The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[bande1102]

Hello,

I just got my box of medi-fast and am starting tomorrow. I have planned my menus and am actually excited--and a little nervous, too. Ok, at the risk of sounding completely crazy, I actually did medi-fast for one week about a month ago and lost 6lbs. So I should've been happy, right? For some strange reason I had what I can only describe as a panic attack and quit. I realize I have food issues and I guess I just got so overwhelmed by dealing with feelings instead of eating them; that I panicked. Has anyone else ever gone through something like that? I was just completely shocked at how emotional I was.

Anyway, I have two really close friends who are going to help me through this and I figure between them and message boards I should be ok. I also bought a journal to actually write down my feelings instead of running from them.

If anyone has any insight or advice, I should could use it. Oh, also, I have 55 lbs to lose, does anyone have any general idea of the time frame for losing that amount?

TIA,

Elle

[Nicki]

Hi Elle - Welcome!

In the past I've had a couple of different friends tell me that there must be some deeper reasons for why I chose to overeat, but I just shrugged that off .... I just thought I ate because it tasted good. But in the few days between when my first MF package arrived and when I actually started, I made myself think about the triggers I was experiencing when I was reaching for a snack. I was amazed - there were some emotions there that I was numbing with food. Different things at different times. So, its fortunate that you are recognizing how your emotions affect your eating while you are beginning your MF journey.

I'm letting myself experience these emotions now, I figure that's what being human is all about. I'm new here too, but looking through old posts, I saw several people mention the book Life is Hard, Food is Easy. After reading the glowing reviews I trotted right down to the library to check it out and have been reading it off and on for the last couple of weeks. I'm taking my time with it, because a lot of it hits so close to home. It is really right on in so many ways and gives you practical advice for dealing with emotional eating.

Sounds like you're in the right frame of mind to begin to overcome it. Keeping a journal and support from friends and the forum will be invaluable.

Best of luck,

[dlr2424]

Elle..... ...welcome aboard.... ...this forum will be an excellant source of support for you...... ....your on the right track......fill yourself with positive thoughts and put your goal in front of you...... .....the reasons why you are doing this..... ........as far as a time frame for the weight loss...... .....everyone is so different...... ......what can be guaranteed is..........if you are compliant you will lose...... ......and with persistancy you will reach goal....... ........it won't happen overnight.... .....there will be times of frustration....... ......however IMO there is not a better weight loss plan out there that gives the nutrition and results that Medifast does....... .....so enjoy the ride and I wish you much success on this journey

Donna....dlr2424

[Nancy]

Elle ~

Great plan to journal - it is wonderful therapy - stash it though so others cannot have access to it. It helps me immensely - burned some pages and burned the issues at the same time - FREEDOM!


Linda Spangle's book is excellent. I wish every one would read, Life is Hard, Food is Easy. It is not an afternoon read. Again, it brought me FREEDOM!

Best wishes for your success, too!

[Guest]

Thank you, everyone! I was reading some of the older messages and have seen Spangler's book mentioned several times so I'm going to head on over to the library this afternoon. This morning I'm feeling much more confident and hopeful that I can actually do this.

Re the journals: How scary is this--I actually have two. Hehehe, one has stuff that my family can read after I'm gone. Stuff like the weather and funny things about my husband or kids, my career plans, stuff like that. Its really pretty, too.

The second one has been carefully hiddened and is very ugly and sort of falling apart. It has all of my deep, dark secrets and I do periodically destroy pages out of it.

By the way, does anyone have any thoughts about Success in a Shaker Jar?

Thanks,

Elle

[MamaD]

You know, Elle, sometimes when we make real decisions about food ...we kinda deal with it as loss...or a death!
I know that I have. Food has become one of my best friends.... when my husband and kids are cranky... when work has gone all wrong...when I am lonely...angry.... whatever... ther is always food to make me feel better. So, honestly, for me... it was kinda sad. That is when I come to this board and see how much weight people have lost, and I replace loss with the "O" moment of being over the top inspired!! It is like Nancy says these foods that we choose to put aside are not going on the endangered species list...

You know on a good day, life is a challenge. Medifast is easy. It is just one less thing to think about.

I finally order "the book"..... Life is hard, food is easy... I need lots of help...and everyone is raving about it... So let's give that a try!!...also when I am really nutting up ...for whatever reason... I find a good walk a tremendous help. Now I know that we are not suppose to zoom into exercise... but just the change of scenary helps.

Good Luck... I am restarting too... one day at a time...that is all we can do.

