The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Simmshe]

I'm finally back--sorry I dropped off the face of the earth guys! The past week and a half, really, this whole month, has been tumultuous to say the least. I decided to start a new post here since the other one was getting kind of long .

Well, things are getting much better now. As I mentioned before, I moved weekend before last, and it was GRUELING. I was already feeling under the weather, hormonal, and depressed, and had zero energy for packing, let alone for moving. I was so wiped out that I didn't begin packing until the day before my move. Anyways, long story short--I suffered from severe sleep deprivation for several days; endured lots of physical labor (cleaning old place and new, running around getting a moving truck and rental car), carrying bags and boxes, etc., up and down several flights of stairs (I moved to a third floor apartment, and moving my things in from the basement added two more flights of stairs to climb); caught a terrible cold (my immune system was wide open from being emotionally and physically taxed already), which spells Asthma attack for me, too. I tend to have Asthma problems when I move anyway--dust from cleaning and things irritate my lungs. So, pretty much all of last week I was virtually incapacitated; and started a new work assignment/project last Thursday. Can anyone say "been through the ringer"??

I'm still without DSL at home, and I just hooked up my computer early Sunday morning (needless to say, with all the I went through last week, I've probably only unpacked about 60% of my things). Things should be much more settled in by this weekend, and I will be a much happier, more relaxed camper, and will have more time for posting on the forum. I'm not 100% yet, but I'm about 90%, so I'll take it!

Now, as for Medifast. I re-started on this past Friday, so I'm on Day 4. With not feeling well and all of the physical activity of the past week, needless to say, Medifasting wasn't feasible for me. Cold beverages are not a wheezing Asthmatics friend either--it's too constricting on already tight lungs. But I'm re-committed--really re-committed again . I'm going to write about my plans/goals later. My weight had gotten as high as 292lbs a couple of weeks ago, but was at 285lbs when I restarted on Friday. I'm a couple pounds away from my pre-Bermuda weight as of today (276lbs), and 3lbs away from the 60lb club, so I'm glad about this. Just ready to keep on going and break some new barriers (260lbs will be a 15-year low for me, so I'm looking forward to this being my next goal). I'm going to have to make some adjustments to my full fast because of my increased activity level. I moved to a vibrant downtown area with everything in walking distance (10-15 minute walk), so including the three flights of stairs to my apartment, a few flights at the subway (including walking 10-15 minutes to and from the subway station), walking a few blocks here and there to stores/shopping, movies, etc., my everyday activity level has already increased 5-fold; additionally, I joined a gym already (haven't started going yet though), and will start exercising regularly in a couple of weeks (want to get readjusted to being on the full fast before I start formal exercise again).

Anyways, 5-6 shakes a day is not going to cut it anymore. I'm still committed to the supplements-only plan (of course, in addition to small amounts of brocoli, etc. added to soups). But the 5 and 1 plan is still not an option that I want to pursue. So, I'm looking at 6-8 supplements a day,(and I've been on the 70 shakes since late July, so I won't need to upgrade to these), depending on my activity level for the day (more likely will only be 8 supplements on days when I do cardio at the gym). I'm going most likely going to three shakes, 1 or 2 hot cocoa (it's getting cold so I'm going to take in warmer supplements now), 1 or 2 soups, and 1 bar (a few times a week). I'll probably start following Nancy's suggestion of having a small salad, on some days. Does that sound like a good plan? I'm very mindful of not only caloric level, but moreso protein levels--so this is really why I'm upping my supplements--I don't want my body to start metabolizing muscle. When I started adding up how much following MF will cost me now, some part of me was like "are you crazy, you might as well eat regular food--money is tight right now Sheryl!" Of course, that voice was quickly silenced. If eating regular food was working for me in the first place, I wouldn't have even started MF! I still have an agenda--to lose weight, lose it relatively quickly, improve my health, get good nutrition, and work on behavioral eating habits/food compulsion while I'm on MF. I'll be spending more money, but honestly, I had to ask myself what I could think of that was more worth the expense. If this isn't a most worthy expense and sacrifice for me, I don't know what is!

Okay, whew, that was a lot I wrote! Thanks for reading and supporting, as always. It's good to be back and I can't wait to jump back into the action here--I'm so behind!! Glad to see everyone doing so well!! DC, Camille, Sylvia--you all are so close--Carrie and Nelly about to waltz into the 100s, Gerald about to kick down the door to the 300s--this is wonderful--I'm getting goose bumps for you all ! I'll be catching up with the board more this week--many thanks guys .

Sheryl

[Carrie]

Good to have you back sweetie.

Can't wait to catch up.

[hawaiiwhatnot]

Talk about the need to recharge your battery! Sheryl! Please take it easy for a few days! Slow and steady wins the race. Your new place sounds like a terrific environment for you! You're really making some positive changes in your life. We just have to make sure you don't wear yourself out! You'll be at 260 before you know it. Take special care of yourself now hear?

