Aww Vi, I completely sympathize with you. I want to be thin more than a drowning person wants their next breath but for whatever reason, I just could NOT stick to diets either. I was thinking about trying Super Glue lip gloss until I found this Medifast diet. Even now, I won't let myself have anything but shakes because I'm afraid that if I get the snack bars and oatmeal, I'll go nuts and binge on them.
My doctor diagnosed me with compulsive eating disorder in 1995, which helped explain why I just couldn't control my moderation. I'd eat like a starving person at a feast and then not eat at all for 3 or 4 days because of the guilt I felt. I don't begin to know what havoc that wreaked on my body, but even knowing that, I still couldn't control portion sizes, I couldn't say no to food I wanted at social functions, restaurants and movie theaters... it seemed hopeless. So I KNOW exactly what you mean. It's like, "I want to be thin so why can't I just STICK to something?"
This Medifast diet is the only diet I have been able to stick to in over 10 years. I think it's because I KNOW that I'm only allowed the supplements and because I'm not hungry. Chances are, that if I'm watching TV and one of those fast food commercials come on, if I crave it, it's usually time for another shake and I'm hungry. After I have the shake I'm fine and I couldn't care less about them. It's so refreshing. I also don't go to restaurants anymore because I can't eat the food. I don't have to worry about making the "right" choices because I can only have my supplements. I know it doesn't sound very fun and it is hard when my mom and grandma go out to eat and I can't go, but I know that it's not forever. I have to remind myself that the food isn't going anywhere. Once I tackle this obssession with food and the bad habits that go with it, (such as looking to food when I'm sad, happy, bored, etc.) then I can gradually introduce other supplements into my diet such as chili, oatmeal and snack bars. Then, I will have broken those bad binge habits, I will be able to eat only ONE bar a day and NOT the box, so when I go off the program, I will be able to make wiser choices and not feel like I'm on death row doing it.
What a tremendous amount of effort to put into something as simple as eating, but it goes to show you what kind of damage past eating traumas can affect your life.
I'm not saying you'd want or should do the diet I'm on, but you may want to sit down and try to work out the reason behind your attraction to food. I had to do that as well. I finally realized that my obssession stemmed from when I was an early teen and living with my biological father. He was an alcoholic and more often than not we'd have condiments in the fridge and vodka in the freezer and that's it. Talk about Ole Mother Hubbard! Then, he'd go to the grocery store, blow $300 on all sorts of food and it was like, "OHMIGOD, what do I eat first????" So I'd binge because the food was there and I knew it wouldn't last. The rest of the time I ate at 7-11 or a friend's house, whose family's cooking ranged from sloppy joes to pizza to hamburgers. I realized that I've carried that whole binge mentality with me right up to the ripe old age of 34. So, I have to have a constant check on myself to remind me that the food isn't going anywhere. I can have it in moderation once I reach my goals and it will be there. It will be there in a year, it will be there from week to week and day to day so there is no need to glut.
I don't know if you had something similar in your early years that may have had an impact on your eating habits, but I find that most overweight people I've ever known usually have some demon to fight - possibly a parent that forced them to eat everything on their plate or friends/parents who ostracised them because of their weight, causing them to hoard food and eat in private. There are a million reasons that can cause this - it has nothing to do with willpower or desire to be thin. It's some strange, ingrained compulsion that can't be dealt with until you find out where it comes from.
I probably haven't said anything that you don't already know hun. I just feel that it's very important for you to know that you aren't alone in this. I know I still go through it and I'll be here to support you in whatever choices you make.
Vi, planning what I eat, using prepackaged foods to manage my portion control for me , as well as having my package of light yogurt or a banana, each 100 calories, for deliberately planned 3 hour snacks, has made a world of difference for my success. Eating every three hours keeps me from feeling so deprived, while preventing the hunger pain and headaches. And it doesn't have to cost a lot to use prepackaged stuff. I eat a lot of Budget Gourmet lasagna or manicotti at 88 cents a meal. Eating lasagna and manicotti, I feel comforted. Being 88 cents and a mere 230 to 300 calories, I don't feel guilty.
