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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:-

I have diabetes. Can I use KicStart™ ?      

Losing weight has been shown to improve blood sugar levels and control diabetic symptoms. KicStart™ is approved for use in type 2 diabetic patients, however if you have diabetes you will need to let your GP and pharmacist know that you are intending to lose weight as they will need to monitor you carefully and may need to reduce your level of medications.

Can I use Kicstart if I have high blood pressure?

Studies have shown that losing weight can lower your blood pressure and or cholesterol levels so if you have either of these conditions, let your doctor and pharmacist know before you start losing weight as they will need to monitor you carefully and may need to monitor some of your medications

What if I find I initially don't enjoy the taste of KicStart™ ?  

For some people drinks that are high in protein can initially taste or smell a little bit unusual for the simple fact that it is something they are not familiar with. Most people find a flavour that they are happy with or quickly become accustomed to the new tastes and before long enjoy the flavour.

The clinical studies that have been conducted using KicStart™ have shown around 94% of patients are still on treatment after 2 months so the majority of people do work out a flavour profile that works for them.

There are a number of things that can be done to help people become accustomed to the flavour of KicStart™ without taking away from the excellent nutritional aspects of the product. Some tips are :-

• use an electric blender with some ice cubes to make the drink icy cold.
• pour the shake into a large drinking glass before drinking
• use an electric blender and add some of the berries (either fresh or frozen) from the free food list, to make a fruit smoothie.
• add one (or 2 for extra strong flavour) of the KicStart™ Supa Flavour Concentrates to the shake
• add ½ - 1 teaspoon of instant coffee when shaking
• add a portion of essence when shaking (eg. vanilla, almond, hazelnut, butterscotch, cherry brandy, rum, cinnamon)
• if the KicStart™ powder is mixed with water then 3 teaspoons (approximately 15g) of commercial milk drink flavouring (eg. Milo®, Nesquick®) can be added to the KicStart and result in the same total energy level as when the KicStart™ powder is mixed with skim milk. As a guide, 1 heaped teaspoon equals approximately 5g of powder.

(A number of commercially available meal replacement products that are not as nutritionally advanced as KicStart™ (formulated as a VLCD) are already very high in sugar. In some cases the powder of lower quality products are already 45-55% sugar, which is why they may taste more familiar to start with.)

What can I do to make KicStart™ less sweet?

If the KicStart™ powder is mixed with water or skim milk then 1/4 teaspoon of instant coffee powder is added, that will reduce the sweetness of the shake.

What can I do to make KicStart sweeter?

There are a number of commercially available artificial sweeteners that can be added to KicStart™ without increasing the calorie content significantly, eg Nutrasweet®, Extra®, Splenda® etc.

What can I do to vary the flavour?

Although most people enjoy the New and Improved Chocolate shake and the recently launched Vanilla, sometimes they need to have a variety of taste sensations.  We have developed a range of Supa Flavour Concentrates that will allow you to choose from 10 exciting and delicious flavours that can be added to your Vanilla shake for variety. After all Variety is the Spice of Life. Other suggestions we can recommend are

• blending a half a banana into the shake to make a smoothie
• blending with crushed ice
• blending with a half dozen strawberries, or other berries
• warming the chocolate shake in a microwave (once mixed and in a microwave proof cup) to make a hot chocolate

What type of liquid should I use to make the shake with?

The shake can be made up with 200ml of either water or skim milk. The choice is up to your personal preference, however you should be aware that using skim milk instead of water will slightly increase the carbohydrate and protein content of the shake and also give the shake a creamier consistency.

How much weight will I lose?

The amount of weight you lose will be dependant upon several factors. These factors are:-

• How many meals you replace with KicStart™
• How much activity you are doing each day to burn off the energy you are consuming
• What quantity and type of food you are consuming in addition to KicStart™ during the day (for healthy food choices go to the Healthy Eating  for Life segment of the Healthy Weight Wheel on the home page)

Can I use KicStart™ if I’m lactose intolerant?

