O.K. - I've been on Medi-fast for 10 weeks and have lost 21 lbs. - BUT all but three of those pounds came off in the first 6 weeks. Then I had one week with no weight loss, one week with 3 lbs. gone, now two more weeks with no more weight loss...and I'm ready to EAT!!! I don't mind deprivation as long as I get some sort of result - even one lb. weight gone is progress....but this is getting ridiculous! I haven't cheated ONCE - I drink tons of water and I'm exercising....I don't get it.....I'm thinking if I go off of plan for a week and don't go crazy on food, but eat sort of normally, then get back on plan...then maybe I could jump start things again....I know that's crazy - but that is how desperate I am.....

HELP!!!!!

I totally know how you feel... I have lost over 30 on Medifast and I think I have had enough... Thinking of switching over to weight watchers or something.. Just need to lose the last 25 and it is killing me....

It's so frustrating to be doing everything right and to still be so stuck!!!It's not like I'm down to the very last few pounds which are always so hard to take off - I'm only half way there. I'm worried that with the holidays approaching I'll lose my will power if I don't start losing again and soon.....

This happened to me awhile back and I was whining about it to my friend. She advised me to take a few days off from the plan, eat whatever I wanted to -within reason, then go back on the plan. She did it when she was stuck on her diet and it worked for her. I was getting pretty desperate, so I tried it. I ate foods I'd been craving, but didn't pig out. Dinner was still pretty close to a normal L&G, but I had rice or potaoes too. Once I ate spaghetti, and I let myself have a small dessert. I took four days off. I was afraid it would trigger some kind of binge but I was fine. Probably had something to do with the old size 12 jeans I can get into after 5 years; and a LOT to do with being on this program together with my husband(who can jump from his knees to his feet on his surfboard again and will not be giving that up for a piece of cake!). When I went back on the plan I lost weight like I did when I first started.

I know there will be people who'll tell you it's too risky. Sometimes it's too hard to go back on program after indulging in other foods. We are adults and have no one to monitor us but ourselves. You are the only one who knows whether it will be too difficult for you to leave and then come back. You are the only one who will suffer if you give up completely; so be VERY honest with yourself. You are halfway to your goal. That is an accomplishment to be proud of! Is it enough to bring you back if you take a break or is it too risky for you?

I am planning on taking Thanksgiving off. I've lost 34 pounds and It's my favorite meal of the year, so I'm giving myself permission. I will ration myself though. Small servings of everything. And I'm the chef, so I am making it as low carb as I can get away with and still get the flavors I want.

If you decide to take time off be careful: the last time I ate "normally", I got such a head rush/dizzy from eating carbs that I had to lie down! Thank God I wasn't behind the wheel!

Maybe you could go off, but still stick to 100 or less grams of carbs for a few days, and then get back on. I think that low carb and high protein is very important, but there are a lot of foods you could eat and stay within reason. I don't see why not if you know that you can get right back on! (and I fully plan on enjoying Thanksgiving as well!)

Thanks everyone! Your suggestions and insights really help! I think I can stick to plan for one more week - then I'll allow myself a (Moderate) Thanksgiving treat and see if that makes a difference. One more week feels doable at this point - as you said "at least I'm not gaining" I also agree that I have to have the discipline to get right back to it after "cheating" - I think that my early success will act as good motivation to get started again without a problem - but I'm not going to stick with this indefinitely if everything stays so slow....I know myself too well. Thanks again! Now I feel as though I have a "Plan" and that helps a lot!

Pen.