I get a lot of varied questions about Medifast. But, I often find that many people have the same concerns. In other words, if one person wants to know about something, the chances are good that someone else has wondered about this also. So, in the following article, I will offer answers to some of the more common basic questions that I hear about this diet.
How Hard Is Medifast?: Well, it is a diet. But, as far as diets go, it’s among the easiest, in my opinion. This is due to a few factors. First of all, you are eating every few hours – for a total of six times per day. Second, you don’t have to do much shopping or cooking. The meals already are mostly ready and you just have to assemble them or blend the shakes and soups.
Granted, you may have to get used to not eating exactly as you wish and there’s no way around this. But, you do not have to worry about counting calories or figuring out carb to protein ratios. You only have to worry about compliance. As I said, there is an adjustment period at first but I find that once you begin to receive the pay off of your results, things get easier and this is often when you begin to establish new habits also.
Does Medifast Really Work?: There are many clinical studies which seem to indicate that it does. There are studies from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University Of Vermont, and the state of Maine. If you check out the forums and blogs, you’ll see that many people have decent results as long as they are complying. Research indicates that 3 – 5 pounds per week are what most people experience. But, I’ve seen less pounds come off weekly, but I’ve also had much more pounds coming off.
The way this works is that you’re taking in less calories but you’re also revving your metabolism by taking in more protein and less carbohydrates. This means there are two mechanisms working for you rather than just one.
Is The Medifast Food Good Or Bad?: My answer to this is that most is good, but a few things are bad. I am not overly fond of the beef stew or the tomato soup. But, I do like the chili, eggs, pudding, shakes, and bars. I am extremely fond of the hot chocolate. And, I’m also pretty honest about the fact that I add fat free cheese to the eggs and syrup (sugar free) to the shakes. It’s very doable, in my experience. This is especially true once the results come.
How Much Does Medifast Cost?: That depends on which package you chose or if you buy the foods individually. Many people don’t realize that there are many different packages to chose from. It’s typically cheaper to buy a monthly package (and they allow coupons with these), but you can buy by the day, week, or even two week period. Since most people go with the womens’ five plus one package, this is the one I’ll discuss. Most times, this one is around $299. This is for 143 meals or enough for the month. As I said, they do offer money off coupons of free food as an incentive that you can use with the package.
Can I Buy Medifast At My Local Pharmacy, Grocery Store, Or Clinic?: The answer to this one is no. Right now, the company seems to prefer to maintain control of its own products. You buy the products directly from the company’s website. They ship right to you and this process only takes a very few minutes. Now there are a few clinics where you could walk in and then walk out with food. But most states have only a couple of these, if that, depending on where you live. So most people just order online.