Medifast Diet Plan: What It Is
The Medifast program is a very low-calorie, no-brainer approach to weight loss. There’s no counting calories, fat grams, or carbs; you just eat or drink six times a day.
Launched 27 years ago as a meal replacement program available only through doctors, the Medifast diet is now widely available and includes 70 meal-replacement options, including the popular shakes.
The primary Medifast weight loss program, “5 plus 1,” calls for five daily Medifast meal-replacement drinks or foods (all available only through the company) plus one “lean and green” meal, consisting of lean meat or fish plus salad or green vegetables.
The high- protein, low-carb Medifast plans allow dieters approximately 800-1,000 calories a day, designed to yield a loss of 2 to 5 pounds per week while preserving muscle mass.
” Weight loss varies according to stage of the program, how much you have to lose and physical activity,” explains Lisa Davis, PhD, Medifast vice president of research and development. “Initial weight loss is usually much greater than amount lost in later weeks.”
Special Medifast plans are available for vegetarians, teens, new moms, seniors, people who have recently had weight loss surgery, and gout sufferers.
Davis estimates the cost of the meal replacements at $80/week or $300/month, not including the daily “lean and green” meal you prepare yourself. No supplements are needed with the Medifast diet, she says.
The meal-replacement products and support are available online through Medifast’s web site; in about 15,000 doctor’s offices across the United States; at Medifast clinics in Florida and Texas; and through the “Take Shape for Life” network of health coaches (Take Shape for Life is a subsidiary of Medifast).
An array of support services and educational material — including exercise guides, nutrition information, online communities, personal trainers, and registered dietitians — are available online, in person, or over the telephone to help dieters following the plan.
Medifast Diet Plan: What You Can Eat
The beauty of the Medifast program is the limited decision making. You choose five daily meal replacements from an assortment of portion-controlled shakes, puddings, eggs, oatmeal, chili, bars, or soups, plus prepare one “lean and green meal.” Soy or whey protein are the basis for the meal replacements, which are designed to help dieters feel satisfied on the very low-calorie plan.
Dieters are allowed 5-7 daily ounces of lean meat or fish. The meal options are broken down into “lean,” “leaner” and “leanest.” If you choose leaner options, additional healthy fats are allowed. The lean meats and fish may be grilled, baked, boiled, broiled, or poached.
Add three servings of raw, steamed, grilled, baked, or boiled vegetables to the lean meat or fish to complete the meal. Vegetables are listed from lowest to higher carbohydrate content, and the ones highest in carbs — carrots, corn, peas, potatoes, onions, and Brussels sprouts – are excluded.
Alcohol, fruit, dairy, grains, sweets, and most fats are also prohibited. Dieters are encouraged to drink 64 daily ounces of non-calorie beverages, including water, coffee, tea, diet sodas, and other sugar-free drinks. Caffeinated beverages are limited to three servings daily because the low-calorie diet “may make you more sensitive to caffeine.”
Optional snacks include three celery stalks, sugar-free gelatin or popsicles, sugar-free gum, and two dill pickle spears.
Total daily carbohydrates are limited to 80-85 grams per day until the transition to maintenance phase, when they are slowly added back into the diet.
Sample Menu
8 a.m.: Medifast oatmeal
10 a.m.: Medifast caramel nut bar
Noon: Medifast chili
3 p.m.: Medifast strawberry creme shake
Dinner: Three servings of raw, steamed, grilled, baked or boiled vegetables, plus one “lean,” “leaner” or “leanest” protein choice.
Leanest: 7 ounces cod, flounder, grouper, crab, shrimp, or lobster; a Boca Burger or 2 cups Egg Beaters, plus two additional fat servings
Leaner: 6 ounces swordfish, trout, skinless chicken breast, pork tenderloin, or 99% lean ground meat; 15 ounces firm tofu, or two eggs plus
four egg whites, plus one additional fat serving
Lean: 5 ounces salmon; mahi-mahi; lean beef, lamb, pork chop or 80%-
98% lean ground meat, three eggs, or 15 ounces soft tofu, with no additional fat.
8 p.m.: Medifast chocolate pudding
The Medifast Diet Plan: How It Works
Losing weight is essentially a mathematical formula: When you cut calories sufficiently, you will lose weight. The Medifast plan cuts calories severely, but, according to the company, helps dieters manage hunger. According to the Medifast literature, the meals and replacements are formulated for the highest fullness index (a calculation of fiber, protein and calories).
“Successful weight loss comes from eating a high-protein meal every few hours, which helps modulate blood sugar levels, control hunger [and] cravings, and preserve muscle mass while burning fat,” says Davis.
Experts agree that when you manage hunger, it is much easier to stick to a weight loss plan. But the adjustment to the very low-calorie Medifast plan may not be easy. Program literature warns: “Until you reach the fat-burning state, you may feel hungry, tired, or slightly irritable. You may also experience headaches and light headedness.”
