Medifast Diet Products: June 2008: Healthy, delicious, nutritionally complete Medifast meal replacement foods such as high protein, low carb, vitamin enriched shakes, bars, entres, drinks, and snacks. can help you loose up to 5 pounds a week!

Medifast National Convention Attire:

We know some of you have questions about what the different attires mean for each event found in the Schedule of Events area of the Medifast National Convention website. Below is an explanation and examples of each dress type so that you can start laying out your National Convention wardrobe now!

Casual is your everyday dress. This could be jeans, khakis, or whatever you wear on a normal day.

Casual/Active is your more comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. This could incorporate athletic shoes, lighter-weight clothing, etc.

Business Casual is a more formal casual dress. This could be slacks and a nice polo for men or slacks and a nice top for women.

Dinner Dress is a comfortable attire but more formal than Business Casual. This could be a nice dress shirt and slacks for men or a sundress for women.

Business or Formal is a formal dinner attire. For men, this could be a tux or nice suit. For ladies, this could be an evening dress or nice pant suit.

Swimwear is whatever you feel comfortable swimming in.

Ready for Executive Director Experience - Since you will not have time to change between the Advanced Regional Leadership Training and the Executive Director Experience, we

On Wednesday Evenings from Medifast


Stay in Shape! Maintenance Call - 8:00 p.m. Eastern (5:00 p.m. Pacific). Dial 1-512-225-9427 followed by pin code: 77421#. For the fun, interactive Medifast Stay in Shape! Maintenance Call, Lori Andersen, RN, coordinates discussions with various Masters of Weight Loss who have lost 60+ lbs. and kept the weight off for at least 4 years. Each week, Lori and her guest(s) share helpful hints and tips for everyone on the Maintenance Program. Be sure to listen and participate in this exciting, informative call.

This call is now recorded live each week! Please call 1- 512-505-6863 to listen to this call if you are unable to participate in the live call. The recording is posted the day following the call (Thursday morning).


Doctor's Support Call - 8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Pacific). Dial 1-646-519-5860 followed by the pin code: 0971#. Listen and participate in this call, where Dr. Wayne Andersen, Medical Director and Co-Founder of Take Shape For Life, or one of his colleagues discusses current topics regarding creating a healthy weight and a physically optimal life.

To hear the recorded playback, dial 1-212-461-8671. The recording is posted the day following the call (Thursday morning).



Monday Evenings from Medifast


Medifast Nurse's Support Call - 8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. Pacific). Dial 1-646-519-5860 followed by the pin code: 0971#. This call is now recorded live each week! Please call 1-212-461-8672 to listen to the recorded playback. The recording is posted the day following the call (Tuesday morning).

Join Lori Andersen, RN, for the weekly Medifast Nurse's Support Call. Every week, Lori provides our callers with supportive information to maximize success with their weight-loss and health goals! Be sure to listen in and participate in this inspirational call. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate in this call.


Take Shape for Life Field Leadership Call - 9:00 p.m. Eastern (6:00 p.m. Pacific). Dial 1-512-305-4638 followed by the pin code: 99662#. Led by Dr. Wayne Andersen and our Field Leaders, anyone interested in building a successful business and staying current with all that is happening with Take Shape For Life needs to listen in and participate in this incredible call! This call is now recorded live each week. Please call 1-512-505-6854 to listen to the recorded playback. The recording is posted the day following the call (Tuesday morning).

An essential amino acid or indispensable amino acid is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo by the organism (usually referring to humans), and therefore must be supplied in the diet. Medifast prducsts contains many essential amino acids.

Essentiality vs. conditional essentiality in humans
Nine amino acids are generally regarded as essential for humans: phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, leucine, and lysine. Arginine is required by infants and growing kids. They are called essential not because they are more important to life than the others, but because the body does not synthesize them, making it essential to include them in one's diet in order to obtain them. In addition, the amino acids arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine and tyrosine are considered conditionally essential, meaning they are not normally required in the diet, but must be supplied exogenously to specific populations that do not synthesize it in adequate amounts. An example would be with the disease phenylketonuria (PKU). Individuals living with PKU must keep their intake of phenylalanine extremely low to prevent mental retardation and other metabolic complications. However, phenylalanine is the precursor for tyrosine synthesis. Without phenylalanine, tyrosine cannot be made and so tyrosine becomes essential in the diet of PKU patients.
Which amino acids are essential varies from species to species, as different metabolisms are able to synthesize different substances. For instance, taurine (which is not, by strict definition, an amino acid) is essential for cats, but not for dogs. Thus, dog food is not nutritionally sufficient for cats, and taurine is added to commercial cat food when the base ingredients do not meet the requirements of the cat, but not to dog food.
The distinction between essential and non-essential amino acids is somewhat unclear, as some amino acids can be produced from others. The sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and homocysteine, can be converted into each other but neither can be synthesized de novo in humans. Likewise, cysteine can be made from homocysteine but cannot be synthesized on its own. So, for convenience, sulfur-containing amino acids are sometimes considered a single pool of nutritionally-equivalent amino acids. Likewise arginine, ornithine, and citrulline, which are interconvertible by the urea cycle, are considered a single group.
Recommended daily amounts
The following table lists the recommended daily amounts for essential amino acids in humans, together with their standard one-letter abbreviations. In some cases, humans can use either of two amino acids, so only the total matters.
Amino acid WHO-recommended daily intake for
human adults, mg per kg body weight mg per 70 kg
F Phenylalanine
+ Y Tyrosin 14 (total) 980
L Leucine 14 980
M Methionine
+ C Cysteine 13 (total) 910
K Lysine 12 840
I Isoleucine 10 700
V Valine 10 700
T Threonine 7 490
W Tryptophan 3 245
H Histidine unknown, 28 in infants (? sum with arginine) (? 1960)
R Arginine unknown, required for infants, maybe seniors (?)
Taurine may be necessary to preserve arterial and collagen pliability at 2 mg/kg/day, small but needed (142 mg/day per 70 kg human).
Use of essential amino acids
Foodstuffs that lack essential amino acids are poor sources of protein equivalents, as the body tends to deaminate the amino acids obtained, converting proteins into fats and carbohydrates. Therefore, a balance of essential amino acids is necessary for a high degree of net protein utilization, which is the mass ratio of amino acids converted to proteins to amino acids supplied.
All essential amino acids may be obtained from plant sources, and even strict vegetarian diets can provide all dietary requirements, provided they are based on a variety of whole plant foods. Some believe that careful monitoring of nutrient levels is important in strict vegetarian diets, but there are virtually no cases of protein-deficiency among populations consuming adequate calories. The only common cases of protein-deficiency occur among populations that are chronically undernourished. On the Medifast diet you can be assured that you are getting good nutrition.
Complete proteins contain a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans. Animal sources such as meat, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, and cheese provide all of the essential amino acids. Complete proteins are also found in some plant sources such as spirulina, quinoa, soy, buckwheat, hempseed, and amaranth, among others.
The net protein utilization is profoundly affected by the limiting amino acid content (the essential amino acid found in the smallest quantity in the foodstuff), and somewhat affected by salvage of essential amino acids in the body. It is therefore a good idea to mix foodstuffs that have different weaknesses in their essential amino acid distributions. This limits the loss of nitrogen through deamination and increases overall net protein utilization.
Protein source Limiting amino acid
Wheat lysine
Rice lysine
Legumes tryptophan
Maize lysine and tryptophan
Pulses methionine (or cysteine)
Beef
phenylalanine (or tyrosine)
Egg, chicken none; the reference for absorbable protein
Milk or Whey, bovine methionine (or cysteine)
Mnemonics
Using the one letter designation shown above, mnemonic devices have been developed for students wanting or needing to memorize the essential amino acids. Previous devices have utilized the first letter of the amino acids name, and in general did not include arginine which is not always essential. One mnemonic device that has been used in the past is PVT TIM HALL.
Another method uses the first letter of each essential amino acid to begin each word in a phrase, such as: "Any Help in Learning These Little Molecules Proves Truly Valuable." This method begins with the two amino acids that need some qualifications as to their requirements.
Note that these devices work by using the first letter of the actual amino acids name. Due to repetition of letters, several amino acids have one letter abbreviations that are different than their first letter (e.g. lysine is K). Thus the complete list of essential amino acids utilizing one-letter codes is MILKVWTHFR.
A mnemonic that involves only the true one-letter codes for each amino acid is: "I Have Received Much Kudos for Learning These Very Well," for IHRMKFLTVW.

We are proud to introduce the new Medifast BlenderBottle to our Shopping Cart!

The BlenderBottle is the best mixing and highest quality shaker on the market. This dynamic new shaker will replace the Medifast Ultimate Shaker Jar. The Ultimate Shaker Jar is still available for purchase while supplies last!

The Medifast BlenderBottle launched on June 20 and can be purchased TODAY on the Shopping Cart for just $7.50.

Features:

Stainless steel BlenderBall for easy mixing
20-ounce capacity
GripperBars™ make it easy to hold
Embossed ounce and milliliter markings
StayOpen™ flip cap that won't close on your nose
Easy to clean and completely dishwasher safe
Large drink/pour spout
Secure screw-on lid
Wide mouth makes it easy to add ingredients
Fits in most car drink holders
From creamy, smooth shakes to light, fluffy scrambled eggs, now you can mix, pour, and store all in the same container!

