As expected, antibiotic put me in a holding pattern!

I’ve been too embarrassed to post anything because of gaining each of the last 2 weeks,  while on this horrid antibiotic, I'm finally off of it plus today was my WI and I lost 1.6 lbs this week!!!  That antibiotic made me really hungry, but I just ate more bars or allowed L&G foods, didn't get off the program and it paid off!!!  Expecting to get back in the groove of larger losses this week.  I'm hoping to reach my goal in February.

Went to a big family get together/party Christmas Day and passed on oodles of Hors d'oeuvres and then lots of luscious looking dishes to settle for a turkey leg and salad! Great feeling staying OP!  Oh, and I took the salad.  Good thing I did because there wasn’t any other allowable veggies.

Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs........ Week 21 = 1.6 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Chg
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs....... Week 17 = 7.2 lbs!!!
Week 8 = .9 lbs......... Week 18 = 1.4 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs.......... Week 19 = + 1 lb
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs......... Week 20 = + 1 lb

This is a Marathon...not a Sprint!

I can't expect large losses like last week to occur every week, so 1.4 lbs is quite acceptable for this week!  It is going to be interesting to see how I do the next 3 weeks, because my Allergist has put me on Augmentin for a significant sinus infection that was revealed on a Sinus CAT scan this week.  Generally being on antibiotics hinders weight loss.
I am starting to feel hunger as I get into these weights that I haven't seen for decades.  I am going to start eating celery dipped in salsa, instead of peanut butter.

I also have to keep reminding myself that in addition to the loss from MF, I lost 20 lbs prior to starting this program.  So, since last February I have lost 88 1/2 lbs!!!

This week I grilled steaks on our grill outdoors when the temps were in the 70's.  This is my recipe for Don's Low Calorie Rub:

 2 TBL Splenda
2 TBL Sweet 'n Low Brown Sugar
2 TBL Mrs Dash Steak



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Change
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs....... Week 17 = 7.2 lbs!!!
Week 8 = .9 lbs......... Week 18 = 1.4 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs 

1 WEEK MINUS PEANUT BUTTER = BIG LOSS!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!

Obviously I've been sabotaging possible bigger weekly losses by eating so much Peanut Butter each week!  No more Peanut Butter until I reach goal!  Not to mention, this loss was accomplished while taking 20 mg per day of Prednisone for an Allergy Test on Friday!



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Change
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs....... Week 17 = 7.2 lbs!!!
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs 

Cheating, Challenges & Changes!

I've been really struggling this month, in fact I've only lost 1 lb in 3 weeks!  But, I'm pretty sure I KNOW why....I've been eating too much Peanut Butter.  I'm allowed 1 TBL per day, but I've been eating up to 1/4 cup or more per day.  I'm sure this has taken me out of ketosis because of the amount of sugar in PB.

I got through Thanksgiving ok.  We went to Joe & Donita's house and Joe fixed a turkey without basting with butter, so I had a turkey leg and some green beans.  I skipped all the trimmings for the first time in decades.  Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because I am addicted to food and it was the one day I felt empowered to give in to gluttony all day!  I even loved the turkey & mayo sandwiches for days afterwards.  Anyway, I feel great being able to stay On Program! 2 of our 5 grandkids ate with us, so it was really great! It was the older ones that are living away from home now, so it was extra special that they took time to be with us.  My granddaughter told me I looked like a new person!  What a great NSV!

I had quite a challenge tonight....attended the Christmas Show & Dinner of our Son-in-law's Magic Club. Tickets were $16 each, so I paid for the meal that consisted of Black Beans and Yellow Rice, Roasted Chicken, Roasted Pork, Platanos & Cuban Bread, along with various deserts. As we FF's (Former Fatties) know, turning down food we paid for is the hardest, but with the Lord's help, I only ate what I felt safe with, the Roasted Chicken. I waited until I got home to eat a salad.