Once you reach your weight loss goal, there is a 4-16 week “transition to maintenance” phase in which you slowly add back high-carb vegetables, fruit, nonfat or low-fat dairy foods, whole grains, and additional lean meat. The length of the transition phase depends on how much weight was lost. This phase aims to help dieters adjust to eating more calories, controlling portions, and choosing and preparing healthy foods.
Mild to moderate exercise is recommended on the Medifast program, but dieters are warned not to engage in activity beyond their normal levels during the first few weeks of the weight loss plan.
“Energy levels may be low due to fewer carbs and the adjustment to the very low-calorie intake,” says Davis. She suggests increasing physical activity after three weeks on the program.
Exercise is recommended five days a week during the transition to maintenance phase.
Medifast Diet Plan: What the Experts Say
Most experts draw the line at 1,200 calories as the minimum needed for adequate nutrition, and say that dieters should not dip below this number unless they’re under a physician’s care.
“Any time you severely lower your calories, it is strongly recommended to consult your doctor to avoid potential complications,” says Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD.
American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, agrees that the Medifast diet should be done with the approval or under the supervision of your health care provider. She says has used the program in a doctor’s office with diabetic patients with good results.
“This is a solid program, providing a nutritionally complete array of tasty foods and drinks that are ideal for diabetics or anyone who doesn’t want to weigh, measure, count calories, or prepare lots of food,” says Brown-Riggs.
She also says she thinks Medifast is a great program for anyone who wants a serious, low-calorie diet plan in which all the guesswork has been removed.
O’Neil, author of The Dish on Healthy Eating, suggests that anyone thinking of weight loss surgery try Medifast or another very low-calorie diet plan first.
“Weight loss surgery should be the last resort because even if you have bariatric surgery, afterward you still need to follow a healthy lifestyle, including calorie control and regular physical activity,” O’Neil says.
When considering the Medifast diet, dieters should think past the weight loss phase. The real challenge comes when you wean yourself from the meal replacements and have to learn to make healthy decisions about food.
“You can lose weight on the plan because it is so carefully controlled,” says Brown-Riggs. “But once you go off the plan, it takes hard work, attention to healthy eating, and regular physical activity to maintain the lost weight.”
Medifast Diet Plan: Food for Thought
It doesn’t get much easier than the Medifast program, which is probably why it has been around so long. It can be a good plan for someone who needs to lose a substantial amount of weight, and ideally, should be done under a doctor’s supervision.
Be prepared for a serious adjustment to very little to eat and drink (other than no-calorie beverages). But if you’re serious about losing weight and prepared to change your eating and exercise habits after the weight loss phase, this could be the plan for you.
The Basics
The Medifast brand has been around for a number of decades, and at one time was only available via physicians. Nowadays the products can be ordered on-line and through a number of distributors.
Medifast offer a stable of meal replacement products – all generally formulated to be low-calorie and low-fat, and containing the optimum levels of vitamins. The formula will generally take users into a mild state of ketosis.
The most popular plan is called 5 and 1. This plan (800-1000 calories daily) comprises 5 meal replacements and one “real” meal containing a lean protein and vegetables and salad. Medifast claim a weight loss of 2-5 pounds per week on this plan.
Proof?
What many people don’t realize is that very few commercial weight loss programs have ever undergone any clinical studies. Medifast heavily promote the fact that a Johns Hopkins university study has shown that Medifast results in significant weight loss (67 pound average loss in males and 57 pound average loss in females). It’s worth pointing out that this study looked at patients who attended Medifast clinics.
There is also an additional study that compared the Medifast program with diabetes medication. The study found Medifast more effective at controlling type 2 diabetes than an ADA-recommended program (see PR).
UPDATE: A newer study (see reference) has shown that Medifast meal replacement programs were better than “those typically reported for obesity pharmacotherapy [i.e. drug treatment], and that retention of customers was “better than most commercial programs reported”.
Both studies were led by Associate Professor Lawrence Cheskin of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and were funded by Medifast.
Successes
Due to the popularity of the program, Medifast have a number of “success stories” – one of which is Nnedi Uzowihe-Igwe of Maryland, USA (currently featured on the Medifast site). She also appeared in People magazine in January 2006 describing a massive transformation that resulted in a 160lb weight loss between June 2004 and April 2005. Nnedi subsequently became pregnant and gave birth to her second daughter)
I was able to find out how Nnedi was going now, and she appears to have maintained her massive initial weight loss (and is aiming to lose the weight she put on with the second baby by the end of this year).
Drastic
Protein fasts and low-calorie meal replacements are a drastic solution, and in my opinion appropriate for drastic situations. Given the choice between gastric bypass surgery or Medifast, then Medifast must surely be a better answer.
The biggest test of a program such as Medifast is the long-term consequences – and in particular weaning off a program based around shakes and soups. The transition phase should be four to six weeks, and often starts off by introducing some oatmeal at breakfast, and some fruit for snacks. Also exercise must become a part of life (5 days a week). Exercise must be fairly low-key during the restrictive part of Medifast – but once transitioning – it becomes increasingly important.
Due to the level of energy intake and exercise levels – it is likely that some muscle loss will occur during the weight loss phase. Once again, the best course of action would be to gradually include strength training during the transition phase – and begin to build up muscle tone.
