I first found the Medifast program in April of 2010. It definitely works, but the transition & maintenance plan that follows the initial 5&1 stage MUST be followed to keep the weight off. I officially met my goal on April 9th, 2012 and started transition on April 16th, 2012.
Medifast is a low-carb plan with three phases. The first is the 5&1 phase which includes 5 Medifast meals, plus a Lean & Green per day! This is from the Medifast website:
The Medifast 5&1 Plan: Each day, you enjoy five Medifast Meals and one Lean & Green Meal.
-Five Medifast Meals Choose five Medifast Meals from over 70 different choices, including shakes, soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot beverages, crunch bars, pretzel sticks, cheese puffs, puddings, brownies, soft-serve, and pancakes.
-One Lean & Green Meal This includes a generous serving of lean protein along with three servings of non-starchy vegetables. You can choose dinnertime for your Lean & Green Meal, or enjoy it at any time that works with your schedule."
Then, once you hit your weight goal, you begin Transition. Transition lasts for six weeks and gradually re-introduces your body to different foods, while increasing your calorie intake.
Week 1: You'll re-introduce all vegetables, including things that were off limits during the weight-loss phase, like corn, peas, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts, in addition to those on the Green Options list. You'll add an extra serving of vegetables to your Medifast 5 & 1 Plan.
Week 2: Give a big welcome-back to fruit! You get to add two servings of whole fruit (such as an apple or orange, or half-cup of berries) to your meal plan, while cutting back to four Medifast Meals and one Lean & Green Meal.
Week 3: You'll get one serving of low-fat dairy in addition to the changes you've made so far.
Week 4 to Week 6: You'll cut back to three Medifast Meals, enjoy your added vegetables, whole fruit, and low-fat dairy, and add one measured serving of whole grain plus an additional 4 to 6 oz of lean protein.
The last phase is Maintenance! This is more of a lifestyle, than a phase, as you learn how to maintain your weight loss.
The 3 & 3 Plan: Three and three equals six, and that's how many times you'll continue to eat each day. (If you've lost weight on the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan, this routine will be familiar to you!)
One "3" refers to your three daily meals, which feature lean protein and vegetables.
The other "3" is your three daily "fuelings." Fuelings are low-calorie mini-meals incorporating a range of healthy foods and delicious flavors, including Medifast Meals and combinations of healthy ingredients you can buy at your produce market or grocer.
In addition to lean protein, healthy fats, and all vegetables, you'll be able to enjoy the fruit, low-fat dairy foods, and whole-grain starches that you re-introduced during the Transition phase. You'll continue to avoid fried, sugary, greasy, creamy, and calorie-rich foods.
