The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[momof2]

Just placed my first order yesterday and have a couple of questions while I wait

Scheduling: Figuring I will have my first shake at 7 am and go to bed at 10, I can't fit a 5th shake in if I do every 3 hours. Do I just skip it or make my intervals less than 3 hours to squeeze it in?

Freebies: Do they replace anything or are they just added to the plan? i.e. Can I have pickles on top of 5+1?

Does the info pack coming with my order tell me strictly what is allowed?

I'm sure I will have more questions as I go so bare with me please.

[just_julie]

You'll find that you may want a meal after only 2 hours. The materials will tell you to eat every 2 - 3 hours. The freebies are extra foods on top of the 5 & 1 foods. They do have limits though. The materials will spell everything out for you, but we all still have questions, so feel free to ask away!!!

Good luck!

[Pashta]

If you go right to the medifast website, then tools & community, then on the left Medifast Downloads you can read the actual quick start guide you will be getting with your order to get yourself prepared. They also have recipes and the allowed veggies and other stuff in there too!

[ascicles]

A lot of times, I only take two hours between meals. It isn't really because I am hungry, but rather, it's hard to fit a meal in every three hours. It's best to not go under two hours or over three, but I've been known to do it if absolutely neccessary.

You shouldn't skip a meal. Ever.

If you are like me, you will find the Quick Start Guide to be a little incomplete in areas (I'm a perfectionist when it comes to stuff like this). This website is a great tool for finding out the answers to those kinds of questions. I know I've asked a ton in the short month I've been here.

You should limit yourself to two "freebies" per day, be it a pickle, bouillon cube, crackers, etc.

[DogMa]

What everyone else said.

Plus do you have a Health Advisor? If not, e-mail or PM Nancy and ask for one. They are free to clients and are a GREAT resource. They answer questions, help with orders, cheer you on, and even give you a swift kick in the rear if that's what you need.

[momof2]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses!!

just_julie, I'm just so anxious to get my order and started getting my grocery list together. PS, I love pickles so I'm glad to see them on the freebies list. Not that I would do that now, but when I was pregnant with my daughter, I went through a jar every other day hehehe.

Pashta, thanks, I've been going through all the posts on this site that I didn't bother to think about the medifast site. I'm going there next.

ascicles, I have a bad habit of snacking when I'm bored so I bet the 2-3 hour intervals will help me control that. I'm definitely a perfectionist too so you guys will be hearing a lot from me too.

DogMa, no I don't but will definitely ask for one. I talked to Martin (is he one?) while I was looking through all the products and he was so helpful.

[Arklahoma]

momof2 ... read the quick start guide thoroughly b/c I think we're only allowed one snack or "freebie" per day. Best of luck to you!

[DogMa]

Yes and no, I believe. You're allowed two cups of bouillon a day. But one serving of pickles (two pickles in a serving).

[Arklahoma]

Hey DogMa! Now you've got me wondering, for sure. I'm gonna go look it up and post back in a few minutes ... BRB!

[Arklahoma]

Okay, I'm back!

Page 8 of the Quick Start Guide says:

"While on the 5 & 1 Plan, you may add one Medifast snack a day in addition to your regular meals. These snacks include our Fast Soups and Crackers."

This comment was what I received from the MF nutritionist when I emailed about snacks:

"You can have one snack a day. The snacks are as follows, 2 dill pickels, 3 celery stalks, 1 cup of bouillon, 1 cup of sugar free jello, 1 sugar free popsicle, 1 Medifast fast soup or 1 pkg of the Medifast crackers."

[MISSANNE]

Hey, thanks for looking that info up. I didn't even know I did it wrong today. I had 2 dill pickles and a 1/2 bag of MF snack crackers.

[DogMa]

From the Quick Start booklet:

You may have up to three stalks of celery or two dill pickles per day. Sugar-free gum or mints are acceptable, but limit these to five per day. Bouillon or sugar-free Jello are also acceptable snacks. In addition, you may have one Medifast snack per day. [Emphasis is mine.]

It doesn't give an amount for bouillon or Jell-O, but elsewhere here (and some folks who've called the company to ask) we've been told two cups of bouillon, 1 cup of Jell-O. We also were told we could have two tablespoons of sugar-free, fat-free pudding mix. Since bouillon has fewer calories and carbs than that, I don't see why an extra cup wouldn't be OK as long as you're not concerned about sodium.

I think the main problem is Medifast itself isn't consistent about this stuff.

[Arklahoma]

Maybe Nancy will chime in and clarify. My info was taken from the official MF website, but I agree about informaiton not being consistent.

[DogMa]

Oh, sorry, mine was, too. The Quick Start Guide on the Web site.

I think we can drive ourselves crazy trying to figure this out sometimes. The company doesn't seem very consistent about stuff like this. I pretty much just go by my results. If I add a snack and it affects my weight loss, I cut it out.

I've actually never had the bouillon or the Fast Soups, and I've had pickles maybe five or six times in 10 months. I do have crackers nearly every day, though.

[Unca_Tim]

Momo,

I talked to Martin (is he one?) while I was looking through all the products and he was so helpful.

Martin's a great health advisor...