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- Established: 1980
- Founder: Dr. William Vitale
- Headquarters: Owings Mills, Maryland
- Stock Symbol: MED
- Accessibility: Online
- Diet Type: Meal Delivery, Meal Replacement, High Protein
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?
Save time and energy by never having to grocery shop, count calories or cook your meals again. Medifast meal delivery service will send high protein meals directly to your home. By controlling portions, nutrients and calories, Medifast users can expect to lose 2-5 pounds per week for the first two weeks on the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan and 1-2 pounds per week thereafter.
The Medifast Plan menu consists of shakes, bars, soups, and other sides you can pair up to create your diet or the day. Medifast offers 70 meal choices to satisfy different palates and dietary requirements. Kosher, low glycemic, lactose-free and vegetarian diets are all supported by the Medifast plan. Medifast even has specific plans for the unique needs of women, men and diabetics.
Medifast's success has been proven in multiple clinical studies, the Medifast website offers dozens of real-life testimonials, and its products and programs have been recommended by more than 20,000 doctors since 1980.
A John Hopkins study found the Medifast plan helps dieters quickly and safely lose weight by decreasing the amount of calories they consume each day. The study also found that participants with type 2 diabetes lost 2 times the weight of individuals following the American Diabetes Association's dietary recommendations. Medifast also shows positive results in participants with other illnesses, like hypertension and high cholesterol.
All of the Medifast products are available online, but Medifast does offer some physical centers throughout the country, in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. You can choose to go to a center, but you can complete the program online just as easily.
Medifast YouTube Channel
Medifast Recipes at iFood TV
Meal Replacement Shake Review
- Convenient, pre-packaged foods sent to your home
- Reasonably priced
- Large variety of foods so there is something for everyone
- Encourages and incorporates exercise
- Clinically proven weight loss
- Doctor recommended
- Provides detailed weight loss maintenance plan
- Plans made for diabetics and other medical situations
- Quick Start Guide available at TrustMedifast.com
- Must cut carbs
- May be tough transitioning back to regular diet
- Low-calorie diet has its critics
- Makes social situations harder to manage
A sampling of feedback and experiences shared by our community.
I am a 48 year old male with a fairly unactive lifestyle. On May 16, 2011 I started the Medifast diet following the 5/1 plan. My starting weight was 325 lbs. I am 11-1/2 weeks into the diet and have lost 58 lbs.
I come from a family of excellent cooks. Are the food offerings gourmet quality? No. However, they aren't, in general, as horrible as people say. Sure, there's a few clunkers out there but, for the most part, there are so many varieties that you should be able to find your way through. - Greg 8/5/11
I am 49 yrs old...5"5" and I started my program Aug 8th 2010 at 172 lbs I lost 45 lbs in 14 weeks! It's easy and the results are rapid. The first week I lost 8.5 lbs and the first month 17.5 lbs and then I averaged about 2.5 lbs a week. I have been reading lots' of discouraging people on here in regards to the food. Yes, there are some of the meals that you will not care for. But, you will figure out your likes and dislikes right away. Just don't eat more then one pkg out of each box for any returns.For me personally ..I love the bars and like the rice cakes, pretzels and puffs vanilla and mocha shakes yum! - Lorrie 8/4/11
I started medifast around October 2010. I went from 165lbs to about 142lbs in 3 months. I was very pleased. Unfortunately once I became comfortable being able to fit in my own clothes again I stopped the program. I did not start the maintenance program. My own fault. I ended up gaining my weight back and have started weight watchers and it's been successful so far. So depending on wether or not I would of stayed on the program I would have a better review. So it does work, and I do like it. But it was not for me and the food gets old quick! If you keep to it right, and do not cheat! I would cheat just for one day with some medifast and maybe a real meal with the family and I would be gaining a pound.. Just keep to it. - Alyssa 7/4/11
This diet works without a doubt as long as you can stick thru it. It is VERY difficult the first few days but once you make it thru week 1 the cravings pretty much go away. The food will also begin to taste better, however its best to try everything because not everyone like everything. I personally just do the shakes and brownies sometimes the scrambled eggs. They also have a great community site for advice and support and you can get great ways to doctor it up the meals too. The weight definitely comes off quickly and you see results weekly on the scale on with a measuring tape which is great motivation. Of course it has its downside like every diet the weight can come back quickly and more, but only if you don't go into the transition stage and gradual reintroduce foods back into your diet and maintain a healthy balanced diet. - Izzy 5/17/11
The Medifast diet consists of five prepared meals and one "Lean and Green Meal." (L&GM) known as the Medifast 5 & 1 plan. Your L&GM will consist of a lean protein (a seven-ounce serving of chicken, turkey or fish, or a five ounce serving of beef, pork or lamb) with a tablespoon's worth of condiment like ranch dressing, ketchup or mustard. You will also choose your side dish, which can include a salad, or raw or cooked vegetables. You will always eat at least three servings of vegetables in your L&GM.
