KicStart™ Commonly Asked Questions

If you have a question with regards to KicStart™ or any of our other products or programs, that is currently not answered within this site, we would love to hear from you. Please email your questions to info@primahealth.com.au

I have diabetes. Can I use KicStart™?

Losing weight has been shown to improve blood sugar levels and control diabetic symptoms. KicStart™ has been studied in, and is often recommended for, people with type 2 diabetes, however you will need to let your GP know that you are intending to lose weight as they will need to monitor you carefully and may need to reduce your dosage of medications.

KicStart™ is usually not recommended in type 1 diabetes unless specifically prescribed by a doctor or diabetes specialist.

Can I use KicStart™ if I have high blood pressure?

Studies have shown that losing weight with KicStart™ 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 may need to adjust or even cease some of your medications.

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

The protein used in the manufacture of KicStart™ is primarily dairy based therefore the shakes and soups do contain naturally occurring lactose. Those who have mild lactose intolerance or sensitivity may be able to utilise a lactase supplement (lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose) such as Lacteeze™ tablets to assist in reducing symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Please discuss the available options with your local pharmacist or a member of the Healthy Weight For Life Team.

If you have a history of lactose intolerance please discuss with your doctor whether this product is appropriate for you.

(NOTE: LACTEEZE™ Tablets now available on the estore - Under Accessories)

Does KicStart™ contain Gluten?

For those diagnosed with coeliac disease, it is important to know that KicStart™ shake products have been tested to a sensitivity of 5 ppm - (parts per million) - and the gluten content was found to be undetectable, meaning that to all intents & purposes this powder is gluten free.

Due to legal requirements of food manufacture, as some of the trace ingredients of KicStart™ shakes are sourced from products that may contain gluten we are obliged to warn of the possibility that the powder may contain traces of gluten. However we have had a number of people with coeliac disease use KicStart™ shakes quite successfully. 

Note:- The KicStart™ VLCD soup products DO CONTAIN GLUTEN  at a detection level of 80ppm and as such MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE WITH COELIAC DISEASE OR GLUTEN INTOLERANCE.

If you have a history of gluten intolerance please discuss with your doctor whether this product is appropriate for you.

Does KicStart™ contain any genetically modified ingredients?

All manufacturing of KicStart™ takes place in Sydney Australia. Our manufacturing facility follows HACCP guidelines, and in addition as part of their Quality Assurance policies, have a "no Genetically Modified Ingredients" policy. As such we can guarantee that no ingredient used in the manufacture of KicStart™ is sourced or derived from genetically modified raw materials.

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.

To assist with healthy food choices during pregnancy or breastfeeding we recommend the TEMplate System™

I am prone to constipation, how can I prevent this from occurring?

Whilst KicStart™ contains 2 different types of soluble fibre to help reduce cholesterol re-absorption, maximise hunger satisfaction and decrease the likelihood of constipation, people who are accustomed to a reasonably high fibre diet may experience a level of constipation when they start using KicStart™. This can be quickly rectified by the addition of a fibre supplement such as Metamucil™ or Benefibre™, adequate intake of fruits and vegetables, drinking more water & ensuring any carbohydrates consumed are of the grainy variety eg multigrain or wholemeal breads, wholemeal pasta, brown rice, porridge oats or untoasted muesli.

Can KicStart™ cause diarrhoea?

For some individuals the increased consumption of soluble fibre in KicStart™ or the lactose content may result in flatulence, looser and/or more frequent stools in the first few days.

If it is due to the fibre, the body usually becomes quickly accustomed to the additional fibre and rarely do people need to discontinue treatment. If excess flatulence becomes a problem you may like to speak to your local pharmacy about using activated charcoal for a few days to absorb the excess carbon dioxide being produced.

If the symptoms persist or become intolerable, stop for a few days then re-introduce the shakes gradually at a later stage eg 1 every second day, then daily, then twice daily.

