Medi Weight Loss Maintaince Phase

[eptexy]

Jo, I appreciate your honesty and confession over your struggle. It's nice to know that everyone deals with stress and no one is unique in this battle. It's also inspiring to hear that you are fighting it rather than curling up in the fetal position like I feel like doing sometimes. lol

I've looked back on some of my posts when I was around goal and it just amazes me how strong that person was. I really want that mindset back. I missed church today because I couldn't find anything to wear. I don't want to go to a social bbq this afternoon and face people either. I HATE the fact that my weight controls my life. I know it's only like 6 pounds but because of the non exercise, my body has changed much more than that since I'm actually up 5% in fat.

[irabeslim]

Originally Posted by eptexy

Jo, I appreciate your honesty and confession over your struggle. It's nice to know that everyone deals with stress and no one is unique in this battle. It's also inspiring to hear that you are fighting it rather than curling up in the fetal position like I feel like doing sometimes. lol

I've looked back on some of my posts when I was around goal and it just amazes me how strong that person was. I really want that mindset back. I missed church today because I couldn't find anything to wear. I don't want to go to a social bbq this afternoon and face people either. I HATE the fact that my weight controls my life. I know it's only like 6 pounds but because of the non exercise, my body has changed much more than that since I'm actually up 5% in fat.

Erin, I really can relate to everything you are saying. Yes, it is not that many pounds but just feeling of clothes being so snug now and some downright too small makes me cry and not wanting to wear anything but PJ. Yet, every time when faced with the challenge (food at parties, stress) I now give in so easily. During the acute I was so strong and felt so proud when each and every time I would come out a winner from these testing situations. We need to find our old selves. You were such an inspiration for me when I joined this board last April. Please, do it again.

[Fit2010]

Wow, the honesty here is fabulous so we can all relate and be accountable. Jo, I know how rough it is working 12 hours...tis the life I had for years, and then about 2 years ago when the shifts became nearly 14 hour shifts plus still had to come home and do online grad school work I was just about frazzled. Now I'm in a different place. The stress of grad school deadlines, etc and long hours allowed me to put myself on the backburner again recently. So I'm moving forward again now. You are right, we know the tools. We are blessed to have this caring, encouraging accountability. We can be our best versions of ourselves...just need to be patient and thoughtful in the process. I don't want this yoyo-ing behavior. I know I need to focus on WELLNESS/HEALTH, not so much on numbers and feelings! Here I go again....round 17 (probably) in the continued battle of the bulge!

[SDC2]

It is funny how we use stressful life situations as an excuse to sabotage ourselves. I am not above it either. Just like Jo, the old tape starts playing..."life has been hard on you, you deserve to eat something yummy". What we have to remember is that we deserve to be at our best. Everytime I succumb to that old message I realize once I've finished eating that I don't feel better, I feel worse.

I am fortunate in that working as a counselor keeps me in check, but it is not easy. My weight fluctuates about 6 pounds and its time to go back on protein only. The trick is to never, ever, ever give up. We are so worth it!

[Fit2010]

Great advice, Susie. Thank you! It's good to hear from you again!!

[Jodi A]

I just hit Maintenance today and I am ready these posts realizing that the hard work is just beginning!

[Fit2010]

Originally Posted by Jodi A

I just hit Maintenance today and I am ready these posts realizing that the hard work is just beginning!

[Jodi A]

OK, Deb... so after 3 days of Maintenance I am finding that it was quicker to take in the 800 calories than it was to take in the 500 calories! I guess that is because the foods I am now allowed to eat have more calories. Do you ever concern yourself with the amount of fat you intake? I am using Fitness Pal now and my fat intake seems high to me.

I guess the difference now is that I was journaling before so I wasn't keep track of that but My Fitness Pal keeps track of everything. Also, I am so far away from getting the amount of potassium it says I need.

Any suggestions from any of the Maintenance folks is appreciated!

