Medifast for Men

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Tom Greenwix

Men and women lose weight differently, that’s why Medifast has a specific meal plan designed just for men. The Medifast 70 Plan was custom designed to meet the nutritional needs of men, although I understand it can also be used by women who are very active. For most women the Medifast 55 Plan is designed for you. If you act soon you can save $50 by using a Medifast coupon code on your order.

The difference between the two plans is that the 70 Plan supplies more protein and slightly more calories (10) per shake since men typically burn calories faster than women. The Medifast diet will meet the needs of the highly active man or very active woman who is looking to lose weight quickly and safely. The plan is very low calorie overall and each shake has only 100 calories, but contains 14 grams of protein and between one fifth and one half of the recommended daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals per serving.

For best results men should stick to the Medifast 5 and 1 plan for the first two weeks of the program. After that you should evaluate your results and determine if staying with the 5 plus 1 is suitable for you, or you can choose to switch to the Complete Plan. 5 plus 1 means that you take 6 meals per day, but 5 of those meals are the Medifast meal replacements. The one is a lean and green meal that you prepare yourself at home. Naturally, the emphasis on the one ‘normal’ meal is lean meat or fish and lots of green veggies.

The Complete Plan can be used when you really want to accelerate your weight loss. Just as it sounds, under this plan you do not get the ‘normal’ meal – it is all replacements for each of the six daily meals. It is also possible to switch back and forth between each plan if you are unsure. It is this flexibility within the program that allows you to feel that you are in control of your weight loss. You can be confident with Medifast for men.

Originally launched nearly 30 years ago and proscribed by doctors, this diet program has withstood the test of time. It has done so because it works. Now available online or in clinics and retail outlets. You can also receive in-person support from exercise trainers and dieticians. In addition, support is offered through a 1-800 number and a number of online forums and communities. Medifast is one of the only diet programs that has been clinically tested and has received support from the medical community.

While the calorie count is very low, as long as you maintain a mild to moderate exercise program throughout the process you not lose muscle tone. Medifast recommends that you exercise 5 times per week and no additional supplements are required. While on the Medifast plan you will also ingest at least 64 ounces of water each day, so as to really flush your system of unwanted toxins.

The Medifast Plan is a really popular weight loss diet because it really works and is intended for those who are over weight. This is a drastic diet program and not for those that want to shed a few pounds in time to head to the beach on the weekend. You need to be disciplined and motivated for several months to achieve the life changing results that are possible with Medifast.

Posted in Medifast | Leave a comment

Why You Need To Exercise While Dieting

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Tom Greenwix

Knowing how to eat properly is important but if you don’t exercise it will all go for nothing. It is of critical importance that a person exercises while they diet. No one wants to be overweight, we live in a society that emphasizes the importance of being thin and looking your best.

Dieting is never any fun however, at one time or another it is something that most Americans must do. When a person goes on a diet, they are merely cutting back on the amount of their daily caloric consumption. For example, instead of eating soup and a sandwich for lunch some people may do without the sandwich and only consume the soup.

It has been research over they years that a person can lose weight by restricting their daily caloric intake to no more than 2000 calories per day. For some people it is easier to diet however, for others dieting becomes an unpleasant but necessary task. If you’re on an extremely low calorie diet like Medifast you may have trouble having the strength to exercise. In this situation you might want to check with your doctor.

It is important that a person engages in a regular exercise routine while dieting for many reasons. First, once you begin to shed the pounds you may notice some excess skin or flab just hanging. This excess flab or skin is more noticeable on people who may have lost a great deal of weight within a short period of time.

A regular exercise routine while dieting helps a person to become toned and at the same time does burn some calories. However, exercise in itself does not help a person to lose weight.

Once we lose weight, we also lose muscle. This is why it is critical that we begin a daily routine of exercise. If you can not afford a gym or athletic trainer then simply take a walk a few times through your own neighborhood after dinner.

Body toning becomes all the more important once you lose weight. Once a person reaches their ideal weight then they must keep their body toned and fit. The only way to keep a body toned and muscular is by exercising.

Many people do not enjoy exercise however, if you want to look fit and feel better it is an absolute necessity. Keep in mind, as we age and when we diet we not only lose fat but we lose a percentage of muscle also.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford a personal trainer, he or she will measure your body fat content and help you to get into shape. Remember, nothing comes easy and it will take some hard work and determination on your part.

