subject: Keeping The Weight Off With Medifast: How Many People Are Able To Do This? [print this page] Keeping The Weight Off With Medifast: How Many People Are Able To Do This?
Over the weekend, I got an email from someone who was considering the Medifast diet and wanted to know "the statistics on the amount of people who have success on Medifast and then kept the weight off." I did not know this answer off the top of my head, (although I could share my observations and experiences with her.) I did a little research on this topic and will tell you what I found (as well as my own experiences) in the following article.
Medifast Studies / Success Statistics: Unfortunately, the only study that I could find that the company has released is one that I know very well. It's a study out of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health that followed dieters on both Medifast and the ADA (American Diabetic Association) diet. In this study, the folks on the Medifast diet lost twice as much weight and complied with the diet for twice as long as folks on the ADA diet. There was no follow up studies as to how long (or if) any of the dieters kept the weight off. But, it was reasonably clear that this diet beat out the control diet in terms of compliance and success rates.
Long Term Success Variables: Since I could not find any studies or statements, I can tell you my own experience and what I've seen from folks who have walked this path with me. Many of my coworkers and folks that I met in weight loss forums started this diet at the around the same time. I've lost a decent amount of weight and continue to keep it off as have many (but not all) of the people who started with me.
Here is what I think goes into contributing to long term success. You have to learn how to feed your body with small, frequent, and smart meals. (On this diet, you learn to eat six times per day.) This ensures that you get in and stay in ketosis. You also have to learn how to successfully prepare healthful foods. The company forces you to do this with your "lean and green meal" that you prepare each day. I believe that most people who are not able to keep the weight off never learned this skill or do not make a commitment to keep up with the frequent eating schedule. Many people chose to skip the lean and green meal and just go ahead and consume one additional prepackaged meal. If you do this, you are cheating yourself out of learning how to plan, shop for, and prepare meals that are healthful, low in carbohydrates and sugars, and are glycemic friendly. I also strongly believe that developing a strong support system and surrounding yourself with like minded people helps tremendously.
I found that over time, I began to change my lifestyle and the way that I looked at food. I n my view, because all but one of your foods are handled, you truly don't think about food in the same way anymore. Because you're eating small, healthful meals, it's no longer as likely that you will eat for emotional reasons. You don't anticipate your meals quite so much. You don't worry that you'll not have enough or that you'll need to feel guilty later. All of the emotions that contribute to over eating become much less.
Many people will also take up at least some exercise and this too will eventually become a habit. Actually, I believe that most long term success (for anything, not just weight loss) lies with establishing new habits and patterns that contribute to your success rather than to your failure. In my experience, those who lose the weight with Medifast and keep it off embrace eating smaller, frequent meals, learn how to prepare healthful "lean and green meals," and learn to get a pay off from other things besides food.
Lindsey Price's Medifast Review Website features videos, tips, coupons, information and products related to success on this diet. She also offers a free ebook ("Getting The Most Out Of Medifast") to help you get started. You can get a free copy of the ebook at http://easiest-diet.com/free-medifast-ebook/html
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