[Fit2010]

Jodi - Are you going to your clinic? When I hit maintenance (back in the Fall of 2010) my clinic figured out for me how many calories to eat of protein, carbs, and fats. Yours should do that for you too. They recommended healthy fats. Some of your foods such as spinach leaves has potassium in it. Are you taking a multivitamin? I'm not a counselor, and I'm acute again now because I'm crazy busy during the school year and didn't log down like was recommended for journaling. You are right, eating more happens so much easier/faster/less satisfying too. Be careful!

[reebs]

Jodi,

I'm not in maintenance yet but pretty close, so I've been reading this board. I also use Fitness Pal and I was concerned about the potassium. So I just asked my clinic yesterday the NP said that sometimes the trackers aren't completely accurate and that I should be fine. She said (as Deb suggested above) Spinach, and also Tomatoes, and Broccoli are high in potassium.

[Fit2010]

Reebs - Thanks for the MWL clinic confirmation advice for Jodi. Wow, you've done very well in just 2 1/2 to 3 months, 25 lbs! Congratulations!! Hope to read more posts from you too. Are you exercising? You'll be at goal very soon!!

[Jodi A]

Thanks ladies! Yes I am still going to the clinic but they didn't tell me the protein/carbs/fat ratio. I find that I get little information out of them unless I directly ask the question. I get more info on these boards! I will call Tuesday and ask.

[eptexy]

Hey there maintenance peeps. Here for my monthly check in.

Weighed today and I'm at 130.4 after watching what I eat for a couple of days. I bounced up to 135 but fortunately, it was just water weight.

I'm going to Italy with some relatives the end of September and it's going to really strap us financially but I can't miss the opportunity. That being said, I CANNOT afford to buy a bunch of new clothes so I'd really like to lose 5 pounds before then. While I can still (barely) button my old ones, I'm having to try on everything in the closet to find something that looks decent when before, I really loved just throwing on any ol' thing and feeling confident. Thank goodness I got rid of every pair of pants that were too big for me. I refuse to buy bigger clothes so I have NO back up other than sweats!

Taking one day at a time. Evenings and weekends are the hardest. Afternoons are definitely easiest because I can control what's available to me at my studio. I need to work on eating the majority of my carbs earlier in the day I think.

Take care all of you. I continue to lurk here for inspiration. It means so much to me to have this resource otherwise I'd feel like I was on an island.

[eptexy]

Oh and I have to pat myself on the back - As of 6/4/11 I have (for the most part) maintained my weight successfully for an entire year.

[Fit2010]

Horray Erin!!! I'm so happy to hear from you and to know you are finding ways to succeed in maintenance!!!! Whoo Hoo!! I too am glad that I got rid of former clothes as my body shrank. But when I bounced back up in weight during the horrid Spring semester I found myself wearing stretchy pants around the house. I cannot fit in the 6's....I cannot get them even up my thighs! Some 8's fit (again) and some do not. I understand how you feel. In August we'll go to Colorado for my DD's wedding (less than 50 days away! ) and I don't want to buy all new for just hanging out during the 4 to 6 days. Cannot afford that! Also, I want to have my focus on DD, not emotional splurge eating!
Wow, Italy! How fun!! My youngest DD studied there for 6 wks 3 years ago and DH and I met her the last day she was in Florence, then we traveled around Italy for just 3 days then went to Paris for 1 1/2 days, Frankfurt for 2 days, Salzburg (Austria) for 2 days, and then back to Rome. Including airplane travel across the Atlantic we were gone 13 days....definitely NOT long enough, but my first trip to Europe and I loved, loved, loved it! Iknow you will have a fantastic time!

[Jodi A]

Erin!! Have a great time! Congrats on making it past the one year mark of Maintenance looking so fabulous! I have to tell you, your side by side photo really encourged me early on in the Acute Phase!!

[eptexy]

Thanks so much, everyone. Debbie, I know you know this but take things one day at a time toward the wedding day. I like your attitude. You're the poster child for perseverance. I'm the all or nothing one. I've finally accepted the fact that I will never eat normally and not feel that tug to "throw in the towel" and binge the whole day after a stumble off the wagon. That whole moderation is key thing is something I tout all the time but have the biggest struggle with. I cannot have one oreo. I cannot have one bite of ice cream. I cannot have one chip with queso. I have to have 2 or 3 servings until I feel gross, defeated, and guilty. How's that for honesty?

