If you were researching the Optavia weight loss program and didn’t find much content, that’s because the name changed. In July 2026, the company rebranded from Optavia to Trilivy. It is under the same parent company (Medifast), same pre-packaged “fuelings” and coach-sold model, just rebranded and marketed now as a “metabolic health system” instead of “a weight loss system”. Everything in this review still applies. I’m adding the new name here so this is easy to find whether you searched Optavia or Trilivy.
Is Trilivy Different from Optavia?
Not really. Trilivy is Optavia’s new name, announced by parent company Medifast in July 2026. The products, the coach-based selling model, and the overall program are the same, it’s a rebrand, not a redesign.
The components of Optavia have stayed the same but now it is just called Trilivy. Medifast claims this is to “reflect a larger focus on overall metabolic health.”
Here’s the catch. If the original medifast program rebranded to Optavia which is now rebranded AGAIN, and yet the program itself has not changed. Clearly there is no greater focus on metabolic health, it is just a marketing ploy. Medifast was originally created to be an ultra-low calorie diet plan for those who needed to lose a significant amount of weight before bariatric surgery. Not someone who wants to lose 30-50 lbs and get into shape.
As you continue to read, you will see why it is actually an unsustainable weight loss program and why it could very well mess up your metabolism. If you are skeptical, please jump directly to the comment section because it is not just a dietitians opinion. The same concerns and issues have been echoed across thousands of people who have tried this program.
Is Trilivy Legit?
I will review the program and if it’s an effective solution for weight loss. Or maybe you already tried the 5 and 1 program and are thinking “Optavia ruined my life!”. You will find the content below helpful for discovering why you feel this way.
Below is my honest review of the program based on information found directly on the Optavia (now Trilivy) website, science, and experience from my own nutrition clients who have tried (and regretted) signing up for the program.
Those that promote the program only highlight the before and after photos to prove that “it works”. Yet they are silent about the hidden dangers, side effects, and long term problems that come along with this diet both physically and mentally.
If you have friends or family who are on this program, and wondered “what is this diet all about?” You are definitely going to want to read all the juicy details below (and comment section!) because I do not want you to be another victim of this diet program.
Table of Contents
What is the Optavia 5 and 1 plan?
The Optavia 5 and 1 plan, now called “Trilivy 5 and 1” consists of eating 5 “fuelings” a day which are pre-portioned meal replacements of prepackaged protein foods. The website showcases over 60 options ranging from soups, bars, muffins, and bars. Each “fueling” contains 9-12 grams of protein and 110-190 calories per product.
In addition to the 5 fuelings, you can eat one “lean and green meal”. This meal includes 5-7oz protein and 3 servings of non starchy vegetables.
This way of eating is very straight forward. There is no guess work and minimal planning in advance. This plan works well for people who are busy or tend to be on the go often. It also is appealing to people who are overwhelmed for what to do for weight loss as it is a super simple low calorie diet to follow.
The Optavia website says that eating a meal every 2-3 hours if the first “healthy habit”, but the last time I checked, a 110 calorie protein bar is not a meal at all. From a nutrition standpoint, you have to eat every 2 hours on this plan not because its “healthy” but because 110 calories is not enough for your body to survive without passing out.
In total, you are eating around 800-1000 calories. This might sound like a high number, but is a very low daily calorie intake which makes it challenging to stay on long term. I’ll dive into why eating this few of calories is also a disaster waiting to happen which will lead to inevitable weight gain.
How Much Does Optavia 5 and 1 Cost?
A seven (7) count box of a peanut butter chocolate chip bars cost $23.25, which is about 3.30/bar. I eat protein bars, and buy them from the grocery store or Costco. Protein bars with 10-20grams of protein with clean ingredients can cost $1.00-2.50 each. The “fuelings” are two to three times more expensive than something comparable from your grocery store.
If you eat 5 Optavia fuelings a day, then the program will cost you $16.50/day, or about $495 for a month. Maybe a little more or less depending on which fuelings you purchase.
However, the cost above does not include your “lean and green” meal. So in addition to $495/month in “fuelings”, you are going to need to buy meat and non starchy vegetables for 7 dinners a week. Don’t forget your kids, partner, or anyone else in the home that might also need to eat 3 normal meals or snacks.
In short, the diet plan will cost just YOU at least $600/month. This price does not include the cost of other family members groceries for meals and snacks. This I would categorize closer to an expensive sad hyperprocessed food plan.
Negative Reviews
Currently Optavia has a 1.59 star rating on the BBB website. The biggest complaints listed are all around the quality of the product and issues with being charged even after canceling your orders. This means customer service may not be as great when it comes to canceling auto-shipments and you could be stuck with $400 worth of food products.
Does Optavia ruin your metabolism?
Absolutely! There are two major reasons for this, which is metabolic adaptation and loss of lean muscle mass.
Your body has a basil metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of calories your body needs at bare minimum. Your BMR is the bare minimum calories your body needs to just survive and function.You can calculate your unique BMR here . You will notice that the calories needed are always more than the 800-1000 calories that the Optavia 5 and 1 plan provides.
So to put it nicely, the Optavia 5 and 1 plan is an expensive way to ruin your metabolism in the process.
Metabolic Adaptation
With a calorie restriction of 800-1000 calories a day, your metabolism adapts and becomes efficient to using fewer calories so you don’t starve to death (literally)!
Let’s say before starting Optavia 5 and 1 weight loss plan, your body used 1800 calories a day. Now that you are feeding it about 50% of that, your body uses less energy because it knows it isn’t eating enough calories. It gradually adapts to now only use 1000 calories to prevent further weight loss.
Once you begin eating 10% or more of your restricted calorie amount, that is when weight gain sets in. If your metabolism is working with 800 calories,then once you start eating more calories than that, your body stores those calories for later energy usage (aka weight gain). This is why you are GUARANTEED to regain the weight you once lost.
It has nothing to do with willpower or because you ate 1 cookie. Its because your metabolism will become SO slow.
The weight management clients I work with who have lost weight on the Optavia 5 and 1 plan regained more than they initially lost. The 40 lb weight loss now turns into a 65 lb regain.
If you were thinking to try Whole30 or Paleo to improve your cholesterol or blood pressure, I go over the pros and cons inside Mediterranean Diet vs Paleo Diet: Which is Better for Heart Health?
Loss of Lean Muscle Mass
Your body needs more than 800 calories a day just for its internal organs to survive. In order to get energy it WILL break down lean muscle mass for energy. The tricky part is that it is your lean muscle that is needed to keep a fast metabolism. Im not denying you will lose weight on Optavia 5 and 1. But it will come at the cost of your body breaking down your valuable lean muscle alongside of some fat loss.
