The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[sarah]

Ok, As some of you know I am gonna be starting on July 11th. I have been coming on here reading this forum multiple times a day. I am so anxious and excited to start.

I am already doubting myself . Its like I have this voice in my head telling me it will be like all the other diets - I will do good for 1-2 weeks and cave in . I am trying to be strong- and I havent even started yet.

I read so much about plateus (sp?). So many people loose great the 1st week (i know its mostly water)- then it starts to not go as fast. After reading all about the plateus- I am going to expect this to as well happen to me sometime-maybe more than once.

Anyways-

If you dont mind me asking you....

How long have you been on Medifast?
Have you cheated?- do you restart the next day?
How much are you trying to lose?-Goal weight?
How how your rate of weight loss been?
What is your true motivation-what makes you not give up or "get back up and start again?

thanks for your time


sarah

[24KaratGold]

How long have you been on Medifast?

I started on Jan. 3, so more or less six and a half months. I took a week's break in mid-April when I went to Hawaii, and I've been taking another break this last week.

Have you cheated?- do you restart the next day?

If you call Hawaii a "cheat," yes, I did restart as soon as I got back. As far as day to day is concerned, there have been times when I have eaten things that are not on the plan, yes, although I've tried to keep those to a minimum. Plus, when I do "cheat," I have made it things that are protein rather than carbs, so that I don't kick my body out of ketosis. That way I only have to live with getting rid of the extra calories, not with getting sent all the way back to ground zero and working toward getting back into ketosis. The Success In A Shaker Jar book encourages people not to cheat, but suggests protein choices (hard boiled eggs are one of my favorites) if you are going to cheat, just for that reason. I've never cheated with carb-y things.

How much are you trying to lose?-Goal weight?

I'mtrying to lose about 105 pounds. I started at 269.5, and want to weigh 165.

How how your rate of weight loss been?

I've lost 74 pounds in six months. I'm thrilled. Now, some of those weeks were big losses, and there were weeks (not many, but some) where my loss was negligable.

What is your true motivation-what makes you not give up or "get back up and start again?

I've discovered that my biggest motivation is feeling good and being healthy. Looking better is a great side benefit, no doubt, but I'm pleased to have lightened the load on my heart and to be able to move so much more easily. I'm enjoying physical movement a lot more at 195 than I did at 269.5!

It takes a while to learn to trust this program. For me, the first ten pounds wasn't enough, 'cause I can gain or lose ten pounds with almost no effort. By twenty pounds my attention was caught, and by thirty I was a true believer. I'm under 200 pounds for the first time since high school (and I have college age kids now), and I'm loving it. This IS fun!

[Emma]

Hi Sarah:

How long have you been on Medifast?
I've been on MF for 7.5 weeks (started May 18)

Have you cheated?- do you restart the next day?
No, I have not cheated - haven't wanted too. Although, I'm going to a convention in August for 3 days where it will be difficult to stay compliant, so I'm "planning" my cheat then and will eat sensibly.


How much are you trying to lose?-Goal weight?
I started at 258, goal is 170, so I'm trying to lose 88lbs. As of today, I've lost 29.4lbs.

How how your rate of weight loss been?
First week was 9lbs, after that it's been 2-4lbs. (mostly 2) a week. I haven't hit a plateau yet thankfully.

What is your true motivation-what makes you not give up or "get back up and start again?
With the last several diets (you name it, I've done it!) - I usually give up after 2 weeks. I'm starving and just can't resist temptation. With MF, I'm not having cravings, it's so wierd. I have 3 kids, so we always go out, they eat junk food/snacks all the time, I cook them dinner everynight. Oh, it smells good, but I'm able to resist - amazing! And I feel GOOD on this program - I'm not starving and I have energy. No sugar highs and lows throughout the day.

Another BIG part of my success is the community on this forum. Everyone here is where I am or has been and it's so great to come here anytime I want for support. I don't feel alone.


Good luck Sarah - you'll do great.
emma

[martha]

Hi Sarah--

How long have you been on Medifast?
I've been on MF for about 11 weeks(started 4/18/2005)

Have you cheated?
I haven't yet. even on 10 days vacation I stayed compliant as much as I could.. I didn't weigh or measure my food on lean and green though as we ate out evey meal.

How much are you trying to lose? Goal weight?
I started at 267.5, goal is 130, so I'm trying to lose 137.5lbs. As of today I've lost 54.5lbs.

How has your rate of weight loss been?
First week was 12.5lbs,after that it's been 3-5lbs(mostly3.5-4)a week. I haven't hit a plateau yet either thankfully.

What is my true motivation-what makes you not give up?
I truely am tired of being overweight.. I take care of my mom(24 hours a day) I am only 20 years younger than her..I have a daughter who is 20 years younger than me.. If I don't get control of my eating now I am afraid she will be in my shoes having to bathe, lift,and medicate me daily till I die. Nothing motivates me more than knowing I do Not want to tie her life up like mine is at this time..It's very hard emotionally and I don't want her to have to experience any of this as both of my kids and grankids have to do now without me being an active part of their lives for the last 13 years.