Here's to making positive changes!
Camille

[DutchChoc]

Yup, Sheryl, it sounds like everythings falling neatly into place in your life and you sound "good", collected, focused, etc. You've been through a lot of paces, but guess what? It seems like now you can relax and do the things that are enjoyable -- MF, too, of course.

I know exactly what you meant when you said that 8 sounds like a lot of supplements and that if eating regular food worked, you wouldn't be needing to do this, etc. I'm consuming about that many myself, all shakes though. I'm working out heavily and it's the only way I can stay on -- they're the 55s, though. I'm still plenty hungry and I don't feel like I'm overindulging. Well, OK, I am not dropping pounds like crazy, but I think I still would be if I were not so close to an appropriate weight. Well HECK, I am an appropriate weight, anyway, so therefore I'm just doing what I can to do the finetuning before I hit the transition threshold. I'm not expecting to keep losing once I stop the shakes, so I want to stretch the tolerance/"what's-worked-for-me" out as long as possible.

Take care!

[Nancy]

Simmshe ~

Sheesh! You need a vacation, Girl!

Yes, I agree with upping the number of meal replacements, particularly if you add that much exercise. Personally, I would like to see you save the $ you invested in the gym until you get to about 175-180 pounds. The walking and stair climbing to your apartment is good exercise for you. Many trainers don't get it and push their clients to levels that are unnecessary and sometimes harmful. Medifast is a very low calorie meal plan - it is safe, it is proven to work effectively but why put stress on your joints right now? Be sure to do low impact. Increase your water as needed, too.

[side note: I just about lost it when I watched the The Biggest Loser on television last week.

The female trainer from ‘h’-‘e’-double toothpicks pushed the dieters to manic levels and intensity…what’s with that anyway, huh? Some of the participants haven’t exercised for years. That really bugged the puckies outta me! Guess there has to always be some evil twist, eh?]

Sheryl, we can tell that your resolve is solid and you are ready to go for your goal now.

We have missed you!

[Unca_Tim]

Dutch,
You may want to look into the women's Pro Drink when you get to, or close to goal. I wish i was a little more savvy about it, but I hear it's top-of-the-line, as far as professional supplements for athletes are concerned.
Unca

[Nancy]

I was thinking of suggesting it to you, too.

You are spending a lot of calories right now and your intake is minimal. I'd suggest that you use it now or the Take Shape shakes...

[DutchChoc]

Thanks, Unca & Nancy. Some of the "costs more", but if I didn't feel hungry enough to drink extra like I do now, maybe there's be savings of sorts. I've so been hoping to see a payoff at the scales, too, but so far the only thing that's happening is that I'm getting visibly leaner -- one might say gaunt -- in some places above the waist and not enough gaunt in the area where those jiggle-belt machines work the flab, lol. Haven't seen them for years. That's what I need!!

[Simmshe]

Thanks guys! Feels like it took forever for me to get back on the forum--work was nonstop yesterday and today (and I'm on my lunch break now), and when I get home in the evening (tired, needless to say), I'm still struggling with the mess of my new apartment (but by this weekend, I should be in pretty good shape with this).

The cold/Asthma problems are gone now--feeling about 99% now! Oh, I finally made it to the 60lb club today! I took the long route this month, but that's okay--I'm here now! I'm down 13lbs so far since restarting MF last Friday--it would be sweet to have a 16lb loss like I did when I first started, but I'm not holding my breath (okay, I am a little). Just to be in the 260s will be great!

As for my supplements, I'm doing six now and will tweak them if I find it to be necessary, but so far so good. Nancy, as for nixing the gym, this isn't an option for me (for one, I like to prepay my memberships annually for the savings, so it's already done ), and secondly, I need moderate exercise for my mental health, especially during these dreary fall/winter months (where depression can intensify). But, for now (in a couple of weeks), I'm really going to begin refocusing on strength training (2 times/week), not so much cardio (but I will do moderate cardio (bike/elliptical/treadmill--only 20-25 minutes, three times a week for now--I need the sustained cardio workouts for stress relief and the cardio benefits--moderate (and especially intense, which I will be nixing for the next few months) exercise does wonders for my Asthma and mental health). I used to be a 2-2 1/2 hour/5 day a week gym rat (and this was at 300lbs), so this schedule will be parred down considerably--and necessarily! So, it's not hard on my joints, I've build up quite a bit of muscle over the past few years. I started working out in 1998 at 385lbs (walking like a snail on the treadmill and doing strength training) and built my way up to intense, regular workouts (kickboxing, boxing, elliptical, etc.).

