The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[deszignerchick]

I am on my second week. I lost 10lbs the first week. I'm having cravings galore and I feel discouraged. I started at 258. Now I'm 248, the reality of having to lose 118lbs really hit me this afternoon. How do I keep going? Any suggestions?

[Mom23]

Welcome Deszignerchick. You have had a great loss for one week and with Medifast you will continue to keep on losing! I dealt with cravings my first week on the plan -- cashews of all things! I just have to do a lot of talking to myself and I always keep Nancy's mantra in mind "NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels".

Why don't you try setting mini-goals for yourself so that your overall goal doesn't seem so insurmountable? For instance, I have set some mini-goals -- I want to have 30 pounds gone by mid-May for my stepson's wedding date. I want to have 50 pounds gone by the time we have to visit some family friends of mine in July. Sometimes when we look at the big picture we get overwhelmed and quit. Little goals seem to give us a reason to keep on going! Try to stay away from the kitchen and places and people that could sabatoge the plan. Always be prepared with a snack or MF meal. Think ahead. Drink lots of water, and keep on telling yourself that you deserve to be thin!

This is a great place to come for support and encouragement. I come here often because it helps keep me accountable and helps give me the strength to stay compliant. I don't think losing weight is ever an easy thing for anybody (or we'd all be thin!), but with MF and these wonderful people I'm confident that we all can be successful!

I'm looking forward to seeing your posts and seeing your weight loss successes!

[MusicalMomma]

Hi deszignerchick. I relate to your post. It can be very overwhelming when we look at the total amount to lose. It's so easy to get into old thinking and behavioral patterns. You had a WONDERFUL first week loss! Don't let the "distance to the finish line" steal the joy of that first hurdle! This is a prosses. We are all relearning to have a right relationship with food. I have to constantly remind myself that this is an addiction that I am breaking and weightloss is a bonus! So, you're in the second stage of "rehab" now...the honeymoon phase is over and those temptation are trying to call you back. DON'T LISTEN. You can do this! Like Mom23 said, set some small goals. For me, it's ten pounds at a time. That is managable for me. My initial 127 pounds to lose was TOO much for me to handle.

Also, take a second to register to this site. There are things you can not see on here when you sign on as a guest. Many of us have little tickers at the bottom of each post showing our progress. THAT is very very encouraging!

Keep Shakin!

[Shana]

DezignerChick,
Congratulations on your 10lb loss!!! I know cravings can be awful, powerful things, but one way to control them (at least for me) is to write down whatever it is you're craving - I keep a list - and then go to a site with nutritional values like fitday.com, and look up the fat & calorie content of each of those items you're craving.
For example, I had a wild craving for Mac & Cheese yesterday, but I wrote it down, then looked it up, and for one little cup of cheesy goodness there are 476 calories, 22g of fat, 49 carbs and only 18g of protein!!!!

This is day 5 on the plan for me, my list has 4 things on it, and I'll keep adding to my list and looking up nutritional values. Things that keep popping up will be items I might have in moderation when I'm out of Transition. But until then, seeing those nutitional values (and imagining myself with a stunning figure! lol) is enough to keep me on the straight & narrow!
I hope that helps,
Shana

[Tiolazz]

Shana,

What a great <img alt="Myspace" border="0" src="http://content21.bigoo.ws/content/gif/objects/objects_255.gif">

I am going to use that one.... You are so smart girl, that should shock my senses a bit when I am craving something really fatty....

[MusicalMomma]

WOW Shana!! That IS a WONDERFUL idea!!! Thank you for sharing it...I'm going to do that too!!!

[ascicles]

I second the suggestion to set mini-goals. I have over 170 pounds to lose, but I am two pounds away from my first goal. It's much nicer to have goals that you are able to hit in relatively short periods of time.

[Arklahoma]

I love Shana's idea about looking up food composition data. My mother and my sister both passed away from complications of Diabetes and End Stage Renal Disease. They both had to be on the renal diet for almost five years. I don't know if any of you are aware, but the renal diet is the most difficult diet to have to adhere to, at least from a medical standpoint. The limitations are so strict that the list of "haves" is about one page and the list of "have not's" is about a full textbook (In fact, it makes this diet look like a cakewalk). I spent years consulting with RD's (registered dieticians) and MD's fine-tuning their diets to the tee and they did very well until their disease overtook them. In fact, many of these healthcare professionals were so impressed with my knowledge that they recommended that I become a dietician and work with renal patients. This experience, my nursing education, and my current nursing experience (taking care of post-open heart surgery patients that have had heart attacks and bypass procedures) has led me to where I am today and I feel very strongly about people knowing what's in the food they eat. If you choose to eat it then that's your business but at least be informed about what's going into your body.

Shana ... You Rock!!!

deszignerchick ... I agree with what everyone else has said. Try to break up your goal into smaller chunks and focus on the positive experience that you've already had. Obviously, I want to be thin and attractive but my main impetus for this weight loss journey is to be healthy and not follow in the footsteps of my family (my father died from a massive heart attack that took his life in about five seconds, right in front of my sick mother). Every single day, I focus on being the healthiest that I can be and if weight loss occurs then so be it. You can do this and we're right here with you. Post to the boards often for moral support b/c we really want to help you.

[LovenElvis]

A great site to check out nutrition is calorie-count
I use it all the time.

Laura

[ChattieCathy57]

Just to let you know, I am on day 16 (have lost 13 lbs) and am STILL craving EVERYTHING! the only "cheat" I've done is that I had 4oz chicken with 1.5cups green beans for dinner at 5pm ... and then had the other 3 oz chicken just a few minutes ago (about 9:30pm). I figured it was better than eating the chocolate bunny waiting in the box in my closet for my son on Easter; also better then heating up a frozen pizza.

I just love the idea of tracking all cravings and then looking to see what they are REALLY worth!

I am also a food addict and will always crave. I just hope that one day I will be able to "just have one" - whether it be a piece of chocolate or a slice of pizza ... one was just never enough for me.

God! I feel so stuffed from eating that chicken so late! Bet it sits like a bomb in my stomach all night!

Think I'm still in the funk over my job loss and my husband being away until Saturday. Oh well, tomorrow is a NEW DAY!

Keep on shakin!!
Cathy

[Shana]

I'm glad you like the suggestion! I got the idea a few months ago when I ordered a Double Cheeseburger from McDonalds, got it home, took a bite & then noticed the nutritional value listed on the wrapper... *whimper* It didn't taste nearly as good once I knew just how bad it was!!!

However, I am keeping my list, adding to it & adding slash marks next to items already on the list when the craving is repeated - this way if I decide to have a planned "cheat day" or once I hit goal, I can have small amounts of the items I really want in a controlled, planned manner rather than my previous habit of out of control binging. Like ChattieCathy I have a hard time with "just one" so I won't MAKE mac & cheese, and I'll buy a half scoop of mac & cheese from the deli instead of a pound.

To paraphrase Arklahoma, if I know what I'm consuming & it's still worth it (Once I reach goal), then so be it - I'll have whatever it is - in moderation. But for now, knowing that 1cup of mac & cheese is approximately the caloric equivalant of FIVE (5) Medifast shakes, it really isn't worth it - as Nancy and many other have said, Nothing Tastes as Good as Thin FEELS - and I don't intend to have to take their word for it for a day longer than I have to

[Arklahoma]

Lovin' your + mental attitude!