Over the years, Oprah has certainly been on many different diets. But for anyone wondering if Oprah ever took Medifast, I’m pretty sure the answer is no. In the 1980s, Oprah went on a diet that, at the time, was pretty similar to Medifast. But that diet was actually called Optifast and is owned by another company.
The great similarity between Optifast and Medifast is that both, back in the 1980s, were essentially liquid diets. This led to very rapid weight loss, not just for Oprah, but for many other dieters as well. Oprah lost around 65 pounds in just a few months. But you may have noticed that she got it all back. This is typically what happens to many people who follow very strict, very low-calorie diets, such as Optifast. In fact, the diet is so strict that it actually requires a doctor’s supervision to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need and not harm your internal organs.
While Medifast was actually quite similar to Optifast back then, a lot has changed over the years. First of all, Medifast is no longer strictly a liquid diet. Almost all Medifast dieters now follow what is known as a 5 and 1 plan. This refers to the fact that each day you eat five Medifast foods and then prepare a lean and green meal from fresh vegetables, greens and quality protein sources like chicken or fish.
Plus, Medifast foods aren’t just shakes anymore. Now there are many different food bars, puddings, a variety of oatmeal flavors and even a couple of soups, chili and some hot drinks like cocoa and chai latte. The variety helps make Medifast more interesting and easier to follow in the long run. And the lean and green meal is designed to help you start planning your own meals so you can continue to maintain your weight loss during maintenance.
Optifast still exists, but I’m not as familiar with how Optifast works today, although I know it’s still a meal replacement program. It’s also a diet that you have to go to a doctor’s clinic to get instead of being able to order it yourself at home. That is one of the main advantages of Medifast. By switching to the 5 & 1 plan and adding fresh, whole foods to your daily meal plan, you can safely follow Medifast on your own. However, it’s always a good idea to let your doctor know what you’re doing in case you have any specific health concerns.