Medifast

melania: Medifast was too extreme for me…my energy levels were so low, i was too tired to exercise. I think it really lowered my metabolism, too, because as soon as i went off the diet i gained weight rapidly. I think this is just not a very smart way to go.

Helen: UM, HELLO….MEDIFAST DOES NOT ALLOW ANY FRUITS!!! ENOUGH SAID.

Honey: Medifast seemed like a good idea, I liked the idea of eating frequent meals and choosing my own foods, but I didnt like that I still couldnt eat certain foods. I mean, fruit is healthy, right? I thought it seemed unhealthy to leave it out of my diet, and well, overall, I just felt sorta lethargic on this diet.

Sterling: It was just way too expensive for me to keep up wiht this diet. My grocery bills were higher than ever, unfortunately, I had to stop.

nonni: The problem with Medifast is that it induces Ketosis, which is not a healthy situation, ur body is basically shutting down.

Viv: At first Medifast seeemed simpler than other diets, but then I realized it wasnt very good for me to eat this way. The bars are disgusting and have partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. YUCK!

trace: Oh, i just felt as though i could barely function while i was on Medifast. I thought the fact that it was medically supervised would be a plus, but i felt extremely UNHEALTHY the entire time.

KRISTY: I agree about those Medifast bars, repulsive. No fruits, & hydrogenated gross bars does not seem like a very smart diet to me

a. madison: Medifast didnt work for me, I had a lot more success with the 5 Factor Diet . The workouts are short but effective and the meals are simple to prepare too. It makes more sense to me.

eliana: HI, i had issues w/ a LOT of the Medifast foods. The scrambled eggs made me want to puke, and they cost $14.50. Scrambled eggs should not cost almost $15!!

Gary: Well I dont really care for the Medifast meals at all, and I dont really see the point in differentiating between men and women when it comes to food. The whole program jsut didnt work for me and it was terribly overpriced.

Suze: I was paying $275 a month for Medifast, it tasted HIDEOUS and i had absolutely no energy, i was dragging myself around. That wont do when you have a fulltime job and two children! I think this is just not realistic or healthy.

Ella: Is exercise a part of this Medifast program? I dont see any mention of that.

aileen: Ketosis is completely DANGEROUS and i cant believe Medifast deliberately induces it!! Ketosis puts a strain on the kidneys, and can cause serious kidney and liver damage! What medical expert thought this is a good idea!?!?!?!

Mickey: Theres no doubt that I need some portion control with my diet but I am not so sure I am enjoying the Medifast diet. Its been 2 weeks so far, and I do think Im eating a little healthier but I dont really like the meals. Is that part of the deal? Maybe Medifast is supposed to make you not even want to eat at all, and then youll lose weight? I dont know, Ill see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Bette005: This isnt so bad, Im making better food choices on Medifast. But theres gotta be a cheaper way to do it, I feel like this program is just robbing me!

Brynn: Another think that Ketosis does, is it causes your muscles to atrophy, which makes your muscles sag and lack tone. It is also well known that Ketosis causes HORRIBLE bad breath, there is even a name for it, Keto-breath. It smells like something died, no kidding. I have smelled this on fellow Medifast dieters, thank goodness i couldnt smell my own. ANyway, this is what your in for if you insist on doing medifast.

Jasmyn: I lost some weight with Medifast but gained it ALL BACK plus ten lbs. I would not put yourself through this!!

Orlando: Medifast shakes are pretty nasty, too. They should really work on improving the taste of their stuff.

Stone67: This was not such a good program for me, Medifast required a lot of work and I didnt get down to the weihgt I wanted to.

Julie: hi how many servings of fruit should you actually eat in a day? ive heard five, ive heard eight, i dont know whats besst. i guess yuou cant really overdue the fruit tho can you?

Zizi_boy: The momentum by Medifast prgoram cost me $341.95 and it was all full of caffeine and it made me quite ill. This is medically irresponsible in my opinion!! You cant just cause a person to go into ketosis, then get them artificially jacked up on caffeine.

Andy: What most interested me about Medifast was that it was supposed to help wiht maintenance for life. But, I was disappointed, 3 months after going off the program and reaching my goal, the weight started to creep back on. Ive gained back about 12 lbs so far, and I really dont want to gain anymore.

Peg: Well, i felt that for me, an extreme measure was needed, that is why I chose MEdifast. I just could not seem to control myself or trust myself aroudn food, so i wanted it all to be dictated to me. I initially was pleased to be losing weight, but then I became so tired all the time! But for me, the most upsetting thing of all was the way i gained the weight back SO QUICKLY after stopping the program. It was unbelievable, actually, I didnt think weight could come back so fast. Within a month I had gained 30 lbs.

Belinda: Somebody was asking about exercise…the Medifast program does offer a guide, but it is really nothing more than that. Its not very comprehensive so if you are new to exercise it wont be very useful, I dont think. At least, thats how I felt about it.

Florence: The other thing to be aware of with Medifast and exercise is that you might not feel up to exercising. Your body is so deprived…I couldnt exercise, thats for sure.

Rosie G.: Other people here have talked about feeling low-energy while on Medifast and wouldnt you know, this is how Ive been feeling too. I just cant get the motivation to exercise, just getting outdoors for a walk is a big challenge. I know Ill never get this weight off if I dont start moving more.

Darryl: Well I dont know what kind a fool I was but the Medifast program I signed up for cost more than $300 for 4 weeks! It was outrageous but I thought, if I spend the money, Ill see some results. Unfortunately, that was not the case. In that time, I felt pretty tired and I lost about 1 lb, thats all, def not worth the cost.

alicia: I’m sorry you all had such bad experiences. I was a little more tired, but not bad. I was able to still work 40-60 hours at my business, and keep up with my 2 children and soccer, softball, and dance. I only gained 5 pounds back, and it has been 18 months since i stopped. As a matter of fact, I wanted to lose about 20 more pounds, so my husband and i are going to start again next week. I feel and look much better now. Good luck to all.

PAmela: The Medifast 5 & 1 plan seemed like the best choice for me, bcs it would allow for eating 6 meals a day. I figured there’s no way I could have cravings if I was eating so frequently. Every day though I just lived for the Lean & Green Meal, something substanstial. The bars and shakes, etc are not good and DO get boring, really quick. It was not possible to keep the weight off, either. I stopped Medifast 6 months ago, and at the doctor’s this morning, I had gained back 23 lbs! NOT good.

carol: I just started this diet 3 days ago and I’ve already lost 6 lbs…as for this ketosis.being hard on the kidneys and liver..I suggest that person look under ketosis.com..the heart and kidneys prefer ketosis to glucose..The scrambled eggs are pretty bad, but everything else, shakes, oatmeal, bars, and drinks are tolerable , and with results like this I’m gonna give it a benefit of the doubt and stick with it..not everything is gonna taste “great” but it’ll be worth it when you see results

Elizabeth: Although I never eat processed foods, I chose to try this diet because quick results were imperative for me. I have followed the diet absolutely to the letter, on the leanest meals, no condiments, no snacks, three shakes and two soups, and drinking six glasses a day of water. I also quit drinking four beers a day. I have not lost an ounce, day nine.

AMC: I agree with Alicia. I have lost 45 pounds in 7 months and have not felt tired – in fact I feel quite normal and more healthy than before. Yes, the meals taste pretty bad but when you have to eat on the run a lot, the shakes and bars and soups are not a bad option to make sure that you are eating SOMETHING other than McDonalds. If you read the book that comes with it, it DOES talk about exercise AND the transition and maintenance program. There is no weight loss program that will allow you to go from a calorie deficit to “normal” eating without a weight gain. Unfortunately, the quick start guide does not contain ALL of the information needed to follow this program properly, It is necesary to read the book and use the coach. If followed properly, there ARE enough carbohydrates to keep you from going into ketosis. I am sure that I have not been in that state. It is very recognizable in the smell of urine as well as breath. I have another 10 pounds to go but I realize that I will have to follow the transition plan after than in order to ease back into a good eating practice that does not cost $300/month.

Helena: Absolutely do not recommend Medifast. You will be better off with any other diet than this one. Have been doing South beach combined with Hoodia after a bad experience with Medifast and I have already lost double what I lost with Medifast. Huge thumb down for Medifast.

m: I am on my third day of Medifast and I feel like a zombie. I am always hungry and I feel lightheaded and weak. I read that after the third day you start to feel better and more energetic. I sure hope so because I would rather be fat than feel this horrible.

victoria: Medifast has just been HORRIBLE, i have felt starved and tired and dizzy. This is not a natural way to lose weight. I don’t think i’m going to be able to continue with this. Ketosis is completely unhealthy, i have read a LOT of stuff that says that most reputable doctors warn against this. Oh and i continued to feel ill beyond day 3, it is NOT just a temporary phenomenon. I would never try Medifast again.

Gail Geib: HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OVER A YEAR FOR A REFUND ON RETURNED PRODUCTS… !

Loser: I did MF for 5 whole days last week and lost 10 lbs. The meal replacements were so horrible that they made me gag. I swallowed the chicken noodle soup with a huge glass of water, just like taking medicine. It’s 2008, folks! Those “foods” could be reformulated to taste much, much better. I went from MF on Friday to South Beach on Saturday. I haven’t lost any more weight yet, but I haven’t gained, either, and I can eat REAL food! I also had this lovely green-colored diarrhea (sorry!)the whole time, along with feeling washed-out. Thank goodness I only ordered TWO weeks!

Rose: It’s a diet. Why does it have to taste good? Tasty food is what made us overweight to begin with. Medifast provides daily needed nutrition and enough bulk to keep you from starving while creating a calorie deficit. If you gain weight it’s from eating more calories then you burn. This is a good solution for those that need calorie control

halley: Hi Rose - I understand what you mean but i have to disagree. The reason why a diet should “taste good” is because it SHOULD be a PERMANENT LIFESTYLE CHANGE that you can live with forever! The whole vicious cycle of extreme dieting and then yoyo “cheating” is the REAL reason most of us are fat. This is just a really lame TEMPORARY solution that pretty much leaves you in the lurch once you start to eat real food again. A good diet is for LIFE. So ask yourself, can you live with this??? You can’['t even eat FRUIT for god sake!

Ron: Hi Halley – I don’t think you understand the Medifast concept. It is not a PERMANET LIFESTYLE CHANGE that you live on forever. You stay on Medifast until your goal is reached then you go to the transition phase and then to the maintenance phase. You only go back to the first stage if you start to gain weight back. I went on Medifast because I was diabetic and was taking 2000 mg of Glucophage XR and Glyburide 1.25 mg per day for 10 years. I am 6′0″ and weighted 200 lbs. and I am a healthcare professional that eats a healthy diet. In less than a week on Medifast I was able to stop all my medication, and now my weight is 174lbs. I monitor my blood glucose several times a day and it remains in the normal ranges. Most of the negative comments are talking about the beginning phase or the Fat Burning phase, which is limiting, the Transitional phase and the Maintenance phase reintroduce the fruits and other vegetables in the right portions.

Carolyn_A: hmmm could “Ron’s” post be a commercial for the product???? I wonder????

nick: I have been on the diet for 5 days now. I felt horrible for the first 3 days but now I feel much better. I honestly have much more energy than before. I have not lost very much weight and I have been using ketone strips to see if I am in Ketosis but the strips are coming back negative. I am worrying that I have wasted my money and am wasting my time and effort. My roomate used medifast and lost 30 pounds so I hope for the same result. I’m just a little worried that I have wsated 300 for a non-result.

Lynne: Yeah well I was on Medifast for 2 weeks and I am sorry that I wasted all my money. I had my ups and downs as well, felt sick and tired at first, then had more energy, but then I crashed again, and all for only 6 lbs lost. IT was not a beneficial program for me, since I was not even able to reach my goal weight (125 lbs) due to feeling so crummy.

Les: Oh my God! And I just ordered it.

Deb: I lost my 25 lbs in 3 months w/medifast. I hated the oatmeal but made muffins w/it. I added tabasco & salt to the soups. I had more energy than ever and suffered thru some gas but it was more than worth it. Two of my sisters are on it w/losses of 20 & 30 lbs. I also have 3 friends on it w/losses of 60 & 80 lbs in less than a year. This is not a commercial and I just stumbled across this website by accident. My sis in law tried it also but had a lot of excuses why it didnt work. She is still 70 lbs overweight and on her 2nd diet after Medifast. Do you people make excuses for your weight? Why did you gain it back? Probably from eating badly and too much. I missed my fruits but it was all short term and I am 53 yrs old weighing what I did in high school. Stop making excuses and lose the weight doing something, get healthy!

Angela P.: Not only did I not enjoy the foods on Medifast, I did not have optimal energy levels, only felt sluggish for nearly a month on this diet. Really I don’t think I am the one to blame for the weihgt not coming off, as I did everything as directed. Although I was not able to exercise as frequently as deisred since i had such low energy. I have actually felt more healtheir since using Cleanse Rx (http://www.cleanserx.com/health ) that I found on this site, 4 lbs lost in a week already &more energy. Perhaps this can help some of you too, good luck.

Deb: Les, hang in there! Dont listen to all the negativity. It works so well that my mouth just hangs open reading all the bad about it. Dont expect the food to be like Mom made, it isnt. But with some tweaking it all tastes good enough and the weight comes off. One of my sisters is about 100 pounds overweight and very skeptical about diets. She has been overweight her whole life and on weight watchers for 30 years. She is on it and was at a standstill for a few days but is now down 30 pounds and loves the program. There is a bunch of soy in it and you may have to get use to it and have some discomfort. It is so worth everything I did. And I DID have and still do have so much energy. Sorry if I sound excited about it but I have not been this weight for over 30 years and I love being ’skinny’. I have been doing intestinal cleanses for 10 years and they are very healthy for you, so I do recommend them. But for weight loss? I had cancer 3 years ago and changed the way I eat to a very healthy way. I just couldnt lose the last 25 pounds even with good food. This program is so easy and shortlived if you stick to it. Once again, I am not a commercial, I just love my life now.

