Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan promises a “gentle but efficient fat-burning state while maintaining retaining lean muscle mass.” The plan claims to help you reach and maintain your weight through a combination of supplements, meal alternatives, and coaching. But, the program comes as a kit costing well over $400 and loaded with processed foods.
Our research team decided to take a closer look. All evidence shows that reducing caloric intake and adding exercise is the best way to reach healthy weight goals.
Does Optimal Weight 5&1 offer anything different to justify that hefty price tag? We looked at the kit ingredients, studied the diet plan, read user feedback, and summarized our findings for you.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan can be purchased through their Official Site.
What is the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan?
Also known as the Medifast 5&1 Plan, the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is a program that helps you reach your ideal weight and maintain the results for the long term.
You eat six times a day (small meals), receive expert coaching and advice, and allow Optavia fuelings to help you manage what you eat.
With the Optimal Weight 5 and 1 Plan, you will need to purchase a kit, which consists of Optavia products such as snack bars, shakes, smoothies, cereals, soups, and other Optavia foods. Here are the kits for the TSFL 5&1 Plan: Essential Optimal Kit, Select Favorites Kit, and Essential On-The-Go Kit.
Does the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan work for weight loss?
- International Journal of Obesity – research that shows the importance of “portion control in weight management.”
- Nutrients – Some research suggests knowing portion sizes isn’t enough. The study shows tools aimed at helping the user learn portion sizes are effective.
- Appetite – suggests training is useful in learning portions.
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Optavia (Take Shape for Life) – The Company Behind 5&1 Plan
Take Shape for Life is primarily owned by Medifast (the parent company). It was started back in 2002 and is based in Baltimore from Owings Mills, Maryland.
Aside from the Optimal Weight 5 and 1 Plan, Take Shape for Life also offers the Optimal Health 3&3 Plan, Optimal 4&2&1 Plan, and Powerful Hydration to help you sustain healthy weight after you reach your weight loss goal.
Take Shape for Life also offers personal coaching and daily inspiration to help you reach your goals. You can shop for the kits and Optavia Medifast foods directly through the official website.
As of 2019, Medifast expanded the business into Hong Kong and Singapore.
Medifast Customer Service
Medifast, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is rated well by the Better Business Bureau (A+). We also took a look at the Consumer Affairs website, where there are more than 400+ consumer reviews. We found both positive and negative responses to Medifast and the customer service they offer. You can contact customer service at 888-OPTAVIA (1-888-678-2842). The address for Optavia is:
100 International Drive
18th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
As of September 2022, Optavia, LLC earned 1.5 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews. They’ve closed 493 complaints in the previous three years and 88 complaints in the past 12 months. Optavia has not been rated by the BBB.
In 2020, Optavia Essential Old Fashioned Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal was voluntarily recalled due to undeclared traces of milk.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Products Available From Optavia
- Essential Bars
- Essential Shakes
- Select Shakes
- Spinach Pesto Mac & Cheese
- Honey Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon
- Buttermilk Cheddar Herb Biscuits
- Essential Baking Mixes
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Homestyle Chick’n Noodle Soup
- Red Bean & Vegetable Chili
Scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Benefits: Claims
Here is a rundown of the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan benefits and perks:
- Lose weight fast
- Select from 5 Optavia Fuelings each day (every 2-3 hours)
- 60 different Optavia Fuelings to choose from
- One Lean & Green Meal per day
- Optavia bars and foods are convenient for on-the-go
- Feel satiated (full)
- Burn off fat
The Research Behind Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
The official website states, “Our products are scientifically formulated with the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and sugar to help you burn fat and retain muscle on your health journey.”
It goes on to say that, “We’ve worked with physicians, scientists, and nutritionists to create portion-controlled fuelings to make it easy for you to stay on your plan and keep the focus where it belongs: on gaining your Optimal Health.”
According to the journal Obesity Science and Practice, “Evidence-based commercial programs can be an important tool to help adults with overweight and obesity lose clinically relevant amounts of weight.”
How to Get Started With Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
To get started with Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, you need to order one of the kits. The kit will include Optavia Select Fuelings to last you for 20-30 days. This means many Optavia shakes, bars, cereals, smoothies, and dishes.
You will also have one-on-one coaching available and Optavia recipes, and an online community to assist you.
