The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[marge]

yesterday was one of the hardest day for me so far....I am 2 weeks and 2 days into the program with zero problems up to now. But yesterday all I could think of was food, real food and the food commercials were killing me. I did the whole gamut yesterday had all my supplements, 2 cups of bouillon, celery, pickles and last night I was dying to break the fast...BUT instead I had another bar with a cup of decaf and a lot of water...it did the trick.....of course I was going to the bathroom all night.

Anyhow what also helped a lot I read and reread a lot of the posts on this forum.

thanks everyone

Have a wonderful day

marge

200/190/150

[explorthis]

yesterday all I could think of was food, real food and the food commercials were killing me.

I can tell you, you did wonderful, sticking to your guns. There will be days like this, and there will be days where it is not even a thought. It took me somewhere in the range of 110-120 days to lose my 113 pounds, there were easy days, and there were commercial days. There were days the kids were having something I would have taken right out of the baby’s mouth, if Mom was not watching me. For some reason this time, the real first time in my life I decided to be strong and hold fast. This was not just another diet. Oddly I was losing weight rapidly. I am not sure if this was the reason I stood fast, or I was just tired of failure.

I can tell you this, weather your at a 10# loss (as Marge is) or a 70+ loss like Jeanette it, some days are easy, and some are hard. The cravings do go away. Every day, even 234 days later (for me) I still get cravings, but I am pretty sure I have won the battle. I hopefully have created a new lifestyle. Bad habits broken, good habits gained (and still gaining). Learning that life does go on without all the food we are used to. I still feel the occasional temptation, or see the greasy spoon commercial, and crave something from the past life. (I am not the collard green person like Carries friend) BUT – I know the difference between 42 years of being substantially overweight, and being at a manageable weight as I am now. Again, I have scratched the record; with this over and over and over saying: “nothing feels better”. EVERYDAY still, there is not 1 hour go by that I don’t reflect on the new Mike. 234 days is not real new anymore, but it still feels new to me.

Pass these temptations up. Pass up these commercials as you did Marge…..

It will all be worth it in the long run, I promise. Take it from a former fat guy, thin is in!!!

-Mike

PS - the board still helps me every day. First thing I do is come here every day!!! Glad all of you are here - support is a wonderful tool.

[Jeanette]

I am very thankful for this board and all the support I have received as a result! I know I wouldnt be as successful without it!

[marge]

Another day another challenge but I know that I can do it

I have been avoiding my friends during the last 2 weeks because they would try to break me down with their eating...yep they do have weight problems even though they try to cut back and work out every day.....

I agree Mike with you..I think the rapid weight loss..I lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks and that has never happened to me ever ever was so encouraging and helpful to continue for the long haul. I personally have to have a variety of foods for any program to work for me and that is why I am so grate for the wonderful variety that MF has and wow without this board I dont think many of us would succeed. I am sure there are quite a few MF people reading the posts who have not registered

slainte!! as they say in Ireland...cheers!!!

marge

200/190/150

[Alison]

Thanks Marge. I am glad you posted. Today is my weigh in day. After 5 weeks another 1.5lbs. this week. Last week it was 1lb. I know it all adds up but tonight I have my bookclub again. Iskipped it last month because I had just started MF and I didn't think I could handle it. Now I know I can. The thing is I secretly thought I would have lost a lot more weight by now. It has become a slow process for me after the 1st 2 weeks. I have been seriously craving and literally dreaming about chocolate and cake. My husband told me this morning he has to go out of town for 3 days in 2 weeks. The old me would have already been planning cookiefest 2004 by now. I hate overeating in front of him!! I know I can't I won't. I just feel so vulnerable right now. I am glad I am not alone. Keep posting everyone it helps all of us.
Alison

[Tonya]

Allison, I am sooooo with you!!! Not so much the chocolate and cake - my weaknesses are more fat laden than sugar but I am so dying to go back to my old lifestyle.

Before I started this diet, I was going out to eat almost every lunch and dinner, with a few drinks thrown in a couple of times a week. This has been so hard for me because it has made me change more than just my food intake, ya know? I know it will so be worth it but it's not really all that much fun!

