The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[alpha femme]

uhmm, yeah.
there's no delicate way to say this, so i'lljust put it out there.
for the most part, i do the full fast. i love it. i feel good. it is easy and removes my need to try to push boundaries. i'm not usually hungry anyways.
i have, however, done the 5 & 1 on occassion. the thing is, ever since my 2nd week, i've noticed that when i do eat "real" food, i get, uhmmm, the runs. it's always within 20 minutes of eating. i'm not allergic to anything. i've tried different foods.
anyone know what gives?
should i just assume that it means i should stay full fast?

[DogMa]

I do the 5-1, so I can't fully answer. But I know for people doing the full fast, the transition to "normal" food is different. I would guess that's all it is; your body just isn't used to regular food. I don't know what you're having when you eat an L&G, but maybe you could look for things that are really easy to digest. I think the maintenance guide offers some help in that area (sorry I don't have a link for it, but I'm sure someone will come along with one).

[falisamarie]

I have talked to a few people who get this problem when they use red meat due to the higher fat content. They are generally people who usually use chicken of fish for their L&G and then switch to red meat. I think you are ok and it is fairly common but like Vicky said I would stick close to the sandbox when you have a L&G for awhile.

Lisa

[Jan]

This does happen. Your body gets used to digesting easy food and then you "hit it with some salad and meat" and the rest has already been stated. It is true that we are very very careful when we transistion a person who is doing the "complete fast" to regular food. It doesn't matter what eating program you are using...the same thing happens.

My hubby had a heart attack at age 46. Sooo the whole household.. that's me and the two kids and hubby... all started to eat only non-fat food and very very little meat. Just some chicken and fish. Well our son who was a Senior in HS at that time invited a friend over to eat. I spied some yummy looking pork chops in the freezer and thought "oh those would be delicious. The kids and I will 'splurge" We had been on our low fat program for about 8 weeks at this time. Well the kids and I ate them....oh they tasted great.... but just let me say it's a darn good thing that we have three bathrooms in our house!!!
jan

[wildtrk]

It hit me hard this past weekend in Vegas...Got out there late (or early depends on your view point)...and was starved so I grabbed a semi off plan meal in the casino. Before I could get to a poker table I was back to my room (on the 28th at the end of a 100yd hallway!) sitting on the porcelin throne for an extended period of time. (sorry in advance for the visual on that...not my intention)

Even while doing a 4+1 Ihave noticed significant differences. Obviously it is not a topic that is fun to discuss in an open forum...but hey, who are you going to talk about with it? My DW doesn't really understand...okay she does, but it is not a topic that she wants to discuss with me. Hey hon...how was your day?..mine? well you know, it was okay...the highlight was that I actually made a doody that was substantial. WooHoo...! Yeah baby! High five this!

Yes everyone is different...but I also have to believe that we all struggle with this forgotten little issue. You got Aunt Flo and Uncle TOM...make way for Cousin Doody!

Sorry, got a little carried away on this topic...

[alpha femme]

huh huh
he said cousin doody.

well, thanks guys.
at least i know it's pretty normal.
sure makes the complete plan a lot more appetizing.

[Nancy]

Hi, there, Alex ~

Oooh, blechy! I know first hand how annoying it is to have the squirts…like you, I was on the complete meal replacement program; primarily shakes only.

If a person is on the 6/0, they are ingesting no live enzymes and very low fat. The gut slows down. Most likely, that is the cause here. Some people have the dreaded ‘d’ during the initial phase of weight loss due to the high nutrient content of Medifast and sometimes from the lactase, too.

If a person abruptly changes from the 6/0 to eating meat and veggies, then blowouts can happen.

Generally, it will not happen if a person has been on the complete program for just a couple of weeks and then switches to the 5 & 1 but it certainly can!

Alex, I want to take a moment here to use your experience as a teaching point for other Forum readers who may also be on the complete meal replacement program. Please know that I am not wagging a finger atcha, okie doke? Gosh, it seems like my brain is sort of like a ping-pong game – one person mentions something and it sends an idea boinging thru my mind to use it as a teaching event and I end up writing a novella!