Now if I could just get my head around the exercise to make it that easy.... Really, while I don't yet enjoy the exercise, I can see that it helps my weight loss, moods, and sleep. Maybe it's my dh that enjoys my exercise...LOL Just don't give up. You aren't alone. Even if your parents have abandoned their diets, you haven't and we haven't. We're with you, Vi.
Thank you both for your support, Its true im at the point where weight just is not comming off and I think in my mind and heart I gave up.. However I kicked myself in the backside and told my family that was it no more cheats and if they wanted to eat crap to do it when I am not home or before I get home from the gym. Yesterday I did work out and changed it up just a bit, Ive been having some knee pain so i skiped the bike. I also did 200 crunches yesterday. I so deep down inside dont want to give up its just i feel so depressed and feel i cant do this that it is too hard. I want to be thin, I want to be healthy I just never thought it would be this challanging. I am lonley also and when I look in the mirror I make myself ILL think i just look so huge and fat how could I even think the guy i have a crush on would like me when i hate myself.... all I want to do is cry I feel like I hit a wall and have no place to go.......
Vi, just have faith in youself and you'll get there. Everyone reaches plateaus but let me share some info that an RN shared with me when I was on that clinic diet 10 years ago. It has always stuck with me. When you diet, rather you have a lot or a little weight to lose, it still means that your body is changing. You can loose only so much weight before your body has to take some time to catch up with itself. It needs time to shrink the blood vessels and to re-adjust the skin around the lost fat (just imagine the size of a pound of fat!). This is when you lose the inches!
If you keep going as well as you have been, your weight loss will pick up again - just have faith in yourself and the fact that you can get where you want to be. It just takes a lot of patience but it will pay off.
Please don't be so down on yourself. Everyone has slip-ups and everyone who diets gets discouraged. Just hang in there and remember that we're here to support you all the way!
Debs - It's great to see you despite you being so busy! Deep breaths... everything will work out in the end.
Thanks for the support, lastnight was an okay night I broke down and had a turkey burger the bad part was I had cheese and light mayo.. I did have a good workout but I know I did not burn off nearly enough cals for it to matter. Ive been very depressed this week and right now im not seeing the light at the end of the tunel. When I look into a mirrow i just get ill all i see is this huge tummy and huge arms I cant see the good changes ive made how can I change this??? I just get so hungry or i think I am, Im thinking maybe I should stop taking Trim Spa and try another supressent.. any suggestions for me ??? Ill do anything!!!!!! Also does anyone know how much fat is in gronila, my mom got some at Costco and it has no nutrational info on it Ive been having that 4 a snack maybe its too high in fat and thats my problem.. what you u think?
Vi hun, you've just got to hang in there. It's unfortunate that when you have quite a bit of weight to lose (like me) the fruits of your endeavors don't show up as fast as they would for those who only have 15 or 20lbs to lose. I have trouble with that too - that's why I needed a plan that I could lose slightly faster on because I simply don't have the patience for 1 or 2lbs a week. I get discouraged because it takes SO long to see the results.
Ground turkey is very good for you - it's a very lean source of protein, so that was not bad at all. A little cheese and light mayo isn't bad either - if you were doing Weight Watchers, you'd be able to have that so I don't think it sabotaged anything.
Granola - well, every single "breakfast bar" I've ever seen always has loads of sugar and fat. Granola itself isn't too bad, but by the time they get finished putting in the chocolate or honey and all the "bird seed" - the fat and sugar raise dramatically. I don't think having one once in awhile will do any damage, but using them for a regular snack may not be as beneficial as the food industry would like you to believe.
