Medifast is a well known weight loss program designed to offer quick and easy results. Developed by doctors, the low-calorie Medifast 5 & 1 Plan allows dieters to consume five prepackaged Medifast meals per day and one healthy home-made meal. While the diet sounds simple, it is not as easy to follow as it seems and has several cons.
Too Few Calories
The biggest downfall of the Medifast diet is the lack of calories. Dieters following the plan typically consume only about 1,000 calories per day. Low calorie diets cannot only leave users hungry and irritable, but also cause physical harm. Medifast recommends completing the program under the supervision of a physician and offers tips such as, "stay busy and occupied" and "avoid tempting sights and smells of foods until you're strong" to counteract hunger pangs.
Exercise is Discouraged
Due to the diet's low caloric intake, Medifast dieters are encouraged to forego exercise for the first few weeks. The plan materials state, "You should wait two to three weeks before you begin an exercise program ... if you already exercise, cut back on your workout routine by half (decrease intensity, time or frequency) for your first couple of weeks on Medifast while your body adjusts to the lower calorie food intake." After allowing time to acclimate to the diminished caloric load, dieters are forbidden to exercise for more than 45 minutes a day while following the program.
High Cost
Because dieters are required to consume five Medifast prepackaged meals per day, the cost can be quite high. Typical meals consist of shakes, bars and various powdered substances. Foods are sold individually and in weekly or monthly packages. According to 2010 prices, dieters should plan on spending several hundred dollars per month to remain on the plan.
Monotony and Taste
Dieters on the Medifast weight loss program often complain about the taste and monotony of the food. Most meals are made by mixing powered substances with water and are cooked in a microwave. Powdered meals, such as soups and eggs, are staples of the diet and often lack flavor. The majority of the selections are bland and have abnormal, unique odors. In fact, users of the Medifast online forums often trade tips on how to "doctor" the foods to improve the consistencies, tastes and smells.
While the Medifast diet plan is an effective means of losing weight, it has many cons. Dieters often find the plan's negative aspects outweigh its benefits.
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