I am often asked how much is allowed to cheat on Medifast or if you will still lose weight if you cheat. Well, I guess that depends on what you mean by cheating. Because technically, I’ve been cheating on my diet the whole time. However, I believe there is a safe and effective way to do this, which I will discuss in the next article.
Understanding how Medifast really works: The reason this diet is so effective is really threefold. First, you are simply consuming fewer calories than normal, since the food is low in calories and carbohydrates. Second, you’re eating six small meals throughout the day, which helps rev up your metabolism and fight hunger. Finally, because you’re eating fewer carbs and more protein, your body enters a metabolic state called ketosis that encourages it to burn its own fat.
Ketosis really is the promised land of this diet and where you finally want to be. You can test this using ketone strips, which will definitely tell you if you have reached this state. (You can get these at most pharmacies or supermarkets.)
Does cheating on the Medifast diet get you out of ketosis?: You will stop losing weight as fast and as dramatically if you stop ketosis. However, the good news is that it only takes a few days for him to re-enter. So, there really is no need to panic if you find out on ketone strips that you are out. And you’re much more likely to get out of this state if you cheat on carbs. You’ll be in much better shape if you cheat with protein. So, technically, it’s better to steal a juicy burger than try to steal a donut or piece of cake.
The trick that I think has actually helped me lose weight with Medifast: Okay, now I’m going to admit that I don’t always stick to things as designed. But, I’m smart about it. I add things to my prepackaged foods several times a day. What I mean by this is that I add fat-free and sugar-free syrups to shakes, puddings, and cappuccinos. Sometimes I also add non-fat whipped cream. I also add nonfat cheese, sour cream, and hummus to chili, eggs, and soups/stews. I also sometimes add soda water to shakes for a fountain type soda drink. I use the dry pudding ingredients to make “safe” muffins, cakes, and cookies.
In short, I take a lot of liberties with food, but I try to use fat-free or sugar-free ingredients when I do this. This gives me more variety and makes me more excited to eat the food.
The liberties I take with lean and green food: Each day, you’ll eat five prepackaged meals on this diet and prepare one meal yourself. (Some people will skip this meal, but you shouldn’t because I think doing this will slow down your metabolism. I’ve experimented with this and it has almost always slowed down my results.) glycemic veggies and for the most part, I’ll stick with this. But, if my family is eating chopped steak, sometimes I’m not going to make chicken breast just for myself. Or, if my family has sweet green peas, I won’t deny them because they are high on the glycemic index. And, from time to time, I do not refuse a hamburger if I take the bun off.
I figure if I’m eating a “lean and mostly green meal” I’m doing pretty well. And even with the minor slip-ups, I’m still eating MUCH fewer calories and carbs than normal. And, if my weight loss is any indication, I’m fine.