Falisa answered your question short and sweet; I have diarrhea of the keyboard!

Often I recommend that people who struggle with being program-compliant to go on the 6/ for a week or two to mentally make the ‘break’ from their former foody ways and then switch to the 5 & 1. They may do a combination of the 5 & 1 and the 6/0 throughout the week – it keeps the gut active, makes it easier for joining social activities and keeps us practicing appropriate food choices and serving sizes that will help us when we get to maintenance.

If you abruptly transition from the 6/0 to the 5 & 1 or from the 6/0 to a fooder, the enzymes overwhelm the digestive system and results in a stomach ache and the screaming dirties. The volume of our stomach acids reduces when we are on the 6/0 and when we send down a blob of fattier foods and foods with more bulk, our stomach acids must really scurry about to tackle it.

“Danger, Will Robinson…” for people on the complete meal replacement program, when the gut slows down, sludge and bile salts can form in the gall bladder from inactivity. It is extremely important to not send down a load of fatty foods into the chute because it can result in an intense squeeze-a-rama of the gall bladder and send ya to the hospital with a major belly ache and possible trip to the OR...transition slowly back to regular foods.

This can serve as an example of the importance of understanding the Take Shape For Life Program and why we want people on the 6/0 to be under a doctor’s care and to stick close to their Health Advisor.

When a person transitions from the program (whether or not they are on the 6/0 or the 5/1), we must add progressive calories slowly because our metabolism slows down when we are on a low calorie meal plan. We must also step up our exercise level to help the metabolism to adjust and to offset the higher calories to avoid rebound weight. When we follow the transition program as closely as we follow the weight loss phase, we will have great results. The BeSlim™ Philosophy created by Dr. Wayne S. Andersen, the Medical Director for Medifast Diet & Take Shape For Life, is based on the National Weight Loss Registry’s findings for successful weight management. It is the ticket to weight management for life. I have managed my 135-pound weight loss for three years, four months and two days (yeah!) by following it.

For people on the 6/0, we begin transition with very ‘benign’ foods – extremely lean meat, thinly sliced, in small amounts and must chew it well and wash it down with plenty of water. Next we add veggies then fruit – then low fat dairy – and finally the grains.

Transition also includes progressive food groups like those that I listed above and we add them over intervals – we spread out the calories and types of foods over a period to allow our body to adjust to them.

Folks, we must gradually increase our calories. Some people follow the program exactly right for weeks or months and then decides to ‘reward’ themselves by having a major fooder. Gastric distress most certainly will occur. Weight gain accompanies it and for some, it is hard to get back on track.

An analogy I’ll use to help us understand the importance of gradually increasing calories ~ a person that had two broken legs and was wheelchair bound or crutch-dependent for a few months would not most likely leave the orthopedic doctor’s office after having the casts removed and enter a marathon the same day. To avoid further injury and to insure the likelihood of carrying on a healthy normal life, one would need to gradually advance from walking unaided for short distances to stair climbing, walking a block then multiple blocks and eventually run.

If we are to maintain an optimal weight, we must very gradually increase our calories, make the calories count – they need to be healthful calories, not high-fat/high glycemic calories and the exercise component is necessary. We need not become a gymrat but we need to move our tushies – it is healthful for our hearts and exercise helps to tone our bods. Strength training is great for our bones and exercise in general is a great stress-buster; it helps to keep us distracted from going to the cupboards and refer for comfort.

Best of health to all of you readers and shakers!

[electra000]

Wow Nancy, Thank you for the great post! Very informative and helpful.

[dede4wd]

Wow Nancy! Great post!

It almost made me forget that Wildtrk said "made a doody" and "high Five" in one sentence! Almost!

DeDe

[SharonR]

I don't know what's worse, seeing wild say "doody" or Nancy saying " the squirts"

[alpha femme]

i was partial to "the screaming dirties."

i think that one is a keeper!