I'm trying to adapt my eating style through my diet so I get used to eating (or in this case, drinking!) at least 5 times a day - only smaller portions. I've never been a snacker, but because I'd usually skip breakfast, I'd gorge on lunch because I'd be famished by 1:00pm! So, rather than "snacking" on a piece of fruit (which has a lot of sugar as well) perhaps make up some significant dishes and separate them out so you are eating less but more often. I know it's been proven to keep your metabolism from rising and falling and you don't get those huge sugar rushes. On my past diet, where I was required to eat 4 times a day, I'd do things like brown a whole pack of ground turkey (lean) with bell peppers, onions and spices, (and a touch of Jamaican Wildfire sauce - I love hot sauce) and then I'd put portions into small tubs and take it to work with me. I'd also do the same with salads or 1% fat cottage cheese, etc. That way you're always getting some sort of protein, which helps stabilize your metabolism.
I learned a LONG time ago - before Atkins, before South Beach, etc. - that my body just doesn't like carbs. When I melted away 90lbs on that clinic diet 10 years ago, eating high protein, low carb, low fat, I finally understood what my body was about. I don't mean to cut them out altogether, but I have to be very careful. As soon as I start eating a generous amount of them, I begin to crave sweets. I don't even LIKE most sweets, so that was very bizarre. However, if I cut down the carbs (basically all the white and refined stuff) and stuck to protein and a lot of veggies, the weight came off MUCH easier and after about a week, I stopped craving chocolate and pasta and things like that altogether. I am pretty sedintary at work, so I am just not active enough to burn off all the carbs I was intaking. In turn, they would turn to sugar and, eventually, fat.
I don't know if that helps, but I hope it does. I was a strong believer that I couldn't lose weight unless I used an appetite supressant like Phentermine. However, I realize that it's only the FOODS causing this intense hunger and, in my case, overproduction of stomach acid, which MAKES you feel hungry when you're not. I drink 5 Medifast shakes a day and drink 2 bouillon for the potassium. Once in awhile if I get a hunger pang, I eat a pickle. (2 per day are allowed). Other than that, I'm not hungry! No grumbles, no over-production of stomach acid anymore, and NO cravings for sweets or, anything for that matter. Ketosis, even in a very mild state, has a wonderful way of curbing hunger all on it's own without drugs.
The only other thing I can say (again, only from my point of view with a view to helping you) is that I HAVE to have some sort of reigimented eating routine to lose weight. I don't have the ability to do an open program like WW where you can have "everything in moderation". Moderation for me knows no boundaries. I'm getting better, but I'm not there yet. Maybe some type of regimen would be easier for you to follow than trying to do it all on your own. I don't know why that is, but I find it much easier to say NO if it isn't on my diet rather than trust myself to only eat a little of whatever I want.
Anyway Vi, I can only tell you things from my perspective, however, what works for one is certainly not for all. Either way, you have GOT to stop being so down on yourself. You've done so well and, like I said,your body needs time to catch up with itself. You don't want to lose 50lbs and then have excess skin hanging off everything. So just keep on keeping on and you'll surprise yourself. I promise!
Im doing okay lastnight was a bore I went to the gym however I quit 10min b4 I was suspose to but thats okay right.. Is that medifast died expansive? so thats all you do is drink the shakes?? I need to reflect on where I am and where I want to be and just take time and not stress about results, at least im trying and a little is better than none at all.. I just had the vision that I would be down so much and look so different that everyone would notice however I cant even see it in my self so how can oters? Its diffcult for me to be patitance and to just be happy with myself maybe I have something other than stress of the diet wrong with me maybe i have a little depression. Plus I find myself worried about Trevor the neighbor across the street like if im this way he wont even look at me and who is to say when Im thin he will look, but then its like its taking so long to see a change he may move or find someone b4 i get thinner... i dunno i think im nuts.. as for the gronla im stopping that im sure that is the deal thats its 2 high in fat...
I didn't really read the post-sorry guys......I'm in the middle of packing/sorting/cleaning.