The Medifast program encourages you to keep your metabolism high and avoid hunger by eating every three hours. It also recommends that you stay hydrated by drinking your choice of calorie-free beverage, preferably water, consuming at least 64 ounces each day. While your Lean and Green Meal and beverages are up to you, the rest of your meals will be chosen from the dozens of low-calorie, high nutritient meal-replacement items that Medifast delivers directly to you. With options like puddings, oatmeal, shakes, and scrambled eggs, it's hard to get bored.
At the beginning of the program, you will remove high carbohydrate vegetables from your diet like corn and carrots, to jump start your weight loss. You'll slowly introduce these items back into your diet over time and they can be a part of your diet in the maintenance phase, if you wish.
While on the Medifast program you don’t have to worry about counting anything; calories, grams of fat and carbs are all controlled and you can expect to lose between two and five pound per week. The Medifast meals are made with 24 different vitamins and minerals to keep you full and satisfy your nutritional needs.
A typical day of eating on the Medifast program looks like:
- Breakfast – Spiced Pancakes with Sugar-Free Syrup
- Snack – Chocolate Crunch Bar
- Lunch – Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
- Snack – Cinnamon Pretzel Sticks
- Dinner – Baked Tilapia Fillet; Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Mushrooms, Carrots
- Dessert – Coffee Soft Serve
The Medifast website offers an exercise guideline document, but there is specific workout program. Medifast recommends getting daily exercise, but your intensity, mode and duration are left completely up to you. They suggest running, jogging, swimming, dancing or walking, but with such a low calorie, structured program, getting your daily 30 minutes reccommended for health should be enough for you to successfully drop weight.
Medifast recommends waiting two to three weeks before introducing exercise if you do not already exercise regularly. You should also consult your physician if new to exercise. Start slow, and gradually increase you time and intensity as you feel things become easier. If you have been exercising consistently prior to starting Medifast, it is recommended that you reduce your intensity and duration of exercise for the first couple of weeks so your body can adjust to your lower calorie levels, and do no more than 45 minutes of vigorous exercise each day during this time period.
Medifast suggests, as do we, that you find something that you enjoy for your workouts so you are more likely to stick to them. The gym isn't your only option. You can take up jogging outside, dance classes, swimming, or biking to get in some exercise while finding a new activity you enjoy.
Common questions asked about the Medifast program by our community. Click each to see the full answer.
Does anyone experience an early plateau on Medifast? - NB 6/21/11
Is there any medical supervision on Medifast? - KJ 6/10/11
What is the cost of 3 months on Medifast? - Jeannie 6/8/11
Will my body adjust to hunger at the beginning of the diet? - Lisa 3/7/11
Ask or answer Medifast Questions now.
For more than 20 years, Medifast has been the answer for many people's weight loss struggles.. It’s also helped people with pre-existing health conditions, like diabetes and hypertension, lose weight safely. The taste and quality of the meals have gotten mostly positive feedback, so if you want to take out all of the guess work, Medifast may be the diet for you. You'll learn how to eat proper portions with balanced nutrition, while eating consistently throughout the day. Most programs and diets cannot boast the doctor recommendations, positive clinical findings and glowing testimonials that Medifast can. It's worth a look if you have weight to lose and are looking for a convenient, all in one approach to eating.
