Medifast and weird advice. Opinions?

How much $$ does said "coach" make by keeping you on the plan?

That should answer your question.


He/She's (sort of) right about one thing, and that it's primarily changes to your eating habits that will have the most effect on weight loss vs. going to the gym. But very few people here think you need something like a "medifast plan" (full disclosure - I have no idea what it is or what it involves, but I'm assuming it has something to do with replacing meals with overpriced shakes) in order to make changes to your eating habits.

what are we supposed to comment on then if not medifast?

i assume its a super low calorie diet?

My opinion is that your options are do the program as the professionals say, or do your exercise and eat a reasonable calorie intake.

Did you not already prove to yourself that you can't exercise the way you want and be on the program? seems like its one or the other.

I'd be afraid that with the Medifast and NOT working out that I was losing muscle along with the fat. I guess you need to ask yourself: Do you want to look good and be healthy or do you just want to be lighter? Good luck to you with whatever you choose to do.

There is a lot wrong with Medifast and the coaches. I did Medifast twice over the past 7 years and each time had a coach. The first time I did it, I lost 15 lbs before my weight loss stalled (taking in about 800 calories a day). That was before they had many of the food choices they do now and I was drinking mostly shakes. I finally gave up and moved on to some other "diet". I more recently tried it again about 2 years ago. Why I thought it would work, I don't know. It only took me two weeks this time for my weight loss to completely stall out. I was so frustrated. And yes, they don't want you to work out except for walking. This is because it is simply not enough calories to sustain body function and additional activity. They know if you do work out, your weight loss will stall (or pass out!). I personally will never do anything like Medifast again.

You are not looking for opinions on Medifast, so what I would say to you is that if you love working out, then the low calorie restriction that Medifast offers does not sound like a good fit for you! The low calories is never good for anyone. Not to mention, it's doing nothing for your metabolism to drop your calories that low nor will it ever fuel the workouts that you love. You seem to understand that the logic behind the program is flawed. Calculate your TDEE according to your activity level and eat at a 20% cut off that. You'll see much better progress and the energy you need to exercise the way you like!

I guess my question is ... the coach made it seem like me wanting to continue to work out the way I am was a bad choice and one that wouldn't allow for success simply because I am starting off heavy.

Ok.

well, on the surface it seems like the coach is just saying that you can't really exercise intensly and be on the medifast diet.

but she also said something about dropping weight first.

the first part is probably very true, but you've already proven that you can handle the exercise if you eat more reasonably.

Weight loss (as i'm sure you know) is just about the defecit. Do it with just diet, or with exercise and a reasonable calorie defecit... which method you chose is simply a matter of preference. (and goals, obviously if you want to look athletic then you need to workout)

It seems to me that Medifast is a better option for people who actually don't want to exercise. Since you love it, you've got one of the "hard parts" already taken care of. Besides, are you going to be on Medifast forever? Why not take the time now to learn how to eat properly. You have to do that one day regardless, so if you are committed to long term keeping the weight off might as well start now.

Part of the process is learning how much you body needs in order to maintain and to lose weight. Programs like Medifast don't really help you do that.

If you want an alternative other than Medifast that doesn't cost a dime, and will allow you to exercise the way you want, read this
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
It is MFP gold :flowerforyou:

My mum did Medifast - her exercise was STRICTLY reglated, and extremely minimal. As it's a VLCD to be done under strict supervision, if they're telling you not to push it on the workouts, DON'T PUSH IT. If you can't deal with not working out, talk to them about switching off Medifast and doing something that allows you to work out.

If it's for your health, and you're obligated to do Medifast, then listen to what the doctors (are they doctors? Or coaches? I'm not sure what your set up is but it does sound fishy) are telling you.

If you can switch off Medifast, then do so. Right now, I'm with LekatieAnn - it doesn't sound like it's the right choice for you.

I doubt they would alter the plan so you could exercise. I have a friend who did that program and the goal is to take the weight off fast. Since it is vlcd you cannot exercise. My friend lost a bunch but could not maintain her level of activity. She also didn't learn to eat properly and gained it all back. Went for the hcg diet, same thing. Her latest is yacon syrup.

They are trying to sell you a product, I went from obese and only sat on the couch to 1-1.5 hours a day in the gym.


They don't want you to workout because the Medifast doesn't supply the proper fuel to work out...

Are you a Gamecocks fan?? And I have never been to that gym, but I drove past it today actually. Everytime I think about going I feel like I'm going to walk into a room filled with buff Army men. Which is fine, but... a bit awkward for me. lol

not really a fan, but they run something called the 'Medicaid integrity institute' on the campus and i went to that.

They would let you use the gym for 5 bucks a day, which was worth it on the short term.

they have machines i've never seen before, including some sort of medicine ball/rebounding ab apparatus lol.

It was pretty much empty except for some college girls at 7 in the morning.

definetly check it out... by far the best facility i've ever been in

Do you have some sort of operation coming up soon for which you have to lose a substantial amount of weight? Is there some other health issue that is being exacerbated by your weight that's prompting you to try and lose weight very quickly? If not, I'm a bit curious as to why you're putting yourself on a VLCD by doing Medifast.

But trying to exercise on Medifast sounds like a bad idea to me. If nothing else, your exercise performance is going to be pretty poor, and once you've lost more weight you very well could do some damage to your body/body composition. If you like working out, it should actually be easier to lose weight at a reasonable rate because you're going to have more of a food allowance than people who don't workout. Not only that, but you'd learn how to eat "normal" foods in a controlled manner, rather than relying on a rigid system like Medifast that you probably aren't going to stay on forever. It's akin to learning how to cook for yourself vs. having your parents constantly do everything for you. If you eventually plan to move out on your own, you're better off learning how to do things yourself rather than having people spoon feed you tiny prepackaged meals.

2 comments in general:

1 - my cardiologist told me to work out to gain muscle, to bur fat quicker.
2 - everything I have read suggests less that 1200 calories a day is not a good idea.