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Medifast – Diet Review
Medifast is a low calorie diet that will bring about rapid weight loss – in the region of 2-5 pounds per week. The diet is undertaken by purchasing meal replacement products from Medifast that will provide an optimal calorie and nutrient amount for both men and women.
The 5 and 1 Plan
This Medifast plan is made up of 5 meal replacements per day (generally shakes, but there are also bars, soups, oatmeal, and puddings). In addition to the meal replacements – 1 meal per day is a “lean and green” meal – a small portion of lean meat, and generally up to 2 cups of salad or vegetables. You eat every 2-3 hours, and must drink a minimum of 64oz of fluid (water) per day.
Caloric intake is between 800-1000 calories per day. Medifast recommend having supervision from a physician – however you can order the food without this.
While there are 70 different pre-packaged foods, the most popular items are the shakes – made up of differing proportions of protein. Medifast has optimized vitamins and minerals to ensure there will be no deficiencies while reducing calories.
Medifast are currently offering 1 week’s free food with purchase. Offer ends soon. Click here for special offer.
Maintenance Plan
Once the desired weight is reached, the Medifast plan involves a gradual transition back to ‘normal’ meals over a period of about 16 days. Beyond this, Medifast recommend 1-3 Medifast meals daily and a moderately intense exercise routine (e.g. 30-45 minutes 5 days per week). This is essential to keep the weight off.
Successful Weight Loss?
Medifast is one of the more successful and balanced low-calorie diets – it has been trialled successfully at John Hopkins Weight Management Center, among other places.
There are numerous success stories from overweight people who have successfully used Medifast to drop their weight down to manageable levels.
This weight loss program is generally only used by the very overweight (BMI >= 30). It will only suit some people, and beware of slowing your metabolism leading to subsequent weight gain.
I have been on this program for two months and I have lost 35lbs and went from a size 24 to an 18. I have never felt better. I don’t know where some of the people that have commented are bying the products from but it should cost about $250 to $275 per month. Far less than I was spending eatting out all the time. You MUST stick to the plan and not “cheat” it really does work. I have not had any medical issues as a result of being on this plan and I have never felt better. Just do it, all the junk we eat is killing us……… think of it as a health plan NOT a diet.
Be very carefull of this one.I have colitis from taking it for a short time, so it certainly is not for everyone.Trying to work my way back to good health and promising my body that I would never do anything like that again.
My husband & I have been on Medifast 2 months. The MF center charged us over $3,000 for our 2 yr memberships. We were told that they do not give refunds. I told the center reps that I am lactose intolerant. They said only use the “55 shakes” five times a day (& one lean & green meal) for the 1st 2 weeks. The shakes are suppose to be low lactose, but after a week I could not go to the bathroom. Nothing helped. I finally emailed Medifast and received their list of no lactose products. I no longer drink the shakes, only their punch. I now use the bars, cheese balls, pudding, chili & some soups. When I told the center reps that I obtained the list thru email, then they said they could have given me a copy of the list!!! I have now lost 24 lbs. The center reps are suppose to be councilors, but are working on commission. A couple of reps have lost a lot of weight, but not all of it on Medifast. Other reps have lost less than 10 lbs & one has not even tried it, since she does not have a weight problem. How can someone who had not even tried the diet advise me?
I have modified the Medifast diet due to fit both my digestive system & my finances. Instead of 5 Medifast meal replacements a day, I do 3 a day. Since each box of 7 meal replacement costs $15 – $16 & if you are buying 5 boxes a week, it comes to more than $300 a month for one person. (More than $10.00 a day.) Here is what is working for me:
BREAKFAST Instead of their wallpaper paste oatmeal (at $2.00 each), I bought plain instant oatmeal (12 packages for less than $2.50, so about 20 – 25 cents each). I have one for breakfast or half a cup of Bran Buds with a little hot water. MF allowes a half a cup of Jello a day, so I eat it at breakfast, too.
Morning SNACK one MF punch. LUNCH Meat & 2 vegetables. The list of which meats & vegetables are in their book — “The Secret is Out”. The book can be found on line as low as $6.00. Afternoon SNACK, one very small apple (for fiber). DINNER one MF meal replacement (soup, chili, bar or cheese balls). Bedtime SNACK, MF pudding.
Using 3 MF meal replacements a day save me over $180.00 a month, plus I am not constipated. I have been walking 5,000 steps. I am happy at losing more than 2 lbs a week. I have more energy & have gone down 2 pants sizes.
I have told the MF reps what I am doing & they see that it is working for me. I will not quit, just modify it to work for me. If I had bought the meals online & not joined a center, I would have quit by now. Getting weighed every week & being measured every month means that someone is tracking my weight loss. I only buy enough meal replacements for my 3 a day. The 1st week, they insisted that I buy their supplements. I found the same at Costco for a lot less. When a rep asks if I am taking the supplements, I answer, “Yes, from Costco”. They have our 3K & cannot force us to buy what we do not need. I hope this helps someone.
I have tried other diets… Fat Loss for Idiots and the Southbeach Diet with good results. But as soon as I stopped their plans, the weight slowly came back. Plus, talking with my doc, the FL4I diet is not very good for the system. I was referred to Medifast’s 5&1 plan and started the end of April and have lost 26# of my 42# goal. Dropped 3 pant sizes and lost 135 total overall inches! I have stepped off the plan a number of times due to family gatherings, vacations and a wedding and was surprised at how little weight came back.
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.
