As I continue on my Journey with Medifast - TSFL

Here we are - over a Year since my last post.  This is not to say that I gave up on my Journey - actually, the usual thing happened.  That's right - I was very happy at 151.  So happy, in fact, that I stopped the plan entirely. I loved the way my clothes fit - I rewarded myself with a trip to Alaska to see my best friend - (WOOT for the BFF!  - We had a GREAT Time together).  Then I continued life and went right back to my bad habits - That took some time, but with Thanksgiving and then Christmas, and the Death of my Grandmother - it wasn't too long before I was back to where I was.


But here is good news! I had thrown away all of my clothes that were bigger.  I had 1 pair of jeans left from that era (Just in case jeans).  Nothing was fitting me - things were getting tight on me again... and I had nothing to wear.

 It was kind of - well... embarrassing.  I also stayed very active in my TSFL Group on Facebook. For those of you out there that are researching the TSFL or Medifast program, you need to go to YouTube and look up Kristina Fowler (Seriously, she is an amazing woman and coach so I am going to Link her YouTube Channel right HERE ).

Kristina and I were talking and trying to figure out what was my issue - and as we got into the thick of it, we realized that I am very Goal motivated.  I had a goal before, but when I stopped it was because I had reached a point where I had hit a pretty big goal.  I had graduated from College (Finally) and I was pretty happy with where I was.  .  . So, Kristina challenged me again.  We set a super hard goal this time - and I restarted at 172 lbs.  On April 15th - I started the "Lose 2 Cruise" at 169.

As of last Saturday, I am 144.2 - Less than I was when I gave up a year ago and settled.  This time, though, there are a few more changes.  I am not only on the Medifast Plan (And sticking with it without any cheating at all) but I have also started to do things like light Jogging, Yoga, and a lot more walking.  ( I mean a lot more Walking) - My Fitbit HR and I are ONE. In fact, at this point I think that I am averaging about 15K steps a day.   (Unless challenged... and then LOOK OUT Y'all!)

Anyway - that's the current update.  The motto here is that you may not succeed the first time you have a go at it, but that does not mean that you should give up.  Never give up - Never never Give up.

Took a SLIGHT Break - Joys of Medifast

So, ya'll, I had to take a slight break. NOW, before we get into the ho and hum of taking a break and how it is not good for your body let me jump right into a positive.  One of the most fabulous things about the Medifast Plan is that it makes you recognize your triggers.  I am totally a stress eating fiend.  Stress = Food in my face.  It just happens.  I will not apologize!  I do recognize it though because one of the first things my coach did with me is have me sit down and recognize my triggers.

This semester was probably the hardest semester that I have endured in a long time - and towards the end (Right around Mid April) I hit a plateau that would not go away.  No, really.  I tried everything.   The plateau was just hanging out - enjoying itself while I fretted over whether or not I would finish the semester at all.  I was a literal wreck.

I had to go off the diet - I was doing so much damage to myself by sneaking foods and stuff that I shouldn't have - I talked to my coach who tried to be encouraging, but overall it came down to understanding that sometimes you just can't beat these triggers.

BUT - I made a bargain.  I still continued to not partake in soda, walk each day, drink lots of water, and eat every 2 hours or so and stick with healthy choices like proteins and veggies.  I was stuck at 156 when I started and I was just so overwhelmingly stressed.  I knew that I would gain it all back.  *(KNEW IT)*

However, now that school has ended for the semester, and the final grades have posted, I am ready to get back in the saddle. I stepped on the scale this morning and took my measurements again and - LO! - I am 151!  That's right - I actually lost weight even with the eating out instead of preparing my meals.  The goal is still 135 and 16lbs is so within reach! I'm back at it! :)

I love that this diet is flexible, and that it works with you if you work with it. :)

Keep going strong everyone!  The goal is within reach! :)

Plateau - Oh, the woes of the Plateau -

So - success has been abundant over the course of this diet.  However, I hit a plateau after my last post. Seriously - nothing was moving. (Ok, that is not entirely true... The scale did not move much, but my belt notch did).  Either way, that little number does mean a lot to me - and I was really worried.  I mean... 2 weeks at 156?  I am just OUNCES Away from being in a normal weight class instead of in the overweight class!

Then - disaster. (I know, I am so dramatic).  We went on a road trip and I gained 3 lbs.  What the what?!?!  I knew that this happened with travel, but with me?  No!  That's for other girls!  Not this smokin' hot broad!  What was a girl to do?

I had the answer -  Actually, a group member had the answer, but I totally joined in.  BEAST MODE WEEK.  All your water , all your meals on time, and portioned meals exactly down to the Gram.  That's right - BEAST MODE ACTIVATED!

