The Medifast diet is one of the most popular meal replacement diets on the market that is delivered to your home. It is known to offer safe and ultra-fast weight loss (up to 5 pounds per week).

But if you’re thinking of trying the Medifast weight loss diet, there are a few things you should know first, like how it works and whether you can include alcohol or fruit in your diet.

With that in mind, here are the most frequently asked questions (and answers) about this diet:

#1 How does the Medifast diet work?

You eat 5 Medifast “meals” per day plus one lean, green meal that you add yourself (lean protein and vegetables).

Medifast meals consist of a variety of shakes, bars, entrees, puddings, snacks, pancakes, and even cookies or brownies. These meals are higher in protein than standard meal replacement bars and lower in fat. This way you don’t feel hungry and you feel full for longer.

Another thing that helps is that you are eating every 2-3 hours to keep your metabolism high.

#two. Do I have to eat the lean, green food at night?

No. You can eat any of the foods, including lean and green, in any order you like. However, you should eat a meal every 2 to 3 hours to prevent your metabolism from slowing down.

So you can have your lean, green meal in the morning if you like, or even spread it out throughout the day.

#3. How much weight can I lose with Medifast?

You can expect to lose between 2 and 5 pounds per week for the first 2 weeks (so up to 10 pounds in 2 weeks is possible). After that, your weight loss should level off a bit at around 1 to 3 pounds a week.

#4. Can I eat fruit on the Medifast diet?

Unfortunately not. According to Medifast, the high sugar content in fruit (technically fructose) can disrupt weight loss progress. So you will have to wait until you finish the diet and have reached your goal.

#5. Can I eat Splenda on a Medifast diet?

Yes, you can have 1 packet of artificial sweetener in your coffee or tea every day.

#6. What if I don’t have time to make lean green food?

No problem. Medifast has recently introduced several frozen meals that fit the lean and green food requirements. They are microwave safe and ready in a few minutes.

This cuts down on meal prep and is a great option if you’re too busy to cook but still want to try Medifast.

#7. Can I have alcohol on this diet?

Unfortunately not. Alcohol is not allowed at Medifast. Just like fruit, you’ll have to wait until you’ve reached your goal to enjoy some.

#8. Can I choose my own Medifast meals or am I stuck with “favorites”?

You can choose your own favorite Medifast meals if you know what you want and customize your package that way.

#9. What happens when I reach my goal?

Medifast has a transition and maintenance program that is designed to safely wean you off your diet and return to regular eating without regaining weight.

#10. How much does Medifast cost?

While this depends on certain things, such as current specials, Medifast generally costs around $11 per day. This includes all 5 meals plus online support and tools like message boards, recipes and more.

This does not include the cost of your own lean, green food.

Those are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Medifast diet. Although this diet can be strict, you get very fast results. And it’s incredibly easy to follow with plenty of online support to encourage you to reach your weight loss goal. Good luck!