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The Optavia diet is a diet that allows you to lose weight by eating six meals a day.

Counted by News & World Report among the best fast diets of 2020, it gained international fame thanks to Boss of Cakes Buddy Valastro who, thanks to this diet, managed to lose 20 kg in a few months.

The program, also promoted through an official website where it is possible to purchase OPTAVIA® branded snacks and replacement meals, offers three alternatives depending on the goals the person intends to achieve. achieve. The first is the 5 & 1 program, which is the more rigid (not suitable for pregnant women and nursing mothers). In this case, consider an energy intake of between 800 and 1000 calories per day.

The person following this Optavia dietary path should consume 5 replacement meals per day (to be purchased). A sixth meal characterized by the presence of vegetables and proteins is essential.

The second alternative is the 4 & 2 & 1 plan, considered as a transition path. Its main feature is the gradual increase in calorie intake. The guidelines to follow include the daily intake of 4 replacement meals, one based on protein and vegetables, and the consumption of a snack chosen from OPTAVIA® products.

Finally, we retain plan 3 & 3, the maintenance plan. To be followed for a minimum period of 6 weeks, it is characterized by the intake of 3 replacement meals per day. The other three, always three, must be based on protein and vegetables.

Regardless of the plan followed, the Optavia diet includes eating every 2/3 hours and drinking at least 2 liters of water per day. As can be seen from the description of the individual plans, great importance is attached to the consumption of vegetables (minimum 5 servings per day). When it comes to protein foods, you need to stay within 200 grams per day.

Training, which should be in full body mode, should not be overlooked either. This diet, which also includes telephone support for health coaches, has been compared to another program – the Medifast® protocol – by two American teams who, in 2020, carried out a randomized study on 198 obese or overweight patients. After a 16-week follow-up, the Optavia diet was more effective than DIY. However, before starting, it is advisable to consult your doctor.