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What is the Difference Between Medifast & Optifast Weight Loss Programs?

November 18, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

I’ve lost over 40 pounds on Medifast and I am often asked this question. I think because both diet plans have the word “fast” in the name, many people assume that they are similar.

However, in researching Medifast and in finding information for this article, I know that there are some people who chose to consume nothing but the Medifast liquids for a few weeks and then transition to the solids, hoping for quicker or more dramatic weight loss.

The main difference that I can see between the two diet plans is that Optifast requires doctor’s supervision at a special clinic. You must go in weekly for a weigh in and consultation. Medifast, although doctor supervised, researched and backed, (with studies from Studies conducted by researchers from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health), is widely available on the internet without doctor intervention. Of course, no one would argue that medical advice can’t hurt in any situation. Although my doctor is hugely impressed with my progress, he doesn’t monitor my choices.

Medifast does offer a bit more variety. Optifast offers three flavors of shakes and some soups. Medifast offers shakes as well (with a bit more choices) but also has lattes, cappuccinos, teas, fruit drinks, and a wider variety of soup choices. I can vouch that all of these items are pretty decent tasting, especially if you use sugar free syrups in the shakes and drinks for variety. (Adding shaved ice to the fruit drinks makes a pretty mean snow cone.)

Medifast is also cheaper as far as I can tell. The pricing I found for Optifast indicated a cost of $110 per week. My cost for Medifast is about $8-$10 per day, which is at least $100 per month cheaper.

I should disclose that although I am currently on Medifast, I am not on a liquid only diet. I do currently include the solids on the five plus one plan (oatmeals, chili, eggs, puddings, bars, etc.) I find that these extremely low calorie, high protein options work very effectively for me. I’m down to a size eight and have gained 2 inches in height.

I have had a huge amount of success on the five plus one plan and can recommend it to anyone, but I hope this article has helped show some of the differences between Optifast and Medifast.

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Medifast Weight Loss Program, Faster Weight Loss Treatment

November 18, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

You may have have no problem making the decision to lose weight. After all, your clothes will fit better, you will feel better about your body, you will get your health back, or have a lot more energy. But what is the best weight loss program?

There is a huge number of weight loss programs to choose from, however, there is only one that meets our criteria of being backed by real doctors and teaching you how to break your poor eating and cooking habits. It’s the Medifast weight loss program.

Medifast leads to faster weight loss than traditional diets, typically 2-5 pounds per week, however, most of that is FAT loss while other diet plans cause weight loss from WATER loss which can be very dangerous to your health. In short, Medifast is part control, low-calorie intake and good nutrition. The Medifast weight loss program can result in more weight lost in a shorter amount of time than other weight loss programs or diet plans you’ve tried in the past. The average Medifast participants loses about 2-5 pounds per week. In the Medifast Diet Plan, you get to eat 6 times a day. 5 Medifast meals and you cook your own “lean and green” meal.

Medifast isn’t a starvation diet. The plan is centered around eating a total of 6 times a day, which means you eat every 2-3 hours. There are more than 60 different Medifast meals to choose from and the cost for it is often less than the cost of eating out, and it is much better for you. You will be avoiding the high sodium, high fat and high sugar from eating out. Plus, you will be getting all the nutrients you need as the diet plan is backed by doctors.

Variety is the spice of life. In order for any diet to succeed, you have to have variety and Medifast has it. Medifast has various types of dishes are prepared and packaged for you, the Medifast diet program gives you the option of designing your own menu. These foods, like various other packages, can also be prepared in advance by you. Preparation is usually just a matter of adding water, and if you can’t eat it right then, your Medifast meal can then be stored in a thermos bottle in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.

When you join Medifast you are never on your own. Medifast created “MyMedifast” at no extra cost to you. Medifast participants are given the tools, information and live support to ensure successful weight loss. You can not help but benefit from this community of users. There are also tools for motivation, nutrition, planning meals, and a good exercise.

Choose a weight loss program that matches your goals. The Medifast weight loss program is clinically proven to be a safe and effective way to lose weight. The program does not use stimulants or other products that may be dangerous to your body such as ephedrine. More than 25 years, 1 million customers and 20,000 physician recommendations later, the successful clinically proven Medifast weight loss program is the effective weight loss solution you have been searching for.

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Medifast Weight Loss – The Safest & Easiest Way to Lose Weight

November 17, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

There are a lot of weight loss programs available now but only a few of them actually work. It is a good thing, though, that those few can really promise great results.

