The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[flamingogal]

Hi y'all!
I've been viewing this forum for close to 2 weeks, so I thought it was high time I came on in and into'd myself.
Well, as you can tell by my username, you can take the gal out of Fla., but not Fla. out of the gal!
Why am I on MF? I woke up Christmas morning, took a good look at my 3 beautiful sons (ages 21, 12, and 5), and knew I had to get a grip on myself. Now, I will also mention the fact that I'm married to the most handsome, physically fit, honest and sincere man in the world(who just happens to be 8 years younger than me). I am 46 yrs old, very soon to be 47.
Three years ago, my oldest son had a very traumatic event. He was carjacked, 2 guns held to his head, and beaten. He attends a university 4 states away from us. He and 3 buddies were out for an evening of fun. At 11 pm, he pulled into a vacant parking lot to check a tire on his Tahoe, and was immediately jumped by 2 thugs. He was actually not in a bad side of the city either. I tell you this to pass on to any young adults you know. You can NEVER be too careful. The ramifications of an event such as this go on for years, as you can imagine. He had surgery, still suffers some from emotional scars, but is doing very well. He will graduate from college this spring.
This event sent me into a downward spiral, into a depressed and anxious funk. I hadn't lost all of my pregnancy weight from my youngest son yet, and I allowed myself to withdraw into an "I don't care" state about my health. Let's not forget about being very hormonally challenged at my age, also.
All that has changed now. I chose MF because I was so impressed about the John Hopkins association. I am sooooo glad I found MF. Today I am finishing my 2nd week, and I tell you, I feel better than I've felt in years. I have a sense of peace, happiness and energy that I absolutely love. My husband and my sons have noticed and commented on this also. I have weened myself off (with my physician's approval, of course) the anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds.
Now, as far as poundage lost thus far, I don't know. I wouldn't weigh myself, for fear of cardiac arrest. But, on day 7, I was weighed at my doc's office. I didn't want to know. In two weeks, I have a follow-up appt, and I'll ask how many pounds I've lost then. I guess I believe more in following clothing size than the scale. I have always been very physically fit (have a good muscular build, that just happens right now to be covered by about 50 pounds of fat), so I know that as I begin to exercise, the scale won't accurately reflect inches lost.
MF was very simple to begin. I find all the products very tasty, and look forward to my next one. I do have to admit that days 2 and 3 were challenging. I would have chewed on my desk in my office if I weren't afraid of breaking a tooth! Day 4, I made a pizza for my boys, and I wasn't even craving 1 bite! That's a miracle. I have only strayed one time, and that was having 3 goldfish crackers. Salty crackers, chips of any kind have always been my weakness. But, ya know what, those 3 crackers didn't taste as good as I thought they would.
My goal is to be down 50 pounds (or maybe more) by Mother's Day, and I am confident this will happen. Last summer, my dear youngest son asked me why I didn't ever go swimming with the family. I told him I never learned how, not the truth that I wouldn't be caught dead in a bathing suit. Well, things will be different this summer. Yea!!!! I'll keep y'all posted on the weight loss.

[SueInSLO]

Welcome Flamingogal!!!

Thank you for sharing your story. You will continue to be a healthier and happy Mom! It's all good.


Congrats on being off to a good start. I'm two weeks in as well and I know how you feel. I have the renewed faith and energy! It feels great, doesn't it!!


Keep up the good work and good attitude. I look forward to following this journey with you and the other great folks on this forum.

Sue

[stelar]

Yeah Flamingogal! It sounds like you've gotten over some huge hurdles, congrats! Keep coming here for support. All the people here are so very nice. I'm super happy for you!

TTYL,
Stela

[falisamarie]

Flamingogal

Welcome to the team I just finished my first week on the program and agree totally about feeling energetic and renewed.
Let us know when you finally weigh, I know that it will be a big loss I admire your strength with staying off the scale because to stay off mine for a week is a struggle in itself

Keep shaking and shrinking
LIsa

[flamingogal]

Thanks so much for your kind, supportive words. All too often, stress gets the best of us. I forgot to mention the fact that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita seriously affected my job. I am the administrator of an assisted living community. We had the elderly being airlifted into our facility, never knowing what medical condition these poor people were in. My staff and I were suffering post traumatic stress syndrome along with these new residents. Sept thru Dec were almost overwhelming. Faith, hope and love is what got us through. Please say a prayer for all those affected. Many, many thanks.

[Jan]

Hi Flamingo,
You are doing wonderful and have a great attitude!!! Look out summer -- here she comes in a swimsuit!!! (You will of course have to be the miracle person who suddenly discovers she can swim ) Keep posting and let everyone know how you're doing.
jan

[mmob]

Your story is so similar to mine - agewise and kids - I didn't have anything that traumatic happen though - God love you guys - how awful that must have been. I just fell into that old rut of stress.