Costs
The Medifast 5 and 1 plan cost $299.50 for 4 weeks. However – that’s the cost of the “5″ – you will still need to buy your daily “lean and green” meal (lean protein plus salad/vegetables).
VIP membership gives a 5% discounted price as well as access to an online program (forums, meal plans etc.), free shipping. Customers can get up to 2 weeks free meals (provided they purchase two consecutive monthly orders).
Men & Women
Different formulations are used for men and women. Some shakes are called Medifast 55 or Medifast 70. The latter has a higher soy protein content and is more suitable for men (or women who prefer higher protein).
A diabetic program is also offered.
Behavior Change Required
Behavioral changes are critical to the long-term success of Medifast. Unless these lifestyle changes are applied, then the weight could easily swing back on like a yo-yo.
Conclusion
I don’t believe Medifast is for the person who wants to lose a few pounds. This is a serious program for serious situations, and it may be advisable to follow the program while receiving regular support from a clinic, and even under medical advisement.
However ample proof exists that the program does work and can lead to significant weight loss provided the transition phase is followed correctly.
The L&G meals are simple! My husband and I were eating out every night due to his strange work schedule and I just set the time that I want to cook (mostly on the BBQ or grill), eat and have his meal waiting for him.
I also work out on Wii Active, swim in a resistance pool, ride a recumbant bike as well as walk the mall. I am now up to 50 minutes of exercise a day and feel absolutely great!
I am allergic to artificial sweeteners and found most of their meals do not include them. I have found the types of meals that suit me and taste the best: Their Antioxidant shakes, chocolate pudding, their new crunch bars are yummy, as well as their Momentum cappuccino and Chai Latte.
I highly recommend this diet to anyone! Just be sure to make regular visits to your doctor especially if you are on any medications to make sure the dosages are adjusted accordingly.
I'm in highschool, and I started the diet 3 days ago. Apparently the "first three days" are supposed to be the hardest, but I've had no trouble with them. I'm also on a different sort of plan-- no lean and green for me. For me, it's not so much different that normal. I'd have some sort of breakfast shake made with slimfast in the morning, skip food until 4 when I get home, eat, get on the computer and snack, then have dinner with my mom.
And now it's a bit different. No gorging when I get home, but I drink two shakes at school, one when I get home and one at the indeffinite "later".
I don't get mine online, I have a doctor whom I visited twice before the start, and I'm also required to talk to a shrink-like lady, around every two weeks. I'm also allowed to drink any 0-calorie diet drink under the sun, and I only once in a great while had any soda.
The only shakes I'm particularly fond of are vanila, chocolate, and mint-chocolate. I didn't like mocha much, and I didn't bother to try strawberry (You really can't duplicate that, can you?) and two other berrie ones (Meh, what can you expect from a teen?). You can mix vanilla and diet Rootbeer to make a decent tasting Float, but it's not hard to get creative. Diet sprite and berries sound like a decent combination.
I get plenty of excersise-- P.E. every day, Karate Tues. and Thur. at school (only lasts 4 more weeks, though) and when I don't have a Psyc. or Doc. appointement, I usually walk home. It's a two mile walk, so plenty of excercise for me. (Although it's worth it to add that I only walk home about 3 days a week, now.)
I just want the word to get out that this is avaliable for females 14 or older, and guys having to be a bit older (maturation thing). Hell, tell yourself "if this little punk lady can do it, I can do it too!" if it helps. But there are downsides, of course.
Most notable to me is the "light headedness" when you stand from a sitting position. I stand, take a few steps, then feel a wave of med. intensity dizziness come over me, with a few seconds of fadingg vision, and then a strong pumping of blood to my head, with has a slightly painful feeling. Honest to God, I rather like it, maybe like the way you like... popping your knuckles or grinding your teeth, maybe.
I pay (or rather, my mom pays) 75 dollars a week for my food. My health insurance covers the psch and doc! More money saved for new clothes, hmm?
Onto the few facts, and some experiences, I know myself. He explained ketones to me like this "If a fox is starving in the jungle, is he gonna be bent over in hunger pains, or is he gonna run just as fast as he can to get that rabbit?" This explains why, when eating 500 cals a day, I feel fine. Supposedly it hasn't kicked in yet, but I've been feeling not able to run faster in P.E., exactly, but to recover faster, and do it again.
More facts-- there are 1000 calories in a pound of fat. If you starve yourself, though, why doesn't the fat go away? It's because we need our vitamins! So it goes to our muscles, which has those. These packets have what we need, but few calories, so that's why it's so fast. And what do muscles do (especially newly developed muscles)? They burn fat! This is why it is very important to get excersise in ANY diet.
Well, wish me luck, hmm? I wish the best for you on whatever journey you may take. Good luck to you, and you, and you! And me too, yeah? I hope to maybe check back and see if I can help any later.
help please!
lynnann[...] So you post and wanted to know how you did on Medifast? I am on my 3rd day!!
Good luck all!