So now we have a grand slam equation with your adapted metabolism to be a quick as a sloth and your lean muscle mass withering away. Yet the program loves to boast of how their “program works”.
You know what, it does work. Works for screwing over your metabolism.
What Happens When You Stop Optavia?
There are several things that can happen when you stop the 5 and 1 program. I want to bring these to your attention so you can be fully aware of what is physiologically happening.
1. Shifts in Hunger and Fullness Hormones
No one mentions that your hormones will also change after following a calorie restricted diet. A study in The International Journal of Obesity, points out that your hunger hormone ghrelin increases, which in turns increases your appetite and desires for highly palatable foods. Yet, your fullness hormone, leptin, actually decreases.
2. Change in Weight
While it is everyones greatest fear about stopping the program, just know that any weight you regain can eventually be lost again in a sustainable way. Your coach might follow up and let you know you can get “on plan” again, but that will put you right back where you started. Whatever you do, do not go back on plan.
Repeat after me. I will NOT go back on plan.
Some of the changes in the scale are water “weight”. This isn’t true weight, but rather fluid that is in your muscles. The 5 and 1 plan is very low in carbohydrates. When going off plan, eating carbohydrates, even if they are nutrient dense, will change your scale weight because water is retained in carbs.
If the scale is a mind game, go ahead and put it in your attic or the trunk of your spouses car for the next 30-60 days while you get back into real food routines and establishing consistent exercise habits.
3. Uncertainty Around Eating
Believe it or not, it kinda screws with your mind when you’ve been told for the past 6-18 months that tomatoes and carrots have too much sugar, or that bell peppers are better than eating apples. In my experience with working with patients who have completed this plan in the past, it can be really challenging for them to start eating any starches even if they are nutrient dense such as quinoa, beans, or oats.
Remember, this program was allowing you to eat pancakes from soluble corn fiber and soy protein isolate. No whole foods there! You can embrace real foods again.
4. Feelings of Guilt
If weight is starting to come back on, and or you have a coach who keeps pushing you to stay with the program, you might start feeling guilty like somehow you did something wrong or let someone down. None of this is your fault, and no one gave you a clear picture of how you would go back to eating like a normal person.
What I Would Do to Transition Off Optavia
First, let it be said that at some point during the shift back into real eating, you might want to say “FORGET THIS!” and do whatever you want. This is valid- especially if you are clingy tightly to the scale and have your worth tied into that dang number! You will also be tempted at times to just resort back to restrictive ways or thinking you just need to “eat less”.
Remember, if you want different results (aka weight loss and keep it off) you HAVE to do something different. Being restrictive is not the answer.
I will not give final calorie recommendations here as everyone’s energy needs are VERY different based off daily energy use, age, gender, and activity level. So here are just the basic things I would do to start.
1. Include 30 grams of Protein at Breakfast
There are many studies that suggest having a larger breakfast, specifically with at least 20-30g of protein at breakfast can help with energy, eating less throughout the day, and weight management.
2. Track Your Energy + Slowly Add More
The brand website shares a “maintenance plan” which is a whopping total of an extra 200 calories a day, which would be 1200 calories. You can’t eat 1200 calories forever. The people who do this are not going to be able to optimize their lean muscle mass.
Now, if you go from eating 800 calories a day and jump straight to 1800 or 2000, that is a recipe for rapid weight regain. While some weight regain is unavoidable, you CAN control to a degree how much is gained.
Earlier I talked about how your brain will readjust your bodies calories needs if you are eating in a calorie deficit for an extended period of time? Imagine your just lost your job, are you going to go out and spend a bunch of money you don’t have? That’s exactly what your body does in an extreme calorie deficit for a long time. It does not want to spend calories it does not have!
With that being said, if your bodies metabolism is now used to eating 800-1000 calories a day, we need to gradually increase your metabolism and let your body know that it will be getting more energy in regularly. You can do this by adding in 100-200 calories every 2-3 weeks.
So once you are off plan, get in 1200 calories to start. Then after 1-2 weeks go to 1350, and then keep continuing. For females at minimum get at least to 1600, and for men 1800. Again, those are not your custom weight maintenance calories, but a range to get to until you calculate your daily energy needs.
I just don’t want you to think you have to keep increasing to 3,000 calories ; )
3. Eat a Minimum of 5 Servings of Produce a Day
Not only are fruits and vegetables high in water content which will keep you full, the prebiotic fiber in them can change your gut composition. This is important because prebiotic foods in apples, bananas, garlic, onion, oats, and asparagus can help your gut natural secret GLP-1.
Yes! Your body actually has its own GLP-1. It’s not just a man made compound found in Ozempic.
5 servings is the minimum baseline, and research has shown that there are health benefits even up to 9 servings a day.
4. Start with Weight /Body Resistance Training
20 minutes 3x a week.
Just like nutrition, weight training also needs to be customized to the individual. Don’t go out there and try to do 50lb bicep curls if you are only used to walking. Start small and gradually add 5-10 lbs every few weeks.
If you don’t have access to a personal trainer, there are TONS of great at home bodyweight exercise videos on Youtube with trainers who have correct form and can provide modifications for beginner or advance moves.
I’ve used MadFit, FitnessBlender, HASfit, Blogilates, and Bodyweight Project. Again, these are just a few but they are solid.
Why is Optavia bad for you?
In the sections below I’ll dive more into why this program is bad for your health. The insufficient calories is just one piece of the problem.These are things to be aware of before signing up for the 5 and 1 plan.
Low Quality Ingredients
While the fuelings are fortified with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics that is not the same as eating vitamins and minerals from real whole foods.
They are ultra processed and made with cheap soy protein isolate, corn fiber, gums, carrageenan, GMO ingredients, and stevia. So this claim of being “nutrient dense” is a complete joke!
There is not one single whole food in them. Not one.
If you put Vitamin A inside of a packaged food product, yes you might absorb some of those vitamins, but you aren’t getting the full range of antioxidants and fiber that you would get from eating Vitamin A from a steamed carrot, spinach, or sweet potato.
The fueling labels are misleading by stating they are “nutrient dense” and there is a “clean label”. There is not ONE whole food in them. How is that even clean?
I love how it promotes a “gentle” fat burning state. So are there levels of fat burning now? I can adjust my diet for it to be a gentle or rigorous fat burn? Since when is fat loss like a menu of massage offerings?
Why is Optavia unhealthy?
1. Ruins your relationship with food
You know it’s bad when there is a Facebook Group for those traumatized by the program
Normal eating involves fruits and vegetables of all colors, not picking out carrots from your coleslaw because it has tOo MuCh sUgAR.
Let me be brutally honest- I have never talked to someone who has struggled with their weight because they eat too many carrots.
Heaven have mercy!
