The Optivia diet: what it consists of, the benefits, and what results can be obtained
Optivia is a weight loss or maintenance plan that alternates eating home-cooked meals rich in protein and vegetables with eating processed foods — called “fuel” — from the brand.
The Optivia diet does not count carbohydrates or calories , instead you should eat at least 6 meals a day alternating between these two food groups. Additionally, the plan recommends doing 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day .
What do you eat on the optavia diet?
There is no set list that excludes certain foods, but it is not an easy diet. The Visual Diet severely restricts calories and advises its followers to buy “fuel” to lose pounds.
These “fuel” include energy bars, shakes, crackers, cereal, and some savory options, such as soups and chips , foods that often contain soy protein or whey protein as the first ingredient.
The rest of the food in the diet is based on eating lean meat and animal protein, along with plentiful vegetables that you should prepare yourself following these guidelines:
- 170-230 grams of cooked lean protein such as fish, chicken, egg whites, turkey or soy
- 3 servings of non-starchy vegetables such as lettuce, celery or cucumber.
- Up to two servings of healthy fats such as olive oil, olives, or avocados.
How often do you eat on the optavia diet?
On this diet, it is recommended to eat six or seven times a day (approximately every two or three hours) depending on the plan. The three plans available are:
- Plan 5 and 1: Eat five times a day with fuel and a healthy “regular” meal.
- Plan 4, 2, and 1: Eat four Optavia fuels, two healthy meals and one snack a day.
- Plan 3 & 3: Eat three Optavia fuels and three healthy meals a day.
see also: what is the military diet ?
How does losing weight work with this eating plan?
Optivia relies on intense calorie restriction to promote weight loss. Most refuel is around 100-110 calories each, which means about 1,000 calories per day can be eaten on this diet.
In addition, the suggested healthy meals are rich in protein and vegetables and carbohydrates are eliminated, which also helps reduce and burn extra calories.
This diet is rated in the US as the second best diet for fast weight loss, but ranks 32 on the list of the best diets for healthy eating. Both classifications have a simple explanation: in the short term, it seems impossible not to lose at least a few kilograms, since you are eating half the calories that most adults consume daily. But at the same time, healthy eating habits are not favored because the foods that can be eaten are restricted and natural products are not consumed in a balanced manner with all the nutrients.
Is this diet a healthy option?
The Optivia diet can be thought of as a high protein diet, where between 10 and 35% of your daily calories are made up of this macronutrient. However, the processed part of the diet, i.e. refueling, is a highly processed “food” that contains additives, although not fattening due to its composition. It can make you feel bloated and have other unwanted side effects.
Additionally, these shakes come from the United States, where the highest food authority is located ( the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate nutritional supplements such as shakes and powders for safety and efficacy reasons in the same way as food.
For this reason, protein powders and “mixtures” may contain ingredients that have side effects, or may interact with a medication you are taking so it is very important that you make sure your doctor is aware that you are trying to follow this diet. To give you the right directions.