The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[BerkshireGrl]

...I don't think I'm terribly helpful to anyone ELSE here anymore, either. I just don't know.

Whoa! You -- not helpful? I TOTALLY disagree!

Robin, I really value your presence on this board as a Maintainer. Please don't leave, unless of course you really are gung ho to... but I can assure you that I think you belong here 100%.

Using Medifast packets after reaching goal, in order to maintain, is in no way required... Heck, sure they would be helpful if a person had some gains to take off, but surely using "real" food in the real world is a very important thing to learn!

To be honest, I am looking at you as someone who's showing us all how to do it. You're struggling to lose a few pounds left, and playing around with your exercise and your food balance to get that done. That's something I am getting educated reading, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

As far as your running goes, I am impressed as heck that you do it. Just today as I read your journal, I saw the picture of you speeding along in your hat and shades

The last time I ran for more than a minute was 1993 I think. So please don't think you need to be burning up the road daily to inspire us.

And mixed feelings about Medifast... Yeah... I know there is a tendency here to hold back on those mixed feelings and I have seen some strife here caused by people venting their difficulties in the 3 years I've been hanging around.

All diets are hard work. Medifast is unusual in that it's so low-calorie and outside the norm for the public at large. Drinking protein shakes for most or all meals has a bad rep in the media as being a temporary escape that "teaches nothing" about how to eat in the real world afterwards. Also the speed of the weight loss itself on plans like Medifast gets knocked -- the establishment says the longer the loss takes, the higher the chances that it will stick.

The only thing I can personally agree with in all that is that I worry about the low calorie level tanking out my metabolism for a lingering period of time afterwards. I'm hopeful that exercise that I add on and gear up in intensity as I lose will prevent that from happening.

I really wonder how many calories the Maintainers are getting after they subtract their burn-off from exercise... It's no secret that metabolism can take a dip on this (or other) diets, but I'd like to see the nitty gritty tracked out for us... among the varied members here who maintain.

But I don't want to hijack your journal with a "Is Medifast A Real Solution To Obesity?" debate though, heh!

I don't want newbies to think MF doesn't work. IT WORKS. The hard part is mental, and that happens with all diets. I mean, it took me 26 months to lose 52 pounds on Weight Watchers; works out to be 2 pounds a month. Pretty snail-like. Yet I gained it back. So, at least in my experience, slowness did not equal success. What's the answer? Mental adjustment I think. One big part of that is learning from Maintainers, and seeing them keep at it every day... knowing they are here, that they exist, and to have them to point to and say "They are beating the war on fat." (Not to get all Koop-like on you.)

I'm just saying... Honestly, you are an incredibly helpful resource here and I see you supporting members left and right. I'd be very sad to wave good-bye to you... but if it is best for you and your health... then you certainly have my best wishes!

[DogMa]

Thanks, everyone. My guess is I'll be back in a bit. But right now I'm feeling really good about my exercise again (except for having to skip it all weekend because I broke - or more likely just severely bruised - my toe) and I don't want to risk losing that feeling. So I'm going to go it alone a little longer ...

My food's been a wee bit out of whack the past week or so, too, and I need to get that back under control. (Although a horrific squirrel incident this morning might just be enough to put me off food for a while. I can't even talk about it.)

In the meantime, everyone take care, and if anyone needs/wants to reach me, that e-mail icon at the bottom of my posts isn't just for decoration.

[bikipatra]

Miss you already!!!

[queenielou]

Hey Robin!

[bikipatra]

Hope you're having a great weekend! Miss you!

[DogMa]

Thanks, guys. I think I'll still be around and posting, but less frequently. Seems to be healthier for me that way. So here's my week, in a nutshell:

1) I broke or severely bruised my toe last Saturday. I had to cut back on my running AND walking all week, although I still did some. It's still swollen and bruised and painful today.

2) The dogs got hold of a squirrel on Monday and killed it right in front of me. I don't want to gross anyone out with the details, but it was horrible and involved screaming (me AND the squirrel) and blood. Awful.

3) I donated blood for the first time Thursday (I've been rejected every other time for my iron being too low). I was fine afterward, until a few hours later when I was standing up talking to a friend (I'd been pretty much sitting at work all day), and suddenly the room went dark and all the sounds got muffled and I would have passed out if someone hadn't shoved me into a chair. I made it home but even the next day I was still lightheaded and having trouble standing.

4) So after all that, I still did the race this morning. Except along with everything else, it was hot as blazes by the time the race started. I walked a few seconds and then started to jog - and my legs felt like jelly, so I slowed back to a walk. I ended up walking almost all of it, and jogging/running just a few spurts whenever I found some shade. Still improved my time from the zoo run (although I won't know my official time till I check online, because I was wearing a chip; I started at the back of the back to kind of let the crowd disperse a little before I started). One thing I need to figure out is the whole potty issue. Because even though I drank water first thing but then stopped and went to the potty a billion times before the race, as soon as I started jogging, well ... let's just say next time I may need to find some running shorts that fit over Depends.