2. Promotes disordered Eating
take a look at the snack list on page 18. Would you tell your child that if they are hungry to have a stick of gum? Or a 0 calorie food like plain celery, pickle or a sugar-free popsicle. Consuming 0 calorie foods to mask hunger is a red flag of disorderly eating.
If you are a parent, consider how it might impact your children and their view of food. I have spoken with dozens of women who specifically remember their mom on every diet under the sun and how it ruined their ability to eat normally.
We need to display moderation, balance, and variety to our children. More is caught than taught. Eating a fueling the size of a granola bar and calling it “lunch” will create problems later for your kids.
Additionally, the Optavia 5 and 1 plan is very black and white with what foods you can or cannot eat with so many food rules. There is no flexibility in eating the occasional treat or having the type of fruit you want. If you want to have a social life or eat out with friends you are going to need to request to cucumbers and salsa instead of chips. It is no surprise when people tell me, “Optavia ruined my life.”
I would 110% never put this plan in front of anyone who has a history of an eating disorder, or disordered eating. However, the sad truth is that the “coaches” are not screening for this type of information nor do they recognize that eating below basic human calorie needs could develop into orthorexia, anorexia, or binge eating disorder.
3. It Discourages Exercise
Any program that says “you don’t need to exercise” is a huge red flag.
This is a very clear indicator that you are not eating enough calories to survive and would most likely pass out or develop medical complications from the stress put on your heart from under eating.
4. Fuelings Tested Positive for Lead
According to Gotham Research LLC, the majority of Optavia fuelings contain high dosages of lead and cadmium than what is recognized as being safe.
I would rather not risk it.
5. Lack of Customization
Anyone looking to lose weight has unique energy needs based on their age, height, sex, and activity level. As a result, you need to use equations and calculations (no, not myfitnesspal) that can give you numbers to follow.
The problem is Optavia is a cookie cutter program.
It is not scary that a 300 lb 6’4″male is put on the same calorie plan and eating as much protein as a 150 lb 5’4″ female?! Weight loss is not everyone eat 1000 calories and 90g of protein.
If this program was backed in science they would use science backed equations that can calculate energy and protein needs.
Oh wait. They wouldn’t do that because then the calculations would find that 1000 calories isn’t close to what people need to eat.
A one size fits all diet is not reliable or something to trust if you want sustainable and long lasting weight loss.
6. Inadequate Levels of Protein and Fats
Remember how weight loss also leads to reduced lean muscle mass? Lean muscle is preserved during weight loss by getting enough protein which is calculated on ideal body weight. The other piece to help reduce muscle loss is to engage in resistance/weight training.
Protein needs for weight loss has a range anywhere from 1.0-2.2g/kg of ideal body weight
Because a 6 ft 4″ male and a 5’2″ female have different ideal body weights, why are they eating the same amount of protein?
A single fueling has anywhere from 9-12g of protein. You will get at most 60g of protein from “fuelings” and 30-47oz of protein from a lean and green. Don’t get me wrong, this is a decent amount of protein. The problem it is not customized, and most of your protein is coming from soy protein isolate instead of a whole food.
Per Optavia’s website, you can eat 0-2 servings of unsaturated fats on the 5 and 1 plan. Optavia counts 1 serving of fats to be only 5g of fat. This means you get anywhere from 0-10g of added fats a day. For reference, my weight loss clients can eat anywhere from 65-80g of fat a day and are still losing weight.
7. Excludes Fruits and Vegetables
Let me set the record straight. Added sugar found in pastries, sodas, sweetened teas, sugary cereals etc IS harmful. We know when your diet is full of added sugar and low in fiber this can lead to chronic disease such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Sugar found is fruit is not detrimental to your body. Citrus has been studied to lower bad levels of cholesterol. Grapes contain high levels of anthocyanins, an antioxidant that improves heart health and cognition. Cutting produce out is not okay.
Yet this program is okay to stand behind their fuelings which are the furthest thing from healthy real food, all while saying grapes have too much sugar?!?
Suspicious.
I know you can’t hear me, but I’m raising my voice over here.
As a Registered Dietitian, I’ve reviewed THOUSANDS of food logs. People who want to lose weight 99% of the time are not eating enough fruits and vegetables to begin with. Or if they do it is inconsistent. The last thing you need is someone telling you to only eat blueberries and never an orange. Swap those grapes for cut bell pepper slices instead.
There is NO hierarchy of fruits and vegetables. They are all good for you. Period. Granted, there are some types of produce that has been studied to improve different health conditions. For example cruciferous veggies are perfect for lowering cholesterol. Does this mean green beans are worthless? No.
The more variety of fruits and vegetables you have in your diet, the wider range of nutrients you will consume. By limiting your fruit and vegetable intake to a select list, you are eating fewer antioxidants and vitamins that are beneficial for your health.
As if this diet isn’t already restrictive enough?
There is NO scientific evidence that shows that limiting fruits and vegetables due to their sugar content leads to weight loss. In fact, the opposite is true.
9. You May Not Be Learning Healthy Habits
The biggest perk to this program is the convenience. I totally get that you are looking for at least some progress, especially if you want to lose 50 or more pounds. Chances are you are busy and you just want to feel better. I see you.
The biggest drawback is it may not be setting you up for long term success. Grabbing a single bar for breakfast is not helping you develop the skills to be eating healthy at home. I know eating well feels like a HUGE commitment, but if you have the right strategies it is 100% possible.
After you hit you stop the program, you may feel lost and confused on what or how much to eat. This is because the entire Optavia 5 and 1 plan is based around consuming products, and what foods to restrict.
It’s not learning about nutrition or behavior change.
All the “tools” that your “coach” provides such as chewing gum when you are hungry or eating sugar free popsicles as a snack are only focused on shrinking your body and NOTHING to do with your actual health.
Is the Optavia diet safe?
No it is not safe. You might be able to shrink your body fast. However, the internal damage from eating significantly less than what your body needs and rapid weight loss can lead to:
1. Lowered metabolism
When you intentionally cut your calories too low, your resting metabolism will become efficient at using fewer calories. Your body wants to keep itself alive, and not wither!
Lets say before dieting your BMR was 1800 calories. You start Optavia and are eating 1000 calories. Gradually your body will lower your BMR. This is scary because your BMR doesn’t just “bounce back” when you are done dieting.
Once you 10% more calories than you were eating while on a diet, you will gain weight back.
The weight comes back on because if you brain has readjusted your maintenance calories to be 1200, but now you are eating 1800, your body is taking in these extra calories as storage and it leads to weight gain.
Remember the whole BMR thing? Well now if you gained the weight back and think “oh I’ll just go on that diet again” it does NOT work as fast. Why? Because your BMR is lower. Before 1200 calories was considered a calorie deficit based on your BMR, but now because of low calorie dieting, 1200 calories is what your body will use to maintain your weight.
