[abovethedin]

Vbevens,

A friend of mine hit a plateau and she substituted shakes for some of the other MF meals and that seemed to work well for her. Oh, she also stopped eating the bars for a bit too.

Jen

[Vbevens]

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!

[SweetP]

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

[abovethedin]

I am here SweetP. I've just been lurking. I ate Easter dinner and am now just waiting to get back on track. Well actually, I am back on track just waiting to see results. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!By the way SweetP, just looking at your ticker is very inspiring! What a great job you've done!

Jen

[gerly1]

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

[brookelizabeth]

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!

[abovethedin]

I have a question about zigzag/rotation. Two weekends ago I decided to go off of plan for one meal. The next day I ended up having a gain on the scale of 4 pounds. I now know that it must have just been water gain, extra carbs etc. It took me the entire 6 days to get rid of the 4 pound gain. This weekend for Easter dinner I went off plan also and when I jumped on the scale the next morning I had a gain of 5 pounds. Today, 2 days later I have lost 3 of the 5 I had "gained". I am curious if this is a normal picture of what the zigzag is. For me, this type of gain/loss would be discouraging. I could see how I would give it a try if the scale didn't jump so high after one day, but to have to deal with it for almost a week to get back to the weight I had originally started at doesn't seem worth it to me. I realize it could just be the way my body is reacting to extra carbs and that this may not be for me to try.

What do you all think?

Jen

[Vbevens]

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?

[abovethedin]

Vbevens,

A new thread would be great! I'll be there. I too have had a rough time with my cheat day. Although this week seems to be a bit easier at dropping the initial gain, I am a bit upset when I think about money I have wasted for these two weeks. I've decided I will not have another cheat day till I reach my goal. Then to top it off, with each cheat my goal gets pushed back a week! Then there is the frustration of having to move my ticker in the opposite direction...that doesn't thrill me at all.

[brookelizabeth]

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.

[Vbevens]

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.

[abovethedin]

Hi group,

How is everyone doing lately. It has been rather quiet around here. I am finally on the decline again. I woke up this morning and I not only lost what I had gained from Easter but I am now in a new set of numbers! Ok only by 2/3rd's of a pound but I will take it! I feel energized, ready to start again. I also received my MF order of bars and shakes today. What a great way to start a day; with bars and shakes and lost weight!