New Journey

Welcome to a new blog. Yes, I know I have many blogs, perhaps too many. But too bad.  It is a way for me to cope, to share, and explore.

You are probably thinking I have tried this type of blog before, that's true, but I don't have any clue what the password is to that one, much less the email to access it.

You are probably thinking why will it be this different. I will explain everything.

There is this guy at the institute that I am acquaintances with, and over the last few months he has been making a healthier, astonishing transformation in regards to wait loss. I have spoken with him several times and he has explained to me what he has been doing.  He is not the only one doing it either, several people are at the institute, and they all are making amazing transformations.

How everyone is accomplishing this?  One word: MediFast.

I have given this diet a lot of thought over the last few months. I have been wanting to lose weight for quite some time now, with obviously no success.

I have a couple of theories of how I have gained this weight:
1.) My husband buys (and prepares) boxed crap for dinner. Things such as chicken/hamburger/tuna helpers.
2) I am an emotional eater. When my husband criticizes me I eat. When I have a bad day, I eat.
3) I actually can't feel when I am hungry.  I have bile reflux disease, and thus I rarely feel when I am hungry, and when I do feel hungry, I end up overeating.

I have given lots of thought to gastric bypass surgery. I have been desperate.  But, my insurance does not cover it.

I used to be the person that ran a 5 minute mile. I used to be the person that swam competitively without getting sort of breath.  I used to be able to go to Target and pick out normal sized clothes. 

Now, I can't walk to my car without being short of breath,  and I have to shop at plus sized clothing stores. These clothes cost more,  because, there is more fabric. Economically it makes sense. 

I miss being  that person of health. I miss being on the soccer field and running like mad.

I miss being able to breathe without labor.

I miss just being healthy.

I believe I hit rock bottom a few days ago. I had a very grave thought come to me. A scary, unwelcomed thought. It was: I wonder if I am a diabetic yet.

I can't be a diabetic, I won't be a diabetic. I am obese, and I don't like it.  I refuse to die like my Mom did. That is torture that can be avoided.  That is not for me.  Today is a good day to start change.

I want to be the person who is healthy and doesn't look like a super-sized oompa-loompa.

I want to be able to drive my car, without my breasts being in the way.

I know that I am at risk for terminal things such as: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. I know it, and I am not okay with it. It is time for a change, and a desperate change at that.

I am not doing this because a doctor a doctor has told me to loose weight. No doctor has ever told me to. I am doing this because I want to. To feel healthy.  I have the motivation, determination, and drive.

I joined the MediFast community, and ordered my first order a food (an entire month's worth!)  Because I can't feel hunger, this plan will work for me, because it has food planned out for me. It tells me exactly what to eat, at what times and days. It takes all the guesswork out of it. Hopefully, it will be my saving grace.

I thought I would have to hide this from my husband, knowing that he would complain about me doing this, but as we were watching the  Dr. Phil show this  morning,  and someone was on the show that has lost 100 pounds, I told Dean that that will be me in one year.   This began a conversation with Dean that I have already ordered this diet, and guess what? Dean signed on too! I thought for sure he was going to criticize my move, but nope. He is standing behind me, and is doing it with me! :)

My food should be here this coming Thursday, and Dean's should be here next Monday, and Monday is the day that we will start our journey!

What is MediFast you ask? It is a 5-in-1 meal plan. Where you eat five of the Medi-Fast a day, and one Lean and Green Meal (from the Medi-Fast cook book) it is a protein based diet, with approximately 1,000 calories a day. I know that is few, but it is to get your body to burn the fat you already have stored up. I got a lot of that, that needs to go!

MediFast also has a health coach to help you along. I was randomly assigned to someone in Oregon. I told one of the secretaries at the institute about my new journey, and a few people in her ward are health coaches for Medi-Fast, she got me in contact with one, and now she will be my health coach. She is a lady, LDS, and Local. What more could a girl ask for? What is also cool is that they hold local support meetings, with lots of people also in their journey. I really think it will be a great addition, and a way to make new local friends.

Now, of course this journey has me worried about a few things:
1) The taste of the food. I am the daughter of a chef, which means that I like rich, tasty foods, with lots of seasonings. I am worried that all the food will be bland, and that I won't want to stick with it.
2) The holidays are coming up. I am worried about keeping this diet during the holidays. I think Dean and I should have our Thanksgiving Dinner this week, before we start this diet.  After all, we have everything for it. Why not? I mean, we already have our Christmas trees up.
3) That my friends and families won't support me in this.  Some people (namely my husband) don't want me to lose weight.
4) That it won't work for me. I eat at work (three times a week) and I have absolutely no control over what I eat those days. But the kids' home environment should change in the next couple of weeks, which means this will no longer be a problem. Then I have no doubt it will work.

I am excited for my own transformation. It is estimated I will probably be on this diet plan for at least 6 months, and then I will transition to the maintenance phase of this diet.  Eating whole foods again.

Who is ready to support me to a journey of health and success? I am planning on blogging about my thoughts about the food, the support groups,  photos, and all things related to weight loss!