How to improve the Optifast experience?

Can anyone tell me how to improve the taste of the Optifast?  I'll be starting it in a month's time and have heard people mention adding things to Optifast like flavoured water instead of plain water?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Also, on the same topic, has anyone heard of or experienced bad breath going through this period of Optifast?  Is that a known side affect I wonder?  Thanks in advance...

There are a lot of different things that you can do with Opti. Check out the Ontario Recipes Forum (http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/ontario_recipes/discussion/) for a lot of suggestions.  It's under the Surviving Opti thread.

My biggest tip is to drink it really cold.  Some blend with ice, but I didn't have any, just kept my water in the fridge.

As for bad breath, it's a known side effect.  It's caused by ketosis not the Opti itself..  Teeth brushing, mouth wash and gum help.

Enjoy the Opti!

Cathy

Morning! 

My advice for Opti - don't overthink it.  It's really not that bad.  I bought myself a bunch of those little bottles of Crystal Ligh****er flavour enhancers - and added them to the vanilla.  Coconut/pineapple was a particular favourite.  And they're a cheap option.  I didn't get into the flavoured syrups - but I do have a mocha flavoured sugar free one now - that would have been excellent with the chocolate.   For me personally, I didn't make a big deal with the Opti.  I mixed it up, and drank it.  I didn't linger over it, I just shot gunned it.  lol.  It's what worked for me. 

Side effects - increased energy.  Ridiculously!  And it was awesome!  I wish I had my Fit*****arge at that point.  I did find the Opti made my teeth feel weird, so I brushed my teeth after every shake.  No complaints about bad breath at all - and I talk to people all day.  Or they didn't tell me and are still discussing "that woman with the dragon breath".

Exciting stuff ahead for you!!

I liked opti overall.....but I only had to do it one week! 

Lol....gotta agree with HelnaHandbasket about the teeth thing.  My teeth never felt so fuzzy and disgusting.  Brushing, flossing and rinsing only gave temporary relief!!!!! Just one of the many weird things you will encounter in the next few weeks!! Lol

i used crystal light, and sugar free syrups.  But the best was decaf coffee i made into ice cubes and added to both my vanilla and chocolate.

Hi Kim I totally agree with northern!  I added decaf instant coffee crystals to my chocolate opti with lots of ice and it tasted like a mocha.  My favourite was to add crystal light strawberry orange banana to the vanilla and blend it with lots of ice again, and that was really good too.  Opti was not as bad for me as I thought it was going to be.  By day 4 my headaches went away and I actually wasn't craving anything.  I found I had to force that 4th shake in every day as I just didn't want it.  I also drank a cup to two cups of low sodium chicken broth each night before bed which was allowed by my Centre (TWH) and I had black decaf coffee with no milk or sugar while on opti as well.  A couple of times I even got a tall bold starbucks coffee and let it go cold and blended that instead of water with the opti - that was even better than the decaf coffee crystals.

One thing I will mention is that I got bad opti trots about a week in.  I had an embarrassing experience while out at Shoppers Drug Mart. I had to throw my pending purchases to my hubby and run out the door to the starbucks.  The women's was in use so I went into the men's haha.  When I left the washroom three men were waiting in line to use it.  I felt like saying to them all Ace Ventura like "Do NOT go in there" haha.

I used orange Crystal light liquid Flavor in vanilla Opti and blended with ice - creamsicle! Add a little cocoa into the vanilla with ice - - was great when I ran out of chocolate lol. My favorite was to grab a large decaf coffee and left it on the counter at work - used that with ice and the chockate Opti and it was a delicious iced mocha.  Honestly I didn't mind the Opti -- as long as you drink it on a cup with a lid and a straw so you don't smell it lol.   Also, I always used more liquid than it called for. 

I truly miss Opti - it tasted ok and was a no brainer!

Only get chocolate opti (that's what I did after hearing the vanilla is nasty). Good luck