There’s a lot of chatter about which diet or eating approach is better or worse for weight loss. But one thing’s for sure: The American diet needs a makeover. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of American adults are obese, meaning they’re at a higher risk of serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It’s clear that food choices play a role in this risk, the CDC notes. As someone who struggles with weight issues, I’m not surprised by these stats. We’re inundated with new food research and diet plans on a monthly and sometimes even weekly basis. Sometimes, the information we’re bombarded with is so contradictory that it’s hard to know how to eat, let alone find time to transform our eating habits. But there’s no need to give up hope. After spending some time researching, I discovered one plan that has had positive results, and has been recommended by over 20,000 doctors for weight loss since 1980: Medifast, a program designed to simplify rapid weight loss with an easy-to-follow plan. Recently,Recently, U.S. News and World Report rated Medifast as the No. 3 diet for rapid weight loss. At Everyday Health, we believe that wellness is at the center of your daily health, and a service like Medifast, which can help you meet your weight-loss goals, meets our Wellness Code. (Learn more about the Everyday Health Wellness Code used for all products and services reviews.)
How It May Help Boost Wellness
Medifast says its carbohydrate-controlled and low-fat meals contain nutrients and that help preserve muscle tissue and minimize hunger throughout the day. You may have heard of their popular shakes, but today there are 65 different Medifast Meals from which to choose, and each has the same nutritional makeup — they’re carbohydrate-controlled, low-fat, high-protein meals that are fortified with vitamins and minerals. The meals are completely interchangeable, and meant to be eaten every two to three hours so you never feel hungry while losing pounds and inches. Besides shakes, Medifast meals can help fulfill every craving you might have, offering bars, cereals, pancakes, savory entrees (think garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and vegetable chili), crunchy snacks, and sweet desserts. Different plans are offered depending on your weight-loss goals. According to Medifast Go, for quick weight loss, you eat five Medifast Meals per day and cook one “lean and green” meal, consisting of whole foods, prepared by you: a protein, three servings of vegetables, and up to two servings of healthy fats. Medifast Flex enables more gradual weight loss with four Medifast Meals, two “lean and green” meals you cook, and one snack. Medifast can also customize plans for people with medical conditions like type 2 diabetes, or special dietary requirements like gluten or soy intolerance. And when you reach your goal weight, the Thrive Healthy Living Plan can help set you up for long-term success by offering support and products tailored to your individual health needs.
How It Helps Make Wellness Possible
Because the diet is so calorie-restrictive, Medifast is ideal for people who need to lose a significant amount of weight. It will also appeal to very busy people who can’t or don’t want to prepare meals, but still want a range of classic American quick-serve and portable dishes. And if you have days where making one whole meal isn’t possible, Medifast even offers their own version of the “lean and green meal,” which you can order for home delivery. What keeps people going on the plan are the results that are quickly revealed on the scale. Weigh in at the same time every other day, preferably before you eat, to keep your eye on the prize. The fact that you are eating every two to three hours also helps to keep you from breaking down and going off the plan. But when you do feel the urge to cave (and let’s be real, it will happen), having a Medifast-approved treat on hand can help make all the difference. In fact, you can look forward to eating one of the plan’s approved chocolate brownies every day without sabotaging your goal in the least. One surprising part of the plan is how it turns your one (or two, depending on your plan) whole-food meal of the day into a treat. The dining-out resources on the site offer tips to help you enjoy your lean and green meal at different restaurants, the blog is full of delicious recipes, and there’s even a cookbook for sale. In addition, customers have access to dietitians, personal trainers, and other experts for nutrition, fitness, and behavioral support. Plus, with an active community of fellow dieters sharing their tips, struggles, and newly discovered recipes, extra support and motivation isn’t hard to come by. In short, the company cares about giving its customers the tools they need to create a sustainable whole-foods diet and healthy way of living for the long haul.
How Much Does It Cost?
New customers can order a 30-day starter kit that includes a 30-day assortment of Medifast Meals and free bonus gifts, including a food diary, a blender bottle, a dining-out guide, and a healthy living workbook. The Medifast GO! starter kit is $329 with free shipping, and the Medifast Flex starter kit is $299 plus free shipping, and also includes an assortment of Medifast’s “Home Microwaveable Lean and Green Meals.” Medifast also stands fully behind their product, offering a full refund if you decide to cancel any time within the first 30 days.
The Bottom Line
If you want to lose weight fast and don’t have the time to plan and prepare most of your meals, Medifast is a solid option to help you achieve your goals. You can use it as a short-term solution to help jump-start your weight loss, as well as take advantage of the site’s resources to help you reintroduce healthier eating habits when you eventually decide to come off of the Medifast plan. Learn more at Medifast.com.
The Competition
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem also delivers portioned breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks to subscribers looking to eat healthier to help keep the weight off.
BistroMD
BistroMD is a weight-loss program that delivers healthy, chef-made meals that contain a carefully balanced ratio of macronutrients designed to help boost your metabolism and jump-start healthy weight loss.
