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Has anyone tried the Medifast diet

Posted: Aug 13, 2012

I would love to hear from anyone who has tried the Medifast diet. Does it work? Is the food good? Is it safe? Thanks.;

I am about to try it - willing to try anything

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I have been exercising like crazy... 45 minute walk/run on treadmill daily, 45 minute cardio max workout daily, and then a 4 mile walk with the neighbor daily. I do this 5 days a week and have been doing this routine for a month and have not lost a pound. Not one pound!!!

I know that I have to sit for my job, and I know that after age 40 your metabolism slows down, but I cannot lose anything. I think I have even gained more, and I have been watching very closely what I eat, and I only drink water.

Next plan is starvation diet.

I know what you mean - Trollbaby

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I know exactly what you mean. My husband and I cannot lose any weight either. We are both in our 50s. Even with exercise we cannot lose any weight and like you said even gain pounds. I know some people who have lost a lot of weight with the Medifast plan, but I just want to be sure that it is safe. I read online that there are side effects. I would just be so happy if I could lose 10 pounds! Thanks.

You don't have to starve, you just have to eat - real food

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I have lost 50 pounds since February and it's been the easiest thing I have ever done (mostly).

I stopped eating any kind of grain - no wheat, no corn, nothing. I also made a conscious effort to try to avoid anything that has an ingredient list.

This leaves me with so many options, any meat I want, vegetables galore, bacon (I love bacon). It ends up being a low carbohydrate diet because the carbs are from veggies with some fruit thrown in, but it's got fat and protein and those are what keep you full and happy.

Don't eat any low carb frankenfoods - those are just gross and bad for you. The conventional wisdom about diets is, in my humble opinion, WRONG. Low fat is the worst thing on the planet for you. Your body needs fat to survive.

Check various blogs and sites about paleo/primal eating or, my personal favorite, The Primal Blueprint and marksdailyapple.com. It was written by a man named Mark Sisson and he has some very, very good information to impart.

As to Medifast, I wouldn't recommend that at all. It's a temporary fix. You might lose weight rapidly (with all of the loose skin, etc, that comes along with rapid weight loss) but the actual percentage of people who lose weight that way and then are able to maintain that is very, very small.

Start tracking your food intake daily. I use fitday.com. No matter how you choose to eat, you have to be in a caloric deficit to actually lose weight. Many times we are underestimating what our intake is and are really surprised what the actual numbers are.

Also, with that amount of exercise that you are doing, are you taking measurements rather than going by what the scale says? Very often, we are just changing the body composition with that much exercise and the scale is only one small way of measuring the results.

Cut out the wheat, other grains, and processed foods. I promise you, it will work and you'll feel so much better than you do now, you won't believe it.

I agree and want to caution.... - anon

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that going on a "starvation diet" will accomplish just the opposite of what you want to accomplish. Your body needs fuel to burn calories. If you stop eating, your body will slow down the metabolization process because it thinks it is starving to death, which will stop the weight loss entirely. Strange as it sounds, you need to eat in order to keep your metabolism working properly. You just need to eat the right foods and not any of these fad diets. Most diet plans work only on reduced portions, and not on the proper foods. Wheat and grains add to the insulin resistance and accomplish nothing good for the body. Please do some research first before trying any of these diet plans.

how do I never eat bread again? - and how is corn a grain?

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Forgive my ignorance...

I am so confused with what information is out there. Everyone swears by this, or insists on that, and I have darn near tried everything.

This "whole food" stuff is confusing. I thought bacon was bad for you. Also, how can you eat everything raw? No meatloaf, no chicken, no salmon?

I thought 400 calories per meal was appropriate and then burn off as much as you take in, which is why I did the treadmill, the cardiomax DVD, and the 4 mile walk at night.

UGH...

No one said anything about raw - whole foods

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Chicken, salmon, etc, are good for you. Eat lots of it. Bacon is GOOD for you. Eat it in moderation. Bacon is a whole food. Chicken is a whole food. Salmon is a whole food. By whole food, I mean it doesn't have an ingredient list…mostly. Bacon sort of does, but it's just the stuff that's used to cure it and not anything else.

