Actually, there was a post on the MF board re: someone getting in touch with other 6/0 MF planners, and the official response from Nutrition Support was that this plan was not endorsed by MF. So I can't see them setting up a specific board area for 6/0s, but hey, you never know.
And whether or not you post on the MF boards or not is really up to the individual involved. I just think that if you aren't prepared for the response, it can be a bit discouraging. I've seen how some of the threads go, and it certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea. So, the only reason I say that is to prepare those new posters who may not be aware of what the reality is.
Just don't say you weren't warned, so to speak! And I do, in some ways, think that since the MF boards are generally dominated by hard-core 100%-ers, it is tough to post anything other than that without experiencing some fallout.
SO, there may be some on our thread whose comfort zone doesn't fall within those parameters, so perhaps better forewarned than dealing with the fallout later. But post away, if you want to!!!!
JMHO
Maya
:)

Hi . . . :wave:

I'm still here -- and it's probably a good thing I never got started with MF yet -- because I would definitely not be very OP the past few days. I've been eating everything in sight -- well everything that is not good for me either weight-wise or diabetes-wise.

I think I'm just feeling so down over this poor little kitten that is still living at the Vet's because nobody seems to be able to figure out exactly what the problem is. My Vet is now inquiring around to find a Bengal specialist to talk to. If it was just due to Herpes, they would have expected things to be a lot better by now. They've tested for a couple of other things, including FeLV, and she is negative. She just isn't getting any better. :(

So far the other Bengal that I still have at home won't take her dietary supplement (L-Lysine) but she isn't showing any signs of anything -- except a deep hatred for her nasty 'human'.

Keep fighting the good fight, everybody . . . I'll stop in again soon.

The offboard PMs, emails, and such are pretty strong indicators to me that the board is not truly dominated by the hard core 100%-ers -- there are really just a few very strong voices that make people think so.

Interesting, though, about it not being MF approved. I must have heard about it from some old information or something.

I did find this quote from Nutrition Support today, but they still have not answered my question. This was posted in response to someone else's question: "Following a meal plan using all MF meals is not recommended unless the person is being closely monitored by their physician."

To me, that implies that it is OK if done with a physician.

Hm.... my doctor wants me to add a full tablespoon of fat a day, which I am sure is not OP.

Meowee, I hope your meower gets better soon.

Hey Ms Meowee!
I'll be thinking of your kittie for sure -- I'm sure she's getting the best of care and you have a great vet who sounds like everything that can be done IS being done...
Anyways, the joy of this particular site is that the drama seems to be minimal, which is what I truly appreciate about this thread and what I really like seeing with all our posters!
So, WAY TO GO, everyone!!!!
Later,
Maya
:)

Hey my MF peeps! :)

I'm okay with flaming hehehe... I've been around the 'net for a long time and been singed before :lol: But I wasn't planning on spreading the all-shakes word around the official MF boards ;) for that reason. But I'll be happy to be honest with you all how it goes, and explain any negatives I encounter too. I got an open mind, and I'm flexible.

I'm just trying out an alternate method that was an option not too long ago, I think 2004, right about when I first heard about MF. I believe it was described as a choice on their official website through 2005, and maybe 2006 too. It's a pretty recent change for MF to push only the 5 & 1 Plan.

Before THAT, not sure when, maybe 2001, MF was recommended as 5 shakes a day, PERIOD. Now that would be really, really tough, about 500 calories! Eeeee! No way hoosay! :faint:

We shall see. If I can't hack it, I will add in a Lean & Green :D

Thanks for the heads-up though on possible hostile action! I appreciate the warning! :)

lettingslenderin - You can have oil, yep! According to the word from on high, that is, Medifast's FAQ, I got this today off their Symptoms & Side Effects PDF:

Hair Loss
Some individuals may experience hair loss on the program. It does not happen
to all individuals. Increase your fluid intake, making sure to get at least 64
ounces of water a day. You may want to incorporate one of the following to help with hair loss:
* Biotin (a vitamin B complex)
* fish oil
* flaxseed oil
* 1-2 tbsp. of canola or olive oil

Or for...