Camille: Have read through all the posts and am really not surprised to see more negative than positive comments about Medifast. I must say Congrats to Deb, for having success and being able to lose that weight. I was on for 3 months and only lost 4 lbs. The cost and meals were not worth continuing until I reache my goal (42 lbs still need to go) I spent about $1000 on the program for only minimal weight loss and that is just not good enough for me. Time to look for soemthng better.

mic: WOW! I too am amazed at all the negative comments! I have lost over 40 pounds! Medifast is so EASY! Medifast allowed me to get my life back after a few kids and surgeries! I was able to get off of sleeping and migraine medications and I am now currently running 5 miles every day! All this in less than 4 months. Most people need to commit mentally before starting ANY weight loss program. If you aren’t willing to put the effort forth, then you can ALWAYS find an excuse or two. Is it pricey, yes a bit, but it is MUCH cheaper than those three Starbuck’s Frappachinos I was downing daily before Medifast!

Halley: Hi, this is in response to Ron…you said I don’t understand the Medifast concept because as you said “It is NOT a permanent lifestyle change.” I actually think you misunderstood what I was saying. I was saying that it SHOULD be a permanent lifestyle change. That is what i am LOOKING for, a way to adapt to a long-term healthy weight where i don’t yo yo back and forth for all eternity! You said you do Medifast til you reach your goal, and only go back to step one if you regain the weight. Well, I don’t want to regain the weight! I don’t want a “diet” i want a plan for a slimmer, healthier life. that is my problem with this program. sorry if you misunderstood me. Halley.

Tina: I have been on Medifast for 3 weeks and its the best diet plan. I have a ton of energy and I’m no longer hungry. The plan is easy to follow and there are enough choices to keep me interested. The food at first tasted very bland, but after getting my tastebuds off the grease, sugar and junk the medifast meals tasted just fine. The soups and oatmeal are terrific and the pudding is as good as it gets. If you stick to the plan you will lost weight. Alot of it. Repeat YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT! I’ve lost almost 20 lbs in 3 weeks and the scale is dropping every other day. This plan is not for the negative. You have to go into it with a positive attitude.

natalie: Well, I was on Medifast last year and i did put my whole heart into it. I ate the foods recommended without variation. And I did lose weight. However, for me it was the transition back to “regular” food that became the problem. I noticed that without the portions controlled and the food specified for me, i wasn’t sure what to eat, and started kind of letting things slide, making bad choices. Within a month and a half, i had regained the 15 lbs i lost, plus put on another 7 pounds in addition. I really did keep up an optimistic attitide! I did. and i succeeded with the weight loss..the problem was getting back to normal life. It all fell apart at that point. About 6 month s ago i decided to try the South Beach Diet. I had read taht its a lot more realistic, and it teaches you how to maintain healthy eating habits long-term. My progress has been awesome – 26 lbs lost….and I am now in the maintenance phase. I feel REALLY optimsitic now!

Trish: I just started the program and if you have a positive outlook on it then it will work. You can lose weight on any diet…Its the keeping it off part that is hard. I feel if i can get to my goal weight then i will watch everyday what i eat so i wont gain it back.

rayj: I was on the plan for a month in a half and lost 25 lbs. It works!!! The first 3 days were bad, but after that, the weight falls off. The oatmeal is horrible, the shakes and bars and soups are good. Medifast gives results if you stick to it.

Norma W.: When I first came off Medifast I was thrilled with the weight loss I’d acheieved; however the weight crept back on over the next 3 months and I was right back to square one. I thought the program was a different sort of diet but its proved to be like all others; temporary success, permanent failure. I wish it had gone better but, it was no good overall.

Athena: I’m glad I didn’t read all the negative posts before I started the program 2 years ago. If I did, I wouldn’t have tried the only program that worked for my family and me. In 3 months we lost 143 lbs. I dropped from a size 16 to 6, my daughter 18 to 8 and my husband a 40 waist to 32. Not all of the foods taste great, but most taste good enough to eat, and some do taste great. I think the big problem is that people expect to go back to eating the way they did before the plan, without ever having to control their eating again – which is what got them into trouble in the first place. Yes, life does happen. I went on a cruise this year and gained 12 pounds in 4 days. I did the 5 in 1 plan again when we returned home and took it off in 2 weeks. I did not just let the scale continue to creep up. Oh, and as for price, people easily spend of $75 a week on their meals and barely eat anything of value – which is why so many are so sick in this country. If I sound like a commercial, oh well, so be it. I hope it helps at least one person see the light at the end of the negative tunnel.

Treens: I found this site by mistake. I start the plan today. I have to lose weight due to high blood pressure, bad knees and pre-diabetes. I read all the information on the plan and it is meant to get weight off fast and is probably best utilized by someone like me who has over 100 lbs to lose and is afraid of dying due to weight issues. In my situation, I will trade tasty food for better health. I have tried all the healthy diets and portion control is beyond me. Medifast is not more expensive than all the restaurant eating out that I do. The meals are low calorie,no brainers and that is exactly what I need. When I reach my goal, I won’t just stop the plan and go back to regular eating. I will do the transition and then weightloss. I’ll bookmark this page and check back in with my progress.

Liv: Not sure what to think about MEdifast now, I had considered ordering but I am thinking Weight watchers might be a better program, even its slower. i know I won’t be able to folllow this if the food is no good. If i can’t enjoy my meals, what’s the point?

Brandee: The weight loss was not that fast for me on Medifast, and I also turned to the program as a sort of “last resort” since the common sense method never worked. IT was so slow that after 6 months I had to stop, it was getting pointless to continue. I did some research and,feel a little guilty, like i cheated, but I started taking a Hoodia supplement and that helps with my portion control like nothing has before. In 3 months I am down 27 lbs.

Robt.: I’ve lost 45 pounds in a little over 3 months. No negativity. I coach high school football so I need energy to do my job and it has not been a problem. It sounds like a lot of negative people on here who have never had a weight problem. If you’ve never been overweight, you can’t understand. Medifast works for me and that’s all that matters.

sharon T.: not true, i have had a weight problem since i started college, 13 yrs ago. the medifast program sounded like a viable, realistic option for me to lose weight and reclaim my health. the weight loss…was slow. 3 months, only 5 lbs lost. Hardly worth it. i really tried & am ready for a program that works. sorry, this didn’t.

Ed B.: I just started Medifast two days ago, I agree that the food is not that good. I would welcome any suggestions on how to make it taste better. I plan to stay with it at least for the 5 weeks of meals that I have and see how the weight loss is. My wife started it with me and she just could not take te taste so she is going to NutriSystem. She was on that before and had some success.

Leanne N: Well I have been on Medifast for 59 days and I have lost 30lbs. During the first week, I passed out in Karate class….was feeling drained and could not believe how much money I spent on the program. I have to admit, at this stage the food is making me gag – and I cringe at the thought of spending another 100 -250 dollars on another month…However, I found great deals on ebay – alot of people are selling the food for half the cost of buying from medifast. To me, this program is helping me change the way that I eat – and the way that I look at what is in food. I am slowly comparing grocery food and trying to match it with the low carbs, low sugar, low sodium that medifast food has. In general, the program helped me get a kick start towards my weight loss; I am the type of person that needs immediate results otherwise I move on to the next diet fad, not really learning from my failures. Yes, the food is gross (I like the chicken and rice soup, caramel nut bar, swiss mocha shakes, apple and cinamon oatmeal and crackers)and overpriced; but it made me realize that instead of spending hundreds of dollars on diet programs, I need to exercise and eat healther…easier said than done, but I am on the right track.

julie: Okay so I stuck out the program for a full five weeks and you know what happened the minute i was done with Medifast? I went to happy hour and ordered 3 martinis, a basket of fries, nachos AND hot wings. I told myself it was ‘just one time.” But every day, there were these little indulgences that I gave in to, because I had just lost weight. Two weeks later, i’d regained 6 lbs and by the end of the month i was + 18! I was just so deprived, I went crazy when i was through! Good for you if it works, but for me, Medifast was a joke. A bad, bad joke.

eva: Yes, that was my most significant problem with Medifast….the extreme deprivation of the diet, followed by the strong desire to INDULGE like crazy. I did achieve some weihgt loss, but i gained it all back plus 6 extra pounds i never even had before. It was simply depressing, to have gotten what i wanted only to see it disappear (or rather, re-materialize) so quickly. I know it is kind of my fault, but i think some programs are better designed for long term success than others. Medifast is not one of the better ones.

Tina: I am so surprised to see so many thumb down for Medifast, I have been considering joining but it looks like I may want to research something else right? How about Jenny Craig?

k. curtis: as of yesterday, i completed my 28-day program on Medifast and feel pretty good, now that i’m through with it. i am terrified of regaining the weight now, is there some way to keep the weight off? i am really really afraid of bingeing.

Brittany: Oh i am SO glad I found this site! I ordered the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan 3 days ago and have been wondering whether or not it was the right choice. I have the food now, so I’m gonna stick with it but I know now to lower my expectations for permanent loss. I mean, if this gets me started, I’ll be happy, I’m almost 50 lbs overweight and its rough to exercise for more than 5 minutes. I’ll report back on my progress.

jodi: well one thing i can say about jenny craig, is at least the foods are a little better than medifast. weight watchers is best i think, but both those programs are slow. this one, well, i’ve lost 3 lbs this week and i feel pretty weak every day. i have no energy for exercising and am not sure if can stick with it. still have 2 weeks of meals…maybe i should sell them on ebay?

leigh ann: you know, at first i thought that Medifast was named that becuase you lose weight “fast,” but now, after being on it for a few weeks, i think its because you feel like you are STARVING, like on a “FAST.” Not sure how long i will be able to hang in there with this one. just a warning, you WILL be hungry!

Davina: Some of the Medifast foods I don’t have a problem with. I can handle eating oatmeal every morning, and soup for lunch. By dinner time, though, I am just CRAVING real food. And I am only on day 5! I think the only way I’m gonna last on this is if I cut myself off from society for the next few weeks to avoid temptations. NOt sure I’ll emerge as a butterfly, though…i snack when i’m alone. SO, what do I do?

Kirsten: Last week i gave in and got some hoodia to supress my appetite, a bunch of girls at work were raving about it and here i was, drinking my medifast shakes and counting down the minutes til the next small meal. really, the hoodiap57 has changed my outlook of the diet. i don;t really enjoy the meals, but, the days are easier to get through at least.

tara: The Super Omega 3 as part of the Medifast 5 &1 didn’t seem all that powerful to me, and it had a faint fishy odor. Can anybody recommend a better Omega 3 supplement? I am in the market.

h. malone: UGH, the maple & brown sugar oatmeal tastes unnaturally sweet, i can’t stomach it. Can’t i go back to my Quaker oats and be on Medifast still?

lori: ha, if you think the Medifast oatmeal is bad, try on the Scrambled Eggs for size! ugh. Breakfast does NOT seem to be their specialty. For me, breakfast sets the tone for how i will eat the rest of the day. If i eat a good yummy breakfast, i am less likely to graze on snaks.

Gia: Yeah I agree with you Tara, the Medifast omega 3 had a really bad odor, and I read thats a sign of a cheap supplement. I’m sticking with the meals and losing weight pretty steadily but I use a different omega 3 supplement (Arctic Essentials http://www.arcticessentials.com/forlife ) Now, i have a ? about the scrambled eggs. do they ARRIVE scrambled? i haven’t tried them but could use a different breakfast other than the oatmeal.

webster: for the past two weeks my meals have been exactly the same, day in and day out. no variety. do i want chicken noodle soup, or tomato? apple cinnamon oatmeal, or maple & brown sugar? and for WHAT?? a two pound weight loss, thats what! is tehre some way to get a refund for medifast for NOT losing the weihgt?

Daniella: I am getting much better result since going to the gym 4 times a week. Before that just eating Medifast’s food was not good enough. So the secret is work out hard and you will be rewarded.

vic: the first 3 days were okay (on medifast) but i soon grew tired of the food choices. i tried to focus my attention on getting fit and planned some outings, bike rides with friends, a walk in the park. i didn’t have much energy for that unfortunately. i ended up doing a lot of reading & sleeping, with a net loss of only 4 lbs in the 4 weeks. Thumb down.

Mare J.: yeah, i have trouble with the “oatmeal for breakfast, soup for lunch” pattern that medifast seems to favor. I feel like I am always shoveling some sort of mush into my mouth, rather than actually EATING FOOD.

adler_cr: i’m sorry but the medifast cappuccino is the worst insult to coffee that i have ever tasted. it is NOT cappuccino. try serviing this in italy.

TL: SOunds like a diet for sick people not healthy weight loss. DO you need to consult a doc before going on MEdifast?

Lance: Anyone else been a little, uh, backed up, on Medifast?

ivy: whoa, why can’t you just drink your own coffee on Medifast?? The food sounds gross, OK, fine, but i won’t have anybody tampering with my coffee!!!

J.D.: Lance – actually, i have experienced…the um, opposite problem…all that oatmeal is like a blast of fiber.

Claire: Haven’t done the whole Medifast diet, and I really don’t think i could do it for more than a week or so. I do love to eat, though I don’t have a weight problem. I have a lot of swelling & inflammation in my joints so I drink the Joint Health shakes for breakfast every day. Just once a day, seems to be helping some. I can’t do sit ups (bad back) and for a woman pushing 60, i’d say I look pretty good. I use the flexbelt I found on this site. I mean there are lots of good ways to say fit & healthy out there, you just gotta find what works for ya.