Also, I need to come clean and admit that at my last weigh-in on Thursday I actually gained .1 lb! I've decided to re-start as if I'm just starting....no extras, no exercising for 3 weeks, just like I started out. (I began this on Friday!)

Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Change
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

Some Adjustments

We are settling into our winter home and adjusting quite well to being able to walk every day it doesn't rain, without having to put on a jacket or coat!  Temps in the 70's and 80's are just great.

I've been working on getting up and running as a Health Coach with Take Shape For Life, so I can help others achieve the great results I am experiencing.

Weigh-in was today and I lost another 3.2 lbs!!!  With just a little over 8 lbs left on my original goal, I have decided it is time to make an adjustment on my goal to my ultimate goal of 250 lbs.  Originally I had planned to get to 280, go through Transition and stay at that goal on Maintenance for 2 years, then come back to the 5 & 1 to lose the additional 30 lbs.  But, talking to many experts and those more experienced with Medifast, I have decided to go for it all this time, especially since the losses are continuing at this rate.

In addition to the weight loss, I have dropped from size 54 pants to size 42!!!!  I went through my closet here in Florida and am taking 2 large leaf bags full of clothes that no longer fit, to the Hospice Store.  I have even more than this back home in the basement in Des Moines to take to Goodwill!



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

We flew to Florida with a MAJOR NSV and continued loss....

For the first time flying on a plane that I can remember I was able to snap the seatbelt without having to ask for an extender!!!!  MAJOR NSV (Non Scale Victory!)

Well, Thursday is my regular weigh-in and the Scale didn't disappoint....down another 3.9 lbs!  Whoo Hoo!  I'm probably about to readjust my goal from 280 to 250!


Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

Slowing down but plugging along.....

I got in 2 long walks this week, while having the car worked on downtown, I walked 2 & 3 miles downtown and in the Skywalk.  We are busy getting ready to move to our winter home in Zephyrhills, Florida.  Will be so nice not to have to wear coats when we go out and we can walk in warm weather!  The weather service just issued a freeze warning until Friday morning at 9am.  Right now in Des Moines it is 32* with wind chill of 24*!

On a happier note, today being my weigh-in day, this is the results for the past week:



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

TWOTERVILLE!!!

Drum roll please!!!!!

Today is my Weigh-in Day......and I finally made it to Twoterville!!!

Thank You Jesus! I owe it all to Him and to MF!

I can't believe I actually bought into the theory that "Old" people can't lose weight as fast as younger people!

It's been many years since I've seen a weight starting with a 2 on the scale.

AND, 68.9 lbs since February!!!

A much better weigh-in day!!!

I went on an antibiotic a week ago Monday and had a boil lanced last Wednesday.  We figured out that last weeks low loss was probably due to the affect taking antibiotics had on me. (Medifast has documented this)

Well, as you can well imagine, I am ecstatic after my weigh-in this morning! Lost another 4 1/2 lbs!!!! I'm walking more, still trying to find a route that will take us an hour, but each time we must be walking faster because it always ends up being just 50 minutes! LOL! The odometer is broken on our car so I can't check the distance but I'm sure we are walking at least 2 miles! We are really enjoying this Indian Summer weather, with temps in the 80's. Went fishing yesterday with some guys that I fished with when we were teens. We fished in a pond in Prairie City, Iowa. One guy caught a 10 lb Bass! I didn't catch anything, but had a great time of fellowship with them!  We had lunch at a Restaurant in Prairie City.  They didn't have anything on the menu for me, but fixed a steak for me, so with a salad, I was able to stay OP!!!!



Week 1 = 12 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs

Twoterville is just around the corner!!!

Lowest weight loss so far...

Just .9 lb lost this week.  Body must be doing some adjusting.




Beginning body measurements:

Upper Arms: 17 in.

Chest: 50in.

Waist: 58in.

Hips: 51.5in.

Thighs: 26.5in.

Today:

Upper Arms: 15in.

Chest: 48in.

Waist: 53in.

Hips: 47.7in.

Thighs: 23in.

Thursday means time to get weighed.....

