Michelle and Samara - I can totally relate! Although it hasn't happened with MF yet (cause i just started), this is what happens to me too. I'll do great for a while, but once I go off plan in a major way, I have a hard time going back to a strict way of eating.

Here's what happened to me the last time I lost/gained weight. I started a very strict low-carb Atkins type diet at the beginning of the summer. I lost 18 pounds and was so motivated and happy! Then I stagnated and maintained for a while. I was trying to lose, but I kept cheating just a bit each day, never having a really 100% on plan day. Then Thanksgiving came and I allowed myself some home-made Chilean desserts. All weekend long a kept eating these desserts. And afterwards I couldn't get back to the diet. At that point I proceeded to gain all the weight back between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And believe me the 18 pounds came back on a lot easier than it came off.

I'm wondering if it has something to do with being a perfectionist. The book that came with my Medifast order said that a lot of overweight people are perfectionists which can be a real problem when trying to lose weight. They expect to be 100% perfect and when they aren't they can't just forgive themselves and move on. When I read that, it made me wonder if this is part of my problem.

Brooke- this week I'm going to eat my MF meals earlier and try to drink all the water. Thanks for reminding me about the water!

Good-luck and I think it's great if you two check in with each other.
Karen M

Michelle- you're on girlie!!! Today I'm 100% on plan. I think that makes me 2/2. I can't remember all of yesterday though!! LOL

Karen- Dieting flat out SUCKS!!! I have never been a major dieter before, however about 3 years ago I went on South Beach. I lost 30 pounds and then went away for a Digi Scrap Weekend in Penn., that was enough to throw me off completely.

Tomorrow my goal is 100% on plan, no sneaking jelly beans in the office, chocolates in the lounge, or goodies at home.....100% on plan is my goal!!!!

Michelle- do you have hello? My user name is Luv2Crop if you want to add me.

Jen- I so wish the went I go off plan that I'd feel something. I feel NOTHING except guilt, and it's not enough to make me stop!! LOL

Ohh, have I bothered to say that NOTHING fits me?? I have a bunch of hand me down stuff from the medifast boards, but most of it isn't my style and therefore I don't feel like myself!!! woe is me.

Samara, That is awesome that nothing fits you! Your doing great with your weight loss! I can't wait for things to start falling off of me!

Ok people:nono:

I was feeling a little bored and thinking of going off plan and thought I would come to these boards for some encouragement! What do I find? A bunch of you who are already off of the plan and making all kinds of excuses!

The whole "zigzaging" your talking about used to be called the "rotation diet"

It does have some merit, however you can zig zag yourself right back up to gaining weight.

I think all of us need to get our buts out of our chairs and exercise. If we want to up our metabolism the thing to do is to lift weights. Build muscles and then your furnace will roar!:sp:

So come on people! Get with the program! Get back on plan or forget about it and go to Weight Watchers!

:wave: I am new and just ordered Medifast yesterday, I am really looking forward to succeeding with this plan!! I look forward to getting to know you all. :)

Hey above- Yes it is the sodium in processed food that makes you gain water, also I will bet you that you will drop that extra and then some in the next couple of days. That is what happens when you do the rotation!

Gerly-Welcome, you will enjoy amazing results with this program! You just won't believe how great it will be.

Hey Vbevens: Great pep talk! I started MF in Jan. and was pretty active on this board for awhile but then I started a challenge on the MF board and I have a hard time keeping up with too many forums. I still lurk here occassionally. Wondering how everybody's doing.
I am a true MF believer! I am so glad I found this program. It is changing my life. I still have rough spots. I'm not quite at my goal yet but I am getting close. What started out as me thinking, "I can do this for a month" has become, "I can do this until I reach my goal and then do Transition and Maintenence". I sure as heck don't want to gain this weight back after working so hard to lose it!
Abovethedin: About the Arby's sandwich, I'm thinking the carbs probably threw you right our of ketosis. Not sure, though. That's why I am so committed to going through the T&M phase of MF. I don't want to reach my goal for 5 minutes, eat a bagel and gain 5 pounds! I plan to re-introduce everything back into my diet slowly and really watch my fat and carbs.

Just don't give up! Thinking positive thoughts for everyone! :)

Jen,

That happened to me too. Granted my "off plan" lasted 3 days and not just one Arby's sandwich, but a week later I still have only lost 2 lbs of the 4 I apparently gained during those three days. It's pretty frustrating because those 4 lost pounds were the only ones I had lost on Medifast so far! I decided I'd give it a week more and then see how I'm doing.

