Medi-Weightloss Review
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By CANDICE GREY ConsumersCompare.org Update: Sep 30, 2024 |
- Custom plans
- Professional checks every so often
- Step-by-step approach
The Medi-Weightloss system should not be connected with the term “diet.” Instead, Medi claims to be a lifestyle-changing program to get you on the right course to long-term weight loss and healthy habits. This program is not done solo; it will be under supervision by a professional weight loss specialist.
Started in 2006, Medi headquarters in Tampa, Florida. They are not just tied to Florida, though; 89 clinical offices are found in 26 states. With weekly consultation meetings to check your progress, nutritional plans, and supplements, the Medi weight loss system is geared toward those needing a kick-start to lose a large amount of weight; under medical supervision and focused—not a lot of room for slacking.
What is The Medi-Weightloss Program?
The Medi weight loss program is a diet that is high in protein and low in carbs. It is meant to help people lose weight in a healthy way that lasts.
It was first made by businessman Edward Kaloust in 2005. The company says that more than 300,000 people across the country have used the program to lose a total of 7.5 million pounds. On the company’s website, it says that the program can help you lose up to 20 pounds in the first month by making a plan that fits your specific needs.
A low-carb, high-protein diet and weekly visits to one of the company’s clinics are both parts of the plan. It may also involve using supplements, prescription drugs, or medi weight loss injections with the help of a Medi Weight loss health professional.
The company also has a number of other programs for specific groups, such as the Medi Weight loss:
- Adolescent Program
- Corporate Wellness Program
- Preventive Medicine Program for those with specific health conditions
How Does The Medi Weight Loss Clinic Work?
The Medi Weight Loss program starts with an initial consultation with a medical professional at one of the company’s clinics.
During your consultation, the professional will collect information about your health history and may ask you to go through several tests, such as a blood panel or body composition analysis.
The medical professional will use this information to create a custom diet and exercise plan for you. Depending on your needs, they may also prescribe medications, supplements, or Medi weight loss products.
The program also offers convenient packaged meals as part of its Medi Weight loss Signature Menu, which you can purchase for an additional fee.
The program is divided into three consecutive stages:
- Acute weight loss phase
- Short-term maintenance phase
- Wellness phase
Acute weight loss phase
In the acute weight loss phase, you eat mostly high protein foods and limit carbohydrates to help your body enter ketosis, a metabolic state in which you burn fat for fuel instead of carbs.
Calorie recommendations aren’t available on the Medi Weight loss website, perhaps because the company’s medical counselors tailor their recommendations to individuals’ needs and goals.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that not eating enough calories can lead to adverse effects.
Unlike other diet plans, the Medi Weight loss Program doesn’t require you to log the number of overall calories or carbohydrates you consume during this phase.
Instead, you should track the number of calories you eat only from protein foods, as well as the number of servings you eat of healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and other foods.
Short-term maintenance phase
Once you get closer to your weight loss goal, you progress into the short-term maintenance phase, which allows you to slowly increase the number of calories and carbohydrates you consume each day.
Generally, you’ll continue going to weekly check-ins at a Medi Weight loss clinic because a medical professional may need to make minor adjustments to your diet and protein intake.
Wellness phase
The final part of the program is the wellness phase, which begins once you meet your weight loss goal.
During the wellness phase, you’ll likely need less frequent clinic check-ins. You can also increase your intake of calories and carbohydrates.
For most people, the Medi Weight loss Program recommends transitioning to a 40/30/30 plan, which is made up of about:
- 40% of total daily calories from carbohydrates
- 30% from healthy fats
- 30% from protein
Encouraged Foods
Depending on which phase of the program you are in, the exact rules for what foods you should eat change.
But the program usually has you eat a lot of fruits, vegetables that don’t have a lot of starch, heart-healthy fats, and lean protein sources. Since the first part of the program, “acute weight loss,” is meant to get you into ketosis, you may need to cut back on high-carb foods.
Here are some foods that the diet says you should eat:
- Apples, oranges, berries, kiwis, pears, peaches, and plums are some of the fruits.
- Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, kale, and tomatoes are all non-starchy vegetables.
- Lean cuts of beef and pork, seafood, eggs, tofu, and tempeh are all good sources of protein.
- Almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, and cashews are some of the nuts.
- Seeds: hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds
- Olive oil, coconut oil, and vegetable oil are all cooking oils.
- Water, coffee, and unsweetened tea are the drinks.
Some foods that are higher in carbs, but not too much, are also allowed.
- Milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter are all dairy products.
- Quinoa, brown rice, oats, and farro are all whole grains.
- Potatoes, corn, peas, beets, yams, and parsnips are all starchy vegetables.
- Black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and lentils are all legumes.
Discouraged Foods
On the Medi-Weightloss Program, you should eat less foods that are highly processed, full of carbs, or have extra sugar added to them.
Here are some foods you may need to limit on your diet:
- Fast food, ready-made meals, fried foods, chips, and pretzels are all processed foods.
- Refined carbs include white noodles, white bread, and crackers.
- Baked goods, cookies, cakes, and candies are all sweets.
- Beverages: soda, juice, sweet tea, energy drinks, sports drinks
- Sugar comes in white, brown, maple syrup, and honey forms.
Does It Help You Lose Weight?
A 2020 study found that after 39 weeks, people who used the Medi-Weightloss Program lost an average of 21% of their body weight. During the program, they also lost a lot of body fat and fat around their bellies.
Keep in mind, though, that Medi-Weightloss paid for this study and hired the people who worked on it. So, these results could be wrong.
Even though there isn’t any peer-reviewed research on the effects of this diet in particular, studies show that eating patterns like this may help people lose weight.
For example, many studies have shown that low-carb diets can help people lose weight and cut down on body fat.
Other research shows that eating more protein can make you feel fuller, decrease your appetite, and change the way your body looks. A medical professional will also give advice and do regular check-ins as part of the plan.
Some studies show that this could also help you lose weight. It can help you stay accountable by giving you more support and direction. Many Medi weight loss reviews highlight impressive transformations, with clients reporting significant weight loss within weeks.
back to menu ↑Other Advantages
The Medi-Weightloss Program might help people lose weight, but it might also have a number of other benefits.
First of all, the program is made just for you and includes personalized advice from a health professional as well as detailed tools like shopping lists, recipes, and workout plans.
This may be better than a one-size-fits-all diet plan that doesn’t take your individual needs into account if you have a health condition, food allergies, or take medicine.
It also lets a health care professional help you and make changes to your plan as needed, which can help you succeed in the long run.
The plan is also broken up into different steps, which may be good for people who like a more structured plan.
It also makes it easier to move into the last phase, called the “wellness phase,” and lets you stay there as long as you want. This helps you keep the weight off over time.
back to menu ↑Disadvantages
When deciding if Medi-Weightloss is right for you, there are a few bad things to think about.
First of all, there isn’t much research on the program itself, other than studies that were paid for by the company.
Second, some of the herbs in Medi-Weightloss supplements, like hoodia, guarana, and Gymnema sylvestre, can cause side effects or interact with other medicines. Most people probably wouldn’t need to take these supplements.
Also, the plan can be very strict and hard to stick to, especially during the first phase of weight loss.
Because many high-carbohydrate foods are off limits, it can be hard to eat out or with friends, which can make it harder to stick to the diet in the long run.
Depending on which clinic you go to, prices can vary, but Medi-Weightloss programs can also be very pricey.
For example, the first consultation usually costs between $250 and $300, and check-ins cost an extra $75 to $100 per week. This is a lot more expensive than popular diet plans like WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and Noom.
On the other hand, medical nutrition therapy with a dietitian is covered by most health insurance plans. This is a much cheaper way to get personalized therapy for losing weight.
If you buy packaged foods, supplements, or medicines in addition to the program, the total cost will go up even more.
Lastly, remember that the program requires check-ins at one of the 90 Medi-Weightloss clinics around the country once a week or once a month. So, the program might not be the best choice for people who don’t live close to a clinic.
back to menu ↑Sample Meal Plan
Your diet plan can be different depending on what nutrients you need, how much weight you want to lose, and what phase of the program you are in.
Here is a sample meal plan for 3 days to give you an idea of what your menu might look like during the first few weeks of the program when you are losing weight quickly.