Meatloaf, is actually a real food if you leave out the oats or bread crumbs as binders. Ground beef, egg, seasoning - that's good stuff.

Calories in/out is a factor but it's not the whole picture. This might get a little long, but I'm going to give it a shot.

First, as to your question about corn being grain, this is from Whole Foods: "While the kernels that we commonly call "corn" are technically the fruit of the plant Zea mays, corn is widely classified as a grain and is typically included in research studies of whole grain foods like wheat, oats, and barley. "

The premise that I now operate under is that the human body and its various digestive systems evolved before the advent of grain and, therefore, we did not develop the ability to digest grains of any form. The second part of that premise is that the grains (wheat especially) that are in products today have been so genetically modified they are nothing like the wheat that we had 5000 years ago

Now, to calories and their context. A lot of what I am going to post is from Mark Sisson and The Primal Blueprint. You can find that and much, much more info here:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz23RkA43Ds

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-context-of-calories/#axzz23RkA43Ds

When you ingest protein, your body first uses it to repair muscle and cell structure, and the same goes with fat. It is not immediately used as fuel. When you ingest a carbohydrate, it is immediately turned into glucose in the blood and used as fuel. Your body then produces insulin to help shuttle that glucose into the cells to be used as fuel. That's what insulin's role is. If you are very active, then chances are good that you utilize the glucose stored in your cells and so you have room to move more in when you eat. If you are sedentary and have a high carbohydrate diet (like many of us, myself included prior to February), then you are not utilizing the glucose stores you already have and so the body has no choice but to store them as fat. Glucose in the blood is toxic and so the body has to move it out of the blood stream. If you eat a very low carbohydrate diet - meaning the carbs you DO eat are from leafy greens and vegetables with fruit thrown in - your body turns to the fat stores and starts using that as fuel instead. Your body can't store the glucose as anything BUT fat, so you have to retrain your body to use the fat.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fat-adapted/#axzz23RmEWmCy

If you are depending on glucose and/or sugar (which is what processed carbs turn into immediately), then you are always going to have to feed the beast, so to speak. You have to have a perpetually never-ending source of that since you can't store it. "A sugar burner can't even effectively access dietary fat for energy."

The best way I heard to describe this process is think of eating carbs is like putting a 2.5 gallon can of gas in the back seat of an electric car. Sure, it's energy, but the car isn't going to burn the gas. When the car runs out of electricity, it doesn't "see" the gas can. It asks for more electricity. Electricity, of course, being fat which your body is storing. That's why the context of calories counts. Your body uses 400 calories of protein much, much differently than it does 400 calories from bread or a bagel.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-grains/#axzz23RomCziy

Why are grains unhealthy? "Grains have been associated with minerals deficiencies, perhaps because of high phytate levels. A diet high in grains may also reduce the body’s ability to process vitamin D."

"Whatever nutrients you can get from whole grains you can get in equal to greater amounts in other food."

Grains cause inflammation in the body. I don't think there's any surprise that the American public's waistline has exploded in the 25 years since the FDA food pyramid came out that touted whole grains as the base with something ridiculous like 9 servings a day. Grain is a baby plant. Its sole purpose in life is to get into the ground and sprout and grow a new plant. There are anti-nutrients on the outside of that grain that makes it undigestible. It's why birds poop out grain seeds and how the seeds get spread to new sprouting grounds.

There is much, much more information out there. You just have to release your mind's hold on the conventional wisdom and open it up to new possibilities. And yes, those new possibilities don't include eating bread. Is it a sacrifice? Possibly. Will you be healthier for it? Absolutely. I haven't had an asthma attack since I gave up grain. I've lost 50 pounds since February. I have a whole wardrobe of clothes that fit again in my closet. My knees don't hurt any more. My lunch now instead of being a sandwich or something similar is a big bowl of veggies and a couple of chicken thighs that I cooked in a boatload of butter. I get hungry, but I never get that lightheaded hunger where if I don't eat something RIGHT NOW I'm going to fall down and pass out. I was at the least severely insulin resistant and I think the only reason I don't carry a diagnosis of diabetes is that I didn't go to the doctor. The first week or so of going off carbs cold turkey can be a little rough, I won't lie. It's called carb flu and basically your body is going through detox. Once you get through that then you'll feel great.