Rachel

Hi everyone! I have been out reading on the My Medifast.com board, man that is a hard core group! One poor person asked a simple question about having a drink during a celebration and she got so much judgement and "advice" I couldn't believe it:nono:

I just thought that I would come back here and let everyone know how I appreciate the fact that this group is supportive and positive all of the time.:hug:

All of that judgement is what got a lot of us in this place to begin with.

Andiemom-are you the person that lives in Salem? Ever come up to Portland?

How is everyone doing?

I love this group, too! Very nice, supportive people here.
Vbev- I think I know the group you're talking about on the MF boards. I don't post on that particular board. I found a nice group of ladies on one of the challenge boards. It's good for me to be accountable once a week by posting my weight and challenging myself. I don't want to be scolded!

As I get closer to my goal weight I am getting a little nervous about how my body is going to react to changing back over to a regular diet. I have heard that when you go out of ketosis you are likely to see a gain. I have the MF book, The Secret Is Out, and I just printed off the transition charts so when I do hit my goal I will spend some time transitioning.

Yep...I'm in Salem. I don't get to Portland too often cuz I'm scared of driving in the traffic there but I have ventured over a few times. I have an aquaintance here who is a MF health advisor but she is pg. right now so she's not doing the program at this time. She's given me some helpful tips and encouragement. I have gotten most of my support and info. right here!

Thanks so much ladies! :hug:

Hi Andrea...congrats on getting so close to goal! I didn't have a problem gaining when I went into Transition esp. w/the first 3 stages (veggies, fruit, dairy). I was pretty active so that may be why...don't know. I also chose my new foods carefully & chose a lot of items that were lower cal/lower carb. I think that helped. My weight loss stabilized/stopped when I added in grains. No surprise there to me.

It takes a little while for most to find a Maintenance menu that will work for them. It's a learning process. You may want to start checking out the T&M threads over on MyMF. Great group & very helpful info too. :)

Thanks so much, Sue. I have started reading the T&M board for tips. I think I am most scared about adding the grains back in, but you're right that it is a learning process. I have decided this is a lifestyle change for me, not just a 'quick fix'. I like where I am and I don't want to go back! I appreciate your reply!

Got my first shipment today!!:carrot: So excited!!! I am thinking of starting on Monday. I can't wait to start!!!

Plateau! I knew it was coming but here it is and I am discouraged.

Anyone have any good advice to get things moving again?

Yes I think I will try a week of shakes this coming week (Oh and Lean and Green) I keep making cookies, bread, etc. Need to get back on the program!

Is anyone still around? :( I have been on the medifast site quite bit but was hoping you all were hanging in there :)

I am new! I am on day 4...I can do this! Hope everyone is doing well!:)

I am still here! Seems like there are a bunch of new people, that's great.

It is possible to keep losing after MF. I had no problem transitioning to calorie counting and have kept losing. So stay on MF as long as you can and then just be sensible when you go off. I keep my calories under 1,400 and do zig zag and it seems to be working fine.

I am in Florida visiting my mother and it's been so great to be able to walk outside in the warm weather. It had better not be snowing in WI when I get home!

You know I thought this whole rotation thing was going to be great. When I got back from my cruise I dropped weight so easy, but now! HELP!

I also ate Easter dinner and gained 2 pounds, it has taken three days to get back to where I was at on Friday, so what is the point? I lost an entire week of weight loss for one stinking cheat day!

Anyway, I am thinking of starting a new thread for those who are slogging along in the middle of weight loss and need extra motivation, anyone interested? Maybe do an April Challenge?:shrug:

I do not have it down to a science and still get frustrated! I have lost more but not very fast. BUT, the big deal is that I have not gained and have found it pretty easy to stay the same weight. So that means that it is possible to be okay when you are done with MF if you are careful. I maintain at 1,400 but should still be losing according to all of the charts. That is what frustrates me. They say I should lose 2 lbs per week at 1,800 which won't happen even at 1,400. I think the key is exercise and since it's getting warmer that should help.

I'll let you know how I do when I get home. I have eaten carefully but had a few snacks here and there and did not chart calories. But, I did walk a lot. My mom hauled me out every day twice.

I do not think that the zig zag thing is the miracle I was hoping it would be, I do believe I am going to have to get off my butt and exercise. !! I have always said that I would rather starve than exercise. :flow2:

Okay everyone I am going to start a new Thread in April for those of us who need some additional motivation during the "middle" part! Not losing so much anymore, but still a long way to go! I'll keep you posted.