Sample Day 1
- Breakfast: mushroom, tomato, and bell pepper omelet
- Salmon baked in garlic with asparagus for lunch
- Dinner: a salad with grilled chicken, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, and avocado.
- Apple slices with peanut butter are good snacks.
Sample Day 2
- Breakfast: a smoothie made with almond milk, protein powder, flaxseed, spinach, and berries.
- Tofu stir-fried with peppers, broccoli, green beans, and ginger was served for lunch.
- Dinner: beef and cabbage soup with veggie side salad
- Turkey rolls with tomatoes and lettuce are a snack.
Sample Day 3
- Scrambled eggs with garlic and kale for breakfast.
- Pork chops baked with cauliflower rice and broccoli for lunch.
- Dinner: chicken with lemon pepper and Brussels sprouts cooked in butter.
- Chia pudding with fresh fruit is a snack.
Sample Shopping List
During the wellness phase of a Medi Weight loss plan, you might eat the foods on the following shopping list. This shopping list is not all-inclusive, and if you choose to follow the Medi-Weightloss diet, you will be given your own personalized nutrition program and list of foods to help you reach your health goals.
- Non-starchy vegetables (bok choy, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, zucchini)
- Fruits with low sugar (avocado, apricot, oranges, berries)
- Low-starch beans and peas (black beans, lentils, mung beans, tofu)
- Slim meats (chicken and turkey breast, lean ground beef, pork tenderloin)
- Fish (halibut, tuna, salmon, cod, haddock) (halibut, tuna, salmon, cod, haddock)
- Whole cereals (quinoa, brown rice, amaranth)
- Milk and cheese (yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, or soy alternative)
- Seeds and nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, chia, flax, hemp)
- Oils (olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil) (olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil)
- Eggs
The Process and Tips
At the first appointment, the patient meets with a doctor or nurse to do some preliminary tests. During the first visit, the provider will do a number of tests, screenings, and other measurements. These may include an EKG, urinalysis, blood panel, body composition analysis, and other vitals. The provider also looks at your health history and any prescriptions you are currently taking.
After testing and talking with a doctor, the provider makes a personalized diet and exercise plan that puts an emphasis on accountability, education, and support. The plan could include prescriptions for weight loss pills, dietary supplements, or vitamin-based injections.
Your health is checked every week, and supplements, prescriptions, or injections may be given. You can also ask questions and make any changes to your plan that you need to at this time. You could talk to a registered dietitian, a fitness trainer, or a nurse.
The first stage is when you lose a lot of weight quickly. During this stage, the number of calories may be quite low. Protein sources provide about 500 to 700 calories, and fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and other things like condiments and broths add a few more calories. Patients don’t write down how many calories or carbs they eat. Instead, they keep track of how many protein calories they eat and how many servings of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and other foods they eat.
For example, a patient may be told to eat 700 protein calories, at least two servings of fruits or vegetables, two servings of fat, and four servings of other calories. The total number of protein calories that are recommended is usually changed at least once during the acute phase, based on the results of metabolic tests and the level of activity.
As patients get closer to their weight loss goal, they move on to the next phase, which is the maintenance phase. During this phase, most patients still come in once a week.
When patients reach their goal weight, they move on to the third wellness phase. They start going to the clinic once a month and may have to go through more tests. During this phase, patients switch to a 40/30/30 eating plan, where 40% of calories come from carbs, 30% from fats, and 30% from protein. This is the same as some other low-carb diets.
When you reach your goal weight, you move on to meetings once a month. During this phase, your doctor may change your diet and suggest supplements or tests at each appointment.
The company does not provide pre-packaged meals, but it does sell a few supplements and ready-to-eat menu items. Patients are given a list of foods to help them shop for groceries, cook food at home, and choose restaurants. The main focus of patient education is getting people to keep food diaries to make them more responsible. At weekly check-ins, people are given advice and encouragement to help them stick to the eating plan. A patient portal on the web has tools to track progress and recipes.
The company offers a variety of services, such as help for adults and teens with obesity and metabolic syndrome, medical nutrition therapy and counseling, behavioral counseling, fitness recommendations, and screenings for type 2 diabetes and other diseases.
back to menu ↑Is Medi-Weightloss Safe?