You can do it.

Thanks for the info - haloinreverse

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I've been reading up on this lately and I know "in my gut" it's what I need to do but I looove pasta, bread, carbs, sugar addict, etc., so it's going to be sooo hard and honestly I'm afraid! Haha I know that sounds wimpy but there it is. I don't like a lot of veggies or fruits, and the ones I do like apparently aren't even vegetables! (corn, carrots, potatoes, peas, beans) I've struggled with my weight my entire life and I'm realizing it's probably because even though I try not to eat "too much," what I eat are the grains/starches... cereal for breakfast, granola bar for snack, noodle soup or sandwich for lunch, chicken or similar for dinner of course with a side like noodles or potato... no wonder! If I can just be strong enough! I'm going to San Francisco for vacation tomorrow and when I get back I really think I'm going to make a whole new shopping list. The other hard part is making food for the kids & hubby, and one child is a vegetarian.

No bread, no corn - MT

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I have been on a grain-free, corn-free, dairy-free diet for over a year now and lost 35 lbs. I never thought I could get off the dairy, but I have, that was the hardest. You cannot possibly imaging how much better you will feel once the detox is over. The energy you will feel once your body feels clean and gets the fuel sources it was designed for, fat and protein. I wholeheartedly agree with the other poster who so eloquently wrote about the paleo diet. I have had so many allergies for so many years, never knew it was to corn. I have had to be a detective on that one, corn is in EVERYTHING, even my shampoo and makeup. I was also reacting to preservatives and pesticides used on foods, so now I eat organic and drink organic tea.

I know it sounds rough giving up bread, grains, oatmeal, processed food, artificial sweetners, milk, yogurt. But don't do it all at once. I gave up grains, waited a few months, still had allergy symptoms, then gave up dairy, felt drastically better, then the corn months later. Really you won't miss is because you feel so much better off the grains. I remember reading that dairy is like morphine in its addiction capability, has casomorphs, "morph" like our body craves it. I steer clear of any dairy now. I eat grass-fed beef, buy online at us wellness, and lots of fish, shrimp, canned sardines, lots of avocados and some veggies, never felt better. Use a little organic stevia in my tea, but no other sweetners. Once you get off that stuff, you don't crave it any more. I know I feel like crap if I eat it and it takes me a week to feel good again. That's what keeps me going.

Good luck.

Yep. Milk has an insulinogenic response that - is worse than white potatoes

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I love milk like a mother loves a child. I'm the poster above who wrote the lengthy post about no grains. I've always been an avid milk drinker with the exception of a couple of years where it gave me digestive issues and I thought I was lactose intolerant. I probably was - the human adult doesn't really know how to process those sugars. I added milk back in to the diet before I went Primal and didn't really equate that with some weight gain while I was walking eight or ten miles a week to the bus stop and grocery store when I was car-less. I gave up milk about two months into being Primal and dropped 20 pounds in just over a month, it was that dramatic.

I cut down my cheese consumption drastically but I do still eat greek-style yogurt. The full fat kind. I get the plain kind and add cinammon and honey and walnuts and have that for breakfast more days than not. The flavored yogurts are full of sugar and high fructose corn syrup (HCFS). That stuff is in everything. The more hard-core Paleo eaters say to stay away from dairy completely. Mark Sisson of The Primal Blueprint says if it works for you, eat it in moderation and use raw dairy if you can get it. That's one of those things people sort of have to experiment with and see what works for them.

The big thing to remember with weight loss, at least in my opinion, is you have to work on healing your body and the weight loss will come naturally. We have done such damage to our bodies over the years with the ingestion of all of this stuff that has been marketed to us as healthy and good for us that it can sometimes take several months for the residua to work its way out of our systems.