Other Optimal Health Programs
Other Optimal Health programs from Take Shape for Life include the Optimal Health 3&3 Plan, Optimal Health 4&2&1 Plan, and Purposeful Hydration. Unlike the Optimal Weight Loss 5 & 1 Plan, this program involves eating three balanced meals a day and three Optimal Health fuelings to sustain your healthy weight.
But portion sizes are still relevant, and you need to eat every 2-3 hours to stay on track. A final option is the Optavia 4&2&1 Plan. You eat four Optavia Fuelings meals, two green and lean meals you prepare, and a snack on this plan.
Optavia Premier
Optavia premier is another popular subscription plan available from Optavia. With this plan, individuals receive free meals, free shipping on all orders, and exclusive discounts. Once individuals choose their kit, the membership program ships it automatically every month.
Optavia Food – Is The Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan Healthy?
There are dozens of Optavia Fuelings to choose from on the 5&1 Plan. This includes supplements, snacks, shakes, teas, smoothies, bars, desserts, pasta, and even breakfast foods.
While these Optavia products are available individually on the official website, you can also find them in the kits. You should expect to eat many bars and shakes on this diet plan, which are processed foods. There may be Optimal 5&1 Plan DIY, or do-it-yourself, food options as well.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Fuelings – Are the Ingredients Effective for Weight Loss?
Protein
Commonly found in meats, dairy products, eggs, soybeans, nuts, beans, seeds, and legumes, this macronutrient is made up of amino acids. It helps reduce appetite, repair the body, and build lean muscle tissue.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that protein plays an important part in weight management. Additionally, the journal Obesity Facts studied the connection between protein and weight loss, concluding “participants with more adherence rate in the HPD [high-potein diet] group lost significantly more weight.”
Fiber
This indigestible carbohydrate is also called roughage in produce, whole grains, nuts, beans, and seeds. It moves through the digestive tract to help with regularity and gut health. Based on research presented in the Journal of Nutrition, “dietary fiber intake, independently of macronutrient and caloric intake, promotes weight loss and dietary adherence in adults with overweight or obesity consuming a calorie-restricted diet.”
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Found in a variety of foods, these nutrients are crucial for healthy body function. According to the National Institutes of Health – Office of Dietary Supplements, “foods in nutrient-dense forms contain essential vitamins and minerals and also dietary fiber and other naturally occurring substances that may have positive health effects.”
However, excessive vitamin intake is also associated with a higher weight, according to research published in WoD.
Probiotics
Also called good bacteria, these are live microorganisms that help promote gut health, which aids with regularity and the prevention of problems like diarrhea and constipation. According to the journal Nutrients, “probiotics, which are generally considered safe for human health, have shown some promise.”
Monk Fruit Extract
A natural sweetener used in foods and supplements, often to reduce calories. It’s more than 100 times sweeter than traditional cane sugar. Research available in the Nutrition Journal concluded, “this scoping review identifies the needs for future research to address the numerous evidence gaps related to health effects of NNSs [non-nutritive sweeteners] use.”
Optavia Side Effects: The Pain Behind the Progress
As with most diet foods and supplements, you may notice some side effects with Optavia prepackages fuelings. This is likely due to certain ingredients. Some of the reported side effects are as follows:
- Loose stools
- Bloating
- Gas
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
Medifast customers mentioned these unpleasant effects states Consumer Affairs.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Cost
You are encouraged by Take Shape for Life to join OPTAVIA Premier to make the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan easy and convenient. This allows you to buy the Octavia kits (119 servings), which have everything you need.
The Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan pyramid costs $378.25 and comes in two options. Although no longer available, other weight plan options included Essential Optimal Kit with the Habits of Health System, Select Optimal Kit with the Habits of Health System, and Essential On-The-Go Kit with the Habits of Health System – all of which cost between $292-426.
If you are eating six times per day, a kit will not even last one month. The least you will spend is $300 a month, but likely more around $400 to $500. Currently, the weight-loss plans are only available for purchase on the official Optavia website, where there is an Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan pdf available as well.
Accessories for the plan are available on various websites, including Etsy and Amazon, particularly third-party cookbooks and food journals not affiliated with Optavia.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Refund Policy
On their official website, Optavia mentions a 30-day return policy. However, individuals can only receive a refund on consumable items, meaning that opened packages can not be refunded.