One of these promising weight loss programs is Medifast Weight Loss and I can personally assure you that this is one of the most effective and safe diet plans ever. My friends can also attest to this as they have personally tried this diet plan. For only a few months, they were able to get rid of their excess weight and have a body shape that they can be proud of. They used to just wear loose clothing because they could not wear anything tight and still look good at the same time.

We all know how it is difficult to have weight issues and how much most people spend just by trying to lose weight. Losing weight is not actually an easy thing to do but if you work on it, you would really get the results that you want. All you have to do is get a diet plan that actually works and follow the rules under it faithfully.

Make sure that you do not stray from the instructions and perform all the necessary steps with all your heart. It would also help if you maintain a positive outlook while undergoing the weight loss program so that you would be able to see better results once the program ends. Having a positive outlook would also take a lot of the difficulties that come when undergoing a diet program so as long as you do not think negatively while on the course of the program, you will have an easy time while losing weight.

With Medifast Weight Loss, you can pretty much guarantee that you would lose that excess weight as long as you stick with the replacement meals. The meals are really so healthy that it would be impossible for you not to lose weight. They are filled with vegetables, making it a low carbohydrate and a low calorie diet. The diet program focuses more on protein, causing your body to build more muscles and get rid of that unhealthy fat that is causing you to become overweight.

What you would love from this weight loss program even more is that you would never go hungry while following it. You will just become healthier and your body will become younger looking. Medifast has been around since 1980 and Medifast Diet Plan has been recommended by 20,000 doctors since 1980. This statistics alone prove that Medifast diet plan works!

If you are tired of wasting money on useless weight loss equipment or diet plans, then its about time you take control of your health with Medifast Diet Plan.

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Why Many Fail At Their Weight Loss Diet Plans

October 29, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Losing weight is never an easy battle. Some people struggle for years, even decades to lose or maintain their body weight. With weight loss being the struggle that it is, it’s not hard to understand that many will fail. Most who attempt to lose weight will never achieve their weight loss goal for many reason, and are likely to give up. With failure at such a rapid rate, how can anyone  reach success? Knowing why many people fail at diet plans and weight loss is already half the battle.

Planning

Many people start a diet plan with good intention. That’s about as far as they get. Lack of proper information on how to eat and when to exercise derails their weight loss train. Successful weight loss is comprised of diet and exercise. No gimmicks, no crash diets, no fads. Starting your weight loss plan will be successful if you plan for it. Attempting to lose weight must happen with the proper foundation and supplies. Filling your cupboards and fridge the best nutritional options for eating will arm you for your battle. Planning out your weekly meals will help you stay on track with your plan, and give you the confidence to stick with it.

Giving yourself two healthy snacks a day will let you pack and plan some real healthy snack choices to have on hand to get your into the routine. Most weight loss plans fail when people are unprepared for proper nutritional meals. Choosing “convenience” meals often are the fall back when things get hectic, causing the bad habits to overtake any planning that was in place. Start out slow, avoid eating out until you are sure you have the knowledge to make the healthy choices at a restaurant.  Once you are comfortable with yourself and your judgement you can incorporate dining out back into you plan.

Eating right isn’t the only planning that needs to occur for a successful diet plan. Planning in some exercise will help boost your metabolism and get you active. This is an important part of your diet plan that needs to occur in order for success.  Don’t be unrealistic in your planning. Starting out to big may cause failure almost immediately. Choose realistic time and a realistic exercise. If you haven’t engaged in much exercise before start by going for a thirty minute walk, even just three times a week. Get a on schedule of a time that works for you, and stick to it. Thirty minutes isn’t a lot to commit to but will show you a difference.

Motivation

Perhaps the most pivotal piece in weight loss is motivation. Staying motivated will dictate whether or not you are going to succeed at your new found lifestyle. Don’t assume that motivation should come from other channels. Motivation can be in any form. Whether it’s hanging that pair of jeans that are too small on the door, showcasing a thinner picture of yourself that you want to return too, or even just keeping a weight loss journal to track your success. Don’t wait for a pat on the back from someone else to keep you going. Knowing your achieving your goal will be by staying on the course that you have mapped out. keep yourself motivated by having a calender visible that shows everyday you have completed on this journey.

The simple things that you commit to for weight loss will be the cause of your down fall or your success. Choose those things that will ensure you stay on the right track to achieve the plans you have put into place.

