Active 1 level

The Active 1 Level includes replacing 1 meal a day with OPTIFAST and includes 2 healthy meals per day. It is ideal if you are seeking gradual weight loss & greater variety in your meal choice.

Why choose this level?

On this Level, you replace 1 meal with an OPTIFAST VLCD product and include 2 healthy meals, each meal approximately 350 calories. It is ideal if your BMI is 25-30 kg/m2, and would like to incorporate some 'normal' meals into your day.

How does it work?

The Active 1 Level of the OPTIFAST VLCD Program continues to work by restricting calories, helping to achieve a more gradual weight loss. The total calorie intake is restricted to approximately 1200 calories per day.

During the Active 1 Level you will be replacing 1 meal with an OPTIFAST VLCD product.

You will also need to have:

2 low-calorie meals (approximately 350 calories each)
2 or more cups of low starch vegetables
2 litres of water or calorie-free fluids (minimum)
2 serves of fruit (approximately 70 calories)
1 serve of dairy (approximately 100 calories)

The length of time that you are on this level will depend on your lifestyle needs and weight loss goals.

What a day might look like:

Meal	Sample meal plan 1	Sample meal plan 2	Sample meal plan 3
Breakfast	1 OPTIFAST VLCD Shake	Low-calorie meal (~350kcal, 25g protein, 25g carbohydrate)	Low-calorie meal (~350kcal, 25g protein, 25g carbohydrate)
Morning Tea	Tea/coffee (either black or with 30mL of low fat milk and no sugar) 1 serve of fruit	Tea/coffee (either black or with 30mL of low fat milk and no sugar) 1 serve of fruit	150g of low fat yoghurt 1 serve of fruit
Lunch	Low-calorie meal (~350kcal, 25g protein, 25g carbohydrate)	1 OPTIFAST VLCD Bar	Low-calorie meal (~350kcal, 25g protein, 25g carbohydrate)
Afternoon Tea	Tea/coffee (either black or with 30mL of low fat milk and no sugar) Vegetable sticks	1 serve of fruit Vegetable sticks	1 serve of fruit Vegetable sticks
Dinner	Low-calorie meal (~350kcal, 25g protein, 25g carbohydrate)	Low-calorie meal (~350kcal, 25g protein, 25g carbohydrate)	1 OPTIFAST VLCD Soup 1 cup of low starch vegetables
Supper	Herbal tea 1 tub of low fat yoghurt 1/2 cup diced fruit	Glass of warm low fat milk (200ml) with diet topping	Herbal Tea 125mL of diet jelly
Total Nutrient Intake	1200 calories 83g protein 111g carbohydrate	1200 calories 77g protein 119g carbohydrate	1220 calories 83g protein 115g carbohydrate

What is a ‘low starch vegetable’?

Below is a list of low starch vegetables, as well as vegetables to avoid due to their higher carbohydrate and calorie content. The OPTIFAST VLCD Program recommends at least 2 cups a day of allowed vegetables, however increasing that quantity makes little difference to your weight loss and may help to keep you satisfied. Vegetables can be raw or cooked - it doesn’t matter which.

*Please note that when on 'Active' and 'Maintenance' Levels, vegetables in the 'avoid' columns can be incorporated into your low-calorie meal.*

Full list of Allowed Foods & Condiments

Allowed

Low starch vegetables

Alfalfa sprouts
Asparagus
Bean sprouts
Beetroot (30-40g)
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Capsicum

Carrots (30-40g)
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Eggplant
Green beans
Konjac noodles
(Slendier/Slim
Pasta range)

Lettuce
(all types)
Leeks
Mushrooms
Onions
Radishes
Shallots
Silver beet

Snow peas
Spinach
Squash
Tomatoes
Watercress
Zucchini

Avoid

Corn
Green peas
Legumes
Lentils
Potato
Sweet potato
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Turnip

Fruit & Dairy Serves

Fruit and dairy serves are recommended on the Active 1 Level. See below for recommendations on serves:

Allowed – Active 2, Active 1, Maintenance Levels Only

Fruit (one serve = 50-70 calories)

Apple (1 small)
Lychees (4)
Plums (2)
Apricots (2)
Orange (1)
Mandarin (1-2)

Pineapple (2 slices)
Strawberries (1.5 punnets)
Cherries (15)
Passionfruit (4)
Rhubarb (200g)

Grapes (1/2 cup)
Peach (1)
Prunes (3)
Pear (1 small)
Canned fruit in natural juice (120g)

Avoid

Dried Fruit
Fruit Juice

Allowed – Active 2, Active 1, Maintenance Levels Only

Low-Fat Dairy (one serve = 100 calories)

Reduced Fat Hard Cheese (30g)
Cottage Cheese (1/3 cup)
Low-Fat Ice Cream (1 scoop)

Low-Fat Milk (250ml)
Low-Fat Yoghurt (1 small tub ~ 150g)

Avoid

Full-Cream Dairy

FAQs

Yes, some people may choose to start on the Active 1 Level of the OPTIFAST VLCD Program or are advised to do so by a healthcare professional. The Active 1 Level is still suitable for people who require significant weight loss. This level restricts calorie intake but not as much as the Intensive Level.

No, the Active 1 Level works through calorie restriction, not ketosis. The Intensive Level is the only OPTIFAST Program Level that utilises ketosis.

Your calorie-controlled or low-calorie meal should be around 350 calories. Aim for 1 serve or ¼ of your plate to be protein (100g meat or chicken, 130g white flesh fish, 2 eggs or 150g tofu), 1 serve or ¼ or your plate to be grains (2 slices of bread, 1 cup cooked pasta, ¾ cup of rice or 1 medium potato) and fill half the plate with low starch vegetables or salad. You can also include 1 tbsp of a sauce or dressing. This plate concept will help to keep your meal under 350 calories. Alternatively, check out the calorie- controlled recipes in the recipe section of the website or on the OPTIFAST My Program app. Each recipe indicates how many calories per serve.

If you are concerned about transitioning through the other levels of the OPTIFAST VLCD Program, consult an Accredited Practising Dietitian who will be able to help you with this transition as well as educate you regarding appropriate foods to include, portion sizes and how to manage your daily calorie intake, as this can be individual. For tools to help guide you as well as recipe ideas, download the OPTIFAST My Program app.

The OPTIFAST VLCD Program is designed so that you can interchange or have any combination of the OPTIFAST VLCD products that suit your preference and lifestyle. This includes OPTIFAST VLCD Shakes, Soups, Bars and Desserts. If you choose to have more than 1 bar a day, ensure that you consume extra water as you will not be getting the fluids that you would with the sachet products.

It really doesn't matter which meals you decide to replace with an OPTIFAST VLCD product. The program is designed so that you can choose which meals you would prefer to replace based on your likes and lifestyle. The evening meal is generally replaced with a healthy meal in the Active 2 Level, purely for social reasons, however you can tailor the program to suit yourself and substitute the morning meal or lunch instead.