So, when I started this week I was at 159.6 - and as of this morning I am at 154.6 - the week is not over yet, but I am past the evil Plateau of 156.4 by almost 2 lbs!  So - YAY for beast Mode!  May the trend continue! :)  (In a southward direction as far as the scale is concerned).  The ultimate goal was to make it to 153 by this coming Sunday.  NOW, I am hoping to Fly past the goal of 153 and hopefully be in a new decade or darn close to being there.  We shall see, right?  Either way - I am glad to be moving in the right direction again. :)

Medifast continues - And still successful over here.

Here we are at the beginning of March - and I have lost over 30 lbs in the last 2 months.  It's amazing!  I have not been at 156.00 since I was on HCG - and that was a pretty unhealthy diet really. (If I go about admitting all of the unhealthy diets that I have done we could be here for days - so let's just pretend it didn't happen, shall we?)

Anyway, I just wanted to share a pretty awesome milestone for me.  My sweet Kadoodle wears a 5/6 in jeans.  I have always been in 9-12 depending on cut and maker... brand... sometimes I even think that color had an affect on the size and how it would fit. . . but we won't go there either.  (It's almost like saying that my special pair of socks will help the Ravens win.  One year they did, but last year - well... It wasn't pretty).

SO, I purchased a pair of goal jeans.  My Daughter's size.  Yup, 5/6.  Maurices, Silvers, with bling on the bootay.  Why?  Because bling on the bootay makes the booty pop.  (Know what I'm sayin' ladies?)

I wasn't really caring so much about when they arrived because I am not at my goal weight yet.  I figured, "They'll get here when they get here and I will wear them when I can wear them".  Simple as that.

THEY ARRIVED

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I stared at them...

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Then

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I tried them on.

*It was JUST TO SEE HOW FAR I STILL HAD TO GO!!!*  (that's my only disclaimer.  They actually went over my backside and buttoned without me sucking in or anything.  No crazy, wiggly snake movements on the bed.  I didn't have to SQUEEZE into these suckers.  I can tell that they are still a little too snug - but I don't have to suck in to button them.  (By the way, these ladies are NOT me - but I love the pictures so I am sharing)

So, I had said before that this diet is Amazing.  It truly is amazing.  The journey has not been without some bumps (I'll admit that I have had a few weak moments with all of the deaths between January and February - and funeral potatoes are delicious.) However, the success that I have had in such a short period of time has been amazing!  So, I would say that if you are alright with a 3-4 lb loss each week, give it a shot for a month.  Just a month.  Just try it.  :)

I hasn't even been two months! :)

I am almost half way there and I have only been on this diet for 7 weeks. 

It truly is amazing what eating "the right way" will do for you.  Regardless of what anyone else has to say about it, this particular diet works IF YOU FOLLOW THE PLAN.  I would say that with most other diets, but the plan on most other diets is crazy.  Medifast works -WELL.  I have a conference that I need to be at in about 3.5 more weeks - and I plan to look fabulous!  I won't be at my goal weight, but I definitely will not be where I have been for the last few years.  I am hoping that by the time I graduate this spring I will have made it to my goal weight.

Now, one of the things that I am so super excited about is reaching my goals - so I wanted to share one that I preemptively jumped in and did.  Not for any reason other than I am confident that I am going to hit my final goal weight and I see the reward in sight (And the airline prices were JUST RIGHT) ... So, in August - I am going to Alaska to see my best friend and Coach - Lori!! (YAY!)

Now the countdown is moving forward - but I just wanted to share.  I am so excited that is 161 days I will not only be at my goal weight, but I will get to see someone that I have not seen in so long.

Which brings me to my next point - Rewards. 

These are so important!  Not food rewards.  Everyone seems to go that route - "I've lost 20 pounds !! I deserve to reward myself with a cheeseburger!!"  WHAT?  Why would you do that to yourself?  I know that it's so easy to reward with tasty (Addictive) Food, but it is so important that you find other rewards to achieve. Being a food addict myself I can't tell you how many times (Even on this diet) where I have said, "I'm doing so good!  Lets go out to eat!"  - I have been lucky to have someone that reminds me that this is not the way - and I am going to remind you too!  (This is not the way people!)  

So, set up some great rewards.  Things that you are working towards - things that you can earn - that are not food related.  Most people go with Manicures, and Pedicures - or a new outfit.  I have chosen larger goals - things that I Have wanted to do so badly but just haven't.  Why not?  If I can lose this weight then I can go on a trip to a new place - or I can get those new shoes.  I am saving money by not throwing it away at empty fast food chains - I deserve to do something awesome!  (And you should too). 

