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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
The most popular Medifast diet plan is “5 and 1″. This plan comprises up to 5 meal replacements per day (generally shakes, but there are also soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot drinks, bars 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. The lean meat must be grilled, poached, or baked (but not fried). 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 2 week’s free food with VIP membership. 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.
Proof and Research
A number of clinical trials and studies have been conducted on Medifast. Here are a few of the latest:
- 2009 – Showed that the 5 & 1 program out performed other programs with similar calorie levels. At 4 months weight loss and body composition was more improved than other programs, and retention rates were higher. (link)
- 2008 – Looked at a 52 week impact of Medifast Meal Replacements. Results showed that retention was better than other weight loss programs, and significant and sustained weight loss was the outcome. (link)
Things to Be Aware of
This weight loss program is generally only used by the very overweight (BMI >= 30). It will only suit some people, and partnership with a doctor would be helpful. One of the primary criticisms aimed at these kind of programs is when the client returns to “normal” food. This is why the maintenance phase is very important and this process should be followed for as long as possible.
Costs can vary, but the typical cost is around $75 per week. To get the maximum benefits be sure to order to enrol in VIP membership and purchase only 4-week orders (rather than 2 week orders).
References
- Coleman, C., Davis, L. M., Rampolla, J., Kiel, J., Hutchisen, T., Ford, L., et al. (2009). Efficacy of Medifast’s 5&1 meal replacement program compared to a food-based diet for weight loss and weight maintenance: 4-month weight loss results. FASEB J. , 23, LB453-.
- Haddock, C., Poston, W., Foreyt, J., DiBartolomeo, J., & Warner, P. (2008). Effectiveness of Medifast supplements combined with obesity pharmacotherapy: a clinical program evaluation. . Eat Weight Disord. , 13 (2), 95-101.
I am starting Medifast today for the second time.. I ddid meifast last year and was losing the weight but then I found out I was pregnant so I had to discontinue…My son is now 7 months and I am ready to get my body back.. I need to drop 40-50lbs..right now I am at 215…I was 248 when I had him in January…I know for a fact that it works if stuck to, it just takes dedication..and of course sucks when you cant go out with friends for drinks, etc..but it is worth it…I do find that motivation and support is important.I really hope I can stick to it this time around.
This plan is so easy and it works IF you do NOT cheat! it is a no brainer diet that yields results. good luck to all.
No ready-made diet can have the same nutritional value than a home-cooked meal.
Counting calories is not all that helps weight loss.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.
I love Medifast. I am actually doing it through Take Shape for Life. I am just starting week 7 and have lost 28 pounds and 23 inches! I still have 50 more to go but I feel so much better! It is so worth it. I have tried so many things that failed. I get so excited everytime that scale moves! If I can do this anyone can
TODAY I AM STARTING MEDIFAST,IM 353 LBS,AND I HATE THE WAY I LOOK,I AM A 50 YEAR OLD MALE, TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF MY NEW LIFESTYLE CHANGE, HERE IS A GOAL, TO BE AT 215 AGAIN
This is my 2nd time on Medifast. After successfully losing 74lbs in 2006, sadly I’ve regained it all in 4 years. I’m optimistic this time will be as successful and began the program on Wednesday, May 25. I’m feeling good, drinking lots of water, 120 oz /day, and would like to lose 45lbs by the end of July. Wish me luck!
It is working for me! I have lost 66lbs in 13 weeks! I am so excited. I love the food! I started at 282lbs! I have a whole new life! I never realized what the extra weight was doing to me emotionally. I took a slightly different route. I decided to go through Take Shape For Life. They are a division of Medifast. With them I get a little better deal on my food plus I have a FREE Health Coach! I am in it for a lifestyle change and it is wonderful! I love the Chocolate and Swiss Mocha shakes as well as almost every Bar they have! I never knew ‘good for you’ food could also taste great! Also, I have friends on the program that only had 15 lbs to loose, they went with a maintenance program instead of the 5 & 1.
