The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Simmshe]

Hello all ,

I have some questions that I hope someone can help me with. I have perused this forum for answers to my question(s), but I haven't seen my particular issued addressed.

I'm a 31-year-old woman who has been considering starting Medifast off and on since October. I have been successful in the past with losing weight via food monitoring and exercise (I'm an avid exerciser, and I got down to 270lbs from 385lbs, and currently weigh 325lbs after a 55lb weight gain brought on from stress last year).

I went to see a doctor in March who specializes in Bariatrics in the hopes that he would monitor me on the full medifast plan. I got a physical, EKG, and blood work performed, and my numbers were excellent. However, he didn't want to monitor me on the full Medifast plan--he felt I was too heavy and wanted me to follow a higher calorie plan (but, of course, I know this is just his opinion--I know that there are plenty of people who are on or have been on Medifast who are my weight or heavier). So, I bought alternate shakes (which are very similar to Medifast--100 calories, 14 grams protein, low carbs, etc--but a little cheaper), which he told me to consume 8 a day, plus a meal with lean protein and veggies (similar to the modified Medifast plan). Anyway, I decided to not follow his prescribed plan (I really have a problem with the meal right now, and I decided not to continue seeing him for other reasons).

Okay, my point ... I REALLY want to follow a full Medifast plan, but I am self-employed and don't really have money to see my primary care physician (i.e., get lab work done) frequently (I can manage once every three months or so), and am wondering how much I can modify the program to make sure my caloric intake is above the "safe" limit use so I don't have to be under a physician's care (1000-1200 calories?). Because of my very busy schedule and my living situation where I can't really manage to even prepare the daily required meal for the modified plan, I would like to do Medifast with shakes and supplements only.

Does anyone follow the Medifast plan with an intake of only 700-800 calories and not see your Physician regularly? If I do the full plan with only 700-800 calories intake, how often would I need to see my physician? What does Medifast mean by "being under a physician's care" in terms of how often you need to see your doctor? Does this mean weekly/montly visits? Would I be able to up my shakes to 7 or so a day, along with a bar and a soup to bring my caloric level to 1000/1100 calories a day? I know this would be expensive, but I'll manage. I am a regular exerciser (5-6 days a week when I'm not working two jobs, like I am now, but 4 days minimum at all times), although I do know the cautions about exercising within the first couple of weeks or so of starting Medifast; but I will be exercising during the time that I'm using Medifast, so I will be using the 70 shakes. Can't live without my exercise!

Okay, that's about it. Thanks for reading this long post and for any assistance you can offer! I'm mentally ready to resume losing weight again, and Medifast is the best choice for me right now. Food prep and calorie counting has worked for me in the past, along with much exercise, but this isn't an option for me now. I need the convenience of Medifast (and the fast weight loss wouldn't hurt either ) !

Thanks guys!

Sheryl

[Landylue]

Sheryl, I am so very glad you are considering joining the MF program AND this forum. I promise you won't regret doing either.

I'll let one of the health advisors take on your actual questions, but I will share with you that I am one of the ones that only does the 5 shakes a day, and my doctor, who is delighted that I'm on MF, has given me two thumbs up, but still prefers to do blood work every three months. I would strongly suggest you find a doctor that will do the same.

You already know that you have what it takes to drop that weight, Sheryl. You've been there, done that, and you ARE going to do it again. We'll help you in any way we can.

Looking forward to getting to know you and exchanging posts.

Landylue

[shineface]

Hi Sheryl--

Welcome. Clearly being on the MF program will bring you weight loss. Like Landylue I will defer to the medical advisers that you can call through this forum to answer you numerous health & monitoring questions.

Here is what I have to offer - a little honest sharing.

Sheryl, when I read your post (more than once) - I saw myself - over and over and over again. Not in a good way. Yes, I always had valid reasoning BUT I was always trying to manipulate the process of anything I tried - even if it was a successful process without my murking it up. My opinion --- these are all control issues that kept me FAT. I works the way it works - so just do it - follow the leaders or in this case losers and you will become a big loser too. Sheryl, I do the 5/1 modified plan and look at my stats - enough said.... this program works, just as it has been designed, without our design changes and efforts to make it more easily fit our schedules. Our everyday lives are a little thing call LIFE and this plan fits life styles and schedules of more people than I have ever seen.

For myself, the more I would try to bend things MY way --- the less success I saw over the years of trying to lose the FAT --- the more I tried to bend things to fit MY way .... the less I could bend - physically, because of the FAT, achy joints, low feelings of self esteem and toll-taking failures.

Sheryl, you are in the right place - don't try to reinvent the wheel - it already rolls along smooth as can be --- catch a ride and start losing!!!!

Remember we are all here, info, care, honesty and all... because ...

WE WILL do this together!!!

[Simmshe]

Thanks for the welcome and feedback Landylue and Pam! I figured that a Health Adviser could help and I was hoping that one would/will read my post.

I have no problem following the Medifast plan exactly as it is designed, and I had every intention of doing this until a doctor/bariatrics specialist who supervises Medifast and other weight loss plans dissuaded me because of his own beliefs (I saw this doctor many years ago when I was in college and his main program, that probably 99% of his patients follow, is a very restrictive food-based diet plan, and you have to come into his office for weekly visits to pick up your appetite suppressants and get your B-12 shot in the butt--I know better than this--been there, done that--not this time around! And I basically had to fight with him to even allow me to follow any kind of supplement-based food plan at all, even though my blood work and EKG were good.)

