Getting enough calories...(Diabetics)

[momof9403]

I was just looking over my first shipment of products and I don't know how I will get the recommended at least 800 calories per day. 5 shakes=450 and 4 shakes and 1 bar=490.
Does anyone know how much one standard size boneless, skinless chicken breast and 1 1/2 cup of cooked green beans is worth??
That was going to be my lean and green meal for tonight.

TIA
Jennifer

[bikipatra]

a 6 ounce chicken breastuses has about 280 calories in it. A cup and a half of green beans has about 65 calories. So that is a 345 calorie meal with no condiments. A chicken breast is about the lowest calorie "lean" item you can eat. SUbstitute beef and you are adding about 200 calories or so depending on the fat content. If in doubt on calories use Google or similar search engine.

[LilMsTexas]

This really got me to thinking and now I'm wondering myself. Even if a person did the full fast and drank 6 shakes a day it would only be 540 calories a day!

Right now I have usually 3 shakes=270 calories, oatmeal=110, bar=160 for a grand total of 540 calories. Now add in the cheese I admit I have every single day=90 calories <1gram of carb and 0 sugars. That ramps me up to 630 calories a day if I don't eat a lean and green. Add in one more shake just in case I go all the way to 6 in the day that makes it 720 calories a day even with a CHEESE added in!

I don't see how anyone is making it to 800 calories a day. Frankly this scares me to death because when I get to maintenance there will be so many more calories in a "regular" meal on average. And more importantly am I getting enough calories to even lose weight now that I'm exercising at Curves 3-5 times per week??

I'm ashamed to say with all my reading and researching that I didn't pay more attention to individual calories per medi-meal. Who will help answer these questions? Step up to the "plate" friends.......inquiring minds NEED to know!
Christi

[bikipatra]

Christi why as a diabetic would you be doing the full fast? Only 5-1 is recommended for diabetics. With your cheese and a REQUIRED lean and green, you are eating 630 plus around 250-300 (what a lean and green has in it) is over 800 calories!

[LilMsTexas]

I don't do the full fast all the time............just every once in a while, for maybe a couple of days a week I skip the lean and green meal. And I've never really added up the calories in what I'm eating at night to be honest........when I DO eat my meal For example.......the meal that I seem to have grabbed onto is this:

4oz.hamburger patty
1 slice fat free cheese
3 slice hamburger dill pickles
mustard
few slices of tomato
2 cups romaine lettuce

This is my favorite "lean and green" and is the most satisfying to me. Sometimes I have fajita meat and green beans or zuccini squash or something but it is rare.

[want2Bthin]

Momof9403

I had the same question a while back. Nancy explained it. Hopefully she will again for you.

Just to clarify- the meat portion on the 5 and 1 recently changed. I copied this from the medifast site:

1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day
Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey or fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 – 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce.

If you use the right meat portion and veggie portion with your 5 supps. a day you should hit atleast 800 calories a day. I have been able to do that since I changed the portions.

Angelia

[bikipatra]

that sounds good! I usually eat chicken breast and salad, with radishes and cucumber. Sometimes I have turkey on the salad instead. I bought some ground turkey that is in the freezer. I guess I will make a pattie tomorrow or maybe some tiny little meatballs.

[raederle]

Hi all, Angelia reminded me of this thread-- check it out because it includes a great explanation by Nancy of the calorie intake requirements of the 2 MF plans...

http://www.makemethinner.com/forum/diet-2350.html

[LilMsTexas]

Do you know what my problem is?? Believe it or not I'm not a healthy eater Shocking I know! I actually gained all this weight because I'm a fast food junky and rarely if EVER eat a fruit or vegetable!! So eating a tomato and LETTUCE...well let me tell you...this is HUGE! I didn't even realize people actually BOUGHT frozen vegetables unless they were going to make a big ole stew So just adding vegetables and green leafy stuff to my plate has been monumental at least. I have my little "faux hamburger" because it is similar to what I enjoy and HOPEFULLY on my plan. I am PETRIFIED...and I mean TERRIFIED of getting off of Medifast and going back to "real" food. I'm serious...I read Jodie's posts and I'm thinking yogurt? soy what did you say?

I have found safety in my medimeals. I'm happy. I'm safe. I'm secure. My diabetes is in control now. What happens when I go back to eating again?

I do think I'm getting enough calories now that I have gone to the nutrition guide online and checked everything I eat out individually. 3 oz. of 75% lean hamburger is 211 calories and I'm eating 4 oz. Of course the hamburger that I'm eating is actually leaner than that, but still there is 14 grams of FAT in 3 oz of 75% lean hamburger!! The Kraft American fat free cheese slice has 31 calories, 2 carb, 5 gram protein. There are also calories and carbs and protein in the tomoto. Ya know what? Isn't tomato a fruit? Can I even HAVE tomato?? Good grief...this conversation has really got me all SPUN UP tonight Now I'm all freaked out that I THOUGHT I was doing everything really great and maybe I"m not

[bikipatra]

We can have tomato in small amounts from what I have read on here. I think a slice is ok. Or some chopped added to doctor up the chili! Christi you have a whole world of vegetables to experience-I am excited for you! When you start maintenance you will do fine! You are very good at following directions and are detail oriented! Besides that you are committed to a change. I have faith in you!