Good luck and I know you will meet your goals!

[flamingogal]

Good evening everyone!

I was looking so forward to weighing myself Feb. 3 at the return appt with my doc. Remember, I said I wasn't going to weigh until then. That would have been day 18 of my program. Well, guess what? His receptionist called today, had to change my appt to Feb 13 and that will be day 28. I am sooo anxious for that day to come, so I can be amazed at the poundage lost. I'm still gonna hang in there. Everyday, I feel a little thinner. Tomorrow, I'm going to wear a skirt that was tight 2 weeks age. I know it'll fit!

[stelar]

Flamingogal! You are incredible, I totally admire your discipline! I told myself I was going to wait for 1 full week ... I made it 2 days . LOL. I'm excited to hear your results.

Shake it,
Stela

[falisamarie]

Flamingogal-

I am so pleased that you are doing well I am probably as anxious as you to hear how much you lose!!! You have amazing strength to stay off that scale I swear sometimes mine actually calls my name!!!

Keep shaking

Lisa

[Nancy]

Flamingogal ~

Thank you so very much for sharing your story with us. You are such a precious lady and each aspect of your life has contributed to the cool person that you are today. We sure don't want you, your family or anyone to have to endure the trauma of a car-jack. It is just terrible! Your story will serve to remind us all to be careful about where we park.

I know you have an aversion to the scale - how about taking your 'before' picture and measurement so you will have a good record of your loss.

You may want to register as a member here on the MakeMeThinner Forum so that you can view all aspects of the Forum.

Happy to have you along for the journey with us!

P.S. Do you have a pink flamingo in your front yard?

[flamingogal3]

Good afternoon everyone, Nancy, and Jan,

Not only do I have an aversion to scales, but to photos of me and mirrors as well. No close-ups, no ma'am! I'll search for a photo to post, but I probably have my youngest son on my lap as a decoy. I'm 5'5", started out wearing a size 18, can fit into some 16's (most are tiiiiiiiiight). So, I'm hoping very much to be a size 12 (10, maybe?) by Mother's Day. My oldest son graduates from college that day...isn't that sweet? He has been really bothered by how much his incident affected me. I know he'll be mighty proud to see that I've gotten my act together.

Yep, I have 3 flamingos in my front yard right now. It's a Mardi Gras thing, only during Mardi Gras. My house looks like it needs to be in a parade, decorated to the max. Purple, gold and green everywhere(MG colors): columns and mailbox wrapped, metallic streamers around the front, MG lights across the front, MG masks on the trees, full-sized Jazz players on the front porch, MG wreaths and much more. Lastly, my pink bird, with MG beads, are holding court under the cypress trees. Now, I do have to admit that there is a 4 ft, hand-carved and painted wooden flamingo standing under a 6 ft palm tree by my big bathtub. That way, I feel like I'm in paradise while soaking!

This is day 17, still hangin' strong. Weigh day is day 28. Can't weight! Yuk, yuk.

Take care, be strong, y'all!

[Nancy]

You decorate for Mardi Gras? I never knew people did that! It isn't something we do here in the NW. In fact we STILL have our CHRISTmas lights up on our house as it has been so rainy and nasty that we don't wanna climb the ladder to take them down. Maybe we can start a new trend here - I'll tell people they are MG lights or weight loss lights!

FlamingoGirl, you will be putting the kid down and standing in the front of the photographer's line on Mother's Day this year - and your college grad son will be just as proud of your success as you are of his!

He'll be hitting the books and you'll be hittin' the shakes! Happy to know you more!

[Lizabett]

Flamingogal,

You will have us all is such suspense we can't stand it! We will be gathered around the Forum on Feb. 28, to see your great weight loss. Can't you just sneak into the doctor's office or somewhere and weigh! It ain't fair to keep us waiting!

Today was my first day on the Forum but already I am giving advice. Sorry , but couldn't help myself.

Lizabett, the elder!

[flamingogal3]

Hi Lizbett!

Yea, I am really curious as to how much I've lost so far...BUT, I vowed to myself that this would be my plan. I guess it's because I've always been so disappointed before in my weight loss efforts and results. I do believe that MF is working wonders, I can feel it in my buns! I'm able to fully button and zip clothes that weren't wearable when I started 19 days ago. I'm pleased as punch about that. So, I'm gonna keep on shakin' til weigh day.

I never mentioned before that I have a metabolism like a slug...probably the result of all those crazy starvation diets from college through childbirthin'. So, I hope, hope, hope that I'm not disappointed weigh day.

At any rate, I feel better than I've felt in years. And, that alone, is worth a ton to me!

Keep the MF faith, all!