Medi Weight Loss Maintaince Phase

[Fit2010]

Nick - Hoping that your biopsy is negative and that you are right now healthier than you otherwise would have been because of having lost the excess weight. As a survivor I feel overwhelmingly grateful and I know the uneasiness of these moments.You are in my prayers!

[SDC2]

Nick - so sorry to hear your news. Keep your body as healthy as possible to maximize it's ability to fight. I will definitely keep you in my prayers.

Lins - spinning has helped me to reduce the fat in my thighs and butt. It's fun too!

Debbie - thanks for the kind words. There is no reason for any of us to beat yourselves up, that is distructive and will not help. I choose to be proactive instead of reactive. I know what to do and I am doing it.

Jo - Hi!!! I hope all is well and that it is not getting too hot in AZ.

[Nick80]

My thanks to all of you. You are all so wonderful!

[Jeffrey]

Just started maintenance today. My clinic convinced me to move out of acute, even though I am 9lbs away from my goal. They said I will continue to lose weight this month and they expect me to get near my goal of 160 lbs by the time I enter the wellness phase in about 4-5 weeks.

So, today I will be enjoying an actual sandwich on a sandwich thin. Looking forward to lunch for the first time in 72 days!

[Fit2010]

Congratulations Jeffrey!! You have done amazing with your losses, I'm sure you'll be at goal in no time!

[lins]

As of this morning at home I hit 135lbs which was my original Medi goal, but I have decided to go to 125lbs.....I'm only 5'1. So I will be here soon!

[Fit2010]

Great job, Lins. I made a copy of your food from the August thread so I can have it in front of me (in my purse) while on vacation....if you can do it I can too! Well, I plan to anyways!

[tydreamer]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Just started maintenance today. My clinic convinced me to move out of acute, even though I am 9lbs away from my goal. They said I will continue to lose weight this month and they expect me to get near my goal of 160 lbs by the time I enter the wellness phase in about 4-5 weeks.

So, today I will be enjoying an actual sandwich on a sandwich thin. Looking forward to lunch for the first time in 72 days!

How did they convince you? It depends on who I talk to when I'm there. The doctor told me a month ago to go ahead and start transition. My nurse last week didn't even MENTION it!! I'm within 3 pounds of goal and by all accounts, I'm ready. I really can't live off of 500 calories anymore because I'm just too hungry. I work out pretty hard, every single day. I'm actually eating closer to 800 - 1,000 a day. Can you tell me what your calorie/protein goals are for the next month?

[TeddyBear_Carl]

Hey everyone,

Today after 9 months of being on Medi I have started my maintainance phase!!! WHOO HOO I'm 160lbs went from 420lbs to 260lbs down from where I was last November. Are there any tricks or secrets that might help me out during the transition and later?

Thanks
Carl

[tydreamer]

I really hope to be a regular on this thread within the next couple of weeks, so I went back and read every single post on all 20 pages. Now I REALLY feel like I know all of you long-timers and can feel your struggles and successes!! Jo, McBoo, Susie, Nick, Macauley, Cindy, Tracy, Nikki - your words have really moved me. I feel like an outsider trying to horn in on your already well established family, but I want to be here so very much!!! I no longer feel as scared of maintenance as I did, but am fully aware that each and every day will still be filled with struggle and choices. But after reading every single word from each of you has made me realize that if and WHEN I falter, I already KNOW what to do to get right back on track. Now I feel ready for this next phase of my journey. Bless you all for your honesty!!

[txntv]

I'm ready to kill the scale. Oh, no -- I am not in trouble or anything. But my husband has discovered it can be unreliable by 10 pounds. While it's been good about staying within 2 to 3 lbs for me... I don't know how accurate it is. Goodness knows with so many scales on the market, it's hard to know which one to buy.

Great to see everyone doing well. Keep it up! Rah rah!

[Nick80]

Tydreamer it is always great to have another member join the maintenance family. I am so excited for you!