If there is abdominal pain or discomfort, this may indicate that you could have significant lactose intolerance and should discontinue KicStart™. Alternately you could try a medicated product such as Lacteze™ to help break down the lactose.

I have just started the program and am experiencing headaches. Is this normal?

Some people may experience headaches in the first few days of commencing a meal replacement program. For many, simply increasing their water intake will help alleviate this. For others, a simple analgesic eg panadol will help. It's important to know also that the headaches are usually transient and will most likely disappear after a few days. If they do persist for longer than a few days, please consult your GP.

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

The shakes should be made up with 200ml of chilled drinking water (or 200mL of skim milk for the original formulation of shakes).

The soups are to be made up with 200mL of hot water by mixing in a large soup mug or bowl. Alternately you can combine the soup powder with 200mL of cold water in a shaker, shake well and transfer to a heat proof container before heating the prepared soup in a microwave.

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.

In the trials and pilot programs that have been conducted using KicStart™, over 80% of patients were still on the program after 4 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 and drinking it with a straw

    * add ½ - 1 teaspoon of instant coffee to the vanilla or chocolate shake when shaking

    * add a portion of essence when shaking (eg. vanilla, almond, hazelnut, butterscotch, cherry brandy, rum or cinnamon)

What can I do to achieve flavour variety?

KicStart™ is available in a range of shake and soup flavours. Some additional serving suggestions that people have tried and that we can recommend are:-

    * blending a half a banana into the vanilla shake to make a smoothie

    * blending with crushed ice to make a “daiquiri”

    * blending the vanilla shake with a half dozen strawberries, or other berries

    * making a hot chocolate (first make up cold and heat in a microwave proof cup)

For other suggestions please refer to the KicStart™ Preparation and Flavours page.

What can I do to make KicStart™ less sweet?

Adding 1/4 teaspoon of instant coffee powder to an appropriately flavoured shake will reduce the sweetness of the shake. Alternatively you could try the savoury KicStart™ soup varieties.

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 make KicStart™ taste less salty?

Some people may find the unique formulation of KicStart™ a little salty. This is due to the very important inclusion of essential electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and trace elements that go into making KicStart™ nutritionally complete.

By making the shake very cold (adding ice cubes when mixing) the unusual taste of these vital ingredients will be less detectable.

Can I make  a warm drink with KicStart™ Chocolate or Cafe Latte shakes?

You can drink KicStart™ warm. We do recommend however that you prepare a cold shake as normal then transfer to a heat-proof container and heat in the microwave to the desired temperature. Do not heat KicStart™ in a plastic shaker, do not shake hot water in a shaker and never add boiling water directly to the dry shake powder.

Can I freeze KicStart™ to make a sorbet?

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

How much weight will I lose?

The amount of weight you lose will be dependant upon several factors.

These factors are:-

• How much you weigh to begin with. 
• 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 we recommend the TEMplate System™).

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 total meal replacement VLCD program, you should only 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.

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

If you are using KicStart™ as a partial meal replacement ie replacing 1-2 meals per day, your third meal should be high in fibre, contain moderate portions of carbohydrate and lean protein and be low in fat. One way to ensure this occurs is to use the TEMplate System™.

In addition, refer to the Healthy Eating For Life page for food suggestions and a list of free foods that can be enjoyed any time without detracting from your weight loss efforts. You will find some helpful recipe ideas for free foods by clicking here.

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 or maintain a healthy 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, during an intensive weight loss phase, you try to limit or avoid alcohol if possible.

If you do choose to have a drink of alcohol, in order to not sabotage your weight management efforts,  we suggest that you try to balance it out with some extra activity. The energy in 1 full strength beer or a standard glass of wine equates to a 30 minute walk (approximately). So enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, but make sure you also do an additional 30mins of brisk walking for the day (over and above your usual planned activity) and your energy balance shoud be about equal.

If you would like some more information on safe alcohol consumption you can refer to theNHMRC's Australian Guidelines to reduce Health Risks from drinking Alcohol