Anyway, despite the reduction in exercise this week and despite having to eat extra food Thursday because of the fainting issue (including a small candy bar someone gave me while I was trying not to pass out), today I weighed in at 131.6. So yay for that.

I'll try to catch up on everyone else later ...

[katesmom]

Hi Robin,
I guess I would feel remiss if I didn't extend my thoughts to you here...As a struggling "newbie" I TRULY VALUE your presence, like Biki, Joleen, Lauren, and Lizabette...(Merry too !) If all of you were not here to talk to us all, and share your experiences, then we would not have much hope to go on... I truly mean that...When I get up in the morning and no matter how I feel, I come to this site to see how everyone is doing...Reading the "good" and the "bad" days for people shows that we are all human and need each other !! I would probably not come here anymore if I didn't feel inspired by those that have "beat the odds" !! You have all achieved the ultimate goal and we want that too ! Without you...What would we all do? We'd have no one to ask..."How did you get to goal?"

Anyway, I think sharing what you have to say is very important here...I long to walk more than to my car and into bed, and jogging? I can't wait to join all of you !!! Please stay Robin !

[DogMa]

Thanks, Katesmom. I AM staying; I just don't think I can post every day anymore. Part of it may even be identifying too much as a Medifaster and a dieter. It's been over a year since I hit goal, and even though I'm still trying to lose a couple more pounds, I think I need to start thinking of myself as a normal person rather than a dieter. I think part of the changes I'm trying to make, as far as improving my body image and not thinking of myself as fat anymore, require me to distance myself a little bit from here. I need to realize I can do this on my own now and don't need constant support. It's time I stood up on my own two feet, you know?

So like I said before, I'll still be here and I'll still post. But I'm not going to be spending half my day here anymore (something my boss will be happy about!). It's time I put on my big-girl panties and started handling some things on my own - or with my real-life friends. You guys are all great, but I can't hang out with you, or go to dinner with you, or go shopping with you. And I think I need to do a little more of all those things for my own mental health. Except maybe the shopping (for my financial health). I think I just need to spend a little more time in the real world.

[bikipatra]

I understand Robin. It is a growth issue. Sorry about your toe, dog and race difficulties. I will just look forward to the times when you do stop in and let us know how things are going. Best wishes.

[DogMa]

131.4. Walked this morning, slower than usual because I wasn't feeling right. I was up a lot during the night (with Teemu because of thunder) plus I felt a bit dehydrated (extra sodium in a meal out, maybe). Sunday was a walk/run (mostly walk). I'm not sure why I'm having so much trouble sustaining a run lately, but I'm blaming my toe.

[bikipatra]

131.4. Walked this morning, slower than usual because I wasn't feeling right. I was up a lot during the night (with Teemu because of thunder) plus I felt a bit dehydrated (extra sodium in a meal out, maybe). Sunday was a walk/run (mostly walk). I'm not sure why I'm having so much trouble sustaining a run lately, but I'm blaming my toe.

I had the same problem this morning. I still jogged most of the time but it was an effort and NOT fun and I walked much more than usual. Don't know what to blame. I was tired though because when I got home after my jog I ended up taking an hour nap.

[DogMa]

Some days are just like that, I guess. My sciatica (or whatever it is) is also acting up today (my hip is KILLING me), so I can blame that, too. Maybe it's the rain. I'll do a short walk when I get home tonight to at least partly make up for it.

No tape at work still. Toe and now hip just hurt too darn much.

I found another 5K to sign up for, though. A benefit for the Botanic Garden called the Squirrel Run. I figure I owe it to the squirrels ...

[DogMa]

Almost forgot. Went to brunch yesterday for a friend's birthday, and was exceptionally good. I had an egg-white fritatta with roasted veggies (shrooms, spinach, peppers and onions). OK, and a biscuit. But that's not even a cheat for me these days, other than that it wasn't high in fiber or anything.

[bikipatra]

Some days are just like that, I guess. My sciatica (or whatever it is) is also acting up today (my hip is KILLING me), so I can blame that, too. Maybe it's the rain. I'll do a short walk when I get home tonight to at least partly make up for it.

No tape at work still. Toe and now hip just hurt too darn much.

I found another 5K to sign up for, though. A benefit for the Botanic Garden called the Squirrel Run. I figure I owe it to the squirrels ...

Awwww, poor squirrel. If it makes you feel better I have actually eaten squirrel. Although I guess a bullet is kinder than being ravaged. Killing is killing. I am climbing stairs today too. Just 180 so far. That is going much better. Sorry you are in so much pain!

[DogMa]

Still 131.4. No workout this morning because I had an early dental appointment. I brought soup in case it's too hard to eat, although I seem to be doing OK so far.