So, set up good rewards for yourself!  This is so important!  And don't give up - if you are starting a diet, any diet - don't give up just because your gravitational pull to the earth is larger than what you would like it to be.  Stick with it!  Stay strong and be healthy - it will really pay off!  Love to you all!

  

So - I know that I posted on Sunday but...

This week has been super stellar for my goal!  I have been almost completely OP (Other than a handful of salted almonds --tsk, tsk, tsk) but as of this morning I am in the lower half of the decade of the 160's.  I am thinking that by the end of this month I should be in a whole new decade once again! :)

Why is this so awesome?  Well, the dear misses and I were up talking the other night - and in the time that I have been married to him (more than a decade now) the lowest that I ever got was when I was on HCG and got into the 150's.  That's it. He has never seen me weigh any less than that in the entire time that he and I have been together.  And personally, I weighed less for more of my life than the time that I was with him, so why couldn't I get back to where I was before I met him?

It is exciting!  So exciting that he started on his P90X Routine again.  After all - (According to him) He can't be walking around all fatty with a slender lady on his arm, right?  (Well, he might not have said it quite like that, but you get the point).

We will keep you updated, but so far progress is great!  The diet is great!  I am still going strong - and I don't have any intention of changing at all because I love being able to fit into the clothes that I have.  Not squeeze into them and convince myself that it's because I kept them in the dryer too long- but I mean FIT into them comfortably.

It's the little things.

Checking in - How are things going on the Medifast Diet for me?

Can I just say that this diet is AWESOME!?!  I mean, would that be too blunt for a first line of this blob?  I don't think so. 

THIS DIET IS AWESOME!

Ok.  It's been a little more than a month since I started this program, Medifast.  You can find it on Take Shape for Life dot com (or TSFL.com) In this first little stretch I have lost more than 20 pounds. (That's quite a bit - go and carry around 20 pounds of sugar at t he store.  Just carry it around with you the entire time that you have to do your shopping - you will be completely worn out when you are done!)

As of today I have finally seen the new decade of the 160's.  I haven't seen this decade since doing HCG.  I was concerned because after the first few weeks of losing so fast, I slowed to what I consider "A Crawl".  I mean, we are talking only a few ounces per day that I was losing.  (What the What? I did so great the first week!  I lost 10 lbs just the first week!)  So, how was I just crawling along?  Actually, I really needed to step back off the scale and rethink what what happening here.  

Overall I am averaging about 3lbs of weight loss per week.  That's really healthy if you ask me (Especially in comparison to other diets that I have done.)  This is not like HCG where I have to lose a pound each day or I would have to starve myself to get beyond that crazy plateau.   If I hang out on to a weight for a few days, no big deal.  I think that the longest I have been on the same weight is 3 days, and then when the scale moves it makes an even larger drop than before.  

Typically, by the end of the week, I have hit my 3lb goal and I feel fine.  Daily check-ins can be frustrating though if I don't keep my eye on the prize.  If I continue at this rate I will be at my goal weight in 15 weeks.  that's actually not a very long time away at all.  That's just until the end of this semester, so I will look awesome for Graduation. :)

One of the biggest struggles that I have had so far is staying OP (On Plan) not by eating, but by the time.  You are supposed to eat every 2-3 hours.  Right now I am struggling with that mainly due to outside factors (Husband, walks, school, work) But I am close.  Could I be losing more if I stayed closer to the time restriction?  Perhaps.  Maybe I will try it out this week and let you all know how it worked out.  What do you think?

Either way, I don't mind saying it again - THIS DIET IS AWESOME!  I am hardly ever hungry (Unless I am not on time with a meal) and I am losing weight without having to try to add exercise into my regimen (Which is nearly impossible right now if you saw the schedule that I had).  So ,if you are thinking about trying it out at all, I really encourage it.  Give it a month - just one month - and if it isn't working for you by then, well, scrap it. But I am almost certain that you will see the results taking effect. :)

Have a great weekend everyone! :)  

Medifast Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffin?

I know - I know!  I was as surprised as you - a pancake that is a muffin?  With the starter kit of the Medifast Favorites on the foods, I got a box of chocolate chip pancakes (That I avoided like the plague primarily because I did not want to pull out a griddle or a pan to cook one lousy pancake, seriously).

As I was perusing through the websites of others who have gone before me to realize their weightloss goals, I stumbled across the inspirational website of another coach who had a great idea for those pesky pancakes - turn them into Muffins!  You can find her site HERE - but this is what you do:.