Other Slideshows About Medifast
7 Weight Loss Plans Fit for Fall
The Cost of Losing 20 Pounds
#29 Fastest Growing Company 2010 at CNN
Medifast Testimonial on Good Morning America
The Cost of Diet Plans on Today Show
Medifast on Twitter
Medifast on Facebook
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by Brandi Koskie
User Feedback
(Page 10 of 22, 438 total comments)Beth
+I lost 25 lbs in 2.5 months. I'm going on it again to lose my pregnancy weight.
posted Jun 13th, 2011 10:30 pmShelly48
I love Medifast! I lost 75 lbs in 9 months with the help of a health coach and was so excited that I decided to become a health coach myself. I think the food tastes great but even if you don't like the taste...what is your health worth to you? I was able to get off my BP meds and my husband lowered his Type 2 diabetic meds.
posted Jun 10th, 2011 10:51 pmKen
It took a while to get used to some of the foods and I had to tweak some of the recipes. I can't think of anything I don't like, but I'm the type who would eat **** if it were fried right. I find myself watching the clock until the next meal By day's end I am hungry 9or think I am, probably feeling deprived) and have horrific binges at night and have only lost five pounds after ane month as a result. My coach is working with me on ways to get through the first four days so I'll go into fat burning mode. Has anyone else had this after-hours bingeing problem, or are there no food addicts out there?
posted Jun 10th, 2011 5:43 pmMaria
+I really am enjoying all the helpful tips. I am on day one and shocked by some of the food. The shakes and bars are fine. But the chili and eggs. Not good. BUt I sill continue since I am dedicated to this. All the advice has been very helpful. Thank you. Thankfully I am not feeling hungry.
posted Jun 9th, 2011 7:14 pmMike
After numerous phone calls and hours on the phone attempting to get a refund, the company finally paid out. Initially they only refunded half of my money, then claimed they never received the second package, yet the delivery confirmation showed that they had received the packages two weeks prior. It then took over two more weeks to locate the packages, and during that time, there were many failed "I will follow up with you" calls. (never received follow up calls) After being put through to Ms. Story's (main person in charge aka no title given) Her response came after numerous calls and she claimed her voicemail server had crashed. Seems like a company with a lot of excuses and will make you work for a refund if you dislike the product and would like your money back.
posted Jun 7th, 2011 10:17 amRichard
Day 53. Started at 272 now 245 three pounds from my first phase goal of 30. My final goal is to get to 165, what I weighed the day I married the love of my life in 1972. Food is tolerable at best, some better than others. A little McIlhennys goes a long way to flavor it up.
posted May 31st, 2011 12:47 pmRichard
+I used medifast for two months and lost 40lbs. I stayed strictly to the diet with some exercise. I did feel hungry occasionally but not often. I also experienced some light headed feelings but mostly at the beginning or if I exercised too much.
posted May 31st, 2011 8:07 amI certainly would recommend this diet to anyone.
Tonya
+My husband lost 100 pounds in eight months and I lost 43 in four months. I transisitioned and kept the weight off. My husband doens't transisiton, but he'll jump off real quick then get some rebound weight, then he'll jump back on for a month a couple months later and repeat the cycle. However, he maintains a healthy weight this way, and he prefers this method. My girlfriend did it at the same time, but she wouldn't follow the program and kept jumping off and on with rebound wieght. I have other friends who followed the program and got to thier goal wieght. I loved the food from the start, and so did my husband. There are two types of people. Tasters who are very sensitive to food and are your chronically picky eaters, and nontasters who enjoy a variety of foods easily. If you are a taster then it will take some time before you can tolerate the food. If you already enjoy a variety of food and are not a picky eater then you'll probally love at least most of the food within a short time. That's my two cents. We weren't hungry, we lost the weight. It's an easy program to understand and follow, and we now enjoy dressing up and date night !!
posted May 19th, 2011 7:49 pmGreg Dennler
I have been on this diet for 9 weeks. I have read a lot of the comments on here and I have to say that its the people not the diet that fails. I have lost 52 pounds in this nine weeks. I feel better than I ever have been before in my life. I don't need sleep anymore and I am never tired.
posted May 18th, 2011 5:21 pmIn the begining the food was not great, but you get used to it very quickly. The stew is the best!
What I do with the soup is add 1/2 of low sodium broth which flavors the soup up.
Please don't be discouraged by people that have failed, please :)
I would to help anyone that want and I have before and after photos too! [email protected]!
Greg Dennler
I have been on this diet for 9 weeks. I have read a lot of the comments on here and I have to say that its the people not the diet that fails. I have lost 52 pounds in this nine weeks. I feel better than I ever have been before in my life. I don't need sleep anymore and I am never tired.
posted May 18th, 2011 3:55 pmIn the begining the food was not great, but you get used to it very quickly. The stew is the best!
What I do with the soup is add 1/2 of low sodium broth which flavors the soup up.
Please don't be discouraged by people that have failed, please :)
I would to help anyone that want and I have before and after photos too!
