The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[CGal67]

80 pounds.

I wonder how many objects in the world weigh 80 pounds?

I want the extra 80 pounds that I have been packing around on my body to vanish - never to return.

I WANT MY SEXY BACK!! *giggles* Seriously though!

There are times when I wonder who is worse in life...

...Your old friends who remember that at one time you had a normal body weight BUT they fail to tell you that they notice you are putting on weight - they don't even say anything (to your face that is) when you become obese! Or the new friends who you've met while fat who think you've always been that way and who make comments like "you're never going to be small because you're big-boned". (More on the big boned comment in a minute) Maybe it seems rude to point out that a friend is putting on weight. Maybe they feel bad so they just don't say anything BUT deep down I feel as if my friends were secretly overjoyed that I was joining the pudge club so they just sat back and watched it happen. My new friends who met me heavy just think that I was born fat so the expectation is that I will remain that way. *shrugs* Go figure!

I think I was 28 years old when I could no longer fit a size 6 anymore but at the time I felt as if I sort of looked better with a little weight on and embraced the size 8's. It wasn't long before I crept up to a size 10 and I don't even remember when 12's came into the picture. But the last 4 years I have been in 14's (bottoms) and 16's (tops) and I look terrible. I clearly remember asking a friend one day how come I wasn't called big-boned when I was in a size 5-6 but all of a sudden when I got into a 14-16 I was BIG BONED??? HOW DO BONES GET BIGGER??? She looked at me like I had lost my MIND and didn't answer me.

When my weight hit 210 I almost died from shock! At 5'2 I felt like the only way I was changing my body was that I was getting WIDER which was not flattering. I tried Atkins in 2003 and lost 30 pounds and looked pretty decent at 180 (or better) but I was far too dehydrated on that WOE and my doctor advised me to stop. One good thing about Atkins is I lost all cravings for sweets so it took a while to put 20 pounds back on. I think I tried Atkins two more times against doctors orders before realizing it wasn't going to work for me. I tried WW for about a week or so but I absolutely hated the points thing and I really didn't like the plan. Most recently I simply tried to eat smaller portions but with all the stress that I've been dealing with the past two years...I couldn't think straight half the time to slow down and plan and pack meals. I lost a little bit of weight eating portion controlled meals, but quickly put it back on when I stopped. The diet rollercoaster is pretty humbling to say the least. Each time you start a new diet everyone pretty much smirks under their breath predicting your failure before you even begin. Sad really.

I turned 40 this past July. The day I turned 39 I vowed that I would spend that year trying to be FIT and FINE by FORTY! I just didn't want to battle weight problems for the rest of my life and after seeing how fast my 30's vanished, I wanted to get a head start on gaining some control over my 40's. The problem was I had no idea how I was going to do that. Needless to say my 40th birthday came and went and I was actually looking fatter than ever!!

By August I was doing a search on the NET (burn+fat+eating) or something like that and came across a blog that was discussing Medifast. At first I was pretty snobbish about it thinking...heck, I'm not fat enough to be doing some liquid diet like Oprah did in the past, so I basically ignored it. (sorry, just being honest) Then a few weeks later while searching for a "plan" to follow, I again ended up reading something about MF, this time I gave it a lot more thought and added an MF site to my favorites to check out later.

In the meantime I started noticing that a co-worker was beginning to look a lot smaller and for some reason this bothered me. Part of me wanted to ask her if she was losing weight or if I was just losing my mind but I never got up the nerve to talk to her about it. I chalked her new look up to her being an "older" woman who may just be getting smaller because she's aging. But each week as I passed her I noticed that she seemed to be shrinking. *shrugs and scratches head* It still bothered me for some reason. September had come and gone and then in October I saw the co-worker in passing and now I KNEW she was shrinking and it wasn't my imagination. I still could not get up the nerve to ask her about it so I simply told her that I loved her new jacket and made small talk. Luckily for me another co-worker walked up and asked her what she had been doing to wittle away so fast (trust me I really TRIED to act like I wasn't listening anymore) but my bionic ear kicked into overdrive. She said she was doing MF! I was blown away and before I could stop my mouth from speaking I blurted out " NO EFFING WAY!!!" *embarrassing moment - trust me* Annoyed, they took their conversation down the hall and I returned to my desk to "think" about what I'd just heard. I checked my "favorite" websites and checked out the MF site again.

