So if you’ve read any diet and weight loss websites, you surely have seen a Medifast coupon code and ads all over the place, but what is the Medifast plan? In a nutshell, the Medifast diet plan works by limiting your intake of calories. If you eat less, you will lose weight. It really is as simple as that. The trick, of course, is to not break the diet by splurging or snacking outside of the plan. Naturally you want to be able to keep the weight off and avoid the yo-yo of ballooning weight once you are off the diet. Fortunately this area is one of Medifast’s strengths.

While on the Medifast program you will cut your caloric intake severely. Most plans call for between 800 and 1,000 calories per day. However, the plan is designed to manage your hunger during the first few weeks by encouraging you to eat frequently. There are 6 meals a day that consist of five replacement meals and one “normal” lean and green meal that you prepare yourself.

Since you never go more than a few hours without eating, you are not as hungry as you might think on a low calorie diet. Medifast has also created a ‘fullness index,’ which is really a calculation of protein, fibre and calories and their meal replacements are designed in such a way that they achieve the highest fullness index scores possible.

Medifast vice president of research and development Lisa Davis, PhD, says, “successful weight loss comes from eating a high-protein meal every few hours, which helps modulate blood sugar levels, control hunger [and] cravings, and preserve muscle mass while burning fat.” There is no question that if you can successfully manage your hunger that you will have a much better chance of staying on the diet and achieving your weight loss goals.

The Medifast plan does take work and discipline. The adjustment to such a low calorie diet is probably not going to be easy for some participants. Indeed the company’s own literature states: “Until you reach the fat-burning state, you may feel hungry, tired, or slightly irritable. You may also experience headaches and feel lightheaded.”

Once you have reached your target weight the plan allows you to transition into the ‘maintenance’ phase of the program. During this phase you gradually increase the proportions of fruit, high carbohydrate vegetables, low-fat and non-fat dairy, lean meat and whole grains. This transition period can last anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months, depending upon how much weight was shed. It is during this phase that you learn how to control your portion sizes, choose healthier foods and adjust to increasing your calories.

Exercise is an important part of any successful diet plan and Medifast comes through in this area as well. It is recommended that participants engage in mild to moderate physical activity, but not to overdo it during the initial few weeks. “Energy levels may be low due to fewer carbs and the adjustment to the very low-calorie intake,” says Ms. Davis. However, once you have been on the program for three weeks you can increase your exercise regime, and in the transition period and maintenance phase you should be exercising five times per week.

Gluten is a naturally occurring protein that is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and some oats. For some people gluten is difficult to tolerate or digest properly. This might be because of an allergy, a personal choice, or they may be diagnosed with celiac disease.

Celiac disease affects nearly 3 million Americans and is a lifelong disorder where the gluten in food damages the intestines and it can be very serious if left untended. There are hereditary markers that show if you have a first degree relative (father, sister, etc) who is a celiac, which means you have a much greater chance of contracting the disease. There is no cure. Today, treatment is possible only through a gluten free diet.

Medifast has certified gluten free products that are tested and inspected by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). This is the leading gluten free organization in the world and products that have their seal of approval have been independently tested to verify their purity, quality and integrity. To gain approval, each product must be certified, and each of their individual ingredients must also be certified. It is a difficult process to achieve certification.

While no testing method can guarantee gluten that is equal to ‘0’ the GFCO sets the bar at less than 10ppm. This is even stricter than the FDA guidelines, which insist on 20ppm or less. You can find a Gluten Free Fact Sheet on the Medifast web site. You also need to be careful with product labelling that states ‘gluten free,’ simply because it was not made with wheat, rye or barley. There may still be gluten containing derivatives in these products. This is why the very strict protocols of the GFCO and their accompanying labels are the preferred method for celiac sufferers.

That little “GF” on the packaging can bring a huge sigh of relief to over 3 million Americans.