Super Saturday Parsippany, New Jersey
June 27 & 28, 2008

It's not too late to Join Dr. Andersen in Parsippany this Friday and Saturday!

Medifast Super Saturdays are dynamic training events conducted by our top leaders. Typically taking place on Friday nights and Saturday mornings/afternoons,Medifast Super Saturdays are excellent events to bring candidates and Health Coaches together so that they can learn more about Take Shape For Life.

As if Medifast Super Saturdays weren't worthwhile enough already, the Career Builder Pak is on special when purchased at a Super Saturday! Normally $299, your potential Health Coaches will be able to purchase this item for $239 at Super Saturdays - saving $60!

June 27 & 28, 2008
Hilton Parsippany
1 Hilton Court
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
Phone: (973) 267-7373

Hosted by: Susan Telesmanic (Executive Director, Basking Ridge, NJ) & Joan Mueller (Executive Director, Mount Laurel, NJ)

For More Information Or To Pre-Register TODAY:
Contact Susan Telesmanic at:
susan@telesmanic.com or Call (908) 500-2242
OR contact Joan Mueller at:
pathtohealth@comcast.net or Call (856) 552-0972

It's no secret that the entire nation is experiencing higher costs, mostly due to the drastically rising oil prices. Medifast is no exception. Our production costs are rising to produce the Meals that keep you and your Medifast Clients healthy and, as any responsible company would do, we must make adjustments in order to remain the sturdy company that we are today.

Price Adjustments:

Effective July 1, 2008, a price adjustment will be instituted to our Medifast Meals. This adjustment is essential and reflects our need, as a growing company, to provide a stable economic platform for our Health Coaches, in order to secure everyone's opportunity for furthered success with Take Shape For Life.

Note: BeSlim Club & Rewards members will notice an automatic increase in the amount charged to their credit card for orders shipped to them after July 1. Please pass this information along to your Clients in the BeSlim Club.

The new Medifast product prices that you will find on the Shopping Cart and Order Form beginning July 1 are as follows:

Medifast 4-week 55 core variety package................$299.50

Medifast 4-week 70 core variety package................$299.50

Medifast 4-week diabetes core variety package.......$299.50

Medifast 2-week 55 core variety package................$154.50

Medifast 2-week 70 core variety package................$154.50

Medifast 2-week diabetes core variety package.......$154.50

Medifast 4-week 55 enhanced variety package........$327.50

Medifast 4-week 70 enhanced variety package........$327.50

Medifast 4-week diabetes enhanced variety pack.....$327.50

Momentum Weight Loss Package...............$353.50

Momentum Maintenance Package..............$169.50

all products priced $14.50.........................$15.50

all products priced $15.25..........................$16.25

all products priced $16.95..........................$16.95

all products priced $18.95..........................$18.95

all products priced $21.95..........................$21.95

Super Omega-3.........................................$27.50

Crackers...................................................$4.50

Soy Crisps.................................................$6.75

Ready-to-Drink (each)...............................$3.25

Ready-to-Drink (case/24)..........................$69.95


NEW Calculation For Commissions:

Health Coaches will also help share the increasing costs with the replacement of Retail Price with Adjusted Retail Price (ARP), set at 98% of the Retail Price, in the calculation of your 15% or 20% commission.

With this change, understand that you will still earn more money on the orders your Clients place in July than you did in June. However, you will be earning a slightly smaller percentage on a higher price due to the introduction of ARP.

Example:
Before July 1, 2008
If a Client orders $300 of Medifast food, you earn:

Retail Price = $300 (what your Client pays)
Your commission is $300 X 20% (or 15%) = $60

After July 1, 2008
If a Client orders $324 of Medifast food (6% cost increase), you earn:

Retail Price = $324 (What your Client pays)
Adjusted Retail Price (What you get paid on) = $317.52
Your commission is $317.52 X 20% (or 15%) = $63.50


Commissionable Volume (CV) will also be calculated on the ARP (not the Retail Price) and will remain at roughly 50% of the ARP. Monthly bonuses will also be determined using the new CV.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we institute these company changes. Be assured that this decision was made to ensure the continued success of Take Shape For Life and the thousands of Health Coaches that are working everyday to build Optimal Health throughout the nation.

Increased Weight Loss Results Compared to Conventional Diets

The Medifast Diet is based upon the use of great tasting and convenient meal replacements. Meal replacements are scientifically shown to increase weight loss results when compared to conventional diets. This is because meal replacements are convenient, take all the guesswork out of eating correctly, and make consistency in eating the right amounts easier day in and day out. With Medifast products you have advanced nutritional products that make following the program easy.

Third Party Study: Weight Management Using Meal Replacements

OBJECTIVE: Although used by millions of overweight and obese consumers, there has not been a systematic assessment on the safety and effectiveness of a meal replacement strategy for weight management. The aim of this study was to review, by use of a meta- and pooling analysis, the existing literature on the safety and effectiveness of a meal replacement plan using one or two vitamin/mineral fortified meal replacements as well as regular foods for long-term weight management.

DESIGN: A plan was defined as a program that prescribes a low calorie diet whereby meals are replaced by commercially available, energy-reduced product(s) that are vitamin and mineral fortified, and includes at least one meal of regular foods. Randomized, controlled interventions of at least 3 months duration, with subjects 18 y of age or older and a BMI-Z 25 kg/m2, were evaluated. Studies with self-reported weight and height were excluded. Searches in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Clinical Trials identified 30 potential studies for analysis. Of these, six met all of the inclusion criteria and used liquid meal replacement products (such as Medifast Shakes) with the associated plan. Overweight and obese subjects were randomized to the meal replacement plan or a conventional reduced calorie diet (RCD) plan. The prescribed calorie intake was the same for both groups. Authors of the six publications were contacted and asked to supply primary data for analysis. Primary data from the six studies were used for both meta- and pooling analysis.

RESULTS: Subjects prescribed either plans lost significant amounts of weight at both the 3-month and 1-year evaluation time points. All methods of analysis indicated a significantly greater weight loss in subjects receiving the meal replacement plan compared to the RCD group. Depending on the analysis and follow-up duration, the meal replacement group lost 7–8% body weight and the RCD group lost 3–7% body weight. Risk factors of disease associated with excess weight improved with weight loss in both groups at the two time points. The degree of improvement was also dependent on baseline risk factor levels. The dropout rate for meal replacement group and RCD groups was equivalent at 3 months and significantly less in the meal replacement group at 1 year.

CONCLUSION: This first systematic evaluation of randomized controlled trials utilizing meal replacement plans, such as the Medifast Diet, for weight management suggests that these types of interventions can safely and effectively produce significant sustainable weight loss and improve weight-related risk factors of disease.

International Journal of Obesity 27, 537–549.

Medifast is a VLCD or very low calorie diet. Choosing a weight-loss program may be a difficult task. You may not know what to look for in a weight-loss program or what questions to ask. This fact sheet can help you talk to your health care professional about weight loss and get the best information before choosing a program.

Talk With Your Health Care Professional about Medifast.

If your health care provider tells you that you should lose weight and you want to find a weight-loss program to help you, look for one that is based on regular physical activity and an eating plan that is balanced, healthy, and easy to follow. The Medifast Diet is simple and easy to follow.

You may want to talk with your doctor or other health care professional about controlling your weight before you decide on a weight-loss program. Doctors do not always address issues such as healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management during general office visits. It is important for you to start the discussion in order to get the information you need. Even if you feel uncomfortable talking about your weight with your doctor, remember that he or she is there to help you improve your health. Here are some tips:

* Tell your health care professional that you would like to talk about your weight. Share your concerns about any medical conditions you have or medicines you are taking.
* Write down your questions in advance.
* Bring pen and paper to take notes.
* Bring a friend or family member along for support if this will make you feel more comfortable.
* Make sure you understand what your health care provider is saying. Do not be afraid to ask questions if there is something you do not understand.
* Ask for other sources of information like brochures or websites.
* If you want more support, ask for a referral to a registered dietitian, a support group, or a commercial weight-loss program.
* Call your health care professional after your visit if you have more questions or need help.


Ask Questions

Find out as much as you can about your health needs before joining a weight-loss program. Here are some questions you might want to ask your health care professional:

About Your Weight

* Do I need to lose weight? Or should I just avoid gaining more?
* Is my weight affecting my health?
* Could my extra weight be caused by a health problem such as hypothyroidism or by a medicine I am taking? (Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, a condition that can slow your metabolism—how your body creates and uses energy.)

About Weight Loss

* What should my weight-loss goal be?
* How will losing weight help me?

About Nutrition and Physical Activity

* How should I change my eating habits?
* What kinds of physical activity can I do?
* How much physical activity do I need?

About Treatment

* Should I take weight-loss drugs?
* What about weight-loss surgery?
* What are the risks of weight-loss drugs or surgery?
* Could a weight-loss program help me?


A Responsible and Safe Weight-loss Program

If your health care provider tells you that you should lose weight and you want to find a weight-loss program to help you, look for one that is based on regular physical activity and an eating plan that is balanced, healthy, and easy to follow. Weight-loss programs should encourage healthy behaviors that help you lose weight and that you can stick with every day. Safe and effective weight-loss programs should include:

* Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not forbid specific foods or food groups.
* Tips to increase moderate-intensity physical activity.
* Tips on healthy habits that also keep your cultural needs in mind, such as lower-fat versions of your favorite foods.
* Slow and steady weight loss. Depending on your starting weight, experts recommend losing weight at a rate of 1/2 to 2 pounds per week. Weight loss may be faster at the start of a program.
* Medical care if you are planning to lose weight by following a special formula diet, such as a very low-calorie diet (a program that requires careful monitoring from a doctor).
* A plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it.


