The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Jeanette]

Most of you will have no clue who I am. I was a frequent poster on this forum. I started Medifast on November 10, 2003 weighing 340 lbs. By May 2004 I had lost 70 lbs and weighed 270 lbs.

It was around then that my life began to fall apart--I had made the decision to end my long term marriage, and I took a new job which required a 1000 mile move. As you can imagine, the stress of all those events led to me not continuing Medifast. Prior to ending the program, I began to lose my hair in clumps and experience heart palpitations. Before I knew it, I had regained 55 of the 70 lbs I had lost.

Fast forward to today: I am back on the weightloss track. My doctor advised me to not do another very low calorie diet because of what it could potentially do to my heart. So...I am doing it the old fashioned way, consuming between 1500 and 1800 calories a day. One thing I incorporate in my current plan I learned from Medifast is eating every three hours to keep my metabolism going faster. I also use <snip>brand name - Mr. Snippy</snip> shakes and bars for snacks on occasion--tastes pretty close to Medifast RTD Dutch Chocolate! At a recent health screening, my blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol were nearly perfect. (I think the technicians were surprised that a woman my size could be so healthy! LOL )

Today I weigh 301 lbs--so close to hitting TWO-TOWN again. The weight is not coming off at lightening speed like last time, but I now believe I am developing a lifelong way of eating. As it turns out, this is the best way for ME to get and stay healthy.

I'm not here to be negative against Medifast--it definitely worked for me in the short term, and I know there are many people that have lost LOTS of weight and are keeping it off. I just know that for me, I had to go a different direction. I believe there are many ways to get healthy. Medifast is one of those ways.

Nancy, I owe you a public apology--you reached out to me so many times after I left the board, and I did not respond because I was so ASHAMED that I had regained the weight. I owed you the courtesy of at least responding. I hope you can forgive my selfishness.

I wish all of you well on your journey to health!

Jeanette

[Guest]

Jeanette, your name is familiar just from looking around the forum at older posts. I personally think it is very hard to come here and admit that you have gained back weight. It is a struggle that I think many of us are all too familiar with.

I wish you continued health and happiness in your journey! Please check in and let us know how you are doing...

[Mommy2girls]

Oops! That was me! I thought I was still signed in from my last session!

[Unca_Tim]

Hi Jeanette,


Great hearing from you again. I'm a little curious about something you said:

My doctor advised me to not do another very low calorie diet because of what it could potentially do to my heart.

I just didn't want to alarm everyone with this. Unless you have some kind of special circumstance, there's nothing about this program that would harm your heart.

Great to hear you're working on a program that suits you. We're all wishing you nothing but the best.

Don't be a stranger....

[Jade]

Hi Jeanette
Fancy meeting you back here. I'm back on Medifast after a year's hiatus. I'm glad you have found something that is working for you. You have to do what is right for you. I miss your posts. Glad we have a chance to cross paths again. I wish you the best of everything. Jade

[Nancy]

Dear Jeanette ~

Oh, wow!

It is great to hear from you and to know that you are well and working at getting it back. I have been out of town and in the process of packing for a move, selling our home and caring for our family so forgive me for not responding sooner.

There is nothing easy about weight loss and weight management is in its own separate department…during weight loss we learn things that will enable us to more effectively manage our weight for life. I know that none of us ever begin a weight loss program with the expectation that it will be just a short-term event – to make a permanent change in our weight, we must make permanent changes in the way we do food. If we don’t change what we have been doing, blimpo happens – and it happens rapidly, especially if we resume eating high fat, calorie dense carbohydrates immediately after a low cal eating plan. We must gradually increase our calories over a period of time while at the same time gradually increase our activity level.

When you disappeared from the radar screen, your life was in major turmoil. One of those events alone would have been enough to greatly affect the way your body processed its food. The stress from ending a marriage relationship, losing the support structure not only of your spouse but your co-workers, your friends, your relatives and neighbors can affect one’s sense of well-being. Upon your move to Florida there was a hurricane and you ended up moving again and then another hurricane flew through your neighborhood. Some changes can become the impetus for improvement and some can send us to the depths of depression. Anxiety and panic attacks can greatly affect our metabolism, our sleep patterns and can do a number on our health.

The important thing is this: you recognize your need for help and are making the changes necessary to improve your health.

The wonderful thing about our Take Shape for Life programs is that we are able to design a program for the unique needs of people; we can provide a range of meal plans to accommodate people that need higher caloric levels. Our menu planner for people with diabetes and for older people incorporate a few more regular foods and increase calories up to 1200-1400 as needed and yet include the heart-healthy soy protein that helps most of us to thrive.

There is no shame in a re-do.

It's a new day.

Good golly! I have had more than my share of diet failures – DIEts didn’t work for me but a meal plan with low cal/low fat foods in the right proportions have enabled me to maintain a healthy weight. The pain I used to suffer in my knees and feet is gone. I still experience hip discomfort but it is mild compared to how I felt prior to dropping my load of lardage.

Jeanette, if you ever get out here to The Couve, we’d love to have you come to our home. Unfortunately you’ll miss out on our koi - we are moving and alas, the beautiful koi will stay behind …the new yard is pondless…we won’t have a large pond like we do here at the current MakeMeThinner Cottage – remember when we were planning for that backyard shake-a-thon in ‘04?

Happy to hear from you and to know you are about to enter TWOtown!

Fondly,

[Jeanette]

Wow, it is GREAT to hear from you all!

I want to reinforce what Unca said regarding my heart situation: It is NOT a typical side effect from Medifast. My stress compounded the situation. I think Medifast is a good plan--it just is not the one for me.

Thank you for the invitation to your home. One day I hope to take you up on it!

JADE: Great to see you! I wish you continued success on Medifast!

Mommy2Girls: It was hard to come here, but I realize that I needed to do it. Nancy didn't deserve the way I treated her.

I doubt I will be on here much, but I will pop in from time to time to see how you all are.

Take care,

Jeanette