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Downfalls of Restrictive Weight Loss Surgery

October 25, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

The battle to lose weight can be life long to some. A constant struggle that is ongoing every day all day.  It can run your life, it can create depression, for some it can drive their self esteem so low they are unable to function. It’s no wonder that people turn to restrictive weight loss surgery. While it may appear that this is the  solution to your weight loss problems, there are down falls of restrictive weight loss surgery that need to be considered.

Complications

Some eight eight percent of  patients receive complications from restrictive weight loss surgery. While some of these complications can be mild such as nausea and vomiting, these symptoms can persist and even worsen. Other complications like infections can occur and be severe.

Stomach Problems

With a weight  loss restrictive  surgery, a portion of the stomach is tied off and the small intestines adjusted for the proper amount of food intake. Whether you use a “LapBand” surgery or have “Gastric Bypass” the end results are still the same. Patients complain of repeated stomach upset and intestinal problems. These symptoms can range from  vomiting and reflux, to constipation and diarrhea. It may sound mild, but with all these symptoms occurring, the problems can last all day everyday which will leave you in constant discomfort.

In general restrictive weight loss surgery is a major operation and carries with it the risks and hazards of one. Wound infections or leaks are a real hazard of this surgery. Internal infections can be known to be deadly which is part of the risk that  you must take into account. As well there is the risk of having to undergo a second surgery by reopening the site to adjust the stomach if it has be made to small or the band attached it too tight. This proves to make the patient susceptible to infection internally again.

Please also note that obesity surgery is not a miracle procedure or an easy way out. After an otherwise successful operation, it is possible to ignore your instructions and “out eat” the operation, thereby failing to lose weight or reversing an initial weight loss at a later time.  A quick over view of complications can look like the following;

As with any surgery, there can be complications. This list can include:

  • Deep vein thrombophlebitis
  • Non-fatal pulmonary embolus
  • Pneumonia
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Splenectomy
  • Gastric leak and fistula
  • Duodenal leak
  • Distal Roux-en-Y leak
  • Postoperative bleeding
  • Duodenal stomal obstruction
  • Small bowel obstruction
  • Death

When making the decision to proceed with an weight loss surgery, you need to know all of the risks associated with it. Talking to your health care provider  at length is key, but it may help you to join a discussion group. Talk to patients who have received the surgery to inform yourself of what life after the surgery is like. Give yourself allot of time to get used to the idea of this surgery and know the commitment it will take. There are disadvantages to it, and they will need to be weighed against the advantages.

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How to Avoid Weight Loss Difficulties

October 22, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Starting the journey of weight loss is never easy and requires some serious dedication. Doing everything possible in order to avoid any possibly difficulties is your best line of defense. Knowing how to create an environment that allows you to avoid weight loss difficulties will be your key to success. There are some preventative measures that can be taken when you commit to your weight loss journey.

Stay Motivated

Keeping your spirits high during the course of your weight loss will help your overall outlook on the process. Whether its keep a journal of your progress, rewarding yourself with new purchases for goals that are reached, or simply getting words of encouragement from your partner all count. This can be a daunting frustrating road. Especially when you feel that you are alone in this battle, the need for encouragement is huge. Anyone who needs to loose weight knows that self esteem is an issue that always presents itself and therefor always must be addressed.

Drink Plenty of Water

Keeping yourself hydrated will help you avoid snacking and overeating. Keeping your fluid level intake up helps you feel full and keeps your body in optimum health. Avoiding cravings for food outside of meals or perhaps feeling fuller longer will help you cut out the need for the extras that help put weight on.

Avoid Late Night Eating

If you are satisfied with your food at dinner, then eating in late nights is not because you are hungry. It may be a result of habit, boredom, stress, or fatigue after working hard in daytime. Late night eating usually leads to overeating and weight gain. To avoid late night eating there are a number of things you can do. Drink plenty of water to help avoid snacking, after dinner exercise will keep you occupied and stop you from raiding the refrigerator.

To avoid weight loss difficulties don’t get hung up on a “bad day”. If for some reason an instance occurs that prevents you from keeping your regular routine, it is not time to pack it in. It is important for you to remember that we all have our bad days, and one time does not negate all the hard work you have put it.

Constant support will be the one thing that helps you avoid any difficulties. This support should come from you. Give yourself the credit you require for taking on this very difficult task. Even if you haven’t yet even lost a pound, knowing that you can and will do it is the confidence that will make sure you succeed.

