Medifast Success Stories

My New Motivator!

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:42:02 +0000

When I was young I owned a motorcycle or two…not your slow cruiser, but fast sport bikes made for speed and corners. I have long missed those days and lately have been yearning to be back on a bike. Perhaps it is just a midlife crisis of sorts as I move in on 36 years of age, but I never really stopped missing motorcycle riding. An agreement I have with my wife has recently come up again and could be the best motivator of them all where my weight loss is concerned. The deal is, if I hit my goal weight, I get to buy whatever motorcycle I want. That was the deal anyway and that is changing now.

I recently found a bike for sale that I have been eyeballing for some time, a Kawasaki ZX10R. I found one that is a super good deal and I’m thinking of buying it. Now being that I’m still 300+ pounds, it will most likely sit in my garage next to my mountain bike until I get down to a comfortable riding weight. For me this might just prove to be the biggest motivator of them all, especially for getting back on bike riding in the morning for exercise. After all, if I have to see that beautiful sport bike sitting next to my mountain bike every morning I guarantee you I will be extra motivated to riding longer and harder to get down to my goal weight faster!!

Motivation comes in all forms and I can always use more!

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Can’t Hold Me Down

Admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:31:18 +0000

I awoke this morning feeling as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders and that it was a day of new opportunities. I had been feeling horrible while off Medifast, feeling as if I had failed even though I had every intention of rejoining the program. Today I am confident I will be triumphant in my battle against my obesity and I have a renewed feeling of self-worth. Knowing that even though I’m fat, I’m doing something about it makes all the difference in the world.

In my short time off Medifast I enjoyed some carb-rich foods and I noticed an immediate difference in the way I felt. Although I was watching portion sizes when possible and eating more frequently, I noticed that at times when I ate carb-heavy or starchy foods I felt drained of energy and lethargic. This definitely shows me that I have some hyper carb-sensitivity and need to monitor what I eat for the rest of my life. Being on Medifast and a high protein diet, then going back showed me just how much food affects my physical and mental states.

I will not let anything stop me from goal weight. I think these past few weeks have just proven to me that I have what it takes to continue in the face of adversity and that I have the drive to reach my ultimate goal of a healthy weight and lifestyle overall. I’m feeling great!

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Spring has sprung, let’s have some fun!

Admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:30:26 +0000

I bought a new swim suit over the weekend, and I am so excited! I’m going to hang it up where I can see it everyday as my motivation! Medifast has made it so easy for me to stay focused, I just throw my packets and a shaker into my carry all bag and head out the door for the day. That way, no matter where I am, I’m prepared! If I know I will be eating out, going to a party or event, I adjust my plan for the day, and make that my Lean & Green meal. It’s all about making smart choices, planning ahead and being prepared!

Stay the course!

Sandi

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And I’m Back

Admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:07:14 +0000

I’m just now finishing my nearly 2 week dosing of Prednisone (steroids) for my Asthma and I am almost fully recovered from my flu/cold/asthma illness. I can tell you that it is not a fun experience for a variety of reasons and that I am ready to get back in the saddle and continue on my Medifast weight loss journey.

More than one person has asked me in the last couple of weeks why I would stop the Medifast program just because I was sick. There is a long and short answer to that question and I will give you both. The short answer is, I knew I was going to gain weight from taking the steroids to treat my asthma.

The long answer is a bit more complicated. You see, I have a habit of associating things in my life. For one reason or another I find that I associate experiences good or bad with specific actions or events in my life. I don’t mean to do it but I do and it creates a very black and white way of filing things in my memory. For example, if I were to go to a concert and I had a poor experiencing getting my tickets through a ticket outlet, I would associate that bad experience with concert going in general and you would be hard pressed to get me to go to another concert.

A real world experience that happened recently involved ping pong. My neighbor got a ping pong table for Christmas and all of the neighborhood men were over playing it every night after work in his garage. I finally made my way over to play and found that I was the only one in the group that didn’t have this long history with the game and I quickly found myself being mocked for my inability by one person in general. Rather than focus on getting better or laughing it off for innocent ribbing, I decided I just wouldn’t play it any more because the experience was quite negative. That is just how my brain works.

So, all of that having been said, let me get back to me and Medifast. Knowing that I was going to gain weight no matter how well I did on the program as soon as I started taking the steroids, I decided to stop the program to prevent myself from associating the program with failure and quitting all together. I know it sounds strange and childish but knowing myself as I do, I know I would have blamed Medifast (quite inappropriately) for not working as soon as the weight from the meds started to pack on.