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. It didn't take us to get to where we were overnight and the effects of years of poor eating habits don't go away over night, either. It is absolutely a lifestyle change, though. Sure, there are days where those bags of Kettle Chips call to me from the grocery aisle and I give in (the person who invented those should be given a sainthood, IMO). I just know what when I do give in to that, then the next week won't show that much weight loss and I have to get back to my healthy lifestyle the next day. It's all about balance.

Here's to healthy and happy eating everyone!!

Milk AND potatoes? Rats! - My favorite foods.

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:-(

my duaghter lost a bunch of weight - by only eating nibbles each day

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She would only drink a cup of coffee for breakfast, a glass of juice for lunch with maybe a yogurt, and for dinner she would eat an apple, and a couple bites of dinner and she lost 60 pounds and now has so much energy that she walks daily, and does not over-eat because her stomach shrunk.

I just get nauseaus when I get that hungry and then get migraines.

Have you tried WW - LinK

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I love going to WW. I've lost 17 pounds so far. Some weeks I only lose 1 pound a week, sometimes 2. I can eat whatever I want (I'm a sweets person and I like my breads, rice and pasta so I could never cut those things out entirely). I just watch my portions. I walk a 1/2 an hour every night after dinner. Fruits and veggies are no points so you can eat as many of them as you like.

so how are you losing with grains when the OP - said no grains

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See why it is so confusing to me?

Everyone is different and bodies work differently - to grain or not to grain

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The human body is a wonder in its variety and composition. Some people do okay with eating grains, but I personally think they can do much, much better off of it. I'll go back to my long-winded post about carbs and sugar adaptation. If you have a steady influx of grain/carbs, etc., then your body demands a continual steady influx of the same because it can't see the fat that you've got store and won't learn to use that as fuel. If you stop feeding it the grain/carbs, then it begins to see the fat and uses that instead.

Losing weight - LinK

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Yes, I am. WW uses a points system. They ask you questions and take your weight, height and how much you want to lose into account. You also get 48 extra points to use over the course of the week. Bread is a certain number of points as well as rice, pasta, etc. It's usually 1/2 cup as a measurement. Meat should be the size of your fist. Sweets have higher points so you just have to use your head when you eat cookies, cake, etc. Instead of my usual 3 cookies, I'll eat just 1. Diets can definitely be confusing. You just have to find the one that works best for you. Good luck.

Any diet that has "NO" anything is a red flag - imo

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Balanced, proportion-proper diet makes the most sense.

WW is amazing at painless nutrition education and weight loss.

yeah??? just try going off of it for a while.... - anon

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and see how fast the weight you lost comes right back on and then some! R U going to stay with these diet programs for the rest of your life?? I doubt it. It is not how much we eat these days, but what we are "being fed." There are so many chemicals and preservatives in 99% of everything we are being fed that cause diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and we just keep eating it because the govt. says it is "healthy" for us. Only thing healthy about it is the pockets of the sellers being lined, the doctors we have to see because we are sick, and the pharmaceuticals trying to combat what we are stuffing down our throats all in the name of "healthy." Portion control is not the answer.

Well said! - MT

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People do not understand how what they put in their mouths affects their health and how they feel. Asthma, allergies, GERD, I could just go on and on, and people just pop pills and keep eating the same chemical-laden food. Farming industry, meat production industry and big pharma all want this kept secret so they can make money off us getting sicker and sicker. Wish more people could open their eyes and minds to how this "fake food" is killing us slowly.

but there's no fake food in Weight Watchers - imo

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?????

anything that is "processed" is fake food.....nm - anon

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nm

Weight Watchers is not processed food. - imo

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Weight Watchers is a plan that allows one to make choices. You don't have to eat one ounce of processed food. In fact they encourage whole foods and you can eat more if you choose whole foods. There is a WW product, but it is definitely not necessary in any way to participate and enjoy a slim life!!!

I don't want to go off it. - imo

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I'm not trying to start a debate. Obviously everyone is different and some people's bodies respond differently. I personally just don't do well when I "can't" have something, unless of course it's for allergy or medical issues.

I went on WW 8 years ago, lost 70 pounds in about 10 months. Even when I "go off" of it, if I gain a few, I just get back on track and eat properly again.