We are going to move over as much stuff as possible today. We are only going 5 miles-so it won't be that bad.
It's just that we have a LOT of stuff and the house we are going to is considerably smaller! That's ok, though. It is so clean! The stove looks brand new-but it's not. How on earth did she get it to sparkle? I am going to have to clean the stove out every week!!!! And there is no self cleaner on the stove.
My friend I mentioned (um yeah...I mentioned her alright)...is coming over today. They have a small pick up truck and we want to use it. She probably won't be over until noon! I know, she worked last night and needs to rest. I just wish we would have switched vechiles last night. She is going to probably hang out at one of the houses. I don't really want her to help me. I am UNORGANIZED..I want to pack myself. She can keep Nathan busy.
Ok....I've been on break long enough. I told my husband the kitchen would be packed before he got back...lol.
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Debs
ps...eating-terrible! exercise--horrible drinking water--not at all...
Will drink water today!
Well another friday is here and Im so not wanting to be at work today it seems everyone else feels the same way since Im the only one in the office today... Maybe ill take a nap later if we r slow Well Lastnight was uneventful I did not do much at all but I did go to the gym had a good workout and I spoke to my "trainer" about what I should do differently she feels i need to just relax and it will happen however she was able to help me with a few thing and I think I will change weightloss sumplments insted of Trim Spa like Ive been on I think I will take the Apex ones from the gym and see how they work, heck they r cheaper then Trim Spa. Well I weighed myself this morning on the flipen devil machine called the scale..LOL and I went down 2.50lbs so that makes me a little happy Sorry for my mid week melt down im so trying to hang in there.. But thanks so much for everyone helping me it means so much to me
Vi - WEIGH to GO on the 2.5lb loss! See, I told you so! Just hang in there doing what you're doing and it will pay off! Personally, I wouldn't even waste my money on that Trim Spa or any over the counter weight loss stuff. I honestly do not believe that they work - I think they have more of a placebo effect. I also don't trust what they put into them - look what happened with Ephedra! Just be careful, okay?
Debs - well what can I say on the go-go girl? It sounds like you're running around in circles so fast you're like a whirling dervish! Just remember - one step at a time and you'll get there. Once the stuff is moved, then you can worry about what goes where and what to get rid of, if anything. I find it really hard to get a mental image of what something will look like until I put things away in their proper places. I'm very good at spacial relations, but finding the 'perfect' spot for something drives me to distraction! I wish you the best of luck. Hang in there - you're getting there. Just don't do what I do - let yourself get run by everyone else's schedule. I hate that. No one specifically tells me to rush, but yet they put time limits on things and then I find myself under the gun. I try very hard not to do that anymore and it benefits my stress level.
As for me... well, I went to Curves yesterday for one of my two workouts. I'm going again tonight. I'm still a little frustrated at the women there.. one of them asked me yesterday how I'm doing and how I felt, so I told her. I lost 15.5 lbs in 2 weeks and I felt great. Then she started on about losing weight too fast and blah blah. I just looked at her and said, "Well, if it's good enough for Johns Hopkins, it's good enough for me." and just carried on with my workout. I swear I'm going to stuff her mouth with a shoe protector if she and her counterpart don't get off my back. You know, a little encouragement wouldn't hurt. And I swear, if I go back tonight and the other one starts in, I'm going to tell them. It's really upsetting me and I'm no shrinking violet. I'm going to tell them that I'm working very hard and it upsets me that, even at the gym, they can't even support me. Oooh they make me mad!
So anyway, here we are today - I'm down 17.5 lbs (the tickers don't register half a pound!) and I'm fine. I have a slight headache but I think that's just because. I suffer with headaches and migraines all the time - always have done. I was running around like a headless chicken today so I think that had something to do with it. Otherwise, everything is fine. I'm getting nervous about tomorrow. I need to get up early and buy concert tickets and I'm petrified they'll sell out. Sounds kind of stupid, but I haven't done anything in months and I'm REALLY looking forward to it. It's not til October 22, so I'm hoping I'll be in ONEderland by then. Please cross your fingers for me.
