Thursday, December 25, 2008

5 Things to Know Before Beginning a Meal Replacement Diet

By Dorthy Weatherbush

As with any diet program, before beginning a meal replacement program, you should ask some simple yet pertinent questions. Save your health, your time, and your money by asking the following five questions:

1. How effective is the program? The first question on your list should obviously be does the program you are going to be doing actually work. Ultimately, your goal in beginning any diet is to lose weight and stay fit. Stay away from programs that do not prove their effectiveness or do not provide guidance and support. Any program that cannot provide examples of successful customers probably doesn't have any. Therefore, you should look elsewhere.

2. Is there any professional supervision? Proper medical supervision should always be considered when undertaking a meal replacement program. As with any weight loss program, and especially a meal replacement program, medical evaluation and emotional support are crucial. If you are spending your time and money in a program, the program should in return offer professional guidance by qualified professionals.

3. What sort of continuous maintenance support do you offer? Losing weight is just the first step. It is only the beginning of a lifelong journey to having a healthy lifestyle and healthy dietary habits. In order to stay on track, you are going to need help. Pick programs that help you stay motivated and connected with continuous support, and that offer help in the event that you should start to regain any weight.

4. How much does the program cost? The key to this question is not that you should choose a "cheap" program, but rather that you should choose a program that gives you your money's worth. You might pay thousands of dollars for food, enrollment fees, and other hidden fees for a badly designed regimen with poor nutrition, and little training and support. Conversely, a program that costs less than a typical person's monthly grocery bill can be highly effective. Sign up for the best available program that fits within your budget.

5. Are there hidden fees, and can you get a refund? A true sign of confidence is a weight loss program that offers a money back guarantee. A program that is confident in what it can do will have no problems with offering to give you your money back if you are not completely satisfied with the results. Also, be careful of hidden fees, like additional consultation and supplement fees. Reputable weight loss programs will always be upfront with what it's going to cost you to participate.

When you consider each of these factors, Medifast stands out from all the rest. Medifast offers a proven and effective program backed by solid medical support. They can help connect you with a physician familiar with the Medifast plan, and the cost of the program is reasonable - even less than what a single person typically spends each month on groceries. Unopened, unused products can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Coaching and support is offered online and in person at Medifast centers across the country. Like countless others, discover how Medifast can help you lose weight and keep it off. - 16650

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