I don't even like to think of WW as a diet, but a lifestyle change. I learned I can't just eat as much of anything as I want, but can have anything I want within reason. And it works for me.

Didn't mean to challenge anyone. It's just that I personally have better results when "no" is not in the diet vocab.

Do you do WW online or go to meetings? - mthead

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As soon as I find time today, I am going to the WW website to see about WW online. Need to lose about 30 pounds. Hubby only has a few to lose but said he would do it with me, too, so that's an added incentive.

WW meetings - LinK

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I go to meetings. I find them really helpful because you get a lot of encouragement and you know you're not alone. I have about 10-15 more pounds to lose. I'm not sure if the prices are the same everywhere, but here it's $13.00 a meeting. I did pay by month which is cheaper, but I changed back to monthly because I found that in the summer with so much to do with my two daughters that I didn't want to go every week and it was easier to just pay as I went. Good luck. You can do it if I can.

I thought that too - Trollbaby

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You are right! My husband thinks that by skipping meals he will lose weight. I told him that is wrong. Our problem is picking the right foods to eat. Thanks!

THANK YOU - Trollbaby

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Thanks for the great information! Congratulations on the 50 pound weight loss! That is amazing! I need you to be my coach!LOL. I would like to know if you eat three times a day or small meals throughout the day? I would also like to know if I eat too much fruit. I love fruit and I eat strawberries and blueberries throughout the day? Any advice would be great! Thanks!

My view - MT

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I am not the person you asked the question of, but here's my view.

I eat 2 meals a day, breakfast around 9 or 10 and dinner 4:30 or 5. I eat 1/2 pound of meat or fish, good fats (avocados, coconut manna, coconut oil), and bone broth or homemade veggie soup using the bone broth, and veggies cooked in fat. The fat and protein will keep you full for a good 6 to 7 hours without getting hungry. That's what I love about this way of eating, no more snacking, no more looking for munchies, no more nibbling. It gives your digestive system a rest. Also try to eat 3 to 4 hours before bed. If I eat later than that, I wake up with acid in my throat, yuck.

Good luck.

I eat about two times a day - usually

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I tend to eat breakfast/lunch around 11:30 or noonish. I have just my tea in the morning to wake myself up and even if I get hungry before then I try to ignore it, most of the time. My noon meal may be the greek yogurt I mentioned above or it may be a hamburger and a pile of veggies or a pork chop or what have you. Dinner is usually a variation on the same theme - maybe a couple of chicken thighs cooked and cup on a salad or with a pile of veggies, etc.

Fruit is great, but you have to remember that fruit tends to be very high in sugar, so if you end up tracking your carb intake, fruit can increase that very quickly. It's good stuff, though, so I don't recommend to anyone that they stop eating it. It's a real, whole food and those are always good, IMO. Berries tend to be lower in sugar so those are a little easier on your system. The melon in the grocery stores right now is delicious, though, so I've been eating a lot of canteloupe and honeydew lately. Strawberries with greek yogurt and a little bit of honey ... that's good stuff right there.

I have heard the whole "eat small meals throughout the day" advice, but frankly, the doctors I transcribe for give that advice to patients who are trying to gain weight. I personally think it's bad for someone who is trying to lose weight for a couple of reasons. Those of us who have weight issues also typically have portion control issues. We are used to eating until we're stuffed, rather than just full. It's hard to change that, too. A "small meal" can very easily be turned into a full sized meal and if we eat more than a couple of those a day, we're in trouble. The other reason, at least for me, is I have addictive issues with food. If I'm constantly eating several "small" meals a day, then I'm constantly thinking about food. I need to be able to eat and then forget about food for several hours. Eating plenty of fat and protein lets me do that because I stay full and don't get hungry again and don't have to think about it.

You are doing too much, too often - Angie

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You have to not do it all at once. You need to do the walking one day, the cardio the next and not 5 days a week. And you may gain more because muscle weighs more than fat...don't pay attention to the scale, pay attention to how your clothes fit. Hope this helps! good luck!