AuntPeg: Hi, Claire – whats this “flex belt” thing you use? I absolutely loathe situps and would LOVE to find an alternative. Wat are the exercises like?

shep: the weight loss was real slow going on medifast, not at all fast like some people said. i didn’t sway from it at all, and ordered a second month, thinking i’d lose more then. i had dry mouth and thought maybe i wasn’t losing cause i was not drinking enough water. got some of the flavor infusers? yuck. mixed berry tasted like dirty feet,and the strawberry lemonade was unnaturally sweet. emergen c packets or the slim shot drinks are much better, don’t even bother trying those. or really anything from medifast.

MaryKate: I am slowly loosing weight with medifast and I am in no rush. The food is not nearly as bad as you guys say it is but that’s just my opinion. I am really pleased and think I have made the right chose. Diet are not easy but if you stick to them you will loose the pounds.

danielle: The Extreme low-calories of my Medifast diet (800 calories) ultimately decreased my metabolism and caused me to gain EVERY SINGLE POUND back. Disappointment!

Claire: Oh, its great “Aunt Peg” you just put it on and it tones the ab muscles. I wear the Flex Belt while I’m cooking dinner. I tried to wear it while washing the dishes after dinner once but it wasn’t good for my digestion, just an fyi. But I have to say, the extra rolls are nearly gone & I fit into some old suits that used to be tight. Here is the website http://www.theflexbelt.com/video i wish you all the best of luck!

Lillian: I’ll do anything to be skinny again!!! Why isn’t Medifast diet working for me???/ I have been doing it for 2 months!! 2 months of horrible food and I only lost 6lbs.

shelly: I suppose it all depends on what works best for your body, and what you are most comfortable with. For me. this medifast was not the right choice because a.) i had read bad things about the food and it is hard for me to stick to a diet where the food is bad and, b.) i worry about lowering my metabolism with an extreme low calorie diet. but maybe some of you like Medifast! good luck to all.

Dawn: This is gonna sound like maybe a dumb question, but is there any way you can get like a free sample of Medifast food, just to see if you like the taste before you commit?

miranda: the meals on medifast were what i expected. i mean, you can’t order 4 weeks of soups, shakes, oatmeal & pudding and expect some kind of gourmet meal. i knew what i was in for and stuck it out. dieting is all a mindset, really. and i did lose, and was proud of myself. i actually did medifast for 3 months, rough but worth it (so i thought) IT was coming off the diet, though, where I felt lost. Completely unsure what to do with my diet, how to cook my meals. My appetite was less, but that didn’t prevent me from eating a bagel w/ cream cheese for breakfast. Or skipping lunch, then eating a really huge dinner. I’ve since been visiting with a nutritionist and am learning how to eat properly. This was probably what i should’ve done in the first place.

katie: MEDIFAST IS JUST A BUNCH OF GRUEL! THEY CALL SOME OF IT “SOUP” AND SOME OF IT “OATMEAL” OR “SHAKES” BUT IT IS JUST A BUNCH OF LIQUID GRUEL! THATS MY OPINION, YOU WERE WARNED.

Chelsea: Hi Dawn, you can order the MEdifast foods “a la carte” but i have not seen any samples. Really, I don’t think its worth it. I felt very deprived and actually, the food was so bad that i was skipping meals by the last week. Which did not bode well for my metabolism.

Lilly: I stopped Medifast diet and started The south beach diet and in 2 weeks I lost more with The SB then I did in one month with Medifast!

glo: was close to ordering & am glad i read the review. judging by all the comments, i don’t believe medifast is the right choice for me. maybe an appetite suppressant plus normal (smaller) meals will be enough on my own.

Todd: Yeah, i couldn’t agree more – Medifast would NEVER give out free samples of this food bcs they KNOW it sucks!! if they actually let people TASTE this slop first, nobody would ever buy it. Consider this a “free sample:” it sucks.

Mana: The thing about Medifast is, it probably works for some people who need to really restrict there calorie intake and loose weightfor medical reasons or whatever. I just was sick of how fat I was and ordered on a whim, not doing enough research. ANd I felt like i was on a diet the entire time. Starved, tired, unmotivated. Bored with food. In the third week, I started to cheat, just a little, but enough to send me on a gradual downward spiral. Great, if it works for you, but this plan failed me.

Nancy: Medifast? More like Medi Slow! Am I right?

destiny: *Medifast* – it helped for a little while, altho it was difficult and the food was awful. But its not sustainable for life. I didn’t gain my weight back quickly, as some have said, but within 6 mos. it was all back. It’s almost unavoidable, if you try to go back to living a normal life and eating a normal diet. Medifast is NOT a normal diet, its completely unrealistic.

julie: Yeah I just saw the post about the south beach diet, people really love it. I wish I knew that before I signed up for Medfast. Oh well I have gone so far I should probably continue. ONe note it’s taking longer than expected with Medifast to reach my goal but at least I am moving forward.

Karlie: What about for diabetics, is Medifast a suitable option?

Terri: MEdifast is like slimfast with different textures and worse flavors ALL DAY LONG. I sold my extra meals on ebay after one week, it was not worth it.

holly: hey, Karlie, Medifast has a FEW items for diabetic dieters, but its pretty limited. I really don’t think theres enough for diabetics to really consider Medifast a serious option. But I am not a dr nor a diabetic.

Gail: My experience with Medifast is that it is sensible program but it was slow going. I am all for healthy dieting and I am doing well but I have a big anniversary coming up and my kids are throwing us a surprise party and I want to look dynamite. I am online now looking for a fat burning supplement that will speed up my metabolism and make my weight loss happen faster.

Jun: I am on my second week of Medifast and I can’t drink shakes anymore. I am so over those nasty “meals” but I paid $300.00 for that so now I just don’t know what to do. I may just start starving myself.

dianna: I didn’t like Medifast. i need something to help control my food cravings which are severe. Medifast was not helpful.

Lucie: Three months ago, i was all about Medifast. I didn’t mind the meals, and i lost some weight. NOW here I am, 17 lbs heavier than when I stopped, and only 5lbs lighter than when I began the program! They take your money and leave you on your own, basically. I would not recommend this to anyone.

Blair: Do any of you remember in the ’60’s there was this thing called EST and you paid about $700 to march into an auditorium for the weekend and a guy would yell at you for two days straight telling you how worthless and stupid you were/are, and you couldn’t go out to pee and people would faint and then supposedly have some magical breakthrough? Well, that’s Medifast…the EST diet of the new century! We’re all too dumb to make our own food decisions, so they’ll make them for you, and that will be $20 for that bag of granola, and thank you very much, you dopey woman. I’m not falling for this, am headed for South Beach, where I can and will make my own dieting success, and that big wheel can keep on turnin’ but I’m not getting caught up in it this time!

violet wesche: hey thanks for all the other suggestions. i thought about doing medifast bcs i thought it would be sort of purifying, but i checked out the cleanse rx link and will do that instead, see how it goes.

karen: Oh, dear….medifast is now beginning to frighten me. I’m very glad i paid a visit to this review site and this blog. Thank you all for being so frank and straightforward.

Daphne: The Shakes ans stuff are better than doing fast food so I like that aspect but I don’t follow the Medifast diet strictly anymore. I am trying to do more of a moderation/healthy lifestyle thing. And I found a great appetite suppressant that keeps me from cheating.

Brandi: You know, this was more of a pain in the ass than anything else. I did not like the peach oatmeal, or the banana shakes or the cappucino drinks. for a month, i was sending back products and trying new ones. i’m glad medifast lets you exchange, but, really, they should come up with soem better formulas or flavor options.

Annie: For a while Medifast was okay because I actually couldn’t make proper food choices. I would overindulge in all my favorites and couldn’t say no to dessert. Using their food helped get me over my addiction to chocolate cheese and pizza. But after 3 months I have lost some weight and I want to live and eat normally so I am looking for a new diet program or products that will allow me to make better choices and lose weight steadily.

Anonymous: I don’t know what’s the deal with South beach you guys think it’s better than Medifast, well it’s not, I have done both so I can say that. They both suck cuz they are “DIETS”. South beach is way tooo difficult and Medifast just not good enough(food).I say eat what you want and find a supplement thats right for your lifestyle is the only real way to get results. Its up to you to make it happen.

Livvy: I read the Medifast review on sensational.com/diet and found this site. I wish I had read both reviews first, but am glad for the extra tips. At least i know there are other ways to lose wieght. Liv

melissa K.: I admit- in the beginning i DID like the choices being made for me on Medifast…it simplifies things to have someone telling you what to eat every day. But that can only take you so far, as I learned, the hard way. Eventually you have to get back to real life and learn how to take charge. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened with me — i fell off the wagon, because i was clueless on how to do it myself. I appreciate all your comments and am doing to take your suggestions.

Cheryl: I tried Medifast last year, I only wanted to lose about 5-7lbs and it took me a week to get the 5-6 meals a day in. After that it was easy, I lost the weight in a week and a half and it really made me learn to eat frequently through out the day. I run and go to the gym 6 days a week, and I was ok as long as ate every 3 hours. I was at a stand still and this gave my body the boost to lose a few pounds.

lesley-lynn: well now ladies( and guys) i did lose 10 lbs pretty fast with medifast, then i transitioned back to regular food. but it was no good. As soon as i started eating reguler again the weight came back gained 16 lbs back and it was all undone. i need somebody to tell me what to eat every day FOREVER. Not just for a lil while.

mindhunter: I looked into medifast, and went to a sales pitch meeting. What I started yesterday is this. I took their 5 meals oatmeal, eggs, bars, soup, and shakes. Looked at their calorie,fat,carb and protein counts. Then went to the market to find subs. It was much cheaper. I wanted to see if I could stick to this strict of a plan first before spending all the money. Now I think I’m on to something, and may just keep my own choices. Sounds like they taste better !!!

Emily: I just purchased medifast today, and even after reading everyones reviews, I am still excited about it. A diet is going to be hard even if the food taste bad, great tasting food is what got me to where I am. I would rather taste bland food then being depressed about my weight. Hopefully everything works out well for me..;)

marie palladino: Hi “mindhunter” — Kudos on your innovative approach! I think, based on the hideous experience i’ve been having on Medifast, I’m going to follow in your footsteps. I find that bland food actually gets me in trouble, because then I pig out even worse when the diet is done, and this time i wanna STAY thin!! So i am going to head to the store to find similar products to the Medifast crap that is actually EDIBLE (and a lot cheaper too!) and i am gonna take CHARGE! wish i thought of that sooner.

mommamel: I’ve lost 20 pounds in one month. I try not to think about what the food tastes like, because nothing tastes as good as thin feels. I am was very choosy about what meals I ordered for the second month. NO CHICKEN SOUP OR STEW OR CHILI! They are beyond yuck. The creamy soups are good and the hot drinks are great! I think that the people that are tired should try to walk a little bit. I felt better when I started to exercise, even though I agree it was a tough decision to make. But lets face it, I’m 100 pounds overweight for a reason. It’s not like I was out there running marathons before the program. Everyone talks about the money it costs. The money issue is what keeps me on track. I would hate to spend that much and not be successful.

Kathy W.: Yeah well, I am not so happy about the amount of money i spent on Medifast, to have such lousy results. First month? 4.5 lbs. Second month? 2 lbs lost! I was so upset to learn that I was spending this money AND eating crappy food, for nothing! I tried to exercise a few times, but it made me hungrier. ANd I was not about to eat more of the bad tasteless foods than I had to. Thumb down.

Maria: At the risk of being accused of advertising MF, I will give my experience for the past month that I have been on the MF diet. After trying several other popular diets and losing a grand total of 7 pounds in two years with 70 pounds more to go, I finally felt desperate and was ready to go into serious fasting. Decided that was not a great idea and tried MF instead. I never did experience the lethargy and bad feeling that so many here experienced in the first few days. In fact, I felt energized for the first time during dieting. My legs had been giving me so much problem before MF that I was not exercising and within two weeks, the leg and knee pain had disappeared. Also, I have had GERD for years and required daily medication. Almost immediately, I could cut the dosage of my meds. I find the bars the best tasting that I have tried. Most others I find disgustingly sweet. I make vegetable omelets with the scrambled eggs that are quite tasty. I found the oatmeal disgusting until I started making it into a ‘cookie’. My life style requires a lot of restaurant meals and I find that I can pass up the breads and potatoes for healthier food and enjoy it more. It will be interesting to see what happens when I transition, but as I am making healthier choices now, I think it will be okay. This first month I have lost 19 pounds, feel better than I have in years, exercising more and I am in my 70’s.

Tenille: Well so I also DID lose SOME weight on Medifast but it was reallly really slow. In one month I only lost 3 lbs!! I am happy for those of you who have had success, I guess this is just not a plan for everyone. I am trying the Cheat to Lose Diet now & am hoping that approach works better for me.

mindhunter: marie palladino, I lost 4 lbs during my first week of my own version of Medifast. I don’t think I’m doing as well this week, but have not stayed on course every day. I’m gonnna keep it up, and hope to have lost at least another 2 lbs on my 2nd week.

Kara: Well it sounds like your still doing better on your own MEdifast version than I did on the real program, “mindhunter.” I would have been thrilled to have lost 4 lbs in a week. Instead thats all that happened in 6 weeks. NO good.

