Medifast Diet

The Medifast diet is a low-calorie meal replacement program that allows you to control and monitor your diet by using the food and guidance provided by the company. The goal is to trim your waistline while preserving muscle mass by eating less overall and consuming protein every few hours. On this plan, individuals eat six times per day – five of these six mini-meals are Medifast-prepared foods or shakes. The sixth mini-meal, called the “Lean and Green” meal, is a combination of protein and vegetables in a small portion size.

Guidelines are provided, but you choose and prepare the food yourself. Medifast also offers plans that are specifically designed for people with certain dietary issues and preferences. There are special programs for diabetics, vegetarians, celiacs, and more. There are also diets to accommodate teens, new moms, seniors, and those who have recently had weight loss surgery.

The high-protein, low-carb Medifast plan is designed to yield a loss of 2-5 pounds per week. Weight loss may be less or more depending on an individual’s beginning weight and level of physical activity. Additional services and educational materials, including exercise guidelines, nutrition information, online communities, personal trainers, and registered dietitians are available online, in person, or by phone.

Once a person reaches his or her goal weight, there’s a 4-16 week “transition to maintenance” phase in which high-carb vegetables, fruits, non-fat or low-fat dairy, whole grains, and additional lean meats are slowly added back into the diet. The length of this phase varies depending on how much weight was lost. Its purpose is to help dieters transition back to consuming more calories while continuing to control portions and choose healthy foods.

Foods to include:

Medifast shakes, bars, and puddings
Low-starch vegetables
Lean protein
Some healthy fats

Foods to avoid:

Grains
Dairy
Fruits
Sweets
Alcohol
Most fats

Pros:

Eliminates the need to think about calories, fat intake, or nutrition
Medifast meals are portable and require little prep
Includes options to accommodate different dietary preferences and restrictions
Designed to keep you full on as few calories as possible

Cons:

Caloric intake is extremely low
May be difficult to eat six times daily
May be too restrictive and lead to binges
Dieters may have trouble controlling portions when transitioning back to regular foods

Sources:

How Medifast Works – Without the Marketing Speak www.themedifastplan.com (Links to an external site.)
The Medifast Diet Plan www.webmd.com (Links to an external site.)