Medifast
You stand to lose up to 5 pounds a week from Medifast
BACKGROUND
Don't miss the guest blog series by Medifast's Medical Director, Dr. Wayne Andersen, as well as other Meal Based diet news
Stop shopping, counting nutrition facts, and even cooking. Let Medifast do all the work for you. Medifast is a meal-delivery service that offers all the benefits of a personal chef, shopper and nutritionist, freeing you to pay more attention to your life. This meal replacement plan (similar to Slim-Fast) is high in protein and brought directly to your home. With Medifast, you can expect to lose up to 20 pounds the first month.
The Medifast Plan is much like other soft diets, in that the menu consists of shakes, bars, soups, pudding and more. Don't worry about giving up choice - Medifast boasts a menu of 70 meal choices that will compliment your unique tastes and dietary requirements. If it's kosher, low glycemic, lactose-free or even vegetarian, the Medifast plan has you covered. Medifast has specific plans that cater to the unique needs of women, men and diabetics.
Medifast has been proven in multiple clinical studies and if that's not enough, the dozens of real-life testimonials it shares on its site should be. Real people, losing real weight and celebrating that success on Medifast. The diet and weight loss program even has more than 15,000 doctors who recommend it to their patients.
A John Hopkins University study suggests that the Medifast plan helps participants quickly and safely lose weight by decreasing the amount of calories consumed. The study also suggests that participants with Type 2 Diabetes lost 2x that of individuals adhering to the American Diabetes Association's recommendation. Additionally, Medifast shows results in participants with other illnesses, like hypertension.
PRO
- Convenient pre-packaged foods
- Reasonably priced
- Variety of foods to choose from
- Supports exercise
- Clinically proven to help you lose 2-5 pounds per week
- Doctor recommended
- Provides detailed maintenance plan
- Plans made for diabetics
- Quick Start Guide available at TrustMedifast.com
CON
- May be tough transitioning back to regular foods
- Will have to cut some carbs
- Low-calorie diet has its critics
DIET and NUTRITION
You'll have five prepared meals and one "Lean and Green Meal." This is known as the Medifast 5 & 1 plan. Your L&GM will consist of a lean protein (a seven-ounce serving of chicken, turkey or fish; a five ounce serving of beef, pork or lamb) with at tablespoon of your favorite condiment like barbecue sauce, ketchup or mustard. You'll also have your choice of side item, including salad greens, raw or cooked vegetables. You'll eat at least three servings of vegetables with your L&GM.
The Medifast program encourages you to avoid hunger by eating every three hours drink your choice of calorie-free beverage, no less than 64 ounces (water is recommended). When you're not eating your Lean and Green Meal and snacking throughout the day, you'll choose from the dozens of puddings, oatmeal, shakes, scrambled eggs, and other low-calorie, nutritious meal-replacement items that Medifast delivers directly to you.
At the beginning, you'll remove vegetables with a higher carbohydrate count, like corn and carrots, to help boost your weight loss efforts. You'll slowly reintroduce these to your diet and they can be a part of your diet in the maintenance phase.
EXERCISE
The Medifast website offers an exercise guideline document. While there is no specific or personalized exercise plan, Medifast recommends you find time for exercise daily. This can be running, jogging, swimming, dancing or walking, which is their suggestion. They just advise that your exercise program should involve an activity that you enjoy so that you're more likely to stick with it and you find at least 10 minutes a day to get up and move. You should also listen to your body and not do more than your body can.
CONCLUSION
For more than 20 years, Medifast has been a weight loss answer to more than one million people. It’s also helped people with pre-existing conditions, like diabetes and hypertension, lose weight healthfully. The meals have gotten generally positive feedback, so if you need convenience Medifast may be for you. You'll learn how to eat again with this portion controlled, balanced nutrition approach. Many diet pills, supplements and programs can't celebrate the doctor recommendations, clinical research and positive testimonials that Medifast can. It's worth a look if you have weight to lose, are ready to change your lifestyle, and looking for a convenient approach to eating.
Common Misspellings
Medi Fast, Media Fast, Medfast, Mediafast, Medifast diet, Medifast.com, TrustMedifast.com
Related Diets: Slim-Fast, Bistro MD, DineWise, NutriSystem, Vitalicious
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I had the worse side effect I have ever had to anything in my life. I lost my cuticles and thus am loosing my finger nails. This was painful, the tips of my fingers cracked and bled as I typed. I had as many as 7 bandaids on my finger tips at one time. I quit using it in February 2009 and my nails are still recovering with the assistance of two doctors.
In my research I can not find where they tell you of any side effects. I have talked to women that have lost their hair, hot burning feeling in palms of their hands and soles of their feet, nail problems, cracking finger tips, etc.
