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Frequently Asked Questions

Somebody told me the ActiLean Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars taste like candy. Is that true?

Believe it or not, ActiLean chocolate peanut butter bars truly taste like candy, yet have 15 grams of protein and 240 mg of DHA (omega-3). The ActiLean chocolate peanut butter MEAL REPLACEMENT bars are not quite as sweet and have a slight salty taste from the added vitamins and minerals.

What is the difference between the ActiLean Meal Replacement bars and ActiLean nutrition (snack) bars?

The ActiLean Meal Replacement bars, besides containing 240 mg of DHA (omega-3), are a bit larger, having 16 grams of protein, and contain 20% (or more) of 24 vitamins and minerals. They are designed to be a complete meal replacement. ActiLean nutrition bars have 240 mg of DHA and 15 grams of protein however, the snack bars contain a limited amount of vitamins and minerals. ActiLean snack bars are designed to be used as a between meal snack or as an OCCASIONAL meal replacement. They can also be a very tasty way to increase your intake of the critical omega-3 DHA. ActiLean snack bars are an ideal way for pregnant and lactating women meet their currently recommended 300 mg of DHA daily.

Can children use the ActiLean bars?

Most children in the U.S. and other Western countries are deficient in DHA. ActiLean bars are an ideal way to increase DHA (omega-3) intake.

What are the ingredients and nutritional information in Actilean Products?

A full listing of ingredients and nutritional information is provided with each product on the order page. Additionally, ActiLean products are made with Martek Biosciences Life's DHA, which is vegetarian-sourced and free of heavy metals and PCB's.

For more information on Martek and the advantages of vegetarian DHA, please see their website at martek.com.

Do ActiLean Shakes taste good?

Yes, and there are many recipes to make it similar to desserts.

How much can I expect to lose?

It really depends on your starting weight, age, physical activity, and compliance with the program. As a general rule:

  • If your weight is over 250 lbs., you will lose upwards of 1.25% to 1.5% of your body weight weekly.
  • If your weight is less than 250 lbs., you will loss approximately 1.00% to 1.25% of your weight weekly.

As an example, if you weigh 300 lbs., you will be losing upwards of 4.5 lbs. (1.5% multiplied by 300 lbs.) weekly.

Please note that you will possibly lose 10 lbs. during your first week on the program. However, part of that weight loss is water and unfortunately, water is not fat. The rate of weight loss diminishes as your body weight decreases.

Are there any stimulants or appetite suppressants in ActiLean products?

NONE! Everything is natural; no ephedra or other similar stimulants.

Well, if you are not hungry and you feel full, how is that possible?

It isn’t magic, but we are leveraging the latest advances in obesity research. Briefly, adding small amounts of specialized nutrients results in improved fullness (“satiety”) as shown in clinical use. Technically, the detailed mechanism is believed to increase the release of hormones (referred to as GLP-1 and PYY3-36) from the gastrointestinal tract that results in fullness.

How long after starting the ActiLean program will it take for me to notice this fullness?

Most people will experience this fullness within a few days of starting the ActiLean program. However, maximum satiety (“fullness”) tends to gradually increase over two to three weeks.

Does everybody experience this fullness?

Unfortunately, no. People who have had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery tend not to experience a significant increase in fullness. People with gastric bands generally do experience increased fullness. Perhaps 10 to 15% of the general population does not show significantly increased satiety compared to other meal replacement products.

ActiLean Products are “heart healthy” - aren’t other meal replacements the same?

ActiLean products contain the critical omega-3 DHA, which is associated with cardiovascular health. Thus, we can make the following FDA Qualified Health Claim:

“Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of an ActiLean shake or nutrition bar provides 240 milligrams of DHA omega-3 fatty acids.”

Can I mix up the ActiLean shakes for the day in advance and store them in a refrigerator?

No. You must drink ActiLean shakes immediately after you mix them with cold fluids to protect their taste and effectiveness.

How much and what types of fluids are recommended?

We recommend drinking 64 ounces of water or other non-caloric fluids, such as tea, coffee, and calorie-free soft drinks, daily. Generally, it is best to avoid caffeinated beverages. No, beer and wine are not on this list.

How long does it take to feel full after drinking an ActiLean shake?

Everybody is different, but in general, it takes about 20 minutes from the time that you consume an ActiLean shake or pudding before you start to feel full. You can keep feeling full by consuming your ActiLean shakes/puddings every three to four hours, as recommended.