Well, another Thursday, which means weigh-in time.  I must have gained some since Tuesday at the Doctor's office (I wear size 14 shoes and I know they & jeans weigh more than 1.2 lbs), but I KNOW it will all be coming off soon, so I'm still happy to report the loss of another 5+ pounds of FAT!!!  Yay!! 



Week 1 = 12 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs

Twoterville is just around the corner!!! 

Another meal challenge & a GREAT Doctor's Office Visit!

On Saturday, our Senior Group at  out church had breakfast at a Shelter House on Saylorville Lake, just north of Des Moines.  It was 52* and windy, but we had a great time.  Before going I fixed 2 waffles with my MF Pancake mix, put SF Syrup on it, put on a paper plate and covered with alum foil and took it along.  They were serving pancakes, cinnamon rolls, chocolate cake with sauce, eggs, sausage, lots of different kinds of fruit and coffee.  While they were eating their food, I unwrapped mine and ate it and enjoyed AND stayed OP!!!

Later that morning friends of ours that farm down by Pella came for a visit and we took them to Cracker Barrel for lunch, and I had the trout on the Low Carb menu, so I stayed OP all day!

Today, Tuesday, I had an appointment at Mercy Sleep Center, my yearly checkup for Sleep Apnea and to get my CPAP machine checked.  Well, I am pumped!!! I just had the most exciting experience ever at a Doctor's office. In the past I dreaded stepping on the scale at the Doctor's office, (You always weigh much more at the Doctor's office because you are dressed and have shoes on! ) but today at Mercy Sleep Center I saw 308 for the first time in a long time. (And I don't have my official weigh-in for another 2 days!) Then, everyone got super excited and congratulated me on how well I'm doing, down 55 lbs since my last visit a year ago! The Doctor, the nurse and the assistants all were amazed and congratulating me! And, you know, I was loving it! LOL! And, I was talking up the benefits of Medifast to them all too!

Twoterville, here I come~!!!  (MF term for getting to the 200's weight range)

Grilling, weighing, celebrating and planning....

Another Thursday, so time to face the scales……

To be honest, I’m a little bit down with this loss of only 1.9 lbs.  But looking at the BIG picture, this is still 35 lbs lost in 6 weeks.  I guess with the weight coming off so fast, I am just anxious to get below 300 as soon as possible!  I need to remind myself that I’m seeing weights on the scale that I haven’t seen in years!  CONGRATULATIONS DON!!!

On Tuesday for supper, I grilled minute steaks for us and a hamburger for Darby, along with some green pepper slices that I brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with Oregano.

Because of eating these pepper slices, instead of my usual 3 cups of lettuce for my salad, I only had 2 cups.  I miss the Rub that our son in law, Joe, made for us, but as soon as I find Sweet ‘N Low Brown Sugar, I will be able to make up an OP batch of it!

I have to share this with you:

Someone on one of the Forums on the MFBoard said a friend of theirs that was on MF didn’t transition and now 2 months after getting to their goal weight, has gained 15 lbs back.  She said she was only mentioning so that all of us will realize that the transition and maintenance is going to be as important as the loosing itself. 

This emphasizes how the weight we want to achieve shouldn't be our ultimate goal.  I have lost weight many times, but then put it back on AFTER achieving my goal!  This time my goal is to stay at that weight for 2 years.  I can't imagine spending all that money on this Plan, then quitting cold turkey when you get to your goal weight, and going back to eating normal.  From my perspective, it is a waste of time and money if you aren't committed to staying on this Plan the rest of your life.  And part of this Plan is to Transition to Maintenance at which point you start adding back in regular food.

I'm sure we have all heard of people that have gotten the Gastric By-Pass or Lap Band surgery, attained the desired weight, then gone back to eating normal and gained it all back!  What's the point?  All that for a temporary joy?  Kinda like training for a marathon, winning the marathon, and then never doing any exercises the rest of your life.

