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Maintenance Working; Back on the 5 & 1

Posted in Personal Thoughts, The Medifast Program, Tips & Techniques

I’m back on the 5 & 1 Plan in an effort to pull myself together after Thanksgiving. The holiday season definitely provides a challenge for me, but it’s knowing when to stop. I made the choice to take some time off after retuning to from shooting The Note. By that I mean I wasn’t trying to lose weight but just maintain. So I continued with nutrition supports plan for me with a couple of additions. I chose to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family and I really enjoyed it. I even ate some candy with my kids on Halloween.

Here’s what I found most interesting; Thanksgiving dinner was delicious, but it wasn’t the great reward I had imagined it would be. I’ve changed my habits since being on the Medifast Program and I actually prefer lighter healthier choices. I found myself really looking forward to my salad and vegetables the next day. Heavy food no longer sits well with me.

Sugar however is still the culprit. Halloween candy restarted cravings almost immediately. Thanksgiving dinner was easy to manage, but the pies and sweets were not. I ended up feeling uneasy with too much sugar around the house and things were thrown out and given away quickly.

Identifying button foods is very important, especially if you fall prey to emotional eating. Armed with self knowledge, I forge ahead. I do have to say that Medifast’s Maintenance Plan works great, not only did I not gain I actually lost and am down to 32.5 pounds lost with Medifast.

This entry was posted by Personal Thoughts, The Medifast Program, Tips & Techniques on Monday, December 10th, 2007. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

30 Responses to Maintenance Working; Back on the 5 & 1

1 | Marcella said:

Hello Genie…Just wanted to say you look great! I watched “The Note” Saturday and it was fantastic. What great work you did….as always! We miss you on GH and hopfully will see you again there soon. Again, you look great and are an inspiration to many. Have a wonderful Christmas!

2 | Sue D. said:

Dear Genie,

I know what you mean about sugar being the culprit. In an effort to look good for my 20 year High School reunion, I lost 20+ pounds about 2 years ago to get back to a size 6. I sometimes think that “maintaining” is more difficult than actually losing. It’s a constant battle you have with yourself that “one more” piece of candy or whatever won’t matter because you are at your desired weight/size. The trouble is, it catches up with you when you least expect it. With it comes the feelings of guilt and failure. It’s during those times that I have to refocus not just on my eating habits, but more importantly on not being so hard on myself for slipping.

I’m glad to hear you are still doing so well, Down 32.5 pounds is terrific! Don’t lose too much more, though — you look great right now!!

Merry Christmas!
Sue D. :)

3 | Bailey said:

Genie,
If you can accomplish your goal, so can I!

I want to be a healthier eater, since I am the pickiest girl ever. I’m going to drink more water and eat vegetables and fruits and get away from my candy. [Except my chocolate advent calender. I love you chocolate.]

I’m such an emotional eater too. Friday night when my friend lied to me, I sat there with my Oreos and watched North and South all weekend. No joke.

It’s nice to hear you had a good Thanksgiving.
Mine was okay. [Unfortunately I spent most of it doing homework!]

I must say I love the haircut. It reminds me of my haircut from last January when I donated 12 inches of my hair to Locks of Love. It went from being at my elbow to my chin! It was so drastic, I cried EVERY night. I still miss my long hair but I’m glad it went to a good cause. [And it’s growing out pretty quick– it’s like a few inches below my shoulders!]

Keep up the great work!

Southern Love,
–Bailey

4 | Jhill813 said:

Genie,

It’s so good to have your feedback regarding maintenance as well as your insights into triggers and things to be mindful of on this journey. I, too, find that sugar is my culprit.

Glad you decided to have Thanksgiving dinner with your family. We all need to have enjoyment where food is concerned every now and again. Moderation or as you said, knowing when to stop, truly is the key.

One thing that I’ve learned is that if I have a craving, it’s best to have a taste. What I mean by that is that if I crave chocolate, for instance, I find it’s better to have a tiny tast of it instead of eating the entire candy bar. If I don’t handle the craving that way, I end up eating everything around it, then eventually wind up eating what I craved in the first place. That’s one trick that works for me.

Also, you are so right, if you decide to enjoy a big meal, if you pull back the next day, the body tends to maintain and not gain.

Growth and change is slow, but just as weight loss, when it happens the right way - slowly and with purpose, it tends to stay with you. I received some unsettling news this weekend regarding a family member’s health - very stressful - BUT I did not run to the pantry to see what I could find to fill the dis-ease of the situation. I had a shake! It was a BIG moment! It’s coming together, slowly but surely.

Thank you for your continued inspiration! Your success lets us all know we can reach our individual goal if we just persevere. Keep up your good work. You are amazing!

I send you love and butterflies!
Jhill

5 | AnnieC said:

Genie

Congratulations on your weight loss and on your fabulous movie. What a wonderful message to hear at this time of the year, and you were fantastic.