Constipation
Some individuals experience constipation on the program. This can result from
lower food intake amounts.
* You can use sugar-free Benefiber to help relieve the constipation
* You may try stool softeners
* Try incorporating 1-2 tbsp. of canola or olive oil into your diet

So you're okay! :D

Welcome welcome WELCOME!!! You are awesome! I just recall my first encounter with some less than friendly feedback, followed by bickering back and forth between a few members, and I recall how this particular board seemed so friendly!
NOT that the MF board should be avoided -- just, well, you'll see!
Anyways, my reno continues! The second floor is up and tarped over, but it is RAINING, which means that the rain is running down the joists into the family room (fortunately nothing is in there!), and right down to the basement. I have POTS, PANS, and old plastic kitty litter containers all over the place...it should stop tomorrow, so here's hoping there isn't too much damage!!!! I DID check and my contractor's insurance IS up to date...
Hehehe...sigh...
Maya
:)

Good morning
 

Oh Meowee - I'm so sorry you're down about your kitty but I completely understand. Our furry babies can really get to us. Jeff says I'm worse about the cats and dog than I am with the kids but I always tell him that the kids can tell me what's wrong and the poor animals just give me the pitiful looks.

Maya - Rain? Oh man, what a mess. Hopefully it will end and dry out quickly.

We've decided to get serious about our addition (master suite and laundry room upstairs with dbl garage downstairs) in the spring of 2009. That will give us time to pay some things off before accruing more debt and will also give us more time to get a few needed things taken care of in the old part of the house.

I had another OP day yesterday. So far it hasn't been bad. I expected to have a raging migraine (I'm the migraine queen) by now but have had not even a twinge. Do you think that's a sign that something (probably a lot of things) I'd been eating were triggering them? Hmmmm...... I've had a little more problem getting to sleep the last two nights but that just may be holiday stuff running through my head. Tonight's going to be a challenge - I have to make 2 batches of cookies for the Brownie Scouts cookie swap Friday night. I'd just go to the bakery but they're supposed to take recipes too. I think I can do it - I'm going to have my pudding next to me to snack on while they're baking.

Oh, and I kind of liked the strawberry shake. I was surprised because I'm not a fan of strawberry flavored things (fresh strawberries are another story).

Time to work - have a good day everyone.

Maria

P.S. I have a question - can we have cheese? I've been thinking about making an omelette with the leaner option with egg whites and vegetables but a little cheese (no-fat of course) would really be good too.

Hi there!
Cheese is definitely an option:
Here are the guidelines: 6 oz (1 1/2 cups shredded) low-fat cheese 1-1.5 g fat per ounce: for this option, you should add a fat serving
OR 4 oz of medium-fat cheese (4-6 g fat per ounce): for this option, no fat serving necessary.
Be careful of the no-fat cheeses as they tend to higher in carbs than low fat/medium fat, which may kick you out of ketosis. Remember that a higher fat content just means that your body will burn the fat of the food instead of the fat on your body. A higher CARB count means that you will come out of ketosis, and not be in a fat-burning mode at all. So in this instance, no-fat=high carbs=no ketosis=no fatburning!
Hope this helps!
Maya
:)

How interesting, thanks for the oil information.

I had an intersting epiphany reading Beck last week, and I am going to share it in case it affects anyone else. This is painfully obvious, I don't know why it didn't figure this out earlier. When I first set up the times to eat, I did it based on my wake up time and then had meals every 2.5 hours throughout the day, ending a few hours before bed.

Then I had to move my wake up time two hours early. (yes, that hurt). But I didn't even think about moving my meals two hours earlier, probably because I was so sleep deprived. I was usually starving and couting the minutes until my second meal. I was waiting 4.5 hours between my first and second meals and I my little 90 calorie shake could not hold me during the most active part of my day. Of course, I felt full the rest of the day. Just moving my times made a huge difference.