Will taking five ActiLean shakes daily provide me with all my daily nutrient needs?

Five ActiLeans daily contain 100% of the recommended daily requirements of 24 needed nutrients, including 75 gms of high biologic quality protein (please see the product label). However, if you are on a medical program of less than 800 calories daily, you may need to take an additional mineral supplement (potassium).

Daily nutrient needs vary greatly from person to person, depending upon many factors, including gender, weight, body mass composition, activity level, and genetics. A dietary intake of less than 1200 calories daily generally requires medical supervision, thus the reason for the additional calories in our suggested meals (which bring your daily calorie intake up to the 1200-calorie mark). Please remember, your personal healthcare professional will have the final say as to what is needed and appropriate for you.

Can I mix the shake with milk?

ActiLean shakes are designed to be mixed with non-caloric fluids and the food program is designed with this concept in mind. If you were to mix it with non-fat or 1% milk, it would add to your daily calorie intake. However, you can use non-fat milk, being aware this will increase your calorie consumption.

When do I drink the five shakes?

It is best to space the shakes out throughout the day and evening at regular intervals of three to four hours starting shortly after getting up in the morning. This approach maximizes fullness and keeps hunger at bay. It is important to get all five shakes in daily, and if you need to, you can double-up and take two shakes at once. (If you do this, watch out for the “post-Thanksgiving” feeling of having too much to eat.) The most important rule is to make sure you take ALL five ActiLean shakes daily, even if you’re not hungry.

Will my preparation of the shake (blend or mix) alter the effect of the product in anyway?

No.

Can I drink the shake with food?

Yes, but with the following caveat. The balance of nutrients in ActiLean generally works best for hunger control and satiety (“fullness”) when consumed without additional food intake at the time. However, it will not hurt you to have your meal near or at the same time as you drink your ActiLean shake.

Will taking ActiLean stop me from bingeing?

This is also one of those yes and no answers. Structured dietary intake, as implemented in the ActiLean program, which induces satiety (fullness), has been shown in some studies to reduce cravings and binge eating. Patients in medical settings report significantly decreased food cravings and binge eating when consuming all five ActiLeans daily. However, if you are having significant binge eating, you should discuss this with your healthcare professional.

Will taking ActiLean shakes or bars interfere with medications?

The non-medically supervised ActiLean program is designed for healthy individuals without chronic medical conditions. Taking ActiLean products should not interfere with the use of over-the-counter medications.

For individuals with chronic medical problems, ActiLean products can result in an increased bleeding time for individuals on warfarin or similar blood thinners. Additionally, medications taken for hypertension (high blood pressure), type II diabetes, or elevated lipids (high cholesterol or triglycerides) generally need to be decreased while on the ActiLean program because blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid levels generally fall while on the ActiLean program. Thus, diabetic and hypertensive patients need to be closely monitored by their physicians and have their medications adjusted by them while on the ActiLean program.

Can I lose weight on the ActiLean program without exercising?

Yes, however, if you want to significantly improve your weight loss and maintenance, your well-being, and your health, you MUST be physically active. Our integrated behavior and lifestyle program will provide tools that will assist you with increasing your physical activity.

Is this a medically supervised program?

NO. Although we are healthcare professionals, we are NOT providing any medical evaluation, treatment or monitoring. The program is designed to be self-directed. We ALWAYS recommend that you speak with your personal healthcare professional BEFORE starting ANY weight management or lifestyle intervention/behavior modification program.

Do physicians recommend the ActiLean program?

Yes. If your personal healthcare professional has questions about the ActiLean program, please ask them to contact us and a physician can discuss weight loss and the ActiLean program with him or her.

I know you include an integrated lifestyle intervention program that includes behavior modification, physical activity, and basic nutrition intervention. Other weight management programs tell me it isn’t needed. Why should I spend my time and participate in it?

The ActiLean program has been designed by physicians, psychologists, and dieticians who are acknowledged experts in the field of weight management. The cornerstone of ALL effective weight management programs include:

  • Dietary intervention with reduced calorie intake
  • Behavior modification
  • Increased physical activity

We have spent countless hours developing this program and expended significant financial resources to make it web-enabled. We are providing this lifestyle program as a complimentary component for individuals on the ActiLean program. Utilizing our lifestyle program will significantly improve both your short-term and long-term success.