One week later I went to my OLD job to have lunch with a friend. We quickly caught up with one another's lives and then I saw someone out of the corner of my eye who looked really familiar but not familiar...ya know? I did a triple take and then finally asked my lunch date if that was "so and so" we used to work with. I was told that indeed it was and that the woman was crazy because she had been doing MF and was too dang skinny (I didn't agree about the crazy part). I thought she looked great, so I got up and proceeded to go tell her just that. She was glad to see me and told me about her experience on the program. When I got home that evening I decided I would spend time with Google and do some research, once again on MF.

The next day I found my shrinking co-worker and got up the nerve to talk to her about MF. She was more than happy to talk to me about it and gave me a lot of great advice and precautions regarding MF. The precaution was to think long and hard about MF if I really wanted to do it and don't start until I was sure I was going to commit 100 percent to allowing the plan to work. So for the next 3 weeks I did nothing but research and think about the plan. I'm glad I didn't rush into it because last week on one of my searches I googled (MF + Forum) and found this site. If I had any doubts they vanished as I began reading a journal for "Tawanda" (I think that was the name of the journal).

So Wednesday I finally decided I'd purchase the MF plan with the intention to start the Satuday after Thanksgiving. I called Nancy and had the most pleasant conversation I've ever had with a complete stranger. I hung up the phone EXTREMELY excited about starting the program and although it has only been ONE day of waiting I feel like it's been a week!

I realize that maybe when LIFE (or your guardian angel) is trying to give you answers to problems that we have to be open to seeing what it's trying to show us. I wanted a solution to my weight problem and luckily my angel showed it to me over and over again until I finally woke up and noticed what was in my face all along! (ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE right?) I know that the next 7 days will go by SUPER slow...but I plan to spend the time preparing for the plan and getting my mind right! LOL! My mind needs to release the stress, tension, and constant anxiety I seem to feel regarding losing all control over my life. I have not been finishing what I start because I keep losing focus of what my goals are and this relates to all aspects of my life, not just weight. I think when my daughter graduated high school two years ago I realized I had nothing to focus on anymore but ME and I wasn't really ready to do that so I didn't. BUT - I have since come to the conclusion that if I want to enjoy my 40's (and 50's and 60's) without regrets, I have to start facing this weight issue as well as a few other issues/goals that I have put off dealing with.

I think my food will be here by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. *fingers crossed* I'm sure I'll drive myself nuts in the interim. I have no plans to do a lot for Thanksgiving so I may start that Friday... I certainly do not have plans of stuffing myself so you never know.


WHEW! *what a ramble*

I'm here.

I'm ready.

Bring it!

[Mike]

Welcome and congrats on getting started.

[bikipatra]

Welcome!

[BabyTrace]

Hey Gal! If you are ready to commit you have definitely come to the right place for support and interaction with others that are on the same path as you.

I'm only 5'2" too so I know all to well about going from petite to "big boned". I've been on MF for 4 months and ssshh....don't tell anyone, but I plan to be joining the 50 lbs club at tomorrow's roll call.

Check out my journal (BabyTrace) if you want more proof that this plan works and that it works for us vertically challenged girls too!

Hang in there, your box will be arriving soon and you'll be shrinking along with the rest of us. What a great gift you are giving yourself!

Tracy

[Serendipity]

Welcome from another vertically challenged Medifaster. Yes, it does work if you commit yourself to following the program......shhhhhh.....it's easy, too!

[lifelovinaries]

welcome to the forum gal!!! One of the best places for support from THIS family!!

[Tawanda]

Welcome!