Additionally, customers will need to receive a Return Merchandise Authorization Number before being able to ship back any products. Customers are responsible for shipping fees.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Weight Loss Results
According to the official website, the average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is 20 pounds, which occurs in an average of 12 weeks. But weight loss results will vary from person to person, depending on your effort and lifestyle.
What Users Are Saying
“I am on 5&1 Optavia program. Most of the fuelings take time to get used to but once you do it is easy to follow along. At first it tasted like dirt but my taste buds have completely changed. This has become my favorite fueling so far.”
“I am 1 week in with my Optavia 5 & 1 first 30 days and the Creamy Vanilla Shake is a must! There are so many other uses than just a shake. It is a creamy, tasty and filling fueling. It is easy and convenient to take to work, even adding it to your coffee makes for a yummy morning treat.”
“The Optavia Mint Chip bars are one of my favorite flavors from the 5&1 plan. I am a fan of mint anyway and they remind me of a Thin Mint girl scout cookie. I will be ordering them with each shipment. Some of the Optavia products have a protein powder smell and this one does not. A must have if you love mint chocolate.”
The Bottom Line on Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
Controlling your daily caloric intake and food portion sizes with the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan may indeed help you drop some pounds. After all, it has been shown that reducing your calories aids with weight loss.
This Optimal 5&1 Plan indeed offers many food options, and you do receive coaching to help you reach your goals. But there are a few concerns we have with this Take Shape for Life program.
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Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan Questions & Answers
The Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is a healthy and balanced diet plan that combines five smaller meals with one larger meal each day. Each meal consists of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. This plan was designed to help individuals reach and maintain their ideal weight in a healthy and sustainable manner. It provides portion control, encourages mindful eating habits, and helps keep calorie levels under control. Additionally, it teaches individuals how to make smart food choices that will fuel their bodies for the long-term. This plan is suitable for those looking to lose or gain weight healthily as well as for those who just want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By following this plan, individuals can look forward to improved energy levels and overall health.
The Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan emphasizes whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. It also encourages regular physical activity and encourages individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices. This plan is a great option for those who want to improve their overall health and well-being. It can also be customized to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual.
Optavia recommends 30 minutes of exercise daily while following the program.
You have your choice of more than 60 Fuelings.
You get 1 Lean and Green Meal, 5 Fuelings and an optional healthy snack.
Drink at least 64 fl. oz. of water every day.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan can be purchased using their Official Site.
People under 18, and pregnant or nursing women cannot use this program. If you are taking certain medications or have an existing medical condition, you should speak with your doctor to make sure the program is safe for you before getting started.
No, but an alternative option is the Optimal Health 3&3 Plan.
This very low calorie diet allows for 800 to 1,000 calories with 80 to 100 carbohydrates per day.
Optavia Fuelings include some gluten-free choices.
Expect to pay anywhere from $350 to $425 for three weeks worth of food, totalling 119 servings.
Fat burning should begin within three to five days of following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan.
Optavia claims you can lose an average of 12 pounds while on their program. They say you’ll continue to lose weight for up to 12 weeks following program completion.
On the Optimal Weight 5&1 plan, you’re allowed to eat one “lean and green” meal consisting of protein and vegetables. All these meals will come to 800-1,000 calories per day.
Optavia Premier is a membership program from Optavia. When users sign up for the service, they receive automatic shipments of food kits, exclusive discounts, free food, and free shipping.
Optavia is a weight-loss and health program that boasts many benefits for its users. While the program does not explicitly state that it puts you in ketosis, it is possible to achieve this by following their plan. As Optavia emphasizes habits like portion control and eating nutrient-dense foods, it’s likely you can enter ketosis if you consume fewer carbs than your body needs for energy. Additionally, Optavia encourages intermittent fasting, which may contribute to reaching ketosis. Ultimately, consulting your healthcare provider is encouraged before starting any diet or weight-loss program.
