I just finished my first two weeks of Optifast in Ontario.  First 10 days were rough, and I mean awful! So many emotions, so much anger, it must be like coming off of drugs or alcohol.  Had to admit that I am 100% addicted to food, and it was a hard, hard realization to make.  I feel sorry for my family and students. I was not a pleasant person to be around.  But it's getting better. I still feel very hungry at times, but not all the time like at first, and I'm not so angry at the world. Getting up the stairs at work today seemed a little easier.  I'm going to a program through our local hospital and we meet weekly which helps. Feeling hopeful.

Hello Nicole:

     I am new to this site.  I totally understand your frustration with the roller coaster you've been on for the past years.  June 22nd of this year will be 13yrs that I have had my Gastric Bypass surgery.  I am a 6'0 woman, before surgery I was 379lbs  WOW, however, because of my height no one would have ever thought I weighed that much.  My surgery was a great success, I lost 168lbs. which put me at my lowest weight of 211lbs, but when looking at me I really looked like I would be 180lb.  I knew that once the window of opportunity would close for the weight loss that I would have to really really work at keeping it off.  I exercised very much and even began officiating High School basketball which was a dream of mine the whole time that I was 379lbs.  (we all know there was no way I was going to be able to run up and down a basketball court at that weight  Lol Lol).   Well once I lost the weight I joined, and became a High School Official.  I must TOOT my own horn and say that I have become a great official and I've excelled in the High School Ranks very well.  My current weight is 240lbs. which is a regain of 29lbs in 13 years.  I never reached my Goal weight of 190lbs but all in all I have been ok with that.  My surgery has been a success even though I didn't reach my goal and even though I have gained 29 lbs.  However, at this point in my life I have decided to move on to College Officiating , but in that capaicity I am over weight for my taste.  Therefore, I have decided to have the Overstitch Procedure done which will make my stoma small again and my pouch will be made smaller again as well, I've researched this procedure and I realize it's a slow process and I will have to still continue to work hard at loosing the weight and eating healthy.  I love my tool that gastric bypass has provided me with for the last 13 yrs. and I am going to just reinforce it with is procedure.  I understand that you may feel that  we don't need surgery to loose weight , but for me it's a tool that has worked for me and I have to take care of it so it will continue to work for me.  My goal is to get down to my goal weight of 190lbs, so I MUST LOSE 50 LBS. in order to accomplish that.  My mind is dertermined to do it, I'm not depending on the revision to do it for me because I will surely fail if that's what I would be thinking, I am willing and ready to help my revision by putting the work in.  I will keep posting to keep you guys up with my journey.  Thanks for you time, and Good Luck with your weight loss journey....

Hi, I'm looking to begin a new fitness and weight loss journey and begin a healthy lifestyle. I've elected to not undergo bariatric surgery and instead lose the weight on my own. I am looking at connecting with individuals on a similar journey or those that have been on the road to success and can offer support and encourage to help me along my way. 

My name is Roberto, I'm a single man living in Toronto. I am a non-smoker and have no injuries that would prevent me from working out. I do have some mild osteo-arthritis in my knee and hip but that's weight-related. I have lost plenty of weight in the past but always seem to fall back into old habits and gain it back. My main goals are weight loss and to build lean muscle mass and be more cardio fit. 

It would be amazing if I could connect with others willing to help me on my journey as it is much easier to stay motivated that way. Sharing advice, team support, occasional meet-ups, and group work-outs are all good options. If you are on a similar personal health rejuvenation journey and would like to be part of a supportive team would or you can offer your help and support, then please leave me a message and we will take it from there.

Thank you,

Roberto in Toronto

Thankyou so much for sharing your story. I'm in the process heading towards roux n y surgery and the further I get in the program the more convinced I am that I don't need surgery. I really appreciate you sharing your struggles. Good luck with your weightloss

I did Optifast program about 4 years ago with a clinic (since closed) lost 58 lbs but alas put it and more back on. I found it a good program for loss, but difficult to maintain the loss, although I would do it again; once I got used to the program shakes, it was 3 mos. of loss, lots of activity on my part (building cottage), and very quick, steady loss. Also found Dr. Goldfarb very helpful when I went there, (a different time, different clinic & separately, for after-follow up and further loss.)  Just costly for the shakes. Think if I did it again, I would transition more carefully and keep it off. Worthwhile overall and learned a lot about managing weight from the full-program. It's been one of the few methods which worked fast and relatively easily for me.