Medifast Diet

Medifast is a fast weight loss plan using meal replacements AND real food. The program has been prescribed by doctors for many years (particularly for obese people). The program can be purchased online (ships to anywhere in the USA) - with substantial discounts.

NOTE: Medifast are currently running a special discount that includes 2 full weeks of free meals. This offer is for a set time only when you sign up for VIP membership.

This 5 and 1 plan is made up of 5 meal replacements per day - generally shakes, but there are also bars, soups, oatmeal, and puddings (see below). One meal per day is a "lean and green" meal - a small portion of lean meat (see below), and up to 2 cups of salad or vegetables. This is an excellent addition to the daily routine and makes the diet a whole lot more do-able.

You eat every 2-3 hours, and must drink a minimum of 64oz of fluid (water) per day. Other drinks can be consumed in addition to this. The 5 and 1 plan is a vast improvement on some of their previous programs.

Medifast now has plans specifically for women, men, and diabetics that addresses the unique nutritional needs of each.

How Fast Is the Weight Loss?

Weight loss is rapid - from 2-5 pounds per week. The Medifast 5 and 1 plan is technically not a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet), as the caloric levels are above 800 kcal/per day. However calorie levels are still low (depending on your current weight, height, and size).

"I have been using it for awhile. I have tried every diet on the planet and the only thing that i have done is mess up my metabolism.

When I first started - the thing that I noticed was that I was NEVER hungry, in fact, I had to set an alarm to tell me when to take the next supplement. I can never say that about any other diet.....ever! The other thing is that your skin will stay tight and not get droopy. You will have more energy and the pounds will drop off dramatically.

There is also a 24 hr nurse on duty that you can call to ask questions of. I know this works because I had a friend with a lot of health issues and allergies. She called the nurse who told her that she should not use this product because she is allergic to soy. Try it for a month and see how much you like it."

What Sort Of Foods Do They Have?

* Food Supplements: Homestyle Chili, Oatmeal: (Apple Cinnamon, French Vanilla Berry, Maple Brown Sugar), Hot Cocoa; Chicken Noodle Soup, Minestrone Soup, Peach Pro Tea, Chocolate Pudding.
* Creamy Soups: Cream of Broccoli, Cream of Chicken, Cream of Tomato
* Fast Soups and Snacks: Delicate Chicken, Robust Tomato, Savory Beef, Multi-Grain Crackers.
* Supplement Bars: Chocolate Divine, Crunchy Lemon, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint, Double Berry.

What about the "Lean and Green" Meal?

* Lean Meat: Skinless chicken or turkey breast, Fish, including shellfish, tinned tuna or salmon. Lean cuts of beef, pork, or lamb. Grill, bake, or poach. Condiments allowed. For men there should be 6-7oz of lean meat, for women 4-5oz.
* Green Salad: 1-2 cups of salad greens, up to 1/4 cup raw vegetables.
* Cooked Vegetables: 1-1 1/2 cups of fibrous vegetables instead of salad.

Note that shakes must be mixed with water (not milk). Medifast 5 and 1 is for both men and women. The difference is that for men, the meals have a higher level of protein than for women.

Take Care

Medifast is not about taking off a few pounds - it is intended for those who are very overweight. It is a drastic diet that will put you into state of ketosis, and you MUST ensure you are adequately hydrated.

Exercising while on the diet should be kept at a low intensity level. This is not the kind of diet where you will build muscle and be doing heavy workouts down at the gym.

However we receive many success stories from Medifast users.

Maintenance Plan

Once the desired weight is reached, the maintenance plan involves a gradual transition back to 'normal' meals over a period of about 16 days (however a much longer transition period is recommended). Beyond this, Medifast recommend 1-3 packaged 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.
Does It Work?

Medifast 5 and 1 is one of the most successful and balanced low-calorie diets. It has been used successfully at John Hopkins Weight Management Center, among other places - it is one of the few diets that are medically proven to work1.

Medifast have recently introduced a community aspect to their program by providing a number of message boards.

See Medifast Now ...