Izzy
This diet works without a doubt as long as you can stick thru it. It is VERY difficult the first few days but once you make it thru week 1 the cravings pretty much go away. The food will also begin to taste better, however its best to try everything because not everyone like everything. I personally just do the shakes and brownies sometimes the scrablemed eggs.
posted May 17th, 2011 12:01 pmThey also have a great community site for advice and support and you can get great ways to doctor it up the meals too. The weight definitely comes off quickly and you see results weekly on the scale on with a measuring tape which is great motivation. Ofcourse it has its downside like every diet the weight can come back quickly and more, but only if you don't go into the transition stage and gradual reintroduce foods back into your diet and maintain a healthly balanced diet.
sally cartwright
I have some mixed feelings about this diet-- I lost 6 lbs the first week on this but I was dying for a piece of toast.(carb) .It works, no doubt and inspite of my talking out of both sides of my mounth here-- I can see going back on it for a while (only) .......as the "food" tastes awfull and like others described here, like powery chemicals (which they have many synthetic ingredients) BUTit works fo sure and you will lose fast if you can commit to it...I think it you can committ esp if you are very heavy like me- you WILL lose big and get a REAL boost in the right direction, but I felt very deprived, VERY.
posted May 16th, 2011 10:44 amKelly
I have to watch everything I eat. I have irrititable bowel syndrome. How will I react t the food?
posted May 15th, 2011 11:22 amJose salas
so far so good, on my second week and have lost over 10lbs. the food is bad but some are good thats why you have to taste them to see what you like. another thing you have to be a strong minded person and willing to change.
posted May 13th, 2011 6:18 pmLena
LOVE IT! I have lost 25 pounds on it so far. At first the food may seem not very good but honestly, you get use to it and look forward to your next meal. Once you start to see the pounds drop everyday, you will want to stick with it.
posted May 9th, 2011 12:57 pmfluff
this stuff is NASTY there is no way these ppl are real users, brownie gross, soups gross, bars tastes like chemical cough syrup.
posted May 7th, 2011 1:21 ami hate this. i pray i haven't waited to long to return it. big mistake i 'd give it away
SG
Going into my 7th week on Medifast and I've lost 26lbs. What I like about the program is the support online, the book that gives information about eating properly, and the routine of eating every 2-3 hours. I work with a nutritionist who will help me transition from Medifast. The food is ok, some things are better than others. I love the fact that I have a jumpstart to weight loss and have been re-trained of my bad eating habits. Once I reach my goal weight, I will not go back!!! For those who have gained the weight back, I hope they can find better eating habits, because nobody can live Medifast or any other diet plan for life. I enjoy eating just like the next person, but food addiction is real and moderation is key to maintaining any weight loss. I've found Medifast to be succesful for me, and best of luck to others who try it.
posted May 4th, 2011 3:22 amAlan
-I was very happy with Medifast, especially after losing 60 lbs in 4 months. After one year I gained back 63lbs. I can't blame anyone for the weight coming back as I have poor eating habits. I was in a support group and under the care of a medical doctor and licensed dietician.
posted May 2nd, 2011 12:15 pmMy experience with this product was very positive until I stopped using it. I was on the after-diet maintenance program which also failed for me. I don't drink alcohol, take drugs or smoke. My addiction is junk food and have to change my eating habits for ever. My advice to anyone starting Medifast is to think about life after Medifast.
Ashley
-Medifast tastes awful...Newest best product out is Body by Vi nutritional shakes, almost the same concept but actually tastes good!
posted Apr 30th, 2011 5:22 pmkathy
-I got hives within a few hours of trying the first product. Two of the foods ( oatmeal, soup) I could not even finish. Chalky lumps in dishwater gray warm water for the oatmeal were gag-inducing. The soup did not hydrate properly and so the vegetables were like little rocks. The lemon bar was not bad but had a chemical taste to it. The chocolate shake was tolerable.
posted Apr 29th, 2011 5:00 pmWhen I told the Medifast rep I was covered in hives ( a first for me) he said to take Benadryl, but I felt that you should not have to take drugs to eat. So, I followed the return instructions and took out the four products I tried. I paid $284.50 and my return was initially indicated to be $220 ( with the cost of the items I had tried subtracted). I see my return was processed for $185. I paid $22 to ship is back, so I am out $122. Not much of a return policy if you ask me. BUYER BEWARE!!!