The Medi-Fast program involves eating six times a day. Five
of the meals are supplied by the company in the form of little packages of
dehydrated food that you re-hydrate, usually with water, and if the meal needs
to be cooked, throw in a microwave for a few minutes. It’s very simple, and
very easy, and leaves no clean-up or dishes. I like that part. The food comes
via UPS in one big carton that contains many smaller boxes, each labeled with
the meal type and varying from tomato bisque to chicken rice soup, with detours
through brownies and chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal. There’s a big enough
variety to prevent boredom. These meals are all low in carbohydrates and
calories and high in things like protein, and each package contains all the
minerals and vitamins necessary to good health.
The other
meal is familiarly known as “lean and green” and is left to your discretion, to
choose your ingredients at home or from a restaurant menu. “Lean” means lean
meat – lots of chicken and fish are suggested, but you can also eat steak and
pork – and the “green” part refers to two green vegetables. No starch, please. (I
had dinner at the City Café on Monday and, as usual, had my filet and broccoli,
but substituted a green salad for my usual mashed potatoes. I asked them to
bring me a little vinegar and olive oil and I dipped my fork into them before
spearing the lettuce.
Instructions
come with the material that provide information on which meats and which greens
are lean, leaner and leanest, depending on how dedicated you are. At the
heaviest I’ve ever weighed, I’m very dedicated. There is also very clear
material that tells you how to begin, how to stay motivated, and how to
transition to other foods once you’ve reached your goal weight.
You eat
these meals two to three hours apart and you can have your own “lean and green”
at either lunch or dinner. And each meal should be accompanied by eight ounces
of water, or a water-glass-full, plus two other glasses at some other time of
day. I’m up early so my routine is my first meal at 6:00 AM, and in three-hour intervals, I have my last one at
9:00 PM. I also have to take
doctor-recommended medications so I just add those two other glasses of water
with pills in the morning and at night.
This all
may sound a little daunting and I must admit to not loving the food. Who would
after all the gourmet recipes I’ve been trying, have eaten, and now post on
Phil’s Favorite Food, my other blog? However, I grew used to both the food and
the routine after only four days and my cravings for both my usual cocktail
before dinner and dessert at lunch and dinner have disappeared.
And the
best part: I’ve lost 12 pounds in ten
days!
If you have an interest in this
program (I’m only promoting it because so far, it works for me), just find
medifast.com on the Internet. The information there will tell you how to select
the right package of food for our lifestyle and give you the costs involved. It
does suggest that, like any weight-loss program, you consult your physician
before beginning it. But so far, so (really!) good.
Stay tuned.
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