Carl- that is phenomenal!! Congratulations. There are no secrets or tricks. Keep an eye on what you eat and how much you eat and make sure it is all balanced. If you havent done so already, make sure you exercise. That is key. I also recommend reading the posts here. It will keep you motivated.

Good job everyone!!!

[Desert-Rose7]

Scales? I have one by the same manufacturer as my pedometer. It does it all and I found it at a major retailer. I have a very very old balance (old type doctor's scale) one as well. THAT one is within 3 pounds of the clinic one, and the new one is 1 pound OVER the clinic scale. I do use the new one for the other features it has, and use the old balance scale for every day. I guess I just trust it more.

Jo

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by tydreamer

How did they convince you? It depends on who I talk to when I'm there. The doctor told me a month ago to go ahead and start transition. My nurse last week didn't even MENTION it!! I'm within 3 pounds of goal and by all accounts, I'm ready. I really can't live off of 500 calories anymore because I'm just too hungry. I work out pretty hard, every single day. I'm actually eating closer to 800 - 1,000 a day. Can you tell me what your calorie/protein goals are for the next month?

They have been trying to get me to start maintenance the last 3 weeks and I have resisted. What got me to start was we sat down and did the math and it looks like over the next 4 weeks I should be able to get close to my 160lb goal even with the calorie increases. Before this past week I would always be short when we looked at calorie deficit from my BMR and current exercise level. I have been losing my weight very consistently and they want to make sure I don't get too thin, since I have dropped it so fast. I think my 160 lb goals is very reasonable, but they would rather me be happy with 170 lbs. I am shooting for around a 12% body fat so that I can see some muscle definition in my abdomen. Males have to get a far lower body fat percentage than women to see any abs. This has been something that has been difficult to convey at my clinic since it is staffed completely with women who are very fit and have a higher body fat percentage than I currently have.

I am running about 3-4 miles each evening now which has really helped keep my metabolism high and is helping me build muscle. I am also doing situps and pushups, but my focus has been the running. I started the Couch to 5K plan and then added on some distance at the end of each days program.

They just moved me up to 1,000 calories from the 500 I was at. And they are letting me eat more carbs than they would typically allow at this stage since I have an aversion to most vegetables. But, I am focusing on the 'good carbs'.

I am finding I am really having a hard time eating 1,000 calories though. I am also not using the appetite suppressant at all anymore. I am just not hungry. The past two days have come out to around 800 calories and I have felt stuffed after each tiny meal. For some reason exercising isn't making me feel more hungry or drained in any way, if anything on days that I don't run I feel like a sloth and push myself even harder the following day.

[tydreamer]

Jeffrey,

Thank you so much for all of the information. No one at my clinic has sat down with me and talked such details about calories in and calories out and done projections like that. How awesome! The only thing I've heard is that I should probably have been happy with my original goal of 160 or the second goal of 150. My BMI is 21, but my fat percentage is still really high. Right around THIRTY percent!! I think I am ready for the next phase even tho I still have about three pounds I want to lose. (as of last weigh in). I think that's possible on maintenance based on everything I've read and heard. You sound like you know your body and what it wants but 12% fat sounds like a pretty lean machine to me!! I hope you reach your goal in short term and stay healthy!

[SDC2]

Female fluctuations are driving me crazy! I will be down 3 pounds in one day and up 5 pounds the next. I know based on the science of calories in - calories out, it is not possible for it to be real weight gain, but it still drives me nuts. I think overall I keep a real level head about it. I still have my weak moments and somedays when I expect to see a lower number on the scale and don't because of water retention it is so easy to get down, but I refuse to go there.

On these days I choose to celebrate my victories based on my behaviors instead of what the scale said. Behavior changes will make this a WOL.