Posted in Exercise | Leave a comment

5 Foods to Avoid on a Diet

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Tom Greenwix

When we decide to go on a diet, it’s so important to realize why we need to go on a diet. Its one thing to completely change your diet on a plan like Medifast where you eat freeze dried food, but if you really want to learn how to lose weight then knowing what foods you can eat and what foods you need to avoid is more important.

Though diets may be hard to stick to, there are some foods you will want to avoid eating at all costs. Eliminating foods from your diet may be tricky to do, so it’s important that you either keep the motivation to avoid eating them or at least eat them in very small amounts. Now, which foods should you stay away from?

Hydrogenated Oils

When it comes to fatty foods, there are all sorts of different kinds. Though polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats are healthy, fats that are saturated or considered to be Trans fats are the furthest thing from being healthy. Hydrogenated oils, the kinds in processed foods, deep fried foods and greasy foods are going to do nothing but increase the amount of weight you’ll gain.

Sugary Items

Though we love sugary snacks like ice cream and even candy, these foods help us do nothing other than store fat. Though sugar may not seem like fat, if it’s not burned off, it will eventually turn to fat and most commonly, belly fat.

Salty Foods

If you didn’t know already, your salt intake should be kept to about 1,400mg of sodium each day. The more salt we intake, the more water we’ll retain and the slower our metabolism can be.

Artificial Foods

Whether you’re on a diet or not, you should always look out for the ingredients in your food. Any foods that are considered “artificial” are nothing but unhealthy and are only going to help you gain weight or have negative actions on your mind and body.

Heavily Processed Foods

Heavily processed foods like donuts, cupcakes and even greasy foods can also keep us from losing weight and instead help us gain weight. These foods are high in unhealthy fats, and have little nutrition that we can benefit from.

As you can see, there are all sorts of different foods to avoid eating if you’re trying to lose weight. From artery clogging hydrogenated oils to sugary snacks and salty foods, it’s so important to realize why they’re so damaging and how they can completely sabotage any diet you ever decide to go on. Conversely make sure you are eating the right foods especially if you’re exercising. Foods like protein while you’re getting started can be a great way to keep the fuel to get you going.

Posted in Dieting | Leave a comment

Best Low Impact Exercises To Get Started With

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Tom Greenwix

Getting more exercise is a great way to improve your overall health and improve appearance, plus it’s a great supplement to a diet program.

Beginners should strive to start with low impact exercises for the best effects. A well-rounded program is the ideal approach. Including weight training and cardio offers weight loss and increased muscle tone. Beginners should start with low weights and high reps. It is even ideal to start with body weight exercises. Cardio should also begin slowly. Exercising for 20 minutes a few days a week is a great way to work into shape. Longer sessions can be a goal to work towards as endurance progresses.

Body weight exercises are a great way for anyone to start a work-out. The best thing about body resistance is that there is little impact and no requirements. Exercises can be done in the home. Push-ups are one of the best body weight exercises. Push-ups work a variety of muscles and are a low impact exercise. The chest, arms and shoulders will all get stronger by doing push-ups. Beginners should try to do as many as possible, but be sure not to strain themselves. Pull-ups are an ideal way to increase the strength of the upper back and biceps. Many people have a partner hold their ankles while doing pull-ups. This makes it easier and reduces the amount of weight that needs to be lifted. If you are weight lifting make sure you are eating the right foods like protein so you get maximum benefits.

Walking is a choice low impact cardio workout. This is another form of exercise that requires little investment. Participants only need to set aside a little time. Walking is safe on the joints, and walkers can vary their speeds to increase the intensity of their exercise. Swimming is another low intensity cardio exercise that provides rewards. Endurance and weight loss are some of the advantages that are associated with swimming on a regular basis.

Beginners should be sure they start slow and gradually progress. There is no need to try to strain during the first days at the gym. This will only lead to injury and reduce the amount of gains. Low impact exercises are the best way for beginners to start. Light weights or body weight exercises are some of the choice ways to start working out. Walking is probably the ideal cardio workout. Walkers do little damage to their joints. The intensity is easily adjustable, and participants only need to have a few minutes throughout the week for the best results.

Posted in Exercise | Leave a comment