It rarely has nothing to do with “going back to eating horribly”. It is because you are eating at a normal amount, but your metabolism has adapted to survive on less.
Yet the average dieter is filled with SO MUCH guilt and shame feeling like they somehow did not “try hard enough” or “were lazy”. These are usually not the case!
2. Increased Risk of Gallstones
Per Johns Hopkins Medicine during ultra rapid weight loss (i.e losing 3-5 lbs each week) your gallbladder secrets more cholesterol in your bile. This is what creates gallstones, and will land you in the ER.
The majority of patients I have worked with have had to have their gallbladder removed while following the 5 and 1 plan. Yet, coaches have been told to tell participants “it’s because you are not drinking enough water.”
Personally, I’d rather skip gallbladder surgery and start lifting weight instead.
3. Stomach + Digestive Problems
When Optavia was branded as Medifast, it was nicknamed “Medi-farts” because people have such bad gas on this plan.
You are consuming so much soy protein + sugar substitutes it can cause a LOT of stomach and gas problems. If you chose to start this diet, at least be sure you’re working from home. If you don’t believe me, go ask a friend on Reddit
4. Hormonal Imbalances
Your thyroid is impacted by under eating as well as your sex hormones. This can lead to low sex drive and depression.
5. Hair loss
A major sign of not getting enough protein and calories. Your coach may just tell you though its because “your body is detoxing” from all the weight loss.
6. Risk of Recruitment into a Pyramid Scheme
Just as a heads up your “coach” is going to offer you the opportunity to you to become a coach.
Is Trilivy an MLM?
This program is a Multi-Level-Marketing buisness because there are 2 ways you can earn income. One way is ethical, the other is not.
If you sign up to become a coach, you make a commission off the food of what your clients buy. Hence, the need to charge $23.50 a box for 7 protein bars. That part is a legitimate way to earn money. It’s a direct sale and you make a commission.
However, the second way you earn money is through recruiting coaches to be under you. Hence, the pyramid model. If you are making money off those coaches who are doing all the hard work of recruiting dieters, that is the definition of a pyramid scheme. You are taking money off your coaches, and your income only grows as you have more people under you.
The Federal Trade Commission has more information on this. I am passionate about informing others about this because the “opportunity” will be presented to you like you can easily earn 6 figures from your phone and just using the “nooks and crannies” of your day. However, the reality is high turnover, and there are only a few spots in the pyramid that make that type of money. You may very well put in hundreds of hours each month and still not make much.
I’ve also heard that coaches are encouraged to tell their customers they are more likely to “keep the weight off” if you become a coach.
Is it just me, or is your skin crawling too? *Shudder*
Oh but wait, I have a lot more cringe!
Is Optavia 5 and 1 Plan Bad For Your Health?
Between the inadequate calorie amounts, limited nutrients, and overall metabolic damage it will do to your health. I can confidently and objectively say “yes” this is not good for your health and it could ruin your life.
I am not denying it can help you lose weight. This is what the program boasts about and how “our program works”. However, it is not a healthy way to lose weight or sustainable for keeping it off permanently.
I know you are probably looking for a simple weight loss solution. One that doesn’t involve a lot of work or decisions. For the love of mercy, please get connected with myself or another Registered Dietitian!
You deserve more than starving yourself on protein bars. You need someone who can guide you into SUSTAINABLE habits and patterns of eating you can actually follow.
Understand Who is Coaching You
People who sell the product call themselves “health coaches” which couldn’t be further from the truth. I refuse to acknowledge they are coaches, because they are not.
They are sales people in a multi-level-marketing business. Period.
The before and after pictures you see on instagram stories and Facebook feeds are from corporate. The photos may be real, but they are NOT the photos from someones actual client. They are repurposed and used in mass by thousands of coaches.
That feels slimy to me. I don’t use other Dietitian’s patients photos and then say “well we both do the same thing, so it doesn’t matter”.
Optavia Coaches may have no Nutritional Background or Training.
Coaches are COPE certified, which is NOT an accredited health or nutrition program. It consists of a 30 minute multiple choice questionnaire.
Shut the front door.
You can take a 30 minute open book multiple choice quiz and now magically be a coach?
You can know everything about metabolism, nutrients in food, motivational interviewing, behavior change, and metabolic needs?!
Clearly not, because you are providing the same cookie cutter program to everyone who signs up.
Between following “coaches” on social media and listening to podcast episodes (Life After MLM) I have seen A LOT.
Even my own nutrition clients who have completed the program share that their coaches would could not answer questions when negative side effects came up such as stomach pain, hair loss, gallstone attacks, or gas.
Common Inaccurate Claims from Coaches
When customers have legitimate concerns they are all given the same answer. This means the coaches are being coached from corporate to say these things.
Based on posts from Optavia sales reps on facebook, instagram, reddit posts, podcast interviews, and within facebook groups, I have heard what previous dieters have been told by “coaches” when they encountered negative side effects or were skeptical about the safety of following the program.
These are just a few.
“Your body is just adjusting to eating healthy”
This is what you are told when your stomach is cramping and have uncontrollable gas.
While eating more fiber in your diet could cause you to have more gas initially, the stomach issues are most likely from eating a large amount of soy protein isolate and stevia.
“We are a cost neutral program”
They love to claim that “its really not that much more expensive than what you are spending on food anyway.” But is it really?
Earlier in the post I quoted the program costs roughly $16.50/day, or about $495 for a month. And then the “lean and green” meal which is something you have to buy yourself. Don’t forget your kids, partner, or anyone else in the home. They also need to eat 3 normal meals and snacks.
At the time of this post my husband and I spend anywhere from $450-650/month on groceries for a family of 3. We primarily eat whole foods, buy in bulk, and cook at home.
If I were join this program, the cost of the program would be over $650 for just myself. It will cost you significantly less if you decided to buy just real foods such fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains.
However, if you were eating out 2-3x a day and have no other family to feed, then this program could save you money.
In short, you can eating healthfully without using overpriced fuelings from Optavia.
” Losing a lot of hair is just a sign of your body detoxing”
Yikes! More like a sign of malnutrition and under eating.
“We Don’t Know Why Your Breastmilk Supply is Going Down”
Optavia is trying to cover up the elephant in the room by making it their #1 facebook group rule page. You cannot talk about milk supply. Clearly new moms are losing their milk supply and everyone started asking the exact same question of “why has my milk supply dropped?”
The fact that Optavia says you can’t ask questions is insidious. Blaming it only on a lack of sleep or stress just shows they do not know anything about nutrition. There are many factors that impact breastmilk production, but not eating enough will definitely ruin your supply.
