The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[mellowmom]

As many of you know, I've been sitting on a plateau this past week, so it was with a mixture of hope and fear that I got on the scale today. Cut to the chase...I was up a pound from last week.

I've read from other members on this board that when they've been stalled that going off plan for a meal kind of jump starts them back to losing weight. Honestly, I've done that before on other plans and it has worked for me. But, I'm scared to try it on Medifast.

Is it the fact that you throw yourself out of ketosis and then have to endure the 3 day "cleansing" period again that should keep me from going off program for a meal? If that's the only reason, then I shouldn't have a problem because the first 3 days really weren't that bad for me. Or should I just hang in there, because "cheating" even for only one meal is a slippery slope that I may not be able to recover from.

I'd love to hear from both sides of this issue. Not, that you all would make the decision for me.. (Majority rules...???) I just would like to hear the opinion from you all, especially those of you who've been on Medifast for several months.

Thanks again for all your help and support this past month.

Carmel

[falisamarie]

MM- I have not cheated since on program...however that being said it is only fair to mention that I have not plateued. You know you best and only you can make the choice that is right for you. Do I personally feel that is a slippery slope! Yes I do. You have to make your own choices because you are the one who knows you best.

Lisa

[DogMa]

I've done it and it's worked, but that doesn't mean I recommend it to anyone else. For most people, it CAN be a slippery slope and they can have a hard time getting back on program. I've never had that problem, and I've also never had any of the symptoms associated with going back into ketosis (although usually my jump-start cheats are designed to keep me IN ketosis).

If you've only been stuck for a week, I would say don't cheat. If you insist on doing it, I'd say have a little extra fat and protein as your cheat, NOT carbs. You'll stay in ketosis, you won't get hungry and it will be MUCH easier to get right back on program.

But again, after just one weeklong stall, I think you're jumping the gun. As for being up a pound, fluctuations happen. If you're like most of the people here, in a couple of days you'll have a big drop.

[Arklahoma]

Carmel ... Don't do it! If I cheated then I would have a very tough time getting back on program. I have had three slow loss weeks and was beginning to get a little discouraged. This week I tried a few things and I'm down three lbs since Monday. I cut out the bar since it has more carbs and calories than other MF stuff and I cut out the MF cracker snack. I have always had each of those every day since the beginning of the program with no problems but I just felt like I could lose a little faster. I had heard about other people trying this approach and I honestly didn't think it would make a difference but it did for me. You might want to try something like this before you eat off plan.

Just my

[lauradr]

mellowmom, don't cheat!! it's hard to get back going. I to cut out the bars and it helped.

[just_julie]

I'm one of the poeple that voted that cheating has worked for me. I don't go out looking for the worst food choice around. My cheat happened when going to a restaurant when I didn't know the menu in advance and therefore didn't have a compliant L & G in mind. At an Italian restaurant, I asked for the Marsala Chicken with extra veggies and the sauce on the side. Well, the sauce was all over it, and there weren't nearly enough veggies - even though I paid an extra $1.50 for what I got... I ate it. Didn't slurp up the sauce. Passed on the bread and salad. I actually saw a big weight loss in the following days.

I have been working on a list of restaurants where I can eat a decent L & G. If they aren't perfect, I don't stress over it. I look at my food choices as practice for maintenance.

I case you're curious, I've had: Boston Market 1/4 white chicken with 2 sides of beans (no cornbread); Chili's sirloin with steamed broccoli; and I have found great success at any steak place - although that's expensive. I have a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich without sauce, throw out the bread and eat the meat, tomato and onion on a side salad with low-fat dressing on reserve. You can customize stuff on their website, and I found that meal reasonable.

It's working for me. I don't think ANYthing I've done or think about doing would take me out of ketosis. I'm talking about SMART choices. Just giving you my experience since you asked for it.

[falisamarie]

Before cheating with off program foods there is always the option of adding an extra shake to up your calories. I would at least TRY that first before going off program to jump start it

Lisa

[dede4wd]

Okay,
I've been 100% compliant with MF THIS TIME I did it. Last time...not so much. I was in a plateau and decided to cheat. I had something terrible and was SOOOOO sick. I got better and decided that since I cheated, I better have some pizza, so I wouldn't cheat again. Same thing with ice cream, same thing with chili cheese fries. I told myself EVERY MONDAY that I would start again. Know how long it took me to start again? Almost a year. I'm totally kicking myself because I could've been at my GOAL by now! All this to "kick" me out of a plateau.

