Tell me about Medifast!

[PatsGirl]

So, I'm thinking of doing Medifast but would like to get a general consensus from my Disfriends

While I know that I could/should lose weight by eating fish/chicken and vegetables and incorporating at least 30 minutes of exercise in my daily routine, I just haven't been able to stay on track with any type of program in the last couple of years and my weight is slowing edging towards obesity.

My goal is to lose 35#. In the past I've always had great luck with WW but like I said, I NEED a quick loss in the beginning to get my motivation back! So, if you've used Medifast, what did you think? Thanks, Brenda

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I've lost 80+ pounds and counting with Medi-fast. It is safe, cheap and very effective, not to mention FAST.

I've done it under the guidance of my doc. I no longer use any medication for diabetes or high blood pressure (I will always have to take the hypothyroid medication of course).

I travel a LOT for work, so find it dead easy to use. I carry the packets with me and have eat every 3 hours or so. If I'm feeling more hungry than usual I eat every 2 hours. I never go beyond 4 hours without something to eat.

For my lean and green meal it ususally consists of mixed dark leafy greens with some tomato, a bit of onion, or cucumber, etc. and protien. Chicken, fish, beef, lean pork... in the amounts directed.

I can't tell you how happy I am with the plan!

 

[mom2rb]

You said cheap, about how much a month does Medifast cost?

 

[PatsGirl]

I think it's around $300/month? I paid that for NutriSystem but you still had to add quite a bit of food to it and their food was hardly edible

Thanks for your input, btw, do you mind if I ask how long it took to lose the #80 and how much you exercised in order to lose it? I'm hoping that I can lose more than 2# each week... my idea of fast would be at least #3 weekly. In the past I was able to lose #10/month on WW if I exercised regularly as well but I want FASTER and EASIER

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

do you mind if I ask how long it took to lose the #80 and how much you exercised in order to lose it? I'm hoping that I can lose more than 2# each week... my idea of fast would be at least #3 weekly. In the past I was able to lose #10/month on WW if I exercised regularly as well but I want FASTER and EASIER

I was wondering the same thing.

BTW, I love this: Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all. If that ever happens, just pull the plug!" So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine. LOL

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

In comparison to other programs of this sort, Medifast is the most cost effective because it works the quickest. Depending upon what you order of course, but it's about $300 a month as you say. You can easily spend more, but you won't spend much less. A rough estimate is about $10 per day. You then add your lean and green meal (not expensive at all) and you are good to go. We buy the large containers of organic mixed lettuces, and organic tomatoes. Same for the other vegetables we eat. You could reduce the cost if you grew some or all of your own, or if you didn't want to bother with organice. One thing to note, it's easier for those of us who do not have to cook for families in addition to purchasing the Medi-Fast both on a financial point and a dieting point. It's very easy to keep things out of the house when everyone is doing the same thing...

How long? Six months give or take. And here is where I really confess, eh? No exercise. Now, when I do add some, the weight melts faster, and the blood glucose is easier to control, so I do like to walk, swim etc. whenever I can, but the first 60 dropped off without one extra bit of exercise.

With the last few pounds any exercise at all is really beneficial as those really are the hardest to lose.

 

[Cool-Beans]

To lose weight, you need to take in less calories than you burn. So you cut back on your calories (eat less) or use up more of them (exercise, get sick, etc.) or both.

If you can't do that, nothing else will help. Well, spluring and purging might, but that brings its own set of problems. Whatever this is you're planning to buy will require either diet or exercise or both...and you could do that without giving anyone any money at all.

Until you really want to lose the weight badly enough to start eating less and/or exercising more, just decide to stay overweight for a while and save your money.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Spoken like someone who has never had a metabolic problem or struggled with weight loss.

Weight loss is specific to each person and each person's body. Taking in less calories does not work for me unless those calories consist of healthy food choices. Those choices need to consist of what works for ME, not you, not the next person, not the person on WW who has lost 100 pounds eating jelly donuts. My weight loss is secondary to my control of other health issues.

Thanks for your comments but I'll stick with my doctor's advice, counseling and heatlh care.

 

[SondraC]

To lose weight, you need to take in less calories than you burn. So you cut back on your calories (eat less) or use up more of them (exercise, get sick, etc.) or both.

If you can't do that, nothing else will help. Well, spluring and purging might, but that brings its own set of problems. Whatever this is you're planning to buy will require either diet or exercise or both...and you could do that without giving anyone any money at all.

Until you really want to lose the weight badly enough to start eating less and/or exercising more, just decide to stay overweight for a while and save your money.

Really??

 

[bicker]

Spoken like someone who has never had a metabolic problem or struggled with weight loss.

Weight loss is specific to each person and each person's body. Taking in less calories does not work for me unless those calories consist of healthy food choices. Those choices need to consist of what works for ME, not you, not the next person, not the person on WW who has lost 100 pounds eating jelly donuts. My weight loss is secondary to my control of other health issues.

Thanks for your comments but I'll stick with my doctor's advice, counseling and heatlh care.

 

[PatsGirl]

Thanks. I have a new friend who is a consultant with Medifast and thinks I'd do well on it. I agree that weight loss is a personal endeavor ~ I have done well working my own "WW plan" (lean meats and greens with the occasional fruit and dairy) in previous years but just can't seem to stay motivated long enough lately because of the slow loss caused by my metabolism coupled with menopause

I always held my own until my 40s when I quit smoking and stopped being so active due to a back injury. I am convinced that if I were to lose the #35 I need to I will keep it off... I really need something that is quick (at first anyways) so that I can see the results and stay motivated for the 4 months I think it'll take to get the weight off.

