March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 46 F

Lose weight with relatively little effort with Medifast

medifast copy1Every now and we offer a personal or opinion piece here, and this is one of those times. I want to share a personal success story that is still evolving, but one that I feel many might be able to replicate. Weight loss.

Over the years, a sedentary lifestyle took root as I focused on raising my children. As expected, the weight climbed and exercise dwindled.  At the Chesapeake Wingstock in 2013, I ran into a friend whom I hadn’t seen in several months and he looked great. He had dropped a lot of weight and I asked how.  His answer was the Medifast program.  They happened to have a booth there and I stopped by and got the free sample “meal” (a granola-ish bar) and it was OK, but I was not really motivated to do anything else.

I ran across the same friend in late August–or maybe it is best to say I ignored him and totally walked past him. Honestly, there was ZERO recognition because of the weight he had lost.

I took stock of my life and realized that the timing in my life was good for such a program. Most of my kids were away at school (not too much junk in the house to tempt me), I had some more free time for exercise, and believe it or not, I had a little extra money because the kids were away at school.  So I took the plunge.

Fast forward to today. I have eaten the bars, shakes, snacks, and all. I have modified my diet–not too much, but enough to be cognizant that I needed to reduce portions and seriously consider food preparation. Scanning a menu now, I avoid anything that says breaded, fried, or cream.  I have joined the Pip Moyer Recreation Center and begun to walk–my goal is 5 miles a day at a decent pace. When the weather is nice, I will ride my bike.  I’d like to run a 5K or a 10K sometime this year to see if I can do it.

The results?  In 5.5 months, I have dropped 50 pounds and honestly feel so much better.  I have more to go on this journey and I am confident I will get there.

But let me be clear that before anyone thinks it is a magic pill–it’s not. The Medifast meals are not gourmet. They aren’t bad, but it does take some getting used to. Initially, there will be dreams of that double cheesesteak. You probably need to consider reducing any alcohol consumption (or eliminating it), and more than anything, you need to be committed to it.

Medifast has developed a program that works. Once you hit your goal weight, you go through a phase where you are weaned off the Medifast foods. Finally, you go through a phase where you periodically check in to make sure you are still on target or maintaining your new lifestyle. And it is about lifestyle. It is a change in lifestyle for sure. The diet itself is not horrible–I will go to Wendy’s and instead of ordering the regular chicken sandwich, I will opt for the grilled chicken. It’s not ideal, but it works.  There is a Medifast Weight Control Center at the Festival at Riva (in a strange sense of reverse irony it is almost next door to Chucky Cheese) with a staff that will counsel you and help you achieve the goal. Yes, the counseling part has a cost in addition to the food, but I feel it is worth it to have a coach on the sidelines to help you work through the program, answer questions, and do the analysis necessary to really chart your loss.

It may not be for you. It might be. I never would have considered it unless I had not recognized a friend. If you are looking to lose some weight–check it out!

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