If you are nursing or post partum and are experiencing a drop in milk supply, nutrition is SO important, and if you are not eating enough than you will not be able to keep your milk supply. Period. This program is terribly dangerous for nursing mothers. If breastfeeding is something you want for your baby, don’t let Optavia ruin that for you.
“Gas is a sign you are losing fat”
Wow– I didn’t know I could fart my way down to my goal weight. More people should try that.
Maybe more like your gut can’t handle all the soy protein and non-nutritive sweeteners of stevia 5x a day.
“This isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle change”
Eating 5 protein bars a day is not a lifestyle change. A lifestyle change involves changing your habits and taking actions on things you can do for the rest of your life. Eating diet foods for 5 out of the 6 times you eat in a day is far from changing your lifestyle.
Can someone also explain how is 800 calories not a diet? You might be eating 50-75% fewer calories than you currently are. The last time I checked, intentionally restricting calories and having a list of forbidden foods IS a diet.
“It’s recommended by 20,000 doctors since 1980”
A claim directly from the Optavia website.
What they are not sharing, is when the parent company Medifast was in business, it had doctors offices selling the products. So when it says “doctor recommended” it literally just means that doctors were selling it for another source of revenue and hence recommending it.
“Eating every 2 hours keeps you in fat burning mode”
No, eating every 2 hours on this program prevents you from passing out because its too low in calories.
Key Takeaways
In summary, the Optavia 5 and 1 plan is an overpriced program that is based on undereating and can lead to a whole host of other health problems. It is not sustainable long term and you are going to gain the weight back to due metabolic adaptation and loss of lean muscle mass. You can be successful with weight loss by changing your habits and eating real foods. It might not be as fast, but the boring approach is sustainable.
If you struggle with your weight and have been on every diet under the sun, you don’t need another diet. You are going to need to improve your metabolism by building up lean muscle and eating adequate amounts of calories. If you have regained weight after stopping the Optavia 5 and 1 program, it is NOT your fault.
If you are desperate to get back on the right track without any gimmicks and prepackaged fuelings I can help. If you want to lower your cholesterol, blood pressure and developing SUSTAINABLE habits using real food, lets talk here
If you need protein bars for weight loss you can see all my recommendations in the Protein Bars for Weight Loss; Top Picks from a Dietitian (2026) post.
My Experience with Optavia
I had a friend in a small group who started the 5 and 1 program. She posted multiple times on her instagram stories with before and after photos of complete strangers. I was curious about what she was selling because she had no health background and how do you magically now have a new client before and after photo to post everyday?
I later learned it was Optavia from a mutual friend. After confronting my friend about the dangers of the program I asked her to let me know if I was wrong or if I was misunderstanding what she was promoting.
Not only did I not get any response back, I was blocked on all social media accounts. The next day her upline (aka the person who recruited her to be a coach) puts out a passive aggressive video on her instagram saying that I need to “get in my lane” and that I am missing out.
Missing out on a diet with ultra processed crappy quality food products? That’s really ok! I’ll pass.
That was not going to stop me from the b.s this program promotes and stands for. In fact, this post has reached THOUSANDS of people, thanks to SEO. So I’ll stay in my lane over here and keep educating people to stay away from this!
What’s your experience with the Optavia 5 and 1 plan? Let me know in the comments below!
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Conclusion
Trilivy (formerly Optavia) is still based on the same program of eating 5 hyper processed “fuelings” a day which are not nutrient dense and are packed with gums, oils, corn fiber, and non nutritive sweeteners. While the program boasts of being a “metabolic” focused company, it is merely an ultra low calorie diet marketed to sound more science-based. Following a low calorie diet that was initially designed for patients pre-bariatric surgery should NOT be used for the average person looking to lose weight.
Laurie is a Registered Dietitian passionate about helping healthcare professionals lower their weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol so that they can regain confidence and energy to live a more full life.
I only read the short blurb on Google about what happens if you stop Optavia and the answer was “the only sustainable way to not gain weight is to eat 800-1000 calories a day or stay on the 5:1 plan forever. That is not true. The 5:1, low calorie plan is only to lose weight. If you stay on it forever, you would keep losing weight until you become anorexic. Optavia has steps to teach you how to eat healthy after you lose the weight you want, so you can maintain your goal weight WITHOUT Optavia. I am living proff of that. I went from 205 to 135 and have maintained a weight of 140 for the past 3 years just eating clean, healthy food, staying hydrated, getting good sleep and doing mild, low impact exercise (walking!) 3-4 days a week. That is the true answer.
Hi Cindy, Im glad you have found success with weight maintenance after completing the optavia program. However, your comment about if you keep on the 5:1 program you would keep losing weight until you become anorexic is far from what science shows. Your body WILL readjust to the amount of calories you use up if you are in a calorie deficit for too long. I’ve been in the field for over 10 years and have worked with HUNDREDS of patients- some of which are eating 700-800 calories a day and their weight isn’t budging. Why do you think so many people stay chronic dieters? They keep eating low calorie and they still don’t lose weight and are far from anorexic. Walking can be beneficial for everyone, but be aware that as you age you lean muscle mass decreases (even if you walk) due to hormonal changes and natural aging- so adding in resistance training is actually the true answer : )
Hi. I was on optivia for 2 years. It was sold to me as a low glycemic diet to lower my A1C. I lost 40 lbs the first 60 months and then didn’t progress any further. I assumed I wasn’t being faithful enough. When I got off the diet plan, it was because of the expense and lack of results. I had a hysterectomy while on the diet. It was a midline incision. The muscles never healed back together, and I had to have a hernia mesh a year later. I have multiple lateral hernias showing up now. I’ve been off the diet for 3 years now and have gained back 30 of the 40 lbs.
My question is; could there be a connection between the diet, muscle loss, and the abdominal hernias?
I started Optavia in 2021 and got ridiculously skinny, 96 pounds at 5’3. I quit and gained all my weight back and I am now struggling with food. I need to lose around 40 pounds now and need to do it right. I keep thinking about doing it again but know it has ruined my whole outlook at food.
I’m glad I stopped on this page. I have only been doing this for a little over 2 months and the weight loss stopped after week 6. I don’t have a lot to loose, but I am Perimenopausal and all my regular tricks weren’t working. I have been a lifelong dieter (WW & Beachbody) and needed something different and easy to suit my lifestyle at the moment. I was on the fence about finishing this plan to the goal, but now I know I need to slowly phase out the “fuelings” with real food. I workout almost daily and was really struggling with staying awake at the end of the day….and now I know it wasn’t just the severe calorie deficit, it was the lack of quality of the food.
It looked to me a little more like a mild keto diet. Any suggestions on how to phase this out to avoid dramatic weight gain?
Hi Laurie.
