PREPARING FOR YOUR TRANSITION

So you're ready to begin the transition. Congratulations!

On Medifast complete program, as you lost considerable weight, your body's metabolism dropped as you became dependent on using fat stores for energy.

When you return to eating regular food, it is important to give your body some time to "reset" your metabolism.

Gradually Increase Calories
If you have been on our complete program, it can take up to 60-90 days for your metabolism to return to normal. During this time, you need to follow a meal plan that ranges between 1,200-1,500 calories a day.

As your body re-balances, its metabolic rate you will be able to eat greater amounts of food without gaining weight.

Our exercise prescription explains the importance of adding exercise as a component of long-term success.

During transition exercise can help boost your metabolic rate and should be performed daily (if possible) during this critical period. Consistency is more important than intensity as you help your body adjust to the demands of increased food intake.

Help Your Digestion!
While on our medical food replacements as your only food, your digestion organs don't have to work very hard. Your stomach has been on hiatus, not having to deal with a wide variety of foods, irritating spices or difficult textures. Also eating a large amount of food at one time has been all but eliminated.

As you start eating regular food again, your system may balk at having to go back to work. Initially you may experience some abdominal discomfort including bloating, nausea, or diarrhea. You can minimize these problems by making sure you introduce food very gradually.

The Transition Plan
The transition eating plan is divided into six food phases which you can add one at a time.

As you advance to each new phase, continue to eat food from all the previous phases as well. You may divide the foods and amounts as you wish throughout the day.

Be sure to take the number of Medifast supplements indicated with each food section.

Plan to do your transition over a period of at least two to three weeks, adding a new food phase every three or four days.

If you wish, you can stretch your transition to six weeks by following each phase for an entire week.

If you've occasionally eaten food during your complete program and know your stomach can digest it with no problems, you can combine two phases together and do your transition a little faster.

If you were on our modified program (eating one meal a day) begin your transitions at phase three.

Phase 1 5 Medifast meal replacements per day Lean meat, 3 to 4 oz. (cooked weight) Begin eating a small serving of meat once a day in addition to your packets. Initially, eat only 1 to 2 oz. of meat. Then increase up to 4 oz.	Phase 4 4 Medifast meal replacements per day Fruit - 1 serving. Phases 1 through 3 In addition to the food you have been eating, add a serving of fruit. This can be a whole fruit such as an apple or peach or 1 c. of frozen or canned fruit.
Phase 2 5 Medifast meal replacements per day Green salad- 1-2 c. Phase 1 Add a green salad to the meat serving. You can add up to 1/4 c. of raw salad vegetables. Use up to 2 T. of low fat or reduced calorie dressing.	Phase 5 3 Medifast meal replacements per day Dairy products - 1 serving Phases 1 through 4 Continue eating all the previous foods. Add a dairy serving of 1 c. of low-fat milk or cottage cheese.
Phase 3 4 Medifast meal replacements per day Vegetables- 1 serving Sections 1 and 2 Continue eating the servings of meat and salad. Add 1/2 to 1 c. of cooked vegetables.	Phase 6 3 Medifast meal replacements per day Grain products - 1 serving Sections 1 through 5 Continue eating all the previous foods. Add a servingof grain products such as one slice of bread (whole wheat), a small potato, or 1/2 c. of cereal or pasta.

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