Ingredients:
* One packet of MF pancake mix - (mine was the chocolate chip pancake, but if you got the plain one then just add 1 teaspoon of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips to the plain batter)
* 2 oz of H2O

Directions:
* Mix in a shaker jar as directed
* Pour into a Pyrex measuring glass (I, too, use the 1 cup size)
* Microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds
* Flip out onto a plate
* Drizzle with sugar-free, no calorie syrup.  (Drizzle - do not saturate or it will defeat the purpose!)
* Enjoy!

This was so tasty - and EASY.  Seriously easy to make for breakfast.  Now, I only put up one picture - my final product... but if you really need to see it in a step by step format then you should go to the site that I linked above, because she put pictures of each step.  I just wanted to share this little successful way to make the pancakes.  YUMMY!

A word on Before and After photos for your journey

JUST TAKE THEM ALREADY!!

I promise that the camera does not bite.  You do not have to share them with anyone. You do not have to put them online.  You do not have to paste them on your wall for motivation (Though if that is what will help you stick with the plan then by all means, do not let me stop you.)  You should take them though.  

I can hear it already!  The weeping and wailing of the "WHY!?!?"

I can truly say that I understand where this anxiety is coming from.  I mean, trust me, I haven't seen my jawline in at least 7 years.  I despise my double chin.  I lament the loss of my shapely, youthful figure from the past.  I do not need another visual reminder of what I look like.  I am aware! I know what I look like.  So, just hear me out when I say that this is one of the very best things that you can do for yourself on this journey of healthy..

Think about that for just a moment - that just for you to see it, you are looking at a 4 week period.  If you are taking your pictures, I can't tell you - I cannot even describe - what a bolster it s to look from that first picture to the second set after a 1 month span of time has passed.  Then check yourself out again after 2 months - then three.  When you reach the end of your journey to look at yourself before, and then after and see the full transition.  You do not have to share, but by the time you are done you will want to.

I know that I am at the beginning of my journey - barely starting week 3 - But I have done this before and the pictures are so helpful.  When you want a cheat day - just look at your pictures.  When you think you aren't getting anywhere and it's not worth it?  Check out those images.   

Take your before pictures - if you haven't but you've started your journey then take them NOW (I know you have a Cellphone!  I know you can be a selfie-queen!).  Take them.  I promise, it will be so worth it in the end and they will help you along the way.  

Medifast Vanilla Custard Recipe

Can I just start out by saying that it actually tastes great?  (Or is that too cliche'?) It does though.  I actually look forward to meal time - not because I am hungry, but because I love the food.  I love the snacks, I love the bars, I love the soups, I love the ziti... I love the food.  When the box of food arrives - my monthly shipment - I really get excited.  New stuff?  What?!?  I love new stuff!

So, the foods on the 5 & 1 plan are really not that bad at all.  There are a few things that I would steer away from, but we have to remember that I also am a fan of sweets - not the salty - so when it came time to try out the Parmesan cheese puffs?  Well, I just couldn't do it.   I seriously could not make it through the entire bag.  BUT, I did trade them up with someone else, who LOVED them.  Also, the foods can be combined and modified (Just a titch) to make other amazing things.  For example - this is what I made the other night:

All credit on this goes to Sandy's Kitchen because her website is where I found this lovely tidbit of awesome.  The recipe is as follows:

Medifast Vanilla Custard (or chocolate - you decide)

1 packet of MF eggs (1 Meal)
1 packet of MF vanilla pudding OR vanilla shake (1 meal) - Also, you can use chocolate

1 Cup H2O

1/4 Tsp. Cinnamon (1/2 condiment)
1/2 tsp vanilla (1/2 condiment)

1 packet Splenda or Truvia (1 condiment)

Directions:
Mix ingredients together in blender.  Pour into sprayed ramekin or baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

= 2 servings with 1 meal and one condiment per serving.  

Because of the way that my ramekins were, it actually made 3 meals for me.  I had saved them for dessert, but they were so darn tasty that I ate them for breakfast instead.  (They do refrigerate well - though they are tasty right out of the oven too.)  PS:  I recommend using your oven for this and NOT your microwave.  I have read other comments where people microwaved and it was "Rubbery".  Trust me, when you want dessert, and you smell this piece of deliciousness, you are going to THANK ME for making sure you knew not to microwave it.

That's it.  Really - I was expecting a custard to take a lot longer and be a much more in depth process. This recipe was super easy and fast and really hit the spot when I was craving something more "Homemade".  It's perfection and I hope that you will try it!