Taco Salad - First Try

Taco Salad

Ingredients:

7 oz of 99% fat free lean ground turkey - should yield 5.25 oz (3/4 Lean)

2 tsp low sodium taco seasoning mix (3 Condiments)

2 tbsp water

2 cups lettuce, chopped (2 Green)

1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped (1 Green)

1 oz or 1/4 cup 2% reduced fat Mexican Cheese (1/4 Lean)

2 tbsp Hidden Valley Light Ranch Dressing (1 Healthy Fat)

Directions:

Brown ground beef in a skillet. (Obviously this recipe was adapted from beef and changed to turkey, because there was nothing to drain and I need way more water so the seasoning mix would blend with the meat.) Drain the fat and return to the pan. Stir in the water and taco seasoning mix. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve meat over lettuce and tomatoes. Sprinkle with cheese and add the salad dressing. Enjoy!

Dr. Wayne Andersen

On Thursday we went to Jordan Creek Town Center.  While Maryann was shopping, Darby and I walked around the interior of the mall.  After going around one time, we met my younger brother, Dan, and proceeded to go around another 2 times!  My brother says that 5 times equals 4 miles.  I know I walked for 45 minutes.

Went to my Dr. and my BP was 128/78.  He was happy with me being on Medifast and with the goal that I have set.  He said he would rather I pick a reasonable weight that I can maintain than an unreasonable one that will cause me to put it all back on again!

On Friday, I attended the Seminar put on by Dr. Wayne Andersen, co-founder of Take Shape For Life (TSFL). It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, mostly designed for the non-member guests that people brought, to sell them on the idea of joining Medifast.  But, I enjoyed the success stories shown on 2 large screens at the front of the room and several stories presented by people in the audience as well as the 2 great speakers.  The man that opened the program, David Bush, said he was the Center that hiked the ball to Curt Warner, when he was with the Iowa Barnstomers!

Then they had another program after an intermission that was for people that wanted to be Health Coaches.  This looks like something I could really get interested in.  I found out though that to be one, you have to have one, so I have decided to join with the Health Coach that the others in my Church are linked with, Christi Scroggs.

On Saturday, I went with a group of Seniors from our Church to a Bible Conference in Atlantic, Iowa.  This was another challenge, food wise, but I took celery sticks and several bars, just in case.  I knew in advance what the menu was, so had to improvise a bit.  For lunch, they had Lemon Chicken over noodles, rolls, tomatoes, jello salads & cookies.  I skipped everything except for 3 tomato slices and 2 Chicken patties.  I had to scrape the breading off of the Chicken patties, so, with some Ice Tea with ice to chew on,  I was able to stay OP! :)  For supper they had lunchmeat and bread to make sandwiches with and potato chips, jello salads and cookies.  I skipped it all and had a Oatmeal Raisin Crunch bar with some celery and my water.  Oh, after my lunch, I walked around the town for 25 minutes!

On the way home, they were eating chocolates from England or Ireland, but other than unwrapping one for the driver, I stayed away from them.  I did get several compliments for being strong enough to resist! :)

When I got home, I have my Green part in the form of a salad.

I'm going to try making a Taco Salad for my supper tonight.

Another Thursday Weigh-in -> 5 weeks into Program

We have been walking about 1 mile each day, about 30 minutes.  Will start ramping that up a bit this next week to 45 minutes.


Nothing else notable since returning from Branson.  Finished reading "The Secret Is Out" that I received with my first MF order.  Made another batch of muffins and had cauliflower pizza again.  I'm going to try Taco Salad this coming week!

Unrealistic Goals Based on BMI & Insurance Charts

I believe this is why 85% of Dieters are unable to maintain their goal and regain all the weight they lost!

BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".

While the formula previously called the Quetelet Index for BMI dates to the 19th century, the new term "body mass index" for the ratio and its popularity date to a paper published in the July edition of 1972 in the Journal of Chronic Diseases by Ancel Keys, which found the BMI to be the best proxy for body fat percentage among ratios of weight and height; the interest in measuring body fat being due to obesity becoming a discernible issue in prosperous Western societies. BMI was explicitly cited by Keys as being appropriate for population studies, and inappropriate for individual diagnosis. Nevertheless, due to its simplicity, it came to be widely used for individual diagnosis, despite its inappropriateness.

