Yay MeltingAway!!! That's awesome!

How was everyone's weekend?

I had my first "dining out" experience while on Medifast. I got a Balsamic Greek Chicken salad. It was really good, but I'm worried that there was tons of hidden fat in it. It seemed innocent enough though. I had them put the dressing on the side, which was all oil and some spices, their version of "vinagrette" so I didn't use any of it. The salad consisted of a smidgen of iceburg and feta, eight halves of those purple elongated italian olives (of which I ate 3 halves...couldn't help myself!), and was mostly sauted summer squash and tomatoes with humongoloid chunks of grilled chicken on top. I doubt there was six ounces of chicken, but I figured the feta made up for a bit of the protein (crossing fingers) and there was plenty of fat from the sauted veggies. It was all tossed lightly with balsamic vinegar. It was SO good and I'm not regretting it, I'm just hoping that it wasn't too far off plan for a L & G. At least I know there weren't any hidden carbs in it. No croutons on it at all!

Well, I did my first week weigh in this morning and I've lost 7 lbs. I can't really get too excited though because I usually fluctuate about 3-5 lbs. a week anyway. But at least it is in the right direction. I will really hop up and down when I get to 200. Then I'll know it's because of MF.

That's great! 7 lbs is awesome! Especially when you think about how it won't be "fluctuating" weight anymore, and that it's gone for good! Great job!

Congratulations Operator! 7lbs in your first week is awesome.

Thanks y'all. Sorry I was so pissy yesterday. Just a rough day at work. I am happy though. Like you said Lili, it's not coming back.

I LOVE this program. Tonight after work I was waiting to clock out and the other team was having a Safety Dinner. Cool thing was that I wasn't even bothered by it. I just talked to a couple of my Buds from that team. I could smell it and see it, but I wasn't even hungry. Heck, it was literally right under my nose!!!

I am so glad I stumbled onto this. If I would of gone a different route and failed, I doubt I would ever be willing to try MF later. It fits with the way I work. I just have to play with the prep instructions a little and it fits right in. I don't really change the taste much, a little boulion, salt and pepper mostly. However, I am going to make some of the oatmeal recipes this weekend. I almost have to choke that stuff down(same with the chai).

I have also learned that the cream soups should stay and home where I have a blender. It just doesn't mix well in a soup thermos(comes out grainy and pasty). But I put a serving of my greens in the chix soups and veg/beef stew with a little boulion, pour the water in and by the time I'm ready to have it 3-6 hours later it's really tasty and hearty.

I've also decided not to try to keep it a secret at work. I thought the guys would give me crap. Instead, I was hurting their feelings when I wouldn't accept their food. Now, they are starting to realize that they shouldn't offer it in the first place and I don't feel like I'm hiding some big damn secret. Also, my real Buds are supportive.

I hope this gratitude entry makes up for yesterday pissy pooper. Love Y'all!!!

WE CAN DO IT, YES WE CAN!!!

Operator, I'm sorry you had a bad day! At least it was better yesterday...and you know we're always here for you!

It's good your coworkers are being supportive. I still haven't told anyone what diet I'm on. I've told very few that I'm actually dieting at all. I carry most of my weight in my rear, thighs, and legs where it's easy to hide, so I don't look like I'm too much overweight. Not that I look anything near thin, but I normally get "The Look" and "The Lecture" when I tell people I'm dieting. You know, "What are you talking about? You don't need to diet!" I'm 5'3", was 165.5 lbs, had only two pairs of pants that fit me, and was nearing the obesity mark on the BMI scale...I do need to make a lifestyle change and I don't want to hear the lectures right now, it just undermines my determination to get the weight off. So, I've made the decision to tell only those who I know will be supportive. Not surprisingly only one of the four or five people who know is a female. Women can be the worst at undermining another woman's weight loss!