By adhering to the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, individuals can customize their plan to meet their specific needs and goals. This encourages a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity as well as other beneficial choices for each individual. By following this plan can help individuals reach or maintain their ideal weight in a safe and sustainable manner. Additionally, this plan can help reduce cravings and provide an overall feeling of wellness. Eating a balanced diet of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables can help fuel the body and provide nutrients essential for optimal health. Following this plan can also lead to improved energy levels, better mental clarity, and an overall sense of wellbeing. In addition, this plan can help individuals avoid unhealthy cravings and make healthier food choices that will sustain them in the long-term. Finally, this plan can help individuals develop better eating habits that can be carried on for life, leading to overall health and wellness.
If followed properly, the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan can be a great way to reach or maintain an optimal weight and stay healthy for the long-term. It is important to remember that this plan should be followed with proper guidance and advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Additionally, it may be beneficial to incorporate regular physical activity into the plan, as this can have a positive effect on overall health and wellness. Lastly, it is essential to remain mindful of one’s eating habits and make sure that good nutrition is a priority. Following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan can lead to improved physical, mental, and emotional health in the long-term.
When following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, it is important to avoid certain common mistakes that could hinder progress and lead to unhealthy eating habits. One of the most common mistakes is to skip meals or snacks, as this can lead to overeating later on in the day and disrupt the balance of nutrients consumed. Another mistake is not paying attention to portion sizes, which can lead to consuming too many calories and sabotaging weight loss or gain goals. It is also important to avoid relying on processed and unhealthy fast food options, as this can lead to an unbalanced diet. Finally, it is essential to make sure that physical activity is a regular part of the plan, as this can help boost metabolism and promote overall health. By avoiding these common mistakes, individuals can make sure that they are getting the most out of their Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan and reaching their desired goals.
The most important thing to keep in mind when following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is that it should be carefully monitored and adjusted to meet an individual’s specific needs and goals. It is important to make sure that the plan is tailored to each person, as this will ensure that the plan is sustainable and beneficial in the long-term. Additionally, it is essential to make sure that a healthy diet is maintained along with regular physical activity, as this can help maximize the effectiveness of the plan. Lastly, it is important to keep track of progress and adjust the plan as necessary to ensure that desired goals are met. By following these guidelines, individuals can make sure that they are getting the most out of their Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan and achieving their desired goals.
Following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is typically considered safe if done under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. It is important to remember that this plan should not be used as a replacement for medical care or professional advice.
When seeking professional guidance on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, individuals should look for someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in nutrition and diet plans. It is also important to make sure that the healthcare professional is familiar with the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan and can provide personalized advice.
To ensure that individuals are getting the most out of their Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, it is important to make sure that the plan is tailored to meet individual needs and goals . It is also essential to make sure that a healthy diet is maintained and that regular physical activity is incorporated into the plan.
The long-term benefits of following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan include improved overall health, weight loss or gain, balanced nutrition, and increased metabolism. Additionally, this plan can help individuals develop healthy eating habits and make better food choices, which can lead to increased energy levels and improved overall wellbeing.
Some common mistakes to avoid when following the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan include not tracking progress, relying too heavily on processed and unhealthy fast food options, and paying insufficient attention to physical activity. To get the most out of this plan, it is essential to monitor progress and adjust the plan as necessary, maintain a healthy diet, and make physical activity a regular part of the plan. By avoiding these common mistakes, individuals can make sure that they are getting the most out of their Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan and reaching their desired goals.
The Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is owned by Take Shape for Life, which is primarily owned by Medifast, the parent company. Take Shape for Life was started in 2002 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan, Take Shape for Life offers the Optimal Health 3&3 Plan, Optimal 4&2&1 Plan, and Powerful Hydration to help you maintain healthy weight after you reach your weight loss goal.
The Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan offers a range of Optavia products, including Essential Bars, Essential Shakes, Select Shakes, spinach pesto mac & cheese, honey sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon, buttermilk cheddar herb biscuits, essential baking mixes, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, homestyle chick’n noodle soup, and red bean & vegetable chili.
You can order Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan products directly from the Optavia website.
According to the official website, Optavia products are scientifically formulated with the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and sugar to help users burn fat and retain muscle on their health journey. The website claims that Optavia has worked with physicians, scientists, and nutritionists to create portion-controlled fuelings to make it easy for users to stay on their plan and keep the focus where it belongs: on gaining their Optimal Health. A study published in the journal Obesity Science and Practice found that evidence-based commercial programs like Optavia can be an important tool to help adults with overweight and obesity lose clinically relevant amounts of weight.
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