My friend had been doing the Medifast diet for about a month and a half and decided she could go out and have a drink or two. She had two small drinks for the entire nigth and stayed on her normal diet. The next week she didn't lose any weight! The week after she lost a pound a day. (Which was the pace she had been on before drinking.) If you want to keep drinking this diet is NOT for you!
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.
I did the Medifast diet in 2006 I lost 50 lbs. went from a size 16 to a size 6. It is now 2009 and I have maintained my weight loss. I love Medifast it changed my life
Let's face it, any diet you choose will only work as hard as you do - you need to educate yourself about food and nutrition, use some self control, and exercise regularly to see any long term change in your body.
Incidentally, I found the chocolate shakes, crunch bars and scrambled eggs more than tolerable, and I have not been hungry at all - also I have had plenty of energy on the program. I'm sure that if you are used to eating a lot of food every day and suddenly go on this diet, you are going to feel some protest from your body.
In summary, I think it's a good temporary diet that should gradually be replaced by sensible eating and exercise.
Ketosis levels in any overweight human who is still being fed the nutrients and proteins to feed their body adequately will not endanger organs because the fat is being consumed, not the organs.
The Medifast plan is not a starvation diet and ketosis levels can be monitored, while all needed nutrients and acceptable levels of proteins, carbs and fats are still being consumed daily.
To summarize,
I'd be much more prone to believe the experts that supervise and conduct the tests that support safe weight loss and healthy eating perspectives than those of an armchair blogger using half-truths and grade school sarcasm to criticize a plan that has been shown to be medically safe and extremely effective in changing people's perspectives and their overall health.
I've been on the Medifast plan for ten days after researching and talking to several people, some extremely obese and others who are not.
I have seen firsthand how important our relationship with food is and how distorted it is played out on TV and elsewhere.
In this "Land of Plenty", it is important to remember why we consume food and to separate our needs and comforts from our desires and indulgences.
I went into the plan needing to lose about 25-30 lbs. and I could have opted to choose more strenuous exercise and better food options instead.
But my wife and I decided to do it together and we have adjusted and seen some very positive results in the first 2 weeks, averaging about a pound/day.
"Doing the research" involves studying the science of the effects of each program on the body as well as the psychology involved in our relationship with food.
Rich
I am considering this again, but this time I am joining a gym when I am done, and maybe nutrition counseling.
P.S
I'm 5'3 and 185 pounds. Goal weight 120. So must lose 65 pounds.
It works for quick weight loss.
The cons are: finding the options that are most appealing to you. I could not have a shake for lunch...so I survived on oatmeal for breakfast, a drink/latte late morning, soup for lunch, then a bar with coffee in the afternoon. I had the lean and green, then saved a pudding for a late night snack. YOu can have one additional snack as part of the program. You are not hungry if you eat this way. I work out about 4-5 days a week and this is enough calories to keep going. The results keep you on the diet. If you get super hungry, I would just have an extra MF drink or pudding...or even the oatmeal (which is the most satisfying)...and still able to lose weight. Some days I would bring in green veggies for lunch...so really you are getting a lot of food and nutrients.
Frankly I think this program is better for short-term weight loss as eating the powdered meals over a year could be very hard to sustain. If you find the right meals, they taste fine...many are actually good. But this is not enough variety for the long haul.
The biggest problem is when you get the weight off, transitioning. It is easy for the weight to come right back on. That is a problem for most any diet...but in a low carb diet, I think it is more critical to reintroduce fruit and other carbs very very gradually and let the body readjust. High sugar foods should be eaten only on extremely rare cases after a low-carb routine has been established.
it has made the program so much more beneficial.
One of my clients lost 100 pounds in 6 months, it floors me! Normally, with just healthful living and changes I see people lose that much in one year.
I recommend Medifast because it is so quick, but I also work with my clients on breaking their worst habits permanently so that what they lose stays lost!
Julia Havey
Here's hoping it works and I lose weight. Love reading other peoples stories. It helps! lez
Would you recommend Medifast, and how are you doing on your diet?
Thanks
Working out is a small part of the program, which is a disappointment. The program is also expensive and even if you're healthy, you're forced to see the Dr. (who is surprisingly rude at times) or the nurse and get labs ($$$). Here is the real problem with the program...
Their motto is "More is Better." They monitor you to make sure you are buying enough of their food and every single week you get told that the more of their food you eat, the more you lose. Ok sure, you are less likely to run to Burger King, but what in the world is someone supposed to do when they finish the program now that they're a voracious volume eater???? Oh that's right...buy more of their food!!!! Did I mention their food costs an arm and a leg? Box of shakes for $38.50 and each tiny salty entree is $3.50.
Wonder why you haven't heard more about HMR before? Because it's a miserable diet. Learn about nutrition, eat healthy and work out regularly. It's hard, but it will leave you happier, healthier, and not as broke!
I agree with you - I have about 20 pounds to lose. I lost 4.5 lbs the first week and am down 12 pounds in under 4 weeks. I think the food is great - I actually crave the bars! I tried every diet out there. I joined weight watchers right after Christmas, followed it to a tee and only lost 2.6 pounds in three weeks! I stay motivated by Medifast because of the results!
