Using Meal Replacements for Long Term Weight Loss

Meal replacements are designed to assist in controlling calorie intake, a critical plank for weight loss. But they can also be confusing, frustrating and disappointing and leave you back where you started.

There are up to 15 different meal replacements available from supermarkets, pharmacies, mail order companies and health food stores. The majority of these are not nutritionally balanced and if used incorrectly, can be harmful to your health. Nearly all are sold without any professional advice or supervision, as demonstrated by a CHOICE Magazine study published in February 2009. This lack of advice leaves you to work out your own treatment plan, adding to the increased chance of failure.

How to use a Meal Replacement

The right meal replacement, used with health professional supervision, can be a great short term weight loss tool. (For your weight loss to be sustained in the long term, it is important to transition onto 'normal' food gradually after using a meal replacement, be educated on appropriate food choices and learn how to make permanent lifestyle change.) At the Wesley Weight Management Clinic we've found that the benefits of using a nutritionally balanced meal replacement under health professional supervision include that they:

• Help you to become accustomed to eating smaller portion sizes
• Promote independence from food
• Narrow your food choices, allowing you to manage the amount and type of food you consume people consume fewer calories when presented with a smaller selection of food)
• Increase your rate of weight loss
• Help you to feel satiated (not hungry) for longer
• Are nutritionally balanced, providing all of the essential vitamins and minerals
• Help to regulate your blood sugar levels and maintain energy levels
• Help you form a habit of eating at regular intervals and focusing on one meal or snack at a time
• Require minimal preparation and fit easily into a busy schedule.

If you decide to use a meal replacement on our weight loss program, our health professionals will monitor your rate of weight loss and the nutritional quality of your diet on a weekly basis. This is particularly important if you have Diabetes or Hypertension as meal replacements may change your symptoms or impact upon the effectiveness of your medication.  When you reach your goal weight, we will transition you onto a balanced, healthy diet and teach you skills to maintain a healthy weight for life. These skills include meal planning, healthy grocery shopping, meal portioning, exercise for weight loss and low fat cooking.

Optifast 800

At the Wesley Weight Management Clinic we use a nutritionally balanced meal replacement called Optifast 800. Manufactured by Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, it provides all of the protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that you need. It is also low in calories, providing 800 Calories per day. With more than 10 years' experience dispensing Optifast 800 we know that our clients find Optifast 800 to be beneficial and experience very few side effects or signs of hunger.

Optifast 800 from Wesley Weight Management Clinic is different to Optifast VLCD, a sister product available over the counter at pharmacies. Optifast 800 is designed to be administered under health professional supervision. It offers a more controlled rate of weight loss and produces fewer side effects than VLCD; and the two should not be interchanged.

When using meal replacements, our Dietitians will design a meal plan that is tailored to your needs. This may involve taking up to five portions of Optifast 800 per day, supplemented with portions of vegetables and in some cases, additional protein such as meat, fish, chicken or legumes.

We know that Optifast 800 is not for everyone. Some of our clients choose not to use a meal replacement, they are pregnant or they have a medical condition that precludes them from using Optifast 800. For these clients, we design a calorie controlled meal plan and provide them with the same level of medical supervision and support.

To find out about our weight loss program or book your obligation-free initial assessment with a Dietitian, call 1800 567 348 or contact us online.