I often write about the details of the Medifast diet. I am sometimes asked, “Can athletes use Medifast? Does the diet offer enough calories and protein to support exercise?” I will answer these questions in the next article.
You can exercise with Medifast: The company actually encourages you to exercise at least 2-3 times a week. For those who don’t normally exercise, the company recommends waiting 2-3 weeks before starting your regimen so your body has time to adjust to fewer calories. For those already exercising, the company recommends cutting your regimen in half for the first few weeks, again to give your body time to adjust to fewer calories (around 1,000 to 1,300).
I wouldn’t call myself an athlete, but I have developed my regimen to where I exercise regularly and rigorously. I wasn’t exercising when I started, so there wasn’t a difficult adjustment period. But I started walking briskly and eventually added ankle weights and then a weight vest. Today, I do weights, cardio (elliptical and / or treadmill) and I try to do some circuit training as well. I have never had a problem nor have I ever felt dizzy or dizzy. I think by now my body probably feels like dieting is a normal way of life. But, each one is different. The company suggests resting and starting over if you experience this.
Medifast 70 Shakes Are A Good Choice For Athletes: There are basically three types of shakes in this plan: ready-to-drink, 55, and 70. Ready-to-drink shakes are pre-made. The 55s and 70s require you to mix them or use a blender. For the most part, women use 55 and men use 70 as it contains more protein. But, 70 is also suitable for athletes due to the higher protein content.
The diet is low glycemic: I feel like this diet can be a good option for athletes looking for a convenient low carb, high protein diet. Most of the foods are prepackaged, which makes things very convenient, and many are made from soy. They are all very low in carbohydrates and sugars. This fits well with the dietary requirements of many athletes, as it is very important to have enough protein to build muscle and support energy expenditure.
And, if you are in doubt that 1000-1300 calories is not enough to support exercise, you can always adjust or add to your lean, green meal. This is the only time of the day when you cook for yourself and prepare your own meals. You’re supposed to eat 5 to 7 ounces of lean protein, but I wouldn’t see the harm in adding a little more if you’re going to burn it off through exercise anyway.