Medifast is by far the best weight loss program I’ve ever tried! I love it, and although I’ve bumped myself out of ketosis several time due to a birthday party, family reunion, and a concert, I’ve still lost 25 lbs. and 2 pant sizes, in less than 2 months! I can’t wait to lose the other 35 lbs. that I have to lose! And, because of all of the nutrients I’m getting, my nails are growing like crazy! It takes dedication, but it’s so worth it. It has changed the way I look at food! And, the people that say you’ll gain all the weight back, obviously missed the whole point of this plan. You can’t go back to eating the way you did before Medifast, and you have to exercise! It’s a lifestyle change!! If you’re desperate, try it, and remember that it takes about 3-5 days to enter ketosis, but once you’re there, you ARE NOT HUNGRY!!! Which, for me, is a wonderful thing:)
Been on Medifast for a week. Lost 12.5 lbs and 14 inches. Feel awesome. Did Herbalife in 2001 and lost 50 lbs….30 in one month.By end of 9 month went from a size 24 to a 14. Felt great. I find Medifast much more satisfying, tasty and don’t need to take tons of pills which were expensive. Must drink lots of water on each…and be strict on the diet plans. Had Dr. supervising both diet plans. Get monitored, don’t play around with the rules…NO ALCHOLOL…a must……be serious and go for it. Preference for me is Medifast.
I agree with Sherry.
True, the shakes are “ehh.” But low carb, high protein shakes in cans also taste “ehh.”
The theory is to be in a constant small state of ketosis (hence, “Death Breath” which can be overcome with a breath mint such as Altoid).
No fiber? Take Metamucil or some other fiber supplement. Eat 2 1/2 cups of greens (most people don’t eat the green part of Medifast and then complain).
Warning: exercise is a must AND alcohol is a serious no-no (breaks the ketosis, the basis of Medifast).
Concerning putting on weight again, Medifast helps you break bad eating habits and lifestyle changes. If you revert back to cheeseburgers and beer (with no exercise), of course you will gain it all back.
Compared to Dan Marino’s diet, whatever works! I tried Nutrisystem and thought the food was pretty bad. Jenny Craig is expensive. Try Medifast and use common sense AND READ THE DIRECTIONS (eat one lean and green meal per day and really eat the vegetables). And exercise and no alcohol!
Lost weight really quickly, but gained it back doubly fast and THEN SOME. It messed with my metabolism. The food tasted awful, I had DEATH BREATH, and it killed my social life. I could only eat real food once a day, and only meat and vegetables. Yeahhh… not quite the best plan out there.
I am so sick from Medifast, gassy and bloated all the time, feeling full and just terrible. What is wrong with me? I don’t have a gallbladder anymore, is that maybe the reason why I cannot digest this stuff?
Medifast is a great diet!If you are disciplined to do it and have the mind set to succeed you will be successful! I have lost 50 pounds since January 09. I workout 3-4 times a week and make sure I drink lots of water. It works..think positive..
I lost 65 pounds using Medifast and have kept off all but about five pounds for a year now. It requires a lot of discipline but it is worth it. As my doctor said when I asked him “What’s a good diet?” he said, “Anything that works!” Well, this works. Make sure you drink at least the 64 ounces of water recommended. You’ll need it for better elimination, since your digestion does slow down a lot due to hardly eating any bulk. They recommend fiber supplements, too, in case it’s necessary. I’ve never bothered though. The way I look at success with Medifast is this: The fact that the food isn’t all that great reinforces the feeling of not eating “real” food, thereby avoiding my addiction altogether, much like an alcoholic or smoker has to avoid their addiction altogether to be successful. You get into that mindset and you’ll do great; all the while acknowledging that you’re keeping yourself fed. Make sense? I recommend it.
Medifast DOES work. It induces a relatively mild state of ketosis and if you really stick with the plan, you will lose weight and lose it rapidly.
My faults with the plan: I am not that overweight and I enjoy running, so the calorie count is a little low for me and others who are already active.
Medifast is overly expensive. While you won’t be able to get the same super quick results with most low-cal diets available on store shelves (they contain too much sugar), before you spend money on Medifast, be prepared to really stick to the diet and be very aware that most of the food tastes bad! Also, as others have stated, it is important to be committed to maintenance! No matter what diet or lifestyle change you are attempting, you will backslide if you reach your goal and then slack off.
Those of us who carry extra weight have to be constantly vigilant about our diet and exercise. Not fanatical, just be aware that this diet is worth it if you are willing to put in the effort and $$$.
Best wishes to all!
I lost the weight SUPER FAST!!!! This is my all-time favorite diet. My chocolate obsession is satisfied with the chocolate shakes. Warning… most of the “foods” are horrible, stick with the shakes!
this diet works really will. I know because I lost 79 pounds
I can’t stand the shakes and teas because they have so much artificial sweetener in them!
This diet really works, i lost 65 pounds in year. . . though it took great dedication and exercise. I believe anyone can achieve their goal through this diet/weight loss program. I recommend you try!
My sister went on it and lost 70 lbs…not to mention that her gall bladder and kidneys shut down and she was hospitalized!!
not a great diet for the severely overweight because you have to maintain a healthy amount of calories still to let your body function correctly.
Great diet if you want to live on less than 1,000 calories a day. Products are full of soy and most taste awful. Yes weight loss can be rapid, just like the rate of weight you will re gain once you start putting real food in your mouth. Try LA Weight Loss if you want to eat real food and lose weight at a reasonable pace. And don’t believe everything you read about them either. I was not pressured in to buying any of their products and the diet doesn’t cost as much as people says it does either. Way less than a $1,000 for 52 weeks including 52 weeks of maintenance. Add up what Jenny Craig would be costing you!
Best weight loss program ever! Why? Because of the increase in your health! Live longer, feel better and look awesome! Oh and sleep like a baby.