[armeewyf]

OK, I think I saw the word CHEESE...LilMSTexas, what kind are you eating?

[Nancy]

OK, Folks ~

Here we go again. It seems as if we have had this conversation very recently before in some other posts...

Gentle Readers, I tell ya, I talk to so many people and email privately with many people plus post here on the Forum, so forgive me if on occasion I get my wires twangled with different Forum people…

People with Diabetes may NOT be on the Complete Meal replacement program.

The Complete Meal Replacement program, sometimes referred to as the “Full Fast” is to be used only under the strict supervision of a qualified physician.
I am Health Advisor, a consultant if you will, but I do not prescribe medication, and do not provide therapy. I need therapy....

I have a driver’s license, a local ministerial license, a teacher’s license, a license to drive my husband cwazy but not a medical license…therefore I do not give medical advice.

With that info stapled right up front on my forehead here, I write to inform you all:

There are specific protocols for diabetics and we have marvelous products designed to meet their dietary needs. (Not all products are recommended for diabetics.)

Physician supervision is recommended for people with diabetes because there are times oral medication and insulin dosages may need to be adjusted before a person even starts the program.

The Doc or the diabetic specialist also determines what caloric intake is best for you.

The diabetic program consists of the 5 and 1 Program exclusively.

Let’s all repeat that now, “The diabetic program consists of the 5 and 1 Program exclusively.” ( Some of you didn’t participate in that recitation…. I see you and I know who you are…)

This is the 5 and 1 Program for People with Diabetes:
a.) Medifast Plus for Diabetics Supplements – 5-6 supplements per day – again depending upon the caloric parameters set by your personal physician or diabetic specialist
b.) Recommended Meal – Lean Meat and Vegetable or Green Salad
c.) 64 ounces of Water above and beyond the water or fluids used to prepare the shakes/soups/oatmeal. Yup, of course-a-mundo, you may use some non-caloric beverages - if permitted by your doc.

Blood sugar testing should be done several times a day – two – three times a day, especially in the beginning of your program.

It is important to check with your doctor before making any changes to your oral agents – sometimes your doctor may have you reduce or possibly eliminate your oral meds as your weight is reduced and your body becomes adjusted to the change in your meal plan.

Some docs make medication adjustment right when their patient begins the program – your doc knows best.

People on the Medifast Plus for Diabetics program are usually taking in fewer carbohydrates and less calories than they were eating in their regular food plan.

The goal of the TSFL program is to maintain as normal a level of blood glucose as possible, to avoid swoopy spikes and dippy dips - we don’t want any double dippers out there!
It is important for all people, diabetic or not, to maintain normal glucose levels by avoiding carbohydrates that excessively raise blood sugar and insulin levels – simply, we all benefit by avoiding refined starchy foods and choosing lower glycemic foods.

These yum-may Medifast foods are suggested and approved for use by people with diabetes. They are low glycemic and contain less than 5 grams of sugar per serving and 9 total carbohydrates per packet.

The heart of the plan is the Medifast Plus for Diabetics Shakes: Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry – sorry, no Nanner yet but you can make your own flavorites by adding Sugar Free syrups, diet pop or Crystal Light.

Medifast Diabetic Bars: 2 flaves only Peanut Butter Crunch or Chocolate Crunch

Meal Replacement Refreshing Drinks: Tropical Punch & Cranberry Mango (These are both whey-based)

Medifast Hearty Oatmeal: Apple Cinnamon, French Vanilla Berry (my fave) & Maple & Brown Sugar

Homestyle Chili

Chicken Noodle Soup

Cream of Chicken Soup

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Minestrone Soup

These Medifast Salad Dressings: Creamy Italian, Caesar, Ranch

Essential 1 Chicken Salad and Essential 1 Tuna Salad

There are specific meal plan options for people with diabetes using the Medifast products.

Again, in conjunction with your physician or diabetic specialist, you will be given a meal plan based on a certain number of calories per day.

Our TSFL Program book for diabetics has several menus with varying caloric ranges, up to 1200.

You need to follow the plan with the number of calories your physician recommends.

Personally, a green gown open in the back is not my best look and it may not be yours either…NO complete meal replacement programs for people with diabetes.

NO complete meal replacement program for ANYBODY unless they are under the close and strict supervision of a real live qualified doctor.

[bikipatra]

Thanks, mom!!! I just wanted to add that I thought I remembered you saying somewhere that diabetics can use that Fruit Punch too. I have not ordered any yet but I thought you said it was ok.

[Dean0408]

Nancy, you are right. This issue seems to come up often these days. Maybe you should make a sticky of the rules and refer to that sticky whenever the topic rears it's head in the future. It would save you a lot of typing.

Dean

[Unca_Tim]

Good idea Dean,
Anything we can do to reduce Nancy's workload is a good thing....