My husband wants to do Medifast

JUDDDing

I would do it. (I looked into the plan for a bit in late December and decided not to. (I'm cheap))

But the key here is that he WANTS to. The hardest part of a diet, IMO, is starting one. He wants to start this one.

Let him.

If he gets sick of it, switch him to a different plan at that point, but let him get some weight lost and increased motivation from this. IMO, it's better to start something that might not be ideal than to do nothing at all. Which might be the choice you have.

gypsyrose64

I did it a few years ago and didn't last a month on that crap. I found the shakes and food repulsive in taste. They may have gotten better at the taste, but to me it was like chewing cardboard. There will always be someone out there that says they did well on a program like that, but it's expensive and not something you can keep up long term. You eventually have to start eating normal food again, and that's where many get into trouble.

I know someone at work that lost about 60lbs fast on IDEAL PROTEIN DIET shakes/food. He was in the army reserves and had to ditch weight fast before getting shipped off somewhere and it worked for him. He said it tasted pretty decent, but again, you talking $$$ and it doesn't change your relationship with normal food.

If hubby is hellbent on doing "shakes" type diet, point him that direction and compare the two.
In the long run, he has to learn the hard way what works for him.

laurapreble1

I've been on the Take Shape for Life plan since May. I think it is very good, and of course, doesn't fit for everyone. I have tried Weight WAtchers and a bunch of other stuff, and nothing has worked for me until this. Some of the food is great, some is not so great. It depends on your taste, of course. The great thing is that the food has all the nutrients you need for the day (minus your lean and green meal). I think it's very manageable, and the support option is great (and free...yes, really free.)

I am a real person and if you want to message me about it, I'll be happy to share any info with you.

garber6th

I posted this earlier today on a post about Optifast but it applies to this post too - just substitute for Medifast for Optifast:

I have done a medically supervised Optifast type program TWICE in my life. I wish I would have learned my lesson from the first go-round. It was a waste of time and money. It is amazing while you are doing it - the weight drops like crazy and you feel like a million. I had classes and workshops weekly on nutrition, and how to eat when you go back into eating solid foods. The minute you start putting solid food back into your mouth, the weight starts coming back. In the program I was in they even told us to expect it. It does not give you the real world experience you need to lose and keep it off. I really wish I didn't waste the time and money. I am only sharing my own experiences, I do wish everyone who is doing it luck, but I am sticking with MFP and exercising and changing some eating habits because clearly it works.

Raddichio

If he wants more direction and structure, would he consider seeing a dietician instead? I've not had experience with this, but it certainly seems like it would be a better use of money than Medfast----maybe health insurance would pay for some of it, if he is obese and his doctor has health concerns about his weight?

Phrick

If he wants more direction and structure, would he consider seeing a dietician instead? I've not had experience with this, but it certainly seems like it would be a better use of money than Medfast----maybe health insurance would pay for some of it, if he is obese and his doctor has health concerns about his weight?

This is actually a great idea. We don't currently have health insurance, but if he's willing to throw $300+ down on Medifast maybe I can get him to use the same money for a few meetings with a Registered Dietician (NOT nutritionist). Hmmmmm.

janetrblum

I am a Registered Dietitian, and a Certified Health Coach with Take Shape For Life. Let me first tell you that I DO get paid by TSFL to coach my clients. A person who goes on the Medifast diet, will get diet results which means they will lose weight and 85% of them will gain the weight back within 2 years, just like any other diet. When someone uses the TAKE SHAPE FOR LIFE PROGRAM, they will use the same eating plan for weight loss (medifast meals five times a day and one Lean and Green meal that they prepare themselves) HOWEVER they will be using program materials (book) and a coach to help learn to recognize their habits of disease and create new habits of health. It is a whole different mindset based on the desire to create health in one's life and make permanent changes vs. "going on a medifast diet"
Also, w TSFL, the coach walks the client through a transition phase where Medifast meals are decreased and "regular food" is increased. The coach then walks the client through maintenance but by this time the client is armed with knowledge and mind set changes. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE! People who utilize the Habits of Health System and a health coach are more likely to keep their weight off long term because they did not simply go "on a diet" The KEY is that the client must be ready to change their life and must be willing to create health. Not everyone is ready for that. I have had clients refuse to read the book, and kept the diet mentality and I do not feel they will keep the weight off forever; but the clients who choose health, and embrace the entire program do really well long term!

