To some people (especially people who have never struggled with their weight), anything that is pre-packaged and portion-controlled is cheating.

They warn that once you go off the diet you will just gain it all back because you will have learned nothing about controlling yourself.

Actually following a program like medifast and transitioning back to "the real world" of eating as directed is actually learning alot about self-control.

Not everyone who is overweight got there because they were lazy glutons with no self-control (stereo-type).

People who call it cheating really have no idea how hard weight loss can be for some of us, don't let it stop you from trying.