I was doing that since February and lost only 5 pounds - sm

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I would walk 5 miles one day, the next did the cardio work out and walk 4 miles, then just walking 5 again, then the mix. Just 5 pounds from February to June. I just bumped it up 3 weeks ago and have not lost any more. I do not notice any change in how my clothes fit either. This is just really annoying and I feel like I would be better off doing nothing. I dont drink soda or juice, only water all day and 2 coffees in the morning. I eat a lot of fruit and walnuts and avocados, either a salad or sandwich for lunch, small dinners, plain unbuttered, unsalted popcorn for a snack or berries. I never drink milk, and seldom have cheese. I have cut down on red meat drastically. I only use real butter. Yes, I eat pasta, but small, small servings. I eat bread every other day and a small potato if I have one.

I DONT GET IT. I have a thyroid problem, but take my medication as scheduled. My doctor told me just to maintain my weight I have to work out an hour a day, and to loose I will have to work out 2. So, that is what I have been doing, minimum of 2, but usually 2-1/2.

I guess this is as good as its going to get. By the way, I am 5 foot 10 inches and 225 pounds. I would like to get back to 155.

I am stumped.

Stop working out - MT

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I posted above that I lost 35 lbs in 6 months and I did not work out at all. I ate low carb, grain-free, high protein and high fat. Eat more protein and fat, low-carb veggies. That's all I can offer. Eat more red meat and fish. Avocados and butter are great, put butter on all veggies. Oh and do not count calories or get on the scale. Give it a shot for 30 days, Google whole 30, they have a whole plan to change your diet for 30 days. What have you got to lose? I did it and felt so good I kept going.

weight - mt1347

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I have hypothyroidism, too, since age 19 - all of my adult life. I did WW online religiously for a month, along with 90 mins walking every day - lost a few ounces. Very discouraging. I thought my thyroid was undertreated. My MD told me my TSH was perfectly normal - but I still have low level symptoms. This Monday went to a new MD, who did a complete blood workup including a thyroid PANEL not just a TSH - they called me when the lab came back, to start me on a higher dose of levothyroxine. My lipids are fine except the total cholesterol 221 - which only happened in the past when my thyroid was out of whack. Hormones are strange and even if you are taking your thyroid supplement everyday, that doesn't mean you are correctly properly. I was fine for 25 years, then premenopause, perimenopause and menopause did a number on my perfect thyroid control. If you have not lost weight on the diet and exercise you have described, something is off kilter. Get a new doctor - one who will listen. I told this new one - I don't want to play doctor, but I'm not stupid and I'm noit crazy and when I say I don't feel like myself, it is not important to me that the TSH is in the middle of the reference range - something is not right. I got lucky - this new guy is great. He told me at the initial consult on Monday that we could try various regimens to see what works for me - that the T3 and T4 are just as important as the TSH. Many primary care doctors prescribe by the TSH alone and it's not the whole picture. Please get yourself some help - it's not your behavior causing this problem, there is something organic going on.

Medifast Diet - greyhound mom

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We also need to remember to watch the salt intake. Some people who says things are healthy don't take into consideration the salt content.

Has anyone tried the Medifast diet - Vera

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I agree with Weightwatchers. I am on it now and there are tons of foods offered. This is my second week and I have lost 8 pounds. It is the most sensible diet for me. I have tried tons of diets and I always come back to WW. The liquid diets usually give me the trots. I also do Smoothies with fruits added. Love them and they can be low in calories. I add Flax to them. I also drink water with lemon in it. It is a great detox for the liver. It is hard to get in water for me and I try to flavor it up

I have something for you to try - sm

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go to zing anything dot com and check out the citrus zinger. I just bought one (and the aquazinger) and I love them. I cannot drink water unless it is flavored and these bottles are AWESOME!!!

My suggestions - Ayn

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I would agree with the above suggestions to change your eating habits -- not just "going on a diet", which in my mind is more of a temporary change and, therefore, any weight loss will also be temporary. If a person is "going on" a diet, that is already implying that they will eventually be "going off" the diet. To be successful and to maintain that success lifelong, you have to make a lifelong decision, i.e., change your habits and be committed from the very beginning to making that change permanent.

