male 50, non diabetic, lost over 28kg in 11 weeks (108 to 79kg) on optifast intensive, with ease.
Looking to transition off optifast in week, and maintain my new weight.
I’ve been researching keto as part of my interest in how and why this diet worked so well (and also why I felt great). Time to transition, and looking for hints or advice, or anyone else done this
Congrats on the awesome loss, that’s basically keto like weight loss as far as speed goes. BUT I would expect some rebound weight when you switch. Optifast although a lower carb approach than say SlimFastover all is loaded with terrible shit like Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Canola Oils fructose etc. Also, liquid diets destroy your metabolism over time since they don’t need much to process them through. Rebound weight is almost always the case when coming off liquid diets, but not a huge deal just expect it. Keto’s a great way of eating and no doubt you’ll do great on it. Just keep your sodium intake up and most of the transistional issues will be minimum.
Im not familiar with the Optifast program so Im not sure of the daily caloric intake over that 11 week period. If it was low, like less than 1000 calories per day, it may have caused a slow down in your metabolism so when you start eating keto, you may find you start putting weight back on, but that should only be temporary if you follow strict keto until you are fully fat adapted, which can take 6-8 weeks. I would also suggest, if it were very low calorie (the Optifast program) that you start with your calories on the lower end and slowly work up so your metabolism has a chance to keep up with the calorie load. Don’t suddenly start eating 1800, 2000 calories, for example, or you will definitely quickly put on weight. Increase your calories, say by about 100 each week, in the form of mainly healthy fats, don’t panic if you gain some weight because once you become fat adapted, your body will begin losing it.
It may help if you gave us an idea of what your diet looked like on the Optifast diet. It may help with other suggestions
Optifast is basically 800 cals per day with shakes or bars.
I always ate at least two cups of non starch veges and oil. Krill oil tablet daily.
I didn’t feel hunger, and was no problem.
The transition plane calls for introducing a regular meal - I’m thinking I’ll make it a Keto meal, and keep up the non starch veges
https://ketowomanpodcast.com/karen-parrott/
Karen mentions doing a shake plan in this podcast before she became keto. I realize it’s the keto woman podcast, but it might be helpful to you.
What @Sheri_Knauer said - transition to LCHF/keto and eat enough. Your metabolism needs to heal. Your body has probably put a bunch of processes on hold due to lack of energy. You need to let it restart those processes by feeding it enough energy.
It’s a long term transition.
Your health is what’s at stake
Interestingly have never felt better and have been more active, no energy issues at all, the opposite.
On a ski trip when everyone conks out about 3pm - had hours left !
This is great! Congratulations on your success.
Some of those ingredients look funky to most of us on here - it tends to be a whole food crowd - but what you’ve essentially done is probably similar to a fasting mimicking diet, which can give many of the benefits of fasting (without actually fasting).
Welcome, and good luck to you! This is a terrific forum, and keto is amazing 
Wonder why on earth Nestle chose fructose as their sugar. Oh well, no matter. Welcome to the Keto kingdom! I don’t have any advice that’s new, basically the same as I’d give to any other newbie - drink enough fluids, make sure you’re eating enough salt, magnesium and potassium, don’t be discouraged if miracles don’t happen immediately. Feeling exhausted can sometimes be due to too little water or salt but sometimes it just happens - and it will go away in time. Don’t fast til you’re fat adapted - typically between 4-10 weeks. “Fat adapted” means your body knows how to maximize the ketones it’s producing. Eat under 20 carbs a day to start, don’t go crazy on protein, and if you’re hungry, add more fat to your meals. Try not to snack - eat more at mealtime. Good luck!!
I do agree with others, you might gain a bit of weight, if for no other reason than more food in your gut. Don’t freak out, be patient.
I’ve eaten a lot of leafy greens and low starch veges (really a lot), have been in mild ketosis the whole time, had my blood work done multiple times (all fine), and also kicked Ross River virus.
So it seems to have worked with only positive effects, so far!
I’m well aware it’s not sustainable, hence looking for thoughts on how to transition.
Please do let us know how you get on, Paul - I for one will be watching with interest. Best of luck to you, and welcome!
well couple of days in transitioning from optifast (12 weeks) to a Keto(ish) diet.
First meal was a nice grain feed steak from Cape Grim, with mushrooms and garlic, and low starch greens (as normal).
A glass of red wine or two. A South Australian peppery shiraz to be be precise.
Interestingly, my weight loss had slowed on optifast, as I was actually for the first time feeling hungry and the need to eat something.
I’ve started at 108kg, and have a goal of about 74kg, I think, back to my 20s basically. Still a bit around the belly I want to lose…haha
But anyway, transition to keto from optimist, I expected weight loss to stop or reverse.
A large drop over a couple of days.2.8 kg over 3 days of transition.
I ate until full, had cheese after dinner.
Wild - what is going on here then?
Well, 3 weeks into transition, keto diet (well, with wine), and still slowly losing weight. Down to 76.3kg from 108 in May.
Embarrassing that I didn’t do this ages ago…
well over a month later, stable at 76kg (down from 108kg) on Keto (well plus wine).
well, on a mild keto diet, just minimal carbs from veggies/salad, lots of nice carnivorous fodder, and some wine every now and again. I’m still losing weight albeit slowly now. Down to 75.4kg today (from 108kg in May). It feels like I’ve got this, I aim to stabilise at my goal weight which was 74kg, could still lose a little around the waist.
This will have be back to where I was in my mid 20s, at age 50, and I am very happy.
Ross River Fever - kicked it in 3 weeks, was told 3 months too.
I appear to have stabilised at 73.7kg, feel great, intermittent fasting, eating happily and well. happily keto