Kind of like TiVo'ing your meals! Hahahaha!
Thanks for sharing that info -- I too have had to get up 3 hours earlier than usual, so thinking about my meal timing for me was important too. I found that if I eat first thing in the morning, then stretch things to 3.5 hours later, and schedule my meals THEN, I have no problem. When I scheduled things 2.5 hrs post-wake-up, I was ravenous around 7pm, and that was too tough for me!
Maya
:)

Knee Replacement
 

Hello RuthXXX,
I just wanted to share with you my experience with my total knee replacement that I had done on 11/14/07. My weight was putting a strain on an already deteriorated knee and I didn't want my new knee going through that stress too. A friend of mine suggested the Medifast Program to shed this weight, he was having great sucess on it. I'm in my first week on program so it's a learning exprerince. I'm so glad I had the knee replaced. The surgery was successful and I am recupertating wonderfully except for the limited amount of things I can do. I'm going a little stir-crazy at times being cooped up inside because of the Wisconsin weather. But I want to encourage you to keep positve about the surgery and therapy because there is nothing like a pain free knee! You go girl!
Sweetthing

Thanks, Sweetthing and :wel3fc: and to this part of the Forum. I've been around here a long time and have found the whole site extremely informative and supportive.

Congratulations on your surgery. I assume it was a total knee replacement. Would you mind if I brain-pick from you? I'll PM you my email address. (New folks need 25 posts before they can PM but MODs can get and send PMs. Rank has it's privileges! :lol: I'm sure we have the same kind of weather to deal with.

Maya, thanks so much for the offer of help. I think I'll be just fine. I have a downstairs bathroom and a comfy sofa bed (with a 4"foam slab on it!) plus a crew of overly supportive friends. Claire would floss my teeth for me if I'd let her!

I tweaked my food a bit yesterday. I was "pure" MF for the day but decided I wanted comfort food for dinner. I made up the MF chicken noodle soup and added 6 oz. of cooked chicken and a cup of asparagus! :yikes: I did not have MF in the evening because I'd already had 5 MF meals. Will I go straight to ****?

Like a good girl, I went to the gym again this morning. I have a meeting tomorrow with my trainer to review my routine with a view to strengthening the legs and arms which may be needed for crutches. I came home and shoveled wet snow off all the porches and decks - it felt good! Its a brilliantly sunny days so I may go to town for some shopping. :wave: at Maya!

See y'all later.

Hi Everybody!
 

Been crazed at work last few days .... just had a chance to catch up with you all!

Maya - Loved the photos. Your project looks fantastic... I especially loved the shots showing your surrounding property... trees and land. That's a scarce luxury in LA! AND you behave yourself with those workmen! ;)

RuthXXX - Laughed out loud about your run in with the scotch! I wouldn't worry about it. At least you got it out of your system!

Sarah - I too would really like to hear how the shake only program works for you. I've been tempted to do that one day a week...

Hi Meowee! Sorry to hear about the developments with your other kitty, but it sounds like it's definitely treatable and all will be well. Did I read that correctly?

Hi and hello to everyone else.... For the record, not that anyone especially cares, BUT I also hate the oatmeal, but I force it down cause it fills me up mid-moring (I drink a shake on my way to work in the AM) and it helps with my cholesterol. Making the cookies does help a lot..... Does anyone have any ideas for ways to fix the MF "cream of..." soups? They aren't my favorite either.

Maya The eggs taste better if you beat the heck out of them and then turn them onto a PAM sprayed non-stick pan. I add all kinds of seasonings (Mrs. Dash and Molly/popcorn cheese flavored seasonings) and a good bit of hot sauce.. :dizzy:

Well gang, last but not least, the report on my once a week weigh in. Down 3 lbs for last week! And I am TOOOO Happy! People at work are asking me what have I been doing... they can see me slimming down :carrot:

Hang in there everybody... we can do this!:cp:

Talk to you all later!

Just back from doing pet therapy at the nursing home. As I drove by the Chinese Restaurant, I got a whiff of that glorious smell but I resisted. My lean and Green meal tonight is going to be oriental - chicken, peppers, mushrooms, celery and some low carb ginger/soy sauce over shredded cabbage. I really, really need the encouragement of dropping a pound!