Medifast

Isn't Medifast extremely strict and very....very low calorie?

Hi,
I am doing medifast as well. I had done it in the past with great success, but I did not maintain well over the long term. I managed to maintain about a year, but not two years. So I am doing the medifast plan again, and hoping/planning to transition/maintain much better than I did last time. I had a taste of being at a healthy weight and I want to get back there--I felt so much better!
Good luck, and feel free to PM if you need some extra support! I use the MF forums as well, and the user name is the same there.
:flowerforyou:

I agree that Medifast is expensive. The way I look at it, is it's a kick starter. It introduces you to start off with a low caloric intake and eating 6 meals a day!

Once the 2 or 4 weeks end then you can either work hard to continue the 6 meals a day or not... However, my husband enjoys the Medifast 4 week to help him get on track and then once it ends he does the 6 meals a day and have a healthy option for dinnertime. He was successful and now I want to be successful! None of my dieting habits worked because I was lazy and didn't discipline myself... I'm also a stress eater and a bored eater. Ick!

I want to have kids but I know I have to care for myself first and get fit!

I've not tried Meidfast before, so I have a question:

What is the difference between having 1300 calories that include Medifast and 1300 calories of real food to lose weight? The calorie count is the same, you'd lose wight no matter how you got your calories.

And you get a free Health Coach with the program, lots of support.

The Medifast meals average 110 calories each with only around 14 carbs each with around 4 grams of fiber. This nets out to around 10 carbs per packet. Each packet also has around 10 grams of protein, along with 20% of your daily vitamins. So, the packets are pretty much low carb, protein and fiber to fill you up for three hours, without sugar. It's all about Glycemic index with Medifast....keeping your blood sugar steady without spikes through out the day. There is a real science with this program, and if you do order, you also need to order the book "Dr. A's Habit's of Health" to understand it. There are several plans you can go on, most people start with the 5/1 for quick weight loss (900-1000 CALORIES). I just started with the 4/2/1 which is around 1100 calories a day because I have less than 15 pounds to lose. Just started the program, will let you know how it goes. The only thing I really don't care for is the oatmeal, the chicken noodle soup and the spiced pancakes are very good. They also have pretzels you can much on which is helping me so munch with the carb cravings. Speaking of carb cravings, I am on day two of this program, and they say it takes three days to get over the cravings. Once you go into maintenance, where you have lost the weight, you need to still eat a few packets of Medifast a day to maintain if you start gaining weight back. And you still need to eat low calorie, low glycemic foods, just read the book, it is wonderful!

You have 17 pounds to lose and you are on Medifast and consuming only 1100 calories? With all due respect, you are kidding....right?

900 to 1000 calories, and even 1100, for a day is Really REALLY low. I can see someone who is obese and on a VLCD under strict Dr. Supervision doing this, because the risk of being overweight may be more than the risk of trying to lose weight quickly, but with so little to lose it seems to me you are setting yourself up for problems down the road.

And, what about this coach? Is he/she a doctor? Where does the MD supervision come into play?

Nobody has answered my question--what is the difference between eating 1300 calories of food and consuming 1300 calories of the Medifast products? I mean, it's the same amount of calories, so you'll lose weight at the same rate.

"Nobody has answered my question--what is the difference between eating 1300 calories of food and consuming 1300 calories of the Medifast products? I mean, it's the same amount of calories, so you'll lose weight at the same rate."

It's about the "balance" they use in the packaging. What Medifast would tell you is that each package is fortified with the right amount of CARBS (they have you in a mild state of Ketosis around 80-85 CARBS a day) and vitamins, fat, etc. So it's simplified for you so that you don't have to count calories or CARBS or worry about not getting the right nutrients. I take a whole food multi, Nordic Naturals Omega for fish oil , and a probiotic so I'm not a fan of synthetic vitamins like they use in Medifast meals or highly processed food so I had a hard time sticking to this plan in all honesty.

It will work if you stick to your own1300 calories or eat their food but it does come off faster with their food I must admit. I've done it, lost 40 pounds fast - then gained 45 pounds BACK within 6 months after going off it. I didn't pay attention to the transition part which is important. My problem with the plan and why it doesn't work long term for me is because I reach a point where I cannot stomach another package of blah or bad tasting food and I go off the rails and binge. While I easily get back on track, I wonder what the purpose is at least for me to be on a restricted plan like that. Also it is really 900-1000 calories a day total, not 1300. There are variations however where you can go on what is called a 4/2 - 4 of their meals and 2 of your own for example to up the calories a bit especially if you are like me and need to exercise. I could never do more than walk my dog on the very low calorie plan or I'd pass out.