So did I gain weight off the program? Of course I did. I have had a long history with taking Prednisone to treat my asthma and each time I have taken it I have gained a significant amount of weight which didn’t come back off for weeks. I weighed in this morning at a disheartening 328.6 lbs. That is about a 12lb gain in 2 weeks and for me not shocking. It isn’t from over-eating in any way shape or form, it is from water retention and the steroids. Knowing that makes it easy for me to get back on the Medifast Program and forge ahead with my weight loss.

If you haven’t read my earlier posts or if I had not mentioned it, it is this cycle of illness and medication that led me to Medifast in the first place. I have a complicated medical history concerning my weight, acid reflux, asthma and related issues. I have had a couple of close calls and hospital stays in the last 5 years and that alone is what is driving me to Medifast and weight loss. I worry about my weight, my health and my family because of my weight and it is enough to ensure I get back on the Medifast Program and stay with it.

Weight loss is not a journey with an end for me, it is a struggle and an eventual triumph over poor lifestyle choices and management of my own habits. It will not end at a goal weight it will be with me for life. Just like a drug addict is always a drug addict, a fat person is always a fat person in my mind, always in danger of becoming that fat person again no matter how much weight they might lose. So I am dedicated to overcoming the near future struggles, getting the weight off and take each day as it comes. I am full of inspiration, hope and motivation to clear up my asthma, get back on my bike and continue on the Medifast Program!

It’s good to be back!

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Look to the Turtle: Slow and Steady

Admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:33:18 +0000

I’ve already lost 3 pounds and 2% body fat on the Medifast Program! I am so excited to finally see the scale needle move! Now that the weather is starting to get warmer and I’m bringing out the capri’s, shorts and sleeveless shirts, it feels good to know that I’m on my way down. Down the scale, that is!

Before you know it, it will be time to hit the beach and I want to be ready! And the countdown for the Beauties of America Pageant is 16 1/2 weeks! All this gives me the motivation to keep on the Medifast 5 & 1 plan!

Have a good one!

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Veronica Responds to Traci’s Comment from Previous Entry

Admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:47:49 +0000

Traci, I am also an emotional eater and have had a really hard time battling this. I did great my first about three weeks on the Medifast Program and then had a really hard time for about the next three due to issues with finding out one of our good friends has less than six months to live, a husband who was having a hard time dealing with this, and a daughter who was not sleeping well.

I started Medifast on February 19th, so I have been trying to do this for a little over two months. I lost 13 pounds the first 2 ½ weeks, and then my tough times started and I ended up fighting with my body because I gained six back and would lose two, gain one, lose one, gain two. I was in the same six pounds on the scale for that entire three weeks. Now I have lost those six pounds plus a couple more, and I figure that as long as I keep trying to succeed even if I do fail a couple times I will make it through this journey.

I kind of look at it as my own personal mountain, where I want to be is at the top of the mountain, where I am is at the bottom. I am going to keep climbing this mountain no matter what. So if a “storm” pushes me back down the mountain a little bit, I will recover that and more the next day. Don’t be so hard on yourself; losing weight is not an easy journey. It is a battle in which you are fighting with so many difficult obstacles. I firmly believe that although there are several others who are losing weight faster than I am, I am succeeding.

I have always lost weight extremely slow, so I wasn’t expecting a miracle with Medifast. I needed a program to help me succeed, to help me get through the tough times, and to give me something to lean on when I just felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere. I am not going to say that this is the easiest thing or that I haven’t had issues, because I have. Just know that each day is a new day, and even though you may have screwed up yesterday, that doesn’t prohibit you succeeding today. Just keep fighting and you will win.

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Almost at Bikini Goal!

Admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:09:53 +0000

I had hit a plateau in my weight loss and couldn’t figure out why. It turns out I wasn’t eating enough. I misunderstood how to eat the Momentum line. I thought that the flavor infusers were meals! I emailed my friends at Medifast to ask if I was doing it right and they told me that the Flavor Infusers are not meals. Now that I’m back on track and eating enough I’m dropping pounds. I only have 3 pounds to go until I meat my goal of 20 pounds before my cruise.