I also must toot everyone's horn on this forum. They are all great and very caring people.. When I get down(alot lately) I just come to this forum and read what everyone says to me as well as everyone else.. it really has been a blessing to me as I can not just leave the house for anytime at all without backup(which ties up my daughter)So THANKS TO YOU ALL I couldn't do it with out you all..

Sarah - you can do this and if you fall just get back up and start again.. I fight the desire to break it everyday(nighttime) and try to come here for support. If I can do this anyone can.. I can't wait to read your SUCCESS story on our forum--good luck--Martha

[Jan]

Hi Sarah,
I've been on program since February or so and have lost 40 pounds. I know this is a lifestyle change for me so I don't even worry about how fast the pounds come off. They did, and they will continue to. Watching the scale doesn't make them come off any faster. This is not really a "diet" it is a lifesyle change. If you view it as a "diet " you give yourself permission to "cheat" and you only cheat yourself. I will eat this way forever -- why should I change?? I'm moving toward a really healthy weight, (20 pounds or so more to go) my blood pressure is great, I feel good and I really like what I'm eating -- no more guilt. When I get to transition I'll add a few more foods back in (we can) and splurge once in awhile --I can wait til then. But no more binges or continual unhealthy eating for me. It feels too good to be in control.

[DogMa]

OK, I wanna play, too!

How long have you been on Medifast?
Exactly four weeks today.

Have you cheated?- do you restart the next day?
Not so far - haven't wanted to (unless you count an extra pack of Med-crackers, which I've done twice). I'm planning one cheat in early September - for my birthday. A slice of pizza and salad with some CHEESE on it. I'll restart that same evening, by having a shake before bed.

How much are you trying to lose?-Goal weight?
My total's down in my weight tracker - 72 total, I think, to 125.

How how your rate of weight loss been?
Slower than average, but faster than any other plan I've tried lately. I lost 6 pounds the first week, and it's been a steady 2 pounds every week since.

What is your true motivation-what makes you not give up or "get back up and start again?
Honestly, it's that the scale keeps changing. I expect to go through some plateaus at some point, but it's much easier to continue when they don't come till later in the program. I also try to order products ahead of time - so if I DO get discouraged, I'll think "I might as well finish the products I have." And by then, I hope, I'll have lost more weight and I'll decide to keep going.

Plus I save my favorite products (chili with crackers, I'm looking at you!) for those times. And the lean and green keeps me happy.

[want2Bthin]

How long have you been on Medifast?
I have been on Medifast for 4 months as of tomorrow.

Have you cheated?- do you restart the next day?
I cheated one time & ate a pack of whole wheat crackers. I came here to confess & to get encouragement. I have not cheated again b/c I felt so horrible when I did.

How much are you trying to lose?-Goal weight?
I started with 151 pounds to lose. I have lost 49 so far (as of last Sunday). My goal weight is 145 pounds.

How how your rate of weight loss been?
I average about 3.5 pounds per week.

What is your true motivation-what makes you not give up or "get back up and start again?
My motivation is living!! I want to be around to see my daughter grow up. I also love the way I feel & don't want to give that up.

Angelia

[MomsTherapy]

How long have you been on Medifast?
One Week (in second)

Have you cheated?- do you restart the next day?
Planned "cheat" at the end of my week. Applebees and I ate what I wanted - I didn't feel quilty, but I did feel yucky. My tummy was not happy with me. It was one meal, and the next meal was back to MF. No biggie. I don't like to call it cheating, I know I need to lose some, so I am doing MF. I know I will get there and it is not a race. But that is just me and some people have or need to do it all the way. I need to feel like I control the diet and the diet doesn't control me.

How much are you trying to lose?-Goal weight?
I started with 163.5 and want to be about 130-135, so... about 35 lbs.

How how your rate of weight loss been?
don't have more than first week at 7.5lbs and I stayed with the plan completely during first week.

What is your true motivation-what makes you not give up or "get back up and start again?
Health for my kids, looking good for myself, not having to think about my rolls!!!

[mytime]

Ok not must history but wanted to answer,

1. I started my third week today.
2. I have never cheated.
3. I am not sure - I started at 247 and think about 150 would look good but have always wanted to weigh b/w 125 and 135 - so for now I am using 135 - but I plan to rethink this as I get closer and just kind of see how I look and what size I am wearing. At 200lbs I was a 14 /16 so I would like to be an 8 or a 10.
4. I lost 3 pounds this week and expect (hope for ) 2- 3 a week.
5. I am tired of being overweight and I think what that means to me has changed. I think I used to believe that I was a rebel b/c I did what I wanted - ie ate what I wanted. Now I have two small kids and I am not going to embarrass them or me by looking like this one more day than I have to.

Best of luck to you and thanks for the post - Mytime