You all take care and I'll check in over the weekend!
I've officially relocated to Florida! I haven't checked in, read any posts or even kept up with fitday.com because I've been so busy. My furniture should be coming this morning so all that moving and unpacking will be my exercise for the day. I'll check back later. Have a great day!
Hey Vi, thanks for the encouragement! I've been going pretty strong and steady, although I admit that those Pizza Hut commercials still sting once in awhile. I even bought a stuffed pig to sit on top of my TV so everytime I see a fast food/restaurant commercial I just stare at the pig and remind myself of how I do NOT want to be. It's pretty stupid I guess, but it works! I bought tickets to see Nine Inch Nails. I knew the tix would sell like fire so I got there early. I missed out on floor tix even though I was 4th in line but I have a seat so it's better than nothing.
Healthy - you've relocated now? You're in the Sunshine State like me! I tell you... all the beach bunnies in bikinis are a really great inspiration for sticking to a diet. It's a godsend that my apartment window looks over the pool! I only moved back from the UK 6.5 months ago and I remember that "moving" feeling very well. I didn't know if I was coming or going half the time but you'll get there in the end. Just try not to put yourself under the gun to get everything perfect. I tried that because I love a clean house, but all I ended up doing was driving myself crazy because I didn't own any furniture at the time!! Even now I have box after box in my spare room because they're full of books and I don't have a bookcase! But, I'll live with it. Thankfully it's in the spare room so I can shut the door and forget about it now and then. I wish you the best of luck!!!
As for me - well, I did my Curves thing on Thursday and Friday. I was glad to see, for their sake, that they kept their mouths shut about my diet. I told the woman that I was going to be on that Elite board by the next weigh in. Then I'll get my Elite t-shirt and wear it very proudly. I'm sitting here at 18.5lbs lost (the ticker doesn't register half a pound) and it's driving me nuts to get to 20lbs. I should be ashamed of myself, really. I've lost 18.5lbs in 18 days so you'd think I'd be satisfied but NO... there's always another hurdle! I guess it's really small goals I set for myself so I don't get complacent but I need to learn to be satisfied with what I've done too. I guess when you have weight to lose it never can come off fast enough.
I've been getting in all of my water (80 oz per day) except for Saturday. I was so tired after getting up early to get those tickets and then I had to get an oil change for my car - I just didn't want to do anything but lay there and watch TV - so I did. Usually I'm dying of thirst because my body is used to all the water intake but I didn't even feel thirsty. I was just dead. But, Sunday I got in all of my water and I'll ensure that I get it in all this week. I'm petrified of loose skin so I force myself to finish it to keep my body and skin hydrated. I drink Fruit 2 0 Plus (with vitamins) and I find that it helps a LOT!!! I highly recommend it for any of you who have a difficult time getting your water intake.
Anyway, take care and keep in touch! We NEED each other!
I am now on day 4 of moving stuff! We should have just gotten a truck. It would be done and over with. We thought with having both places for a little over a week we'd do just fine. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! My new place is a mess. We will need to bring back one of the couches to sell at the garage sale on Friday, Sat, Sun. Was I crazy???? AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Bedrooms are done, computer room just needs stuff shifted to the correct piles and vaccummed. Living/Dining done. Kitchen---pantries and then CLEANING IT-stove/fridge you know all the good stuff. Then the garage. We are trying to tackle the garage tonight. It's 7pm and I know my dh is tired! He's taking a load to the new place. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Oh.....I am suppose to go set up my classroom this week-I think NOT. I go back to work next week! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I have to unpack and set up my room! I am putting a note on my door--DON'T BUG ME! Boy, that sounds real friendly, huh??? LOL
We should have computer service on Thursday. I will get back to regular posting and my NORMAL life soon. I HATE MOVING!!!! How can be gather so much stuff???????
