Medifast: Can You Lose Weight With Medifast?

Can Medifast Help You Attain Your Weight Loss Goals?

The Medifast plan is a program that uses meal replacements to help the instill proper eating habits. The program promotes weight loss by encouraging you to eat small meals throughout the day. Eating every 3 to 4 hours avoids those hunger pains that is the downfall to any weight loss program. The Medifast plan involves using a 5 + 1 plan, where you eat 5 Medifast meal replacemnts and 1 Lean and Green Meal that consists of a healthy meal you prepare yourself. 

The Medifast website does provide clinical information, as well as, information for physicians and customers. It does not use exaggerated statements or hype in its presentation. Instead, it explains the diet and the products in a straightforward manner, providing easy to use navigational tools, linking the user to additional information and articles to give a better inderstanding of how Medifast can help you reach not only your weight loss goals but your wellness goal.

The Medifast company, has been in business since 1980 and is a publically traded company. They operate a number of weight loss centers around the United States and was a top 200 company recognized by Forbes. Medifast works closely with physicians and nutritionists, and the site includes a list of doctors that use and recommend the Medifast plan to their patients.

Other good features of the site are an extensive testimonials section, with links to some of the dieter’s personal blogs, and an excellent FAQ section. The site also includes clinical studies that have been performed on certain aspects of the diet, and how it can be tailored to fit into the lifestyle of those with Type 2 diabetes (for which there is actually a separate plan).

Medifast – Product Details

As mentioned, the Medifast plan consists of meal replacement products that are bought in certain amounts (depending on which plan is opted for) and one ‘Lean and Green’ meal. There are three basic plans to choose from: the 4-week basic plan ($299.50) includes all the replacement meals required for the duration of the plan, plus 3 bonus meals; the Enhanced Super Omega-3 plan ($327.50) and the Momentum Weight Loss plan ($353.50). This last plan is designed to speed weight loss and increase the metabolism through the addition of caffeine and green tea in the products.

The replacement meals for Medifast consist of shakes, bars, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soups, fruit drinks, puddings and cappuccinos. The Lean and Green meal should consist of a protein (either meat, fish or meat alternative) plus three low-carb vegetables. The site provides a chart showing different protein options plus a list of acceptable vegetables.

Medifast - Advantages

• Medifast is an established company
• The website contains clinical proof of Medifast’s success
• The plan is suitable for diabetics and vegetarians
• The plan is easy to follow and avoids having to count calories or portion sizes
• Each plan option comes with a free shaker jar
• The company provides support from dieticians and community online forums
• The plan is designed to achieve a healthy weight loss of 1-2lbs per week
• Medifast plans are available for women, men and diabetics
• Samples of the replacement meals can be purchased separately

Medifast -  Drawbacks

• The site has too many links and separate sections of information making it hard to navigate
• The Medifast diet is very expensive
• The diet is extremely low in calories (between 800-1000 per day) and may be dangerous for certain individuals
• The diet is inconvenient, with a requirement of meals every 2-3 hours

Medifast – The Bottom Line

The Medifast company provides a good, supportive online community for subscribers to the plan. Dieters can opt to join the VIP Membership program for free, which entitles them to 2 weeks of free replacement meals, professional advice and a 5% discount on future VIP Memberships.

A cheaper alternative to Medifast would be the Slim Fast diet plan, although the latter does not have the support, additional nutrition and fitness materials and delivery convenience of Medifast.

Learn More About Medifast Here?