The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[ColoradoDreamer]

Hello to all!

I am struggling with several health issues - type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure (under control with medication). I also am on medication for depression. I've had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. I'm now cancer-free. But I'm at least 100 pounds overweight. Actually, I'm probably around 120-140 above where I need to be. Because of the diabetes, I'm supposed to be on an eating plan. I did fine for the first four or five months after my diagnosis and actually lost some weight, brought my A1c down and dropped one of my meds. But I've been struggling now for a few months.

Part of the problem is that my husband (who is also 100+ pounds overweight) buys junk for me. You read that right. I ask him not to get me stuff, but he does it anyway! Like going to the bookstore coffee shop - I tell him just get me a bottled water or diet soda. No food. What does he do? Comes back with cookies AND cake for me. Last night, checking out at the grocery store - without asking me if I wanted it - he bought me a Starbucks frappucino. I refused to drink it and made him drink it. I've told him over and over again that I don't want to drink sugary drinks.

Anyway, as to why I'm here: A friend at work has been on Medifast a few months and lost a considerable amount of weight. She has morphed from a nice-looking middle-aged lady into an absolute knock-out. She says she wants to lose more, but she is really inspiring me! Before she started this, she and I were about the same size. I'm thinking that I can do this too. But I wondered if I could do it with the diabetes.

I did some searching last night and found the Medifast website (and tonight stumbled on this one by "accident") and saw that there are foods made for diabetics. I go for my yearly physical with my internist on the 13th, and I plan to discuss with her the possibility of trying this program. However, when I mentioned it to Hubs, he said, "We can't afford it!" I told him that I have to do something! And, anyway, if he would stop buying the junk and follow his own doctor's orders and go on a healthy eating plan to get that belly off him, we would be able to afford for BOTH of us to do this plan.

I'm feeling really despondent about myself . . . I seem to do nothing but graze in the evenings. I do fine during the day M-F because of work . . . but evenings and weekends are something else again.

I'll just bring this to a close by saying that I plan to talk to my friend more about her success on Medifast when I see her on Tuesday, and I plan to discuss this with my doctor when I see her. I did notice that some of the products do have soy in them, and my breast cancer was estrogen positive. I'm in fact taking arimidex to block any estrogen that my body might happen to make - had my ovaries removed awhile back too. I'll probably discuss this with my oncologist too . . . I see her the 11th.

Thank you for reading my ramblings. I hope that I can start this program soon.

Estelle

[Mike]

Welcome Estelle,

This program works. There are many, many diabetics who have lost weight on this program, some control the diabetes with just their diet now, some have reduced their medications, and some, like me, take no medication for diabetes anymore. There have been studies at Johns Hopkins University that put Medifast up against the American Diabetic Association diet, and the findings showed that people who followed the Medifast plan lost more weight, faster, and kept it off longer.

As your browse through this site, you will see all of the great success, and you will see people in situations not unlike yours that have been very successful.

I am sorry that you face the struggles that you, and I hope that your husband comes to realize how important that this is for your health (as well as possibly his own). My wife and I do our best to support each other through this journey, and it is definitely paying off. As for the finances, we have found that we save money doing this together. It really is cost neutral when you consider the extras you don't do on this plan (the cakes, cookies, frappacinos, etc.)

As for the soy, there are studies out there that show that the phytoestrogens do not do the same thing that our estrogens do. There is still debate on this though. There are plenty of non-soy products available, so this may not be as much of an issue. Just discuss these things with your doctors.

Lean on the people here, and they will support you.

[nickieluv]

Hi - I hope your doctors are in support of the program and that you are able to join us here. I'm sorry your husband is sabotaging you right now. I don't know what he's feeling, but I wonder if fear is part of it - fear of change, fear of losing you if you lose weight and he doesn't - I went through these issues a bit with my husband. He did agree to spend the money and let me try it, and after a few months of me losing weight, he started his own diet plan (not MF). So make sure your husband knows how important this is, and I wish you luck and hope to see you around!

[Mike]

Coming from the hubby's point of view here, and I've mentioned similar things to other women here.... I think Nickie has a point.

The way I look at it though, bieng in the same situation as my wife, I would much rather get healthy with her, then be left in the dust, so to speak.

If he would, feel free to have him e-mail me or M me, and maybe I can help with any questions that he might have. There are a number of couples doing this together (bdg and joelie; TonyR and SharonR, yworry and signladyt; us-Mike and Diana; Terry and Nancy), and as they can attest to, overall its cheaper to do this than to eat the way you do before (and besides, the medicines reducing save money also).

[llrickman]

My wife and I are doing it together also. It much easier doing it this way for sure

[alpha femme]

Honestly, the sabotage comment is right on-- even if the other person is unaware (or unable to acknowledge) his real intentions. This isn't a diet issue; it's a respect issue. While having cake and cookies bought for you would certainly make it harder to lose weight, it is ultimately up to you to say "no" and stay on plan. I would ecplain to your husband exactly what your needs are (put it in writing if it isn't getting through to him), and then do mf the way you seem to want to. This is about you, right?