Anyways, I'm not going to overdo it--I'll save the intense, long workouts for 180lbs . And wow, I caught the Biggest Loser last night and have to say that I'm appalled by the amount and types of exercise that they have the contestants doing. A beginner, especially a very overweight beginner shouldn't be pushing themselves so hard!! Oh my God !

Okay, gotta run--work beckons! I'll be back later to post some more on the forum, sorry to be so self-absorbed!

Sheryl

P.S. Go DC!! So proud of you for meeting your committment of 100 days of shakes only ! Hoping you'll lose that measly pound this week! I bet if you up your nutritional intake a bit more and use the shakes Unca and Nancy recommended, you'll drop it like a hot potato!

[Nancy]

Darlin’ ~

Congrats for entering the 60 Pound Club.

Yippy tigh yi oh!

Thanks for updating us on your gym schedule. You have it all under control. It worries me sometimes when people over-do on a low calories diet. Many start out with great intentions and they begin by seeing a trainer without explaining the weight loss program. I find it fascinating to know that you have exercised for such a long time. Typically overweight people do not do much exercise.

Exercise is necessary for all people; there are great benefits for folks with arthritis and asthma. (got it, too and do fairly well most days – cigarette smoke makes my nose and eyes run, my chest feels tight and sometimes seizes up. I do all I can to avoid it.)

I am glad that you also had the same reaction as I did to The Big Loser. I want to sneak them all some Medifast! Except for that one wicked (IMHO) guy, Ryan.

You are very active, Sheryl. I would definitely consider the MF 70’s – you need the extra protein. Like you, I LOVE the Hot Cocoa and after a brisk walk in the cool air, it is yummy!

Keep shakin’ – you are on your way now!

[hawaiiwhatnot]

Sheryl,

As a fellow member, let me be the first to welcome you into the Sassy Sexy 60 Club!


Congratulations!!!

Camille

[fedup]

Sheryl..... 60#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are an inspiration!! Or should I say "THINspiration!!!)

[Simmshe]

Thank you all ! I've broken free for a moment from work--I sure could use a little down time !

Be back later! Was going to come back online last night when I got home from work, but passed out (talk about exhausted) and then woke up later and cleaned/organized until 3:30 a.m. (place still looks a mess--it's an old apartment and I'm a cleaning fanatic, so I find dirt in places that most people overlook).

Will be back this evening, for sure ! Hope everyone is having a good day--ciao!

Sheryl

[Simmshe]

So much for getting back here last night--passing out in the bed was about all I could manage! At least, I'm well rested now .
Nancy, I agree with you 100% about personal trainers. I've been a member of several gyms and in my opinion, most of the trainers there are ill-suited to be trainers for overweight people (and some even for regular sized people--talk about cracker jack personal training certification!). One of the first (and only) trainers that I ever worked out with back in 1998 was the manager of a women's gym (at nearly 400lbs, and being 25 years old, I was WAY too self-conscious to go to a co-ed gym). Anyways, I'm one of those people, like our beloved train conductor, Nelly, who fell in love with exercising. It was even suggested that I study to become a certified personal trainer by a couple of trainers at the gym (because my form was/is so good with strength training and I loved working out so much). I've considered this and have looked into the best certification. I may pursue this in the future because, obviously, there is a big lack of personal trainers who know how to work with overweight-to-obese persons.

Okay, I went off a bit! But yes Nancy, I'm using the 70s, as I have since late July. I just ordered the hot cocoa for the first time, which I'm sure I will love! I'm only using the dutch chocolate flavor for my shakes now, so my taste buds will most likely agree to the hot cocoa .

Sheryl

P.S. How can a person who has exercised for such a long time still be obese?? It's called depression and binge eating. Within a year of beginning to work out and eat sensibly (actually, about 2000 calories a day to sustain my workouts), I lost one hundred pounds. But between 2000-2003, I was on a roller coaster--gained 60lbs, loss 70lbs, gained 50lbs, loss 80lbs, etc. I worked out consistently, still, but binge eating, and often prolonged binge eating periods, often canceled out any weight loss, would cause weight gain, or would allow me to maintain. I used to joke that I was the fittest 290lb girl around--my resting pulse rate got to a low of 58--down from 72 ; I think its around 63 now. For any of you fitness buffs, you know this is quite an accomplishment. Runners and other athletes have resting pulse rates this low, some even as low as the 30s-40s! But for a near 300-pounder to have a resting pulse rate in the 50s seems implausible.

Anyways, this is why Medifast is so important for me, as it helps me to better focus on breaking my binge/compulsive eating problem. Very thankfully, I have the exercise habit down (more like obsession, which I've broken from while Medifasting ). It's the eating and behavioral/mental/emotional part that has been my achilles heel and that I'm primarily focusing on now.

[Sylvia]

Sheryl,

I'm just happy to have you back and sounding so good!

Take Care,

Sylvia