I enjoyed reading your first entry and was surprised to see my name there. I smiled and actually said (outloud) "no way! How cool is that?!" . Jo (Serendipity) was the one who was my deciding factor on beginning Medifast.....I first found a blog she had written, then I found this site and her journal---I read every word she had shared, I read this site a lot and I spoke with Nancy which made me even more sure that Medifast was 'positively' going to work for me. This time I was going to lose the weight! This time I was going to get to my goal! This was the very *last* time that I was *ever* going to start a weight loss program.

The one thing that I will tell you is that following the program perfectly *all the way to goal* is what some here have done---the ones who did that made their journey faster and in some ways much easier than those of us who have indulged in a nibble, bite, meal, special meal, special weekend, special vacation, special occasion, etc.. eating. It takes very little to derail the ketosis and just like many other WOE, diets or programs, once you take that step off the program----it is sometimes very, very difficult to get yourself back onto it. You will waste time, money and have some heartache if you do begin those nibbles.

Now, we have those here who say "no problem, I ate off program and I still did well"........but I wouldn't count on that as a surefired thing. We've seen too many people start this program feeling that they will conquer this and then they struggle time after time in trying to get back their motivation and get back on program.

I feel that we have some here who do encourage others to have something off program, either in their words, or in their condemnation of others who encourage staying 100% compliant. They aren't at goal and they may feel that they are giving good advice........but what they are is a stumbling block for many. "What the heck, have that and then get back onto program". What they haven't been here long enough to see, is that many 'have that bite, meal, or vacation' and then never get back onto the program. If you stay here long enough, you'll read journals of people returning after being off program. They almost 100% say they wish they had NEVER gone off program because they cannot seem to get themselves going again.

This is all my opinion, it won't be popular with many who read it --- but I feel that I am giving you the best advice that I know from my own experience and my point of view.

I'm glad that you are here, your excitement is catching and I wish you the very best!!!

[CGal67]

"Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. If you could see them clearly, naturally you could do a great deal to get rid of them but you can't. You can only see one thing clearly and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin." – Kathleen Norris

What a timely quote!! I should tattoo it on the back of my hand or maybe even on the tip of my nose so I can remember it. But hey, it's here and I'll be here daily so I suppose I'll see it regardless.

Okay...so I woke up at the buttcrack of dawn like it was a weekday and I had some place to be. I suppose this is a good thing since I had been trying to get up at the same time every day as one of my self created challenges. BUT I have the most horrible sleep pattern and really feel TIRED and more importantly I feel SLEEPY.

My sleep pattern is one of the reasons I feel I need to get fit. I had sinus surgery in June due to a chronic sinus infection that lingered for a year and a half...I was having nose bleeds every day and my silly doctor didn't think it was a big deal. By the time I visited an ENT, I couldn't hear well and had started suffering headaches on a daily basis. Those symptoms have dissapted since the surgery but now the ENT is convinced that my sleep issues also require surgery - for the removal of my tonsils and adenoids. No thank you, I PASS! They sent me to a sleep clinic and I can safely say that I NEVER want to do the sleep clinic thing ever again! They hook you up like an alien with all these wires and such and then stick objects in your nose and ask you to act normal and go to sleep. HELLO, I HAVE SLEEP PROBLEMS - THIS SET UP IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!! I'm sure I did horribly because I don't think I slept more than a half an hour at a time that entire night. So I'd rather lose weight and see if that opens up my airway a bit. I don't snore much so that is not the issue - I just can't breathe well so I wake up every hour on the hour.

Anyway...

I came here this morning to chat for a bit about things I hope to achieve through the MF Change Your Life Plan.