In 1942, Louis Dublin, a statistician at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, grouped some four million people who were insured with Metropolitan Life into categories based on their height, body frame (small, medium or large) and weight. He discovered that the ones who lived the longest were the ones who maintained their body weight at the level for average 25-year-olds.

These Metropolitan Life tables became widely used for determining recommended body weights. In 1942, the tables gave "ideal body weights." In 1959, they were revised and became "desirable body weights." And in 1983, they were revised once again, this time called "height and weight tables." The weights given in the 1983 tables are heavier than the 1942 tables because, in general, heavier people live longer today.
Experts have criticized the validity of these tables for several reasons:
1) Insured people tend to be healthier than uninsured people.
2) Frame size was never consistently measured.
3) The people who were included were predominantly white and middle-classed.
4) Some persons were actually weighed, some were not.
5) Some wore shoes and/or clothing, some did not.
6) The tables do not consider percentage of body fat or distribution, which are now known to be important factors in longevity.

In reality, "ideal body weight" is actually different for every individual and is dependent on health, body fat content and distribution, musculature, age, activity, metabolism, and a host of other factors that are not simple to measure accurately. For these reasons, you and your physician or dietitian must decide what your ideal weight should be. You probably have an idea what that weight is. Start conservatively. And if you reach your target weight and still feel you need to trim off additional weight, you always have option to set a new target goal.

It is much more realistic to have a target goal that you can maintain for life, than an unrealistic one that you have to be constantly "yo-yoing" to get back to!

Southern Gospel Picnic Exercise Program....:)

If you have ever been to Silver Dollar City, you will know this, if not, you need to know it is all hills!  Down and up them all day.  Yesterday, I figured we walked an hour, including a very fast pace after the last show to get to the Trams. Today we spent the whole day at SDC and I figured walking on hills for 1 hour and 30 minutes. We were there from 11AM to 4PM.   During our time at SDC the 2 days, we took in concerts by Down East Boys, True Heart Trio, The Williamsons, Dixie Echoes, Spoken 4 Quartet and Karen Peck and New River.

Yesterday we ate our supper at SDC, and I got a baked half chicken, with a salad and ranch dressing.  Today we went to Lonestar and I got the 6oz Bacon-wrapped Sirloin and asked them to leave off the bacon. They don't use butter grilling their steaks, so I was good there. I got the lettuce wedge and green beans as my sides. So, I was still able to stay OP and the steak and sides were delicious! Steak was quite tender too!

Both days I took bars with me to SDC. Having MF Belgium Waffles for breakfast each day and Chili for lunch on Thursday. I add a few spoons of salsa to it!

We are leaving Branson tomorrow. Going to the Precious Moments Chapel and Park in Carthege Missouri on the way home, then to Joplin to see the tornado damage, then to Kansas City to Sweet Tomatoes for late lunch. I'm going to fish out the large chunks of chicken from their Chicken Noodle Soup for the Lean and have make myself a large salad for the Green and should be ok. Looks like we may be driving home from KC in the rain in the afternoon then.

Today Cont'd...

Actually starting with yesterday, I walked up the steep hill in front of our Motel for about 1/2 mile and back, took me 30 minutes.  Did that again today, same route.  Both days I had to stop to rest 2 times on the steepest part of the climb up.  This morning I remembered to bring my camera with me so I could get some pictures of the sunrise and proof that I actually walked this far.  Well, I think the scale kinda proves I am doing some serious exercise! :)

Tuesday night we went to Kelly VanBurch, Magician Show.  We were surprised to find out he is a Christian.  He wasn't bashful about giving all glory to God throughout his performance and kept emphasizing that they were all illusions, even said there is no such thing as a psychic or mind reader.  At the end he gave a very simple gospel message too.  He turned girls into tigers.  Made a motorcycle disappear and immediately reappear in a nearby cage.  The finale was making a helicopter appear out of thin air!  In between he sawed 2 girls in half, one dressed in red and one in blue, switched the bottom half of their bodies and they came out with the colors accordingly switched!