Thank you for this article. I started the Optavia 5 and 1 program about six weeks ago a have a lot of muscle pain in my knees and legs. Have you ever heard of this? I’m not sure if it’s from the program but feel it’s my body’s way of telling me something isn’t right.
Hi!
I have been on program for about 7 weeks. I am doing the 4 & 2 Active plan, so I have added aminos and am encouraged to exercise every day. At this point I have lost close to 15 lbs., which makes me happy. What makes me happiest is the surprising side effects I have encountered.
My Hashimoto symptoms have decreased tremendously.
My inflammation throughout my body is virtually nonexistent at this point, even my massage therapist mentioned it-as she has never worked on me without so much of it there before.
My fibromyalgia pain has decreased tremendously – I can now complete a tough workout without crying my way through it due to my fibro messing with me.
My CFS exhaustion has decreased, as I am able to function throughout the entire day now – before this, climbing out of the bed to the couch was a good day for me.
All of these issues got so bad, I had to stop working because I couldn’t function through a full workday without serious pain levels, extreme fatigue, and a lot of tears. Fortunately, I was in a position where I had the ability to decide to save what I did have in me for my children.
For me, at this point, losing weight is secondary. I am so excited to feel almost like a whole person again. Something I didn’t expect. With that being said, I hear what you are saying. I have been fighting these conditions for years, all as naturally as possible (Ex: Synthroid is essential). So, the processed fuelings are something that immediately made me wonder, but I figured “give it a month and see where it gets me”-as I’m still constantly searching for relief on the regular. While I don’t want to make myself sicker in the long run, the idea of going back to feeling how I did just 7 weeks ago terrifies me more than I could possibly make you understand. So, what now? Any thoughts/advice/ideas would be appreciated.
Hi Kim,
Im glad you are feeling better! That sounds like your health concerns got really bad and were interfering with your overall quality of life. If anything, I would consult with a wholistic dietitian who could help guide you on an auto-immune style of diet. Many people find symptom relief with more of a paleo style of eating (gluten and dairy free especially) with fibromyalgia. You could definitely still use real foods to help fight inflammation!
Hi there. I guess I didn’t do my research. A friend of mine lost a lot of weight (like 70lbs) and now she’s maintaining it, doing great! I decided to give it a try. Her coach actually reached out to me and I signed up just last week, and just started yesterday. I had no idea the portion sizes were so small (even the shakes). So far I haven’t felt hungry, but at the same time the foods do seem very processed. I started reading more online, and I don’t like what I’m seeing. I’m really eager to lose weight, but I’m not convinced this is the way. I read their products have lead and alcohol sugars in them. I was told that by having such a low calorie diet, your body is forced to turn to stored fat for energy. Is that untrue? I’m very confused and don’t know how to bow out of this now!
Hi- thanks for your comment. Yes, your body can used stored fat for energy. However, it also breaks down lean muscle tissue in the process. So while the scale will go down and you might lose 15 lbs in the first month- its not 15 lbs of pure fat. A big portion of that is lean muscle. This is where people on the program run into issues. Once they reach their goal weight unless you keep using their products or eat really low calorie (which isnt sustainable) then the weight will come back on. Others have had terrible stomach and digestive issues after eating all those products for so many months which is something that doesnt go away after you stop eating their products. Its exciting to lose weight, and also scary about what could happen during and after this program. Feel free to read the comments of others who have tried it on this post to see their experiences with it.
I have been on optavia since March 1st 2024 it’s been 6 months. I have lost 38 pounds I have lost soo much hair… I am super gassy and it smells like death 🤢☠️ When I eat off plan I gain 3 pounds. I feel like a rat on a rat wheel and Dont know what to do I’m so scared to get off because I don’t wanna gain my weight back! Help please. My stomach is all jacked up
Hi Katie,
Sounds like the side effects are taking a toll! The hair loss is most likely due to nutrient and protein deficiency and stomach issues are so common from all the soy and sugar free sweeteners (even if its “natural” like stevia). The slight regain after going off plan will most likely be water weight initially. I wont sugar coat it, if you go back to normal eating, you might regain anything you’ve lost- and that part sucks. However, its a part of the process to restore your metabolism so that you can approach weight loss in a healthy way as eating on the 5 and 1 plan is no way sustainable to follow long term.
I was an Optavia coach for years and I lost a lot of weight on the plan. I made a great amount of money on the side of my full time job and the 1st year was a lot of fun. I did well as a coach, but I never “fully committed” as I was told many times. I was encouraged to share extremely personal information on social media and I was even “encouraged” to share my miscarriage. I was told that it would help me connect with women. It was sickening. And I fell into that trap of trusting ppl that just wanted to see my waist shrink so they could profit off my newly developed body image issues and traumatic events. Did I lose weight? Sure. Is my metabolism still messed up from years ago? 100%
And now they have included an injectable medication in addition to their plan, which shows how much the ‘lifestyle’ does not work. Thanks for all the great info and a place to share!
This isnt the first time that Ive heard that from former coaches. Im so sorry that you experienced a pregnancy loss- it is not emotionally or physically easy to recover, let alone share out in the open like its NBD. Its extremely personal : (
The whole system they use to market the “lifestyle change” is predatory and they definitely know how to tap into peoples insecurities or when they are going through a challenging time. I listened to a podcast recently that had a coach who was told to start messaging moms even BEFORE they gave birth to have them start thinking about the weight loss which is horrible!
I had a friend who started as a coach and when I confronted her about the misinformation she was spreading and half truths on her socials about it being a “lifestyle change” I was blocked/unfriended from accounts. Her upline then did a IG live that told me to get in my lane — yikes! (Even though im a registered dietitian *face palm*)
Hope life is better now that you are out!
That is exactly what I am talking about. Laurie I sent you an email but this right here. I’ve been on since June and feel horrible, digestive issues but was told tonight that soy doesn’t cause that and because it has prebiotic in it I shouldn’t be taking my gut protocol when it has helped in the past even before optavia. And not to mention the pressure I have to continue even though I am still losing but despute how miserable I feel. 3 weeks to reevaluate and really takes notes on how I am feeling.
Sorry to hear youre not feeling not your best. This is a prime example of coaches telling consumers things that don’t make sense. If you are physically feeling ill, that is a HUGE red flag that it isn’t healthy- and they are dismissing your concerns by saying that shouldnt be the case. Ive heard coaches tell my client that the reason their stomach hurts is because their body is “detoxing and getting used to eating healthy”. Couldnt be further from the truth. I would stop before things get worse and prepare to be guilt tripped by your coach 🙁
There is definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all the points you made
Thank you for this article! I did Optavia for about 18 months and wasted so much money. I lost about 20 lbs, but my “coach” kept promising that other 40lbs would come off in 2 months. The last 6 months I’ve been really skeptical of the whole thing. I knew it just wasn’t healthy or sustainable. When I told my “coach” I was done she told me “Optavia didn’t fail me, I failed it”. Now how do I transition back to eating properly and actually losing the weight I want to lose??