I agree with the folks who have tried and failed. YES you do lose weight, and YES if you can stick with it, it's simple and easy. But if you are like me, and you lose 80+ pounds, then try to live a normal life... You WILL gain all the weight back, and then some. Your metabolism is changed once you do this diet. And I even went back a year later and did it again, only to lose 20 pounds, then gain 35 back. And the food eventually didn't agree with my digestive system; Even altered my hormones. Be sure you want to commit to this before you join. If you aren't 100%, it won't work for you in the long run. It feels great to lose so much weight so fast, but it will all come flying back if you don't stick to a very strict diet of "normal" foods. Best of luck.
Jackwelch
Thanks for the info dominiquej. i think I am going to try it out.. wish me luck!!
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dominiquej
The food is new and improved. You almost forget you are on a weightloss program. The products look like regular food products so you can take them to work with no questions asked. You can have a bar , eggs, or oatmeal for breakfast , a soup for lunch or split your lean & green. Good luck all.
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Jackwelch
Wonder what the food is like? It is prob way cheaper than a day of meals in NYC.
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I've been on Medifast for a month, and have dropped about 20 lbs. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who has ever had issues sticking with things like Weight Watchers.
I have a blog that chronicles my Weight Loss Journey on Medifast at .
It features before/after photos of my progress, stats, and my very honest opinion of everyday life on Medifast.
I also have coupons for Medifast on there. They help a bit if price is an issue.
Good luck on your journey!
I started MF last year and lost up to 48 lbs. I enjoyed the ease of the meals. I didn't have to think. I stopped because of the recent economy and fear of losing my job. But I am going to start again. I felt so, so much better. BP, aches, pains and I learned to exersice. I never thought that I would every lose anything. This was the one and only diet that I have been successful on. I need it!
If anyone ever wants to talk one on one with a real reson that is doing this diet, feel free to email me!!
Medifast is simple to follow and you see results very quickly. After you get past the first few days, you will not be hungry. I definately recommend Medifast!
I love this diet! It has really taught me how to eat healthy. I have lost 29lbs after 2 months.
I love how I can just grab and go. I don't have to count and plan my meals weeks at a time... Everything is convenient!! I would recommend it to anyone... AND an added note... if you don't want to gain the weight back all you do is fallow the transition and maintenance plan and eat healthier!!! You can do it and it sooo worth it!!!
I am a health coach and what I do is help others by being there for support, giving tips, and tricks and recepies. They have what is called a 5 & 1 program
you eat six small meals a day...
5 meals are foods provided by medifast
1 meal is a lean meat and 3servings of veggies
I absolutely love it and it costs about $10 a day. Everything is portioned for you all the nutrients and vitamins are in the foods so there is no need to take and pills with the diet. It took a couple days of getting used to but I love it and I am down 23lbs.. and I barely even exercise.. hmmm speaking of which I should probably do that... But they stress not to work out more than 45 min a day. like I said I barely workout... my job is somewhat physical.
A lot of the food is soy based so if you never had soy before that takes some getting used to. Some people love soy, others hate soy. I like certain food while hating others...
They is a large variety of food. but the basics are
Soups, Shakes, Pudding, Crunch Bars, Oatmeal, Fruit drinks, and eggs. There is a large variety of flavors and then of course you also get to eat lean meat and veggies too.
this is just a basic rundown.
This program is the only one I've tried that I can actually make a lifestyle. It's simple to follow and I don't have to fight hunger. I have so much energy and I've already lost 43 pounds. I love it!
Easy, quick and a great jumpstart for wt loss. I liked seeing results, it's motivating. Also kept my blood sugar stable and I got to decrease meds!
This is just a rip off of a high protein low carb diet.... you can buy your own food at the local grocery. The cost is unreasonable, and you have to stay on it. They really do not teach how to eat regular food, they want you hooked so you can join the Take Shape For Life program, just more money in their pocket.
I have noticed a couple of the women whom went on this program locally are gaining back the weight. They peddle this stuff, think they better get back on it.
Very Expensive and tastes horrid! I suggest you try it for a week before you commit to the entire month.
While I am getting tired of the food (I've been on the diet for 8 months now), this diet has saved my life. I'm down 115 lbs and still am looking to lose another 50 or so. I know the weight will come off. I'm somewhat scared on how I'll do when I transition off, though.
This was the best program for me. No planning or preparation except for 1 meal per day. No hunger after 1 or 2 days. Easy and fast weight loss. Felt great too. Lost 40 pounds and am keeping it off.
I started Medifast in June and by August 2008 I lost 13lbs. I DO NOT RECOMMEND MEDIFAST, To this date, I have gained back all of the weight and then some, it is very hard to transition, after a while the food becomes unbearable. I have a month's worth of food in my cabinet, that I do not know what to do with.
January 2, 2009
24lbs in one month
Medifast is great. I have tried nutrisystem before and way prefer medifast!
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