I'm 28% fat today. I saw somewhere on here (months ago) that I said I was 24% fat. Hopefully with some weight training, walking, and cutting back on the carby stuff I can get back down there again in a couple of months. I've been reading South Beach Supercharged (love South Beach) and he says that interval training - walking really fast for 30 seconds, easy at 45 seconds (wash, rinse, repeat) for your cardio is the key to fast weight loss without injury. We'll see!

[Fit2010]

Hi Erin, My home scales gives fat% and I don't know how accurate it is, but about 2 months ago I was up to about 36% fat (yuck!) and the other day I was 33%, I'd lost about 12 lb during that time. I'm not losing this summer in the PLACES I was losing last summer...yet. Last summer I lost my butt! I "regrew" it with the weight gain and it's still there...I'm rarely walking/jogging this year and instead doing more biking and swimming. It may just be a timing thing. I want to do some interval training too because I have to have something I can really do when school starts again August 30th. I even bought a couple of 10 minute workouts. I have SO many resources. Seems like, if I buy it I should lose right? Somehow unwrapping it from the cellophane, getting off the couch, and doing the program is required...cannot get that in my head!! I rejoined WW yesterday, I'm a Lifetime member from 26 years ago! My Lifetime goal at that time was 139 lbs....they allowed me to change it to 142. I'm hoping to lose the 12 to 15 lbs to make it to that goal before the wedding. However, I'm dreaming of bites of cheesecake I'm going to serve at the shower a week from Saturday. I want to change my thinking...I want to do acute MWL ASAP all the time, but when I feel urges or want to allow myself more then I'll do the WW points system and just not feel GUILTY about eating a serving or two of watermelon or something. An oreo? No, I don't think that would be happening, at least not more than once every other month! Something I've done since MWL is totally skip the chips and dip when eating out at Mexican, also don't even have them bring me rice or beans, but instead extra salad, then I go ahead and eat the tortilla in my meal....it's my only simple carb.

[Fit2010]

Originally Posted by eptexy

I'm 28% fat today. I saw somewhere on here (months ago) that I said I was 24% fat. Hopefully with some weight training, walking, and cutting back on the carby stuff I can get back down there again in a couple of months. I've been reading South Beach Supercharged (love South Beach) and he says that interval training - walking really fast for 30 seconds, easy at 45 seconds (wash, rinse, repeat) for your cardio is the key to fast weight loss without injury. We'll see!

Are you talking about fat % or BMI? I looked through my MWL stats and 10 months ago when I got to goal I was still 31.9% fat although my BMI was 24. Obviously I've still got a ways to go! I would seriously like to be down to 137, but I changed my goal in the clinic to 142 since the top level for my goal option through the clinic is 145. That way I won't feel so defeated about having a hard time staying at 137! When I reached goal in Aug/Sept 2010 I was able to stay with it til about Feb when classes and stresses got worse. And the combination of "not caring" what I ate and not exercising took me up the scales, I was such a terrible disappointment to myself!

I think I should be able to reach goal (142 lbs) by the wedding! Just have to stop thinking about the cheesecake I plan to have a my DD's shower a week from Saturday! Just today I was looking through photos of her birth til now. I joined WW when she was about 4 months old and reached goal within 4 months (then just kept on losing til I got to 125 lbs). There are photos of me since then at 139, then 118, then 108 (DD said TOO skinny), then 125, then 139, then 145, then 139, then 150, then 139, then 160, then 142, etc. I have put on weight unnecessarily for YEARS!! The main thing is just not sticking with a commitment to myself for regular exercise and choosing to "treat" myself with extra junk food. I'm going to post copies of some of these photos in my medicine cabinet to SHOW myself the TRUTH that I have been at goal, look GREAT at goal, and CAN do it again!! (I'm making a CD collage of photos of DD and her fiance growing up for their wedding shower. So much still to do!)