On Wednesday we went shopping in the morning at Branson Landing and a few Craft stores. Ate supper at Montana Mike's Steakhouse. I had steak for the first time since going on Medifast.  In the evening I went up the Inspiration Tower at Shepherd of the Hills to view the countryside all around, then we went to the Shepherd of the Hills Play in the evening.

This morning at 10 AM we saw the Waltzing Waters as it reacted to 2 singers singing great gospel hymns.  This afternoon and tomorrow will be spent at Silver Dollar City for the Southern Gospel Picnic!

I'm such a loser.......YAY!!!!!!

Today was my weekly weigh-in day, and I surprised myself with a 7.3 lb loss.  Guess exercise really does make a difference! 

Staying on track in Branson

Monday was a bit of a challenge with traveling to Branson, taking in a show at night (Pierce Arrow) and getting situated at the Motel (Whispering Hills)  I doubled up my last 2 meals with 2 Mango Soft Serve.  The ice cubes are too large for the blender to chop, so I brought a metel meat tenderizer mallet and put ice cubes in a towel, wrapping the towel around the ice and hammered it until the ice was pulverized enough to work.

Today, for Breakfast, I mixed my pancake mix and put it in the Belgium Waffle maker in the Hospitality Room, where everyone was enjoying scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, donuts, etc. etc.!!!   I fixed Darby a BlueBerry waffle, then made mine.  Note to self:  Next time spray Pam on BOTH top and bottom!  I had to scrape the waffle off the top onto the plate.  It was really STUCK! 

We went to 12 Irish Tenors at 2PM today, then went to Ruby Tuesday's for supper.  I got them to fix the Tilapia without crumbs or lemon-butter, they put a cajun seasoning on it instead.  Tasted great.  Got mashed cauliflower and balsamic tomatoes with it and stayed OP.  Let my wife and Darby eat the cheese rolls! :)

Going to Kelly Van Burch, Magician tonite!

Trying something new...

Tried walking around 3 blocks, 17 Minutes, today.  Ramping up the exercise.

Tried Chicken Wild Rice Soup.  Had to add salt and some seasonings to get it palatable, then it wasn't so bad.  Probably won't buy any more.  I had just ordered 1 as a sample to try.

Tried a Peanut Butter Soft Serve and put a TBL of Peanut Butter in it.  Yummy!

Getting everything ready for our trip to Branson next week.

Thursday Weigh-in

Only lost 3.3 lbs this week.  Guess it is time to get serious about daily exercise! :)

Stew?

I tried the Vegetable Beef Stew today....it tasted ok, but it was soup, not stew.  Stew is thick....this wasn't!

Also, had Cauliflower Pizza for the 3rd time for supper!  I can't believe it has cauliflower in it...can't taste it at all!  Cut it in 4 pieces and was able to pick the pieces up and hold them while eating too!

Typical Day's Food

Today, my menu read like this:

Medifast pancake mix, that I made a waffle with for Breakfast with Sugar Free Syrup.

Lunch was Medifast Chili that I added chili seasoning and a few spoonfuls of Salsa to.

Afternoon Medifast meal was a Strawberry Crème Shake.

Supper was my Lean & Green meal that consisted of 2 Fully Cooked Chicken Patties that I heated in the Microwave, then a few sprays of “I can’t believe it isn’t butter” and sprinkles of Lemon Pepper seasoning.  Also 3 cups of Lettuce with 2 TBL Fat Free Dressing and some seasonings and olives for my Green part.

Early evening meal was Chocolate Mint Soft Serve (as in Ice Cream).

Late night meal was Lemon Meringue Crunch Bar.

