I have a lot to lose, so I'm looking at trying a few different products before I settle on a longer-term option.
Medifast sounds like it might be a good start, to kick off some fast weight loss. Is is realistic to expect to lose 3-4 lbs a week on this? If so, I might try it out for a month or two..
If you are not a carb adict (like I am) and you have the willpower to eat the Medifast food even in social settings, then I say go for it! You can lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time with Medifast, but you have to be really careful when you come off of it if you are only going to do it for a short amount of time. As with any diet, if you just go back to eating how you were before, then the pounds will come back.
I personally liked making "pudding shakes", as the pudding mixes actually made a way better shake then the shake mixes do, the eggs and the mint bars were really good too. Good luck!
Oh yes, I'm a total carb addict... but I've tortured myself before. I survived on Atkins for a year, a while back. Bleh.
Most likely, I'd want to do this (knowing I probably won't love it, no offense) just to get a few motivational pounds off... and then transition to something like Bistro MD for a longer period.
got 1d- 3-4 lbs per week in the beginning on Medifast is completely realistic...I'm a carboholic also. I was just going to do Medifast for a jumpstart few pounds and expected torture also. I was so amazed! After a couple shakey first days on the program...and I know this is difficult to believe...I no longer had cravings...The only time I ever get cravings anymore is if I do go off program. As long as I am OP...This is the easiest thing I have ever done.
I hope it works as well for you!
DJ
I started Medifast on March 3, 2008 and I have lost 81 pounds. The food is not gourmet! The first 3-5 days are tough because you will be detoxing your body and going into ketosis. I will be starting Optifast at the end of January to try to get a good portion of the last 71 pounds off. Although Medifast has helped me lose 81 pounds, had I known about New Lifestyle or Wonderslim (same product) before doing Medifast, I would have done that. I tasted some of the supplements and they are far better tasting than Medifast, a tad less expensive and the amount to spend to get free shipping is less. On New Lifestyle or Wonderslim, a full fast is 9 supplements or you can do 7 supplements and 1 regualr meal. Medifast does not recommend a full fast. You decide what is best for you, but like I said I wish that I had known about the other products before Medifast.
Medifast comes out costing about the same as regular food especially if you don't have others to buy for or just one other person. Personally, it is cheaper for me.
You will learn to eat proper meals as you go thru transition and maintenance. I personally have been reading a lot and have decided how I would like to eat afterwards (Eat, Drink and Be Healthy by Dr. Walter Willet of Harvard), but to each his own. I just happen to be into researching things. Did that before Medifast too.
I'm one of the lucky "20 lbs in a month" folks, but I also have a fairly/highly active job. I sometimes get 20,000 steps/day while carrying loads, bending and lifting. But, I also would lose 5-7 lbs/week when I sat on my butt driving truck all week.
I went off the program in August due to various reasons not related to MF itself. I have gained about ten lbs. but, that has to do with the fact that I work 12.5 hr. rotating shifts and need time to figure out how to prepare good meals while exhausted and having no time 4 days a week.
I'm planning on starting again soon, but want to try Wonderslim since my DD and I will be doing it together and I need to save money. If it doesn't work as well, though, I WILL go back to MF, though I realize the weight loss will slow a bit as I get closer to goal.
I'm not an idiot with no idea about proper nutrition. I researched MF very well and feel completely comfortable with the program as does my doctor and I came to 3FC through a trial performed by one of this sight's founders. I also haven't found any negative info on it that isn't based on suspicion rather than reliable research.
Just my experienced 2 cents.
Last edited by Operator265; 01-08-2009 at 11:00 PM.
I wonder if you could do some kind of medifast with the new style diet stuff instead of the bars as a compromise. there is definitely more variety on the new style.do you lose less with them?
I personally have not done New Lifestyle, I just tasted a few of their products. However, a of my friends have transitioned over to New Lifestyle from Medifast and they are losing at about the same rate. There is no magic in Medifast, New Lifestyle or Optifast. It is all just low calorie/low carb eating. Also all the nutrition is built into the supplement, only New Lifestyle does reccomend a multi vitamin daily, but so doesn't the highly respected Weight Watchers Plan. The taste of New Lifestyle/Wonderslim is far BETTER than Medifast. Don't get me wrong, Medifast is a great program and it works, if you follow it. Most plans work well if we follow them. As I said before Medifast is not gourmet but it works. New Lifestyle/Wonderslim just tastes much better. Your loss will be about the same with either plan.
I wonder if you could do some kind of medifast with the new style diet stuff instead of the bars as a compromise. there is definitely more variety on the new style.do you lose less with them?
A friend is combining both MF & NL and is losing well. She wants to use up her Medifast and decided to combine. I guess it could be done.
Cool! Thanks for the info. I've got about 2 weeks worth of MF left. I hate wasting it.
I agree with you about not wanting to waste the MF that you have. That is why I am holding off on starting my Optifast program. I have about 1 month or so of MF and I don't want to let it go to waste.
Honestly, you should be able to lose 3 pounds a week with regular foods for some time to come.
I eat lean protien and lots of veggies on Medifast. Last time I checked that was regular food. The structure that the prepackaged meals provides has been the thing that I needed to keep me on track to loose the weight. I know that the transition that eases me into eating healty choices without the prepackaged structure is the real key to maintaining the weight loss. The program is all about lifestyle change.
There is alot more to this program than weight loss that many people do not take the time to understand. It's not a fad nor a quick fix. It is a step and a tool to a healthy lifesyle. It is recommended by doctors and nutritionists and has been the center of a 25 year study by Johns Hopkins.
There are many good programs out there where people can find success. I encourage everyone to find the one that they can have success with and applaud their efforts. Weight loss is hard and maintenance is hard regardless of what program you choose.
Although Medifast has helped me lose 81 pounds, had I known about New Lifestyle or Wonderslim (same product) before doing Medifast, I would have done that. I tasted some of the supplements and they are far better tasting than Medifast, a tad less expensive and the amount to spend to get free shipping is less. On New Lifestyle or Wonderslim, a full fast is 9 supplements or you can do 7 supplements and 1 regualr meal. Medifast does not recommend a full fast. You decide what is best for you, but like I said I wish that I had known about the other products before Medifast.
Interesting... thanks for the links. Does anyone else have experience with Wonderslim or New Lifestyle?
I'm starting to think maybe one of these sort of plans (Medifast, Wonderslim, NL, etc) might be a good idea for a bit longer than the original 1-2 months I had in mind.... saving a few bucks and having better-tasting food would definitely be of interest, but I'd veer towards Medifast if it meant more weight loss. Any thoughts on this?
considering 1-2 months of medifast
Thanks for the info. I've got about 2 weeks worth of MF left. I hate wasting it.
