Sometimes I hear from people who are confused about which Medifast plan to choose. I get a lot of questions from people trying to determine the differences between 4 + 1 or 5 +1. I often hear comments like “I’m trying to decide between Medifast 4 +1 or 5 + 1. What’s the real difference? Which is most people? I like the idea of ​​having two bigger meals, but I’m not sure if the calories are low enough to lose a decent amount of weight on that plan. ” I will try to offer some clarification in the next article.

The 5 +1 is the most popular Medifast plan: With 5 + 1, you are eating five packaged meals per day plus one main “lean green meal.” You have the option of making this yourself or going with a carefully chosen frozen meal from the grocery store. (You can even use a restaurant meal if you’re careful.) Many like the idea of ​​eating something fresh every day.

I must admit that this is by far the most popular package. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. First, many people like the idea of ​​having only one meal to cover or prepare on their own. Second, this option consumes around 1,200 calories per day, which can offer quick and dramatic results. Many consider this to be an effective and convenient plan. That said, some end up choosing the 4 +1, especially in their later phase of the diet.

Many people use 4 + 2 to transition out of Medifast: For the most part, I find that people on this plan are off the diet. They have generally met their weight loss goals and returned to eating 2 lean and green meals. So they are only using 4 of the prepackaged diet meals. The idea is that eventually, they will go back to eating regularly and sensibly. Over time, they have a Medifast snack or two that they like, but this is more out of habit than necessity. I found that people who don’t like to cook prefer to be responsible for a single meal on their own. However, there are people who really don’t mind preparing their own food, especially those who have been on a diet for a while.

Then what is?: If you are just starting the diet and not transitioning, keep in mind that you will be consuming more calories in the 4 + 2 because you are eating two larger meals instead of just one. Since most people try to keep their diet lean and green at about 500 calories, you are looking at around 1600 to 1700 calories per day on this plan. However, when you consider that many people eat 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day, you are probably still eating far fewer calories than normal, regardless of which option you choose.

I hope I have shown you the difference between these two plans. Both can help you lose weight, and if you really enjoy cooking your own meals and are concerned about being hungry, the 4 + 2 plan can be a good way to cut your calories without making too drastic changes. However, keep in mind that when it comes to support, most people just go for the popular 5 + 1 until they exit the plan. But I think both plans are more than doable, depending on your goals. Some people don’t have a lot of weight to lose and 1600 calories per day will still be very effective for them. On the other hand, some want to lose weight as soon as possible and prefer to be more aggressive with a less lean and green food.

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