Rosie: I have been on Medifast for 4 weeks now and have lost 17lbs. (i have cheated, so my loss would definitely have been higher. I’m back on the wagon and feel great! You all must understand that this program jumpstarts you to better health. The shakes, bars, oatmeal and soups, along with the lean and green are geared with the proper nutrients that your body needs in order to feel good. The first 3 days are hard because you can’t eat bacon, egg and cheese sandwich’s for breakfast. McDonald’s and pizza is out for lunch and dinner too! People please realize that you have to learn to eat property! 6x a day is proper; not two or 3. Your body is a furnace that has to keep burning. Some fruits are loaded with sugar so this programs jumpstarts you then weans you back into normal eating. Normal does not mean fast food. Of course you are going to gain weight if you stop. You are going from eating 800 to 1,000 calories to eating all the bad stuff that got you to where you were. You can’t jumpt into eating bread, rice and pasta after you stop the program and think that the weight is not going to come back FAST. We are a carb inflicted society where portion sizes are out the door. Medifast helps you realize that smaller meals more frequently is the way to go. I haven’t reached the transition phase yet because I just started but i have plenty of energy and for now exercise 3-4x a week. Very low impact with some strength training mixed in; not too much. I’m looking forward to accepting my new way of life. For those of you who are skeptical give it a try you won’t regret it. But remember that anything that comes out of a packet and is powdered is not going to taste like steak or chicken. Be realistic and a little open-minded.

cassandra: Rosie, I apprecaiate the thoughtfulness of your comments…a lot of people come on this blog and simply say “If u don’t lose weight with this, then ur lazy.” You seem a bit more compassionate and intelligent, so kudos! That said, it sounds like you are a relative newbie to Medifast, and therefore might not realize that the severity of Medifast makes it very difficult to transition into normal eating without a “rebound effect” of the weight. I unforunately packed on 27 lbs (i had lost 19) very quickly, without even eating that badly. I just wasn’t eating these icky little prepared Medifast foods that are practically like meal replacement or starvation. I wish you better luck with the transition than I had….I think part of being realistic is understanding that you can’t maintain a diet this strict forever, so why even start?

Jessica: This is my second day on Medifast and I am very pleasantly surprised. I have been on a “fasting” type program that induces ketosis but it was only 5 nasty shakes a day. Medifast has a variety of foods that are pretty good so far. Yesterday I was pretty hungry but today is easier. For the people who are concerned about ketosis, there are two sides to the story. Ketosis is esentially your body using its own fat stores for fuel. If you are on a plan that has enough protein and is fortified with vitamins you should be fine. If your body is in ketosis on its own, then it is usually an indication of a medical problem. I am optimistic about this plan. Most of what I’ve tried is pretty good, the tomato soup and the blueberry oatmeal are not my favorites, but there are plenty of other things that are great! The best part is that I can still have dinner with the family and go out to eat.

Dawn M.: About two weeks ago I ordered the 4-week Medifast package for diabetes; the program seems safe and effective for those of us with this disease and I am confident that this will help me. I am already getting bored with the variety of food I’ve been given but the soups are okay and the bars definitely help. If this is what it takes to lose wight and control my diabetes I will stay committed..even if its gonna take most of the year!

LEO: No doubt this program has been successful for some dieters, though certainly not al of us. I have been off Medifast for several weeks now and like to check in to see what others are saying about the program. I saw Dawn’s comment and had to just add my own experience here. I was following the program for Diabetes and found the meals to be really expensive, very bland and after several months I could not continue eating them. They say that you need to follow this for something like 34 weeks to decrease medications. Its just not practical! I spent well over a grand on these meals and did not stray from the diet plan, for four months. ONly lost 9 lbs, and still am battling Type2 diabetes. It had looked like the right plan for my condition but it failed me and now I don’t know what type of program I should be turning to.

Kimmie: I have been on Medifast since 7/9/08. I am very pleased with the results. I have lost several inches and a total of 30 lbs. Yes, I agree that the food is not that great, however I need the structure in my life. Food is only food. It will be there in the end, we just need to learn not to pig out when we can have it. I have another 30 lbs to go and I am very confident that I can DO THIS! I am also doing cardio on my treadmill 3 times a week. I feel great, the compliments keep coming my way! You have nothing to loose except the weight!

tupelo_honey: last april i began medifast and by august – four months after begining – i had only lost 13lbs. i was doing a lot of working and suffering through the bland meals and it was very frustrting that more weight was not coming off. i needed to lose at least 50. anyway during the month of august i regained all but 4 lbs. depresseing. in sept. i decided to go for a diet pill instead and bought miracleburn from all the high ratings. now, 2 mos later, i have lost 18 lbs and do not dread meal times. i eat less but enjoy what i DO eat. wish i had never wasted my time/money on medifast.

Pam K: I am a 47 year old female who started gaining weight approx 1y7 years ago. I got up to 289 lbs and was considering the lap band. I have tried almost every diet imaginable and probably spent thousands of dollars over the years on gimicks and diet pills. I have hbp and bad ankles, knees and my sugar was to the point the doctor was gong to put me on insulin. Medifast is the first diet paln I have ever stuck to. I like most of the food. The scrambled eggs are good if you put low fat chees, mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers and make a omlet. i have learned to get creative. I mix the choc shake in the blender with splenda, sugar free coffe creamer and instant coffee. It’s great.I have lost 42 lbs in 10 weeks. I went to a weight loss clinic and speak with their support group and get weighed. I started with a detox fror 7 days. They have me take vitamins and excerisez after the first 4 weeks. I walk three times a week for 30 minutes and am starting to lift lights weights to tone up. The first week was touch but I have more energy than I have ever had. My sugar is droping and my ankles are starting to feel better. there is no perfect diet plan, but for me it works. I loose as much per week as I would have getting the lap band and I did not need surgery.

Michaela: Good tips. thanks Pam, maybe that will help make the foods on Medifast more palatable for me. I am one week in and struggling already.

debbie, sfo: also have struggled with various diet products and programs over the past ten years or so, and medifast is just another in a long list of failures. guess it works for some, and that’s great. i went into the program with an open mind but soon got real tired of the meals and the SLOW rate at which I was losing weight, despite the restrictions. i think i’m gonna try miracleburn that’s talked about above, sounds better than starving and a whole lot better than surgery.

Lorraine T: I went on Medifast when nothing else seemed to work. Jenny Criag, Nutrasystem, Alli (Yikes). In one week on Medifast I lost 6lbs. I was embarrassed to tell anyone. Figured they’d think I was lying. I went on to lose another 16lbs. The trick is to get the recipes for the food. I have muffins & pancakes for breakfast, cookies & icecream for snacks, and delicious soups for lunch. I make wonderful shakes with diets sodas, crystal light instead of plain water and they’re delicious. It takes some imagination but it really makes the diet easy to stay on. Now 25lbs less I’m working on my last 10lbs. You can order 225 recipes from some lady on ebay which is where I got them from. Good luck to all

josh: I’m not exactly loving the Medifast either…your result sounds great lorraine, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. i started Medifast in early sept. and I have only lost 11 lbs in that time ! That’s almost 3 mos. of feeling VERY hungry and deprived. As far as recipes i don’t really cook, so thats not gonna work for me. i think i need a plan like South Beach Diet where you can get some of the meals at the store.

Charlie: I am not in love with Medifast, but hey who likes to diet. I have lost 26 lbs feel great twice the energy that I had. The trick is to have a heath couch, I would not try this diet with out one, and they are free. They have all the tricks to make it work for you. Like a little salsa in your eggs, making muffins out of the oatmeal, bullion in your soup. And for that regular meal we use the Senoma (sic) diet book for a tasty end of the day

Linda: Hi all! I am glad that I found this site. I ordered the 4 + 1 week free plan. I did it for 5 days before T-Day and then took the lonnng weekend off. I lost 6 lbs in the 5 days. I’m sure some was ‘water weight’ but it was enough to get me back on it today – the Monday after T-Day. I will agree with others on this site that most of the food is deplorable. The oatmeal did not resemble food – even in cookie form. The chai latte is one of my faves (because I haven’t had it before I’m sure!)and the soups are edible. I am going to sort out the items that I can handle and send back the ones that I can’t (like the oatmeal). The soy aftertaste is pretty bad but I am motivated to lose this weight or at least get a good jumpstart! I have used both WW and SB in the past with good results. What I am hoping from MF is the jumpstart I need and then transition back to one of those to finish up. I have 72 lbs to lose to get to goal and I would like to use this to get under 200 lbs and get the scale moving downward. The week that I did it I had not energy issues and actually felt very full. I lost most of the cravings and actually had to force myself to have all of the meals as I wasn’t hungry. (Eat isn’t quite the word to use here for these meals…) This time around I am going to add excercise as I know for me this actually increases my energy levels. I’m sure with moderate excercise and sticking to the plan I can make this work. Especially with the knowledge not to expect the food to be good – just to take it. I am surprised though. Others love the oatmeal and it is the one thing that I absolutely cannot stomach even though I love regular oatmeal. I guess this proves that everyone has their own tastes! Good luck to everyone on this site as we’re all here for the same end result – to lose the weight and get our lives back!

Roseanne: 3 days on and I lost 4 lbs with Medifast. sure hope i can keep it up but I am not totally encouraged by these posts. I don’t really like the oatmeal or the eggs but the drinks are okay. Will not give up!

Sarah K.: Okay well I would not say that I “gave up” on Medifast…more like I wisened up. Yes I lost weight, and YES, I regained it! Came back even faster than it came off so 3 months after starting, I was right back at square one. Been doing the Slim Shot diet for the last 6 weeks and am confident the weight wil not come back, since I;m eating smaller portion sizes and not drinking any soda. Already lost 14 lbs, anyone whose interested should take a look http://www.slimshotdiet.com/nomoresoda

lynn: I lost 13 lbs. in 6 weeks. I was tired ALL the time, my muscles ached so bad that I could hardly work out anymore and eventually developed dizziness and thought I had that inner-ear condition. 1 week off and all those symptoms have disappeared and I have already gained 7 lbs. !!!!!!!!!!

Brian: I am 67 inches and was weighing in at 265. Thanks to this program, I now weigh in at just about 155. I went to a clinic on February 12, and began working my way off of the diet in late August or early September (I cannot remember which). The first couple of weeks were very difficult due to carb withdrawal, but after that it is not so bad. As far as variety goes, there are things you can do to spice things up. You can some salt free spices (that helps ALOT) and you can mix some things together (like soup and eggs with a little water to make some bread). You can also add sugar free syrups to the shakes and oatmeal. Lastly, they just added some crunch bars that are interchangeable with all of your meals (the old ones can only be eaten once a day). Two pieces of advice to anyone who does this. They probably would apply to any one trying to lose weight on any kind of diet. First, drink plenty of WATER – diet soda does not count . The second is to keep a record of what you eat and drink to keep yourself honest. Just like a written budget helps with keeping track of your money, that food journal will help with tracking your intake. It is a little costly, but what is that compared to your health? I do not think this is for someone that needs to lose 5-10 lbs, but for those who need to loose more, it is worth it.

Sara: There are many negative reviewers on here who clearly don’t grasp the concept or approach to Medifast and misinterpret it. For others, it seems, the diet was just not for them. It

madeleine: Well sadly i just found the oatmaeal and the shakes and other food items on Medifast to be bland and borderline inedible. i mean the taste was nonexistent or if there was a taste it was nasty and bitter and gritty. for me it is important that i am able to like the foods i am eating on any diet. You would think hating the foods might be an advantage bcs it would make you not want to eat but i went the opposite way, the crummy foods would make me crave “bad” snacks and treats, and i would end up going off the wagon entirely. so for me Medifast was just not practical, i like food too much.

Anna: I love Medifast! I lost 48 pounds in 4.5 months. I have maintained my weight for 4 months now. This program was an answer to prayer for me! I went from a size 16 and I’m now a 10! I am so happy and I recommend this program to everybody!

veronica: *Medifast* The weight loss is SO SLOW i mean it is SLOWER than any other program i have ever tried (and unfortunately i have tried many)…plus the foods are just terrible they taste like paper they are so boriing, I couldn’t continue on this after 2 months and barely any weight loss. I am glad some are doing well with this but if you like food that tastes like something, and you like a diet that leads to weight loss, you might not want to do this one.

Whitney: I lost 40 pounds in 3 months on Medifast. Never before had I lost weight so quickly, and I’ve tried a lot of diets and weight-loss techniques. I did feel pretty crappy during the first week, but after that, I felt great. Yes, the food is boring, but the Medifast message boards have tons of great recipes from fellow dieters. For example, I made chips out of the cream soups and cereal bars out of the oatmeals/puddings. For the shakes, I added no-calorie flavor drops to make better-tasting flavor combinations. The results were well worth it. For those people worried about ketosis, DON’T. Medifast puts you in a VERY mild ketosis, so mild that it won’t even show up on testing strips.

Marie: Still not sure if I made the right choice or not…6 days into MEdifast and already bored with the food and feeling deprived. Good ideas here for changing up the foods, I wil see if that helps, Thx.

Stacia: Within a month of ending Medifast, I REGAINED 7 lbs! I was exercising more than before and had altered my deit but it was not enough, apparently. I was devasted and wanted something quick. I found this blog and learned about cleanseRx, from the link posted above…just wanted to say thanks, i tried it and lost the weight again. Felt better. I was not fully prepared to be on my own, dealing with temptations, I guess. I am doing better now and maintaining. I guess, I did lose weight with Medifast so that’s a plus, however, I think there might have been a better way, wihtout putting my body through the stress of gaining and hten losing again. ITs not a plan I would suggest to others, at least.

L.Y.: Sure Medifast is expensive but it works. To regain weight you it is usually because people go back to OVER stuffing their faces. People think of every food that they’ve missed and go haywire. I have started and stopped Medifast but each time it is because of this. If you can handle a restrictive diet then this plan may work for you and you won’t be mad at the results. This is the only diet that has truly worked for me. Granted some of the foods do need improvement. But the shakes aren’t that bad. I like and truly appreciate Medifast. The only negatives I may have is their customer service (most i’ve dealt with are Rude!), and the food is too pricey and they barely offer any discounts.

Madeline: i guess maybe it was my fault, when i went off Medifast i did “overstuff my face,” i think part of the reason was that the food was so restrictive, the shakes left me so hungry, and i missed having a good meal….i guess i do like having good food, i can’t live on shakes and bars my whole life. So yeah, i did regain too, and i own that blame for myself. But whatever the cause, when i choose to go on a diet again its not going to be Medifast. Becuase it didn’t work for me and I didn’t work for it…it was unsuccessful. I think i’d be better off with a diet that’s less restrictive but teaches me how to make better choices. I haven’t narrowed one down yet, but i do think this time i am going to supplement with a Hoodia pill or something like hoodia Bites, just to keep my appetite under control so i can succeed.