[kimay]

Hi Jeanette:
Ooops! Sorry! sent this double.

[kimay]

Hi Jeanette:
I was just wondering, how often do you weigh yourself? Do you mind me asking? I hope not. It just seems that your middle number of (I think 270?? or whatever) has been the same for a long time. I am just trying to feel things out a bit and figure out how often I should weigh myself. At first I was weighing once a week. As it started slowing down and I got kind of unhappy with the numbers I decided to go longer spurts without weighing so I could see bigger numbers. I went about 2-1/2 weeks and got curious and was pretty pleased, not unhappy at all w/my weight at that point. It wasn't hard at all. I could go even longer and I just might do that.
Anybody else have thoughts on this? Please tell me what your weighing schedule is...It would be very helpful to me as I am trying to make a schedule for myself.
One more thing. I just ordered the digital scale from Medifast. Even though it's kind of expensive, I felt it would be worth it since I'm sure it will be very accurate. The scale I have now wasn't very cheap anyway, seems accurate enough, but with those darn teeny weeny lines in between the numbers, most of the time I can't figure out if it is on 166, 167 or 168. So, I'm definitely throwing this number one out and going for the digital one all the way, so I will know EXACTLY what the total weight is without squinting my eyes and bending over just to try to read the darn thing!
Anyway, does anyone else out there weigh less often than once a week? Please let me know and how often you do weigh yourself.

Thanks a bunch!

Kim
3/19/04
189/168 (last week)/125

[explorthis]

I was just wondering, how often do you weigh yourself? - figure out how often I should weigh myself. At first I was weighing once a week. - longer spurts without weighing so I could see bigger numbers. - I just ordered the digital scale. - The scale I have now cheap I can't figure out if it is on 166, 167 or 168. - Anyway, does anyone else out there weigh less often than once a week? Please let me know and how often you do weigh yourself.

Hi Kim. I additionally had a cheapo dial-o-meter during my loss. Men I think are different in mindsets than women are in general. We just don’t care, and don’t over analyze this sort of stuff (so I am reading daily) This is not a bad thing. I did step on the scale about 1 time a week. I tried to do it exactly the same time, in the same room, clothes etc so as to get a true visual picture.

It’s important to remember, the scale has to change (read Pam’s success now on the other post – 61 pounds gone). The more I think you step on the scale, the more you’re setting yourself up for quick disappointment. If you weigh every day, you see a tiny change, if any. One day you lose, 2 days in a row you don’t, day 4 maybe you lose 2-3 pounds etc.

You’re consuming such a small portion of calories/fat that your body (if you’re honest to Medifast) has no choice but to lose the unwanted weight. My suggestion above, weigh once a week, and no more or less. Figure the time based on the woman’s average (3-5# a week) that it will take you to lose the weight, and gain the STRONG mindset; this is how long it is going to take. Accept this short time-span, and then go from there. Keep weighing yourself weekly, but don’t get discouraged if the scale does not move in a constant drop daily, because the body does just not comply sometimes.

I can promise you with gospel truth, you have no choices here. AS long as your doing Medifast as it is laid out, you WILL succeed.

2.5 cents…..

-Mike

[Jeanette]

Hi Kim:

The reason why my number hasn't changed is because I hadn't gone below 270. I *NEVER* record if I gain--I know it's a temporary gain. This does wonders for my psyche.

I've been wandering around in the wilderness between 270 and 275 for about three weeks or so, mostly because of my poor choices. Today, I was able to change my number to 269!! I am out of the Wilderness of the 270's and am headed downward!!

Oh, and the answer to your original question: I weigh myself daily, only once, and NEVER freak out if the number goes up. Once I start freaking out, I know it would only be a matter of time that I would start all the negative talk and eat my way back to 340.

I also measure my success, literally, with body measurements. Sometimes the scale may not show any progress, but the tale of the tape sure does! I also count my NSV's (non-scale victories). For instance, every time I go to exercise, it is a NSV. Every time I resist the urge to go to Taco Bell, it's a NSV.