Because the protein contained in KicStart™ is derived from milk, it is possible that KicStart™ will contain a small amount of lactose. As degrees of lactose intolerance vary, it is possible for some patients to use KicStart™prepared with water instead of skim milk and not be adversely affected. Please discuss with your consulting physician whether this product is appropriate for you before use.

Is KicStart™ gluten free?

As some of the lesser ingredients that are used in Kicstart™ may have been prepared using a product which once contained gluten, By law, all packaging must contain the warning "may contain traces of gluten". Tests on the total gluten content of the shakes have confirmed that the gluten content of KicStart™ Chocolate is so low (not detected at less than 5ppm) that it is considered by the Coeliac Society to be Gluten free.

How many meals should I replace per day?

We recommend that unless KicStart™ has been prescribed to you by a medical practitioner as part of a VLCD program, you can replace a maximum of two meals per day with KicStart™ and consume a sensible amount of low-fat, low GI foods for the third meal. In addition it is important to drink 2L of water per day.

Can I drink KicStart™ as a hot chocolate?

You can drink KicStart™ warm. We do recommend however that you prepare the shake as normal then transfer to a heat-proof container and heat in the microwave to the desired temperature. Do not heat KicStart™ in the plastic shaker nor should you add boiling water to the dry powder before shaking.

Can I freeze KicStart™ to make a sorbet?

Freezing a prepared shake makes a refreshing “gelati”. You could also blend cubed ice with the powder and 100ml of liquid to make a “slushie”.

What else can I eat while using KicStart™ to lose weight?

If you are using KicStart™ as a meal replacement ie replacing 1-2 meals per day, your third meal should be high in fibre, contain a moderate portion of lean protein and be low in fat. See the Healthy Eating For Life Segment on the Healthy Weight Wheel for suggestions.

You can prepare a snack from the following “free foods” such as:-

Vegetables: - eaten on their own or made into a hot salad, cold salad or dry roasted:

fresh tomato                   celery                      pumpkin                  peas                        dill pickles

cucumber                         broccoli                   garlic                       silver beet               watercress       

lettuce                             capsicum                onion                       asparagus                cabbage

sprouts                            spinach                  brussel sprouts        bean sprouts           cauliflower

radish                              zucchini                  green beans             choko                      eggplant

mushrooms                     bamboo shoots      ginger                       carrot                      pumpkin    

Fruit::                              Drinks:                                                                                 

rhubarb                            water                         diet cordial                                          

strawberries                     diet soft drink             Bonox™                                             berries                             soda water                clear soup                                          

passionfruit                      plain mineral water    vegetable juice                                   

lemon                               tomato juice               soup made from free vegetables

berries                              tea or coffee with low fat milk and no sugar (use artificial sweetener as required)

Condiments:                   Other snack suggestions

pepper                              vegetable dip (e.g.. eggplant / beetroot)  
herbs                                vegetable sticks
spices                                tomato salsa

tomato sauce                    

Worcestershire sauce      

soy sauce                         

fat free salad dressing

vinegar

sweet pickles

Can I have a drink of alcohol when using KicStart™?
It is important to remember that alcohol does contribute to the overall energy intake for the day which can’t be overlooked when you are trying to lose weight. In addition, in some people alcohol can stimulate appetite and/or reduce inhibitions leading to more food being eaten than initially intended. It is preferable that, if possible, you avoid alcohol. If you do choose to have a drink of alcohol we suggest that you try to balance it out with some extra activity. The energy in 1 full strength beer or a normal glass of wine equates to a 30 minute walk (approximately). If you would like some more information on safe alcohol consumption you can refer to the Australian Alcohol Consumption Guidelines which can be found at: http://www.alcohol.gov.au/guidelines/index.htm

Can I use KicStart™ whilst I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

KicStart™ is not recommended for use by pregnant, nursing or lactating (breastfeeding) women. Please consult your doctor before commencing any program of weight loss during this time.