Brianna: I’ve been on Medifast for a month and a half now. The meals aren’t that bad, and the program is easy to follow. I’ve only lost 10 lbs so far but that’s 10 lbs I couldn’t get rid of trying numerous other diets over the past year(slimfast, total clense, Alli, hydroxy cut, acai berry, South Beach and Atkins). Medifast works, which is more than I can say for a lot of the other diet products that are out there.

LL: My medifast 5+1 menu: 1.capacchino 2. oatmeal 3. cream soup 4. pudding 5. bar I only have a select few meals that I actually like and look forward to having, and I only order them so that I don’t have any gross food to discourage me. I have learned to enjoy each meal and stay active. A couch potato doing medifast is still a couch potato! Good luck, only YOU can make it happen for yourself. Want it, and get ‘r done!!!

diane: well, i thought Medifast was just mush, mush mush…..soup, oatmeal, shakes, pudding, blah! It was just a bunch of gruel and i felt like i was starving. not surprisingly i went on a major binge after i quit this. sigh. Sure, i blame myself, but i think i would have done better if the diet was moderate.

candice: i did go into ketosis on Medifast and I believe i did lower my metabolism because my transition to regular food did not go well. I gained a total of 17 lbs, 7 of which was above and beyond what i had even lost in the first place. I don’t recommend this.

dan: there is no way any man could sustain himself on these crappy soft foods you get with Medifast. what are we infants? my wife is still doing this but i can tell she can barely take it either.

Cheryl: I’m amazed at all of the negative comments. I lost 120 pounds in just under 11 months on the program and felt GREAT! I followed the transition plan (and lost 6 more pounds) and have maintained my weight loss for 7 months so far! This plan is the same weight loss program Johns Hopkins uses for their own weight loss clinic and there is a LOT of research that proves this is a SAFE and EFFECTIVE way to lose weight quickly. Several physicians I know have gone on this program themselves to lose weight after reading the clinical research and are now recommending this program to their own patients. This is a program designed to help you lose weight quickly and then KEEP it off by learning to eat properly and exercise regularly. I am no longer diabetic, no longer on a variety of medications, and I feel wonderful! I have gone from wearing size 24W to size 6’s and 4’s. I am 56 and lost 10-12 pounds every month I was on the program. It’s the only weight loss plan that ever worked for me, and it’s helping me maintain my healthy weight.

gwen: Cheryl….forgive me for saying so, but you sound a bit like a commercial or Medifast. Its great that you had success on this diet, but that doesn’t mean it has to be for everyone. I have discovered (after more than one diet not just Medifast, altho Medifast was the last straw) that meal replacement type diets are just not for me. THe feeling of deprivation causes me to go off the wagon and overeat or over snack and i never lose the weight. Or else i loose it briefliy and gain it back.

Baxtersgirl: I agree wholeheartedly with Cheryl. I have lost over 70 pounds on Medifast and, even more important, I am now officially in remission from Type II diabetes. My doctor now recommends Medifast to his diabetic patients. My other medication doses have been slashed and I’ve gone from a size 20/22 to a size 10 quickly and easily, and I’m not even to goal yet. I feel healthier and happier than I did when I was in my 20s, and I’ve made lifelong friends on the Medifast boards and teams. All of this has made me a true Medifanatic!

dietMD: I am a physician who used to promote medifast. I no longer sell it. It is purely a money making scheme that is designed to keep the patient on the product for ever. Weight gain is assured once you stop the product, and return to eating “regular” foods. The dangerous part is also that it is very heavy in Soy protein. This protein may increase growth of estrogen dependent Cancer – such as Breast Cancer. This diet is NOT safe. The people that promote it, though make a lot of $$ on it.

Renee: Thanks for giving us these sad truths, “dietMD” I wish I would’ve known this 6 mos ago when I first went on Medifast. I suspected it might not be permanent, however, I didn’t realize just HOW FAST the weight would come back. I’ve been off the diet for 2 months, and can’t say I’m any better off. Perhaps I will look into the SOuth beach Diet, i need something more sustainable..I’ve read mainly good things about that plan. REgardless, Medifast gets a thumbs down.

E-Dub: I did Medifast from Jan – March 2008. Lost almost 50 pounds (I started from 278). It was tough but erffective. Biggest problem was lack of energy. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 3rd month that my body seemed to finally adjust and I was ok. But for those first two months I was dead tired. Rarely had enough energy to go to the gym and forget my Martial Arts classes. But if you are commited and want to lose a bunch of weight fast, this will do it.

vivian: The diet was not working so well for me and I came on the blog to try to get some encouragement about Medifast. Now that I see it could cause cancer, of all things, I have a real good reason to stop this diet. 4 lbs in 5 weeks was not enough, and it was hell to follow. Will look for a healthier option now.

Scarlett: I joined a medifast clinic and the first visit was exciting becaused the director acted interested in me and my quest to lose weight. After 2 or three visits she barely said hello and never met one on one with me again. This diet is too restricting. Going through a day without fresh fruit was difficult. Very hard to travel on this plan. Will work if you never leave the house!!!!

lexigirl: I’ve been on Medifast for a week and have already lost 10 pounds, AND also feel pretty good and have high energy. The food isn’t great, that’s true, but what do you expect for 1000 calories a day? I think this is one of the best plans for those that have 50 or more pounds to lose — that’s really who it’s targeted to. I primarily see it as an alternative to weight loss surgery, and I know many who have lost the weight they needed using Medifast and were able to avoid the surgery…. you certainly can’t argue that Medifast isn’t the preferred alternative. Once you start getting the major health problems associated with obesity, you need to get past the point of whining about untasty food. The complications of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, and other obesity-related diseases are FAR MORE serious than an untasty low calorie food supplent. Although, by the way, their new Crunch bars are actually pretty yummy! And, I’ve yet to find any food that I can’t “doctor up” using one of the hundreds of recipes provided by other Medifast users.

debby: oh my god i didn’t know that Medifast could cause cancer..where are you getting ur information from i don’t know if i believe that!! well anyway, i would say that if you are very overweight you might lose weight wiht Medifast, but you will ruin your metabolism and GAIN IT BACK as soon as you are eating normal foods and more than 1,000 calories! Most diet experts do not advise dipping below 1,200 calories and i find it interesting that there’s a doctor on here saying they will not promote Medifast any more. I regained my lost weight (23 lbs) so fast i couldn’t even believe it.

Just Me: I started the program (with my own modifications) on 01-14-09 today is 01-17-09 and I have lost 8lbs. I eat 2 servings of fruit for breakfast 3 Medifast Shakes during the day Lean Green meal and 64oz of H2O. This did well for me @ work. Now that the weekend is here and I have access to my microwave I am going to substitute the shakes for the soups and see how it goes.

Vick: I’ve lost 7 pounds on Medifast in 2 weeks. It is helping me overcome the food addiction I was developing. No diet is going to be wonderful. The food is not bad and I like not having to think about what I will eat next.

sarah: The foods on Medifast were barely like food at all, they were like pureed baby foods, not very filling or enjoyable at all. I felt deprived almost the whole time, and even though i was assured that it was good for my body to go “into ketosis,” i think this may have cuased some permanent metabolic damage. After I coulddn’t take the Medifast diet anymore, I finally returned to regular food, and i was stunned at how quickly I regained the weight. Its now been over a year since all this happened and I StILL cannot lose a pound no matter what i do!

Linda: I’ve done Weight Watchers (gained it all back), Jenny Craig (gained it all back), Nutrisystem (gained it all back), Atkins (gained it all back). You will gain in all back with any “DIET” unless you change your eating habits permanently. I’m now on Medifast 1 month 15 pounds lost. I hope to transition when I have lost my weight(another 45 pounds), and will use Medifast as a backup whenever I gain a few pounds.

sara: I started Medifast on January 18, 2007. I lost 116 pounds in 5.5 months. I was morbidly obese most of my life. I have maintained my weightloss for 1.5 years now. Tp me Medifast was my lifesaver. I’m sorry that most of you did not have success with it, but for me I will always be extremely grateful for the product and helping me to finally get a life. I never strayed from the program in the 5.5 months that I was on it. Sorry if it sounds like a commercial, but I find it hard to believe that if you truly followed the diet you were not successful. Upon reading the comments, I think a lot of you went off of the diet and back to your old eating habits. We did not get overweight overnight but it sure can seem like that if you go off of the plan. When I gain 3 pounds, I step up my exercise until it is gone. That is what helps me to maintain. I don’t allow myself to let is get out of control.

Tia: testing out the product

Lily: *Medifast* I see it as a starvation ketosis tyep diet it slows the metabolism, also lowers the blood sugar which increasis ghrelin which makes you hungrier. HUNGRIER + SLOWER METABOLISM= FATTER. that is what happened to me from Medifast.

Jonathan: My wife and I both went on Medifast in March of 2007 and I lost 47 lbs and my wife lost 35 lbs in 10 weeks. The diet works, if you can afford it, and like eating reconstituted food.

bridget: REGAINED ALL OF THE WEIGHT WIHTIN 6 MOS ON MEDIFAST THE FOOD WAS SO GOD AWFUL I FELT TOTALLY DEPRIVED WHEN I FINALLY WENT OFF THE PLAN. THIS WAS NOT A GOOD DIET. STARVATION!

Joanel: I have lost about 25 lbs. (4 Months) I need to loose 70. excepting the first week or two I have felt better than I have for a long time. If I am hungary I follow their suggestions and sometimes add one more medifast. I have 5 kids 18 months to 20 years old. I am a borderline diabetic and since beginning medifast the symptoms have disappeared. I have tried to use the attitude “eat to live don’t live to eat.” Because of my success I am considering being a health coach to help others who have struggled with weight loss like I have. I am interested in your comments and I hope after my research I find that medifast is good for your long term health. To me being this much overweight is life threatening. I hope for continued success.

Sue: I lost 56 pounds on the Medifast program (under the direction of a doctor) and have kept all but 4 pounds off for five years. This diet is not for everyone. Everyone should research and read the book carefully. The 3rd day of the program is very challenging with lightheadedness causing some concern. But if you make it through and stay on the program, you will feel better and lose weight. I worked full time and raised my daughter while on the program–there were days that I wanted a doughnut just like everyone else, but if you “fall off the wagon,” get back on immediately. Remember that to keep the weight off, you must go through the maintenance transition part of the program. Don’t think it will be easy, but it can be done. I had no trouble with kidney stones, but the bad breath can be TERRIBLE. Keep sugarfree gum with you at all times.

JoAnn: I lost 47 pounds in 14 weeks, Im so glad I didnt listen to the bad reviews here, I have never felt better and am at the gym every day. I have so much energy and the diet has had no side effects on me at all, just like anything else, use common sense. If it doesnt work for you then stop it..Im still on it with a little more weight left to lose and Im watching coworkers now lose 51 lbs and one friend is up to 93 lbs and has been taken off some of his diabetic medication by his doctors. Its really amazing..

mariah: So is Medifast mainly for people who have a lot of weight to lose, what if i only want to lose about 20 lbs?

K.Riley: The thing about Medifast,I guess, is that is does work different for everyone, in terms of weight loss and weight gain. I was thrilled to have lost weight so quickly with this but then devastated when it all came back. I think that maybe, for anyone that loses a lot of weihgt over a longer period of time, its healthier & you have a better chance of keeping it off. I didn’t realize just how hard it would be to maintain the weight loss or how easily it would come back. I’m finally doing well now with a combination of Weight watchers and an appetite suppressant (hoodia bites) and the weight is coming off, as I;m learnign how to eat properly. I think for longterm loss, something like this is better for me.

Mary: I was on Medifast for 8 weeks and lost 20 pounds. THEN, went on a cruise, then 2 weeks in a hotel at Christmas, THEN another cruise! Needless to say, I have regained about 15 pounds VERY quickly! I tried going back on the program, but the amount of SOY was a killer! ALOT of gas, stomach cramps all the time and diarhea every day. If soy doesn’t bother you—great–but I can’t do this program again! I even checked into their NON soy products…but they DO contain some soy! I must comment that the TASTE of the products was not a major factor for me…I WAS on a diet and understood that! You must be willing to give up something in order to get something! (I just wish they had a NON soy option….)

renee: I read that soy can lead to some kinds of cancer…huh. didn’t know Medifast had so much of it

Tara Tomlinson: I also felt that Medifast was too much of a “starvation” regime, i felt hungry almost all the time, and i knew that could lead to trouble later. In fact i know it can make your metabolism slower. I felt weak and tired and so i switched over to the South Beach diet. I’m doing a lot better on that.

Colleen: I used medifast for 4 months and lost 45 lbs pretty quickly. I did not exercise and I cheated a bit after the first month. One thing that did concern me was the hair loss. Did anyone else experience hair loss while on the medifast diet?

Ishirelle: Some interesting posts here. AS for me, I just started the medifast momentum program (2/17/09). I am on Day 2. THe reason I started it is because I have a friend who swears by it and has lost 70lbs. I need to lose 60ilbs to be at my normal weight. Well, I guess I will just see what happens. I am going through the TSFL program where I have a coach, etc.. So far I feel good about it. I admit, the chicken noodle is really not great. but the shakes and bars so far seem to be ok..I need a program that can help get me started. I tried other ones and it just didnt work out for me..I plan to post and update. Im fact I would like to communicate with someone who is currently on the program. I may try some of the recipes that have been mentioned.

alexa: I think medifast can work for some people, esp. those who have had gastic bypass surgery and cant really eat many solid foods. for me, though, i have never liked “soft foods” like soups, shakes, oatmeals, puddings. This makes it a lot tougher for me to do OK on a diet like this without feeling overly deprived. when i feel deprived i tend to cheat on the diet or fall off the wagon, and that’s not good. I think for my personal taste and eating style, solid food is the only way to go. I’m going to look into weight watchers maybe and a Hoodia supplement.