[Desert-Rose7]

Hi there Susie! Yep, I am right there with you. For some reason, during the summer (especially monsoon season), my weight fluctuates the same way. Since I journal everything, I KNOW it is not calories, I KNOW it is most probably water retention (and yes I keep the amount of water at 150 oz due to exercise). If I lower the water amount, I get slightly dizzy....therefore I keep it high during this season. I walk 4-6 miles every day, varying the route to vary the intensity...hard walk some days, long walk others, and treadmill for yet others. A video here and there and it is all good. I cannot account for the variation, so I have determined as you have, the behavior and mental attitude is what really counts in the long run. If I am doing all the right things and keeping everything in the right perspective, it is all good.

Jo

[SDC2]

Hi Jo,

I have been so out of it. As you know, I job share as a counselor for medi and the woman that I job share with just had a new granddaughter up in Charlotte, so I have been working full time this week. I have been spoiled and am not used to it. I used to work up to 60 hours a week, but that was 15 years ago. Anyway it has all been great and the response to Medi in our area has been amazing. Just last week alone we had 29 new patients. Today I coached 5 new patients myself.

I have to tell you that counseling/coaching patients has been such an inspiration for me. I love pumping up clients and in turn I get pumped up too. I have turned on so many of my patients to this website telling them how much it helped in my journey and how it kept up my motivation. Thanks for being such a strong and supportive voice here. We all love you!

BTW... my middle son has lost 66 pounds over the summer. He is only a few pounds from goal. Now I need to get my youngest son on board.

I have to be back at work at 7am tomorrow, so I have to get to bed. Take care and God bless!

[Fit2010]

Nick, are you still checking in here? How are you, friend. And the biopsy results? You've been on my heart and in my prayers.
Blessings,

[CCCOX]

So glad I checked back in--my weight is staying about 2.5 above my lowest-but my lowest was when I had weighed in and I ALWAYS had almost nothing after 4 before weigh ins. Now I realize that kind of sabotaged my weigh in and do not miss dinner even if something small. So I am happy-I would like to get that 2.5 off. To be honest up until this week I was feeling fat because of those 2.5 pounds-but I have thought about it and realize I was cheating before. If I start running again once we loose the 100+ here in Texas I am sure those 2.5 will come off.

[Fit2010]

Hi Cori!!
So good to hear from you again...it's been a long time... Busy, fun summer with your girls? Back to school yet? I'm now 4 lbs away from goal, finally! (But remember I have purposely gone slower a this due to post op situation/decision).
Take care!

[Desert-Rose7]

Hey there Susie!
All is well here in AZ. Yesterday was my 1st anniversary of meeting my goal weight. Still at the same weight, BMI and fat percentage are where they should be. Had them measure as an athlete too this time just to see the difference...wow is there a difference. They did take a picture as I am the only one of their client who has followed the program all the way through wellness. Some have gotten to transition, but no further. So now they have a before/goal/1year later picture.

I would love to be a Medi as a counselor too, but they are fully staffed, so I will keep walking my travel industry path.

Hot and humid today, so walking on the treadmill.

Off to pack for a trip to Dallas...I fly off to Texas tomorrow.


Jo

[txntv]

Originally Posted by Desert-Rose7

Hey there Susie!
Hot and humid today, so walking on the treadmill.

Off to pack for a trip to Dallas...I fly off to Texas tomorrow.


Jo

Get ready for more hot... not so humid, though. Texas been over 100 degrees for the majority of the past few weeks. Love it!

[Desert-Rose7]

We saw plenty of sunshine Friday with the official high reaching 110.It was our 20th day this year where the mercury reached at least 110 degrees or higher. Almost without exception, we have been at 100 or higher since June. That is just AZ in the summertime. Not worried about weather in DFW at all. All of us Arizonans are pretty used to it!

Jo

[McBoo]

Originally Posted by SDC2

Hi Jo,

I have been so out of it. As you know, I job share as a counselor for medi and the woman that I job share with just had a new granddaughter up in Charlotte, so I have been working full time this week. I have been spoiled and am not used to it. I used to work up to 60 hours a week, but that was 15 years ago. Anyway it has all been great and the response to Medi in our area has been amazing. Just last week alone we had 29 new patients. Today I coached 5 new patients myself.