Some worries have been raised about the safety of the Medi-Weightloss program.
First, the diet plan is limited, especially in the beginning when the symptoms are the worst. People who have had trouble with their eating in the past should not use Medi Weight loss.
Putting food into “good” or “bad” categories and keeping track of what you eat can lead to eating disorders and make your relationship with food worse.
Athletes and women who are pregnant or nursing should also stay away from this program. Too few carbs are allowed during pregnancy, which could cause deficiencies.
Athletes and other very active people also need a certain amount of carbs to fuel their bodies, so they would probably feel tired on this diet.
If you take a drug to lower your blood sugar, it might need to be changed. Second, the possible supplements and medications you may be given are a much bigger worry.
Some of these supplements contain herbs like hoodia and Gymnema sylvestre, which may interact with medications or cause side effects.
Hoodia might cause nausea, dizziness, vomiting, skin reactions, or a faster heart rate or higher blood pressure. In high doses, Gymnema sylvestre has been linked to hypoglycemia, weakness, trembling, sweating too much, and muscular dystrophy.
It is not clear what the dose of any of these drugs would be on Medi-Weightloss, so it is not possible to say how safe they are. If you are thinking about using Medi-Weightloss, you should talk to your doctor first so you can weigh the pros and cons.
It’s essential to evaluate the medi weight loss cost against the potential benefits and read through medi weight loss reviews to gauge whether it aligns with your weight loss goals.
back to menu ↑Is Medi-Weightloss For You?
Medi-Weightloss isn’t quite in line with federal guidelines for a healthy, balanced diet to help with health and weight management. The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggest that Americans eat a balanced mix of protein, carbs, fruits and vegetables, and fat. During the first two phases of the Medi Weight loss plan, carbs are cut back on a lot, and they are still limited during the wellness phase.
Medi-Weightloss is a low-calorie diet, and the number of calories a person needs each day will depend on their weight loss prescription plan. A calorie deficit is a good way to lose weight, but your body and brain still need calories to work. Because of this, it can be helpful to know how many calories you should eat each day, whether you want to lose weight or keep it the same.
The USDA says that cutting calories is the best way to lose weight in a healthy way.
This number can change a lot based on a person’s age, gender, weight, height, and how active they are. Use this calculator to figure out how many calories you should eat each day.
The first two phases of the Medi Weight loss plan don’t follow federal guidelines for a healthy diet because they have strict rules about carbs. Even though the third phase is better balanced, it still has less carbs than what the USDA recommends (40% of daily calories instead of 45% to 65%).
back to menu ↑The Bottom Line: Is Medi-Weightloss a Rip-Off or Worth to Try?
Different people have different needs, so there is no one diet that works for everyone. Most people say that the Medi Weight loss program is very organized, which can help some people who are trying to lose weight. But for some people, it might be too limiting.
If you are thinking about this plan, contact your local Medi-Weightloss provider and ask specific questions about cost and insurance before you invest. You could also ask to see a sample meal plan to see if it’s something you can actually stick to. Talk to your health care provider to get advice and recommendations. If you ask more questions, it will be easier to find a program that meets your needs.
Remember that you may not need to go on a long-term or short-term diet, and many diets, especially long-term ones, just don’t work. We don’t recommend fad diets or other ways to lose weight that won’t work in the long run. Instead, we give you the facts so you can make the best choice for your nutritional needs, genetic make-up, budget, and goals.
If your goal is to lose weight, keep in mind that just because you lose weight doesn’t mean you’re at your healthiest. There are many other ways to be healthy. Your overall health is also affected by how much you move, sleep, and do other things. The best diet is always the one that fits your lifestyle and is well-balanced.
I totally disagree with the negative statements above. I am a life time member of Weight Watchers, done every diet fad out there, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, you name it… I’ve done it. Not one of the diets above is cheap either…. you pay for the food, meetings etc. Now with some common sense and a decent health care plan, MediWeight Loss it the way to go.
I am at 40lb loss now, maybe 10 more to go, I’ll know when I get there. My husband lost 35 and is on maintenance. You can’t diet and say ‘OK, I’m done, I lost the weight”. Bad habits is why you gained the weight to begin with.