Medifast currently has more than 25 meal replacements that are certified by the GFCO as being ‘gluten free.’ These include the following:

• Snack: Brownie with real chocolate chips
• Eggs: Scrambled, Original style and Southwest style
• Fruit Drinks: Cranberry mango, Tropical punch
• Hot Drinks: Cappuccino, Chai latte, Hot cocoa
• Iced Teas: Peach, Raspberry
• Pancakes: Original, Chocolate chip
• Puddings: Banana, Chocolate, Vanilla
• Shakes (Medifast 55): Banana Crème, Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, Orange Crème, Strawberry Crème, Swiss Mocha
• Shakes (Medifast 70): Banana Crème, Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, Orange Crème, Strawberry Crème, Swiss Mocha
• Ice cream: Chocolate Mint, Coffee, Mango, Peanut Butter
• Soups: Chicken & Wild Rice, Cream of Tomato, Maryland Crab
• Essential One Antioxidant Meals: Cherry Pomegranate Shake, Dark Chocolate Shake
• Essential One Calorie Burn Meals: Cappuccino

All of these items have been certified as being gluten free, however some of these products do not yet display the “GF” symbol. This is being slowly transitioned in as old packaging materials are consumed. Eventually, all of these approved foods will display the “GF” symbol.

Diabetes is a very serious medical condition that affects more than 21 million Americans. The most common feature of the disease is that those afflicted have very high blood sugar levels. There are two types of diabetes and both are managed by diet and exercise, and in some cases also oral and injectable medication (insulin). Many more people have what is called ‘pre-diabetes’ which means that you have higher than normal blood sugar, but have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes blood sugar levels, many times you can change your diet and lifestyle and either delay or eliminate the onset of diabetes.

Type Two Diabetes

This is the most common form of the disease and is often called ‘adult onset’ diabetes, although you can get it at any age. With type 2 diabetes the body does not use its naturally occurring insulin properly or simply does not produce enough insulin. Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.
By reducing your weight by even 5 percent you can dramatically improve your health, including glucose levels, haemoglobin A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol. It may also be possible to reduce or eliminate the need for medication.

Type One Diabetes

This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood and occurs when the body does not produce insulin naturally at all. This results in sky-high blood sugar levels and requires an injection of insulin daily. Diet must also be carefully monitored. Too much insulin can also be problematic, leading to very low levels of blood sugar.

Medifast

Medifast is perfect for people with Type Two diabetes, but the program is not recommended for those with Type One diabetes. Medifast does have a special program designed just for sufferers of type 2 diabetes. It should be noted that Medifast recommends all participants to consult their family physician before starting this low calorie diet.
All Medifast meals have very strict calorie and carb content, which makes them ideal for those with Type 2 diabetes. As an added bonus all Medifast meals are also low on the glycemic index and therefore are designed to keep blood sugar levels constant with none of the spiking that is so dangerous for diabetes sufferers. It also controls hunger and helps you feel full longer.

Medifast Plus is the line of shakes for those with diabetes. These shakes are even lower in sugar and carbohydrates than the regular line of shakes and meal replacements. These shakes contain less than 6 grams of sugar, 10 or less grams of total carbohydrates and they carry the Glycemic Research Institute’s seal of approval.

There is a major clinical study that proves that the Medifast diet can have a significant positive effect on those with Type Two diabetes. You may even be able to reduce or eliminate your need for medication just by eating healthy and exercising. Above all, Medifast strongly recommends that you consult with a physician or diabetes specialist before beginning a Medifast diet program. You will want to regularly and frequently monitor your blood sugar levels and discuss medication needs, especially during the first 2-3 weeks of the Medifast program while your body adjusts to the diet.

Exercise is a critical part of any diet plan. Exercise can help to improve your metabolism and maintain your weight loss. There are many other health related benefits of exercise as well: Increased flexibility, better balance, blood pressure control, improved strength, improved endurance and exercise even often helps to control stress.