I have to tell you that counseling/coaching patients has been such an inspiration for me. I love pumping up clients and in turn I get pumped up too. I have turned on so many of my patients to this website telling them how much it helped in my journey and how it kept up my motivation. Thanks for being such a strong and supportive voice here. We all love you!

BTW... my middle son has lost 66 pounds over the summer. He is only a few pounds from goal. Now I need to get my youngest son on board.

I have to be back at work at 7am tomorrow, so I have to get to bed. Take care and God bless!

Hi Susie,

You are doing great work and as you know it has a lot of rewards.

Your youngest son will come around when he is ready.

McBoo

[McBoo]

Originally Posted by Desert-Rose7

Hey there Susie!
All is well here in AZ. Yesterday was my 1st anniversary of meeting my goal weight. Still at the same weight, BMI and fat percentage are where they should be. Had them measure as an athlete too this time just to see the difference...wow is there a difference. They did take a picture as I am the only one of their client who has followed the program all the way through wellness. Some have gotten to transition, but no further. So now they have a before/goal/1year later picture.

I would love to be a Medi as a counselor too, but they are fully staffed, so I will keep walking my travel industry path.

Hot and humid today, so walking on the treadmill.

Off to pack for a trip to Dallas...I fly off to Texas tomorrow.


Jo

Congratulations Jo,

Great Job.

Enjoy the trip to DFW.

McBoo

[Charlene4]

Just a disclaimer: I did a search and nothing came up....
How often (if at all) do you get the shots on maintenance? Are they included? If not, do you have the option to pay for them if you still want to continue getting them once a week?

[txntv]

Originally Posted by Charlene4

Just a disclaimer: I did a search and nothing came up....
How often (if at all) do you get the shots on maintenance? Are they included? If not, do you have the option to pay for them if you still want to continue getting them once a week?

Maintenance -- shots continue as usual. Wellness, you get them once a month when you go for your monthly visit.

[eptexy]

Good morning -

Thought I would check in on the maintenance thread! It's been awhile! I'm a size 2 now. Never in my life have I looked on "that" side of the clothing rack. So weird!

I've been fluctuating a little bit. About 5 lbs up and down. I can attribute several things to that - heat, not drinking enough water, and social drinking over the weekend leading to munching on the bad stuff. I'm playing with fire and I need to cut it out.

School starts tomorrow which means I finally have my routine back. THANK GOD. It's so hard to get to the gym when the kids are all over the place with their activities with friends and whatnot.

Hope all is well with everyone!

[txntv]

Originally Posted by eptexy

Good morning -

Thought I would check in on the maintenance thread! It's been awhile! I'm a size 2 now. Never in my life have I looked on "that" side of the clothing rack. So weird!

I've been fluctuating a little bit. About 5 lbs up and down. I can attribute several things to that - heat, not drinking enough water, and social drinking over the weekend leading to munching on the bad stuff. I'm playing with fire and I need to cut it out.

School starts tomorrow which means I finally have my routine back. THANK GOD. It's so hard to get to the gym when the kids are all over the place with their activities with friends and whatnot.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Amen on school!!!!!

Congrats on the size 2. I had to go shopping last week for my upcoming trip. I ended up having to get some size 8s! I only weigh about 5 more than you do, but I guess it's my broad shoulders that keeps me from getting in smaller sizes. Clothing sizes are all over the place... I've found things in 8, 10 and 12 that fit.

Yesterday was the first time in over six weeks that I did not do any form of formal exercise (ie strength, yoga, swimming, cardio). I just felt so run down and sore. It was hard to get through the day knowing I didn't work out. It's a good thing and a bad thing. Good because it keeps me going. Bad because of the guilt.

With my going out of town this week, I didn't want to skip a workout. I will pack workout clothes, but for three days we'll be either traveling or touring all day. But the other two days, I should be able to go to the gym.