1. Lose the water-retention-bloated look.
2. Lose inches around the buttocks, glutes, hips, thighs, tummy and arms.
3. Change my stagnant metabolism.
4. Cleanse my system from garbage (alcohol, fats and too much beef)
5. Give my liver a vacation (think of all it won't be processing for a while)
6. Overcome food allergens/allergies
7. Get small boned (LMBAO!)
8. Identify triggers and things that motivate my desire for food
9. Reveal real issues I have with weight loss (food isn't really the enemy)
10. Decrease stress
11. TAKE CONTROL OVER WEIGHT LOSS
12. Remember that losing inches is a great sign that fat loss is occuring (I tend to get hung up on scale numbers and get sad)

My reality check will be in nailing down a target range for a goal weight. I dont want to look like a twelve year old, but I do want to look good and get closer to the small end of the 100 range. When I was in my teens and twenties my weight ranged from 112 pounds to 125 pounds. I think I would be satisfied with a weight range of 128 to 138 pounds now.

My daily journaling goal is to address the following things on a daily basis:

Food for Thought (no pun intended)
Rewards (got to have them)
Health and Wellness (keep me mindfull of changes with mind body and spirit)
Exercise ( )
Sleep patterns (WIP)
Reflections
Daily Acknowledgment (have to celebrate small success right?)
Lastly - Be True To Myself - be honest in my posts!!

I would like to say THANK YOU to those of you who have welcomed me here this morning. That was a pleasant thing to see today. And a big hug to the other shorties out there...

I got up this morning and had a Whey protein shake which was not bad. I plan to go to Costco today and buy chicken breasts and pork loin so that I have L&G items available to start the plan. (oh, lets not forget the Turkey right! LOL!)

Before I leave the house I will make another Protein shake. I may as well use it up while it's here and get in the habit right?

I have never been a fan of FITday but I do use Sparkpeople dot com for tracking - I love that site and need to go there now to enter a few things.

BBL.

Why is it so hard to POST here????

[CGal67]

Welcome!

I enjoyed reading your first entry and was surprised to see my name there. I smiled and actually said (outloud) "no way! How cool is that?!" . Jo (Serendipity) was the one who was my deciding factor on beginning Medifast.....I first found a blog she had written, then I found this site and her journal---I read every word she had shared, I read this site a lot and I spoke with Nancy which made me even more sure that Medifast was 'positively' going to work for me. This time I was going to lose the weight! This time I was going to get to my goal! This was the very *last* time that I was *ever* going to start a weight loss program.

The one thing that I will tell you is that following the program perfectly *all the way to goal* is what some here have done---the ones who did that made their journey faster and in some ways much easier than those of us who have indulged in a nibble, bite, meal, special meal, special weekend, special vacation, special occasion, etc.. eating. It takes very little to derail the ketosis and just like many other WOE, diets or programs, once you take that step off the program----it is sometimes very, very difficult to get yourself back onto it. You will waste time, money and have some heartache if you do begin those nibbles.

I'm glad that you are here, your excitement is catching and I wish you the very best!!!

Hey there Tawanda!!
This is like getting a visit from a celebrity you admire - COOL BEANS!! I have read your journal twice!! LOL! Congrats on your success! *although you scared me when I thought you were leaving the site* before I could find out if you completed your goal!

I have to agree with you about a few things you mention...but since I'm new here I will not say what that is just yet. I agree though that sticking to plan is a huge goal - mainly because of my shrinking co-worker's advice about the program and also some private issues of my own. I can safely say I'm not much of a snacker or nibbler - never have been.

My weakness simply is hugh portions and a weakness for WINE tasting!! I am an avid BOWLER and tend to drink just to bowl *why do all bowlers do this?* The last few weeks I have begun taking huge water bottles with me to bowling so I can drink something healthy while I'm there. I make myself buy FIJI *my favorite* and since it's quite expensive, I drink it first before I even think about a glass of wine or a beer. Last weekend I completely forgot about alcohol and bowled 3 good games!

I guess if I learned nothing else from Atkins it is the value of Ketosis so your advice is not falling on deaf ears!! I do have a vacation planned in January (LAS VEGAS of all places) but I have been there many time and know that as long as I have the READY-TO-DRINK shakes with me, it will be easy to do a L&G some place nice on the strip. TAWANDA SAID:
What they haven't been here long enough to see, is that many 'have that bite, meal, or vacation' and then never get back onto the program. If you stay here long enough, you'll read journals of people returning after being off program. They almost 100% say they wish they had NEVER gone off program because they cannot seem to get themselves going again.