I’ve noticed such a difference already. I’m wearing clothes that I haven’t pulled out of the drawer in months because I knew they wouldn’t fit. I can remember a couple of months ago lying on my bed pouting after trying on clothes. I can see the mound of clothes piled up on the bed, floor and top of the dresser – nothing fit and it was so depressing. It’s amazing how great it feels to be turning my body around - again. Yellow polk-a-dot bikini without a cover-up here I come!

My boyfriend said that he wants to make an effort to support me in my weight loss challenge. So when we were running around on his birthday I asked where he wanted to eat and he suggested the Olive Garden – because he is “really trying to help me lose weight.” I just laughed and realized that the gentle giant will never get it because he will always be skinny. It was his birthday and I am determined to make good choices no matter where I am. I was able to fight the urge to jump over the table of the people sitting next to us to eat their tortellini Alfredo and drink their wine. I ordered chicken and steamed vegetables and unsweetened tea. Who goes to the O.G. and eats healthy? Apparently I do.

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Food Temptations

Admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:09:06 +0000

Whew, what a weekend! It was hard to stay strong! We hosted a group of seven 6th grade girls in our home as part of a church youth group program. Those skinny little ladies can eat anything they want and not worry about a thing! Wish I had their metabolism! (They can also go three days without sleep!)

They had chips, cookies, doughnuts, ice cream, s’mores, soda, and more. I tried to stay away, but it was tough. I finally gave in to half a s’more, but it was just a half! I kept trying to stay focused and stick to my Medifast plan. I think I came out okay in the end!

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Support & Still Losing

Admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:08:39 +0000

My office is having another eating thing this week. Thankfully I will be gone. My office loves to eat. It seems like once or twice a month there is some sort of a party or potluck going on. This is when it is the hardest for me to stay away. The smells here in the office are like little demon people running around flaunting food at me. Last time, luckily there was a salad I was able to munch on, but in order to get to the salad I had to walk past all the tempting desserts, rolls, and wraps. And that is when I have to argue with myself. Except for this past time, I have been making excuses and taking my lunch hour during these wonderfully horribly packed full of calories and carbs occasions. I am the only birthday in the month of March, and thankfully they took into consideration that I didn’t want to have a food packed party and got me a really nice gift instead.

Normally when I tell people that I am doing this, they are considerate in what they do around me. Not that I would ever ask people to make sacrifices on my account, but take for example my husband, when we go out to eat we used to get desserts and drinks which now would be a huge no-no, but I had told him that even though I couldn’t do that he could if he wished. Needless to say he hasn’t, which has made it that much easier to stay on plan.

Support is essential to success. It doesn’t matter what kind of success you are looking for or trying to gain. But everyone striving to get there needs some sort of support from somewhere or someone. One day it may be my husband that has helped me succeed in making it through that day without succumbing to my temptations. I don’t have great willpower so anything helps. Other days it may be one of my coworkers, (who has a huge bowl of that horrible wonderful thing call chocolate on her desk) putting the bowl of candy away when I come in there, or telling me that I don’t need it when she sees my eyes drifting over there.

Thankfully, this week I have lost another pound. I feel that I am losing at a pretty consistent pace, but my body is just so stubborn. I am thankful that I got on Medifast as I am going to get down to my goal weight with their help. Anyways, hopefully at next week’s weight-in I will have some more wonderful news, as normally that is how it goes, 1 pound one week, three pounds the next.

Until Next Time…

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The Dreaded Summer Barbeque

Admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:03:08 +0000

The summer is quickly closing in and if you live in Arizona, it’s already here. With the warm weather come barbecues, food and a virtual minefield for the health conscious person, especially those of us trying to maintain a low-carb lifestyle. The American picnic table is carb laden to say the least. Macarroni salad, potato salad, potato chips, burgers, hot dogs, fresh melons and fried chicken. It is our heritage in this country and probably why we are all fat.

I found myself struggling through the weekend and last couple of days after a weekend get together that ended with many, many leftovers that don’t fit the Medifast plan or healthy living in general. Sure, the bags of chips say “Zero Trans-fats” but who cares? It still contains a ton of grease, empty calories and salt! Between summer coming and a very, very stressful work environment, I’m finding my weight loss a daily struggle again after I was able to coast worry free for so long. This just re-enforces for me the fact I’m an emotional eater and I’m heavily influenced by my environment.

It isn’t enough to recognize it, but it certainly is a good start.

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