Medifast Diet Plan
The Medifast Diet Plan was developed by surgeons at John Hopkins University Hospital to assist patients in losing weight prior to surgery. Because surgery on overweight patients brings with it more chance for complications, the surgeons created this diet to help patients lose weight more rapidly than they would with traditional diet plans. The diet is a meal replacement program similar to some of the other popular diets advertised on television and in print.
As with any diet, there can be side effects, dangers and controversy surrounding the plan. If you choose to follow the plan, you should speak with your physician first to be sure that you are healthy enough to safely follow the diet. Not every diet plan is suited for every individual but, in general, the Medifast Diet is a safe one.
Side Effects of Medifast
Leg Cramps: people that begin the plan often complain of leg cramps a few weeks in. This is due to the lack of potassium in the diet. Medifast bouillon soup or cubes can help relieve this symptom by adding potassium to the diet which will reduce the risk of cramps in the leg muscles. Eating a banana before bed may also help with the leg cramps as they are high in potassium. Dieters should be aware, however, that too much potassium in a diet can negatively affect the heart. Drinking several glasses of water a day may be beneficial as well; a well hydrated body is less likely to experience muscle cramping.
Digestive Problems: these issues are typical when beginning any new diet, whether it’s a packaged meal plan or you undertake a new way of cooking. This is simply your body getting used to your new way of eating. Over the counter medications will alleviate your daily symptoms and they should subside altogether after several weeks on the new diet. Medifast does offer a special meal plan for those who are lactose intolerant.
Headaches: during the body’s initial fat-burning stage, headaches can be common. Aspirin or ibuprofen can be taken to alleviate these symptoms as can drinking at least 64 oz. of water a day. Dieters can expect this symptom for approximately the first week of the plan.
Rash: another side-effect experienced by Medifast dieters, rashes are due to either an allergic reaction to the plan’s ingredients or the increased intake of protein. Oral or topical antihistamines can be used to get rid of rashes should they occur.
Hair Loss: a less common side-effect, hair loss can be caused by a decrease in vitamins or other nutrients. Be sure to drink at least 64 oz. of water per day, add a Vitamin B complex tablet to your diet or mix 2tbsp of flaxseed oil into your meal or shake.
Dangers of Medifast
As with any diet plan, there are potential dangers to a specific set of dieters. The Medifast Diet Plan is dangerous for people with severe kidney problems and women who are pregnant. If a person falls into one of these two categories, the plan should be avoided.
Kidney Problems: the high levels of protein in the Medifast Plan can cause further issues in the kidneys due to increased levels of uric acid.
Pregnant Women: pregnant women are rarely encouraged to lose weight and never as rapidly as that which occurs during the Medifast Plan. Malnutrition within the fetus can cause miscarriage or fatal complications for the baby.
Medifast Clinics
Medifast clinics are currently located in 13 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. While dieters are not required to join a clinic to take part in the diet, clinics do offer some benefits such as body composition analysis and one-on-one counseling.
At-Home Coaching while doing Medifast
For those dieters who don’t have a Medifast Clinic in their area or who are unable to attend scheduled meetings, Medifast offers at-home coaching with a Take Shape For Life Health Coach. Over the telephone, a Health Coach can offer the dieter support and guidance. All Health Coach’s have had personal success on the Medifast Plan and have a desire to help others succeed on the program just as they did.
Health Coaches do more than offer support. They can help structure meal plans, help with ordering, track packages and answer any questions that dieters have along the way. Health Coaches are also trained in helping dieters make life-long lifestyle changes to help ensure healthy eating habits after the meal plan is complete.
Medifast Menu
The Medifast Plan is comprised of pre-packaged meals and a guide, or menu, that tells dieters what to eat and when. A menu on the plan may include:
- Breakfast: Apple cinnamon oatmeal and green tea
- Mid-morning snack: Cappuccino
- Lunch: Chicken noodle soup
- Afternoon snack: Chocolate snack bar
- Dinner: Lean & Green grilled chicken salad
- Evening snack: Chocolate pudding
At least 8 oz of water should be consumed with each meal as well as a vitamin supplement where required.
Recipes for the Medifast Diet
Because Medifast is a prepackaged plan, the offerings may prove to be a bit mundane for some dieters. For those dieters that want to change the plan a bit, there are recipes that can be safely used while on the diet. These three websites offer meal ideas for users on the Medifast Diet Plan.
Get Skinny Be Happy: http://www.getskinnybehappy.com/medifast-recipes/
New Medifast Recipes: http://www.newmedifastrecipes.com/
3 Fat Chicks: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/medifast/130384-recipes-medifast-users.html
Each of the sites utilizes food from the Medifast Meal Plan as a jumping off point for their recipes. There are also recipes available for the Lean & Green meals, the only meals that Medifast allows users to cook (or make) from scratch.
Controversy Around Medifast
There is some controversy surrounding this high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. The Medifast Plan consists of meals that, in combination, range from between 800 and 1200 calories per day. Many nutritionists and medical professionals do not recommend that anyone eat fewer than 1200 calories per day in order to maintain proper mental and physical health.
Another issue with the diet is that while dieters can expect to lose between two and five pounds per week, the weight loss may not be permanent. As with any diet plan, lifestyle changes must accompany the program. When people don’t make life-style changes falling back into old eating habits is a real possibility, resulting in subsequent weight gain.
The diet, like any other, must be accompanied with proper exercise, a fact that isn’t often incorporated into advertisements for the plan. Regular physical activity is the key to any long-term weight loss success and must be continued after the plan stops.
For some, pre-packaged diet plans can be cost prohibitive and that includes the Medifast Plan. Typical users spend approximately $300 per month for the plan, not including foods utilized in the Lean & Green meals. Additional supplements are not required but may be necessary for some users who experience side effects.
Summary
Like any plan, the Medifast Diet is useful for some but not for others. People who are willing to consider the diet a starting point to a life-long change in eating behaviors find the most success when using the diet. As with any new diet, users are highly advised to consult with their personal physician to be sure that they are healthy enough to undertake a diet and exercise regime.