Hi everyone! I am considering trying Medifast for the very first time. I would just like to hear any advice/ pros and cons you had with this diet. It’s more expensive than I thought it would be, just wondering if it’s worth it? If it’s something I can stick with and lose the weight! Thanks!
I have lost 90 pounds in less than 6 months on the MediFast 5&1 plan. I have been fortunate that my body responded as well as it did to this diet. Although not at my “ideal” weight yet, I am starting Transition & Maintenance so that I can focus on building lean-muscle and not focus on the scale. Many people can do both, personally, I cannot
But I know the 5&1 Plan works amazingly and will come back to it when I have better muscle-mass and have maintained for a few months. I wish I had known about MediFast YEARS ago… it would have saved me much heartache, pain, and wasted years!
It is better to suffer a little now, then later in life when it is too late to help you body and heart. I dont want to die because I am over weight that is a dumb reason!
Congrats to everyone one the medifast plan. I too was on it in 08 and lost 30lbs. due to the fact of my own fault simply giving in to sweets like cheesecake and cholcolate I gained it back, but today I just started again with the weight of 298. I know it is hard, but you feel so good when u drop a couple sizes and feel thinner
hello, medifasters how are you doing….I am wondering if anyone out there has gained weight back after the program, I have done the program 3 times and have gained almost all the weight back each time..so discouraging…I am wondering if there is a modified program, not so severe….and maybe I will have a better chance at maintaining the weight
I have been on the medifast 5 and 1 plan now for 3 days, starting the morning of my 4th. I Love it. I stepped on the scale this morning and wow down to 289.4. When I weighed in on wednesday night (today is sunday) I weighed in at 301.2. I could’nt believe it! I am excited to see what my one week weigh in is gonna be. My goal is to lose my first 50 lbs by the end of July. Wish Me LUCK!!
I hear so many of you complaining of cost-how much is your health worth? If you don’t lose weight, you will be on high blood pressure medication, cholestrol reducing medication, and possibly diabetic medication. Believe me the cost of all the medication and Dr visits will cost way more than a medifast. Take care of yourself -you are worth every penny! I placed my first order and am angiously awaiting for it to arrive. I am making myself a priority!
I’ve been on this diet for a week and have already lost 10 lbs. Water weight? Probably most of it, but it’s more weight loss than I’ve seen with any other diet plan, and that feels great. Once I got past the inital transition period, I stopped being hungry and started being less tempted by the bad foods brought into the office on a daily basis. My husband and I are doing this together (which helps a lot!)and are looking forward to the results. I’m 10% to my weight loss goal, and feeling great. Expensive, sure, but worth EVERY penny. You’re spending about $10 per day plus the lean and green meals. When I consider that both my husband and I were buying lunch out every day, ate out a lot and still bought groceries, we’re actually SAVING money.
I have been on medifast for 11 days. So far I love it. Some of the foods are super delicious, others leave much to desire. There is a lot of information on how to edit your meals to make them taste better, and then once you know what you like you can just reorder.
So far over 6 pounds gone which is amazing, water weight or not I am excited! I dont feel hungry at all as my body is in this light form of ketosis but all the added protien allows my body to not breakdown my own muscle.
I cant wait until I get to week 3 and can exercise again!
If you are considering this- consider it for at least a month. Yes it is expensive but if you add up all the money you spend on groceries plus fast food, snacks drinks- they add up. At first i decided NO WAY but then i did the math and actually we can afford it! I wish i had found this program years ago!
I am interested in the diet, but just don’t know if I should spend that kind of money when I don’t know if it will work, or if the food will taste good.
I’ve been on the medifast diet for 6 days now and I have lost 12 pounds so far my coach told me it was alot of water and now that i’m out that losing the water stage i’m on my way to really losing the weight I feel great the food is not that bad I use garlic and lemon pepper on the eggs and soups that makes them taste great! this medifast really works and your not hungry at all especially if you follow it with no cheating! i’m on the 5 and 1 plan I love it!!