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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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Best Way to Lose Weight on Nutrisystem

November 17, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment
Nutrisystem is a weight loss plan of pre-packaged meals  which offer portion control by being  individually portioned.The price depends on the auto-pay option you choose, but averages out to about what you spend monthly on food at a grocery store. This is a great way to afford to lose weight. Most people assume the Nutrisystem will be unreasonably priced, and that they could buy groceries for allot less. Truth is, it is actually less for some people depending on how you shop. Without having to count calories, carbohydrates or worry about measuring your food, the rate of success is high.
The tools that are provided with the Nutrisystem make it easy to follow. The best way to lose weight on the Nutrisystem weight loss program is to follow the plan exactly and use all the resources provided. NutriSystemis so successful for a few reasons. First, the program is very easy to follow. You are given a large variety of “safe” choices, but there is no shopping, counting calories, adding points, tallying calories versus exercise, etc. You are also allowed to have a good bit of carbs and snacks and foods that make you feel like you are cheating when in fact, you’re quite safe. You are also given a lot of leeway on adding fresh fruits, vegetables and low fat addition to your meals, offering you further variety. Plus, the plan is ultra convenient. You can easily take the meals with you. And, it’s a great plan for busy people who don’t want to have to prepare or think about what they should eat.
With it so easy to follow, people stay on it and therefore get results that they can see right away.
The best way to lose weight on Nutrisystem is to want to. It may no sound like much, but being in the right frame of mind to lose weight is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. The weight you gained didn’t go on overnight so you won’t see results right away . Be prepared for this aspect. It can be extremely frustrating, so being prepared for this will mentally help you stay on the right track  throughout this journey. Many people use the online chat system to get support. Utilizing the tools that are available online and through telephone support let’s you get the best of the plan that is offered.

A 2005 Consumer Reports study concluded that a diet with controlled-portions like NutriSystem’s was most effective in guaranteeing weight loss. Another study consisting of 302 overweight volunteers, conducted at five different medical centers, found that those who ate the prepared meals lost three times as much weight in a year as those who were not following a controlled-portion diet.

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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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Best Exercises to Lose Weight in a Pool

November 8, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Exercise can’t get pretty mundane  pretty fast. Why not change it up by exercising in a pool? Many perks come with water aerobics. If your not sure about how this can work for you, there are some definite ways to get yourself in shape. If it’s something you haven’t tried before you may want to experience how exercise works in a pool. Losing weight requires dedication, but also exercise.  There some challenging exercises you can preform to make sure that you receive the optimum benefit for water workouts.

Water Roman Chair: In deep water, float either on a tube or two kickboards (resting under your arms). Place your feet together and bend your knees up to at least waist-level, pause briefly and return. Repeat 8-10 times.

Lateral Raises: Stand in shoulder-deep water with arms hanging straight down against your sides. Slowly extend both arms straight out to the sides all the way up to the water-level. Pause briefly and repeat.

Swim/Walk interval laps: Swim 1-2 laps (use any swim form you prefer: crawl, backstroke, etc). Walk 1-2 laps in the pool. Repeat sequence 4-6 times.

Water Squats:Stand in the water with feet about hip-width apart. Bend your knees slightly as you push your hips back as if you are sitting on a chair. Keep your knees behind your toes. Keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. Squeeze your glutes as you raise up. Return to start position and repeat. The water provides extra resistance and makes this move more challenging.

Wave Jumps (for those with access to the ocean or a wave-simulator): Stand in knee-deep or less water. Each time a wave comes attempt to jump over it. Note: this is a more advanced move that requires good balance and strong swimming skills. Do not attempt this move unless you have experience swimming in waves.

Water Jogging: Can be done with the use of flotation devices where your feet don’t touch the ground or the traditional way of actually jogging in the water. If using a flotation device, run in place with your feet never touching the ground. If on the ground, try running 1-2 laps and then resting for 60 seconds. It’s more challenging in deep water and less in shallow water.

Water workouts are great for toning and burning calories. With the water acting as a resistance barrier, exercising becomes more difficult and there for requires more strength and intensity. This will burn your calories more quickly. For those with severe arthritis or other joint problems, it offers the perfect alternative to lifting weights.

You really can tone up in the pool. Just like weight training, your muscles are contracting against resistance, becoming stronger with each session.The wonderful thing about water is that it gives you natural resistance with absolutely no impact to the joints which means this type pf exercise is good for any age, or any weight. If  exercising has always been the deterrent to your weight loss this is the ideal form of exercise.

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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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How to Lose Water Weight

October 22, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Retaining excess fluids can leave a person feeling puffy, bloated and miserable. When this happens it can feel like nothing will ever fit right. You may be wondering what you can do to make your clothes feel like they can fit again. You may be suprised to learn that few alterations in your diet can help you with how to lose the water weight.