Brenda

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

As long as your doc agrees, I'd say give it a try. You can have very fast results and that is a great motivator.

However, it's not a "lose the weight and return to the former eating habits" sort of thing, ok? Just so that you understand that.

Use the time of the weight loss to learn what type of foods your body needs and will respond best to. Everyone has a different "food formula" that works for them, and the secret/key to maintaining healthy weight loss is to learn those combinations during the time of the Medifast plan.

If you add a walk or some other form of exercise that you like and have the time for, you will see faster results, but remember that the Medifast plan recommends that if you are NOT used to a regular amount of exercise, DO NOT START a new one when you first begin the program. Wait for your weight loss to stabilize and follow the recommendations closely.

Be prepared to remind all those people out there who may not support what you are doing (in so many different ways can people be non-supportive!) that you are doing this for your HEALTH and their comments are really not something that you find helpful at this time. I'm over people pushing me to eat cakes, pies, cookies etc. (Oh, all the weight you've lost, you can have a little! No. No I can't. Really).

If you would like more info or to talk about it in more detail, feel free to PM me. That way we won't bore others, nor provide troll food, eh?

 

[Cool-Beans]

Spoken like someone who has never had a metabolic problem or struggled with weight loss.

Weight loss is specific to each person and each person's body. Taking in less calories does not work for me unless those calories consist of healthy food choices. Those choices need to consist of what works for ME, not you, not the next person, not the person on WW who has lost 100 pounds eating jelly donuts. My weight loss is secondary to my control of other health issues.

Thanks for your comments but I'll stick with my doctor's advice, counseling and heatlh care.

You will please point out where I said it was easy. Wait, I'll save you the trouble: I didn't.

If you can lose weight on a plan that you pay someone to create but can't do it without that, you are like the pitcher who won't wash his underwear because it is responsible for his winning streak. He doesn't actually need the dirty underwear because he can just pitch well. You don't actually need to pay anyone because you can diet. It's all in your head. But if that works for you (or for him), far be it from me to throw logic into the mix.

If we screw up what is working for you, it won't work any longer. I get that. If that's what is in your head, then I'm not stomping on it. And I totally encourage you to continue whatever is working for you. And I'm happy for you that you are losing the weight.

But the truth is that the OP doesn't have to pay anyone. These plans all require diet or exercise or both in order to work. And nobody needs to pay for that.

Doctors can refer people to nutritionists that can help people who have no idea how to eat healthy foods or how to diet. The nutritionists can even help people who have specific medical problems. Doc sends them what the person needs and the nutritionist sits down and explains it all to the patient. They do it all the time.

I hate to see people give money away to folks for things they can easily get for free. Nobody has to pay anyone to lose weight. If you want to do that and have it in your head that you need to do that, that's fine with me. I don't care and am happy for you.

But it isn't necessary.

 

[Keggy]

Spoken like someone who has never had a metabolic problem or struggled with weight loss.

Weight loss is specific to each person and each person's body. Taking in less calories does not work for me unless those calories consist of healthy food choices. Those choices need to consist of what works for ME, not you, not the next person, not the person on WW who has lost 100 pounds eating jelly donuts. My weight loss is secondary to my control of other health issues.

Thanks for your comments but I'll stick with my doctor's advice, counseling and heatlh care.

I could have written this post. I have hypothyroid and it is so difficult for me to lose weight. I feel like I have tried everything and everything. I tried weight watchers with my best friend. She lost 80+ pounds I lost 3.

What I am doing currently and is really working for me was to keep a journal of my calories. I had been told to do it before but I never wanted to. I finally got desperate enough to do it and it has been a lot of trial and error to figure out what my caloric intake should be, but I am finally losing weight. It is a lot of math and a lot of effort, but honestly for me it is worth it to see the pounds coming off on the scale.

Best of luck to you no matter what you try and I hope you find the thing that works for you.

Kelly

 

[disykat]

I have a friend who did great on Medifast.

There is nothing wrong with going on a diet plan. Whether you count calories or whatever, they are all means to the same end. Saying you aren't allowed to go on a plan that costs any money is like saying people who hire housekeepers are lazy. You are simply paying for the ease of the program - the same way people pay for lots of things they COULD do themselves.

The reality is that losing weight is difficult. Most of us have to tweak and re-tweak programs to find one that works for us. It's easy to say calories in/calories out, but the reality is that eating those calories in different ways really does work differently for each person in terms of utimate success.

Don't let anyone tell you that you are doing something wrong by trying new things to lose weight. You will ultimately find success by finding the way that works for you.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Keggy, I have a hypothyroid condition too. Medifast worked even when my thyroid was so off I started losing hair again. The doctor was astonished that I had still lost when the thyroid numbers were so bad.

Keeping track of calories is not the entire thing, remember. It matters greatly (and do not listen to someone who says this isn't so) what type of calorie you put in your mouth. Rather like running a car on high test or on gas mixed with water. One you are going to get smooth efficiency, the other very poor performance. We are not cars, but the metaphor works. We need to know for ourselves what individual categories of foods work for us.

Good luck to you!