Make smart choices and know that weight loss takes time and dedication when it is done correctly. Provide yourself plenty of information on the correct ways to loose weight and even gain the support of your health care practitioner during this time for any additional support or information that can help you along the way.

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Weight Loss Recipes – Veggie Guacamole

October 12, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

When it comes to finding snacks that are low in calories and good for you, it seems to be a very difficult find. There are massive amounts of food out there that are not good for you, and seems to be difficult to find the ones that are good for you. Now instead of dealing with the battle, why not make some delicious weight loss recipes like our Veggie Guacamole. This is a recipe that is quite delicious and good for you, making it a great snack you’ll want to eat all the time.

Ingredients:veggie guacamole

  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup canned black beans, drained
  • 1 cup cooked corn (canned, fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon green onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon jalapeno peppers, chopped (optional)

Directions:

  1. Mash avocados in a bowl
  2. Add lemon juice and salt, then mix in the remaining ingredients

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1/4 cup (70 g)
Servings Per Recipe: 14

Amount per serving

  • Calories 77
  • Calories from fat 41
  • Total Fat 5 g
  • Saturated Fat 1 g
  • Cholesterol 0 mg
  • Sodium 34 mg
  • Total Carbohydrates 8 g
  • Dietary Fiber 3 g
  • Sugars 0 g
  • Protein 2 g
  • Vitamin A 6%
  • Vitamin C 10%
  • Calcium 0%
  • Iron 4%

For those looking for more weight loss recipes come back often! We are going to continuously bring you more and more weight loss recipes to help you with your dieting adventure.

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Can You Use Supplements for Fast Weight Loss?

October 11, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Have you ever had an occasion  to be concerned with easy and fast weight loss? Most people can imagine a time when they’ve been concerned with their weight and have wanted a quick fix.The temptation to use over-the-counter weight-loss pills to lose weight fast is strong. Are these products safe and effective?Whatever the reason for wanting fast weight loss, turning to supplements has long been a temptation for many.  Can they really help you to shed pounds quickly  and safely?

What Are They?

Typically when it comes to fast weight loss, there are two types of weight loss supplements – those that raise metabolism and those which suppress the appetite. Both of these may contribute to fast weight loss, but is it healthy? Your metabolism of course is the rate at which you burn calories; a faster metabolism means that you’re burning calories more even when you’re at rest contributing to regular weight loss. When you exercise your body has demands put upon it and it works after your activity is over to meet those demands. In other words, it continues to work even after you stop exercising to help repair muscles and feed itself.

Raising the metabolism can work for fast weight loss and some supplements do just that. To what degree is unknown. Green tea and chromium are thought to help raise metabolism, although cannot be proven that they are completely safe. There are many supplements on the market  but how can companies sell potentially unsafe products? Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs. Thus, they can be sold with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Once a product is on the market, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors its safety and can take action to ban or recall dangerous products. Protein is also used to help build muscle and in turn this can help with fast weight loss.

Appetite suppressants are available in abundance and over the counter. The issue here is the unknown effect appetite suppressants can have on your body. Even though there are some that are “recognized”, this truly only means they are marketed more than the others. Herbal weight loss supplements offer the “natural way” to loose weight, when the combination of ingredients can leave you dehydrated.

Of course not all supplements that promise fast weight loss are safe and effective. Some just contain caffeine and other stimulants and these do nothing but raise the heart rate and increase blood pressure. These are very dangerous and damaging and can lead to long-term problems. Excess amounts of caffeine can leave you irritable, unable to sleep and extremely anxious.   If you’re considering trying weight-loss pills, be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you have health problems or take prescription drugs. Why? For one thing, your doctor can provide support and advice on losing weight, and can monitor your progress.

There is no “magic bullet” quick fix to weight loss. No  products will miraculously solve your weight problems. Keep in mind that even if you take a weight-loss pill, you still have to eat fewer calories than your body uses in order to lose weight.  Even if these products help you lose weight initially, you will probably have to keep taking them to keep the weight off, which may not be practical or safe.

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Natural Weight Loss Foods

September 22, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Losing weight is harder than it should be. There is conflicting theories everywhere: take this vitamin, don’t take that vitamin; do this, don’t do that. The good news is that you don’t have to take any supplements or drugs to lose weight; you don’t have to starve yourself.