Regarding the flavor. If you are used to the taste of health food, meal supplements, or meal replacements such as Slim Fast, then you will find most of the Medifast food quite good. However, if you are on the typical American high sugar/high fat diet, then this will be an initial shock to you. It will take some time to get used to. My advice? Unless you really plan on changing eating habits for the long run, don't even bother with Medifast. You will just lose all your weight, then gain it back after you return to old eating habits. However, if you give this a chance, it will change your tastebuds. You just need to be in it for the long run. Yes you can lose weight quickly.. no you won't keep it off without a real commitment to change.
If you are worried about expense, I have found that it's really not much more than I was spending on food taking into account eating out on the weekends and buying meals at the office. Also, the company seems to have a good returns policy and if worse comes to worse, Medifast seems to sell well on eBay.
One last comment: This works much quicker than other diets, so if you are the type of person that needs to see results to be motivated, this is for you.
Getting to a healthy weight can help you conceive. However, any severely restrictive diet would harm the baby. What I've read always reccomends that you maintain a stable weight for a few months prior to getting pregnant. Try losing some of the weight then maintaining for a few months and then go for the baby. Everybody gains a little extra weight during pregnancy, it's normal and healthy for the baby. Remember that you're not REALLY "eating for two" you only need a few hundred extra calories and most people will do it without any conscious effort.
I reccomend that you attempt to achieve a healthy weight , then work on maintaining that healthy weight while consuming adequate nutrition. A stable weight is very important because weight loss releases toxins that can harm the baby while excessive weight gain can contribute to health problems for both you an dyour baby.
I wish you the best in your plans for the future.
I was on medifast last year. It works. But, unfortunately I lost 45 lbs in 2 months, maybe a little too fast, I gained it back over the summer :(
I don't see how going on a diet interferes with time with my children. It's not like I have to go away to some distant fat camp or something.
Seriously Jan you sound like a bitter lady.. You're shocked because a mom wants to look good and go on a diet that doesn't take 6 months to lose 20 lbs. You're obviously ignorant about what raising kids means. I have many childless friends and have never met anyone that knew so little about what it means to have kids.
I can bet that any other moms that read this will be totally surprised to read that there are people like you out there. Oh well.. I guess there are all sorts of weirdos on the internet and it's just my misfortune that I ran across someone so narrow minded and full of hatred such as yourself. My guess is that you are probably a bitter and lonely person and I feel sad for you. I'm honestly not going to waste any more time talking to you. You are obviously stuck in your own little world and I'm not going to get you to even remotely see some other point of view, because evidently seeing other people's perspective is not your strong point.
So.. attention to all moms reading this blog. Jan74 thinks that it is poor parenting to go on Medifast. Oh wait? What's that? OMG.. social services is knocking down my door as we speak.... they say that if I don't stop losing weight and looking great that they are going to take my kids..... well since I'm such a horrible mother then maybe they should just take them......
I also never said you have to look bad or anything to that effect. I'm just surprised and saddened at how many people buy into the celebrity myth that you have to be like Heidi Klum and look the same 2 weeks after giving birth. It is not that I don't think you should look good and feel good about yourself, it is that the standard that is now imposed for you to allow yourself to feel good about yourself is so unrealistic it involves *going on a diet designed for the morbidly obese* - cause that is who Medifast is meant for - just so you can look the same as fast as possible, cause if you take more than a week, you have probably already "failed" and "let yourself go". So a time that should be enjoyed with your child now has to be spent starving (cause "medically supervised fast" is indeed a form of starvation) because if you are 10lb over what you were, you don't deserve otherwise. Wow.
The shock remains.
If I didn't totally care about the health and well-being of my children I wouldn't have had natural childbirth, which believe me is no picnic.
The ONLY thing I said was that I felt "gross" after pregnancy. That's it. I feel totally attacked and truly think that an apology is in order. Yes I totally take care of my kids and will until AFTER they are 18 years old if need be.. but it sure as hell doesn't meant that I can't go on a diet.
Please understand that just because you are a mom doesn't make you not want to look good. Having kids doesn't make you become a different person. Kids or no kids, I want to look beautiful for me and my husband.
Jan, I still feel like you are attacking me. It is really weird and I don't totally understand it. I never said pregnancy made me miserable. If I had to choose between having kids and being a fat blob or never having kids and being "a size 2", I would choose being a blob in a heartbeat. But we don't have to choose one or the other. I'm sorry if I'm honest. Yes my body looked bad after pregnancy, but no it doesn't have to stay that way.
Can you tell me why you think that motherhood and looking good are somehow mutually exclusive? DO you think that it's a sin to feel bad about your body after having a baby? Do you think that it makes you love your baby less?
Or perhaps can you just admit that you jumped on something that I said and was rude to a complete stranger for no real reason?
