This isn’t my first time around for Medifast, I had done the program a couple of years ago…well, sorta. My friend Ethan was starting the program at the time and convinced me to join him. I had heard of all sorts of people that had lost weight on Medifast so I gave it a whirl.

For 3-4 months we both worked the program hard core, sticking to it without as much as a cheat. The fact we were both on it, were weighing in together and had similar goals made it easy enough to do. After having lost just over 70 pounds or so I decided to “take a break” from the program, Ethan was disappointed in me and continued on. I did not leave Medifast following their Maintenance Program, I just quit cold turkey one day and resumed my old eating habits (over-eating habits really) as a “celebration” for my hard work. Wow…what a mistake that was!

Ethan went on to lose just over 100 pounds and achieved his goal, at which time he took up Brazilian Ju-Jitsu to help keep fit and to keep the weight off and he followed the Medifast Maintenance Program. Meanwhile, I ignored my weight gain and continued to over-eat and gained it all back in a period of a year or so. I had changed nothing, didn’t follow the program, didn’t follow the maintenance plan, I just quit and re-gained.

I’m sharing this information because I want to explain why I spend so much time talking about a lifestyle change. The Medifast Program works and it works well. But, it only works if you follow it and the guidelines within and if you follow it entirely, long passed your goal weight and through maintenance. More importantly, the program is teaching you about your body, about your eating habits and about moderation if you will take the time to learn. I didn’t learn the first time around, I was just interested in “the cure” for my fatness. I was reaching for that “miracle” of weight loss that would let me get thin and be a pig of an eater.

There really is no mystery as to how people get fat, although many of us fat people could rattle off hundreds of reasons why we think we are fat. The plain and simple truth is that a healthy diet, moderation and exercise are the key to a healthy lifestyle. Medifast facilitates the rapid and healthy weight loss, but does not change the fact that you should never eat a whole pizza by yourself or consume 2 gallons of soda per day. Over-eating is how I got fat and it is something I am learning to change through the program. I will not let myself fail, I’m putting far too much work into it.

Getting back to Ethan, he learned a lot better then I did about long term, healthy living and lifestyle. His is doing well with martial arts, is working out regularly and is within 6 pounds of his Medifast goal weight, only this time much leaner and more muscular. I find myself inspired by his long term success and use it as a benchmark for what I would like to achieve. It shows me that a positive attitude and lifestyle change makes Medifast work and means I have a chance at leading a normal life. His success also shows me that my old eating habits DO NOT have a place in my life ever again.

Thanks Ethan!