This is SOOOOO true! When I did Atkins the first time I would still have wine once a week at bowling...so each week I was having to "start over" to get myself back into Ketosis. It was a nightmare really but I didn't want to acknowledge it. Then when I started getting dehydrated, no matter how much water I drank and had to leave the plan I felt cheated - but I never felt cheated by ME. *bad girl, I know* When I attempted to go back on Atkins, it wasnt the same and I really had a hard time facing the "supporters" who had gone on and reached goal without me. I felt displaced. I felt like a loser and not a "GOOD" loser. That is the reason my "shrinking co-worker" had such a long talk with me regarding MF, because she dealt with the same issue!

I have already cancelled a few upcoming events but I can't get out of the Vegas trip...and I'm not sure that I'd want to anyway. Last time I was there I lost 8 pounds in one week just from all the walking I did there - and I wasn't even dieting!! I can't imagine what I could lose there on this next trip while doing MF!

*I'm really rambling today*

Anyway, I appreciate your comments and have noted your "warnings" about staying on plan. I too want this to be the FINAL attempt at weight loss and have no intentions on trying anything else.

Enjoy your day and drop by any time!

C

[jskm]

Welcome!! You sound like you have REALLY done your homework and are committed to success on this!! I wish you the best and can't wait to watch your progress here!

Maybe they feel bad so they just don't say anything BUT deep down I feel as if my friends were secretly overjoyed that I was joining the pudge club so they just sat back and watched it happen.

I'm so relieved to hear someone else say this. I have always secretly thought this, but always told myself that I must be being paranoid, these are my friends, right? So maybe it's not just me. I too feel like, if not everyone, at least your very best and closest friends, would say something.... Okay I'm just rambling now, so not trying to ramble on your journal, sorry.

WELCOME!!!!!

[CGal67]

JSKM,

I'm sort of glad to hear you say you agree. My very best friend was a sabotager to say the least. She has moved to another state so I can do this without her input, but she was famous for destroying efforts.

My other friends just fed constant negativity which just made life miserable. They seemed to believe that if they were plump and loving life, I should be plump right along with them.

Anyhoo... THANKS FOR THE WELCOME!!!

I just got back from running my errands. I purchased a really cool digital food scale! I never used one before and I am more than thrilled to cook up my protein now so I can measure it out and throw it in pre-measured baggies in the fridge. What a relief! I'm sure I'll be astonished to see if my "deck of cards" measurement is anywhere near 5-7 ounces of protein that I thought was the correct amount.

GOOD NEWS: I also bought a new digital scale *yes I'm addicted but who isn't?*. It's so cool and really pretty! I came straight home from the store stripped down and got on it!

BAD NEWS: The comparison of weight on my new scale compared to the my OLD scale... off by dang near two pounds. Weight today. 209.4

I guess this fat feeling I have been having is REAL! LMAO! I really hope I don't end up being a slow loser...but I am bracing myself just in case that is my reality.

My second meal today was egg whites. I'm not sure why I did that since I didn't order MF Eggs for this plan *the pictures looked disgusting* but egg whites and Red Hot was mighty tasty today.

I also bought something I hope to get a lot of use out of. The PERFECT PUSHUP bars! I hate my arms! I'm not sure if they can return to the long lean arms I used to have so I thought I'd give them some help with occasional pushups.

PANICK!! I have a feeling my food will arrive on my day off from work! I forgot that I took Wednesday off and I think Nancy said my food would arrive then. I may have to call our mail room to tell them to call me at home if I get a huge package. I would go crazy not being able to start until that following Monday!!

Another strange thing is...I threw away 3 pairs of my favorite pants today. I realized this week that the "thighs" had rubbed away on a few and I was probably exposing some skin. *shaking my head* It seems like men don't have to deal with the rubbing of the thighs thing, it's soooo not fair! Another revelation is that I have a feeling I may really be in 16 pants and not 14's. I say this because my favorite pair of pants are 14's but a little stretchy (Jeans...but slightly big, ya know?) So I may go buy two pair today just to tide me over, I have to have proper business attire for the office and these black jeans look like regular pants when I iron them.

