Hi I am 42 years old and tierd of being overweight. I am 3. 5 stone over weight and want it to go now. I am looking at different programmes and would love to hear from people who have tried this type of diet.
Have you tried lighterlife or a meal replacement diet and did weight stay of?
February 28, 2010 Leave a Comment
Losing Weight with Medifast – Does it Work?
February 23, 2010 Leave a Comment
I’ve lost sixty pounds on Medifast. I’m often asked for tips on how to make this diet work faster or better. Here are three tips compiled from the things that I think contributed most to my success on this program.
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Make Additions Or Enhancements To The Meals: For the most part, the medifast food is pretty good. However, sometimes you will want something different or will want more variety. One easy way to do this is to add sugar and fat free syrups. There are numerous choices (caramel, cherry, apple cinnamon, etc.) and these can be added to the shakes, oatmeal, pudding, fruit drinks, lattes, cappuccinos, and crackers. The possibilities are endless. You can also mix some items together. For example, the cocoa mixed with the latte is a very good mocha coffee in the morning.
Additionally, I add fat free cheese, fat free sour cream and salsa to the eggs, soup, stew and chili. I sometimes also add a fat free tortilla to make either a burrito or a breakfast wrap. You can also take the pudding and oatmeal and use them as the main ingredient in low fat cookies and muffins. Taking these liberties has not slowed my weight loss in any way. In fact, it has helped me stick to the program and has contributed to my success.
2. Embrace Fun Exercise That Doesn’t Feel Like A Workout: I used to absolutely hate exercise, but now I really do love it. It gives me a feeling of happiness and power. However, no where is it written that exercise has to be a chore. You don’t have to choose any activity that you don’t like. The key is to take what you enjoy and make it a workout. For example, my daughter and I often walked after dinner, but I never broke a sweat and this activity was doing me no good physically. Now, my daughter roller blades or rides her bike while I power walk with ankle weights or a weight vest. Sometimes I garden with the weight vest. I try to complete twenty minutes of movement and five to ten minutes of toning each day. That has been more than enough to make huge changes in my weight and how my body looks.
3. Once You’re Happy And Comfortable, Keep Repeating The Process: I have no doubt that the biggest factor in my weight loss has been sticking with the program. My routine is now a habit. I no longer have to think about it. Once you’ve experimented with the foods and exercises and have found the combination that makes you happy, comfortable and effective, just keep it up. Eventually it will become a habit. A few pounds each week will eventually add up to huge losses over several weeks.
The key is to make the program fun and appealing to you so that you will stick with it. Small changes will eventually become a new, healthy lifestyle that can contribute to your losing a great deal of weight on this program.
Meal Replacement Diets – What Ones Work?
February 6, 2010 Leave a Comment
When struggling with weight loss, sometimes individuals turn to meal replacement diets to try to loose weight. Diets such as these are not designed to be liquid diets but rather replace an entire meal while providing the same nutritional content in order for the body to receive all the vitamins it needs to boost your metabolism and get you on a healthy track.
Meal Replacement Diets Designed for Rapid Weight Loss
Popular meal replacements like ”Slim Fast “offer a meal replacement shake for breakfast and lunch while eating a calorie wise supper. Along with two healthy snacks a day, this is the entire meal plan which keeps your body fuelled with all the vitamins and nutrients it needs. The idea behind these programs is to correct poor eating behaviour, and supplement what isn’t is your regular diet with what you need to have a well balanced meal. This means that all of the needed vitamins, minerals, and often Omega-3 and anti-oxidants, are divided among the five or six products that an individual will consume in one day.
In addition, when on a meal replacement the individual is requested to include at least one “normal” meal or to supplement the diet products with lean meats or fish, a variety of low-carbohydrate vegetables, and fruit. While some diets will support low calorie intake, it is basically the same idea. The meal that you do eat must be healthy and not loaded full of carbs or calories. Some diets include skim milk, others don’t allow dairy in the weight-loss stage of the program, each meal replacement program has different requirements. The products that are affiliated with meal replacements plancs range from shakes, bars and puddings (in powder form to which one adds water), to hot cereal, soups, and other items depending on the particular plan and what they have to offer.
How Does Nutrisystem’s Plan Work?
The Nutrisystem program provides prepackaged, non-refrigerated diet meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks. The meals are low calorie, and get a significant portion of their complete nutrition with the added fresh fruit and vegetables. The system is based on low glycemic carbs, with enough protein and fiber that the body needs for proper metabolism. The meal replacement is this case is not is not in the form of a shake but rather pre packaged meals.
The Medifast Replacement Plan
Medifast’s retail program offers prepackaged diet meal replacement foods including shakes, soups, bars, pudding, drinks and cereals.You have several forms of meal replacement offered to you in order to supplement your eating.The two programs are exactly the same, and the cost is equivalent, so it might be advisable if one is serious about losing a significant amount of weight to consult one’s doctor to find a local sponsor of the program. The medical supervision is particularly important for diabetics, those with heart disease, those over 70, and those who are trying to avoid bariatric surgery.
Medifast’s method is the “5 and 1 diet program” based on five MediFast meals a day and one low calorie, low fat meal prepared from fresh foods. Their plan is designed to be calorie deficient (between 800–1000 calories a day), which forces the body to use fat for energy. Each meal replacement product has exactly 110 calories and the daily total provides all the nutrients and protein needed.
As what true of anything, following the instructions will ensure your success. Meal replacements are designed for the dieter to think they can eat poorly in other areas. These replacements on their own won’t contribute to weight loss unless done in conjunction with the components of the plan. Loosing weight will be a struggle, but worth the end result if you apply yourself.