I love this program, thats what it is, a program, long term to lose the weight, and then you remain on healthy food forever… don’t go back to what made you fat to begin with…. none of us gained weight eating to many apples! Processed foods contain fat and or sugar… healthy food cost more than crap food, your choice…. what do you want?
My initial visit was covered by insurance and the same price as if I went to my doctors office. The weekly visits are $32, includes the weigh in, counseling, educational material. The only thing I purchase every week are their powerbars because they have more protein and less calories THAN ANY PROTEIN BAR OUT THERE… they are cheaper than Atkins or any powerbar at Walmart!
I use my health savings account to pay each week. We do spend more on food at the grocery store because we are buying only from the fresh food section of the store. I never had less than 900 calories a day, and I have loved this journey all the way thru… not hungry, not tired. You don’t have to buy their supplements, we bought the Omega 3 at Sams Club, Centrum vitamins at Walmart, and we will continue these daily supplements moving forward, research why they give you the supplements they do, they are good for us, also water…. water…. water…. and electrolytes. if you want to do it right, for the long term and a healthier way of life… this is FANTASTIC!
I used their services over 5 years ago and I paid dearly but I did loose weight. Recently in April (23rd) to be exact) I ordered supplements because I cannot afford their office visits and someone stole my credit card number because I ordered on line and tried to order $300++ shoe shopping. I can’t seem to reach anyone to address it and when I try to contact Corporate, I get the same speal. SAD. Be careful ordering online.
I felt hook and baited to say the least and was a victim of this Con. They got my money and I will not be returning.
when i scheduled the appointment she took my insurance info and called me back saying i was only responsible for the shots and copay.. that was far from what i paid before i left the first appointment. Very Shady !!
She booked my appointment, gave me my co-pay price and then I was told they took my insurance and they even ran my insurance and called my back with an exact co pay for initial visits and then follow up… only to find out at the end that I needed to pay over $300 just to get started and then they would bill the insurance. If they could find something the insurance covered.
I lost 11 lbs overall, and 13 lbs of fat. That means I gained 2 lbs of muscle, lost 6 inches off my waist, dropped 2 pants sizes, lost 1 inch off my neck, and lost those awful droopy hound dog cheeks. I look years younger in 11 weeks.
My husband has lost 40 lbs so far and all of it is fat loss (was 246 lbs, now 204). He’s averaging a loss 1/4 lbs per day and should reach his 195 lb goal weight pretty soon. He looks amazing, his energy is way up, his blood pressure and testosterone are back to normal!!! Our sugar cravings have vanished and we are enjoying protein and vegetable rich mealtimes like we never have before.
My brother texted me today, lost 13 lbs in his first week!
Our ages range from 46 to 59.
My husband’s doctor is the Supervising Physician for the center we go to in West Houston. It is managed by a very professional Nurse Practitioner and her staff of two LVN’s.
It definitely works for the three of us and Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance covers it.
Very shady business. They never give prices over the phone. They will make a copy of your driver’s license.( foresee disputes) In person in a back room, they will tell you the price of the appointment will very between $100 to $500. They claim that your insurance will pay in full or in part your app. No true either. They will over charge your credit card. Afterwards offer store credit. Very unfriendly staff in North Billerica Massachusetts.
Diet no carbs 500 to 800 cal a day.
They dominate the internet with their own reviews.
They actually do accept insurance because I joined about 6 weeks ago and they did all the processing and finding out my coverage and copay PRIOR to me starting the plan. I think that is one thing that drew me to the plan was that INSURANCE covered this as a “wellness, preventative care” plan. Insurance these days rarely cover major issues so for the industry to look at this and feel it is worth covering, which they don’t with any other diet plan (or it is hard for them to approve coverage) says something to me about the program.
I was told they do not and I would have to file my own claims with my insurance provider. They also said most insurance plans do not cover this diet. Were you successful in using your insurance? Did you have to file your own claims? Thanks!