So I have my 5 & 1, 5 Medifast Meals and 1 Lean & Green today!  All of this amounted to   881 Calories.

Tried a new Restaurant...

I'm slowly adding exercise to my plan.  On Friday I edged the entire lawn and mowed the front lawn.  Sprained my left wrist in the process, probably horsing the edger through the dirt that had built up.  Probably need to do this more often than every 2 years! :)

Saturday I mowed the back lawn and we walked 3 blocks and back to a Garage Sale.

Sunday we went to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch.  I had the Grilled Salmon, vinaigrette tomatoes, grilled zucchini & mashed cauliflower!  We aren't allowed to have potatoes, so this was awesome!

I had some problems adjusting to having eaten my Lean & Green meal at lunch.  Could have been mostly psychological too, it seemed like I was starved after supper time. :)

Cauliflower Pizza! YAY!

Got weighed this morning and I’m down another 5.7 lbs to 329.8!!!

My Weight Loss Ticker

 

Made Cauliflower Pizza again, this time with mushrooms, black olives & turkey pepperoni.

Great Saying found on Medifast Discussion Boards

"The pain of discipline hurts less than the pain of regret."

Muffin Recipe

I made another batch of those delicious muffins today.  Instead of 2 tsp of cinnamon I used 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp of apple pie spice.  I also made Peanut Butter Soft Serve and added a dab of real peanut butter!  (PB is allowed as a snack)  Yummy!

Tried another Muffin Recipe:

Muffin Recipe

I also like muffins and make oatmeal and pancakes into muffins.

Mix any flavor oatmeal with 4 to 5 TBSP water, put in the bottom of a rounded coffee cup (no need to spray!) and microwave for 1 minute to 1 minute 15 seconds
I make the pancakes the same way, but use only about 3 TBSP water.

Discovered Restaurants work on Medifast

My wife had an appointment with at Iowa Heart Center this morning to get her heart and Defibrillator/Pacemaker checked.  Afterwards we went to Cracker Barrel for Lunch.  I found out they have a "Low Carb" page on their menu.  I had grilled trout with turnip greens, green beans & salad.  First time going to a Restaurant on MF and felt good being able to stay OP!

After that we went to the Super Target in Urbandale and I bought a Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender.  It is on Sale for $12. (14 oz.)  I was telling one of the ladies at our Church Sunday, that is also on MF, that it was such a pain fixing things like Soft Serve in our large Blender because it took so long just to clean it and she told me about this one.  Wow, the Choc Mint Soft Serve really tasted great, ate it right out of the mixer container!

I feel very good about getting thru this weekend, because Saturday was only one of 3 events I attended where "off program" food was available! On Friday we went to the monthly Senior meal event for the Seniors at our Church and they had BBQ pulled pork with sauce and without, so I was able to have OP Meat. Then I had some plain salad and green veggies. I passed on everything else including Homemade churned Ice Cream!!! I just kept repeating to myself something I learned at Weight Watchers, "Nothing tastes as good and thin feels!" :)

Then yesterday was our Church Picnic and everyone brought a salad and a dessert and they supplied grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. I had one hamburger without the bun and green veggies and my water! The desserts were easier to avoid because they were all on a large table, but the watermelon was next to the salads! Yipes! I didn't touch it though! Because there are several others at our Church on MF, we are keeping each other accountable, which makes it much easier. And, several of their relatives would check on me to make sure I was staying OP! LOL! The reason I joined is because Brad Westphal had lost 61 lbs in 10 weeks!

So, I feel pretty good about having gone to 3 events with food involved and staying OP!!!

This morning I had the MF scrambled eggs and put 2 spoons of Salsa on them...yummy!