Anyways, I do have a primary care physician who I can manage to go to for blood work every 2-3 months or so ... I'm just unclear about how often I would need to check in with my doctor while following the plan. But if once every 2 months is okay, I'm sure I can manage it (it's just that I am self-employed, with very minimal health insurance and cannot afford to visit my doctor weekly, if this is what is required).

And thanks for your words Pam--I know what you mean! The only reason I thought about modifying the plan is because this is basically what the Bariatrics physician was going to have me follow--with 8 supplements a day + a meal. Trust me, I would love to and will be just fine following the full plan with 6 supplements a day--I'm looking for a disciplined, convenient approach and to not have to deal with regular food right now--it's just that the calories are so low on the full plan that I want to make sure that it is okay for me to follow this plan while only seeing my doctor every couple of months. So, when I know how frequently I need to see my doctor while following this plan, I will be ready to go!

I had another health advisor from Medifast who was quite uninformed and unhelpful--she just wanted to sell supplements--it seems--to me. So I am looking for a new health advisor, too (Nancy? Terry? ). But as it stands now, I'm good to go health wise, so I just need to order my supplements and get started and know for sure when I should first check in with my doctor and get new blood work done (last blood work was in March) after I have started. And definitely, the full plan is ideal for me right now because I can't ensure that I can have a healthy meal prepared daily (I share a house with unclean kitchen keepers and refuse to wash other people's dishes--cannot cook or prepare meals in a dirty kitchen; I'm also short on time with working two jobs right now.) Another thing is that I simply do not want to deal with food right now. I'm an emotional/sometimes binge eater and I want to break from food altogether while I'm working on "me" and my longstanding issues around food compulsion and depression, while still losing weight through this process.

Wow, I wrote a lot again! Sorry, I'm an editor/writer and tend to be longwinded with written words sometimes .

Thanks again you all, and I look forward to beginning and interacting with everyone !

Sheryl

[Landylue]

You said, "(I saw this doctor many years ago when I was in college and his main program, that probably 99% of his patients follow, is a very restrictive food-based diet plan, and you have to come into his office for weekly visits to pick up your appetite suppressants and get your B-12 shot in the butt--I know better than this--been there, done that--not this time around! And I basically had to fight with him to even allow me to follow any kind of supplement-based food plan at all, even though my blood work and EKG were good.)"

Sweetie, the good doctor doesn't make any $$$ off of you for those weekly visits when you choose to go the Medifast route. Small wonder he sows seeds of fear in your direction. Call 1-800-621-1927, and talk to one of the MF health advisors, and let's get this show on the road!

Landylue

[Unca_Tim]

Hi Sherl and welcome to the forum,
No, we're not ignoring you....

Nancy was away yesterday and worked late tonight and was pooped. I forgot to mention your post to her. I'm sure she'll reply to you sometime tomorrow. Also, like Landylue mentioned, you can give us a call on the toll free line anytime. If we're not in, we'll get back to you ASAP. Just leave your number and the best time to give you a call.

I can tell you that Medifast does require physician monitoring with the Full Fast. Nancy can give you the details as soon as she can get on here.

We're looking forward to seeing another big loser get on the train. Don't hesitate to call or email us if you have any questions or concerns.

All the best,
Unca

[explorthis]

I can tell you that Medifast does require physician monitoring with the Full Fast

Hmmm... Is this a new policy? I am not sure I agree with you.

Since when did Medifast "require" you to be physician monitored?

I know that Medifast, as well as any other extreme program would like you to me monitored/checked/physicalled, but... "required" ??

-Mike

[Unca_Tim]

Hi Mike,
Well....recommends...requires...choose your term. Not a new policy at all.
Take a look at the bottom of this page and just about any page of Medifast information on the net, and you'll see the disclaimer. Been there since I was introduced to Medifast.

It's very important that on any low calorie diet, like Medifast, that you work with your doctor. In fact, it's just good sense to consult your Doc on any substantial change in your diet.

Thanks for bringing it up though,
Unca

[Simmshe]

Thanks, again, for the replies!

Pam: You're 100% right! This doctor relies on very uninformed patients to pass on his BS methods to. He was listed on the Medifast web site as being a doctor who supervises the full fast, so this is the only reason I went to him. Anyways, enough! I will be placing my order today, I already registered on Terry and Nancy's site, so I just need to order (which I'm going to do as soon as I finish this message ).

Unca: Thank you for the welcome! I figured that you all were a little busy and would get around to me in time--no problem . My days and nights are so long (I get home too late to call people) and I don't have privacy at work to talk on the phone during the day, so I'll just order online for now. I'm going to go ahead and place an order today so I can get started ASAP. To be on the safe side, I'm just going to follow the modified plan until I know for sure how frequently I would need to be monitored. Preferably, I want to follow the full plan, but if it requires weekly monitoring, I'll have to follow the modified plan because that's too much traveling (and it's too expensive for a non-insured person like myself) for now. Thanks again for the support, and I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with you all!

Mike: I read some of your posts on the board, and I see that you follow the full plan, with great results I might add! How often have you gone in for check ups with your doctor? I recently had a physical and all systems are go. I just don't know what "monitoring" entails. I did read that for the full plan that a person needs to be strictly supervised by a physician. I'll just follow the modified plan until I know for sure. And congrats on your weight loss success!

Sheryl