Hi Jen,
Im so sorry that happened to you, you definitely are no alone. Good grief! The coaches are so brain washed into believing this is the miracle program that any time it doesn’t work or someone regains weight they blame it on the person vs. actually considering why its not working. Clearly she is in it for the money vs. actually helping people. I would run away from anyone claiming 40lbs in 2 months is healthy, sustainable or even safe. 0.5 lbs-2 lbs a week at MOST is sustainable without losing too much lean muscle mass. Going back to eating normally and sustainably is a process- especially after eating the 5 and 1 style for almost 2 years. If you have health insurance coverage you can find a Registered Dietitian who takes your plan– in most states visits are a covered service even with telehealth.
Oh s**t, I just paid for 30 days of Octavia food. I bought in to be “supportive” of my step daughters new business venture. She seems really happy and upbeat. I was interested because I wanted convenient regular feelings so that I wasn’t so tempted to the donut case, candy isle, and roller dogs Everytime I walked into a gas station. After I made purchase, I got suspicious after she said, if people notice your weight loss, to pass along her contact info without telling them it’s Octavia. Well, I have 400 bucks worth of food coming, so for a month, I guess it’s better than all the other crap I’ve been eating.
Hi James,
Your step daughter might only be making 10% commissions off the food you buy as the customer. If you want to support her, you are far better off buying 30 day supply of protein bars or ready made protein drinks from amazon or the grocery store which are higher in protein and have better ingredients. With all the money you save, you could give your step daughter $100 and then still have an extra $150-200 for yourself.
Optavia really made my body out of wack…. i lost 40 lb, gained 60 lb back and can’t back to excersizing like i used to before optavia. On Optavia 5 and 1 u are not supposed to excersize and my body feels numb/ muscleless from stopping excersize cold turkey. I know so many people like myself who did Optavia, lossed a lot of weight but afterwards go so sick, depressed, gained weight etc after the program, I feel its really important to discourage people from doing the optavia 5 and 1 program so other people dont have to suffer like so many of us. In the beggining it is like wow, i lost so much weight, people loose 100lb and its amazing but the afterwards, reprecussions are really not good. Thank you for discouraging the program.
Hi Chana, Sorry this happened to you. Thats what I dislike most about the program. The marketing is only rose-colored glasses of “its works” and look at our before and after photos! But no one is exposing what its like to actually stop the program or struggles they have while they are on it. When people in FB groups bring up issues like how the fuelings hurt their stomach or question why their hair is falling out the comments are often deleted or they are told something generic or not accurate like “its your body detoxing” Ive spoken with SO many people who did this program and ended up going back “on plan” because they were told they must have had some sort of food addiction when in reality the program crashed their metabolism which is what prompted me to write this blog post so let others know its NOT their fault at all!
This is a great article. The reason I am on Optavia is because I am 100lbs overweight and I thought the best thing to do for my health was to get this weight off as soon as possible. No matter the means. Optavia is easy because it is so convenient. I only have to plan one meal. I’m reading about ultra processed foods and can’t help but feel that “fuelings” are ultra processed.
How do you decide what is more important – losing the weight or eating whole foods? I’ve become a coach and you’re right, it is almost cult like….they are so amazing and I want to be them!
Thats a tough call! Im glad you are taking steps towards losing weight- however, just because your body shrinks in size does not mean you are improving your health necessarily. I think what attracts people to the program is the speed the weight comes off, but what they don’t see is the hardship that will be in front of them once they end the program. Hearing from clients and readers from this blog post alone all point to the same thing- reduced muscle mass, weight regain, and frustration. I would also precaution you that rapid weight loss also comes with the risk of hair loss, hormonal imbalance and gallstones. There are SO many things you can do to reduce your weight without needing to go to the far extreme. It does take having a plan and being consistent. Ultimately its up to you what you decide, but I believe the program from a health perspective and its mentality is not safe in the long term.
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
I did Optivia for a year. I have been off of it for about a year. I’m 60, female, fairly inactive because of my job, and I’m back up to 230, meaning I’ve gained half of my weight back.
I firmly believe I have an eating disorder. I self-medicate with food. I was able to stick to the plan because I locked everything else out of my life – food, that is. I only have my husband at home, and he was very supportive. But then I just couldn’t do it anymore. So I dropped the plan. Of course, now my coach ignores me.
I feel bad most of the time. I am tired and sore, and I believe I’ve ruined my body by using the optivia. I know I need to get this weight back off, and I need to do something to feel better and stronger. I’m still working on that.
I’m not sure what I’m asking of you, other than that I feel the need to share my story. It’s a dangerous program, and I encourage people to stay clear of the program. There are no “easy outs” in life. I didn’t expect that when I joined the program. I was willing to literally pay the price and stick to the plan. Now I’m paying the price for what I did.
Im so sorry to hear that you are going through this right now! It is absolutely a dangerous program and many people feel so alone and wondering what they did wrong or why their body is responding the way it is after they go “off plan”. When I brought it up with a friend who did the program and become a coach- she blocked me on all social media accounts and stopped talking to me. There is a cult-like approach the coaches take of blocking anyone out who doesnt stick with the program or approve of what they are doing.
If you have a commercial insurance plan you can find a dietitian to help you start feeling better and find a better relationship with food.
It makes me so frustrated that anyone can sign up as a “coach” and then sell the program without the medical background of understanding how it impacts ones body, metabolism and mental wellbeing.
Thank you for this information. I have been on Optavia for one week and I’m hungry !! It didn’t feel right to begin with. No fruits,limited vegetables , prepackaged and very small portions of ‘fuelings’ I’m 59, athletic and work a physically demanding job. This program is nuts. Thanks again for answering what I knew was not sustainable or healthy.
Hi Karla,
I feel like I would be hangry if I ever tried the program lol. Its wild that there is no customization based on customers actual nutrition + energy needs.
Sounds like you got out at the right time!
If you have insurance coverage you can always look on their online directory to see what Dietitians are covered under your plan-they will be able to provide something more customized to help you reach your goals
Hi Laurie,
I would like to know if I could email you privately regarding my experience with Optavia as well as getting some advice on how to proceed in the future.