I need those space saver bags---anyone ever use those??? I need like 50 of them!!!!! AHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I was thinking about trying Super Glue lip gloss 
until I found this Medifast diet. Even now, I won't let myself have anything but shakes because I'm afraid that if I get the snack bars and oatmeal, I'll go nuts and binge on them. 
and then not eat at all for 3 or 4 days because of the guilt I felt. 
I don't begin to know what havoc that wreaked on my body, but even knowing that, I still couldn't control portion sizes, I couldn't say no to food I wanted at social functions, restaurants and movie theaters... it seemed hopeless. 
So I KNOW exactly what you mean. It's like, "I want to be thin so why can't I just STICK to something?"
It's so refreshing. I also don't go to restaurants anymore because I can't eat the food. 
I don't have to worry about making the "right" choices because I can only have my supplements. I know it doesn't sound very fun and it is hard when my mom and grandma go out to eat and I can't go, but I know that it's not forever. I have to remind myself that the food isn't going anywhere. Once I tackle this obssession with food and the bad habits that go with it, (such as looking to food when I'm sad, happy, bored, etc.) then I can gradually introduce other supplements into my diet such as chili, oatmeal and snack bars. Then, I will have broken those bad binge habits, I will be able to eat only ONE bar a day and NOT the box, so when I go off the program, I will be able to make wiser choices and not feel like I'm on death row doing it. 
- possibly a parent that forced them to eat everything on their plate or friends/parents who ostracised them because of their weight, causing them to hoard food and eat in private. There are a million reasons that can cause this - it has nothing to do with willpower or desire to be thin. It's some strange, ingrained compulsion that can't be dealt with until you find out where it comes from.
So just keep on keeping on and you'll surprise yourself. I promise!
Well Lastnight was uneventful I did not do much at all but I did go to the gym had a good workout and I spoke to my "trainer" about what I should do differently she feels i need to just relax and it will happen however she was able to help me with a few thing and I think I will change weightloss sumplments insted of Trim Spa like Ive been on I think I will take the Apex ones from the gym and see how they work, heck they r cheaper then Trim Spa. Well I weighed myself this morning on the flipen devil machine 
Hi everybody!
Just hang in there doing what you're doing and it will pay off! Personally, I wouldn't even waste my money on that Trim Spa or any over the counter weight loss stuff. I honestly do not believe that they work - I think they have more of a placebo effect. I also don't trust what they put into them - look what happened with Ephedra! Just be careful, okay?
I've been going pretty strong and steady, although I admit that those Pizza Hut commercials still sting once in awhile. 
I even bought a stuffed pig to sit on top of my TV so everytime I see a fast food/restaurant commercial I just stare at the pig and remind myself of how I do NOT want to be. 
It's pretty stupid I guess, but it works! I bought tickets to see Nine Inch Nails. 
so I got there early. I missed out on floor tix even though I was 4th in line but I have a seat so it's better than nothing. 
I tell you... all the beach bunnies in bikinis are a really great inspiration for sticking to a diet. It's a godsend that my apartment window looks over the pool! 
I was glad to see, for their sake, that they kept their mouths shut about my diet. 
I should be ashamed of myself, really. 
I've lost 18.5lbs in 18 days so you'd think I'd be satisfied but NO... there's always another hurdle! I guess it's really small goals I set for myself so I don't get complacent but I need to learn to be satisfied with what I've done too. I guess when you have weight to lose it never can come off fast enough. 
Usually I'm dying of thirst because my body is used to all the water intake but I didn't even feel thirsty. I was just dead. But, Sunday I got in all of my water and I'll ensure that I get it in all this week. I'm petrified of loose skin so I force myself to finish it to keep my body and skin hydrated. 
I drink Fruit 2 0 Plus (with vitamins) and I find that it helps a LOT!!! I highly recommend it for any of you who have a difficult time getting your water intake. 