Well...I'm off to go see what else I can discover!

BBL!

[rodeomom]

Welcome to MMT. Make yourself at home! You seem like you are ready to tackle this with all of you being and that is GREAT. While the plan is easy to follow if you are IN it with your whole heart, mind and body - it is really a ^#@$#% to get through if you are not emotionally and mentally prepared. Good for you to set goals. Some have also found it helpful to list the things they hate most about being fat (like not fitting in stadium seats and stuff like that) and a list of what they will enjoy most about being thin.

We are all here to help you. Sometimes that help will seem like a kick in the rear end, but we mean it in love.

Congratulations on making such a postive life changing decision! Onward HO!

[Sojourner]

Onward HO!

Duuuuude.
Did she just call you a ho?? Rodeo, that's no way to welcome someone!!!! Well, like she said - I'm sure she did it with love. Heehee!

Welcome, CGAL!!! You sound like a real corker! I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your journal... and hows about that Tawanda chick? Her response to you was awesome. That's our Mizz T! Listen to her, she is wise. Seriously, she gave you some really good advice.

It really seems like the MF gods were on a mission to recruit you, doesn't it? MF was following you wherever you went! I totally agree that you're really lucky to have found this forum, too. It's the best forum in the history of the world!! You won't have to do this alone, and the folks here have been right where you are now, and are incredibly supportive. We're all a little different, so that support is provided in a variety of ways... but it's all good, y'know?

BTW, I love what you said here:

I'm here.

I'm ready.

Bring it!

It really sounds as though you mean it! I'm glad, because you really need to mean it to be successful. You also seem to be gearing up for this, what with the food and weight scales and other prep you've done. That's good, too. You're gonna' ROCK this, girlie........I can't wait to read about your progress!

[CGal67]

Onward HO!

Duuuuude.
Did she just call you a ho?? Rodeo, that's no way to welcome someone!!!! Well, like she said - I'm sure she did it with love. Heehee!

Welcome, CGAL!!! You sound like a real corker! I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your journal... and hows about that Tawanda chick? Her response to you was awesome. That's our Mizz T! Listen to her, she is wise. Seriously, she gave you some really good advice.

It really seems like the MF gods were on a mission to recruit you, doesn't it? MF was following you wherever you went! I totally agree that you're really lucky to have found this forum, too. It's the best forum in the history of the world!! You won't have to do this alone, and the folks here have been right where you are now, and are incredibly supportive. We're all a little different, so that support is provided in a variety of ways... but it's all good, y'know?

BTW, I love what you said here:

I'm here.

I'm ready.

Bring it!

It really sounds as though you mean it! I'm glad, because you really need to mean it to be successful. You also seem to be gearing up for this, what with the food and weight scales and other prep you've done. That's good, too. You're gonna' ROCK this, girlie........I can't wait to read about your progress!

Ya know? I'm sure it's a southwestern thing...the onward HO mention. LMAO! I'm cracking up...although I'm positive it's ALL GOOD!!

Thanks for the welcome! I've had an EVENTFUL day and boy oh boy do I need to talk! *warning*

Again. Thanks for the welcome and good advice!

C

[CGal67]

Welcome to MMT. Make yourself at home! You seem like you are ready to tackle this with all of you being and that is GREAT. While the plan is easy to follow if you are IN it with your whole heart, mind and body - it is really a ^#@$#% to get through if you are not emotionally and mentally prepared. Good for you to set goals. Some have also found it helpful to list the things they hate most about being fat (like not fitting in stadium seats and stuff like that) and a list of what they will enjoy most about being thin.

We are all here to help you. Sometimes that help will seem like a kick in the rear end, but we mean it in love.

Congratulations on making such a postive life changing decision! Onward HO!

Thanks for the welcome RM...and when or if I need a kick in the pants - I'll gladly bend over to receive it! LMAO!