Thank you for sharing your weight-loss journey with us. It is very inspirational and keeps me going.

Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family.

Annie

6 | ~Mia~ said:

Dear Genie,
First of all i would like to wish your family and yourself a blessed holiday.
I am a faithful fan of your work. I just recently heard of your Medifast success and coincidently i have spent the last couple of years struggling with my weight. So far I keep losing that fight. lol I am pretty sure I am an emotional eater. My self-esteem issue doesn’t help.
However I have the outmost respect and trust in your judgement and can’t wait to start this newest diet plan.
Also I must tell you that your Intimate Portrait interview helped me identify the reasons of my problems at that time.
I love your blog and “The Note”….it really made me think.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HELPED ME
LOVE UR FAN
~MIA~ 24 SO.CAL
P.S. MY 7 AND 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS WATCHES LAURA ON YOUTUBE CONSTANTLY…..with me. lol

7 | Kimlaree said:

Genie,
Just wanted to let you know you are so encourging to me. I started on this program just a few days ago. Not knowing you were the spokeperson of MF. I dont watch much TV, these days with a toddler in the house most of my days are surrounded by her activites.

But one nite I got a chance to sit and relax and watch the Note you were great and the story line made you think and that was a refreshing and touching story!

Congratulations on your commitment for yourself and keep up the good work.

8 | Cindy said:

Genie,
Congratulation on your weight success. I watched the Note (Loved it) and thought “oh when was this taped”? I am a HUGE GH fan and your weight was so drasticly different since you went back into the coma, that I thought the movie was a few years old. I know you must be feeling so much better with your weight loss and it is so wonderful that you want to pass the word on to others so they may have a new solution as well. I am ordering the program and going to give it a shot. I am 50 years now and a few years ago for no reason it seems my body just started changing and I put on 20 pounds. I can’t seem to get it off with the old traditional way of dieting any longer. Time now to follow in your foot steps and try Medifast. Genie I would like you to know that GH isn’t the same without you. I have been a fan for over 30 years but once you left GH I too left. I only watch when they bring you back. Where can I write to get them going with your character.? And are you interested in returning? You and Anthony together make the show. Congrats again on your weight loss. I hope you and yours have a blessed holiday season.

9 | Cici said:

Genie,

CONGRATULATIONS on your weight management!! I know how tough it can be. I’ve been a great fan of yours since back in the early ’80s and was thrilled to see you back on GH this year. I, too, watch The Note this week and wow, you look terrific. I had no idea you had been using Medifast. I had already researched various diet programs before Thanksgiving and then left on 2 weeks’ vacation overseas. Now that I’m back, I decided this would be my new year’s resolution, so here I am on the site and there you are on the screen. Hope to slim down about 40 lbs to what I was before hitting 40.

You look terrific. Hope to keep seeing more of you on the screen. Best wishes to you for a great holiday season without lots of cravings. Try to stay away from the sugar.

10 | Marsha Berry said:

Genie,
It’s Christmas Day and I’m watching “The Note.” You look great! And you looked wonderful on the VIEW. I’ve been on the plan since July 25 - my 5th month anniversary. I’ve lost 35 pounds and feel so much better about myself and feel so much more energized. My goal was to lose 55 by my 55th birthday January 23. I don’t think I will make it, but I’m pleased anyway. I’ve lost from size 16-18 to a 12 which was my size goaol. The best part is I have finally got hold of my eating habits again. I have a good support system including a very good friend who introduced me to the program. We encourage each other to keep up with the program. I hope the New Year is as good to you as this past one has been.

11 | Cheryl said:

Genie,

I go way back to wathing you as a teenager on GH. I saw The Note last night and was amazed at how much you’ve changed since 17, yet you look simply fab as the mother of teens.

I plugged your name into Google and found this site. I’m joining you in this holiday weight loss via Medifast. I heard that Johns Hopkins Hospital recommends this diet as well for safety and substantial weight loss! That’s a very big deal to me. Your Christmas miracle may extend beyond the Hallmark Hall of Fame show. I think this motivation may be my ticket to success on the diet carousel.

So THANKS and…

Congratulations on your Emmy!

BRAVO!

Cheryl

12 | Karen Cornacchia said:

Hi, Genie
Well I have been on the program for a week I started around the holidays and did have my holiday meal also with my family and I still lost 4 pounds this week horay! I also watched you on General Hospital and you are still a beauty and since you lost weight it has taken years off your appearance. You look like you are in your late 20’s , which puts you back in the 80’s with all the fun fashion. I am your age and your size when I started and you have inspired me to return to a time when fashion was fun and I could wear whatever I wanted so, I am looking forward to hear about your next journey with Medifast. Thanks for the inspiration and General Hospital just has not been the same since yours storyline has been on hold. So Happy Holidays and Shine in the new year.

