Hi All, I am currently on the Optifast Shake Medical Weight loss Program, prescribed by my doctor and ran by my local hospital. It is a 2 year program and involves several phases. I am in the first phase which is total food replacement. I consume instead 4 shakes per day each 225 calories for a total of 900 calories. In addition I am allowed an additional 50 calories optionally which I can use for clear broth, sugarfree jello, or sugarfree gum but all these calories are counted and must not go over 50 extra calories. I can have tea or coffee with sweetener but no milk or cream and preferably decaf. In addition I must drink at least 64 oz of water (8 cups) a day and if either tea or coffee was regular (not decaf) I must drink the same amount of additional water that I drank in coffee or tea. That's it - that's all. No if ands or buts! So this first intense stage lasts for 12 weeks and during this time, I see a nurse practitioner who monitors my weight loss and runs blood work to monitor my well being. I also attend classes weekly with a group of 13 other people who are all on this optifast shake program. We work with councillors, dieticians, and kinesiologists, Who work with us on the reason we are overweight, the emotional side, the triggers, the cravings, the general mindset that leads us to eat what and how we eat. Well having said all that I am on Day 47 of the Shakes and have lost 29 lbs thus far. I have learned invaluable knowledge about myself and I am developing a mindful approach to life and eating.