Medifast is a proven, effective weight loss program that is high in protein, low in carbohydrates and very low in calories. In the first 2-3 weeks while on the program, it is recommended that you limit exercise until your body adjusts to the reduced caloric intake. If you are not already on an exercise program, do not begin one until after the first 3 weeks. However, if you are on an exercise program then it is recommended that you reduce the intensity and duration of your exercising by half. Once you begin your transition phase to a maintenance level, then you can increase the amount you exercise.

Exercise will tone and shape your body the way you want it to look, especially when combined with a diet plan. If you do reach a plateau, you should try adding in additional exercises to your regular plan. Medifast recommends that you exercise 30-45 minutes per day, 5 days a week with mild to moderate intensity. You should not do more than 45 minutes of vigorous exercise while on the Medifast 5 and 1 plan.

Before starting a new exercise regime, it is also a good idea to consult with your doctor first. Listen to your body and do not push beyond your limits. If you feel faint or dizzy, stop right away and take a rest before continuing. It is also very important to drink plenty of fluids. While you will drink plenty as part of the Medifast diet plan, you may find that you need to drink even more than normal on days that you exercise. Especially if it is a hot day.

Once you have been given the ‘all clear’ by your doctor to begin an exercise program, start slowly and gradually increase your activity level. One of the best ways to begin a program is to start walking. This is a low impact exercise that almost everyone can do. Once you’ve begun you can slowly increase the length of your walk as your body adjusts and the key is to exercise every day (5 days a week). You can either take several short walks or one longer one during the day and you will reap the benefits.

If walking is not your thing, there are literally hundreds of other activities you can try. Biking, stair climbing, hiking, weight training, aerobics, swimming, joining an exercise class and many others. Swimming is especially good because it is so easy on your joints. You may also want to avail yourself of the services of a personal trainer. With the guidance of a personal trainer you can establish a specialized and individualized exercise program and he or she can help with motivation as well. You may even find that you want to join a group class to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow weight loss aficionados.

Medifast is a clinically proven way to lose weight. Suitable for sufferers of diabetes and those with food issues and allergies, Medifast works for everybody. Created over 30 years ago by a physician and supported by over 20,000 doctors across American, Medifast has been tried by more than 1 million people. As you can imagine, with such a time tested program there are literally thousands upon thousands of success stories.
Some of the very best are on the Medifast website and include the following:

• Alan returned from Iraq in 2006 suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and was grossly overweight. He didn’t like to go out, being embarrassed about his weight, and the problem just compounded as he sat on the couch playing video games. He had a 42 inch waist, wore XXXL shirts and was spending nearly $750 per month on fast food. Alan saw results in the first week of trying Medifast and loved it. After 8 months on the program he lost 114 pounds, dropped to a 32 inch waist and now wears an L shirt size. “Medifast is not a bandage; it’s a new way of life and I am living proof it can be done.”

• Jessica was 218 pounds when she started the Medifast program. She has always been active through her teenage years, but was now too heavy to do the things she wanted to do. Her body ached, she had trouble breathing and her resting heart rate was well over 100 beats per minute. Within six months she had shed 85 pounds and felt like a new woman. Her body is now pain free, her breathing and heart rate are normal and she can even touch her toes during yoga! Best of all, her mental health and confidence has dramatically improved – she now runs her own law practice and is planning a wedding.

• Carrie was 248 pounds and her youngest of 4 children was 3 years old. She could no longer use the excuse of having put on baby fat. Exercise alone was unable to reduce the weight and she was tired all the time, yet couldn’t sleep soundly at night. After trying the Medifast “5 and 1” plan with some friends, she noticed results right away. She has dropped 40 pounds and is now sleeping better at night and has more energy during the day. Her mental attitude has improved dramatically and other family members have become inspired to lose weight as well.
There are many more stories like this on the website and they stress that these success stories are not typical, however they certainly are inspirational and give you an idea of what is possible. Normal results are between 2-5 pounds lost per week, and while this is fairly aggressive it is still deemed to be a safe way to lose weight. The popular “5 and 1” program is the most effective, as it reduces your caloric intake so that you begin to burn off fat. Because you eat 6 meals a day, you never really feel hungry and you learn how to eat properly.