Medifast diet is a low calorie diet which promises rapid weight loss; around 2-5 pounds per week. It was launched around 27 years ago. The most popular Medifast diet plan is known as “5 and 1″. Medifast diet plan consists of 5 meal replacements per day-generally shakes, but there are also soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot drinks, bars and puddings.

In addition to the meal replacements, there is one meal per day known as the “lean and green” meal. In this meal, a small portion of lean meat and 2 cups of salad or vegetables are eaten by the dieter.

Below mentioned are a few pointers about the medifast diet plan, which should be followed:

1. The lean meat must be grilled, poached, or baked but not fried.
2. You must eat every 2-3 hours.
3. You must drink a minimum of 64oz of fluid (water) per day.
4. Caloric intake is between 800-1000 calories per day in a medifast diet.

Weight loss, in the medifast diet plan, varies according to the stage of the diet plan. The weight lost in the first couple of weeks is always greater than that lost in the later weeks. There are special medifast diet plans which are made for different people, keeping in consideration everyone’s taste and physical condition. They are available for vegetarians, teens, new moms, seniors, people who have recently had weight loss surgery, and gout sufferers. Supplements are not needed with the Medifast diet.

There are many products and support available online for the medifast diet. Support services and educational material, consisting of exercise guides, nutrition information, online communities, personal trainers, and registered dietitians are available online, in person, or over the telephone to help dieters following the plan.

Medifast Diet Program

The benefit of following the Medifast diet program is the limited decision making. You can choose five daily meal replacements from a wide variety of portion-controlled shakes, puddings, eggs, oatmeal, chili, bars, or soups. Other than that, you have to prepare one "lean and green meal." Soy or whey protein are the basis for the meal replacements, which are designed in a way that they help dieters feel satisfied on the very low-calorie plan they are following.

People on the medifast diet are allowed to consume 5-7 daily ounces of lean meat or fish. The meal options are broken down into "lean," "leaner" and "leanest." If you choose leaner options, additional healthy fats are allowed. The lean meats and fish may be grilled, baked, boiled, broiled, or poached, but remember, not fried.

You can add three servings of raw, steamed, grilled, baked, or boiled vegetables to the lean meat or fish to complete the meal. This helps in eating healthy and consuming all the required nutrients to avoid fatigue. Vegetables which are highest in carbohydrates are to be avoided in a medifast diet plan. They are listed below:

1. Carrots
2. Corn
3. Peas
4. Potatoes
5. Onions
6. Brussels sprouts