Weeks 1-3

Okay, I know.  I promised I would update you on my progress last week and I haven't done it.  I've been really sick this week.  But anyways, let me share my first three weeks of my rediscovery with you.  (Because I'm behind on my posts, I won't go into minute details right now.   However, going forward I will post my meals, my blood sugar counts, exercise times, etc.)

The first week went by pretty quickly and smoothly.  I thought it was going to be a lot harder than it was.  I did get sick though...there was a stomach bug/virus going around at my job and I must have gotten it.  It was either that or an allergic reaction to soy, which the Medifast meals are saturated with.  I have yet to get the blood work done, but I'm pretty confident that I'm not allergic to soy.  The food was...okay.  I couldn't stand the eggs or the soups I had chosen but the shakes and bars were really good.  I made sure to keep a very detailed food journal, to my local Medifast Weight Control Center (WCC) consultant's delight.  By the way, I LOVE the people at my local Medifast WCC (Mo, Lori and Jaime).  They are super great and very supportive and encouraging.  I'm glad I decided to join Medifast through the WCC instead of doing it on my own.  Because I was sick, I called my WCC and they had me come in early to check up on me and to see if we needed to make any changes (which none were made).  I did get some pretty good news though at my weigh-in...I lost 5.2 lbs!

The second week was a very long and tough week.  I had my first test that Saturday night (3/24).  My sister (Stephanie) and brother-in-law (Joel) were having a get together with the members of the worship team...a potluck dinner and I was asked to make my famous chili.  At time time, the only people who even knew I was on the Medifast program, outside of the WCC, were my parents.  So, to plan ahead, I made myself something I can eat and still stay on the plan (chicken lettuce wraps).  I was proud of myself for taking that step.  However, when the time came, the others were telling me to try their food.  And being the people-pleaser that I am, I succumbed and ate what they brought...BBQ ribs, crostini with dips, my chili, pizza, tortilla chips, queso dip.  The only comfort I had was that I didn't overindulge myself, like I usually do, and kept control of my portions. 

Then, to make matters just that much better, I got my period the very next day (sorry for any guys reading this).  One of the side effects of Medifast for women is that as you lose fat, your estrogen levels rise which in turn increases PMS symptoms and fertility.  This was both good and bad for me.  Good because it meant that my hormones were normalizing.  I was very surprised that my hormones, and my blood sugars for that matter, were stabilizing and becoming somewhat normal after just a week or so on the program. Bad because it, along with the cravings and the PMS, hit me pretty hard.  I tried very hard to stay on point, but there were a couple days when I snuck a couple of cookies or a good slice of cheese.  Needless to say, it showed in my weigh-in that Friday...I only lost 3.2 lbs. 

So now we come to this third week.  It started off alright but then I got sick...again.  But this time it was a respiratory virus.  I'm still not over it but I'm feeling better (thank God).  I did, however, have my biggest victorious moment so far on my journey.  On Sunday (4/1), it was the turn of the worship team I'm a part of at my church (Maranatha Christian Fellowship) to lead the service.  Since it was also Palm Sunday, there was a drama/sketch that was also part of the service.  Well, the church had provided breakfast for all those involved in the special service.  And I'm not talking about a simple, continental breakfast.  Oh no.  They just had to get one the best cooks in the church to make two types of scrambled eggs (one with peppers and onions, the other with cheese) and there was muffins, danishes, english muffins, bagels, cream cheese, butter, juices, coffee...the smell alone just about brought me to me knees!  My stomach was growling, my mouth was watering...I wanted to eat that food SO bad.  But I just sat down, took out my shaker jar, measured out 8 oz of water and prepared my Banana Creme Shake.  Talk about feeling victorious!  I was also happy that no one really said anything about it or asked me about it or gave me funny looks.  I wasn't really ready to talk to everyone about it, although by this time I have told my sisters, brother-in-laws, and a couple of people from work (supervisor and best friend).

I've actually had a few victories this week.  I've noticed that my blood sugar levels are almost normal.  And to top it off, my doctor actually slashed my medication to half!  I used to take Janumet 50/1000 twice a day.  Now I'm taking Kombiglyze 2.5/1000 just once a day...and my blood sugars are still going down!  I'm still so surprised that I'm seeing the effects of my weight-loss and diet changes so quickly!  Thank you Jesus!!!  Which brings me to my other wonderful moment of this week...I lost 7.8 lbs!!!!!  Go me, go me, go me (as I'm doing the cabbage patch).  This brings me a huge step forward to my first goal of losing 50 lbs by my next birthday and my ultimate goal of losing 200 lbs by the end of my program.