[eptexy]

I really like WW and am also a lifetime member. I've been on WW countless times really. I think you have a great plan to fit into your life. From what I hear they are focusing on low glycemic now and that's really just like Medi's maintenance phase. You have such a great mindset. I have no doubt that you'll be just fine!

I'm talking about fat %. My BMI is 22, I believe... I don't care if I lose more pounds. I just want to change my shape a bit. I already feel better just getting the junk out of my diet and I can tell that my jeans fit better already. If I can lose maybe 5 (or even 3-4) more pounds combined with exercise to decrease my fat % I would feel back to where I was. I just want my clothes to fit really well and I want to feel comfortable. I hope there's actually a point where I will be... always a struggle, this goofy mindset of mind.

[Fit2010]

Erin, BMI of 22 and fat percentage of 28% is about perfect I'd think! I cannot put that kind of pressure on myself for a goal....but I'm older than you

I was listening to The Beck Diet Solution (I have the book on tape) and it says it will become habit but will always be a temptation. So, a struggle. It's our human nature. We have to change our thinking so that we empower ourselves to do good to ourselves. My problem is that I don't trust MYSELF....I've been known to lie to myself that carbs are calorie-free! Are you going to the MWL clinic for accountability Erin? I have gone for nearly 2 years and cannot justify the repeated $ for my own lack of behavior....especially with expenses of grad school, DD's wedding, etc. So that is one reason why I will go to WW. But I plan to do my MWL version! I'll still go to the MWL clinic every few months.

[eptexy]

Well I'd be ok with 22 BMI and 28% if it made me look good in the jeans I've had for a year and don't want to replace. LOL Just a couple more pounds and I should be good. I was up in fat this morning though. Sometimes I think my old tanita scale reads water retention as fat. (It doesn't read water like the new ones.)

I like the Beck Diet Solution. I need to pull it back out so thank you for the reminder. No, I'm not going to Medi. I don't want to spend the money either. I've thought about going to WW (it would be free for me) but I'm afraid the meetings might convince me to get their little snack cakes and candy bars of which I will eat boxes at a sitting. The accountability would be nice though. As long as I record what I eat, drink my water, and come here to vent and "talk" I think I can be ok.

[irabeslim]

Originally Posted by Fit2010

Hi Erin, My home scales gives fat% and I don't know how accurate it is, but about 2 months ago I was up to about 36% fat (yuck!) and the other day I was 33%, I'd lost about 12 lb during that time. I'm not losing this summer in the PLACES I was losing last summer...yet. Last summer I lost my butt! I "regrew" it with the weight gain and it's still there...I'm rarely walking/jogging this year and instead doing more biking and swimming. It may just be a timing thing. I want to do some interval training too because I have to have something I can really do when school starts again August 30th. I even bought a couple of 10 minute workouts. I have SO many resources. Seems like, if I buy it I should lose right? Somehow unwrapping it from the cellophane, getting off the couch, and doing the program is required...cannot get that in my head!! I rejoined WW yesterday, I'm a Lifetime member from 26 years ago! My Lifetime goal at that time was 139 lbs....they allowed me to change it to 142. I'm hoping to lose the 12 to 15 lbs to make it to that goal before the wedding. However, I'm dreaming of bites of cheesecake I'm going to serve at the shower a week from Saturday. I want to change my thinking...I want to do acute MWL ASAP all the time, but when I feel urges or want to allow myself more then I'll do the WW points system and just not feel GUILTY about eating a serving or two of watermelon or something. An oreo? No, I don't think that would be happening, at least not more than once every other month! Something I've done since MWL is totally skip the chips and dip when eating out at Mexican, also don't even have them bring me rice or beans, but instead extra salad, then I go ahead and eat the tortilla in my meal....it's my only simple carb.

