The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[KimKim]

Hi Everybody,

I started Medifast 3.5 weeks ago and have lost 13 lbs, even with some "off plan activity" (oh for shame). I've actually done pretty well but after I learned my favorites, got some Walden Farms Dressing and DaVinci Sugar Free syrup, everything has been much better.

I tend to read alot so I don't have any questions at the moment because all of you have provided so many great answers.

My story: I'm a health nut, really, so it's really disturbing to have a weight problem. I was already overweight (I tend to carry it well, so folks did not see ALL of the extra weight or simply took it all as being a part of my statuesqueness ;-) and even then, I was an aerobics instructor (yes, you read that right and a darn good one as well). I did so much cardio and worked out constantly and did not understand why I could not reach my weight loss goals.

At the same time, I knew some of my weaknesses, which was essentially an addiction to sugar. So, I would pride myself on having organic fruit juices and not having soda but I had no clue (really, no clue) how much sugar I would ingest. It was usually no problem at all for me to drink 48oz of juice in a day, if not more. Sheesh.

I would learn more as I would be reading articles and whatnot. I got into aerobics because I love to dance, not because I knew about nutrition. The more I learned, I started to change some of my behaviors but was still not meeting my weight loss goals and I was firmly committed to NOT going on a diet. I knew, somehow, that those did not work and I was afraid of gaining weight back and then some, etc.

I've given up red meat for nine years. I eat it now. I've given up pork for the same. I eat it now. I drink *alot* of water and always have (one good habit I maintained) and when I gave up all soda and sugary drinks for water, that was a good thing. But I could never, it seems, get the *combination* and the timing right. I was either working out all the time and eating too much and too much of the wrong things (fast food, sugary stuff) or the wrong kinds of carbs (lots of corn, potatoes, rice, etc.) or getting lazy and not exercising as I would be eating much better.

I appreciate Medifast because I have been frustrated about being the person who exercised the most and still had to struggle with weight. I am able to tell you the above because I have far more clarity from my years of enlightening myself and also following the first diet I've ever followed in my life. I tend not to be disciplined, so this is a perfect challenge for me. I want to be proud of myself. I am also a womanist, so getting plastic surgery and whatnot is totally out of the question and, in my opinion, anti-woman and self-hatred---certainly if not for medical reasons.

Since being on Medifast, I've learned more about myself. First, I had some really bad habits that even a so-called health nut should not do. I had a near refusal to eat breakfast. Now that I have a real grasp of how important breakfast is to weight loss, I just can't believe myself. I mean, I would go for HOURS and HOURS without eating, I would be working out and dancing and then, lo and behold, consume everything in site *late* at night, sometimes healthy, sometimes not but I'm sure always too much, always too many calories and way too many bad carbs.

I did not eat frequently enough.
I skipped breakfast.
I ate too late.
I had too much sugar.
I had way too much fast food and I was under the impression that once or twice a week of it was okay---NO!
I had too many carbs.

This is a really bad combination of bad habits and if you couple that with a bit of emotional eating and then a depressive state that ensured a weight gain of about 60 pounds over a two year period, you can see why I'm happy about where I am now.

I already know I will be successful because while I have outlined these bad habits, many of them are now broken (I started this process before Medifast but I do believe Medifast has solidified them breaking) and I do have many *good* habits, enjoying water being one of them, not to mention the general love of oatmeal.

As for maintenance, as I shared, I had a real fear of gaining weight back and I did NOT believe Medifast could work. I thought I was just meant to be a larger woman because look at all I'd done to stay in shape?! I also learned, just a few years ago, that there are thyroid issues in my family. I was prescribed Synthroid but, again, I am a health nut and tend to be organically inclined, so after I purchased the prescription and read about it and its effects online, I took it back. I bought some sea kelp instead, which is said to help the thyroid in a natural, gentle way.

So, anyway, I started keeping a "transition and maintenance" journal where I wrote down what I ate with Medifast and what I could eat that would be similar once I was OFF Medifast. Maybe some of you should try that.

As I'm organically inclined, I use Xylitol as a sweetener and try to stay away from alternative sweeteners in general. I do use some Splenda and products with Splenda and Aspartame in it but I am extremely reluctant to do it and am just reminding myself that this part of it is temporary. I am also upset that Medifast contains high fructose corn syrup but I have had to get over that as well.

In the long run, I determined that while I have a fear of cancer, I also have a fear of diabetes, heart palpitations, depression, not living my dreams, not having healthy children, not being healthy, etc., all due to being overweight/obese, so I am taking the crookeds with the straights right now.

