The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[cyberghost]

Forgive me for semi-hijacking the thread, but what's a ketone test and how can I preform one?

[DogMa]

I believe it USED to only be available through health professionals, back when there was just the full program and not the 5-and-1.

And I think some people want/need to meet with someone in person every week or month or however the clinics do it, kinda like at WW or Jenny Craig or some other places. I never got much out of the WW meetings, but I know some people say it's what keeps them going and helps them stick to the program.

Then again, I think some HAs organize local meetings of Medifasters. Someone at the conference mentioned something along those lines.

Just depends on what you want, I guess. But no one should be guaranteeing anything related to weight loss, especially that you'll lose a certain amount by a certain date. Heck, I'd go there just to prove 'em wrong. Because I doubt they'd be ready for MY pokey metabolism.

[Mom2three]

Jenn and Cyberghost

The weight loss center I go to is strickly Medifast, but its more than just the food, they do counseling, lab work, diet management, etc. I have a meeting set up for once a week, but if I need more support, I can go more often. The Ketone test is basically a "pee on a stick" type of test, only it checks for ketones in your urine. It tells whether your body is burning fat or not. But when I started, they ran blood work, did an EKG, they've taken measurements, a body fat analysis, etc.... and your charts are reviewed by a doctor (although he's not on site).

For awhile, I often heard advertisements for a Hi-Energy Weight loss on the radio here in the Dallas area. This weight loss center basically follows that plan, but now they are a Medifast weight loss center. The reason I choose to go to it rather than by myself as I needed someone to keep me on track... to hold me accountable as I just wasn't doing that. Having to record every bite in my journal has really helped me.

If I ever have to go thru this again (hopefully I won't gain the weight back), I'd probably try and do it by myself and find a support group like this, but for now, I am willing to pay for someone to help me! But I may look at ordering products on line, I need to check the price difference!!

[Jen]

Thanks for answering my questions!

[Mom2three]

No problem Jen!! Unfortunately I found this site after I had signed up at the center... or maybe I would have tried the cheaper route first!!

[DogMa]

One caution on the pee sticks. Most people on Medifast are not deep enough in ketosis to show any real color change on the sticks, but they still lose just fine. It's not like Atkins, where you want a nice, deep purple to show you're on target.

[VictoriousNat]

One caution on the pee sticks. Most people on Medifast are not deep enough in ketosis to show any real color change on the sticks, but they still lose just fine. It's not like Atkins, where you want a nice, deep purple to show you're on target.

Thanks for mentioning that, Robin. My cousin, who is British and did a similar program, said I should look for deep purple. I nearly bawled last night and this morning when mine was a kind of pink. But I read the MF guidelines and it said "mild ketosis", so I felt better after that.

[Elizabeth]

Being in ketosis registers pink to purple on the stick. They are kinda silly as you could be "high fat burning mode (purple)" and only register pink because they are diluted by tons of water you drink. Deep purple in the morning could mean its just concentrated by sitting in your bladder overnight . I believe for our purpose on MF, you just want to see something other than "negative (none)" Pink, purple or any shade in between is good in our case, but if its purple and your on MF, maybe you should be drinking more water.

I'm experienced with this because I've done Atkins before and the sticks are a part of the program.

[Serendipity]

I don't use the sticks, so I'm no expert, but my understanding from others is that on Medifast you may not register at all, but it doesn't mean you aren't in a mild state of ketosis. If you're sticking to the program, you are where you need to be.

[Jen]

Yes, my understanding is that if you are following the program, have sufficient energy and don't feel much hunger, that you are in ketosis.

[DogMa]

That's exactly what they say in the literature. I've done Atkins, too, and very successfully. But Medifast has a LOT more carbs than that (and I seem to have a low tolerance for carbs; even with Atkins-level carbs, I don't always get past pale pink anymore; I just don't worry about it anymore). Unless you're having problems losing on Medifast, it shouldn't really be much of a concern. If you ARE having trouble, it helps to look at how many grams you're taking in, since some Medifast products are higher than others.

[Mom2three]

I sure don't know about this Ketosis thing though... I had a really deep pink last week at my weigh in (later in the day, and I had been drinking water before it - so it wasn't first thing in the morning), and I lost 0 pounds last week - needless to say I was really disappointed.

She wants me to up my protein to 10 oz a day, but truthfully that is really hard for me to get in. I'm not hungry enough to eat that much in one sitting.... I'm trying to space it out, but I'm still averaging about 7 oz day instead. My scale at home is staying the same again this week - I'm not sure what to do, I'm really frustrated at the moment.

[Unca_Tim]

Hi Lynn,
Could you show us a typical day of what you're doing, including exercise and water?

Also, are you taking any meds?

[Mom2three]

Here is my normal routine:

7:30 am: MF Shake, with B6, B12 vitamins and usually
about 4 cups of water before leaving for work.

10:30 am: MF Bar (and by now I've had my 2 diet pepsi's for the day)

Usually finish my 16 oz water bottle or more by now.

12:00- 1:00 (Mon, Wed Only) - Go go Gym, Run between 2-3 miles, walk another mile. I usually feel better on Mondays so my run is usually longer. Some mild weights, ab work, stretching. My workout lasts an hour, but usually only about 30 minutes is intense.

Down more water on my way back to work (16-24 oz).

1:30 - MF Soup - More water!!
4:00 - MF Shake

6:30 - Lean and Green. Usually a salad with some protein, either chicken, pork, or fish. I also put an oz of low fat cheese with my salad (I do have a scale and weigh my things)

9:30 - MF Shake

I normally drink about another 6 glasses of water or more at night too and munch on a snack of the soy chips thru out the night.

I have a desk job (computer), so I don't get alot of activity during the day when I don't work out, although I still try to get in some walking to and from the cafeteria for more water!!

On Fridays, I don't work (well not the kind I get paid for anyway), so the routine is still basically the same, but I normally workout (walk/run outside for about 45 minutes) in the morning after my first shake. I do drink quite a bit of water when going outside, I usually bring a water bottle with me and finish a good 24 oz just on my walk. I also weigh in on Fridays at lunch at the medifast center.

I've been trying to add some protein in during the day - a stick of cheese, or now I'm starting my day with an egg as well (same time as shake). I was also going to buy some cottage cheese to bring to have at lunch time with my soup.

I'm not on any medications other than the vitamins, except an occasional pain killer for headaches, but thats only once or twice a week).

I know maybe I should totally cut the running out and just walk, its just very hard for me to do - it helps me deal with the stress. I have cut down the time I run, but probably not enough - I tend to listen to my body and when I feel good and get in a grove, its hard to give that up sometimes!

Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks....

[Serendipity]

I'm not the resident expert, but if it was me, I would stop running for awhile. But if that wasn't an option (and I understand your wanting to keep it up), I would cut out the extra protein and add an extra shake as soon after the run as possible......having a shake or bar just before and a shake after....total 6 supplements per day on days that you are exercising so much.

I think you may be burning too many calories and your bod is holding on to the weight for dear life.

Now maybe someone who really knows will chime in.