Get Familiar with the Program

Gather as much information as you can before deciding to join a program. Professionals working for weight-loss programs should be able to answer the questions listed below.

What does the weight-loss program consist of?

* Does the program offer one-on-one counseling or group classes?
* Do you have to follow a specific meal plan or keep food records?
* Do you have to purchase special food, drugs, or supplements?
* If the program requires special foods, can you make changes based on your likes and dislikes and food allergies?
* Does the program help you be more physically active, follow a specific physical activity plan, or provide exercise instruction?
* Does the program teach you to make positive and healthy behavior changes?
* Is the program sensitive to your lifestyle and cultural needs?
* Does the program provide ways to keep the weight off? Will the program provide ways to deal with such issues as what to eat at social or holiday gatherings, changes to work schedules, lack of motivation, and injury or illness?

What are the staff qualifications?

* Who supervises the program?
* What type of weight management training, experience, education, and certifications does the staff have?

Does the product or program carry any risks?

* Could the program hurt you?
* Could the recommended drugs or supplements harm your health?
* Do participants talk with a doctor?
* Does a doctor run the program?
* Will the program’s doctors work with your personal doctor if you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure or are taking prescribed drugs?
* Is there ongoing input and follow-up from a health care professional to ensure your safety while you participate in the program?

How much does the program cost?

* What is the total cost of the program?
* Are there other costs, such as weekly attendance fees, food and supplement purchases, etc.?
* Are there fees for a follow-up program after you lose weight?
* Are there other fees for medical tests?

What results do participants typically have?

* How much weight does an average participant lose and how long does he or she keep the weight off?
* Does the program offer publications or materials that describe what results participants typically have?

Drinking Water and Weight Loss

Why Drinking Water Really is the Key.

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you, but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're probably just not drinking enough water.

When on the Medifast Diet you will be taking in about five glasses of water with the shakes or other supplements you eat daily, but you really need four or five additional glasses of water while on the Medifast Diet.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers. Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.


There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now, but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it. It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed, though. What is really happening is that your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles, which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout. Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion. It also makes your skin look younger. Skin that is becoming saggy, either due to aging or weight loss, plumps up very nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance. Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making your workout more effective and you'll look much nicer than if you had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much. Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and whatever else isn’t what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try flavored water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours before you go to bed. You know why.
"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.

On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it. Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not seeing results, this might just what's missing.

The Medifast program incorporates several of the principles of the Atkins diet. Medifast uses portion control and a high protein intake in the program, but also incorporates carbohydrates into the program, whereas the Atkins diet does not.

History of Atkins Diet

Nature of the diet

The Atkins Diet represents a departure from prevailing theories. Atkins claimed there are two main unrecognized factors about Western eating habits, arguing firstly that the main cause of obesity is eating refined carbohydrates, particularly sugar, flour, and high-fructose corn syrups; and secondly, that saturated fat is overrated as a nutritional problem, and that only trans fats from sources such as hydrogenated oils need to be avoided. Consequently, Dr. Atkins rejected the advice of the food pyramid, instead asserting that the tremendous increase in refined carbohydrates is responsible for the rise in metabolic disorders of the 20th century, and that the focus on the detrimental effects of dietary fat has actually contributed to the obesity problem by increasing the proportion of insulin-inducing foods in the diet. While most of the emphasis in Atkins is on the diet, nutritional supplements and exercise are considered equally important elements.

Atkins involves the restriction of carbohydrates in order to switch the body's metabolism from burning glucose to burning stored body fat. This process (called lipolysis) begins when the body enters the state of ketosis as a consequence of running out of excess carbohydrates to burn. Dr. Atkins in his book New Diet Revolution claimed that the low-carbohydrate diet produces a "metabolic advantage" where the body burns more calories, overall, than on normal diets, and also expels some unused calories. He cited one study where he estimated this advantage to be 950 calories (4.0 MJ) a day. However, a review study in the Lancet (see below) concluded that there was no metabolic advantage and dieters were simply eating fewer calories due to boredom. Professor Astru stating that "The monotony and simplicity of the diet could inhibit appetite and food intake.", or possibly protein inducing a satiating effect.

The Atkins diet restricts "net carbs" (carbohydrates that have an effect on blood sugar). The effect is to decrease the onset of hunger from low blood sugar. Dr. Atkins says in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution (2002) that hunger is the number one reason why low-fat diets fail. Though studies show the efficacy of the Atkins approach after one year is the same as a low-fat diet, Dr. Atkins claimed that it was easier to stay on the Atkins diet because dieters did not feel hungry or "deprived". Other studies have sited that the 'low fat' trend which portrays the myth that fat in the food somehow transfers to fat in the body, do not mention the essential amino-acids which are essential in brain function and precursors to serotonin and other neurotransmitters. One study goes as far as comparing the low fat trend with the increase in diagnosed depression over the last two decades.

Net carbohydrates can be calculated from a food source by subtracting sugar alcohols and fiber (which are shown to have a negligible effect on blood sugar levels) from total carbohydrates. Sugar alcohols need to be treated with caution, because while they may be slower to convert to glucose, they can be a significant source of glycemic load and can stall weight loss. Fructose (e.g., as found in many industrial sweeteners) also contributes to caloric intake, though outside of the glucose-insulin control loop.

Preferred foods in all categories are whole, unprocessed foods with a low glycemic load. Atkins Nutritionals, the company responsible for marketing the Atkins Diet, recommends that no more than 20% of calories eaten while on the diet come from saturated fat.

According to his book Atkins Diabetes Revolution, for people whose blood sugar is abnormally high or who have type-2 diabetes, this diet decreases or eliminates the need for drugs to treat these conditions. The Atkins Blood Sugar Control Program (ABSCP) is an individualized approach to weight control and permanent management of the risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Phases

There are four phases of the Atkins diet: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance.

Induction

The Induction phase is the first, and most restrictive, phase of the Atkins Nutritional Approach. It is intended to cause the body to quickly enter a state of ketosis. Carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 net grams per day (grams of carbohydrates minus grams of fiber, sugar alcohols, or glycerin), 12 to 15 net grams of which must come in the form of salad greens and other green vegetables (broccoli, green beans, spinach and asparagus). The allowed foods include a liberal amount of all meats, fish, shellfish, fowl, and eggs; up to 4 ounces (113 g) of soft or semi-soft cheese; salad vegetables; other low carbohydrate vegetables; and butter and vegetable oils. Drinking eight glasses of water per day is a must during this phase. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed during this phase. Caffeine is allowed in moderation so long as it does not cause cravings or low blood sugar. If a caffeine addiction is evident, it is best to not allow it until later phases of the diet. A daily multivitamin with minerals is also recommended.

The Induction Phase is usually when many see the most significant weight loss — reports of losses of 5 to 10 pounds per week are not uncommon when Induction is combined with daily exercise.

Atkins suggests the use of Ketostix, small chemically reactive strips used by diabetics. These let the dieter monitor when they enter the ketosis or fat burning, phase. Other indicators of ketosis include a metallic taste in the mouth, or bad breath.

Ongoing weight loss

The Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase of Atkins consists of an increase in carbohydrate intake, but remaining at levels where weight loss occurs. The target daily carbohydrate intake increases each week by 5 net grams. A goal in OWL is to find the "Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing" and to learn in a controlled manner how food groups in increasing glycemic levels and foods within that group affect your craving control. The OWL phase lasts until weight is within 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of the target weight. During the first week, one should add more of the induction acceptable vegetables to his/her daily products. For example, 6-8 stalks of asparagus, salad, and one cup of cauliflower or one half of avocado. The next week, one should follow the carbohydrate ladder that Dr Atkins created for this phase and add fresh dairy. The ladder has 9 rungs and should be added in order given. One can skip a rung if one does not intend to include that food group in one's permanent way of eating, such as the alcohol rung.

The rungs are as follows:

* Induction acceptable vegetables
* Fresh dairy
* Nuts
* Berries
* Alcohol
* Legumes
* Other fruits
* Starchy vegetables
* Grains

Pre-maintenance

Carbohydrate intake is increased again this time by 10 net carbs a week from the ladder groupings, and the key goal in this phase is to find the "Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance", this is the maximum number of carbohydrates you can eat each day without gaining weight. This may well be above the level of carbohydrates inducing ketosis on a testing stick. As a result, it is not necessary to maintain a positive ketosis test long term.

Lifetime maintenance

This phase is intended to carry on the habits acquired in the previous phases, and avoid the common end-of-diet mindset that can return people to their previous habits and previous weight. Whole, unprocessed food choices are emphasized, with the option to drop back to an earlier phase if you begin to gain weight.

Popularity

The Atkins Nutritional Approach gained widespread popularity in 2003 and 2004. At the height of its popularity one in eleven North-American adults were on the diet. This large following was blamed for large declines in the sales of carbohydrate-heavy foods like pasta and rice (sales were down 8.2 and 4.6 percent, respectively, in 2003). The diet's success was even blamed for a decline in Krispy Kreme sales. Trying to capitalize on the "low-carb craze," many companies released special product lines that were low in carbohydrates. Coca-Cola released C2 and Pepsi-Cola created Pepsi Edge, which was scheduled to be discontinued later in 2005. Unlike the sugar-free soft drinks Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, which had been available for decades, these new drinks used a blend of traditional sweetener and the diet drinks' artificial sweeteners to offset the allegedly inferior artificial sweetener flavor. These "half-and-half" drinks declined in popularity as soft drink makers learned to use newer sweeteners to mask the flavor of aspartame (or completely replace it) in reformulated diet drinks such as Coca-Cola Zero and Pepsi ONE.

Robert Atkins died from a fatal head injury sustained in a fall on ice in 2003. The nutritional plan suffered from rumors and allegations that he was obese at the time and had died from a heart condition as a result. On July 31, 2005, the Atkins Nutritional company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the percentage of adults on the diet declined to two percent and sales of Atkins brand product fell steeply in the second half of 2004.

The Low Carb Revolution was a one-hour documentary television special on the Atkins diet. The special, which aired on Food Network Canada, on April 25, 2004, described how this diet works, had success stories, and quickly presented some recipes.

Scientific Studies

Several randomized, controlled studies of less than one year, published in peer-reviewed journals, have been conducted to gauge the effectiveness of the Atkins diet. There are no rigorous studies to show the results after 1 year.

According to a review of the scientific data published in the Lancet, there is no proof that the Atkins diet is effective beyond 6 months. The review led by Arne Astrup of the Centre of Advanced Food Research at Copenhagen's RVA University, concluded that "There is no clear evidence that Atkins-style diets are better than any others for helping people to stay slim,[and] despite the popularity and apparent success of the Atkins diet, evidence in support of its use lags behind. Although the diet appears as claimed to promote weight loss without hunger at least in the short-term, the long-term effects on health and disease prevention are unknown."

The researchers concluded it was unlikely that weight-loss come through ketosis because 'urinary traces of ketones were so low that very little energy would be used up this way'. They concluded that a possible reason that participants lost weight was that the diet was so monotonous that they simply ate less; weight loss was a result of boredom. "Patients who want to try these diets should be told that, although safety cannot be guaranteed, they seem to be safe for short-term use (up to six months) as long as weight loss occurs," the authors said.

When the Atkins diet was introduced in the 1970s, it was immediately attacked by existing experts, who claimed it was unhealthy and would fail. For example, Atkins testified before the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, in April, 1973. That day, "three authorities in nutrition and health ... [testified] that Atkins's severely carbohydrate-restricted diet was neither revolutionary, effective, nor safe," and a comment by Harvard nutritionist Fred Stare was read into the record: "The Atkins diet is nonsense.... Any book that recommends unlimited amounts of meat, butter and eggs, as this does, in my opinion is dangerous. The author who makes the suggestion is guilty of malpractice." Subsequent studies have not supported those fears for the short term, but the long term safety remains unknown.

* "The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss for the first six months, but the differences were not significant at one year. The low-carbohydrate diet was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease. Adherence was poor and attrition was high in both groups. Longer and larger studies are required to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-protein, and high-fat diets." — New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 348, Pages 2082-2090, 22 May 2003, Number 21
* A study comparing weight loss and metabolic changes in obese adults randomly assigned to either a low-carbohydrate diet or a conventional weight loss diet at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center concluded the following: "Participants on a low-carbohydrate diet had more favorable overall outcomes at 1 year than did those on a conventional diet. Weight loss was similar between groups, but effects on atherogenic dyslipidemia and glycemic control were still more favorable with a low-carbohydrate diet after adjustment for differences in weight loss.”
* In a controlled study, published in JAMA (March 7, 2007), by Gardner at Stanford University, found 'Weight loss was not statistically different among the Zone, LEARN, and Ornish groups' but 'was significantly different between the Atkins and Zone diets'. The study followed 311 premenopausal, non diabetic women, age 25-50. The women lost more weight (mean 4.7 kg equating to 0.2lbs(90g)/week) on the Atkins diet than on 3 higher-carbohydrate diets (LEARN 2.6 kg, Ornish 2.2 kg, and Zone 1.6 kg), without increasing cardiovascular risks. The statistically significant findings for changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure favored Atkins over the other three diets. The authors conclude: "Concerns about adverse metabolic effects of the Atkins diet were not substantiated within the 12-month study period."

The strongest evidence is randomized, controlled studies published in peer-reviewed journals. The greater the number of subjects, and the longer the subjects are followed, the more powerful the study. To date, the longest studies are 1 year, so the effects of the diet over longer durations are not known.

The medical principles and scientific theory behind the Atkins diet were first put forward in a series of articles by Dr. Richard D. Feinman, a professor of biochemistry and medical researcher at State University of New York (SUNY) Health Science Center (Downstate) at Brooklyn. Feinman, president of the Nutrition & Metabolism Society, published work which attempts to prove the common idea that "a calorie is a calorie" is not correct. His research aims to demonstrate why the diet is nutritionally sound and to elucidate principles which prove Atkins scientifically correct.

Proponents of the Atkins diet feel much of the criticism leveled at the diet comes from statements and opinions of individuals and associations, rather than from controlled and reviewed studies. Advocates of the diet dispute criticisms, such as the fact that a low-carbohydrate diet is likely to be high-fat and allegations that fat, especially saturated fat, is harmful. Atkins backers maintain that, unlike trans fat, which can result from partial hydrogenation, fully saturated fat is not harmful. Proponents cite the award-winning science writer Gary Taubes who, in a 2001 article in Science, 291 (5513): 2536 claimed that the oft-cited "consensus" opinion against saturated fats derives from political rather than scientific motives. Taubes' 2007 book Good Calories, Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet, Weight Control, and Disease also makes this point, but in more depth. Taubes reviews the nutrition research of a century from various angles, and draws his conclusion from a very diverse set of evidence.

One study found that saturated fat may be cardio-protective in post menopausal women.

The May 22, 2003, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine published two scientific, randomized studies comparing standard low-fat diets to low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins Diet. In both studies, subjects lost more weight on the low-carbohydrate plans at 6-months but not at 1-year. The editors noted that "Adherence was poor and attrition was high in both groups. Longer and larger studies are required to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-protein, and high-fat diets."

Duke University, funded by an unrestricted grant from the Atkins Foundation, (2005) found that both the low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets studied improved cardiac health indicators, but in different ways. The commonality between the diets studied is that both restricted refined sugar and junk food and both encouraged 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week.

Controversies

An analysis conducted by Forbes magazine found that the boxed retail Atkins Nutritional Approach food product is one of the top five in the expense category of ten plans Forbes analyzed. The analysis showed the median average of the ten diets was approximately 50% higher, and Atkins 80% higher, than the American national average. Atkins was less expensive than Jenny Craig and more expensive than Weight Watchers.

Low-carbohydrate diets have been the subject of heated debate in medical circles for three decades. They are still controversial and only recently has any serious research supported some aspects of Atkins' claims, especially for short-term weight-loss (6 months or less).

But many in the scientific community also raise serious concerns:

* Dr. Robert Eckel of the American Heart Association says that high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets put people at risk of heart disease; A long term study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 found that women reduced heart disease risk by eating more protein and fat from vegetable sources.

* A 2001 scientific review conducted by Freedman et al. and published in the peer reviewed scientific journal Obesity Research concluded that low-carb dieters' initial advantage in weight loss was a result of increased water loss, and that after the initial period, low-carbohydrate diets produce similar fat loss to other diets with similar caloric intake.

* The May 2004 Annals of Internal Medicine study showed that "minor adverse effects" of diarrhea, general weakness, rashes and muscle cramps "were more frequent in the low-carbohydrate diet group".

* Consuming too much protein can create health problems and protein toxicity for patients with certain medical problems, for example those with preexisting kidney problems.

Opponents of the diet also point out that the initial weight loss upon starting the diet is a phenomenon common with most diets, and is due to reduction in stored glycogen and related water in muscles, not fat loss. They claim that no evidence has surfaced that any diet will cause weight loss unless it reduces food energy (calories) below the maintenance level and that weight loss from the Atkins diet may be the result of less food energy being consumed by the dieter, rather than the lack of carbohydrates. They further point out that weight loss on fad diets, which typically restrict or prohibit certain foods, is often because the dieter has fewer food choices available.

Misconceptions about the diet

Many people incorrectly believe that the Atkins Diet promotes eating unlimited amounts of fatty meats and cheeses. This is a key point of clarification that Dr. Atkins addressed in the more recent revisions of his book. Although the Atkins Diet does not impose limits on certain foods, or caloric restriction in general, Dr. Atkins points out in his book that this plan is "not a license to gorge." The director of research and education for Atkins Nutritionals, Collette Heimowitz, has said, "The media and opponents of Atkins often sensationalize and simplify the diet as the all-the-steak-you-can-eat diet. This has never been true."

Another common misconception arises from confusion between the Induction Phase and rest of the diet. The first two weeks of the Atkins Diet are strict, with only 20g of carbohydrates permitted per day. Atkins states that a dieter can safely stay at the Induction Phase for several months if the person has a lot of weight to lose. Once the weight-loss goal is reached, carbohydrate levels are raised gradually, though still significantly below USDA norms, and still within or slightly above the definition of ketosis.

The Induction Phase is also known for its comparatively lower intake of dietary fiber, and this is often misconstrued as characteristic of the diet as a whole. In fact fiber supplements, such as psyllium seed husks, are recommended for the early stages. It is often misstated that those on the diet do not consume enough vegetables and fruits. However those who follow it properly should not face this problem as even the Induction Phase allows for adequate amounts of dark green leaf vegetables.

Diabetes, Diet, and Exercise

The Medifast program incorporates many of these same principles in their program.


Exercising as little as 30 minutes a day and eating a healthy diet can help delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes by more than 50 per cent for those at high risk for the disease, according to the results of a national prevention trial released at the beginning of August.

The results of the five-year study, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), were deemed so convincing by the study's external data monitoring board that they ended the clinical trial this spring, a year ahead of schedule. This information comes at a time when public health officials are calling diabetes and its health consequences an "epidemic."

Sixteen million Americans already have diabetes, but more than 5 million of them are undiagnosed. Diabetes usually affects those over age 40 and is more likely to occur in those who are obese or in people with a family history of the disease.

"It couldn't come at a better time," said Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson last month. "In the last 10 years, Type 2 diabetes has exploded. The population is aging; our most vulnerable ethnic populations are increasing as well. Americans weigh more than ever before and too many people live sedentary lives."

Study Targeted High Risk Groups
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) compared diet and exercise to treatment with the drug metformin (or Glucophage) in 3,234 people with impaired glucose tolerance, a condition that puts people at high risk for diabetes.

Study participants were randomly assigned to either a lifestyle intervention group, treatment with metformin, or to receive a placebo. Participants in all three of the study arms were advised about healthy eating and exercise.

Those assigned to the lifestyle group reduced their diabetes risk by 58 per cent. On average, that group maintained their physical activity at 30 minutes per day and lost 5-7 per cent of their body weight, or 10-15 pounds. This segment of the study was especially successful for older participants, aged 60 and older, who reduced their development of diabetes by 71 per cent through lifestyle changes.

The study called for participants to lower their fat intake to less than 25 per cent of their caloric intake. Participants in this segment of the study received six months of instruction in healthy eating, exercise and behavior and less frequent follow up sessions over the next few years.

Participants in the metformin portion of the study received 850 mg twice a day of the drug and were able to reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 31 per cent. The drug therapy was most effective in the younger participants (ages 25-40) and those who had more substantial weight problems (50-80 pounds overweight).

About 29 per cent of the placebo group developed diabetes during the three-year follow-up period. However, in the lifestyle arm only 14 per cent developed the disease and in the drug arm of the study, 22 per cent developed diabetes. It is unclear if the interventions can completely prevent diabetes, but researchers plan to continue to follow the study participants to see how long the interventions are effective.

Smaller studies on diabetes prevention have been conducted in China and Finland with similar results. However, this large-scale trial with 27 sites across the country is the first to show that significant reductions can be made with a diverse American population.

The study was made up of people who were at high risk for developing diabetes. All of the participants had impaired glucose tolerance, as measured by an oral glucose tolerance test and all were overweight. In addition, about 45 per cent of the study participants were minorities (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians) and therefore at a greater risk. Other high-risk groups included in the study were people age 60 and older, women with a history of gestational diabetes, and people with a family history of Type 2 diabetes.

Study Message Is Clear
Although the study focused only on people at high-risk for diabetes, many researchers think the interventions could be applied on a wider scale. That is one of the areas that will be considered as policy makers formulate recommendations for physicians and patients this fall.

Thompson announced last month that HHS will create a task force to translate the results of the DPP study. The recommendations will be due at the end of the year. Once the recommendations are ready, Thompson said HHS staff would lead by example by increasing their own exercise and going on a diet. He urged other government departments, private companies and groups to follow the department's lead.

With the clear success of weight loss and exercise in the DPP study, physicians will have solid proof to give to high-risk patients, said Dr. Steven Kahn, the principle investigator at the DPP's Seattle site within the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. Dr. Kahn, research director at the Puget Sound VA system and a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, said that not only is the message clear to patients, but it will be easy for physicians to dispense this advice because the lifestyle interventions were effective across the board, for all ages and ethnic groups.

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Medical Research on Low Carb Diets

Low Carb diets became a major weight loss and health maintenance trend during the late 1990s and early 2000s. While their popularity has waned recently from its peak, they still remain popular. This diet trend has stirred major controversies in the medical and nutritional sciences communities and, as yet, there is not a general consensus on their efficacy or safety. As of 2007 the majority of the medical community remains generally opposed to these diets for long term health although studies have reported positive results in both weight loss and improvement in health indicators.
This article summarizes a sampling of the studies and other research that exist related to this diet trend including not only the efficacy of these diets on weight loss, but also their effects on other aspects of health and related topics such as ketosis. This is not a complete listing of all relevant research.
Synopsis
Because of the substantial controversy regarding low-carbohydrate diets, and even disagreements in interpreting the results of specific studies, it is currently difficult to objectively summarize the research in a way that reflects scientific consensus.
Although there has been some research done throughout the twentieth century, most directly relevant scientific studies have occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s and, as such, are relatively new and the results are still debated in the medical community. Supporters and opponents of low-carbohydrate diets frequently cite many articles (some times the same articles) as supporting their positions. One of the fundamental criticisms of those who advocate the low-carbohydrate diets has been the lack of long-term studies evaluating their health risks.

Specific Research
The following is not a complete list of all relevant research but a selected list of articles demonstrating some of the breadth of scientific knowledge available on this subject.
Journal of the American Medical Association: 1926
Lieb et al., 1926 conducted a case study of Dr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, an anthropologist and explorer who lived with the Inuit eating a diet consisting almost entirely of meat, fish, and fat. A research team studied Stefansson's health looking for signs that his "unusual" diet had adversely affected his health. The team was unable to find any health problems in Stefansson and noted that the Inuit themselves also were quite healthy.

The Lancet: 1956
Kekwick and Pawan, 1956 conducted a study of subjects consuming 1000-calorie diets, some 90% protein, some 90% fat, and some 90% carbohydrates. Those on the high fat diet lost the most, the high protein dieters lost somewhat less, and the high carbohydrate dieters actually gained weight on average.
Kekwick and Pawan noted irregularities in their study (patients not fully complying with the parameters of the study). As such the validity of the conclusions has to be questioned.
Annals of Internal Medicine: 1965
A study conducted in 1965 at the Naval Hospital Oakland (Oakland, California) used a diet of 1000 calories per day, high in fat and limiting carbohydrates to 10 grams (40 calories) daily. Over a ten-day period, subjects on this diet lost more body fat than did a group who fasted completely (Benoit et. al. 1965). Some advocates, such as Atkins, of low-carbohydrate diets have termed this the metabolic advantage of such diets.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: 1997
Holt et al., 1997 performed a study of glucose and insulin responses for test subjects to a variety of foods, both high- and low-carbohydrate. The conclusions state the following.
Our study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the postprandial insulin response was not necessarily proportional to the blood glucose response and that nutrients other than carbohydrate influence the overall level of insulinemia ... The results of this study confirm and also challenge some of our basic assumptions about the relation between food intake and insulinemia. Within each food group, there was a wide range of insulin responses, despite similarities in nutrient composition ... As observed in previous studies, consumption of protein or fat with carbohydrate increases insulin secretion compared with the insulinogenic effect of these nutrients alone ... However, some protein and fat-rich foods (eggs, beef, fish, lentils, cheese, cake, and doughnuts) induced as much insulin secretion as did some carbohydrate-rich foods (e.g., beef was equal to brown rice and fish was equal to grain bread).
This study challenges the general assertion that only carbohydrates significantly impact insulin production.
The authors describe their work as "preliminary" and so the results should be judged with caution.
New England Journal of Medicine: 2003

Two important NEJM studies from this year are mentioned here. Samaha et al., 2003 completed a study of 132 obese subjects comparing the efficacy of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets. The conclusions of the article state the following.
Severely obese subjects with a high prevalence of diabetes or the metabolic syndrome lost more weight during six months on a carbohydrate-restricted diet than on a calorie- and fat-restricted diet, with a relative improvement in insulin sensitivity and triglyceride levels, even after adjustment for the amount of weight lost. This finding should be interpreted with caution, given the small magnitude of overall and between-group differences in weight loss in these markedly obese subjects and the short duration of the study. Future studies evaluating long-term cardiovascular outcomes are needed before a carbohydrate-restricted diet can be endorsed.
Foster et al., 2003 performed a similar study 63 obese men. Their conclusion was the following.
The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss (absolute difference, approximately 4 percent) than did the conventional diet for the first six months, but the differences were not significant at one year. The low-carbohydrate diet was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease. Adherence was poor and attrition was high in both groups. Longer and larger studies are required to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-protein, and high-fat diets.
In essence these studies showed that, setting aside their short-term nature and some safety questions, the low-carbohydrate diet was at least somewhat more effective in weight loss and in improvement of other health issues in an important demographic.
Journal of the American Medical Association: 2003
Bravata et al., 2003 conducted a literature search study of low-carbohydrate diet studies conducted between 1966 and 2003. The paper stated the following conclusion.
There is insufficient evidence to make recommendations for or against the use of low-carbohydrate diets, particularly among participants older than age 50 years, for use longer than 90 days, or for diets of 20 g/d or less of carbohydrates. Among the published studies, participant weight loss while using low-carbohydrate diets was principally associated with decreased caloric intake and increased diet duration but not with reduced carbohydrate content.
The study determined that carbohydrate reduction did not significantly contribute more to weight loss than simply reducing calories. The article does state that
Low-carbohydrate diets had no significant adverse effect on serum lipid, fasting serum glucose, and fasting serum insulin levels, or blood pressure.

Journal of Child Neurology: 2003
Evangeliou et al., 2003 completed a 6-month study of 30 autistic children following a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet. The paper stated the following conclusions.
Of the remaining group who adhered to the diet, 18 of 30 children (60%) [the rest did not complete the study], improvement was recorded in several parameters and in accordance with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Significant improvement (> 12 units of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale) was recorded in two patients (pre-Scale: 35.00 +/- 1.41[mean +/- SD]), average improvement (> 8-12 units) in eight patients (pre-Scale: 41.88 +/- 3.14[mean +/- SD]), and minor improvement (2-8 units) in eight patients (pre-Scale: 45.25 +/- 2.76 [mean +/- SD]).
The authors state clearly that the study was limited and the results are preliminary.
Journal of the American Academy of Neurology: 2003
Kossoff et al., 2003 conducted a small study of six epileptic patients studying the effects of the Atkins diet. The abstract states the following.
The ketogenic diet is effective for treating seizures in children with epilepsy. The Atkins diet can also induce a ketotic state, but has fewer protein and caloric restrictions, and has been used safely by millions of people worldwide for weight reduction. Six patients, aged 7 to 52 years, were started on the Atkins diet for the treatment of intractable focal and multifocal epilepsy. Five patients maintained moderate to large ketosis for periods of 6 weeks to 24 months; three patients had seizure reduction and were able to reduce antiepileptic medications. This provides preliminary evidence that the Atkins diet may have a role as therapy for patients with medically resistant epilepsy.
In a 2004 Lancet article, Dr. Kossoff also stated that
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate diet that has been used for the treatment of intractable childhood epilepsy since the 1920s ... Although less commonly used in later decades because of the increased availability of anticonvulsants, the ketogenic diet has re-emerged as a therapeutic option.
Annals of Internal Medicine: 2004
Two significant studies can be found in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2004. Yancy et al., 2004 completed a study of 120 overweight, high-lipid-count subjects comparing the efficacy of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets. The conclusions of the article state the following.
Compared with a low-fat diet, a low-carbohydrate diet program had better participant retention and greater weight loss. During active weight loss, serum triglyceride levels decreased more and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased more with the low-carbohydrate diet than with the low-fat diet.
Stern et al., 2004 conducted a one-year study of 132 obese adults. The conclusions state the following.
Participants on a low-carbohydrate diet had more favorable overall outcomes at 1 year than did those on a conventional diet. Weight loss was similar between groups, but effects on atherogenic dyslipidemia and glycemic control were still more favorable with a low-carbohydrate diet after adjustment for differences in weight loss.
Nutrition Journal: 2004
Feinman and Fine, 2004 present an argument refuting the "calorie is a calorie" principle cited by some as an argument against the weight-loss benefits of low-carbohydrate diets. The "calorie is a calorie" argument, loosely speaking, states that the laws of thermodynamics imply that calories ingested from any source are burned at the same rate in the body (meaning that, for the purposes of weight loss, all sources of calories are the same).
The paper refutes this (the argument is omitted here) stating the following in the conclusion.
Thus, ironically the dictum that a "calorie is a calorie" violates the second law of thermodynamics, as a matter of principle.
The authors' point is that while some have argued that there is no point in comparing the effectiveness of diets based on the sources of calories (proteins, fats, or carbohydrates), the arguments in favor of this viewpoint are not supported by science. This paper is not directly based on any clinical studies but rather is a discussion of basic scientific theory related to this subject.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention: 2004
Romieu et al. 2004 completed a survey-based study of a selected group of 475 women against a control group of 1391 correlating diet and breast cancer rates. The study concluded the following.
In this population, a high percentage of calories from carbohydrate, but not from fat, were associated with increased breast cancer risk.
American Journal of Epidemiology: 2005
Ma et al., 2005 completed a one-year study of 572 healthy adults monitoring their diet and physical activity. The study concluded the following.
In conclusion, results from our study suggest that daily dietary glycemic index is independently and positively associated with BMI [Body Mass Index]. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that with increased glycemic index, more insulin is produced and more fat is stored, suggesting that type of carbohydrate may be related to body weight. Our data did not support the current public trend of lowering total carbohydrate intake for weight loss or of lowering glycemic load for weight loss, as suggested by other researchers.
This study refutes the suggestion that total carbohydrate consumption directly correlates with weight loss but does support the notion that the glycemic index of foods consumed correlates with weight loss. The study does not specifically distinguish between nutritive and non-nutritive carbohydrate consumption nor is it clear that any of the diets was ketogenic (a key factor for most low-carbohydrate diets).
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism: 2005
Yancy et al., 2005 completed a study of 28 overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes. The conclusion of the study was the following.
The LCKD [low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet] improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes such that diabetes medications were discontinued or reduced in most participants. Because the LCKD can be very effective at lowering blood glucose, patients on diabetes medication who use this diet should be under close medical supervision or capable of adjusting their medication.
The article lends support to the argument that low carbohydrate diets can be at least a partial remedy for some forms of diabetes (and may lend support to the argument that some forms of diabetes may in fact be caused by high carbohydrate diets).
New England Journal of Medicine: 2006
Halton et al., 2006 completed a study analyzing the long-term (20 years) health effects of low-carbohydrate diets. The study was limited to women and followed 82,802 subjects. Based on questionnaires, the study determined the correlation between the carbohydrate intake and coronary heart disease risk.
The conclusion in the article states the following.
Our findings suggest that diets lower in carbohydrate and higher in protein and fat are not associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease in women. When vegetable sources of fat and protein are chosen, these diets may moderately reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
This study refutes the argument that low-carbohydrate diets necessarily cause heart disease, at least in women. Perhaps more significantly, it suggests that the low-carbohydrate diet can be part of a healthy, long-term lifestyle.
Notably, this article answers the one concern raised in the conclusions by Samaha et al., 2003 (mentioned above).
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2006
Johnston et al., 2006 completed a study of 20 subjects over a 6-week period comparing ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets (i.e. very low carbohydrate) and non-ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets (i.e. moderate carbohydrate). The authors of the paper concluded the following.
KLC and NLC diets were equally effective in reducing body weight and insulin resistance, but the KLC diet was associated with several adverse metabolic and emotional effects. The use of ketogenic diets for weight loss is not warranted.
This study suggests that ketosis has no real benefit and is potentially harmful in a diet regimen.
International Journal of Cancer, 2006
Bravi et al., 2006 completed a study of 2301 subjects, 767 with renal cell carcinoma (cancer of the kidneys), analyzing the effects of various types of foods on the risk of developing the cancer. The authors of the paper concluded the following.
A significant direct trend in risk was found for bread (OR = 1.94 for the highest versus the lowest intake quintile), and a modest excess of risk was observed for pasta and rice (OR = 1.29), and milk and yoghurt (OR = 1.27). Poultry (OR = 0.74), processed meat (OR = 0.64) and vegetables (OR = 0.65) were inversely associated with RCC [renal cell carcinoma] risk.
This, in effect, says that bread consumption was strongly correlated with increased risk of this carcinoma whereas the consumption of meats and vegetables decreased the risk.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 2007
Gardner et al., 2007 studied 311 overweight women each following one of four diet plans (Atkins, Zone, LEARN, and Ornish) in 12-month trials. The authors concluded the following.
In this study, premenopausal overweight and obese women assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more weight and experienced more favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than women assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets. While questions remain about long-term effects and mechanisms, a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet may be considered a feasible alternative recommendation for weight loss.
The authors noted that Atkins performed favorably compared to the other diets, but stated that "It could not be determined whether the benefits were attributable specifically to the low carbohydrate intake vs. other aspects of the diet." In terms of weight loss, all 4 groups attained 'a modest 2% to 5% weight loss'. Throughout the study the Zone (moderately low-carb), Ornish (low-fat), and LEARN (low-fat) diets showed statistically similar weight loss to each other (the Zone actually had the worst average). The Atkins diet (very low-carb, ketogenic) performed the best for weight loss but the authors noted that the difference at 12 months was not statically significant over Ornish and LEARN. The authors noted that Atkins performed better (systolic blood pressure) or comparable (Insulin, Glucose, Lipids) to the other diets for other health indicators concluding that 'Concerns about adverse metabolic effects of the Atkins diet were not substantiated within the 12-month study period.'
Epilepsia, 2008
Kossoff et al., 2008 studied adult epileptic patients (as opposed to children used in other studies) following a modified Atkins diet for up to 6 months. The authors concluded the following.
After 3 months, 47% of patients had a >50% seizure reduction, and after 6 months, 33% were similarly improved.
When the modified Atkins diet led to seizure reduction, it was relatively quick, usually within 2 weeks.
Meta-analytic summaries
Meta-analysis is a method to succinctly summarize and combine the results from multiple individual studies. The following meta-analyses of low carbohydrate diets are limited to randomized controlled trials that directly compare low carbohydrate diets to other diets. Some of the studies listed above are randomized controlled trials and are included in these meta-analyses.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the Cochrane Collaboration in 2002 concluded that fat-restricted diets are no better than calorie restricted diets in achieving long term weight loss in overweight or obese people.
A more recent meta-analysis that included randomized controlled trials published after the Cochrane review found that "low-carbohydrate, non-energy-restricted diets appear to be at least as effective as low-fat, energy-restricted diets in inducing weight loss for up to 1 year. However, potential favorable changes in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values should be weighed against potential unfavorable changes in low-

Medifast is proud to announce the launch of our 2 NEW Antioxidant Products: Medifast Shakes and Medifast Antioxidant Flavor Infusers! They are available TODAY on the Shopping Cart so click HERE check them out NOW!

*Both products work to support:

Cardiovascular health
Brain function and mental acuity
Optimal vision
Balanced blood sugar levels
Healthy aging
Urinary tract function
The new Medifast Shakes are fully fortified, whey-based Medifast Meals that can be used along with other Medifast Shakes and Meals as part of the 5 & 1 Plan. The new Shakes are just $18.95 per box of 7 and will be available in these 3 delicious flavors:
Blueberry (72400)

Cherry Pomegranate (72410)

Dark Chocolate (72420)

The Antioxidant Flavor Infusers are not Medifast Meals but can be enjoyed up to five times daily by those on the 5 & 1 Plan, and in unlimited amounts by those not seeking to maintain a fat-burning state (unlike the Momentum Flavor Infusers, which, because of their caffeine/EGCG component, should be limited to 3 servings per day). The new Antioxidant Flavor Infusers are just $21.95 per box of 21 and will be available in these 3 exciting new flavors:

Citrus Margarita (72530)

Raspberry Açai (72550)

White Grape Peach (72540)


Don't forget, a Health Coach training flyer with essential details concerning the new products and the incredible benefits of Antioxidants has been placed in Documents on Demand! To view the training flyer:

We are tremendously excited about releasing these new and beneficial products to you and your Clients. Be sure to check them out today and start spreading the word!

Medifast Tucson Newsletter
June, 2008
www.medifasttucson.com
Toll free 1-866-633-7587
Email info@medifasttucson.com


Summer is finally here, and it is now time to think seriously about losing that extra weight you put on over the winter months. Time to get in shape, so when you look in the mirror, you like what you see. We can help you accomplish that goal easily and without a lot of the hunger pains that other diet programs inflict on us. At Medifast Tucson we use a simple common sense approach to weight loss and getting in shape. We have been at it for over ten years and we are led by Dr. Brad Manny, an American Board Certified MD.

Our program utilizes many of the techniques that Dr. Manny has learned through working with people just like you who want to lose weight. He has borrowed bits and pieces of many of the popular diets over the past ten years and has evolved them into a simple and easy to follow diet plan that allows you to lose two to three pounds weekly. The nice thing about the plan is that you are never hungry or starving yourself while you lose the weight. The other very exciting thing about the Medifast plan is that it is not expensive. There is no “program fee” and no fee to you for counseling. Over the past ten years, we have found that counseling via email and on the phone works very well and there is no need for you to pay to talk to someone across a desk once or twice a month. You can contact us at Medifast Tucson anytime you like by email or on our toll free number at 1-866-633-7587. We love to hear from our clients and look forward to helping you reach your goals.

Now let’s talk about the Medifast program. We use basically the same program for both men and women; we just change the amount of food for each. Men need more calories on a daily basis, so we take that into consideration. The women’s program consists of five (5) of the products daily plus one of our snacks. The men’s program also consists of five (5) of the products daily plus one of our snacks, but the products have more calories. The program also requires you to eat a “lean and green” meal in the evening for dinner. We have found over the years that people do much better on a diet if they are able to have normal food each day in addition to the diet products. This meal adds very little cost to the program and it really helps keep you in tune and motivated. The cost of the Women’s 4 week program is just $273.00. The cost of the Men’s 4 week program is $312.00. That is significantly less than Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem, and our program is safer and works better. You can expect to lose two to three (3-5) pounds weekly. That is the goal. Do not believe the diet programs that claim 6 pounds or more loss per week. That is not realistic and it is not safe. Any diet program that requires you to eat less than 1100 calories daily for women and less than 1300 calories daily for men is considered a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) by the AMA and requires you to be closely medically supervised for your safety. It is a safe and easy plan, and IT WORKS!

Please visit us at www.medifasttucson.com or call us toll free at 1-866-633-7587. The topic of the July Newsletter is Exercise and Dieting.

Medifast Tucson
Dr. Brad Manny
Owner/Director

Description

A fad diet is believed by its practitioners to improve health. It is often promoted by parties that publish books about the diet, or sell specialized ingredients or supplements that are part of the diet, despite being unconfirmed by legitimate scientific studies. A fad diet may do nothing at all, or even have an adverse result if it is nutritionally unbalanced or otherwise unhealthy. Weight loss experts such as Richard Simmons, who tried numerous diets in his youth at the cost of his health, strongly discourages them as not only unhealthy, but also counter-productive in the long term.

Belief in fad diets by adherents is often irrational. Many individuals who adhere to fad diets will not consider recommendations made by nutritionists and dieticians.

There are three categories of food fads. Some food fads incorporate a combination of categories:

1. The virtue of a particular food or food group is exaggerated and purported to cure specific diseases, and is therefore incorporated as a primary constituent of an individual’s diet.
2. Foods are eliminated from an individual’s diet because they are viewed as harmful.
3. An emphasis is placed on eating certain foods to express a particular lifestyle.

Zen macrobiotic diets were once considered to be the most dangerous type of food faddism[1]. George Ohsawa, in his book Zen Macrobiotics, promoted a 10-stage diet to create a spiritual awakening or rebirth. The nutritional plan claimed to prevent and cure all diseases. The 10 stages of dietary restriction gradually eliminated certain foods such as animal products, fruits, and vegetables; emphasis was placed on whole-grain cereals. Each stage had a recommended percentage of each type of food group to include in the diet. By the tenth stage, cereals constituted 100% of the dietary intake. Nowadays, such extreme guidance is not found in macrobiotic diets, though.

Extreme faddist diets often lack the energy, suitable protein, fat-soluble vitamins, and some minerals that are essential for growing children. Parents forcing children to adhere to fad diets to the point of severe nutritional disorders is considered a form of child abuse.

Scientific view

Many forms of food faddism are supported by pseudo-scientific claims. Fad diets claim to be scientific but do not follow the scientific method in establishing their validity. Among the scientific shortcomings of the claims made in support of fad diets:

* Not being open to revisions, whereas real science is.
* Observations that prompt explanations are used as evidence of the validity of the explanation.

Some in the scientific community comment that food faddism is born of ignorance about basic scientific dietary facts. The evidence supporting weight loss enhanced by anything other than caloric restriction is lacking. There is also a lack of evidence to support that fad diets produce sustainable weight loss. Fad diets generally ignore or refute what is known about fundamental associations between dietary pattern and human health.

At the heart of the debate about most low carbohydrate diets are fundamental questions about what is a "normal" diet and how the human body is supposed to operate. These questions can be summarized as follows. Nutritive carbohydrates (starches and sugars) in the diet tend to break down very easily into glucose in the bloodstream (blood sugar) when consumed. Glucose in the blood is used by the cells in the body for energy for their basic function. Excessive amounts of glucose in the blood are toxic to the human body (the reason diabetes causes such serious health problems). In general, unless a meal is very low in starches and sugars the level of glucose will tend to rise to potentially dangerous levels. When this occurs, the pancreas automatically produces insulin to cause the liver to convert glucose into glycogen (glycogenesis) and triglycerides (which can become body fat), thus reducing the blood sugars to safe levels. Diets with a high starch/sugar content, therefore, cause sharp spikes in insulin production. As such the blood sugar levels are highly variable with every meal.

By contrast, if the diet is very low in starches and sugars (low-carbohydrate diets) the blood sugar level can fall so low that there is insufficient glucose to fuel the cells in the body. This state causes the pancreas to produce glucagon. Glucagon causes the conversion of stored glycogen to glucose and, once the glycogen stores are exhausted, causes the liver to synthesize ketones (ketosis) and glucose (gluconeogenesis) from fats and proteins, respectively. Most cells in the body can use ketones for energy instead of glucose, and since ketones are easier to produce, only a small amount of glucose is created (in other words, ketosis is the more significant process in this case). Because diets low in starches and sugars do not tend to directly affect blood sugar levels significantly, meals tend to have little direct effect on insulin levels (and so such diets tend to discourage insulin production in general).

The diets of most people in modern, so-called western nations, especially the United States contain significant amounts of starches (and, frequently, significant amounts of sugars). As such, the metabolisms of most westerners tend to operate outside of ketosis and tend to involve significant insulin production. This has been regarded by medical science in the last century as being "normal." Ketosis has generally been regarded as a dangerous (potentially life-threatening) state which unnecessarily stresses the liver and causes destruction of muscle tissues. The view that has been developed is that getting energy more from protein than carbohydrates causes liver damage and that getting energy more from fats than carbohydrates causes heart disease and other health problems. This view is still the view of the majority in the medical and nutritional science communities.

Most advocates of low-carbohydrate diets (specifically those that recommend diets similar to the Atkins Diet) argue that this metabolic state (using primarily blood glucose for energy) is not normal at all and that the human body is, in fact, supposed to function primarily in ketosis. They argue that high insulin levels can, in fact, cause many health problems, most significantly, fat storage and weight gain. They argue that the purported dangers of ketosis are unsubstantiated (some of the arguments against ketosis result from confusion between ketosis and ketoacidosis which is a related but very different process). They also argue that fat in the diet only contributes to heart disease in the presence of high insulin levels and that if the diet is instead adjusted to induce ketosis, fat and cholesterol in the diet are not a major concern (although most do not advocate unrestricted fat intake and do advocate avoiding trans fat). Further, whereas insulin in the bloodstream causes storage of food energy, when the body is in ketosis, excess ketones (which contain excess energy) are excreted in the urine and the breath.

This debate is on-going and no consensus currently exists.

The time has come and we couldn't be more excited to kick off the introduction of our updated Medifast Variety Kits. You and your Medifast Clients have spoken, and we are happy to oblige! These changes are quite a delicious and healthy experience and it is our pleasure to announce that the following enhancements are now be in place for the variety kits:

2-week Medifast Core Package for Women
(Changes to Original Contents in Red)
10 boxes/70 meals - $149.95

Includes 1 box of each of the following:

51710 Dutch Chocolate 55 Shake
51810 French Vanilla 55 Shake
51910 Strawberry Crème 55 Shake
65400 Oatmeal Raisin Bar
(replacing Caramel Nut Bar)
64800 Chocolate Bar
(replacing Chocolate Mint Bar)
58000 Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
58020 Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
(replacing Peach Oatmeal)
69600 Chicken Noodle Soup
60600 Cream of Tomato Soup
57400 Chocolate Pudding
(replacing Banana Pudding)

4-week Medifast core package for Women
(Changes to Original Contents in Red)
20 boxes/140 meals - $289.95

Includes 2 boxes of each of the following:

51710 Dutch Chocolate 55 Shake
51810 French Vanilla 55 Shake

Also includes 1 box of each of the following:

51910 Strawberry Crème 55 Shake
52010 Orange Crème 55 Shake
52060 Banana Crème 55 Shake
65400 Oatmeal Raisin Bar
65200 Lemon Yogurt Bar
(replacing Caramel Nut Bar)
64900 Chocolate Mint Bar
64800 Chocolate Bar
58000 Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
58020 Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
69600 Chicken Noodle Soup
72860 Scrambled Eggs
60600 Cream of Tomato Soup
(replacing Cream of Broccoli Soup)
66560 Tropical Punch Fruit Drink
(replacing Beef Vegetable Stew)
69650 Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
57400 Chocolate Pudding
57350 Cappuccino

2-week Medifast Core Package for Men
(Changes to Original Contents in Red)
10 boxes/70 meals - $149.95

Includes 1 box of each of the following:

52110 Dutch Chocolate 70 Shake
52210 French Vanilla 70 Shake
52310 Strawberry Crème 70 Shake
65400 Oatmeal Raisin Bar
(replacing Caramel Nut Bar)
64800 Chocolate Bar
(replacing Chocolate Mint Bar)
58000 Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
58020 Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
(replacing Peach Oatmeal)
69600 Chicken Noodle Soup
60600 Cream of Tomato Soup
57400 Chocolate Pudding
(replacing Banana Pudding)

4-week Medifast core package for Men
(Changes to Original Contents in Red)

20 boxes/140 meals - $289.95

Includes 2 boxes of each of the following:

52110 Dutch Chocolate 70 Shake
52210 French Vanilla 70 Shake

Also includes 1 box of each of the following:

51910 Strawberry Crème 70 Shake
52010 Orange Crème 70 Shake
52060 Banana Crème 70 Shake
65400 Oatmeal Raisin Bar
65200 Lemon Yogurt Bar
(replacing Caramel Nut Bar)
64900 Chocolate Mint Bar
64800 Chocolate Bar
58000 Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
58020 Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
69600 Chicken Noodle Soup
72860 Scrambled Eggs
60600 Cream of Tomato Soup
(replacing Cream of Broccoli Soup)
66560 Tropical Punch Fruit Drink
(replacing Beef Vegetable Stew)
69650 Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
57400 Chocolate Pudding
57350 Cappuccino

Standard Medifast Free Week Package
(Changes to Original Contents in Red)
5 boxes/35 Meals
$0.00

Includes 1 box of each of the following:

57300 Hot Cocoa
69600 Chicken Noodle Soup
(replacing Cream of Tomato Soup)
58030 Peach Oatmeal
57410 Vanilla Pudding
60300 Swiss Mocha 55 Shake
(replacing Chai Latte)


As you can see, we've heard your requests and added to these packages some of our more popular products for your Clients' (and your own) enjoyment.

In the 1990s Dr. Atkins published Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and other doctors began to publish books based on the same principles. This has been said to be the beginning of the "low carb craze." During the late 1990s and early 2000s low-carbohydrate diets became some of the most popular diets in the U.S. (by some accounts as much as 18% of the population was using a low-carbohydrate diet at its peak) and spread to many countries. These were, in fact, noted by some food manufacturers and restaurant chains as substantially affecting their businesses (notably Krispy Kreme). This was in spite of the fact that the mainstream medical community continued to denounce low-carbohydrate diets as being a dangerous trend. It is, however, valuable to note that many of these same doctors and institutions at the same time quietly began altering their own advice to be closer to the low-carbohydrate recommendations (e.g. eating more protein, eating more fiber/less starch, reducing consumption of juices by children). The low-carbohydrate advocates did some adjustments of their own increasingly advocating controlling fat and eliminating trans fat. Many of the diet guides and gurus that appeared at this time intentionally distanced themselves from Atkins and the term low carb (because of the controversies) even though their recommendations were based on largely the same principles (e.g. the Zone diet). As such it is often a matter of debate which diets are really low-carbohydrate and which are not. The 1990s and 2000s also saw the publication of an increased number of clinical studies regarding the effectiveness and safety (pro and con) of low-carbohydrate diets (notably a 2006 NEJM paper by Halton et al. describing a 20-year study).
After 2004 the popularity of this diet trend began to wane significantly although it still remains quite popular. In spite of the decline in popularity this diet trend has continued to quietly garner attention in the medical and nutritional science communities.

Medifast Super Saturdays are dynamic training events conducted by our top leaders. Typically taking place on Friday nights and Saturday mornings/afternoons, Super Saturdays are excellent events to bring Medifast candidates and Health Coaches together so that they can learn more about Take Shape For Life.

As if Super Saturdays weren't worthwhile enough already, the Medifast Career Builder Pak is on special when purchased at a Super Saturday! Normally $299, your potential Health Coaches will be able to purchase this item for $239 at Super Saturdays - saving $60!

June 27 & 28, 2008
Hilton Parsippany
1 Hilton Court
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
Phone: (978) 267-7373

Hosted by: Susan Telesmanic (Executive Director, Basking Ridge, NJ) & Joan Mueller (Executive Director, Mount Laurel, NJ)

For More Information Or To Pre-Register TODAY:
Contact Susan Telesmanic at:
susan@telesmanic.com or Call (908) 500-2242
OR contact Joan Mueller at:
pathtohealth@comcast.net or Call (856) 552-0972

*Please write "Super Saturday" in the E-mail subject line.

See you there!

The Summer Splash coupon for inactive Medifast Clients may have expired on May 31, but the Summer Splash Package is still available for an incredible price!

Our Medifast refreshing Summer Splash Package is available on the Shopping Cart for just $32.95, a savings of 25%. Make sure to check it out TODAY. Just click the Summer Splash picture and save!

We are proud to announce our 2 NEW Medifast Antioxidant Products: Medifast Shakes and Medifast Antioxidant Flavor Infusers!

These products will be available on the Shopping Cart starting Monday, June 16.

Both products work to support:*

Cardiovascular health
Brain function and mental acuity
Optimal vision
Balanced blood sugar levels
Healthy aging
Urinary tract function
The new Medifast Shakes are fully fortified, whey-based Medifast Meals that can be used along with other Medifast Shakes and Meals as part of the 5 & 1 Plan. The new Shakes are just $18.95 per box of 7 and will be available in these 3 delicious flavors:

Blueberry
Cherry Pomegranate
Dark Chocolate
The Antioxidant Flavor Infusers are not Meals but can be enjoyed up to five times daily by those on the 5 & 1 Plan, and in unlimited amounts by those not seeking to maintain a fat-burning state (unlike the Momentum Flavor Infusers, which, because of their caffeine/EGCG component, should be limited to 3 servings per day). The new Antioxidant Flavor Infusers are just $21.95 per box of 21 and will be available in these 3 exciting new flavors:

Citrus Margarita
Raspberry Açai
White Grape Peach

For your convenience and quick reference, a Health Coach training flyer with essential details concerning the new products and the incredible benefits of Antioxidants has been placed in Documents on Demand!

We know some of you have already heard about these amazing Medifast products, but we encourage all of you to memorize these new Medifast products and start promoting them to your Clients TODAY, because June 16 is just around the corner!

The theme for tonight's Leadership Call is "How to Build Structure in your Organization!"

Special guest Bryan Drollinger, Presidential Director, will be joining Dr. Andersen on this exciting, informative, and LIVE call.

To participate in this informative weekly call, please see the following call details:

Take Shape For Life Field Leadership Call - 9:00 p.m. Eastern (6:00 p.m. Pacific). Dial 1-512-305-4638 followed by the pin code: 99662#. Led by Dr. Wayne Andersen and our Field Leaders, anyone interested in building a successful business and staying current with Take Shape For Life needs to listen and participate in this incredible call! This call is recorded live each week. Please call 1-512-505-6854 to listen to the recorded call. The recording is posted the day following the call (Tuesday morning).

We have some other excellent weekly support calls, including Nurse's, Doctor's, and Maintenance calls. To learn more about those, simply scroll down to the "Support Calls Schedule" section of this E-Update. Don't miss out!