I go to a Medifast center with certified Medifast peeps. They say no exercise during first 3 weeks so your body can adjust to lower caloric intake. After that, you add exercise slowly. If you get jittery or hungry, they say you are pushing too hard & need to scale back time or intensity until you can work up to it without extra food. I tend to like their suggestion because the extra L&G earlier in the day, or even splitting L&G, makes me hungry as the day goes on & more apt to eat more than plan.

So... I hear lots of conflicting advice on this. What do u guys think! Exercise or no when on program?

The first two or three weeks, no. But not giving your heart the exercise it needs beyond that is dangerous for your cardiovascular system. I restarted cardio after my 2nd weeks was finished and I verified with my physicians assistant and physical therapist. Both of them said the same thing. I have so much excess fat on me (my BMI is "moderately obese" and I weigh 201 and am 5'4") that they said I could workout light intensity for 2 hours each day and my body would not go into starvation mode. Additionally, when I asked, they said at light intensity definately do NOT eat back the calories or you just defeat the weight loss effort. Light intensity equals keeping the heart rate between 50 - 70% of maximum. They said definately do not go into fitness mode or what I was doing, which was between 70-90% of maximum heart rate because then my body would quickly begin to pull from lean muscle and tissue and leave the fat alone. Definately don't want that!

That's what my medical team said and I've been doing that for 3 days now and feeling GREAT! I was starting to get real hungry in the afternoons but now that I've added my cardio back, the exercise satiates me and I'm not hungry. The key is to focus and don't overdue it and keep within the light intensity bandwidth. Remember, your goal is NOT to win a physical race but to lose the excess pounds. Once you get the excess off and have learned to maintain it for awhile in transition, you can start to increase your intensity.

-Debra

I am pretty sure you are supposed to exercise, just not really hard since you're eating so little. Everything in the Medifast literature encourages light to moderate exercise in order to attain a slim and healthy lifestyle.

But I'm not a good example, I don't exercise at all.

I agree with gncguru. I was an exerciser before MF so I just cut back. Of course everyone has different circumstances & goals so do what's right for you....and listen to your body it's always right!

For now I am focused on dropping the weight thats why Im paying for this unique program right? As well I have more energy so I am moving my body more and more everyday...on the 5 and 1 you will drop 2-5 lbs a week on the 4 n 2 not so much...so once I get down to goal weight then I will up the exercise once I start adding back more calories in the maintenece phase....you are taking in 800-1000 calories why go and burn 300+ makes no since right...So for me my personal choice is to wait until Maintenence and my body is not flabby Im down 72lbs and I look great!!:) From a 18 to a 9 was 268lbs when I started Aug 20,2011:) Goal is to get down to 168 by this Aug 20th and that will be 100lbs down in a year!! Plus everytime I exercise I gain and then freak out cause I weigh daily:)

The number 1 reason that I exercise is so that I don't have the flabby skin. The number 2 reason is because it makes me feel great! I was actually just thinking this morning about taking a week off of exercise and strictly just focus on staying 100% on plan for the week and see how much I lose. I have been very busy with being out with family and friends over the past few weeks and that is when it is hardest for me...when there is all that food around. I did have a friend tell me that I may have to just avoid outside gatherings for awhile until I know I am strong enough not to cheat but I don't feel like that is an option. It will not only affect me but my children who love to be with their grandparents and cousins.