[chickbb]

Yahooo MamaD & Nicki...You will not regret reading "Life is Hard Food is Easy"!!!!! It is so inspirational!!! It is my second BIBLE !!!! I agree w/ Nancy when she wishes that everyone could read it. It opened my eyes and cured me of living to eat!!!! Not to say that I don't find myself looking to eat when I am upset, but now I notice this triiger and distract myself w/ something other than food. I learned so much about myself and how I was sabotaging my weighloss attempts. It helped me w/ the loss of my father/best friend!!! It is purely amazing. I just sent it to my God Daughter who is seeking help at a hospital for eating dissorders. Medifast is the BEST diet and only diet that has worked for me!!! Part of the success that I am having is due to that wonderful book. Let me know how it helps you.....Sara

[Michelle1210]

I know exactly what you mean , i lost 15 lbs earlier this year and I paniced and quickly gained the weight back....well most of it, I went thru counsling and I believe i'am ready to try again,
so your not crazy ...if you were then i would be too....lol
Michelle

[bande1102]

Wow, some good points were brought up. Yeah, I am kind of mourning food. Is that pathetic or what? But I'm officially done day one and I'm feeling strong. I also got Life is hard, food is easy and plan to read that during my usual noshing time.

Thanks and good luck

Elle

[Nancy]

Saying good-bye to food IS hard. I remember being down-right cheesed, er..sorry! angry about NOT being able to scarf whatever I wanted any more - I still have moments when that feeling washes over me - when I look at some folks that can have a big old hog-sized sandwich and dessert and eat ‘tater chips...

Example...this past weekend we were in Owings Mills, MD at Take Shape For Life and Medifast Diet corporate offices for a special conference for Global Directors. We were whisked from the taxi upon our arrival from the BWI airport to a restaurant for a fab-u-loh-so dinner at a very old log home restaurant...I ordered a nekkid market salad but wanted the bleu cheese and walnut sprinkled baby greens salad...I ordered the grilled tilapia but wanted the ginger and orange glazed rack of lamb. I looked at the risotto and it looked at my hips, I passed it by. The bread basket filled with hot biscuits and crusty bread danced before my eyes and so did visions of plumping buns, I didn't even breathe in its waft trail...no wine for Leopard Woman, thank you very much, just a pot of boring peppermint tea...uh, no crème Brule either...it killed me to sit before a lovely table of beautifully prepared food and to leave most of my dinner on the plate. It was a pricy dinner, too - fresh, beautifully served up but not hip-friendly...Saturday was a busy business day and our lunch was catered from a nearby deli. Wonderful fresh meat-and-cheese filled sandwiches on panini, rye, wheat or kalamata bread and assortments of big hog cookies, chips, etc. I had a nekkid green salad and two dill pickle spears. I chose a shortbread cookie and since it didn’t taste that scrumptious, I ate only part of it…I knew dinner was coming later…I chose wisely and felt proud of myself for exercising self-restraint during lunch time…

Dinner was at the famous Linwoods...Oh my! the wait staff brought out humongous upturned baskets and set them about the table. I inquired about their purpose and was told it was for the appetizers...fresh mozzarella, shrimp pizza, Maryland lump crab cakes, grilled scallops, jumbo shrimp wantons, etc. I had a taste of a crab cake and a small scallop. I really really wanted the warm arugula salad with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes. I had a Bibb lettuce salad with a small drizzle of vinaigrette...no begnets for LW...just a small taste of white wine and a taste of a Bellini martini. While others had bleu cheese smeared tenderloin filets, steamed 3 pound lobster with drawn butter and crab cakes, I had the waist-sensible grilled halibut – dang! I allowed no horseradish ‘taters to touch my tongue and opted for the steamed green beans and for dessert, I wanted the Individual Pimlico Cake with Chocolate Curls – it looked exactly like a replica of The Stonehenge…instead I had a teensy apple dumpling with vanilla bean ice cream – I ate three bites of the dumpling with one bite of ice cream…yeah, I wanted to eat it ALL. Yes, I could have inhaled it all but what good would it have done me? I would not have gotten my leather pants zipped the next morning…I walked away from the dinner with no heart burn and no regrets. Well…I would have liked to have ordered a crab cake to go!

Later that night just before lights out, I had a shaker jarful of steamy Chai Latte from the nuclear box…

Yeah, it does cheese me to not have foody wantonness whenever I so desire it but I know that nothing tastes as good as thin feels and having a healthy heart and lifestyle are what I want more than I want my own way. Food changes nothing but my clothing size – my circumstances are not improved by gorging myself.

It is important to think about why we eat. Journaling can help immensely to deal with the mourning.

This takes time to come to grips with the issues we have with food - the journey to better health, smaller clothing and self satisfaction is not always paved with ganache...

[MamaD]

Nancy!~!! You are my non-food hero. I could of turned away most of those things.........but the crab cakes???? Hum....don't take a crab cake away from a southern girl.......... Them could be "fightin'' words!!!