I plateaued a couple of weeks ago on this go-around. I cut out the bar...didn't help (I actually gained). I ALSO did what Lisa already suggested to you (thanks Jan for the advice)...I added an extra shake for a few days. 90 calories, good nutrition balance...and I was losing again in a few days.

Would I do it? No. Should you do it? That's your call. I can tell you my plateau lasted 13 days. I'm SO GLAD I didn't cheat. Some people have had success with a cheat to jump start their loss again, but not me. I don't TRUST myself. I added an extra shake and I got through it. You can too. We'll be here for you either way!

DeDe

[Unca_Tim]

The question is, was it the cheating that "seemed" to jumpstart things, or was it time to come off the plateau anyway?

[Mom23]

The question is, was it the cheating that "seemed" to jumpstart things, or was it time to come off the plateau anyway?

Good point. My losses have slowed down over the past two weeks, but I'm still plugging away. I don't want to cheat because I'm afraid if I do, well, that's what got me to this point in the first place.

I truly believe that we hit plateaus when we have shaken up our bodies -- they are saying "hey, what are you doing?". It may take a little while to come off of that plateau, but we have to be patient.

We also need to remember that it didn't take a week for us to gain all of the extra fat we're trying to lose! I'm sure we plateaued on our way up to our fat selves too, we just didn't get on the scale and notice it!

Carmel, you have lost 23 pounds in less than a month! Your body is in "shock". Give it time, let Medifast work, and I'm sure that weight will start dropping again!

[mellowmom]

Thank you all for your input so far. You all rock!!

After reading some of your suggestions, I decided to go back and look over my food diary and try to see any difference in what I had been eating before everything came to a grinding halt.

And I'm happy to say, I think I see the problem. Everything was going well, until I started "snacking". Jello, pickles, MF crackers were not on my list of foods that I ate the first couple of weeks.

Since I started adding them, (and the only reason I think I did was because it was "OK" to do so... I wasn't really that hungry that I needed to snack), my weight loss had slowed down considerably and I've been feeling "puffy".

So starting tomorrow (its to late today, I already snacked on some jello) I"m going to go snackless and see if that helps.

Thank you all for your input. It really helps to get other's opinions. It spurs one to think 'outside the box', (as in cracker..)
I'm feeling much better now about the stall and less likely to try a jumpstart by going off plan.

Thanks again,
Carmel

[Nicole81]

I have to admit that I did cheat. I am not proud of it but I am happy to say that I never stopped losing! I just wonder how much further along I would be if I didn't cheat. I have cheated twice, once with some carbs but the next cheat I decided I should be smarter and go for a little cheese so I would stay in ketosis. I would say if you are going to cheat eat a little more meat or a little cheese that way it is easier to stay on track.

[lise]

I don't cheat, but another tip to get off plateau is increase water, and take away the add ins to shakes and stuff (like the extracts, and syrops). I found that by cutting that, my weight plummeted down.

I heard about people getting sick after cheating and I'm not going through that!

[supermom]

I am with Unc. Was it a coincidence?? Don't cheat. It isn't worth it. For many people it is soooo hard to get back on plan. What if you are one of these people?? Is it really worth the risk?? Just hang in there. Drink more water, and like Ark said, cut out the bars and the snacks. See what that does BEFORE you cheat!!

<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_9_12.gif" alt="Good Luck" border="0">

[mellowmom]

Wow.. I had no idea that the syrups could be the problem. That's another thing I started using recently and my weight loss slowed down. I thought that maybe the syrups would be a problem with my diabetes...but whenever I check my blood sugar the readings have been excellent, even after having a shake with the add-on.

Tomorrow I go at it "guerilla style"....no snacks, no add-ons. I'll give it a week. I was hoping to lose 30 pounds by the end of the month...but right now I'd be happy with 25 after the stall this past week.

Thank you again, all for the advice. You're all lifesavers...and I mean that literally!!!

<img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_3_11.gif' border=0>

Carmel