There are plenty of abandoned children out there, and maybe if you and everyone who thinks like you adopted instead, you could be happy with parenthood instead of depressed and hating yourself cause you are "not hot". You'd have the baby and the size 2 jeans at the same time, and that may free up some time to care for the baby.
I also don't think you have to love what you see in the mirror while still carrying extra weight from the pregnancy, but maybe you should *breastfeed* your child instead of going in a diet so low-calorie and ketogenic that you'll not be producing any breast milk. But hey, screw your child's immune system, at least you'll be "hot", right? The child should be your priority at least for the first 6 months (technically, for a whole 18 years or more, but that may be asking for too much).
Jan, I'm sorry but I think your post was very rude. Please ask any friends that you have with kids how they felt the first few months after they had a baby and I would bet you money that you won't find a single one that felt good about their body. Giving life is a miracle, but it's one that takes a toll on your body. It is a sacrifice that is totally worth it, but of course after having kids you want to work hard and get back to looking good as soon as possible.
Medifast is a good diet.. that's what this thread is about.. not about attacking people that don't look so hot after pregnancy.
I'm sorry, I don't have kids, but this shocked me nevertheless.
I am losing pregnancy related weight. Trust me, you should lose the weight first and then get pregnant. You will feel so fat and gross after having a baby.. just makes it worse if you start off heavier than you'd like
thanks for any info!!
I saw the Dr. today and got my questions answered..there is not enough soy in the product to create enough estrogen to do any damage. IN fact, being obese creates more than our fair share and can be very dangerous. No truth to the thyroid problems, either. Our thyroids are actually funtioning slower than normal due to being obeses and lack of exercise. I have decided to do it again. Will be officaily starting in 4 days. :) I am very nervous!!
I have been on Medifast for 2 weeks now. The food taste o.k. The only problem that I have is very loose stools and still have a disire to eat food(chew).
Does anyone know if you can have green veges throughout the day ex. celery, cucumber etc... just for the crunch. Also, where can we get receipes for the diet.[...]
Does anyone know if you can have green veges throughout the day ex. celery, cucumber etc... just for the crunch. Also, where can we get receipes for the diet.
Thanks for your help.
I wish I had read more real comments before shelling out $300.00 for unedible supplements.
Medifast again but I cannot stand being hungry most of the time. Does Hoodia work with suppressing hunger?
So, elle, to answer your question about optifast, My thought is that, esentially, it is a way for them to charge more money. But, the thing you should take into consideration, is that they have a staff to pay. Also, It is, when your so drastically cutting your caloric intake, to be monitored. But, I did ask my PA at work whether or not a diet that low in calories was harmful. I'm on Nutrisystem and don't eat all the extra stuff the say you should and my calorie count for the day was always between 1000-1200/day. She said it was definately the LOW end of the 'what should be consumed' but she said that it would not adversly effect me. She did suggest I take a multivitamin, but the medifast seems to be chock full of those. She also said that the girls in the office who've had the gastric bypass were on an almost no calorie diet for several weeks. I don't want to go that route. There's been 6 girls at work that have had they bypass, we've got very good insurance that pays for almost all of it. They all have problems when they eat certain foods. Things getting stuck in the little pocket of a stomach, low iron, hair loss, and they all went through a period for several months where they just didn't look well. As a matter of fact one of the girls just had it done for a second time, she had the first 'something' done probably 20 years ago, who knows what it was back then, but I don't think she's really lost any weight. She came back from her time off after the surgery the first morning carrying a mcdonald's bag! I was HORRIFIED. No matter what you do to get the weight off it won't stay unless you realize you can't do all the things you did before you lost the weight.
I did medifast when I was 16 and went from an 18/20 to a 10/12 in a matter of months. I kept it off until I was in my 20's. But, I quit waitressing and took a desk job and, about 10 lbs a year for the past 10 years brings me to where I am today. 31 and 219.
I've been on nutrisystem for the past 4 weeks and lost 17 pounds, of right about 100. I don't mind the breakfasts, and truly enjoy most of the lunches (I did steer clear of the tomato based meals, heart burn and indigestion), but have found the dinners utterly HORRIBLE. So, I've decide to switch to medifast. I'm immpressed at the sizeable weight loss and it's slightly, $25, cheaper than nutrisystem. In the long run though, because of the quicker weight loss, I'll be on medifast for at least a 1/3 (I'm hoping for half though) less time than nutrisystem. And, at almost $300, that's HUGE differnce!! Plus, the lean/green meal will allow me to eat the same dinner as my husband and boys (3 and almost 5). I'll be setting a good example for them at the same time. Teaching them proper eating habits while they don't know there's anything but.
Thanks to all who listened, or rather read, me ramble on.
I look forward to the next phase of my journey w/ medifast.
I did medifast when I was 16 and went from an 18/20 to a 10/12 in a matter of months. I kept it off until I was in my 20's. But, I quit waitressing and took a desk job and, about 10 lbs a year for the past 10 years brings me to where I am today. 31 and 219.