I had an "issue" with my scale this week. I weigh every day in the morning before my shower. And yes, I know weight fluctuates, and that people recommend once a week/month, yada yada yada. I've been weighing every day for over 17 years, I'm not going to stop. Anyway, on Tuesday I hadn't lost anything since last Thursday. I was getting pretty worried...up till then it had been pretty steady drop of 1/2 - 1 1/2 lbs every other day. I read some of the forums and guides and found out I'd been measuring my food wrong. So, I started measuring my Lean AFTER I cooked it. I thought the portions were big before, now they're HUGE! I had trouble finishing dinner last night. But...I've lost 3.5 lbs in two days, which is just crazy! Yet another example of how eating more actually makes you lose weight! Of course, this is only my second week, I hope it doesn't slow down much more. I like losing this much a week.

I hope everyone has a great day!!

Oh Sweetie I understand. I went into equipment and mining 1) I like the pay a whole lot better than what the pay is for "women's work" 2) There aren't near as many women around. They drive me nuts. Guys are much more up front about what's going on. They also(for good or bad) are just not as up in your business.

I hold most of my weight up front and have a large muscle mass quotient. When I was at my prime I weighed 135 at 5'2 and my BMI was perfect. So, when I started gaining wieght, no one could really see it and would tell me I didn't need to lose any. My husband would just look at the gain in my chest and say "No, honey. They look, I mean you great." It wasn't until I hit about 175-180 that it started showing. Especially because my mother's side genetically carries fat right under our chins. Even my mom who never went over 150 and always looked good had a little bit of it. But BOY you can tell I'm overweight looking at me from the side. It's all right there in my belly.

I am so glad you discovered the mistake with your protein. It is so important to keep that portion up. Several of the trainers at work do protein shakes. Sometimes I think it's just so they can challenge each other in The Rankest Fart Contest, but it is actually so they can build muscle mass. That's why when we were worried about my physical activity increase would be too much I decided, if I needed to, that would be the area I would add extra to while still following the rest of the diet. I haven't needed to though. I'm tired in the evenings, but I think that's a good thing. I need my sleep so I can keep my mind on what I'm doing and not blow myself or somebody else up.

I know you won't give up weighing every day, just don't get to worried if you don't lose everyday. You're body has to stabilize every so often. I know it's hard. Especially if you see it inch up a little. Besides water, we also have our reproductive cycles and other internal mechanisms at work. We'll get there. WE'LL ALL GET THERE. WE JUST HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER AND BELIEVE!!

Love y'all

Oh, I had my biggest challenge today! I went to a renaissance festival with some friends. If you've ever been to one of these, you know that they have a ton of food there, and it's all deep fried, carb-filled yumminess. They actually have some things that I think could be considered on plan. I had a couple chicken on a sticks, which is pretty much a grilled chicken breast on a skewer. I was also *bad* and had a few bites of a pretzel...and a glass of wine. And I really chewed that pretzel slow and enjoyed every minute of my badness. I figured if I was going to be bad I better enjoy it.

Oh, well! I could have REALLY blown it and chowed down on a ton of stuff. They have cheesecake on a stick too, and the best brownies ever! I resisted that and am really proud of myself. Strange, I was tempted by them, but not nearly as much as I expected I would be. So, I'm really really hoping I didn't stall my weight loss too much. This week is going to be STRICTLY on plan to try to make up for the extra carbs.

Way to go facing the challenge!!! I don't think a little slip will end the battle. As far as the wine goes, I just saw one of the diet segments yesterday that said wine was one of the GOOD choices when trying to watch your weight on a diet and still go out with freinds.

Hello all,

I just started this program last Thursday, and while I am not following it exactly (more like 4:2 instead of 5:1), it has definitely helped with getting me refocused on weight loss, as I was struggling with motivation for months.

Has anyone checked out their community boards? They have a section, called MyPlan that is great for logging food and exercise. I like not only the calorie consumed and expended chart, but also the graphs that tell you how many carbs, protein, etc you ate for the day.

Anyway, hope you don't mind that I just jumped in. Good luck today!

Hi everyone...