Alan Rhodes: I started Medifast on 1/16/09 and by 2/19/09 I lost 26 lbs. Yes I am hungry at times but it’s a diet! I am really happy with the results. The big issue is to keep the weight off. I have 20 more lbs to loose and I am confident that Medifast will work for me. If it doesn’t work for you don’t blame the product, blame yourself. A diet, any diet takes commitment and discipline so don’t bash Medifast.I work as a boat mechanic. I do not work or represent Medifast. I decided to make these comments because too many people blame the diet and fail to blame themselves for not following the program. I am right, they are wrong, end of story.

lisa: I started 4 days ago and have lost 8lbs. I am taking an appetite suppressant (Meridia) and am sure that is why I don’t find it too difficult to stick with the plan. I actually don’t mind the foods at all and find that they do curb my cravings. I know I am a carb addict and things like fruits and pasta/bread trigger me to eat more. This plan keeps my “addiction” at bay. I have lost 40 lbs on Meridia alone (with a self devised diet) and gained it back very quickly. For those of you who are suprised about going off Medifast and gaining, I can honestly tell you that will happen with any diet if you resume your old eating habits. I personally want a quick loss so that I can motivate myself to eat right and EXERCISE. At 48 years old I am sooo very tired of playing this game with myself I just want to look and feel good. For those of us 50-60 lbs overweight and of average height…surgery is not an option our insurance companies will pay for, nor it that always the answer I have seen a few people gain weight after bypass surgery! You absolutely have to drink the water with this program and even if you’re not on a diet 64 oz. of water is a good daily goal to have that alone helps keep weight off. Strenuous exercise is not recommended on this plan because of its low caloric value, for those of us who watch Biggest Looser how many times have we seen a few pounds actually gained because the contestant was working out too much and not taking in enough calories? For those thinking about Medifast give it a try, if you’re like me you’ve already tried them all why not this…keep in mind this has been around for 25 years and I’m sure if it were unhealthy or harmful that would not be the case! I eat the “food” as it is packaged, then for my lean and green meal I have a HUGE dark green salad with a steamed veggie and 4-6oz of meat protein. I hope the lbs keep melting off, as for energy I had none before and find I have more now. I’m not constipated and have some gas but not much (carbs esp. sugared ones give me gas!)if my hair comes out that will be the end for me, however if that is happening (as one post stated) I think somewhere the plan is not being followed as a lack of protein will do that and Lord knows this plan has protein. As for the Estrogen/soy debate I don’t believe there is enough Estrogen here to make that a valued worry and for those of us carry any substantial fat on our frame…you’re storing excess Estrogen there which can cause problems on its own. Some vegetarians eat lots of soy and they look pretty darn healthy to me! I’ve been a nurse for 26 years I read it all (Shape, Health, Prevention) I personally believe to be of a normal weight is the healthiest thing we can do for ourselves I just hope to get there! Good luck in whatever choice you make!

joAnn: i feel bad, and i do blame myself for gaining weight after I went off Medifast. My provider said i compromised my metabolism by eating too few calories, and not exercising at all (bcs exercise increases the metabolism). But he also said that on the low calories i was on, it wouldn’t have been healthy for me to exercise too much. He said its going to take a while to restore my original metabolic rate, bcs I was in “starvation mode.” i should have had the discipline to just stay on the diet. But once i had lost my weight, i wanted to stop there so i didn’ loose too mcuh. IT was just tough for me to strike a balance, and now I have to work with this slow metabolism to get it up to snuff again. My providerrecommended daily exercise, that ramps up your resting or basal metabolic rate. In addition i’m taking a thermogenic supplement Slim 10 which is helping my metabolism come back to life. I don’t blame medifast, it just was the wrong way to go for me.

Susan: This is only my third day on Medifast and I’ve lost 4.2 pounds. Most of it is water I’m sure, but at least its something. The food isn’t very good…the eggs are the worst thing I’ve ever tasted. But, on the website I found recipes that you can make to add variety and make the stuff taste better. I’ve had friends who did this diet, lost weight and when they reached their goal they really watched their carb intake (but could eat fruits, etc…) and kept the weight off. Just had to slowly get back to normal food and exercise. I’ve tried all the others, so I’m going to give this one a try. (I bought most of my food on Ebay and is much cheaper than the Medifast website).

ROXI: OMG Susan don’t get your Medifast meals off Ebay!! I did that once figurign hey I’ll save some money but what I got was NOT the same thing. THe packaging looked close so I didn’t notice at first but, the shakes were really chalky and the soup tasted super salty. The worst though was the oatmeal..not sure what was going with it but it was really gross. It was nt worth the money I saved.

ms. maverick: did this diet for 3 months and i’m totally over it. sure i lost some weight with medifast but it was just such a bland boring diet. when you eat so little your gonna lose but who can keep that up? not me. sorry if you love this, i don’t want to insult anyone i just got so tired of the medifast meals. really an appetite suppressant has worked better for me, to get the remaining weight off. hoodia p57 is good, stops any cravings pretty quickly. anyway htats what i use now, its refreshing to eat real foods, and still lose weight.

T.M.R.: not very creative in the kitchen i think, i could do well with medifast only because i won’t gotta think about what i eat. i dunno. i need to lose about 85 lbs & quick. trying to get ideas here. good to get some facts i guess, if i do this, i wil be very careful to not gain anyting back. seems liek that the biggest concern with this.

Liz: You know so many people here are saying that, if you follow Medifast you will lose, no question. Well how come I DIDNT? I followed the plan, bought 2 four week packages and did not get much weight off. forget about keeping it off or regaining, i didn’t even lose (4 lbs only) Following the diet is torture and in the end not even worth it.

chris: i have had great success using Medifast as a building block for meals. Lost 13 pounds in 2 weeks (have a lot to lose). I put a ton a fruit into the outmeal and about 3oz of chicken into the chicken soup and put a small hamburger, onions, and hot sauce in the chili. Makes the meals taste pretty good. I like the peach oatmeal, the chocolate shakes and really like the raisin oatmeal and mint chocolate bars. No issues at all with low energy levels.

Katy: The Medifast food tasted so bad I couldn’t stay on the diet.

Dan: So am i missing something here? there are a lot of complaints that after quitting the diet you gain the weight back, It seems to me that if you don’t want to gain weight back you need to control your eating. The reason you need to diet in the first place is you eat to much.

Marleen: Call me a quitter, call me what you want but this medifast diet was way tooo strict for me. I am a very average person, I don’t over eat just happen to have a few pounds to loose that I gain after giving birth to twins a year ago. I wasted some money on Medifast but at least I know now it’s not for me. I think I am gonna do like most americans and look for a magic pill:) Just kidding. Not sure what I am gonna do but I am definately still searching.

Donna: Hi everyone; There is another diet out there that works like Medifast. It is MATOL and it has the shakes,oatmeal puddings etc., This program will cost you over 400.00 plus shipping and handling.It works for some but please watch yourself for constipation.Had one lady sent to the hospital very sick. Be careful with these diets.

Jared: I was extremely successful with Medifast. The trick is getting plugged in with a free health coach through Medifast’s coaching network. If you are following the program right, your energy is through the roof. I lost 30lbs my first month on the program. If you ask me, that says it all. Yes, it’s a change from the way you normally eat, but you still get a very sizable portion of meat and veggies of your choice every single day. Beyond just the weight that you will lose, and you will lose weight, you get the added advantage of learning skills that will help you live healthy the rest of your life. Like I said, don’t go this alone, get plugged in with a health coach, they are free.

susan: i felt that a month on Medifast, at $327, was not really worth it. it was mostly a starvation type of diet, and my metabolism did suffer after just 1 month. the food was mostly all mushy and bland, and at 1 month i had lost only 3 1/2 lbs which seemed pretty slow considering how extreme this diet was. I think i’m just going to find a metabolism booster and try to eat a balanced diet. To me that just makes more sense.

Barbara: I have been on the diet now for 6 days. I have lost 3lbs. My goal is to lose 35 lbs. The food is nasty. I have finally found a few things that are edible to me. It is extremely evident that taste is in the beholder of the taste bud. What some people on this site find edible I just cannot for the life of me eat it. I think a key to success is drinking water. Plain ole H2O. If you get the minimum 64oz that in itself will fill you up for a time. Also, I plan really good meals for the one meal I can have a day. For instance, baked tilapia with steamed asparagus and spinach. Or get a take out salad from Ruby Tuesday. You can put enough salad in the plate to last for three days. Squeeze some fresh lemon on top for dressing and it can be pretty good. I guess the thing is no one diet is for everyone. But no matter what diet you choose make sure you drink your H2O.

E.Denton: Yes I agree Barbara, drinking lots and lots of water certainly helps! I am not particularly likeing this Medifast diet but I am just tring to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The water fills me up and also the hoodia bites are good for getting me thru til dinner. For the first week I was on this, I was salivating at the mere thought of preparing a “real meal” and often wound up eating a bag of chips while making it! I decided to get these bites and weeks two & three are much more tolerable! so far its working but i think the real test will come, once I;m off Medifast, if the weight stays off. Thats my biggest worry.

Rachel: I have been on Medifast for three weeks now and have lost 14 pounds. I find it interesting that the majority of people with negative things to say about Medifast either did not stick to the program for longer than a few weeks OR claim to have stuck to the program to the T and not lost ANY weight. From everything I know about weight loss, it is physically IMPOSSIBLE to eat a mere 800 to 900 calories (the amount consumed on the Medifast plan) a day and NOT lose weight UNLESS a person only weighs 80 pounds to begin with. If you claim to have “stuck to the program” for weeks or months and not lost any weight or only a few pounds, you are either lying or in denial about what you are actually putting in your mouth. I’ve also heard the ridiculous claim/excuse that, “Too few calories will slow your metabolism so you can’t lose weight. If that were true, then prisoners of war and the concentration camp victims of World War 2 would not look like living skeletons! I lost 8 pounds the first week on the program!! It works EXACTLY as it claims to do IF you’re doing what it says. As far as being tired, they TE

Christina: I have been on Medifast for 10 weeks. At first I lost weight rapidly. Now the last two weeks have been slower. I wanted to drop 31 lbs. I have lost 20 so far. 11 more to go! This works! I have had a few obstacles, going to Las Vegas, dinners for Birthdays, making good choices can be done for both =) Good luck!

Kathy: I love Medifast and it is saving my life! Sure it is not for all, but not every diet is for every person. Turst me, I have tried them all. I love medifast b/c it is easy, quick and with a little modification, I have grown to love all of the foods. The shakes and bars are deliscious. The soups are great and the oatmeal I have every day-now that I add cinnamon and a packet of splenda. I think what it comes down to is you pick something, you stick to it and you see results. A lot of it also has to do with attitude. I’ve tried so many other diets and eventually failed. Maybe it’s my attitude this time, maybe it is a combo of both. Either way, I was also shocked to see all the negativity on Medifast. I am so glad I tried it. I lost 20 lbs in 2 months and plan on sticking it out until I drop another 30lbs. Everyone else see results and it’s worth every penny to me. I know the challenge willbe to keep it off once I get off the plan-after goal, but I have been eating right/better, exercising and the results speak volumes. The support has been great-fre health coach and friends made through their online site will be friends and peers I will keep in touch with long after MF. Again, let’s all remember all diets can work, but with the proper attitude, determination, eating right and exercise. You just have to find the one that works for you, in conjunction with the other qualities that you have to find in yourself. I am thankful I chose Medifast. It is working for me and I will always be a proud supporter. (I haven’t been this weight since pre-baby and pre-marriage, over 9 years ago.)

Amy: I actually like the food. I’ve already lost 30 pounds with Medifast so far. The scrambled eggs are one of my favorite meals. You have to let them soak for 20-30 min, then cook them in a non-stick skillet sprayed with PAM. I add a little onion powder. The Cream soups I use to make chips and eat them with a wedge of laughing cow cheese. You can use the Cream of Tomato soup to make PIZZA! The Medifast boards are full of lots of useful information, and if you sign up you should get a health coach. My health coach is wonderful and we have an email loop where everyone shares their tips, success, failures, daily life and support. I love this program and my best friend has lost 165 lbs. in a year. You can’t blame a weightloss program for the food you put in your mouth when you have reached your goals.

Deborah: I went on Medifast a year ago and lost 25 lbs reaching my goal weight in 3 months. I didn’t like some of the foods, but they have a free exchange policy for boxes that have only one packet used. As recommended, exercise daily (in my case, I walk 4 miles on 5 days, lift weights on 2 days). Transition phase is essential to relearn to eat healthy foods in realistic portions. Over Nov/Dec I did gain back 5 lbs from a steady stream of sweets and bigger portions, but lost it again going back on the 5/1 program for 2 weeks. I was hungry/empty feeling at times, but the steady intake of the high protein kept me energized. Medifast worked for me and my 2 daughters.

trompe: After having doctors say that I was gaining weight because I was a ‘woman of a certain age’ (45), I tried Medifast after several friends had great success. I have been convinced one couldn’t lose weight over 40, due to a slower metabolism- or something. But this worked for me. The food is not great, but I did lose 10 pounds in the first 4-5 weeks and lost 40 pounds in about 5-6 months. I have kept it off for one year, and have adjusted how I eat and how much I exercise. For me, the six small meals per day makes a big difference, along with a large meal of salad vegetables and about an hour of exercise 5 days per week (aerobic and strength training). I am probably healthier and am definitely more energetic than I was 20 years ago.

Kisha: Very discouraging to read all the negative posts, but I have been the person who finds a reason why a diet doesn’t work. Not anymore!! I have ordered the program, look forward to trying it, and am committed to sticking to it. I ordered the two-week meals plan to start…if I don’t like it no harm done, but anything has to be better than being overweight forever!!!!