The Iowa Energy Forum took us up and back on a chartered bus that had a restroom on it. They gave us a goodie bag with a digital camera in it. They gave us a buffet lunch when we got there, and I had Chix breast sliced and the salad was pretty plain with carrot slivers and a few cherry tomatoes. I put about a TBL of Italian dressing on it and that was my Light & Green! I just stayed away from where the free food, like BBQ, DQ Blizzards & Pizza were, so had no problems! Took along a Peanut Butter Crunch bar and a Oatmeal Raisin Bar and was able to stay OP ok! (By the way, I wrote in Rick Perry for my choice. He got 718 write-ins.) I got close enough to take a picture of Chuck Grassley, Rick Santorum & Huckabee.

Iowa Straw Poll Adventure??

I am going to the Iowa Straw Poll tomorrow, so that should be fun, with all that free food~! LOL~! Don't worry, I'm NOT going to succumb to those temptations! Taking 3 bars with me to keep me on track! It is doubtful they will have anything even close to the Lean & Green, so I will probably eat that when I get back home at 7pm. I'm going on the bus provided by the Iowa Energy Forum.

Starting Off......

I am 100% Danish and my name is Don, hence "Danedon"
A little about myself:

I just started last Friday and got weighed this morning for the first time since starting and lost 12 lbs my first week! Actually just 6 days, but I was cutting down last Thursday.
I have tried many different diets like Low Carb, Low Fat, Atkins & Weight Watchers. I lost 111 lbs in 14 months on WW in 1976, but put it all back on plus when they changed the program and I got discouraged. I've gone back to WW several times but never had the same success, I think mainly because it isn't as regimented as it was back then.

Recently I lost 30 lbs from my highest weight of 367, by not eating after supper, but had put 10 of that back on. I have friends in our church that are on MF, one man which has lost 61 lbs in 10 weeks and that got me motivated to give this a try. I really like that I get to set my goal, not the Metropolitan Insurance Company's unrealistic weight chart that most Diet Plans use! The idea that EVERY man in the world that is 6' 3" can weigh the same is ludicrous! Humans are not clones of one another; each is different in may different ways, structurally.

I am 69 and retired. My wife, Maryann, and son, Darby, and I live in Des Moines, Iowa 6 months and in Florida 6 months during the winter as snowbirds! My wife has been in remission for 7 years from Non-Hodgkin’s T-Cell 30 Lymphoma. Our son is Down Syndrome and is 39.
My last job was IT with Nationwide Insurance here in Des Moines.

2 days ago I made the Muffins that make 6 meals, from 2 Pudding, 2 Eggs & 2 Oatmeal. Really great! Tonight I made the Cauliflower Pizza~! Awesome! I keep thinking I'm cheating! LOL! I let my wife taste the pizza and she said, "Maybe I should go on this diet!"

Muffin Recipe

2 pkgs oatmeal
2 pkgs eggs
2 pkgs pudding or shake (vanilla) I used the pudding.
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup water

Spray muffin tin with PAM.
Divide batter between 6 muffin tins.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Each muffin is one Mf meal.

Cauliflower Pizza

Steam some fresh or frozen cauliflower first, just until tender but not mushy. Drain and let it cool completely. Then use a ricer or a cheese grater to grate the cauliflower to make 1 measuring cup full (not packed).

Mix 1 c grated cauliflower with 1/4c Eggbeaters (or 1 egg), 1/2 tsp oregano and 1/2c shredded low moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese. (You can use reduced fat; I used Tillamook pre-shredded). Spread this mixture on a cookie sheet that has been *generously* sprayed with Pam. I use Reynolds Non-Stick Release Aluminum. Use a spatula and spread/pat it into a circle about 10" or so around. Put this into a preheated 440 degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until it is very nicely browned. The edges should look almost burnt.

Take the crust out of the oven (if you used parchment, slide it off and remove the paper at this point) and top with 3T of your favorite no-sugar-added pizza sauce. Then sprinkle with 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella. You can now add your favorite pizza toppings. If you want a Lean & Green meal you should add 1/4 c veggies... I used diced canned tomatoes. Otherwise, add whatever you like: turkey pepperoni, black olives, peppers, mushrooms, etc.

Put back into the oven under the broiler, watching carefully, just until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and cut into wedges. Enjoy!