I have never been a wallflower, always outspoken and in the limelight, so I am NOT one of these women that believes in engaging in self-hatred and constant flagellation while one is overweight. If you are a beautiful person, you are a beautiful person, period. Sure, you are MORE beautiful (inside and out) when you are a HEALTHY person. I don't have a desire to be "thin" and I doubt I ever will be, since I have a more muscular build and am not built like an ectomorph. I do, however, have a deep and abiding desire to be HEALTHY and FIT. So, my philosophy is that "nothing tastes as good as being healthy and fit feels!"

I wish you all the best and congratulate you on your respective journeys.

By the way, can I get the #10 club hookup, please?

Thanks!

Kim

[falisamarie]

Welcome Kim and congratulations on your loss so far

Lisa

[Diana]

Hi, Kim, and welcome.
You have so many pieces already in place!! That's awesome!!

I'm glad you've found Medifast. Congrats on the success you're enjoying!

[wildtrk]

Welcome Kim....glad you are here!

[JeepGirl]

Seems like you have a good outlook!

[Arklahoma]

[Guest]

Hi Kim,
I just read your post. You too fell victim to many of our "supposedly healthy ideas" You are right that fruit juice is packed with sugar. Yet we thought we were eating "healthy". A glass of orange juice and a bagel (low fat of course) was my breakfast. Now I know it was packed with carbs and sent me off on a carb binge for the better part of the day. Well,..... that's when I ate breakfast..because I skipped it most of the time...just like you. Then at about 3:00 in the afternoon the hungries hit big time. Off to prowl the cupboards which led to some indiscriminate eating.... everything I could find that even looked good. I told myself that I hadn't consumed that much that day so it would be "ok". Hmmmm I packed on the pounds too. We tried doing without red meat and for the most part pork also. Off to the healthy no fat stuff --- pasta. Ohhhh soon my BP was toooo high, and somehow even with all that "healthy" eating I ended up on cholesterol meds. I won't go on ... just say I'm soooo happy I met my friend Nancy and the rest is history.
You'll do fine too. You have a great attitude and once the pounds are gone we'll just help you transistion and then go on maintenance. There's no miracle pill or program. Just takes work and this program helps us lose in the safest and fastest way possible. That's a great thing.
Welcome to our group.
jan

[Elke]

Hi Kim and welcome. Sounds like your off to a good start. Keep it up.

[sidrah]

Good insights and better for all when you voice them. You will do so well. Welcome

[Joelie]

No doubt you will do AWESOME! CONGRATS!

[dede4wd]

Hi Kim,

I just wanted to say WELCOME and that I loved your post! I'm so glad you're here with us!

DeDe

[KimKim]

Hi Everybody!

Thanks so much for the welcome! I really appreciate it. Thank you, Jan, for "getting" me, too. It's pretty funny to tell someone that you're a "health nut" and then they can see you obviously have a weight problem. Thankfully, the one thing that stays healthy is my sense of humor and I have no problem laughing at the irony.

So, I was hoping no one took my post the wrong way or found it offensive or otherwise off-putting. I mean, I'm trying to lose at least 70 lbs, so I was just hoping folks would understand and then I saw my ticker did not properly display on the bottom.

Diana, Dede, Elke, etc., I've thought long and hard about my weight loss goals and have made important strides but as we all know, it's still a struggle and knowing and doing are two different things.

Indeed, I had a bout with emotional eating just this past weekend. I'll post it on the board. Be on the lookout for "basmati rice" and my downfall out of ketosis!

LOL

Not funny and yet it is . . . because I've not given up. I learned something else about how Medifast has positively changed my life.

See you all in other posts and thanks again for the warm welcome!

Kim

[DogMa]

I'm a little late, but welcome, Kim. I've been complaining about the HFCS and various other sugars since the beginning. It's my main objection to the plan, in spite of the success I've had on it.

I would still much prefer less of an emphasis on sweet foods, a bit more fiber in most of the supplements, and better, healthier sweeteners.

My solution has been to not eat most of the supplements that contain HFCS. I stick with the savory and non-sweet products as much as I can.

[GucciGoo]

[Lizabette]

KIM

Great post. I read every word with interest! So happy you have joined the fabulous MF Team.

This is my first post after having been away for reunion, trips, various events for too long, it seems! But just had to let you know how nice it is to have you.

I know you'll do wonderful with your positive attitude and neat sense of humor.



Lizabette