Laura, a lot of restaurants are happy to accomodate changes. You can choose any meat they have on the menu (salmon is always good, or roasted chicken or beef of some sort) and ask for "no sauce" if there is sauce. Then if there are sides, ask for steamed or roasted vegetables or a salad with no croutons. All the places I have asked have been very nice about it. It may not be a perfect Lean and Green (extra seasonings, butter, oils etc) but I find if you just avoid the biggies like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes everything else works out okay. I think some MF meals are lower in carbs than others so check your packets and choose those that day or maybe skip one MF meal (I personally wouldn't skip 2). That's just my ideas and I am sure you will figure something out!

Thanks, Steph! My only concern with asking for accommodations is that this place is one of those boutique places that really highlights the chefs and their food combinations. The closest thing I could find is a roasted half chicken with grits and greens. I looked up the carbs of grits online and they equal one medifast meal and of course I don't have to eat them all.

Cheers,
Laura

Hey y'all! I started back on MF on Monday. Five years ago I did really well, but I have gained back nearly all of the 100 pounds I lost in 2012.

This looks like the type of forum we USED to have on MF. Is it okay if I join you?

Laura,
I understand what you mean about being smaller boutique kind of place. Changes are not really optional and really are insulting to the chef. I would suggest going into it with the plan to take 1/2 of whatever you are served home. Eat as little of the sauce and cheese as possible and none of the bread. Then rave over the chef! Also, make sure you are not hungry when you go to dinner. Have a full medifast meal at the appropriate time before you go so you aren't tempted to eat over 1/2 of dinner. I actually did cut back just slightly the day I went out and ate only 1/2 a bar early in the am and then a whole one for a snack before lunch and was able to stick to my guns. Afterwards, I was full all day and actually had to make myself eat just a little to keep the metabolism moving.

On the Optavia front.... This is an interesting set of comments because my husband and I got involved through the Take Shape for Life program (a friend of a friend) and order our food through her link -same prices. We do have access to the Optavia foods and I can tell you that for the most part, they are pretty good. The cinnamon swirl cream cheese cakes I would call an exception to that rule. My husband Scott calls them the "barnyard cakes." The directions where to make them in the microwave and that was an epic fail. I took the other 6 packets and baked them in the oven in mini muffin tins. There are 3 muffins per packet. We still aren't crazy about them are and are still working our way through them. I think there are 4 or 5 left. The other benefit is, if we have gone over just a bit on the L&G, we can just eat 1 mini muffin, again just to jump the metabolism. I also had the Chia Bliss Smoothie today for the 1st time and wasn't expecting much but ended up really liking it a lot. The bars are great. I was talked into buying the Green Renewal Shake which I have not had the courage to try because it contains kale and that is not a favorite of mine. I'll likely jump into that by tomorrow. The main thing about the Optavia is that it is slightly more expensive and it has a really sharp looking matte finished box that is clean and modern looking visually. Our health coach spins them as containing premium ingredients. Who knows but they are good and made at the same factory in MD.

As far as the health coach goes, she is very nice and trying very hard. I like her a lot as a person. It is just not our thing but I am sure its great for some people. She sends us recipes and motivational videos as well as calling once a week to track our progress. She is available for as much support as you like.

Happy Tuesday!

Sheila

BanTam! Yay, come on in! Love to have you. This is an awesome group with great people. Most of us have just started or restarted recently so this is the perfect time to join in and recommit. How is it going on Day #2?

Sheila

Thank you, Sheila!

So far, so good! It actually feels GOOD to be back on the program!! Maybe because instead of the constant "I need to do something" going on in my head, now that I'm doing it, I feel less stress.

BanTam!! We are soul sisters I think! I lost 120lbs about 6 years ago and over that time it crept back. This past fall I was in a deep depression and felt like nothing I could do was ever going to get this weight off. I feel exactly the same in that I am finally doing something about it!!! Look forward to learning more about you!

Sheila, great advice as ever!! The funny thing is the fish on the menu is fried catfish (it's a very Southern place) and I know that would be worse than the chicken!! I have adjusted my meal plan for that day and may change up my timing so I'm having something closer to dinner time than usual.

I do like the sounds of things like chia and kale which I was trying to get more of in my diet before Medifast.

Thanks again!
Laura

Welcome BanTam, you're in good company! I am on Day 4 of a restart and feeling good!

I woke up starving this morning!! I hope that means the pounds are falling off. I had MF scrambled egg packet, scrambled with 1 Tbsp cream cheese (my extra healthy fat). Just now for mid morning I had a MF dark chocolate antioxidant shake, which tasted pretty bitter. I will get used to it though. Looking forward to another on plan day! I think I will have more leftover chicken and a big salad for dinner tonight.

How's everyone else doing?

That does sound very similar! Thank goodness we are both on the right track and taking charge!!

I woke up hungry, too! For me, it was because I have the day off and I woke up later than normal. If I remember, it did seem like I lost more during the weeks when I felt hungrier.

