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 lost 30+ lbs on Medifast, but had an illness and gained it all back. Then I got back on plan (after a medication adjustment) and I lost it all and more. The plan does take some getting used to, but it works...it is up to us to maintain our results. Once I took food out of the equation, I was left to really deal with why I was an emotional eater. I have that under control and am now on my way to better health.
This diet is very good only if you need to loose 50 or more pounds. It is very restictive in which you must use the Medifast pre-package food. However unlike Optifast, you get to prepare one mail ('lean & grean') which the meal is 4-6oz of lean protien and vegatables and one fat exchange. I have lost almost 10 lbs so far in less than 3 weeks--which doing WW took me over two months to loose 10 lbs and I only lost 2 lbs doing JC for more than a month. I'm personally loving this. I have to be very careful with my carbs and I am prediabetic. My doctor had placed me on this diet (I have hypoglocemia, pre-diabetic and have 55 lbs to loose. I also struggled to loose weight on WW and JC). You MUST however follow through with the transition plan and go along with the suggested changes in Medifast's maintenance program or you will gain your weight back. Don't even think of loosing weight on this program and return to eating 3 slices of pizza, pint of ice cream, etc. This program is a lifestyle change which also incorporates working out at least 3-4x once you are close to your target weight. The food is ok. I like the bars, oatmeal and shakes. I could take or leave the soup--chicken noodle and chilli (with a little salsa and hot sauce added to it) is ok. Skip the crakers and rice cakes--you could buy individual sized Quaker Oat mini rice cakes packets and low carb crakers instead.
I love the Medifast products! I have been getting the Plus for diabetics package and find it a great way to keep things in control.
Medifast has been a godsend for me! I highly recommend it.
I just signed up with Medifast - I hope I have as good of results as you two have had!
I way prefer the meal optiosn on MediFast vs. Nutrisystem. There are a lot fo smaller ones starting up as well though like eDiets and Zone diet so shop around and try one or two until you find food you like.
Is the medi fast food better than Nutrisystem? I see that eDiets is doing food delivery as well. Who has the best food?
Medifast is truly a lifesaver...I lost 202 lbs, went from 363 to 161. When I started on was on oxygen 24/7 due to lung condition..without MF I do believe the weight was going to kill me. I have since given up the oxygen, inhalers, b/p med, prilosec...I have truly been reborn and it is due to this great product..I did this all under my doctors care. He too is delighted with the results.
Has anyone tried the medifast makeover?
Find another Way that's your problem I'm going with Medifast
Medifast is great. What I love is they do the shopping for you. My biggest downfall is going to the grocery store. With this plan you go once for your Lean&Green choices and you are done. We used to get Free Shipping, but since they are now in the Star Limelight they have eliminated the free shipping.
It's a good diet. My friend was 100 lbs overweight and was diagnosed with Diabetes and her doctor monitored her on this program. Good for people that need to loose 50+lbs according to my friends doctor.
I'm sorry to say it but I really HATED this plan. It sounds so good but the "meals" arrive in little packets about the size of a packet of cocoa. Even the soups and chili comes that way. I can't live on processed powder! Don't waste your money!
I tried Nutrisystem. It definately works but the food gave me such terrible gas that after two weeks i had to quit. My husband and son were both fine and lost 30 lbs. each. Does anyone have any feedback on whether or not Medifast is any better in the gas dept? Maybe not such processed fake food ?
You will need to use the Medishake 70 which contain soy products and do not leave you feeling bloated.
It is a great plan. However, the oatmeal and the soups are not very tasty.
Medifast takes getting used to but it is worth it. I love the bars and the shakes when blended with ice. The oatmeal isn't bad when cinnamon or equal is added. If you are overweight, developing good habits is a must and that is what Medifast forces you to do.
I've lost over 50 pounds in 24 weeks. I LOVE MF! It is simple and you have a meal with normal food so you keep in touch with real food. I think that is really important especially when you reach goal and transition back off the product. Give it a try - they offer a money-back guarantee what do you have to lose - except weight!
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