I've been on nutrisystem for the past 4 weeks and lost 17 pounds, of right about 100. I don't mind the breakfasts, and truly enjoy most of the lunches (I did steer clear of the tomato based meals, heart burn and indigestion), but have found the dinners utterly HORRIBLE. So, I've decide to switch to medifast. I'm immpressed at the sizeable weight loss and it's slightly, $25, cheaper than nutrisystem. In the long run though, because of the quicker weight loss, I'll be on medifast for at least a 1/3 (I'm hoping for half though) less time than nutrisystem. And, at almost $300, that's HUGE differnce!! Plus, the lean/green meal will allow me to eat the same dinner as my husband and boys (3 and almost 5). I'll be setting a good example for them at the same time. Teaching them proper eating habits while they don't know there's anything but.
Thanks to all who listened, or rather read, me ramble on.
I look forward to the next phase of my journey w/ medifast.
I have contacted Medifast Support via telephone about my poor weight loss. This was at the beginning of month 2. I had at times been skipping a MF meal now and then due to lack of time and the fact that afer you eat one you will still be hungry so why bother. I got back on track and have been eating all 5 MF meals plus the Lean and Green meal and have been walking 30 - 40 minutes per day. I have not lost any weight in the past month. I called Nutrition Support again who suggested that "MF was probably not the diet for me." This made me very upset. I have emailed Nutrition Support 4 times and have never had a response. Not everyone has the success that is implied by this program. Believe me if you are not a success on this diet they do not want to hear from you.
Now that my body is used to only 900 - 1000 calories per day I feel I am stuck with this program until I find another hight protein low calorie dient to take its place. If I went back to eating real food now I would blow the 18 lb weigt loss immediately.
I have also never lost the hunger that this diet promises. I am hungry all the time. To appease the hunger I drink at least 2 gallons of water every day.
If you do not think you will be successfull with this diet don't bother with it. You will not be supported unless you are a success. MF's "Nutrition Support" is a total missnomer and basically a lie. Good luck.
I am starting my fifth week and have lost 15.5 pounds. I must admit that I am not trying to go the 800-1,000 calories route this time. I am eating only one meal daily of lean protein and lots of green veggies at that meal. I don't want to go into starvation mode. I did Optifast in the 80's and lost a lot of weight (60 lbs) very quickly but I gained it slowly back over the next 2-3 years while in a stressful lifestyle. I am trying purposefully to go a little slower on losing it this time, while maintaining my metabolism. Kinda of a self-designed program. I am not going to the clinic nearby which charges an arm and a leg to monitor you weekly. I buy the food online. The protein bars, while certainly not in the same class with peanut M&M's, are really quite tasty and fill the need when the chocolate monster attacks. Good luck to you all.
it could be that you are doing too much cardio. Jim Karas wrote a book called the cardio free diet. Although I don't think that being cardio free is the best approach, from my own experience, I do think that doing that much can induce hunger. Do you lift weights? Here is the amazon.com link...perhaps you can find the book at your library.
good luck 2 you.
I myself am more like Nice Girl. I try to eat only healthy food and exercise everyday. I have one month to get in shape and lose a few pounds for my summer vacation on the beach.
Find something that you can live with and be healthy for a long, long time.
I want to get some more weight off a littler faster, so I just ordered 4 weeks of Medifast. I plan to use Medifast Monday - Friday and then Weight Watchers Saturday and Sunday (about 1500-1600 cal/day; I eat pretty healthy on WW). I may do a second round of Medifast later. Afterwards, I am going straight back to Weight Watchers - I will be on it for life. Has anyone ever done a similar approach?
Also, how did you find out that too much soy could be bad for you? Last, what does the HMR stand for? Have wonderful and blessed day.
I had success on Medifast once before, but feel that it contributed to my thyroid becomming less functional. Medifast denies this of course, but soy is a thyroid antagonist, and when you strictly do Medifast, you are living pretty much exclusively on soy. I was doing only the shakes, no meal. My weightloss was proceeding, if you could call it that,[...]
Dave
Sure it's cheating but tastes WAY better.
I was on Medifast earlier this year and lost 23 pounds in six weeks. My cholesterol went down 100 POINTS and my ldl, hdl, and triglycerides went back to normal range as well. My doctor was very pleased!
It's the chili that I couldn't stand. :)
I have tried everything and hate to be disappointed by yet another diet (and more $) but I feel I have to keep trying and never give up until this weight is off for good. Thanks for your help! Lisa
christy
I just ordered the Medifast and it tastes horrible!
I think I'm going to send mine back for a refund.
The oatmeal.... gross! The chocolate shake is the only one I can tolerate.[...] I kinda agree with you. I like the ready-to-drink shakes and the soups but the oatmeal tastes like cardboard. GROSS......
Try some sugar free flavorings in the shakes. I just ordered some Peanut butter, Gingerbread, and Coconut flavorings from DaVincci and can't wait to try them.
All of soups are great. I especially like the chicken noodle.
Have you tried the cinnamon pretzel sticks? They are very good.
I have only been on the program for two weeks. I have lost seven pounds.
Good luck to you.
I think I'm going to send mine back for a refund.
The oatmeal.... gross! The chocolate shake is the only one I can tolerate.
