In 2003, Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson worked to create Take Shape For Life, the coaching division of Medifast, Inc. This portion of the program allows trained individuals to act as the coaches, mentors and motivators and to provide the overall support that doctors are no longer able to provide. Health Coaches contact clients through phone and email weekly, or as often or as little as the client wants or needs. Coaches are available to answer questions, offer suggestions or just listen and provide additional accountability along the weight loss journey; all at no cost to the client.

 

In the Take Shape For Life business model, Health Coaches are often former clients who were so excited about their transformations and the things they learned, that they want to share their success with others, to ‘pay forward’ the knowledge and promote the happiness that they gained when they took control of their own life. When a client reaches their goal they are welcome to join the program as a Health Coach and make money through the business model if they wish, but they are under no obligation to do so.

 

Take Shape For Life is a weight loss program that can be done from home. The food is shipped in a plain brown box to the client’s address and consists of ‘open and eat’ bars, pretzels, or other snacks, or else food that can be made with water and a microwave. Medifast foods are designed to be high protein and low carb as the program relies on a low Glycemic Index in order to get the body into ‘fat burning mode’. Once a client has reached this state, the body is no longer burning up recently ingested carbs and sugars; instead it is beginning to burn off stored fat at a rate of 1 - 5 lbs. a week.

 

Due to the low-carb and low sodium design of the foods, the Medifast meals and Take Shape For Life program is great for pre-diabetic, diabetics or anyone who has problems with sodium retention. It is also good for anyone suffering from high cholesterol or a variety of other weight related health issues.

 

In the Medifast program clients follow what is called the “5-and-1” program. Clients eat 5 Medifast meals a day and then one ‘lean and green’ consisting of a lean meat and vegetable. The meals are also interchangeable as they each have the same ‘nutritional footprint’. This means that if a client wants to eat a soft chocolate chip cookie or brownie for all 5 meals a day, it will give them the nutritional equivalent of another day where they eat their Medifast eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, Maryland Crab soup and sloppy joe.

 

Once a client reaches their goal, their Health Coach helps them to transition slowly into eating more healthy carbs and cooking more meals on their own. Because there are no programs to sign up for or fees to pay, clients continue to have the option to purchase meals or snacks that help them balance their day and remain at their goal as long as they’d like. Clients also retain the support of their Health Coach free – for life.

 

Take Shape For Life is ideal for anyone with a busy schedule who doesn’t have time to drive to a weight loss center, or who is on the go and doesn’t have time to buy, wash, cut up and pack fruits, milks, vegetables and salads to eat throughout their day. Also, because the 5-and-1 plan includes a meal of lean meat and vegetables, the program is also great for anyone who does a lot of dining out or wants to continue to eat meals with their family while losing weight. Take Shape For Life is a version of the physician-designed Medifast weight loss system that uses the power of coaching to help clients reach Optimal Health.