[SaraSweety]

I started MF a week ago tomorrow, and according to my scale I've lost 8lbs I know this is because of all of the water weight, so next week when my body starts really burning fat I know it will slow down. My fear is ....What if I can't eat every 2 hours and it ends up like 4-5 hours between a couple of meals??
I work 12 hour night shifts, so I wake up at 1pm and am not back in bed until sometimes 9 the next morning. Am I supposed to keep eating every 2 hours even if i end up eating like 10 times???

Any help would be awesome...OH and the Why I should or shouldn't explanation would be great. It's how I stay on track

Thanks in advance

[sacajaweapatrick]

I am no expert however; I can only tell you from my own experience. Yes, you do lose a good amount of weight within the first week however; I continued to lose large amounts my first month and 1/2. You will lose big and then it will even itself out to about 2 lbs a week. Remember everyone is different and if you have cheat days that will slow you down so, you may lose more or less. I started 11/1/2012 and I am today down 40lbs.

In regards to eating you need to eat every 2 to 3 hours that you are awake. Your total intake should be 5 Medifast meals and 1 lean and green. You should not go over that in a 24 hour period. There were times that I would eat my 5 Medifast meals every 2 hours and even sometimes had to go every 4 hours. Just as long as you get your meals in you should be fine. If you slept for some time then just wait 30 min and then have your meal.

Congrats on your 8lb loss!! That is AWESOME!!! Keep up the good work!!!

[Gkm130]

Great job on your 8 lb weight loss! With your schedule you may have to add 1 more MF meal. I try to stretch my meals to at least 3 hours apart because of my schedule. Can you work in one of the bars while on your shift? It's best to stick to the 5+1 plan to keep from getting hungry and to keep your blood sugar in check. You can also add an optional snack....dill pickle spears or a few raw almonds. And be sure to drink all of your water.

I know...not the best solution but you have to work around your schedule and you are off to a great start!

[LaSperanza]

Today is my first day, and I also work nights. When I asked about that in relation to the 2 hour rule, my counselor (I am going through a weight control center rather than Medifast direct) said to simply space out the meals the best I can, and that if I need to add an extra meal because of the length of my day that's all right. There is still a large calorie deficit even with one extra bar or shake, and if you have a longer than average day you may need a little something extra to get you through.

Personally, I'm going to try doing the normal 6 meals to start off, and I'm only going to add an extra meal if I find myself struggling during work. I guess I'll see soon enough how it works out!

[SaraSweety]

So the first week I didn't struggle with hunger and was able to do the 5 and 1 no problem during my 18-20 hour days. Week 2 was a different story. I guess my body got used to the every 3 hours so work nights I was Starving. My coach told me to just continue eating every 3 hours no matter how long I was awake... down 3lbs this week. Thanks for y'alls help and encouragement!