Hi, Debbie, have you had success this time with WW? I heard that it is still more "carby" than we do at MWL even with their "points plus" program? Are you adjusting it? I am still struggling with those 15 lb (up and down in the past 2 months, I think I have lost and gained half of at least 3 times) so am looking for another approach. I cannot justify the MWL expense again, like you said, for the same pounds that I already paid for All these food temptations make my life miserable. Every time I have a nice event to participate in all I can think is what would I eat and how I would definitely overeat and then feel horrible instead of looking forward to spend time with friends, family, grandchildren, etc. It is sick

[losing in Ftm]

Just thought I would add to the WW discussion. I also joined WW after losing 70lbs on Medi. I struggled (and still do) with maintainence, that included a total weight gain of 20 lbs at one point. For me Medi maintainence just was too hard. I have always gained weight quickly, I could eat wrong, literally 1 day, and the next day be 10lbs higher. Then it would take 2 -3 weeks to lose it again.
What I have found with WW this time is I adjust the type of food I eat to be more Medi compliant than the point plus program is. White potatoes and bread are a never again thing for me. I just can't eat them. I use the point plus program as a guide for me but I still limit my carbs even more than WW program does. I find using their online program works for me since I have the weight and food tracking ability. So far it's been working I have lost my weight gain (although I did raise my goal weight from 150 to 160lb) and with minor fluctuations have been maintaining.
This is definitely harder than losing the weight. Hope this helps.

[suzanna1]

I haven't checked-in in a while. I was on vacation last week and ate everything that I wanted including all of the carbs that I still have to avoid! I came home on Saturday evening to an 11 pound gain (this was in the evening after a plane trip with lots of fluids and salty peanuts though)! Can you believe that I did that??? I jumped right back on week 1 and am back down to 149 this morning... I still have 3 pounds to go to back to my comfort zone.

I would love to know more about the new WW plan, but like many of you, I fall victim to the processed and carby food that WW says is allowable. I know I just can't handle the carbs, even when I am eating low calorie.

[Fit2010]

Originally Posted by irabeslim

Hi, Debbie, have you had success this time with WW? I heard that it is still more "carby" than we do at MWL even with their "points plus" program? Are you adjusting it? I am still struggling with those 15 lb (up and down in the past 2 months, I think I have lost and gained half of at least 3 times) so am looking for another approach. I cannot justify the MWL expense again, like you said, for the same pounds that I already paid for All these food temptations make my life miserable. Every time I have a nice event to participate in all I can think is what would I eat and how I would definitely overeat and then feel horrible instead of looking forward to spend time with friends, family, grandchildren, etc. It is sick

Irina - I know my body does better with the fewer carbs, I have Insulin Resistance, and even though my MWL doc (and with my personal MD's ok) started me on Metformin for this, lower carbs is the only way I can prevent weight gain, inflammation, puffiness, and out of control urges. I told the WW leader that I was going to be continuing my acute MWL WOE though coming in to WW for weigh ins and encouragement. Then, if I DO have a day when I am off MWL acute or maintenance because of options or cravings, I'll try to allow myself to feel OK about it by submitting to the points system that day (so there is a LIMIT) rather than the mindset of "oh I blew it so I'll continue to blow it cycle." The leader was fine with that....I mean, they cannot make you eat any particular way, no one really can. I value all I've learned about my body through MWL and I feel it was very important that I went for the initial 10 months....but since then I have the feeling of guilt and discust that I really think can be channeled more positively and for less $$$$! I hope so anyway. With grad school tuition, DD wedding, other expenses, I just cannot stay as frequently with MWL; but I will continue to check in intermittently. I'm incredibly thankful for THIS site....I would be spiraling without it! Love you all, my MWL journey buddies!!!!

[eptexy]

So can you go back for a check in for the $35 or do you have to pay for an acute visit?

