Saturday, January 24, 2009

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. Does the program work? The first question may seem obvious, but many do not even bother to ask. Does the program actually work? Your goal in being on any diet is weight loss. Stray away from programs that cannot prove how well they work or that do not provide any guidance or support. If a program does what it says, it should be able to provide success stories from some of its customers. If it can't you should start looking 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 king of ongoing support do you offer? Weight loss is just the first step. Staying healthy and is a lifestyle, and therefore needs to be a lifelong change in dietary habits. In order to stay on track, you are going to need ongoing support. You are going to need motivation, therefore do programs that keep you motivated and connected with follow up support. They should also offer options to help you should you start to regain previously lost 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 costs, and do you provide refunds? A weight loss program that offers a money back guarantee is the true mark of a confident program. A program that has confidence in its product and the competence of its support staff will always give you your money back if you aren't satisfied with the results. Reputable programs will be upfront with you regarding costs and what you will ultimately end up paying.

When looking at all of these factors, Medifast stands out against every other meal replacement program. It is a proven and effective program and is backed by qualified professional medical support. They will help connect you with a physician that is familiar with the program. The cost of the program is affordable - it costs what on average a single person spends on a month's groceries. Any unused, unopened products can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Coaching and assistance are offered online and in person at Medifast centers all over the country. Like others have already done, discover how Medifast can help you on your way to weight loss. - 16004

About the Author: