Exercise and Medifast

Incorporating regular exercise into your weight loss (and weight maintenance) program significantly increases your chances of achieving long-term results. If you do not exercise currently, we recommend you wait three weeks after starting the 5 & 1 Plan before you begin an exercise program. If you do exercise currently, we recommend you cut your current plan in half during your first three weeks on the 5 & 1 Plan, then gradually build it back up.

We all know exercise can help you stay trim and in shape, but there are a number of health benefits sometimes overlooked:

• Helps prevent chronic diseases (such as heart disease), stroke and diabetes
• Improves your overall mood
• Reduces high blood pressure
• Reduces stress
• Strengthens muscles, bones and joints
• Improves metabolism and increases your energy level
• Strengthens immune system
• Prevents depression
• Increases bone density, which helps prevent osteoporosis

There are three types of exercise recommended for optimal health: 1) aerobic exercise, 2) strength training, and 3) lifestyle exercise.

Aerobic exercise will help strengthen your heart and lungs. Strength training can help tone muscles, increase strength and bone density, improve posture and even reduce the potential for injury. In addition, strength training helps increase your metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories on a daily basis. Lifestyle exercise refers to everyday chores or activities that can be utilized as exercise (e.g., taking the steps instead of the elevator, walking your pet, parking a greater distance from your destination).

The Medifast Exercise Guide provides tips on how to exercise, when to exercise and the type of exercise activities we recommend. We’ll introduce you to the Medifast Walking Program, a 12-week walking program for beginners OR exercise veterans – and we’ll help you incorporate a consistent workout schedule into your healthy lifestyle.

Before you begin exercising, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure your exercise plan is appropriate for you. Once you have been deemed ready, adopt a slow pace and gradually increase the amount of time spent on the activity.