I just visited their website and clicked on the Hot Chocolate to read the ingredients and found that they use aspartame which gives me headaches. Medifast uses a Splenda like sweetener and I love it.
It sounds like exactly what I need...SIMPLE! No thought process. There's something to eat every 2 hours then have my normal meal at night. (currently all I eat for dinner is a small piece of whatever meat my hubby is having as a condiment and a couple cups of some kind of veggie and fruit.
Thanks for this topic...I'm really juiced to do this. love and peace...lynnann
ps...I did lose many pounds on Atkins...so I know that lo-carb is good for me, but it was still to high in calories and it was not strict enough for me.
I've gained several of the lbs back since then. I know that when I get to my goal weight..I will be able to maintain it easily...it's the jump starting my metabolism that seems to be the problem.
The Medifast food itself is overall fairly palatable. This is low calorie/low fat food after all. Some foods need a bit of extra help with spices, but overall, there's so much selection, you won't go hungry.
After 6 months, I've found that my taste buds have almost competely 'reset.' Greasy and fatty foods don't taste good anymore and seem to be very bland. I had some fat-free cottage cheese the other day, and even that tasted good (hated the stuff before).
The program is pricey, so be prepared long-term for that (with monthly meat (6kg) & vegetables -- ~$500), but search the web for Medifast promotional coupons and you can save some cash.
After cheating a few times, I realized I actually felt better overall when eating less food.
Remember, if you feel strongly and are passionate about something -there is a right and wrong way to present your case! Avoid "insulting" what other people believe in, and attempting to "attack" them as a person- as you cleary are NO idea who they are or what their issues are. Simply speak your thoughts from a "suggestive" stance and leave everything thing else out. Your lesson for the day hon!
Second- I cannot believe how glib you are about ketosis! Do you have any idea what you are referring to? This is the process your body goes into when it eats its own protein, i.e. organs( your heart is a muscle). Good grief!!!
to pay for self control is ridiculous in the first place, don't badger people who have common sense. Medifast- opti fast- Adkins- it doesn't matter, you are choosing a poor life option for long term health because you have a problem with self-control. perhaps the money would be better spent exploring the 'why' of that particular flaw, than destroying vital organs which WILL come back to haunt you later in life.
There is NO study done that explores this correlation, because studies cost money, and those who initiate them are looking for short term goals to the positive, not long term goals thats may show their product destructive. Spend some time in your local oncology wards and ask about all the fad diets..the message will shock you.
i agree that there are desperate circumstances before surgery. But to use this as a lifestyle choice for 6 months to a year for the truly obese, is still not a good idea. Too long. maybe Medifast would do the right thing and replace soy with a real protein, ya think? No cost would be too high!
besides, soy is not a protein you can adsorb as useful, our bodies were created to have to have all essential amino acids at once to convert to protein in the body, otherwise it becomes a carb. Not useful for building muscle mass(think heart here) Soy is a legume. it takes the correct proportion of legume and nut to create the amino acid balance for out human bodies to use as a protein.
don't spend good money on a bad idea, you are fat because of a personality flaw, or medical condition. Find out what thet is and get it addressed. you will be happioer and healthier, I am speaking as a PCOS person, so don't give me any flack about how hard it is to do things the healthy way, it just takes more time, more energy, but the results are a life well lived in true health- not another -get slim quick- scheme!
and to make something like this work you'd have to realize other people will eat real food around you.
Since late August I have lost 12lbs. I feel better and I believe that I can keep this up long term.
Cherie.
Is the goal really to lose weight? Or maintain a weight loss?
The very natural of this program promotes yo-yo dieting.
Lose weight, gain a little back, go back to the shake etc etc.
Well recently Medifast had a complete staff change and put my mother a "candy bar diet" OK Medifast bars.
So, my mother was eating 5 Medifast bars and one Lean & Green while my father was on maintenance; he lost all his weight and at 17% BMI (he's an athlete again!!!)
Since my mother started to just eat the Candy Bars (Medifast Bars) she quit loosing weight (didn't gain) but was accused of "cheating" and then my father has to much body fat (at 17% BMI) was also told that he needed the Candy Bar's diet as well.
Both my parent felt bad when they went there (feeling guilty is NEVER good when you are trying to drop the pounds) They finally decided to quite and my mother lost weight immediately. On her own :) Yahhh
I really believe Medifast is wonderful and did wonders for both my parents. My parents would still be members if the staff had better BED SIDE MANNERS; but the positive out ways the negative (they are able to do it on their own!!!)
I don't think I would ever suggest Medifast because I truly believe seeing a Dietician (Nutritionist) is the best way for a true lifestyle change.
Dietitians gives you meal and workout plans that teach you how to eat in the 'normal' world. The food is as good as you would want it to be (because you are cooking everything), you lose weight fast and most insurances cover it. It is more expensive in the short run (if insurance does not cover it) but it's a lifestyle change. Once you learn it's FREE.
My fiance had a Dietitian and after 9 years he's kept his weight off.
Best of luck to everybody!!!