13 | Danny said:

Hi,
I am so glad I read your blog this morning.I really was good till Christmas day and my weight became the focus of attention at the family dinner.I really do love my partners mother but she was driving me a bit crazy with why are you so thin?How much more are you going to lose?And comments like “you look like a rail,here have a plate of meat” and pour a little guilt on the potatoes because she made them special for me lol!I totally caved in on my resolve not to eat the bad stuff and realized I liked the family so much more with a handful of cookies but I did realize it was really my issue.I was disappointed in myself especially after eating those little peanut butter cups out of one of the kid’s stockings it wasn’t even Godiva or something really good
I really think its difficult for our family to understand how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off.I think they were all a bit surprised to see me at goal which lead to conversations about how fat I was and pulling out my heavy photos which made me cringe but I survived :)
It really helped to read your blog and it has encouraged me to just let it go and move forward
Thanks Genie :)
Danny

14 | Andrea B said:

Dear Genie:

I’ve just logged in for the first time and read your blogs and watched the last 2-3 video clips. I am so glad that you did this for yourself-I am thinking about starting this plan as well.

I am incredibly blessed to have a wonderful husband, two gorgeous and loving children, great career and friends, but the weight keeps creeping up every year. What you said resonated with me-that “this is the one area of my life that I’m not happy with”.

Always loved watching you on GH in the 80’s (back when we were both small). I like your moxie now-loved how you put Barbara W. on the View in her place when she tried to belittle the Medifast program-”just shakes”. You were poised and relevant.

Best of luck to you-any words of wisdom for a potential newbie?

Regards.
agb

15 | Helena Burke said:

Genie,
Wow! You look fantabulous! I watched The Note recently and couldn’t stop looking at you. You look more beautiful than ever and I love the new haircut! You have re-inspired me to get back on the Medifast program. The Note was a very moving story and I just loved it; it was a perfect role for you.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy 2008 and may all your wishes come true!

16 | kathleen said:

I really enjoyed watching “The Note” and it was great seeing you after so long. I hadn’t seen you in anything since the soaps, I believe it was One Life to Live. Anyway, you are marvelous. Thank you kindly.

17 | Donna Demster said:

Hi Genie! This is so exciting that you have lost all this weight and look so beautiful! I am so proud of you and I know it wasn’t easy! I am 53 yrs old, and diabetic. I need to lose around 120 lbs. Nothing has worked for me and I’ve tried so many times. I am thinking about trying this because of you and your success. I have enjoyed GH for many years and loved Luke and Laura! Your movie, The Note, was wonderful. I really liked it. Saw you on The View too. You looked amazing! I need to lose weight badly, but most of all, I just want to feel good again, and not be so out of shape. Wish me luck! You are truly my inspiration! Love to you Genie! Best wishes in this New Year! Donna D

18 | Paula said:

Hi Genie,
You look wonderful! I just started Medifast with the New Year, I find it easy at home and at work. I am going to be 50 Yrs. Old in September, 2 kids in college, so I felt it was time for me! Thanks for being the spokes person, you are like an old friend to alot us! Congratulations on your success! Here’s to the New Year!

19 | Annie from ND said:

Hi Genie,

I just wanted to say you look fantastic and I am so proud of you. I started the program the same time you did and lost 30 pounds right away. Due to circumstances I was not able to continue and have since gained back 20 of those pounds, now at 176. I have started back on the program after seeing how happy and healthy you look. I know when we feel good about the way we look we also feel good about ourselves in general. I can really tell how blah I feel since gaining back these 20 pounds, harder time moving and breathing, etc. Just wanted to say thank you for getting me going again. I need to drop around 70 lbs so it will take a while but I am motivated and that is what counts. Thanks for being such an inspiration.

20 | Nancy said:

As a LONGTIME fan of yours on GH, I thoroughly enjoyed “The Note.” It was unpredicable and amazingly touching. Your depth of emotion never ceases to amaze me! I have struggled with a weight problem all of my adult life, and over the past 25 years I have probably lost myself in weight, only to find in a period of months that I gain it back. How terribly frustrating! It takes such an emotional toll on me that I tend to resign myself to being big the rest of my life. However, at 53, I find that I want a life filled with self-satisfaction now that my children are grown, and I want to get the weight off and KEEP it off! You are such an inspiration and you look phenomenal! I loved watching you at 18, but your maturity and poise now make you all the more beautiful to all of your fans! Thanks for all you do, and for being the lightbearer to give us hope that we can lose the weight as well. Please know how much you are respected and loved by all your fans, and how we desperately miss you and your radiant smile on GH and wish they would bring “our angel” home! Much love and blessings to you and your precious family in the new year!