Angye: Anyone use Dren? here it is good for women?

Jill: I went on Medifast in October of 07. My endocrinologist prescribed it for me because of my inability to lose weight due to hypothyroidism. The program I was put on consisted of 3 shakes per day, one bar and one small meal. Ok? I would’ve given my left arm to have some oatmeal or scrambled eggs. . . That said, I lost 21 lbs in 6 weeks and have since kept the weight off. Listen, this diet is just not for everyone. Perhaps only those with medical issues are true candidates for this type of dieting? And, yes, once I reached my goal, it did take some work to keep it off, but it wasn’t anything near what I’m reading above. I just continued exercising while slowly reintroducing my body little by little to a higher caloric intake. It really wasn’t that difficult — I even took one day per week to eat whatever the heck I wanted. So for me, not only did Medifast do what no other diet has been able to, but pretty much kick-started me into a permanent lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise. I am enternally grateful for Medifast. I look better and feel better both physically and mentally, and it’s all because of these silly little shakes. Go figure.

Leah: Jill, thanks for clarifying all of that…I think you might be right, I think a liquid diet consisting of 3 shakes and 1 small meal is a bit “extreme” for the average person. And i also learned, from talking to my own health care practitioner, that decreasing your calories too low will mess up your metabolism and make you gain weight much more quickly and easily. I think for me, a person looking to lose 20 lbs. there is no need for this drastic approach. I’ve been doing the South Beach Diet online and getting phenomenal results. Its nice to be able to eat real food, too! I alternate between preparing the recipes (the chicken breasts with Tarragon cream sauce are delicious, their a hit with my whole family) and buying the frozen entrees on the go, which are surprisingly good. Lost 19 lbs in just 6 weeks!

Michelle: I’ve been on Medifast for two weeks and LOVE it! I’ve lost 8 lbs. so far, with 34 more to go. The bars & shakes are great! The oatmeal & soups need some extra seasonings, but that just adds to the variety of the meals. I make muffins, breads, chips & more out of the meals. It has been easy to do and I would highly recommend it to anyone needing to lose weight. I actually lost 11 lbs. on Weight Watchers in the month before starting Medifast, and I plan to transition back to Weight Watchers once my goal weight is reached. I just needed to see quicker results to stay motivated. I am also exercising daily, which has kept my energy up. For those who say they are tired & dragging, exercise anyway…you WILL start feeling better.

Samantha: I needed to lose only about 17 lbs. I am in my 3rd week and am extremely happy with the results. I lost 8.4 lbs. in 2 weeks. I have not been hungry at all. I agree with others who have commented that you must be in the right “mind set” to begin ANY diet plan. I was at that point because I didn’t want to buy clothes in the next size up. Two years ago I lost 50 on my own. I needed a jump start to get me going again and to drop a bit of weight before an upcoming cruise. So it’s not just a plan for folks with 100’s of lbs. to lose. I highly recommend it….IF you mind is in the right place!

Rose: This is my take on it. If you look in the mirror and see a terribly obese person looking back, it’s time to go on a diet-fast. Medifast is not a lifestyle. Its a system of creating a calorie deficit while giving a sense of fullness because of the soy and fiber. This isnt for someone who needs to drop a few pounds before a wedding. It’s not meant to delight your senses with food choices. Its a regimen for quickly and safely losing weight for people that have alot to lose. And no, its not easy unless you have willpower and determination. Obviously your not going to feel like you ate a turkey dinner. That’s where you do have to have some self control. But that goes for any weight loss approach. Without that, you will always be overweight. The food doesnt fly into anyones mouth. Stop focusing on taste and being bored. Actually stop focusing on eating and food. Thats part of the problem. If you don’t like all the food, find one you like and stick to it. Drink 5 shakes a day and have one meal. No one will die eating like that. Think of it as nutrients to keep your body going. And it does. It probably has more protein and vitamins than the average diet. So stop whining about feeling dizzy and weak. Its mind over matter. Not overeating doesnt cause people to be lethargic. Too much food does. This may not be for everyone. And as far as ketosis, you are eating carbohydrates, just not alot. The type of “ketosis” that takes place would occur on any weight loss program. If you honestly want to lose weight and have stopped making excuses, than this will work. For those that are still coddling themselves and feeling sorry for themselves, it wont work. Sorry if this sounds tough but it was meant to.

Dan: I have been on Medifast for two months now and have lost 32 lbs, could have lost more but a couple of weekends of parties kind of stopped progress, but by going back on it keeps coming off, I highly recommed it. two of my friends have been on it for a year and they both look better and feel better. plus i save a lot of money eating the medifast over what i would have spent eating out for lunch

A. Wirth: Medifast was a great success for me. I didnt have much to lose to begin with, and the first month I lost a total of 12.5 pounds. The second month I lost 10 more pounds, after reaching my goal weight, I continued to order the shakes, bars and soups. I have recommended Medifast to 2 other individuals and they both were satisfied after reaching their goal weight within 2 months also. You have to be self disciplined to reach your goal. I highly recommend this product to those wanting to loose weigh in a healthy way. Weightwatchers and counting calories did not work for me. I like the easy to go packets.

Lee: I have been on the program for 3 weeks and have lost 25lbs. This really has been a great program, the food dosen’t taste the best, but it is also not the worst (it taste a lot better when the weight comes off). It is true that you feel sluggish and irratable at first, but it went away after 4 days for me. As far as the negative comments, I think those people didn’t follow the program “to a T.” If you do follow it your body will go into ketosis (which is a natural fat burning state). Good Luck to all.

helenskid: I am sorry that so many who have commented on Medifast have had such a negative experience with the product. As a 72 year old with more than 100 pounds to lose and on numerous medications for high blood pressure and a rising blood sugar that was heading rapidly toward diabetes, I needed to lose weight and do it now. Over the years, I have tried and failed with every popular diet plan on the market. Weigh this, measure that, be hungry all the time. I needed a weight loss program that was simple, effective and that I could stick with. Medifast has been that for me. I have lost 46 pounds since the first of February, have stopped all but one of my blood pressure meds and my blood sugar is within normal limits. My arthritic knees still need me to lose more weight. Do the meal replacements taste as good as real food . . . of course not! I never expected them to. I have found them to be tolerable and more importantly, I have never felt hungry on Medifast. My family physician is very supportive of the Medifast program and is pleased wiwth my success to date. Is it a solution for everyone? Probably not. Is it effective for me? Yes. Would I recommend it for those who have a poor history wiht other weight loss programs? Without hesitation! As with any serious health concern (and chronic obesity is just that) check with your doctor first. I wish you well whatever your decision is.

Angela Chase: I got sick on the diet after one day. I ate four meals and one regular one. Had migraine, hotflashes and bloating with gas. Gained 4 pounds from start of day. Woke next morning feeling full, nausea, and just plain weird. Went off one day and started with just 2 a day for 2 days. Got heart palpitations, hotflashes and weird feeling again. Called company and they said they would only take back the boxes I didn’t eat, which leaves me half an order of boxes with one packet eaten. It cost me a lot to get the 2 weeks of food and I am unemployed, so not sure how to get my money back on the other boxes I cannot eat. Comapany policy sucks. How do you know if it is or isn’t going to work unless you try it? Bill me for the packets I ate and not the whole frickin box! Oh, didn’t lose one pound… – Medifast

Dan: Angela it must be terrible to be you what the heck do you normally eat that medifast can affect you that much. Sounds like you just like to complain.

maryann: well it’s 2009 and the MF food is much better. You feel like crap the first week BUT then your hunger disappears and my energy level is greater than it has ever been. The reason you feel so crappy is that you are going “cold turkey” and basically withdrawling from your horrible diets you previously ate. The pounds melt off. Of course you cant go back to your old eating habits or you will gain all weight back and then some no matter what diet you are on. My recommendation is if you want to lose as fast as having a gastric bypass, then this is the diet for you. Get through those first few days and you will feel great!

Este: Simple fast and remarkably effective. I have lost 25 lbs in 6 weeks

Lisa: Well I lost 43 pounds on Medifast yes it seems expensive i agree on that part. But i went from a size 16 to a 6 in about 4 months. I have kept most of teh weight off as well. I only gaind about 12 to 15 pounds back in 2 years. I thinking of going bgack on teh diet to loose teh 12 lbs before my vacation its a fast easy diet. I never felt tired. The first 3 to 4 days is tough but once you get passed that i was fine full of energy and had no issues getting up and working all day.

Laura: I have stumbled across this site and I am in shock. I can’t believe all of the negative comments about MF.I believe that some of the problems that people are complaining about are not because MF does not work. They are because people do not work the program the way it is laid out, from the beginning to the end. That is why the program will not work. People fail, and instead of taking a look at them selves they blame the diet program. I have lost so far 32lbs on MF. I have much more energy than I have ever had. That is because my blood sugars are in control for the first time in my life. I don’t know about others, but I have been encouraged to exercise 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes. The MF meals can be doctored up. I make pancakes out of the oatmeal and they are great. I add seasonings to the soups, and sugar free flavors to the shakes. I have not eaten a MF meal that I have not enjoyed. you have to be creative. The person who was complaining about the caffeine in the momentum products should not have bought them. All the other products do not have caffeine. I will be using a 16 week transition plan that is offered. It is a slow transition so I will not gain weight. I know many people that have kept their weight off for many years with MF. As for the price, well I pay an average of about 250.00 a month. That is less than what I was paying for food when I was over eating every day. I use all the supports of the program. I have a health coach, I use the discussion boards and I joined a team. I have never had this much support on a diet program. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A COMMERCIAL. I am just another satisfied customer.

Anne: I have lost 20 lbs in less than 2 months, and I feel better than I have in several years. Was much easier than I expected and I do enjoy the positive comments from my friends and family. The $ spent was worth it to me, but will now go to a low fat, low carb, high protein and nutrient rich diet of “real” food.

Miranda: I started this diet April 2009 and I am going into my 2nd month of MF. I have lost a total of 45 pounds!!! I have to say that any diet is not for everyone. You have to be mentally ready for any diet that you start. I felt sluggish at first but my doctor said it was due to my body adjusting to not having the nasty toxins it used to, so in a way I was detoxing. I now walk about 1 mile twice a day, I go swimming, I even find myself parking further out so that I can walk a little farther. I still have about 94 pounds left to go and I know MF is going to help me get there. My ultimate goal is to lose weight so that I can have a baby!!! I have PCOS and my gynecologist states that losing weight when you have PCOS is hard enough but with MF it does seem a little bit easier. I went from a size 32 women’s and I am now able to put on my size 24 and they are baggy!!! I hope this helps someone else in their weight loss journey. I don’t look at MF as a diet, I look at it as a lifechange. That is what it is meant for anyway…a Lifestyle change to healthier living.*~*~Blessings Miranda

marla: I have been on medifast for 7 weeks now and have lost 24 pounds. The food is not that bad, at first the soy taste is rather overwelming but you get used to it. I have learned a lot of little tricks to doctor up the soups and the shakes. My daughter has lost 40 pounds in the same time frame. I am a little worried about regaining the weight when I reach my goal (15 more pounds) my plan is to transition slowly and make healthy food choices. Good luck to everyone on your weightloss journeys!!!

Suzanne: I have had success with Medifast in the past and was able to stick with it until medical issues caused weight gain to come back (i.e. very large ovarian mass and inflammation/blood flow issues from scar tissue). I know that Medifast works and decided to get help again but this time via their Medifast Weight Loss Center. They have guaranteed me to lose 69 lbs by November 25, 2009. They will monitor my weight once a week and monitor my blood/measurements once a month. I fully believe that I will see these results because of past use of the system. I avoid the oatmeal and all their bars. There are recipes for the soups that you can make either bread or cracker or chips from. So far I’ve made the crackers and they actually taste pretty good. Follow me on twitter (www.twitter.com/azurefields where I will post once a week the weight loss results for that week.

Julia: I have been on Medifast for 12 days. I have lost about 7 lbs. and I have never felt better on any other diet I have ever been on in my life. I totally starved on Wieght Watchers. Medifast puts you in a very mild state of ketosis. Just enough to naturally curb your appetite and give you energy. I feel totally normal on this diet. The first 5-6 days were rough, but it did pass just like they said it would. I am not a coach or distributor or anything. Just a happy Medifast customer. This is by far the BEST I have felt on any diet. Some foods are better than others. Some people just LOVE the oatmeal. Well for me I cannot stand the oatmeal, but I love the cappuccino’s, shakes, and bars. It’s all personal preference and someone is bound to find a few things that they will like. You also do not have to pay hundreds of dollars at one of the weight loss centers. I bought mine online and got a free coach with it! Yay for Medifast!

traci: Look, Medifast works, and it works fast. For those of us who have 100+ lbs to lose, this diet can make all the difference in the world. It was created by doctors and was only available with a prescription for years. Yes, it creates a mild state of ketosis, but nothing that will threaten your health. It is completely balanced, low fat, low carb and very low calorie. The instructions say not to exercise until your body adjusts. And yes, there are a few products that taste less than fabulous and sometimes you will feel hungry. It’s a diet, people. But that 2-5 lbs per week can give a very overweight person the motivation we need to stay with a diet for 6-12 months or more. And Medifast offers a very gradual transition to maintenance during which you add back more and more regular food. I was also amazed at how many people had negative to say. I lost 34 lbs in my first 7 weeks. I have 70 lbs to go, but with medifast I’m confiednt that I can do it!