While I will never be "small" again (I have a weird heart thing that gets worse with too much weight loss), I am looking forward to getting up off the floor without needing something to grab ahold of! Also, I plan to retire in 2018 and I want to be in better shape to enjoy it!

Mal2600 and BanTam ~

I am so glad you can join us!

BanTam ~ I was on those wonderful Medifast threads and remember you! I miss so many of those wonderful people and their blogs. One who comes to mind is SunnyDay. Do you remember her?

Anyway, I digress. Both of you are going to feel so good in the coming weeks.
It is amazing that we have all found each other on this thread and can share our ups and downs and the ins and outs of our lives and this program!

I look forward to the wonderful interaction!

Laura ~ Your Valentine's dinner will be challenging, but certainly doable. As I stated earlier this week, this is the "real" life while doing Medifast. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I went to a "tea" last Friday. It was an intimate setting, very formal. The courses were just presented. First was a mixed salad with a dressing- I ate a bit of it. The a cream of crab soup- stirred it and kept my hands busy with the teacup (boy, did I drink a lot of tea that afternoon!), then there were the sandwiches. I picked about 3 of the cucumber and cream cheese ones and a tunafish salad one. I ate the cucumbers only...cutting them...keeping my hands busy, then the tiny tuna salad. Nobody commented - we were too busy talking and drinking tea!
And then the desserts arrived...I took one, put it on my plate (didn't eat it) and drank more tea!!!

Honestly if you don't mention you're on a diet program....blah, blah, blah...nobody cares.

I just ate a MF meal prior to going. The gathering was totally enjoyable. I also walked around quite a bit, looking at all the lovely furnishings and asking if I could help the hostess in her kitchen.

Now as far as your dinner goes...this is a lovely venue your dear husband chose for YOU. Enjoy the night. Eat well, and do the best you can. I don't worry anymore about "what I CAN have," but rather how I choose to react. Pre-planning is important, don't get me wrong, but the fun part is the atmosphere and the people you are with!

You are going to have a fantastic time!

I copied and pasted the MF oatmeal waffle recipe from the MF forum, just in case y'all haven't tried it. This makes one full round waffle in my flip-style Waring Belgian double waffle maker. This waffle maker is a little smaller than the Kenmore one I had (...and loved *sob*) so I reduced the amount of water down to 2 tbsp.

This is filling and if you hate the oatmeal, this is a great way to use it up. The added egg whites also boost your protein for the day without adding a lot of calories/carbs. Oh, and it's very portable!

Make sure your waffle iron is heated until light or beep goes off before pouring your first waffle.



Maple Waffles
1 pkg Apple Cinn or Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
2 tbsp. Walden Farms Pancake Syrup
2 tbsp. water
66 grams (or 2 large egg whites)
dash of baking powder, but it doesn't really matter much
Pam spray

Or another option:

Blueberry Waffles
1 pkg Blueberry Oatmeal
2 tbsp. Walden Farms Blueberry Syrup
2 tbsp. water
66 grams (or 2 large egg whites)
dash of baking powder, if wanted
Pam spray

Same directions as above.

Mix all together and pour into a HOT waffle iron. Spray short spray to top and bottom irons. I set my Presto Flip Waffle maker for 6 minutes.

For my waffle maker this makes no splatter mess and no half filled waffles.

If you don't care for the oatmeal try this recipe...you may like it better this way.

(I have a photo but cannot yet post it here.)

Happy Thursday all!!

Joyce, thanks for the strategies you used during the tea. There is a Super Bowl potluck coming next week to work and I'm still on the 'work from home' that day side, but maybe I can pretend to participate without actually eating anything. Interesting.

So, one of the motivations for starting Medifast for me was that most of my work clothes were getting too tight and unflattering and I knew I needed to do something. As I start day 13, I'm happy to report that my clothes fit right again. Next step is too loose, but I'm happy that my options have expanded. A lot of my nicer clothes are a size down as I bought them a couple years ago with the intention of fitting into them by the next season (winter clothes I bought in the early spring for the next winter). I'm almost ready to try them on and see how they look.

It's funny this week has dragged and I am wondering if subconsciously it's because I am eagerly anticipating my weigh in on Saturday. I've wanted to step on the scale all week and it's making me crazy that I cannot. More accurately, WILL not!

Have a great day everyone!! Keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Laura

Happy Thursday!!

Parties and are so tough! At least most restaurants have more variety, but parties are hard unless you bring an OP dish. We had planned a Super Bowl party but Greenbay dashed those hopes a couple of weeks ago when they beat Dallas!

Laura - congrats on the work clothes fitting better again. I love the feeling and confidence boost from stepping into a pair of jeans that used to be too tight.

On to a great day!!

Laura ~ Liked the wording : "I'm happy that my options have expanded." And mean while you are getting smaller!
I am so happy you have the WANTpower to stay away from the scale 'til Saturday. It will make the weekend that much more fun!