I would also agree with above posters that a low-carb, high protein and "good" fat diet is healthiest. A great book to read is "Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It" by Gary Taubes. Explains in lay terms why carbs are unhealthy and how they affect our health and our weight. I also agree that fresh, whole foods are best and keep the processed, prepackaged stuff to a minimum.

As for the exercise, I say do whatever and however much you are comfortable with. Two hours a day seems like a lot, but if you have the time available, you enjoy it, and you are not injuring yourself, then keep it up. However, I also think 30-60 minutes a day is more than sufficient for most folks to maintain their health.

Keep up the exercise though. It will make you feel better and help with weight loss. I don't think weight loss comes with either one or the other - you have to change your eating habits as well as to exercise.

Personally, I believe exercise should be a combination of cardio and strength training. Maybe try adding some light strength traning to your routine instead of doing so much exclusive cardio? The change may also jump start your weight loss and will keep you from getting bored with your routine. Strength training gets more important as we age also, especially for women & bone loss.

I agree with other posters -- don't rely solely on the scale to tell you if you are making progress. If you are feeling better, sleeping better, have more energy, and are fitting into different clothes you are making progress no matter what the scale says. I would suggest, if not already done, that you have a physical including labs with blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc. Recheck in 6 months and I think you'll see improvements. Also -- get a tape measure and write down your measurements (whichever ones you want to track -- I do calves, thighs, hips, waist, bust, upper arms). Re-measure once a month -- bet you see improvements there as well. (I have hit my weight goal, but continue to lose inches and it feels great! Just because that scale isn't moving doesn't mean I'm not still making improvements/changes, and tracking my measurements helps me remember that and not get discouraged by the scale!)

Keep a log of some kind to track your weight, your labs, your measurements -- whatever tools you choose to track your progress -- but don't rely on just 1 method of measuring your success, use them all.

Weight Watchers life timer here - sm

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I definitely swear by WW. Basically, it's all about eating healthy (AND you are not required to eliminate certain food categories such as carbohydrates). Been there, done that with no carbs, no this, no that. Anyway, like I said I am a WW life timer for years - I am 5 feet 4 inches, 120 pounds and holding.

I am not a spokesperson for WW, just wanted to put my 2 cents in. Like I said, it has worked for me for years AND I get to eat what I want when I want, within reason. Good luck!

Here is some info that everybody should read....lengthy - alias

[ In Reply To ..]
It is not necessarily "diet related", but it is about things that make us fat.

Hidden Chemicals In 4 Household Items Cause Body Flab (Not Food)
By Coach Josh Under General Health/Fitness Most people blame weight gain on the chocolate shakes or burgers they have been eating. And while consuming those foods will undoubtedly add inches to your waistline, new information shows that there may be chemicals within the body that are also to blame.

Obesogens. They are endocrine disruptors and they are natural and man-made chemicals that alter the regulatory system that controls your weight. Obesogens increase the amount of fat cells you have while at the same time decreasing the amount of calories you burn. In addition, they change the way your body manages hunger.

New research studies are being conducted on the effects of obesogens on the body. To understand what obesogens are and how they are making people fat, you first need to know how these chemicals work.

Obesogens interfere with the body’s natural hormones. Hormones are responsible for just about every function in the body, including metabolism and fat burning. Obesogens disrupt hormones by either copying their natural action or by preventing them from functioning properly.

When Obesogens mimic hormones, it can cause an influx of reactions as the body tries to compensate for too much hormone. When Obesogens block hormones form functioning properly, those hormones cannot do their job, which in turn affects systems in the body. Again, this includes metabolism and fat burning.

These chemicals cause the body to store more fat. What’s worse, they can actually alter cells in the body, reprogramming them to become fat cells. Some obesogens interfere with the production of leptin and prevent it from being released into the body. Leptin is the hormone that send the signal to your body that you are full. Without it, you are likely to overeat.

Obesogens can make the liver become resistant to insulin. When this happens, the pancreas go into overdrive trying to produce more insulin. The excess amount of insulin in the body results in energy being converted to fat.