He needs to support you, because you seem to want to feel better and get healthier, and rumor has it that couples help each other do that... or they stop being couples. You have to stand up for yourself on this one; trust me. Every day that you use the excuse "my husband buys..." is a day that you will not reinvent yourself, and it's a day closer towards resenting him for the actions you perceive as keeping you from reaching out for a new life. Offer to bring him with you on the journey, but don't stop walking towards goal, hoping he'll catch up.

Trust me on this one.

Good luck.

[bikipatra]

I started this program on November 22 and was on medication for diabetes and high cholesterol. I took the diabetes and high cholesterol very seriously because my father's side of the family has a history of diabetes-related and heart complications such as multiple amputations, blindness, congestive heart failure and kidney failure. After a month and a half on Medifast I was taken off my medications for diabetes and high cholesterol. When I wake up in the morning, I have the blood sugar reading of a "normal" person. That means a lot and I don't believe I could have done it so quickly on my own.

[ColoradoDreamer]

Thank you for all of your supportive comments.

I'm going to discuss Medifast with my doctor when I go in for my physical next week. If she gives me the go-ahead, I will order my food and get started. I may have to wait until my next pay-day, depending on how our finances look, but I do plan to do this.

It's either this or gastric by-pass, and I do NOT want surgery.

[Mike]

I did gastric bypass and lost 160 lbs then regained 50 before MF. I suggest to anybody thinking of bypass, to try this first. If this works for you, then no need for risking your life with surgery.

I don't remember if I heard it or if I read it on here (been lots going on this summer), but I loved how the person put it.

"Medifast is just gastric bypass in a shaker jar."

[bikipatra]

I did gastric bypass and lost 160 lbs then regained 50 before MF. I suggest to anybody thinking of bypass, to try this first. If this works for you, then no need for risking your life with surgery.

I don't remember if I heard it or if I read it on here (been lots going on this summer), but I loved how the person put it.

"Medifast is just gastric bypass in a shaker jar."

I wish I could get my sister on board but she is sure Medifast won't work for her. She weighs 340 and is going in for her bariatric consultation this week. She said there is usually a waiting time but her doctors want to do it right away. I just pray for her health and clarity regarding her decision every day.

[katieb920]

I did gastric bypass and lost 160 lbs then regained 50 before MF. I suggest to anybody thinking of bypass, to try this first. If this works for you, then no need for risking your life with surgery.

I don't remember if I heard it or if I read it on here (been lots going on this summer), but I loved how the person put it.

"Medifast is just gastric bypass in a shaker jar."

I wish I could get my sister on board but she is sure Medifast won't work for her. She weighs 340 and is going in for her bariatric consultation this week. She said there is usually a waiting time but her doctors want to do it right away. I just pray for her health and clarity regarding her decision every day.

Biki Has she seen you lately. YOUR HOT & TINY

[bikipatra]

I did gastric bypass and lost 160 lbs then regained 50 before MF. I suggest to anybody thinking of bypass, to try this first. If this works for you, then no need for risking your life with surgery.

I don't remember if I heard it or if I read it on here (been lots going on this summer), but I loved how the person put it.

"Medifast is just gastric bypass in a shaker jar."

I wish I could get my sister on board but she is sure Medifast won't work for her. She weighs 340 and is going in for her bariatric consultation this week. She said there is usually a waiting time but her doctors want to do it right away. I just pray for her health and clarity regarding her decision every day.

Biki Has she seen you lately. YOUR HOT & TINY

Yes, but she has been on a diet of some sort since she was 10. They even put her on a form of speed back then. She is just tired of them and wants to give surgery a chance even with the risks.

[Elizabeth]

Biki, I feel bad for your sister. I understand the discouragement all too well. You are such a great example for her though (and us) for overcoming these difficult obstacles in your life. You are such a special person and a blessing. I know I've said it before but I'll say it again.... Thanks for sharing so much of your struggles and triumphs in other areas of your life..not just weight loss...it is so inspiring because it shows others that we can change, heal and be well.

[ColoradoDreamer]

I wound up having to make an emergency visit to my internist today. I'm okay; we just didn't know why I was having some pain in my right leg and wanted to make sure that it wasn't due to the statin drug I'm taking for cholesterol.

While we were having lunch before I went in for the test I had done this afternoon, I brought up the subject of dieting with DH. I asked him if he thought it would be possible if we could diet together to support each other. He said yes. So I've got that, at least.

I didn't talk to the doctor yet about Medifast. I still go in for the physical next week. I just wanted to keep this visit focussed on the problem at hand today.

[nickieluv]

Well, that's a big step, to get your husband on board! It will be so much easier if you are doing this together. I hope you can start soon!