Thanks so much.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn,
Apologies for the super delayed response– I can be reached thru my websites contact form or via email laurie@nutritionrenewed.com
Your write up is no different than a “health coach” promoting Optavia except your promoting yourself as an RD. I work in health care and see 100s of thousands unfortunately fail with the use of a RD as well. I have also seen 100s be successful just like i have seen 100s & thousands lose weight on Optavia and continue to maintain for years after. Everyone is different in terms of what works for them. The biggest barrier is MINDSET, people have to be prepared for a tough lifestyle change. Smokers and Alcoholics wont stop until they have the mindset to truly want to stop. People need to stop blaming programs for failures or for financial gain and meet people where they are in their health journeys.
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for your comment. Im afraid you missed the point of the post and overlooked the danger of a program like Optavia.
The program itself is not sustainable nor is eating 5+ servings of sugary hyper processed soy protein a “lifestyle change”. It does not matter what “mindset” you have on any weight loss program, if the program itself is a recipe for a metabolic disaster and creates dependence on packaged food products its not a healthy way to lose weight.
Eating 800 calories/rapid weight loss will run the risks listed above in the post (gallbladder removal, hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, digestive issues from overeating soy, anxiety around food just to name a few).
This isn’t placing blame on a program just because Optavia is terrible–this is literally what is happening to people’s bodies when doing a program like this. I know this as a fact because I work with clients regularly who are trying to repair the damage this program has done to them as well as ex-coaches who have regained 2x what they lost when on the program.
Telling someone to eat 5 packaged food products when they are terrible at meal planning, not prioritizing their health, nor have any nutrition knowledge is not “meeting them where they are at”. I would encourage you to actually consider what a lifestyle change is, and if you work in healthcare, you probably already know the dangers of what dropping a significant amount of weight and regaining it does to your body long term.
Curious how you came across this blog post if it wasnt for googling something negative about the program itself, or if you are an Optavia coach yourself.
Definitely a coach!
Hi Laurie –
Thank you for your thorough & fact-based analysis, something hard to find in researching the subject as there are numerous emotionally-driven reviews.
So, what is one to do? Here’s my scenario:
– 58 yr old male, 5’10”, now 207 lbs., 36-ish inch waist…tho jeans are snug!
– Went on Optavia Mar ‘21 – Mar ‘22
– Prior to Optavia, average weight was 190-195 lbs, 35” waist
– Got down to 170 lbs & 32” waist, first time since high school
– Got off of Optavia after reading of side effects due to soy-based protein & processed foods increasing risk of cancer along with others side effects you mention.
The weight came back & then some, tho I haven’t gorged myself by any means and it came back in weird places such as belly and upper torso.
So back to my question:
What would one prescribe as an eating and activity regimen that re-adjusts the metabolism, reduces fat, and increases lean muscle? Call it an “Optavia De-Tox” to get down 30 lbs ultimately but at least back to my original weight?
RB
Hi Rick,
Great question! that answer is more than just a “eat this many calories”. It would highly depend on how much you are eating now calorically and your activity level. Additionally, if you are still following a low calorie plan, it would not be advised to jump immediately into eating what you need (i.e currently eating 1200 and now jumping to what I ‘should’ eat at 2300). Just an example-not saying those numbers are what you are currently doing or what your caloric needs are. Ultimately its a gradual shift of increasing calories paired with resistant/weight training in addition to focusing on getting your calories from whole foods vs. just tracking calories but eating a nutrient poor diet.
Thanks Laurie! Appreciate the insight and suggestions.
I have been in the diet for almost 5 months and am sick. I have an OVER ACTIVE gallbladder and they are talking about removing it. I have lost about 50 lbs that I needed to lose. I’m nauseous and have abdominal pain due to the gallbladder refraction rate of 95% in 30 minutes. CT scan showed enlarged lymph nodes throughout my peritoneal cavity. I’m going to stop the diet, but my question is, can my gallbladder be saved? My C reactive protein is elevated, white count is elevated up and down, high chloride, to low sodium….. please help with advice.
Thank you! I’m desperate to feel better!!
Hi- it would be up to your provider to decide the route they’ll take with your gallbladder-but in general once your gallbladder has a certain amount of stones and the refraction rate is at a certain point it is dangerous to keep it which is why it would be better for you to have it removed. Sorry this happened to you.. Gallbladder removal is super common for people who complete the program. Hope you feel better soon!
I went off Optavia after 2.5 years with their products, mostly bars. I lost 40 pounds and quit using their products 2 years ago. I continue to lose weight but I have the opposite problem than most who go off this program. I have very little appetite and am underweight now and continue to lose. This program really messed up my metabolism and I need help! I’m worried I’m going to get to a dangerously low weight. 10 years ago I was 250 lbs and now I’m 149. Help please?
Sorry to hear that– you could definitely become malnourished.
the good news is that your appetite can change–if you arent already, I would eat small combined foods every few hours (cheese and crackers, peanut butter toast, yogurt and fruit, trail mix etc). Sometimes drinking calories from a protein drink can feel less filling than eating/chewing foods so it could be helpful to add that at the end of the day. Gentle movement can also help improve appetite as well so light walks could be helpful and wouldn’t burn too many calories.
If your digestion is not regular or are taking any prescription medications, that could also decrease your desire to eat.
If you have insurance coverage most plans will cover visits to a Registered Dietitian at little to no charge to you so I would also recommend meeting with someone regularly to help you come up with a meal plan that gradually helps restore weight. I am in network with many plans here in Virginia if you need assistance!
I recently went off Optavia plan about 3 months ago. Gained 9 lbs. recently started weight watchers and enjoying it. However, I am gaining weight instead of losing. Will I eventually start to lose weight again?
Hi Sylvia, great question. I know everyones weight watchers plan has a different amount of points/calories to follow. Most likely the calorie intake for your WW plan is more than what was consumed on the Optavia 5 and 1 plan. So while you may gain some weight in the process before you lose again, I would focus on adding in any resistance/strength training (vs. walking) to get your lean muscle mass built up again.
How long after stopping optavia can i expect my metabolism to go back to pre-optavia life? I was on for a year lost 40 lbs. Once is topped i gained back all but 5 of those pounds. Now that i have been off it and trying to diet and exercise in a healthy format, i cant lose anything
Hi Melissa,
That must feel super frustrating- sorry to hear you are going through that!
It is estimated to take as long as you were on the program to restore your metabolism- so in your case about a year or more. The reason your body will resist weight loss at this point is because you are no longer in a calorie deficit. Your body has adapted to being on super low calories and that is its new “set point”. With that being said, I would focus on strength training and slowly increasing your calories each month by 100-200 calories to raise your metabolic set point.
I 100% believe this is what caused my thyroid cancer! Perfectly healthy wanted to lose a little bit of weight decided why not did optavia for 2 months strict and after i started having a bunch of health issues and found thyroid cancer as well as genetic testing showing it wasn’t genetic. I was fine before i started. Loved how i looked but definitely regret it now. Now i no longer have a thyroid and struggle with worse things than just my weight.