| We've all seen the very dramatic before and | | | | firmed that up, I was not going to have the long |
| after photos from folks who have had success | | | | lean and defined lines that I really wanted. It didn't |
| from the Medifast diet. Some of the "after" folks | | | | make any sense for me to work so hard on my |
| look fabulous and look like an entirely different | | | | diet only to fall short of what I really wanted. So I |
| person now. But most of us have the coworker | | | | decided to just move my body more and then |
| who loses a few pounds so that maybe her | | | | see if I was happier with my results after wards. |
| pants are a bit lose but then she goes off the | | | | I promised myself that I would never force |
| diet and ends up looking exactly the same or | | | | myself to do something that I did not find |
| worse than when she first started. So what | | | | enjoyable. Life is hard enough without spending |
| separates the folks who get the very dramatic | | | | my time doing something about as desirable as a |
| Medifast results from those who just get so so | | | | root canal. So, I unidentified something that I really |
| results? I believe that there are several things | | | | liked doing, which is spending time with my |
| that go into this, which I will discuss below. | | | | daughter and watching her ride her bike and roller |
| Longevity And Attention To Detail Are Equally | | | | blade. And then I decided that I would not watch |
| Important: To put it very simply, if you don't stick | | | | in the shadows anymore. I simply started walking |
| to the plan then you are not only sabotaging | | | | beside her as she biked and skated and I had to |
| yourself, but you're taking yourself out of the | | | | walk briskly to keep up. We started traveling |
| game before you even start playing. Those who | | | | along our neighborhood to give us some variety. |
| have life changing results aren't all that special or | | | | This was not at all painful and I enjoyed it. We |
| different, but they are able to keep at it for | | | | kept this up for a few weeks until I started using |
| longer and more vigorously than others. You can't | | | | ankle weights too. The results from this inspired |
| expect spectacular results if you don't put in the | | | | me to add in weight resistance bands and this |
| time or effort. | | | | combination made all the difference. Not only did I |
| The cornerstone to the Medifast system is | | | | start to see those long, lean lines, but my pace of |
| ketosis. What this means is that you will be | | | | weight loss greatly intensified and I again became |
| consuming less calories and carbohydrates while at | | | | very excited about this process. I wouldn't dream |
| the same time taking in a higher amount of | | | | of cheating or stopping now. I look too good and |
| protein. Because your body doesn't have it's | | | | have come too far. |
| normal crutch and / or steady amounts of fuel | | | | Do Whatever You Need To Do To Motivate |
| from carbs, it really has no choice but to burn fat | | | | Yourself: I can not stress this enough. Attitude is |
| as an alternative. In order to get in (and hopefully | | | | everything. You don't want to be in a situation |
| stay in) ketosis, you'll need to very steadily | | | | where you dread or don't like your life on this diet. |
| consume less calories and carbs. | | | | Acknowledge your weekly or daily successes and |
| So long as you stay at these levels, you should | | | | reward yourself for them. I started out using |
| coast along remaining in ketosis and continuing to | | | | food. I would add fat free whipped cream or |
| burn fat like a fireplace in the winter. People who | | | | shaved almonds to my shake so long as I was |
| are typically not happy with their results aren't | | | | eating a "Medifast meal." I would add some fat |
| able to stay in ketosis. Because obviously, if you | | | | free cheese to my chili. Eventually, though I |
| veer off this desirable path, you're not longer in | | | | decided that this was a crutch I no longer needed. |
| "the zone" where you are having quick and | | | | It's dangerous to use food as a reward, so I |
| dramatic results. And what takes you out of | | | | started buying myself new clothes instead |
| ketosis? Skipping meals, eating too many carbs or | | | | (although I still take liberties with the food and this |
| calories in your "lean and green meal," or stopping | | | | hasn't hurt me at all.) |
| and starting the diet are all things that can delay | | | | I needed the new clothes anyway because I was |
| your progress. Because each time you take | | | | shrinking. But, I would never buy a whole outfit at |
| yourself out of fat burning mode, you have to | | | | once. I would buy the shirt and tell myself that I |
| start all over again to get back into this state. | | | | would get the pants if I lost five pounds the next |
| Moving More (And Call It Exercise If You Want) | | | | week. This would keep me excited and |
| Really Does Help: Make no mistake. I used to | | | | enthusiastic about keeping it up and ensured that I |
| loathe exercising and would avoid it at all costs. | | | | looked my best and made the most of my new |
| But as I started to drop a lot of Medifast weight, | | | | appearance. It was a win win situation and keeping |
| I didn't like what I saw as much as I had hoped. | | | | a steady supply of these is so important. You |
| Yes, my clothing was getting more lose and was | | | | want to remain excited about your new life and |
| starting to hang off of me. Yes, the scale was | | | | you want to remain true to the Medifast diet and |
| showing the numbers that I wanted it to, but I | | | | how it works so that you don't do anything to |
| still did not have the lean, toned, and fit look that I | | | | stop that magic fat burning state. What keeps |
| wanted. | | | | this up is going to be individual for each person, so |
| One day it dawned on me that although the fat | | | | find what works for you and just keep doing it. |
| was leaving me, the flab remained and until I | | | | |