Are you sure you were at a TSFL thingie and not a convention for out of work cardiologist??? Holy MOly!!!!


Way to go girl!~!!

[bande1102]

Nancy,

Thanks for the post, and, yeah, I do mourn the loss of food. Who'd a thunk it? I'm not sure I could've passed up all of the food that was available at the restaurant, though. The bread basket is my biggest temptation and I make fabulous homemade bread

I'm in MD, too. I'm right outside of Annapolis--who knew we were so close?
The best part about being so close to HQ is that I got my first box less than two days after I placed the order.

thanks again,

Elle

[bande1102]

Ok, now I see that you flew in to MD so you probably don't live here. Whoops

Elle

[Michelle1210]

Wow Nancy,
you are a wonderful example!
I have a pic of me when i use to be thin, back then I thought I was fat, now i weigh more than I did with my last child at 9 months pregenat I cant even blame my fat on motherhood,
I admire your determination we have a lot to learn from you
Michelle

[Nancy]

Bande ~

I live on the west coast in Washington state, just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. My city of Vancouver is practically a suburb of Portland; we're less than 15 minutes from the Portland International Airport and can see the control tower from our home.

If any of you ever visit the northwest, PLEASE send me a PM and we'll get together! Promise! (Michelle, we could meet in The Thin very easily! Let me know when you're passing through The Couve and we'll have a coffee of the day at the local Starbuck's.)

Drat! Would have loved meeting you, Bande over the weekend! I made an announcement about being in MD in the "A Message From Your Hosts" web room last week. I try to make announcements when we are traveling so we can meet people in The Thin.

Terry and I met the lithe and lovely LuzInIt Linda Sunday - I'll write about it and post it in The Studio in a little while.

We are planning a trip to California in the near future after we get moved to our new home and sell the MakeMeThinner Cottage - we need things to settle down a little bit around here and then we'll get out and about. It is such a pleasure for us to meet with our MakeMeThinner peeps up-close and personal. I love hearing your stories and meeting everyone.

Elle and MamaD, it was hard for me to pass the bread basket by...I wanted to dive in but it wasn't my time to do so. I DID have part of a crab cake - we have Dungeness crab on the west coast and it is NOTHING like the Maryland crabs. Oh, my! I know you can get them mail ordered from MD and I just may have to do it as they are out of this world!

Yep, it was a foody event while we were back there - it was a time for celebration for the Global Directors. We were there to learn of the fantastic things to expect in terms of the technical support to be made to our Take Shape For Life website, the changes to make seamless changes to Auto Ship orders, regional training events for Health Advisors and to see our photo on the Wall of Honor at TSFL/Medifast Diet Headquarters. TSFL is changing the health for so many of us who had lost hope of ever achieving optimal health without undergoing mutilating surgery and risking death.

Celebrations often center around a meal shared with family and good friends and just because some of us are more than mildly overweight – some are obese or morbidly obese like me, it does not mean that we can never have those delectable foods ever again. We can – within moderation.

Unlike people who have gastric by-pass surgery and must by-pass many foods all together for the rest of their lives or risk turning the restaurant into a vomitorium, I had tastes of just about everything that I truly wanted. I chose my calories carefully.

My weight is up a little bit right now - 6 pounds and I am working to get it off. As some of you may know, I have an autoimmune disorder and take Prednisone daily – it makes weight management a challenge – plus the years of yo-yo dieting has left me with a resistant metabolism. Recent events with the health and needs of my parents and family have left less time for my daily trip to the YMCA so again, I choose carefully what I eat so BLIMPO does not reoccur.

I am not perfect, I eat more than I should at times and I don’t always choose the totally perfect healthy foods for me; junking out is only occasional. This is not a one-time magic powder that erases flab forever from our body. If we do it right during the weight loss phase, we never ever have to go on another MAJOR weight loss phase ever again. Day to day, eat properly. When special occasions and celebrations come along – enjoy them!

I certainly did not feel deprived in any way over the weekend. I ate everything I needed and tasted everything I wanted. I chose carefully. There were some things that I would have devoured mega servings of (crabcakes…the walnut and goatcheese sprinkles on the warm salad, the lamb or steak or the Stonehenge chocolate dessert) but I just didn’t need to – the conversations, the party atmosphere satisfied my soul and filled me with great pleasure. I was relaxed, entertained and happy. Yes, the begnets and dark earthy bread would have been fantastic, I’m sure but I know what they taste like, have opportunities to have them here in the northwest so I chose things that I wouldn’t typically have tastebud access to!

Besides…I was gonna meet LuzInIt the next day and wanted my hiney to fit in my leathers…lemme tell ya, they keep me honest. Don’t need a scale to monitor my weight when I have leather pants and jeans…they tell the truth every dang time…