I am still on program despite my posts about how "difficult" it all has been. I haven't cheated yet and I am on my 5th week. This is sooo easy when I am at work because I am very busy rushing everywhere that this fits in perfect. It is the whole weekend thing and making food for my daughter and doing things out with the family- which always revolves around yummy food. So I take a deep breath and I just deal with it.

How is everyone doing?? I have been reading the boards and I am so proud of you guys for holding strong!!!!!

MUAH!

Hang in there everyone - you are all doing a terrific job and it is SO worth it!

Operator - Thanks! I knew when I decided to go that it would be hard and that I might not make it through unscathed, so I told myself I wouldn't be too hard on myself if I slipped and that I'd just work extra hard to make it up. I think the pep talk helped because I was able to enjoy myself and not worry too much about the food. I just worried about drinking any alcohol because from the Nutrition boards on MyMedifast, it sounds like it can really stall your weight loss, so I limited myself to one drink only and tried to pick something that was kind of healthier and had less sugar than say a balini or margarita.

Hi Alice! Welcome!!! Yeah, I check out the MyMedifast forums almost as much as I check 3FC. I don't post there much though. I like to read the official support threads to see what other people are asking about. I've learned a ton from that because they ask a lot of questions that I didn't even know I wanted to know too. I use the MyPlan everyday too and that's where I log my weigh ins and measurements. It's really handy to see the downward trend on there and it is a big motivator!

Amazingplatinum - I'm so glad you've stuck with it! I've been having the same problems on the weekends. It's hard to watch my bf suck down an entire pizza while I'm trying to stretch out my chili by scooping it onto MF crackers. Another thing I really didn't expect to be a problem was Starbucks. I don't go to Starbucks by myself ever, but the past two days I've been with friends who go there three times a day sometimes. It's so hard to just order an unsweetened iced green tea instead of my normal Chai Frappaccino with triple chai and honey. Hang in there hun, this isn't forever. Someday soon you'll be at goal and you'll be able to join in with your family, within reason of course!

Priscias - Welcome to you too! The kitchen scale has become my new best friend. I had no idea I wasn't getting nearly enough protein and now I feel a lot more full after dinner and that sure does help!

SweetP - Thanks for the motivation! It looks like you're doing great too! 111 lbs! That's amazing! Have you lost it all with Medifast?

Hey there chicks. Nice to see the board a hopping. Welcome Alice and Priscias. Good to have you join in. It's really good to hear you're feeling stronger Platinum.
I think the only reason I haven't cheated yet is because I haven't really had the chance to. If I do at work, some smarty pants will bust me. Between training and overtime I've pretty much givin up on having a social life. But I'm on this program to have a good life, not dedicate my life to IT. So long as I don't get out of hand I still intend to enjoy myself every once in awhile. So there!!

I Love, Love, Love my food scale. This weekend I got a new digital bathroom scale. Mine was giving me funky readings. I'ld get on once and be 209 then step right back on and be 211. It was making me nuts and I'm not a that addicted to scales(until last week that is). I didn't even own one until about 5 years ago. Oh yeah, that's when I started becoming rotund. Anyhoo, this new scale is much better. I stepped on it like 5 times and got the same reading. Now I've got to program it for BMI.

I have checked out MyMedifast.com a little. That's where I finally figured out how to get my ticker working. I looked at the boards, but at that time wasn't too interested. I don't even remember how I found this one. It just came up when I was investigating whether or not to try MF. I took me awhile to figure out how to get to the 3FC homepage. I just really enjoy this site and everyone on it.

I also got a heartrate monitor this weekend. It's a regular watch plus it measures my heart rate and calories burned. I needed a watch for blast crew anyway, so I just spent the extra. I'm so glad I did. I helps keep my mind on what I'm going for. Heck, even on my lazy weedend I burned like 2000 calories. Now I can see why this program works. I can't wait until tomorrow when I'm running my off. It should be good. It's is WWAAYY better than one of those stupid pedometers.

Thanks for the encouragement SweetP. I get funny looks sometimes at work because Sweetie and Sweet Pea are two of my favorite phrases.

Keep up the good work everyone. Love Y'all!!!