Most liquid diets are very low-calorie diet plans. They are generally recommended only for obese individuals who need to lose large amounts of weight in a short period of time for surgery or because of serious health concerns, according to MayoClinic.com. Talk to your doctor before starting any diet program, especially if you are considering a liquid diet.
Optifast
Optifast is a liquid low-calorie weight loss program that has been used medically to help people lose weight since 1974, according to the Optifast website. As a medical program, it includes a comprehensive medical assessment at the start of the program and close monitoring throughout the weight loss process. Optifast is a full meal replacement diet, meaning all your meals are replaced with Optifast shakes. The shakes come in several flavors, including vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Each shake contains 190 calories and 14 g of protein. Optifast also offers meal bars and soups as meal replacement alternatives to shakes. Most people lose about 52 lbs. over 22 weeks when following the Optifast program. In addition to helping you lose weight, Optifast provides nutritional counseling to help you maintain your weight loss.
Medifast
Medifast is also a low-calorie liquid weight loss diet. Medifast does not offer a medical evaluation or monitoring like Optifast, and you should talk to your doctor about the program and its safety before starting. On the Medifast program, you drink five Medifast shakes a day, and eat one regular meal consisting of a lean source of protein, such as chicken or fish, and a nonstarchy vegetable, such as salad greens. The Medifast shakes come in Dutch chocolate, French vanilla, strawberry and orange Creamsicle flavors. Each shake contains 90 calories and 11 g of protein. Medifast also makes a number of other meal replacement items, including meal bars, soups, cereal and snack foods. Most people average a 2 to 5 lb. weekly weight loss on the program. Medifast also offers a transitional plan to help you reintroduce foods to your diet and help you maintain your weight loss.
Slim-Fast
Slim-Fast is a commercially sold liquid weight loss diet. The Slim-Fast diet is not as low in calories as Optifast or Medifast, but you should still consult your physician before starting the program. On the Slim-Fast diet, you drink two Slim-Fast shakes in place of two meals, eat three low-calorie snacks consisting of fruits or vegetables, and eat a sensible dinner containing about 400 calories. Each Slim-Fast shake contains 190 calories and 10 g of protein. The shakes come in a variety of flavors, including cappuccino and milk chocolate. Slim-Fast also offers meal bars as a meal replacement alternative. Average weight loss on the Slim-Fast plan is 1 to 2 lbs. per week.
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