lot back- I blame covid really... and baking!

Edited to add: One of my good friends & coworkers is a coach & was who I did it through. She's maintained for a very long time!

[LJSDesigns]

Originally Posted by AmieN1

Yes it works- and fast. Some of the fuelings are disgusting but there's lots of ways to 're-invent' them. I became really good at that. It worked well for me for a long time, until it didn't. It was hard to make almost completely different meals for myself & my family. I still try to eat a lean & green for dinner in general, but I definitely gained a lot back- I blame covid really... and baking!

Edited to add: One of my good friends & coworkers is a coach & was who I did it through. She's maintained for a very long time!

Maybe it will be easier for me since I live alone and am not cooking for anyone but me? I like the idea of only cooking one meal a day, because that is all I do and just making something quick from a pack for the others.

I just started today and ran across on of those disgusting fuelings. It literally made me sick. Because of that, I am not going to get in all 5 fuelings, but my coach says it is okay.

If you have a board or anything like that for the reinventing of things or lean and green recipes, could you please share it with me. I think I will need to do some reinventing just to make things more interesting.

[Leablahblah]

I'm curious now. What is a fueling??

[LJSDesigns]

It is what they call their prepacked food for the diet. They are based on eating six small meals per day to put your body into a gentle but efficient fat burning state while maintaining lean muscle mass. The fuelings are nutritionally interchangeable, scientifically-designed to keep your blood sugar level through the day. That is what I am looking for, better control of my diabetes. My A1C is good, but I struggle with my energy during the day and especially after meals. I try to avoid the carbs, etc, yet still fee logged down. Hoping this will help. And help me lose weight so that I can maybe get off my diabetes meds. Since I am a type 2 it is possible.

[Neverland Scraps]

I've never heard of your diet, although it sounds familiar to the one that I will be doing later this year - as far as six small "meals" throughout the day". I'll have to check this one out and see if it's something I can incorporate with what I'm working on with my Nutritionist.

I know it isn't an ideal diet, but my husband has been on Keto for several years and has gotten his A1C down to 5 by Keto - if you want to get honest, it's basically him eating lean meat and veggies. I don't cook with all the fatty stuff that is also part of the Keto diet, but I guess we've altered it through the years for his diabetes.

[amyjcaz]

Originally Posted by AmieN1

Yes it works- and fast. Some of the fuelings are disgusting but there's lots of ways to 're-invent' them. I became really good at that. It worked well for me for a long time, until it didn't. It was hard to make almost completely different meals for myself & my family. I still try to eat a lean & green for dinner in general, but I definitely gained a lot back- I blame covid really... and baking!

Edited to add: One of my good friends & coworkers is a coach & was who I did it through. She's maintained for a very long time!

Oh my gosh Yes for me too!!!! Almost the exact same experience. Trying to get back going.

[amyjcaz]

Here are a few of my FAVORITE recipes... even my kids love them!

For this one I use ground turkey... And we LOVE to use a sugar free BBQ sauce instead or marinara. Our favorite brand (their teriyaki is also amazing)







Best marinara for the program...






I also have a mac n cheese and cheesy bread (both use cauliflower) that I will have to look up later for you... gotta help my kiddo with math.

*** Sorry the images are ginormous! LOL

[MamaBee]

interesting - I've never heard of this... I'll have to check it out, my husband is fed up with his sugar numbers. He has been seeing a holistic doctor for almost a year and his numbers aren't better, but other things are. Maybe this would work for him?

[AmieN1]

Originally Posted by LJSDesigns

Maybe it will be easier for me since I live alone and am not cooking for anyone but me? I like the idea of only cooking one meal a day, because that is all I do and just making something quick from a pack for the others.

I just started today and ran across on of those disgusting fuelings. It literally made me sick. Because of that, I am not going to get in all 5 fuelings, but my coach says it is okay.

If you have a board or anything like that for the reinventing of things or lean and green recipes, could you please share it with me. I think I will need to do some reinventing just to make things more interesting.

Pinterest has a TON of hacks- I think they are even called Fueling Hacks- one of my fave was the tomato soup turned into a pizza crust & then top with lots of veggies & skim cheese. Also I hated the mashed potatoes so I used a bit more water & made them in the waffle maker to more of a hashbrown crunchy thing! Great with an egg on top! I turned the oatmeal into a muffin, or added some chopped nuts & sugar free syrup to make it a bit sweeter. I loved the brownie with a tablespoon of PB powder on swirled in on top!

I love the sugarfree bbq sauce that Amy posted too! I found a really good salad dressing that fit in the guidelines too- any yogurt based!
This is our fave!

[GraceLee]

My dad's a coach and yes it works really quickly. The fuelings are gross but the lean and green idea is good. I also learned that you can't eat too little - it's all about balance. I didn't personally go through it but I saw him and the people he helped lose weight pretty quickly, and not gain it back. The main problem one of them complained about however was the soy-based food made her stomach hurt. Not sure if you're having the same experience.

[LJSDesigns]

Thanks for all the advice, products and recipes. Pinning and buying are happening.

Interesting experience today. I did something to help out a co-worker who is a food scientist and she wanted to buy my lunch as a thanks. When I told her I was doing Optavia, she got so excited because not only has she done it in the past and lost 40 lbs, she worked for them and created many of the fueling recipes. She was sharing all kinds of ideas and things with me today and just so enthusiastic about the program, that it really made me feel better about it. Yesterday was pretty rough with getting sick on one of the fuelings, which she was quick to point out was not one of hers, lol, but today was good. I got all my fuelings in, ate my lean and green and drank all my water. Very happy about that.

[Leablahblah]

Originally Posted by LJSDesigns

Thanks for all the advice, products and recipes. Pinning and buying are happening.

Interesting experience today. I did something to help out a co-worker who is a food scientist and she wanted to buy my lunch as a thanks. When I told her I was doing Optavia, she got so excited because not only has she done it in the past and lost 40 lbs, she worked for them and created many of the fueling recipes. She was sharing all kinds of ideas and things with me today and just so enthusiastic about the program, that it really made me feel better about it. Yesterday was pretty rough with getting sick on one of the fuelings, which she was quick to point out was not one of hers, lol, but today was good. I got all my fuelings in, ate my lean and green and drank all my water. Very happy about that.

oooh good for you Lorie! I'm glad today (yesterday) was a good day!

[LJSDesigns]

Originally Posted by amyjcaz

On the chicken for this one, do you need to use canned chicken? If so do you have a good brand to recommend because I hate canned chicken.

[LJSDesigns]

If any one is still doing this and looking for some good recipes, I found this site that has some delicious looking ones.

http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/

I know I will be trying some of the crockpot ones soon.

[bienejen]

Originally Posted by LJSDesigns

On the chicken for this one, do you need to use canned chicken? If so do you have a good brand to recommend because I hate canned chicken.

I've used the canned chicken from Sam's club for curry chicken salad and find if you're seasoning it, it's not bad. I thought Tyson's chicken in a pouch was better than all the canned I've tried. We initially got it for camping put it's not bad to have on hand..