Wonder where these hormone disruptors are hiding? Unfortunately, they are everywhere.

Foods

If you’re not eating fresh, whole foods, you’re probably consuming obesogens every day. These hormone-disrupting chemicals can be found in just about every grocery store aisle, thanks to high fructose corn syrup. As you know, this artificial sweetener can be found in everything from drinks and snack foods to breads and condiments. High fructose corn syrup, one of the main sources of Obesogens, is so sweet that it interferes with insulin levels and hunger levels.

This is what happens…..

-Obesogens make the liver resistant to insulin
-The pancreas start making more insulin
-Hunger increases and you eat more
-The excess insulin turns all that extra food into fat

Tap Water

Pesticides affect a lot more than just the insects they are designed to control. These powerful chemicals seep deep down into the soil and remain there for years. As they accumulate, they find their way into our faucets and show up in our drinking water. The main obesogen in tap water is called atrazine. It is a pesticide that is banned in Europe but not in the United States. Atrazine slows thyroid hormone metabolism. Another source for obesogens found in your faucets is called tributylin. This fungicide is used to paint the bottom of boats to prevent fungus growth. When ingested, it stimulates the production of fat cells.

Water Bottles and Cans

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been shown to increase insulin resistance in animal studies and is most commonly found in the lining of cans and sports water bottles. BPA is a synthetic estrogen that is used to harden plastics. Even though it has been banned from some plastics, such as baby bottles, it is still present in many others.

Non-Stick Pans

Animal studies have shown that individuals who are exposed to Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) early in life have an increased risk of developing obesity later in life. This chemical is used to make items non-stick. Although this is found mainly in Teflon products, it is also used to create the lining inside of microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes.

PFOA’s also interfere with thyroid glands. When the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, it cannot regulate the hormones that are responsible for controlling weight.

Shower Curtains

Phthalates, the chemicals found in shower curtains and air fresheners, can lower testosterone and slow down metabolism. This can cause you to gain weight and also reduce your muscle mass. Phthalates are also found in vinyl flooring and the shrink wrap used on meats at the grocery store.

Now that you know about obesogens, try some of these tips to avoid them:

1. Buy wild fish. Steer clear of canned fish such as tuna.

2. Use a filter on your tap to keep out the atrazine and other chemicals that accumulate in your water. Make sure it is a granular activated carbon filter.

3. Use aluminum water bottles. If you opt for plastic bottles, check to make sure it is BPA free. Most plastics that contain BPA have the number 3 or 7 on the bottom. Try to avoid these and stick to ones with the numbers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

4. Eat fewer canned foods. Aside from the obesogens found in the lining, canned foods are high in sodium, preservatives and artificial ingredient. Stick with natural, fresh or frozen foods to lose weight and improve your health.

5. Throw out those non-stick pans. Opt for cast iron or metal cookware.

6. Don’t buy pre packaged meats. Purchase fresh cuts of meat straight from the butcher if possible. Be sure to purchase meats that produced without hormones and ask for brown paper wrap instead of plastic.

7. Don’t use air fresheners. To freshen the air in the room, open the windows. Create your own natural scents to infuse into the room. Boil some cinnamon sticks, make a homemade room spray with fresh squeezed citrus juice and lemon oil or use dried spices and herbs to make your own potpourri.

Great post, thanks - just to add

[ In Reply To ..]
Great post, lots of good info. Just wanted to add my 2 cents. The other things I avoid also include deodorant (aluminum) and toothpaste (corn). I try really hard to find shampoo without corn or synthetic chemicals, but it's really hard. Cannot bring myself to go poo-less. I also found out hair colors contain estrogen disruptors, but I can't let go of that either, just vanity, but not ready to go all gray before 50. But I do follow all of what you said above, no teflon, no canned foods, aluminum water bottles, water filters, all great advice. Also use coconut oil on my skin instead of lotions.

Medifast dietsq - Sandy

[ In Reply To ..]
I used to diet and tried so many things until I found it was my thyroid by a simple bood test. After being put on medication for hypothyroidism (low thyroid). I have lost 40 lbs and kept it off. Check it out everyone.

Sandy

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