Hi Ms Flo!
Here is a bit of my dieting history!
Graduated from university at 161lbs. Down to 152lbs. Stayed there for about 30 seconds. Bounced up to 185 lbs. Then up to 199lbs. Then went to WW.
Started and stopped WW over and over and OVER again but eventually got down to 168 lbs approximately 10 years ago.
Weight crept up to 192 in 1999 and I stayed there until approximately 2003.
2003 crept up to 243 (!), stayed there until 2005.
Very Low Calorie diet (horrible diet, never go there again...) in 2005, down to 172. Stayed there for about 30 seconds (hahaha) and bounced up to 185. Stayed there until March 2007. Crept up to 202lbs between March and November 2007!
Started Medifast November 1st 2007.
Whew-tired yet???
November 1: 202 lbs
December 1: 185 lbs
December 24th:173 lbs
On and off plan from December 24th until January 3rd.
January 3rd:176 lbs
January 9th:171 lbs
So, since November 1st (Official MF start date) I am down 31lbs. And 11 of those days were either off-plan completely or partially (i.e. 4 MF meals and one whatever the heck I want meal).
What I've learned is that in all seriousness, LOSING the weight is the easiest part. MAINTAINING it is very very hard. One's mindset has to be 100% ON PLAN if you want to lose weight the MF way as it IS a bit extreme and DOES require discipline and committment, and if you are OFF PLAN, you need to figure out how to get back on track 100%. For me, half-measures don't work for losing weight.
To maintain my loss, I am going to have to find a plan for me that I can mostly follow. I honestly don't see myself eating MF meals for the rest of my life, as lovely as most of them are. I have to figure out my relationship with food, find a way to make it less important overall, set a goal weight RANGE, and how to adjust my intake on a daily basis in order to keep the lbs from creeping up.
Later!
Maya
). The VP over our division was an older, very traditional (sexist) man who tried G*d bless him but didn't succeed to accept women in the business. He kept tight control over salaries and the managers never saw them. We thought there might be some equal pay issues but could never prove it. We did know that we were being paid fairly for the market we're in and that the company offered a lot of flexibility which was good for working mothers. So, last summer the VP retired and another much younger, sensible man replaced him. In December I got an unexpected increase (mine wasn't due until June) and when I asked about it was told I deserved it and that they were trying to even things out some. Last week I was doing some extra budget work for them and suddenly, although I saw no rates, it was VERY obvious how much of a discrepancy there was between the men and the two women. I was LIVID - I went to my brother who called the VP who told him they would have to make it up in little jumps like the one in December. Nope, I threatened a lawsuit and immediately got a 20% increase! Oh my goodness, what my family could have been doing with that money for the last 8 years (my husband works in a different field and makes half my salary BEFORE the increase). The 20% puts me with the males I am comperable with but I'm still wondering if I should fight for backpay. I really enjoy what I do and the people I work with.
Hmmmm.....I hate that tomato soup. I'll never order it again. I can't see anyway I can make it palatable. 
I'm SO SORRY about your husband!! What does type of job does he do? Can he get unemployment?? What a crappy thing at a crappy time of year! 
Congratualtions on your 31 pound loss. That is absolutely wonderful!