Salt is a major player in water retention. Reducing the salt in your diet can be the key factor in how you loose water weight. For the average person, water comprises about 70 percent of our total body weight. Muscle tissue contains about 75 percent water while body fat holds around 50 percent water. Read all your labels to gain the knowledge of how much sodium is in the food your consuming. Don’t stop there, beverages can be full of sodium. Look at the next bottle of soda you try to buy as soda is extremely high in sodium.

It may not seem possible, but try drinking eight ounces of water a day. Your body will begin to start shedding the water it’s been  holding on too. Many people get frustrated with this attempt to lose water weight because you don’t see result immediately and for those who aren’t big water drinkers, it can’t be a difficult routine to adapt. If your in need of  ideas of how to make the water go down a little easier, try introducing a little squeeze of lemon or lime into your water. It’s a natural diuretic and can help give flavour to your water. Hopefully the infusion of citrus helps you get into the routine.

If the water weight is still not coming off, why not try a natural diuretic? Diuretics help flush out your system of any excess fluids. Using a percription can be extremely harsh on your system, so try to avoid using them unless necessary. If  your body tends to accumulate excess fluids, it’s best to make a visit to your doctor to learn the cause. Diuretics are often prescribed to help those suffering from edema (accumulation of fluids in the body tissues).

As with everything else that is weight loss, adding exercise to your routine will help in any weight loss effort. Trying to start this process may take time and effort. It will be discouraging as loosing water weight can have you feeling uncomfortable from the bloating. It is definitely a routine that needs to be incorporated into your daily living in order to see results. For most people, trying to drink excess amounts of water and exercise when not normally accustom to it will be the most challenging. Stick to it, and you will see results.

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10 Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

October 20, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

The holiday season is fast approaching and so is the weight gain that accompanies it. Here are a few tips to help keep the weight gain in perspective.

Tip One – Keep Up at the Gymholiday diet

Many times the holiday seasons come, and we fall off the wagon. There is an air of relaxation with the holiday season and we take it to literally.  Try not to get off track as your “derailment” will be the cause of an excess weight gain. Just because you don’t have to get up and go to work , doesn’t mean you don’t have to get up and go to the gym.  Keep the momentum going!

Tip Two – Avoid Extra Eating

All to often the holidays are riddled with extra eating. There is the holidays parties, the office gatherings and the social get together. This means many extra little tasty treats to sample, with delectable offerings that you would otherwise not be eating. Keep these tom a minimum. You don’t have to sample everything, at every party. Get more into the social aspect and less into the eat aspect and you should avoid those extra pounds.

Tip Three – Too Many Drinks

We forget that those extra beverages can catch up with us. Several cocktails later, while you may not have eaten all those holidays treats, the extra glasses of beer are having the same effect.  Conversation can be the replacement for drinking, so try to nurse your drinks and keep the conversation flowing.

Tip Four – Watch Your Carbohydrates

Nothing says holidays more, than mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls and pies. Sure they are wonderful to eat but they do catch up with you. Try eating one or the other instead of opting for ALL. The extra carbs your eating at a  holiday meal along with your breakfast and lunch carbs just might be the overload that tips the scales.

Tip Five – Outside Activities

Staying active might help your holiday bulge. Try snowshoeing, cross country skiing or even ice skating to keep fit over the holidays. These activities are in keeping with the season, letting you enjoy your holidays with friends and family all while staying fit. You couldn’t ask for a better compromise.

Tip Six – Eat Light In Between

With your plate overflowing in holiday gluttony, it is imperative that other meals be small. You do still need to eat to keep your metabolism going, however make it light. Salads, fresh veggies and fruit are great options to feel full without the calories.

Tip Seven – Say No to Desserts

It gets overwhelming with how many desserts and sweet treats are being offered to you during the holidays. Why not just say no? If you finally feel that you have had enough don’t be afraid to say it. Enjoying one or two is quite enough for the holidays otherwise you will sucking in to do up your pants in no time.

Tip Eight – Replace Specialties Coffee

Holidays make it almost irresistible to indulge in the treats the season gives us. Specialty coffee’s while delicious are calorie overloads. Why not pass on the added calories and just have a black coffee instead.

Tip Nine – Drink Lots of Water

Try to continue to keep hydrated. Water is an essential part of your daily intake, especially if your going to be eating calorie induce foods. Flushing out your system and keeping a steady stream of fluid intake will also help you feel full throughout the day, letting you eat less.

Tip Ten – Portion Control

Keep it in perspective. Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you should eat all of it. Try selecting small portions which will enable you to try a little of everyone but not over it. Portion control helps you feel as though you can enjoy the whole meal without feeling guilty for eating to much. This is always the key for maintaining a healthy weight.

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