janetrblum

One thing more, if I may, just to clarify: People are talking about Medifast food being expensive and I want to clarify that the food costs approximately $11 per day. Many people find that they are SAVING money because prior to the plan, they were spending $10 a day on lunch alone, or $5 on their morning bagel and coffee. My point is that one must buy food no matter what plan they are on. Many people find that the structure of this plan and the results, help them to become more motivated to LEARN about food and nutrition, EXPLORE their own eating behaviors and triggers and become more open to trying new foods (veggies/ lean protein at dinner)
TSFL is not for everyone and certainly it is not designed to do forever. What it is designed to do is to help people to get over their "addiction" for high sugar, high fat, high sodium foods, get healthy and then slowly introduce the "other foods", one at a time back into their lives. Support is extremely important in ANY plan, and if your husband will commit to regular visits with a dietitian then that is great! Many people will not keep up with it. The TSFL health coach can coach by phone and one can have regular contact and support without going to meetings or leaving their homes. For SOME people, this works best.

smn76237

My dad is doing Medifast. It is just a VLCD high in protein and low carb. He's lost like 33lbs in 5 weeks and his blood pressure is down and can breathe better, so for now the pros outweigh the cons. He needed to lose weight, but I have no idea how he can maintain this. I think he started out between around 275lbs and is 5'10 and 61 years old. He was super gung-ho the first two weeks, but by week three he was feeling fatigued and "never quite full nor quite hungry."

I am a bit suspicious of the information they're giving him. He said they told him to MAINTAIN his starting weight, he must have been consuming 1800 calories. Go to any BMR/TDEE calculator, and that is waaay off. He scoffed when I told him I lose weight eating 1800 calories a day. Since he's seeing fast progress he doesn't want to listen to what anyone else says for now.

He's also very cranky. I would be too trying to eat 1000-1200 calories a day as a grown male. He was instructed not to exercise for a few weeks because he would be eating too little.

The meals he has to eat look pretty pathetic. I just spent a week at their place and so he went slightly off plan because we had a lot of dinners out (but still ate those Medifast bars for breakfast and most lunches) and he gained 2lbs just from the one week alone. So, I suspect as soon as he goes off plan, it will come back just as fast.

Long story short, it might be ok to consider if you are very heavy and have health problems from your weight that outweigh the cons of using a VLCD. But keep in mind it's expensive and restrictive.

Rosiemac2

I lost 55 lbs on medifast....I did not mind the food....I learned to appreciate real food again since you must have a lean protein and green veggies every night for dinner....When you readjust your taste buds you appreciate brocolli again and do not need the butter or cheese sauce...I started drinking lots of water and cut of alcohol.....I also took advantage of th eonline support forum and read teh book Habit's of Health to modify my behavior and establish better sleep habits as well.....I have transitioned off the program and am now using this sit eto keep the weight off...I went from a size 16 to a size 6 and my blood pressure went from 130/90 to 108/68.....waist went from 40 inches to 29inches.....If you approach it as the plan was designed it is effective...designed by a Johns Hopkins doctor.....I now have learned to eat from scratch and have not eaten fast food in over a year.....Please do not judge this plan unless you have tried it...Now I was classified as obese with a BMI over 30.....if you only have a few lbs to lose this is NOT the plan for you...BTW my hubby who is very a very picky eater lost 30lbs:)

bethfartman

I think it depends on whether or not you're going to learn to eat healthily once you loose the weight and integrate back to a regular diet. I've seen my dad do dozens upon dozens of those types of diets, including Medifast, and he always regains the weight rather quickly, but I work with a girl who did Medifast and lost the weight and kept it off because she is continuing to make healthy meal choices. If he's never done a diet like that before and is having trouble loosing weight 'the old fashioned way' then I'd say go ahead and try it, but if he's done it before and failed, don't waste your money.

SusanB148

I am not a big fan of those sort of programs. Your husband would be better off just trying to eat more healthy, organic foods.

Here are a few links about Medifast you and your husband might want to look over:

Dangers of the Medifast Diet Plan

http://www.healthguideinfo.com/dieting-tips/p101519

http://achievetruebalance.com/dangers-of-a-medifast-program/

lcransaw

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!

I looked into the Medifast program when my doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic, and I needed to lose weight. First, it is expensive beyond belief. Secondly, it is very hard to maintain. The program in my area required weekly weigh ins during business hours, meaning I would have to take time off work, and consume "diet" meals and shakes that were outrageously priced. After doing my research, I found that the program did not promote teaching the participants about healthy meal choices, it just told them what to eat, and how much based on the prepared meals. You will lose the weight, because the small portions and shakes are very low in calories, but the key is you can not maintain this forever. You will go back to your normal eating, and the weight will come back. Please, eat healthy natural foods and exercise. It is cheaper, and the results last longer! Good Luck!

chelstakencharge

Such a waste of money in my opinion. I have had many friends do it and they ALL gained the weight plus some back after they stopped.

KellySue67

I actually had a friend that was doing medifast and went into starvation mode and gained some weight because she was not consuming enough calories. Now she has all kinds of digestive problems as well. I wouldn't do it. Diet and exercise are the key!