The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[DogMa]

I posted this in my journal, but I thought it probably belongs here, too.

OK, got my BFL books today. It looks pretty reasonable, and pretty close to what I was going to do anyway. Six meals a day (although I may stick with my seven), 40 percent protein, 40 percent carbs, 20 percent fat. With a list of acceptable foods (basically leaner proteins, lower-GI carbs, healthy fats). With one day a week to eat whatever the heck you want.

So I think my basic day would be: Medifast oatmeal or a BFL breakfast (egg whites, veggies, and maybe a whole-wheat tortilla or something), BFL lunch or Medifast chili/soup (depending on what I had for breakfast), Stacey's soy crisps or Michael Season's soy tortilla chips or a Q-Smart or BFL bar in the late afternoon, BFL dinner (when it's hot like this, I'm looking at my basic salad with chicken and low-fat cheese, plus a little added carb from the list), shake or bar a few hours later, another one a few hours after that (depending on how many calories all this adds up to), and Medifast pudding when I get home from work.

And then the workout is three days of weights (upper body, lower body, upper body one week, then reverse the next) and about half an hour of cardio on three days. I'll have to adjust that somewhat because I plan to do upper AND lower body together but only twice a week, plus cardio probably more like five or six days a week.

But otherwise, I think it's a plan I can live with. I'm going to try, anyway. And I'm definitely leaning toward just starting transition, either when I get back from Denver on the 30th or while I'm gone (since I'll be having a second lean and green most days then, anyway). I think my transition will be somewhat different from the written plan, since I'm starting to have a somewhat bigger salad at dinner and I'm adding in some extra protein as of today. (My thinking here is I'm already in my original goal size and getting close to a size below that. I'd like to get the rest of the way by building muscle, and I think I'll need to transition to more calories to do that in earnest.)

So I think this is probably it. I might already BE in transition. I did always say I didn't care how much I weighed and cared more about my size. So if I'm destined to weigh 130 instead of 125 or 120, that's going to have to be OK with me. As long as I fit in those size-4 Levi's that I'm so close to.

[ascicles]

What is BFL? This plan that you describe sounds like a pretty good transition.

Edit: After some research, I figured out that this is Body For Life. I read a little about it, and it looks like a fantastic plan. I plan on going through the normal Medifast transition (especially since I'm going to drop close to 200 pounds), but after that, I think I'll go with this.

The fact that you are allowed a "free" day a week is huge for me, because it keeps you focused. My biggest concern is that once I am done with Medifast, I'll stop choosing proper meals. The way this plan is set up, I think it's something that would work quite well for me.

[DogMa]

Exactly. I feel like I need to have SOME sort of plan when I'm done to keep me focused. I'd also like to still have a goal for a while; right now my goal is to reduce my body fat to below 20 percent. I figure that should take me a while.

I would have done the regular transition, too, if it weren't for the calorie and protein problem. I'm working out hard for an hour a day right now, and after running everything through FitDay, I saw that I was eating less than 900 calories a day, even with an extra shake every day. I just don't think that's enough.

So my best current thinking is I want to increase calories slowly, and at the same gradually work my way into the 40-40-20 ratio. And start with one free meal a week before I consider a full day.

[PJinCali]

You are AWESOME!!

:bow:
:bow:
:bow:

[Diana]

Congrats, Robin!! Here's to your future!

[dede4wd]

Robin,
I'm SO happy you made it! YAY!

Have fun in Denver!

DeDe

[Drama Queen]

Robin,

You are doing so great!! You are definitely the exercise queen!!! From reading your posts I picked up the "Body For Life" books and Im going to start reading them this weekend. Anything to keep me on track! I'm just trying to make wise choices during maintenance. Total abstinence was so much easier!!

[DogMa]

I know, I just feel like having a set plan will help me maintain better. The maintenance book seems to agree, so I think I'm on the right track. I just don't think at this point I can be trusted to just make good choices.

[ebony868]

I know I'm waaayyyy ahead of myself here, but I agree Dogma, I don't think I can be trusted to figure out a meal plan myself. I took a look at Drama Queen's eating plan and it looks good. I also looked at the Medifast Transition Plan book. I'm not sure that it will be all I need. Before looking at either of these, I thought about a Nutrisystem something, but I will look into Body For Life too as I get closer to goal. I have 60lbs to lose and hope to do so over the course of the next 4 - 6 months.

Glad I came over to the maintenance forum. It gives me so much to look forward to.

Congratulations and keep your chin up you BIG LOSER YOU!

[DogMa]

It's really never too early to start planning for maintenance. After all, if things go well, you'll only be in the weight-loss phase a few months (or over a year for some of us slowpokes). But you'll be in maintenance the rest of your life. I think it's smart to start thinking about it now.

[DogMa]

As always, this is in my journal but I thought I'd mention it here, too. Just found a book and Web site that might be helpful for some others out there. The book is "Joining the Thin Club," by Judith Lederman. The site is thethinclub dot com. It's all about what to do AFTER you've lost the weight. The subtitle is "Tips for Toning Your Mind AFter Youve Trimmed Your Body" and it has chapters on everything from improving your body image to shopping for your new body to accepting compliments to considering plastic surgery for loose skin.

I've only read a bit of it so far, but I'm impressed. The author (who also has a psychologist as a co-author) lost 80 pounds (it doesn't say how long ago), so she's speaking from experience. She also talked to quite a few others who had lost significant weight for their input.

[dede4wd]

Sounds like something that might help me. I look in the mirror and still see 265! Well, not 265, but not 170 either!

D

[DogMa]

I've gotten a bit further, DeDe, and I still really like it. It's not quite released yet, but it will be on I think the 26th. By then I'll be long done with it so I'll know for sure, but so far I recommend it.

She talks a lot about the mixed emotions of losing weight, and how people think that once you've lost it you'll be instantly happy, and how it doesn't work that way.

And about the constant temptations and the fear of regaining the weight. All of that.

[Grayson]

DogMa, is that book gender-neutral or is it designed for women only? It sounds like something I need to read, but not if it's not designed for men.

[DogMa]

The author's a woman, so it's more from a woman's point of view. But I believe she spoke with some men, too. I'll flip through it when I get home and let you know. A lot of the issues probably apply to both genders; I'm sure at least some guys have the same insecurities and problems with body image that so many women have.

And of course, the talk about how to maintain the loss (staying aware of what you eat, getting enough exercise, etc.) applies to everyone.