Jennifer: Medifast works! I am a strong believer in an eating program that allows me to enjoy food…I’m a gourmet cook and I truly enjoy food! But, my life does not revolve around food or my next meal. I lost 20 lbs. in less than 3 months (12 in just 3 weeks!) I have many friends who use medifast and we all love it! I like smart programs like south beach and weight watchers also, but I prefer the convenience of medifast and I spent a lot more money with south beach because of all the food shopping involved. I now spend less money at the store because I’m only eating the one meal along with the medifast meals and my food expenses are less! I also had more energy within 3 days and with all the vitamins and minerals with the soy, I have never felt better. It’s very important to read the book (which most of the negative reviewers obviously did not!) I now workout less and not as intensely …you should not work out as much with less calories….it’s just common sense to let your body use some of it’s energy to burn calories…now that I’ve reached my target loss, I’ve put back in some of the exercise and I have more energy than ever to do it! I’m sure I would gain my weight back if I totally quit the program and go back to old ways of eating…hey! that’s how I gained in the first place! I plan on using some of the medifast foods forever! Learn to enhance the foods with flavors from spices and extracts and cook the foods correctly…all microwaves do vary and just don’t microwave the eggs: I mix it and cook it on the stove with some spices and a few tomatoes! Follow the program (no cheating) and it works!

tammy: The food you have to buy every week is just way to expensive. you have to pay a HUGE start up fee and then 75.oo a week just way to expensive wish i would have thought the whole ting through. The food is not good at all. but the people that wait on you are wonderful…………

Tab: I have been on medifast since 2/1/2009 and have lost over 50lbs. I am healthier then I have ever been with more energy. If you are not successful on this diet it is because you are not making it a priority.

Krysta: I did the program and loved what it did for me. I lost 83 pounds in 6 months, my husband lost 80 in 5 pounds. I loved the program so much, I decided to become a health coach for the program. I agree that people are talking about the beginning, of course, we have to transition our bodies as most of us have been mistreating ourselves for so long. You know we can’t go back to the way we ate before and not except to gain weight. I indulge only once in a while, not daily. I recommend to anyone, lloking to lower the meds or just get healthy!

Blue eyes: I am really sorry that a lot of you are having a hard time my husband and I have been on medifast for 3 months I have lost 37 and my hisband has lost over 40lbs, I hate the food and he loves it I just stick to my bars and he eats everything, Our son is ADHD and we have to keep lots of different food in the house so he can keep his weight on, and it doesn’t bother us at all. we do not go out to eat but once a month and our grocery bills with what we buy in medifast is only 50.00-60.00$ more than what we were spending with out medifast, so I think it is well worth the fact that I am much healthier than I was 3 months ago and there is ways to make the food that it will taste better, you need to listen to your health coach and read the website, it will tell you all the ways you can make medifast meals even bread pudding, it took me 2 weeks to get rid of the tired sick feeling but a few phone calls to my health coach and pickles I came out of it, I wish everyone luck and for now we are staying with Medifast!

Francy: Love this program..I’ve lost 54 lbs., have MORE energy than I’ve had in years and I am 54 yrs…Shakes are great, the bars are great and the bars do have fruit in them, silly people. As for exercise, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what exercise is and how to get it. If you have weight to lose, you need it cause you haven’t been getting enough exercise to begin with, whether you are on a diet program or not. Our bodies need exercise for optimal health anyway, and exercise is needed on all diet programs…that’s a no-brainer. At first you may feel an energy slump, but after about 4-5 days you feel great…I am just ecstatic that my doctor, after losing 60 lbs., referred me to Medifast. I bought new clothes and my husband chases me around again. Halleluah for MEDIFAST! I say of of this from personal experience and also, important to note, I said a great big prayer to the Lord to help me succeed at the start of my program…that is the largest ingredient in the mix.

Paulette: The very best diet I have ever tried. I lost 21 lbs in 2 month. I think the food is great! I never feel hungry. Thank you medifast!

Lisa: I have been on Medifast for 6 days. I was a little light headed and spacy days 4 & 5; woke up today with alot of energy feeling great. I freeze the pudding to make ice cream, add cumin, curry or garam masala to the wild rice or chicken noodle soups. I found the honey mustart pretzels too strong to eat an entire bag for a meal, so I eat 1/2 a bag and 1/2 an oatmeal raisin bar as a meal. These little tweaks are helping so far. I haven’t stepped on a scale, but noticed jeans that were tight before were a little looser this morning. Yes, this is an expensive plan, but I’m in this for my long term health. Maybe it will save me from spending alot of $$ on drugs when I’m older and maybe it will help me feel better about how I look. I think reading the book and paying attention to chewing slowly and to the texture and taste of my food is helping. I’m already finding that I’m satisfied by the time I’m half way through a bar. I miss fruit, but I know that I’ll be able to add it back in (because I read about transition and maintenance). The best thing for me is that the bars satisfy my sweet tooth (my biggest problem) and they are easy to carry in my purse, so that I don’t skip a meal or pick up something quick at a drive-thru.

Wayne: My wife lost 81 pounds and I lost over 55 pounds using these foods but we did it in conjunction with a health coach. Trying to do it on your own – just like any program, can be difficult. First of all, the foods teach you to eat six small meals a day and you are eating stuff that is not so refined. The people who talk about Ketosis don’t understand that this is a DIETARY ketosis and isn’t the dangerous kind and even having said that, it is SO mild it won’t even show up on the Ketone sticks like the atkins diet. I’ve kept my weight off and so has my wife – but the way we DID that was through the help and encouragement of a coach. To many of these things don’t offer one on one support. The coaches are free to you. If you are going to try the medifast foods anyway, do it through a coach who can support you.

bren: What is wrong with people? Medifast is the most unhealthy diet I have ever heard of and can not believe doctors promote it. Oh, I forgot they get paid for promoting it! It’s a pyramid program – the more people they sign up the more money they make. Check out the Federal Trade Commission on Warning Signs of a Fad diet. Almost all the flags apply to Medifast. Fad diets don’t work!!! You may lose weight – but you won’t keep it off. From what I have researched their maintenace plan starts to get it right. But why deprieve yourself of real food, hundreds of dollars, and your sanity when in the end you have to do what’s right anyway – portion control and exercise…Save yourself a lot of hassle check out the only NON-PROFIT weight loss group

Kathy: I have not tried Medifast..but a friend is a coach and tries to make me feel guilty for NOT starting with her. My only thing I wanted to talk about was the no fruit at first. My dentist’s hygienist told me that fruit is really hard on the gums. I am diabetic and she said it is common for people to go on a diet that is fruit-based and have bad gums from the sugars off of the fruit. I had wondered about that, and makes me afraid to eat too much fruit. I love apples and pears and peaches, so it is hard to not get to have them.

yvette: ive been on medifast for 2 and a half months and ive lost 32 pounds and continue loosing daily . i hated the food the first few days but got used to it and i love it especially the chocolate pudding. u can buy walden farms products to doctor it up they have no cals no carbs no sugar they have choclate syrup maple syrup to put in oatmeal i put chocolate syrup in my shakes my pudding it makes it better. i ve had energy since the 3rd day. and it only puts u in a mild state of ketosis. im glad i never saw this site when i was thinking about ordering i woulve never got it. it works if u dont cheat and u want to loose i know many people who lost 80 pounds and more in 5 and 6 months.its a good iet. they have a great online community too ive met many friends..i dont have any idea how u couldnt loose on it u must not have been doing it correctly…

Ed: If you have to ask “But does it taste good? What if it’s hard? What if I really start craving something?”, then, in my opinion, you’re not ready to start. The questions you SHOULD be asking are “Who’s responsible for my weight loss? What am I willing to do to lose weight?”. I wasn’t ready to start on Medifast until I got to the point where I was so tired of being fat, so tired of the excuses, that I when I signed up for the Medifast program I didn’t ask if the food was good, or whether there were any ways to ‘cheat’. I just asked when I could start, and how much did it cost? (I checked it out pretty thoroughly before I started). Yeah, the food is a little bland, and who doesn’t get tired of bars and shakes and tiny portions? But I don’t care. I want to be thin. I’ve been on it two weeks, and I’ve lost about 10 pounds. I have about 80 to go, and that’s fine. For 50 years I’ve allowed myself whatever I wanted to eat, and by golly, I’m going to change!

kz: I have been on Medifast 5 months, so far I have lost 51 lbs. I feel very good, plenty of energy. I do have some issues with digestion problems, probably from the soy protein. I plan to stay on it for 2 more months. It is expensive but I would probably spend almost as much at the grocery store. To improve flavor of the scrambled eggs we use Mrs.Dash. Also I stir them frequently while cooking to improve texture. You will have to experiment with cooking times and quantity of water for the oatmeal,& soups. I plan to keep the weight off by sensible eating and portion size. It has definately changed my life for the better. My husband too!

leebee: I have been on Medifast for almost 2 months. With a total of 30 lbs to lose, I’m more than halfway to my goal. Contrary to many of the comments above, I like most of the food! I don’t buy what I don’t like the next month. I also find ways to doctor the foods I don’t like through fellow Medifasters. My boyfriend started on the plan 6 wks ago, and has lost 22 pounds! He loves the Chocolate Mint Crunch bars and the Chili Nacho Cheese Puffs. We enjoy our Lean and Green together at night. This plan is no more expensive than eating “regular” food. And I’m no longer on my medications, including blood pressure medication (I’m down to 110/70). That alone saves me $145/month. I would recommend this system to anyone who has tried other systems unsuccessfully, and is willing to work with the program. Just follow it, keep a journal, and you will lose weight!

Dawn: This stuff tastes bad. made me feel very weak and just like crap. stayed on it for 3 weeks without cheating 1/2 lb loss cost is too high not worth trying. just try to eat healthy and watch portion size and you well lose more. – Medifast

Anonymous: I absolutely love the Medifast program and truly enjoy the taste of most meals. Bars are delicious, I enjoy soup and oatmeal daily. I’ve lost 66 pounds and my husband lost 30 and is now off his diabetic and blood pressure meds. 2 daughters have lost 20 and 30. We all feel great. Lots of energy. The first 2 weeks are an adjustment and exercise is discouraged until week 3. I can do much more than I ever could before. I’ll be adding back fruits and grains soon but I’ll eat Medifast meals daily for the rest of my life. Thanks Medifast for giving me back my life.

Tree: This is my second go around with Medifast. The first time I did it, I lost 25 pounds in three months and really liked the plan. I kept all my weight off for over two years. Last year was really rough with lots of deaths in the family, etc. and I think I became depressed and turned to food for comfort and regained 14 pounds. Unable to get it off, I decided to go back on Medifast. So far so good. The weight is coming off nicely at about two pounds a week. I really like the structure of this diet and how easy it is to follow. I am also a fruit lover but once you go off you can eat fruit and all the good carbs again so it’s not forever. I do feel a little lethargic some days but I still exercise 4-5 times a week and will keep doing so while I am on this plan. I personally love the shakes and there is so much variety, I have not gotten bored. I also like the bars and oatmeal a lot. I try and make a salad with a variety of vegis every night and honestly think I’m eating healthier. Before I started I was eating out way too much and having way too much pizza! Talk about unhealthy. I would say that any diet is a commitment but if you are busy and want something that is easy to follow give this a try. I will admit the food is pricey but my grocery bill has actually gone down since I don’t really need to buy much food while on the plan? Just vegis and lean meats? Also, I have to mention that my once high cholesterol had gone down 50 points after I did the plan the first time. My doctor was even amazed!

Linda: “To each, his own”… This is the easiest thing I have ever done. I have been doing it for 24 days and am down 12 pounds. My motivation comes from seeing the scale go down EVERY single day. I have been to a few parties since I started and haven’t had a problem. You can pretty much eat in any restaurant for your lean and green meal. You can have ANY protein (shrimp, lobster, filet mignon, chicken, turkey, pork, veal, lamb) and veggies (minus corn and potatoes)…which really can be ordered anywhere… not really sure what “diet” out there allows you to eat whatever you want or happen to be craving…some of these people that are leaving “thumbs down” comments just sound kinda dumb. If you don’t make food a lifestyle change then you will always have a problem with weight loss….hello….common sense. But then again, to each his own… oh, and Nurtisystem and Jenny Craig are packed with soy, too. If you’ve tried other diets, try this… yes, some of the food is not that great, but some is pretty good, especially when you figure out a way to “doctor” it up.

Dee: I have been on MF going on my 4th week, and I am down 15 pounds , I love it, the food I like, except the oatmeal isn’t that great, and the soup I just add spices and some of my lean at lunch time for a filling lunch and my lean and green for dinner. An for the energy, I go none stop now, don’t even need naps anymore. For me I am 100% focused, but like everyone say it is $250 a month but that is 140 meals and well worth it. So if you are really ready and want to lose weight fast this is for you, but you have to follow the plan all the way through to maintenance because you can go for 900 calories to 1500 all at once you have to work up to it.

Carla: I finally had to quit because of the diarrhea. I chose the lactose-free items and that didn’t help. It just got worse the longer I was on it. Unfortunately, I think my metabolism slowed down and I gained weight rapidly after stopping.

SLH: Question~ For those who were medically placed on this diet for rapid weight loss, is there anything one should do to truly make this product work? My situation requires drinking only the Medifast shakes (5x) daily only(for a total of 550cals a day). Now I have been on the diet for 5 days w/out deviation and working out (walking/eliptical for an hour daily) & have only lost 3lbs,… is this a normal weight loss for living off only 550 cals a day? I did feel tired for the 1st few days and although my energy has returned.. I do get nervous driving if I haven’t had a shake w/in a hour. thkx

patti: I am writing to thank all of you who took the time to comment. I read all the comments before I placed my first order. I just received my first 2 week shipment. I approached this method with a positive attitude but I am already disappointed. Your comments suggested to definitely take advantage of a health coach. I requested one a week ago and I was told someone would contact me within two days. I have not been contacted yet. I think a support system is vital for long term success. I will try to contact them again tomorrow and hopefully they will assign one to me.

Rocky: I have been on Medifast for 6 months and have lost 98 LBS. All of you who complain about how hard it is aren’t really committed to losing. Those of you who said you followed the program and lost nothing…I dont believe you.

Anonymous: every diet will not work for everyone even if you follow it to a T people not every doctor recommends this one , medicine like diet isn’t one size fits all