21 | Alice said:

I have watched you on television since I was a teenager,(1983) and have always thougt you were beautiful. But, you have inspired me, and I am going to give this a try, thanks, and will let you know how it goes!!

22 | Rachelle said:

Genie,
I have been a fan since Laura was a teenager and I was just a kid!! I think you are a fantastic actress and a beautiful woman. I have been inspired by your success with Medifast - I need to lose about 50 lbs and I am going to start right away. Thanks for giving me the inspiration to try this!!

23 | Becky Sutherland said:

I just want to say you are looking good! I would tell you that in person but you are never at your store when I am. I think you see me coming. I started to watch GH the year after you came one! Have a great one and keep up the great work and maybe someday I will meet my childhood and adult idol.

24 | Joyce said:

First let me say that you look great. I am a long time fan of General Hospital. I am also the mther of six children ranging in age 22-5. I cant seem to get this weight off and am wondering would this product really work for me. I ama mental health counselor with very limited time between working and family would it be easy to implement this program into my time and how much exercise did you do. I am really wanitng to try it to get rd of the exta pounds and cant afford to waste money with 3 children in college and 3 in school.

25 | Lynn Morgan said:

Genie,

Wow, you are and always have been so inspiring to me. I have watched GH since I was five and I am now 43 with nine children. Well, honestly my husband and I have never skipped a Star Trek New Generation re-run either… :o)

You are just amazing and awesome. I really wish Genie you could come back to GH or dang…do some special on kids and the pulls that today’s society has on them i.e., drugs, the pro-anorexia websites, safe sex or being celebant…you know, you are a mom. No kidding, I have experienced so much and to see you loose your weight with confidence, pride, and so healthy is so inspiring. I would like to loose 70 lb. and my sister, her husband just passed after 25 years of marriage…it was such a sad time for her and her only son the years of his cancer left her pretty overweight. I worry about her health now for her son’s sake. I had her over this weekend and she is only three years older than me - - she couldn’t breathe or hardly travel up and down the stairs. I wanted to just have a tantrum and cry. Money is so dang tight but this program is so perfect for us….that’s one thing. I can dream still oh I see that Joyce who posted to you has six children I have mine from 26-7 lol…. When I used to be able to work out of the home I listened to GH on a radio that received tv channels…I could hear you. lol Anyhow, I like your store website it is very cute and your happiness is such a comfort because you have always been my ‘idol.’ Amazingly, I have experiences that go hand and hand with some of yours and my birthday is on Laura’s birthday :o)

Anyhow, I’m not a weirdo, just wishing me and my sister could be here too but maybe someday….just wanted to thank you for coming out because I know it couldn’t be easy for you especially with your ummm how do I say it….I don’t know…”status”

Take care,

Lynn

26 | gege55 said:

Genie.. you are a Inspiration to us all.
May all of us.. Medifasters have success in our Journey. Thank-you

27 | Mary Ellen said:

Hi there! I’m seriously considering beginning the Medifast plan. I am not meaning any disrespect to another ‘plan’, however could anyone shed some light on the subject of pre-packaged foods and what may be the difference from one plan to the next?

28 | Detsy said:

Hi Genie. What an inspiration you are to so many of us. What I really want to ask you is will you be one of my medifast friends? I would absolutely love that. : ) In the episodes when your character, Laura was supposedly getting raped by Luke at the disco after closing I remember watching GH with my roomate from college. We’d sit in the dorm tv area and watch you along with a bunch of other students. Was it rape or passion? We were only 18! College students who went through the same type stuff in real life. I wanted to look like you, fix my hair like yours… My how we grow more beautiful and much much wiser. Thank God! Please visit my page and see my pictures. You’re haircut rocks! Take care!

29 | Breee said:

Hello I just wanted to submit this, due to your success I have just purchased my 4wk medifast plan and I am very excited to begin the program. Thank you for sharing your success! You look awesome!! I am getting married in September and this is one of the reasons I decided to try this program. God bless!

30 | Loretta Quigley said:

Dear Genie,
I am 68 and a great fan of yours. GH will never be the same without you. Luke needs you back as well as your fans do.
I am thinking of trying Medifast as I have gained a tremendouse amt. of weight with a thyroid problem. I am now 206 lbs and too much for my 5foot frame. I really can’t afford the price I see it is but this weight is killing me. I can’t breath and my knees hurt bad. I just had a total knee replacement as I damaged it and now the other is going. You have inspired me and as I have always look at you as beautiful you do look so good with the weight off. I hope I can lose it also but will it work with w thyroid problem?
Please help me to try this as I haven’y yet started but I do feel desperate to start even if I can’t afford it as I am still working but supporting a daughter and 4 children and its hard.Please help me by inspiring me to go forward.
Thank You
Loretta Ps I never miss GH please return soon.

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