[Fit2010]

Losing in FM and Suzanna - I'm not yet spending the time learning the WW stuff....I only revisited them in their location on Monday and attended a meeting. I did buy the point calculator thing since it was on sale for like $5.95, regularly $10 more than that....I have my DD's wedding shower a week from Sat and lots going on, but I am doing acute MWL right now and hope to be 148 by next week or so. That way after the shower if I'm 150 I'll be okay with that and can then focus on the last 8 lbs before the wedding the end of August. Really it's not the lbs I'm concerned about it's the rolls and flab!! I am writing what I'm eating and the idea of doing it online like Irina says with WW sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out and make it WORK for ME. My plan is to go back in hindsite and see how many points I ate while being in acute. Then I'll know what worked for me to lose. WW says 29 for EVERYONE....and don't count calories, and fruits and veggies are free. If I ate a protein serving every meal and had all the fruits and veggies free I know my body would still gain. Just like FtM said, it's so much harder to be in maintenance and add in "appropriate carbs/fiber/fats/etc" and yet my upper limit calorie wise according to MWL for maintenance is 1200. That's just tough to do when carbs, even fruit in my insulin resistance, make me hungry when I wasn't even hungry before I ate it!! I know we are fearfully and wonderfully made....I just don't want to be fearful of maintaining the wonderful at goal version of me!!

[Fit2010]

Originally Posted by eptexy

So can you go back for a check in for the $35 or do you have to pay for an acute visit?

When I started at MWL clinic I was told once I reached maintenance it would be $35 for a visit. But when I got to maintenance they said that they had just a couple months prior revisited their costs and decided to make it the full $70 each visit and I think if I maintained well that I'd get a $10 bonus taken off. That was a surprise expense that I had not anticipated and was not warned about....and felt added to my fewer visits for support after reaching maintenance, especially when I was only seeing the MD or nurse practioner about every eighth or twelveth visit and just getting advice from a nurse (no offense, as I AM one!) but paying for a DR visit and they don't take my insurance! For how much I've paid out to the clinic I could probably have bought a car, well, a nice used one anyways, or a couple of very nice vacations for DH and me! I'm thankful my DH has allowed me to do this, but it feels indulgent pocketbook-wise without feeling indulgent in any reward or substance to show for it. Trust me, it was completely worthwhile and valuable to me those first 10 months....I know I could never have gotten MYSELF down from 190 without a LOT of encouragement and training!! I still believe in the MWL system....I just didn't make myself work it while in grad school/working two jobs/unable to jog outside/blah, blah, blah, and allowed sabotaging thoughts to invade my head! I had "stink'in think'in"!!! So on top of the stink'in think'in I added the guilt that I was spending $ "wastefully" (it felt).... and I doubted that I was "worth it." I knew I was worth it initially (those first 6 to 10 months), but beyond that I kept disappointing myself. I don't want this bad feeling any more, and the urging of the clinic that I'd do well if I came every week....well, I might do well with brief accountability, but I would not do well with facing my DH for $55 to $70 weekly!

Wow....I guess I answered everyone's questions today, and I guess I needed a place to vent! I knew you all in this thread would understand and could relate. I'm not giving up on ME or MWL just because I don't plan to go as often. I'm going to miss the AS though, I only take 1/2 of one daily again for the past 2 months....I have been and will continue to use the MWL Fat Burners twice daily, I know those help me.

What has anyone else here in maintenance done to make it work for you?!

[irabeslim]

Debbie, thank you for youe answers. Your plan makes sense and may be good middle of the road approach that will work for you.

I don't go to the clinic but I but supplements from them - until last week I wa staking fat burner. Now I decided to try StaySlim. I am taking just one tablet a day. It has forskolin and Dr. Oz recommended it for better fat metabolism. It does nothing for cravings, at least in these few days that I took it. They say you need to take it for at least 3 weeks to see the results.

When you say insulin resistance - does it mean that you show high sugar level in your blood? Mine were always normal even when I was heavy. Yet I have the same symptoms that you describe - I would not be really hungry but if I eat fruit (grapes, peaches) I become hungry and start craving carbs and this is how my overeating problem starts. I cannot stop.

I find that I can safely eat blueberries at breakfast and no more fruit during the day. Then I will be more or less in control.

I bought this extract of Banaba leaf (also Dr. Oz recommended) to deal with carb cravings - I tool it for a week - did not see any results. I should try to take them religiously, twice a day for a few weeks and it may help.