I have not signed up yet – But, I was told the $300.00 (to $275) consultation fee to get started covers blood work and the initial doctor visit – It’s a fair fee for a doctor visit and sounded like it involved a full medical history, review of lab tests, evaluation of
current medications and supplements, answers to questions, a
physical exam and a fully-explained treatment plan etc…
I called to schedule an appointment Friday for Saturday 2 hours later I find out there hours of operation .. so Friday 2 hours after I scheduled the appointment I canceled!! Didn’t know they were closed Tuesday and Wednesday and close to early the other couple days there open asked them to put my 25.00 deposit back on my credit card she told me they are not refunding my 25.00 it’s for my appointment.. I never had an appointment this is completely unexceptional!!!! I am contacting the better business on the Woodbridge Medi weight loss center.. don’t recommend this place to anyone.. if this is how they operate it’s poor customer service!!!!
Unless you are severely overweight and don’t know that McD’s is not good for you 3x a day come up with another plan of action. Many of the staff are “on” the program and trying to lose too…. they have not yet done it and are navigating their way to their personal goal. This says a lot if you want tips from someone with experience, it’s not there…. When you get stuck, and you will, they tell you you’re within a healthy range, in other words – quit. But wait, they PROMISED me my goal is realistic when I paid the $275 during week 1, that I would get there… without any answers they default to this. Why? Because as soon as you slip back into your old ways you will come to their door again and pay the $275 again. Yo-yo diets here we grow again….. my personal favorite was, you had a sandwich with 2 slices of bread this week… that’s why you lost less than a 1/4 lb. Well those fancy high sodium snacks and high carb shakes and snacks have more carbs than my 2 pieces of bread – so explain that! I can eat your expensive snacks and when I don’t lose, hmmmm….. but when I eat 2 slices of bread and nothing other than more chicken and more turkey for 5x-6x a day shame on me… no, no, no, please go into this with your eyes wide open. Ask questions, get actual success rates based on the amount of weight you want to lose and get an idea of EXACTLY how long it will take someone just like you. Don’t accept the answer, “it depends.” You won’t see the same counselor each check-in which is another huge problem as some counselors are just terrible. Not sticking with the same counselor allows no accountability by this place because nobody knows what you were told the prior week. This is a big problem.
Just like any program, it’s up to the patient to reach a goal. People are funny blaming anything they can for not being able to have self control when it comes to eating and lack of exercise. I have tried all kinds of programs/routines, and this one by far has been amazing. The first week it’s hard as you are resetting your body , but if you really are decided and disciplined, the results will start happening.
You don’t really learn a lot from the coaches. The information you receive from them is pretty basic and rote-low carb, low fat. Eat this, don’t eat that.Plan is not tailored to you and not sustainable in the long run. I will admit I lost 30# in less than 3 months then my weight loss slowed- actually plateaued for awhile. After a few months of maintaining, but not gaining, I received a call from the medical director of Medi-weightloss. He assumed I was being non-compliant with the diet and told me this diet may not be for me. I was actually fired from a weight loss program! I didn’t think that could happen .There was no warning, no counseling, no talk whatsoever which made me feel like they really don’t care about your health and well-being.In the end i realized i didn’t learn anything from this plan. What makes is successful initially is the weekly weigh ins and the accountability. I also think the cost of the program is a motivator to stick to the diet. But Like all the other super restrictive diets, this gets boring and you eventually fall off the wagon
Your evaluation lacks substance. It is a perfect level of protein, it’s based on a Reevue test which tests metabolism. Protein calories are figured out for Each individual. Some it may me 500-600 protein calories/day, not total calories. Some are around 1100-1200 protein calories/day. Non starchy veggies/ fruits and healthy fats are added the second week. They don’t push all their products. They are optional. Each plan is personal tailored to the individual. At no time is someone’s health in danger. Complicated patients are co-followed by their PCP. In fact lots of pts are referred by their PCP. Pts must have will power to turn away bad choices which they are coached on weekly. Different insurance pays different amounts.
I am truly excited about starting the program. I joined not only because my insurance pays for everything except the extra’s (Shot’s or products) which is alright because you have to go grocery shopping anyway; this way you get to purchase products that coincide with your new life style. I feel I have my very own nutritional coach. Thank you Medi weightless.
I lost about 22 pounds within 6 months. The diet does work. I highly recommend this diet to anyone who can follow a diet but not have the time to actually workout. To be very honest I did not do any exercise whatsoever. I took the shots bi-weekly as they are a little expensive. I did take the vitamins and supplements as directed.