Natural weight loss foods are foods that speed up your fat-burning process.  These fat-burning foods, also known as thermogenic foods, naturally speed up your metabolism. Here are 10 foods that will naturally help you lose weight.

1.       Foods containing Vitamin C. Vitamin C converts fat into liquid so our body flushes it out. So drink up that orange juice! Acidic fruits contain vitamin C; add these to your daily menu.

2.       Foods with Pectin. Pectin is a fiber; it helps you feel fuller longer so that you don’t eat as much. Foods that contain pectin include apples, bananas, berries, carrots and sweet potatoes.

3.       Calcium. Research has proven that a high calcium diet from low-fat dairy products helps burn fat quicker. In studies done on mice, calcium supplements resulted in a loss of 42% of body fat, while those on a medium-level of calcium in their diets lost 60% of their body fat, and those on a high calcium diet lost 69% of their body fat.

4.       High Protein Foods. Protein is important in weight loss because they help control your appetite. Be sure to eat enough protein in your diet, but don’t add extra; an overabundance of protein can be just as harmful as not getting enough.

5.       Oatmeal. Eating a nice bowl of oatmeal in the morning is a great way to get fiber in your diet and kick start your metabolism. Military studies have suggested that eating oatmeal can raise your metabolism as much as 10%.

6.       Whole Grains. Complex carbohydrates and fiber both help pump up your metabolism by keeping insulin levels low. High insulin levels tells your body to store more of the food as fat; whole grains are beneficial because they prevent insulin spikes, thus preventing our bodies from storing the food as fat.

7.       Jalepenos. Believe it or not, jalapenos help raise your metabolism. They contain a chemical that raises your heartbeat and your metabolism at the same time.

8.       One spicy meal a day. Studies have shown that eating at least one spicy meal per day can raise your metabolism for up to 3 hours after a meal. So add some cayenne pepper dishes to your meal for an extra kick!

9.       Green tea. Green tea speeds up the brain and nervous system, allowing your body to burn fat quicker. Mixing caffeine with 90 mg of green tea can help you burn an extra 80 calories per day. This can be a great addition to the calories you’re burning through regular exercise.

10.   Caffeine. Yes, your daily cup of coffee can help you burn more calories. Caffeine speeds up your heart rate, which helps speed your metabolism. Obviously, you want to stay away from the sugary flavored coffees and cappuccinos, and go light on the sweeteners. Add some skim milk to a cup of coffee and jump start your calorie burning!

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Tips for Quick Weight Loss

August 15, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Effective Rapid Weight Loss Tips

Being overweight affects a person in many ways: overall quality of life, self-esteem, depression, health risks, and physical capabilities. To lose weight fast and effectively, three aspects of life need to be changed: what you eat, how often you eat, and activity level.

The following weight loss tips will help you meet your weight loss goals.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #1

Weight loss requires both a healthy weight loss diet AND exercise. Incorporate at least fifteen minutes a day like quick walking, running, swimming, or dancing.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #2

Set realistic goals; avoid simply saying “I want to lose 50 lbs by Christmas”. Milestones give you small successes, limiting the chances of failure.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #3

Listen to your body’s cues; when exercising, push yourself to the point of soreness NOT pain. Building muscles helps boost your metabolism because muscle burns calories faster than fat.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #4

Eat foods with fiber; fiber makes you feel fuller quicker, taking longer to digest.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #5

Opt for grilled meats instead of fried foods. Frying foods adds a lot of fat that is detrimental to weight loss.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #6

Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day keeps the body hydrated. Weight loss depends on how well the body handles waste elimination; water plays a huge part in our bodies waste processes, so it’s vital to drink enough water.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #7

Eat a low calorie diet. One gram of fat contains double the calories of a single gram of protein or carbohydrate, so choose foods low in fat but high in protein and carbs.

Rapid Weight Loss Tip #8

Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. Stick to the schedule, and don’t skip any days!

If you do not exercise, you put the whole burden of weight loss on the diet. If you become more active, you can eat more of the foods you like and still lose weight. The secret is to find an exercise that you enjoy doing. If you do not like the treadmill, try swimming, ballet, cycling or tennis, which burn more calories than walking.

Are you looking for further weight loss help or a healthy weight loss diet? Then make sure to take the time to get all the health questions you have answered right here at Rachael West Designs. We offer a variety of weight loss tips and information to help you improve your health for many years to come.

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