Success does not always have to be associated with the numbers that appear on a piece of metal and plastic. Success is every time you choose to NOT abuse your body.

You should do what you feel is best for you. If you tend to obsess about the numbers on the scale, limit yourself to once a week.

[Tonya]

Jeanette, I am so glad to hear that you weigh daily since I do too. I keep hearing people say that you shouldn't but I have to have that constant accountability.

Every morning before I get in the shower, I step on the scale.....and it actually makes me feel good to see the dial turn (even if it's just a little) If it goes up, it's usually because I had a slip-up so it's extra motivation for that day to stay true. I also measure once a month (at Curves) and that is a huge help too. I guess it's just a personal choice - whatever works best for each person?

[Jeanette]

I weigh and measure once a month at Curves too! It is so great to see the numbers go down down down!!

I Curves!!! (and Medifast too of course!)

[Carrie]

I weigh in as a daily weigher too.

Actually, I keep a daily journal. (something I would've never dreamt of doing before) I record meals and times, water intake, weight, and my morning AND evening weight, and other things that are relevant. Whether it was an easy day, hard day, whatever. (I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm an analyst by nature and profession so I can't help it).

It gives me the data I need to go back and study what's working and what's not. For instance, I noticed that my food cravings are out of control around the same time every 'month'. Being able to go back and identify the trend showed me that this is something to EXPECT and be prepared for. This time around it was much, much easier on me. I moved my meal frequency to as few as every 2 1/2 hours and allow myself an extra bar a day. Having one or two extra MF meals a day for a couple days isn't going to hinder my progress and it makes the emotional and physiological turmoil much easier to endure. The end result is that this month I stayed on my program, where last month I wound up setting myself back by a week or two.

The down side is that you have to stay strong in the face of the days when the scale doesn't go down. This is getting easier for me as time goes by. I've 'been there done that' and know that it'll show results again soon.

I also started with one of those big dial type scales, but have since gotten a digital one. It's easier to see exactly where I am, there's none of that stepping on it 16 times and having to readjust the needle, etc etc. And even just seeing 2/10 of a pound come off is a victory.

I think each of us has to do this part of the program based on whatever works for them. I'd go stark raving mad if I only weighed once a week, and I know that's how Tami feels about weighing every day.... we're all different.

Do what works for you, and let it be a motivating factor (whether the scale went up or not), don't let it be an 'excuse' to eat or something that brings you down.

Carrie

[Jeanette]

Hey Carrie:

I've considered starting a journal too...maybe it would have helped me figure out why I wandered in the wilderness for so long. I'm just afraid it may be one of those things I start and do not keep up with, like so many other things in my life. I used to consider weight loss one of those things--not anymore!

[Carrie]

Jeanette:
You may want to give it a try....it might work for you. I started mine for 2 reasons that have turned out to be the least of what I use it for: 1) I knew I couldn't keep track of my water in my head, and 2) always before when I've been trying to 'watch what I eat', and in the process of convincing myself to pig out, I fool myself and say 'You've been really good for days, so a treat won't hurt' And somehow I believed myself and totally 'forgot' about the two candy bars I had earlier in the day and the trip to Dairy Queen the night before! It's like selective memory! So I knew that I could convince myself to eat if I didn't have proof.

I use it, and my weighing strictly as motivators. I do not allow either of them to start the negative thoughts in my head. On the days the scale doesn't move I've learned to turn 'well I didn't lose any weight, this isn't working, I may as well eat' into 'so what, just means there'll be a big drop soon'.

It's also a very reassuring tool. I've noticed patterns.....my weight loss will be good and steady for 2 weeks then I'll go 5-6 days without losing anything or gaining a pound, then it'll drop down again. It seems to be my bodys natural pattern. But knowing the pattern makes the lulls in loss easier to live through. It also is encouraging to look back at my first page and see the 266.5 starting weight .... it makes my 30 pounds feel like more of an accomplishment.

I know what you mean about not keeping up with it. I've tried over and over before this, and never could do it, but I guess this time I started out determined and then realized how invaluable it is, and now it's second nature. Give it a shot, maybe it'll be a motivator for you too!
Carrie