Last Wednesday marked the end of week 11 for our medifast program.  Given the claim of 2 to 5 pounds a week, I should be down somewhere between 22 and 55 pounds.  As of Wednesday morning, the number actually stood at 34.5.  So I'm right in there, averaging just over three pounds a week.  As my chart shows, I've just recently started on the right track again after stagnating and even gaining a little during our vacation.  Overall, I'm pleased with the results.  What has been most interesting is that it's clear that weight loss is a mental game.

I once heard a spa owner say that weight loss is all in your head.  At the time, I thought it was another statement from someone with no weight to lose talking about how you just need to think good thoughts.  Typical feel-good talk.  While I still believe that's what that spa owner meant, I do now believe that there is a strong mental component to this weight loss battle.

The great thing about Medifast is that the food choices, 5 of 6 means, are made for you.  Sure, you have over 50 meals, but pick one (but not more than one energy bar a day!) and you are done.  Within a few weeks, you know which of those 50 meals you like and you also have your lean and green meals figured out.  So you know you are getting the right nutrients and calories.  Now, I don't care who you are-- you can get through 2-3 hours between meals.  It's 120 to 180 minutes; not an eternity.  If you feel like you can't make it, you can drink some water to get through.  It's not rocket science.

 But...

Here's the mental game.   You WANT that food.  You know you already had your chocolate energy bar (ever have it for breakfast?), but you see it on the shelf and are comparing to a shake and your mind starts working on you.  You begin to desire that bar more than any other option.  Or, you slap that chicken on the grill, but in your mind, you see the pizza you used to have on Saturdays.  Or the phone seems to call out to you to order in after a long day at the office.

Why?  I don't know.  But it stands to reason that after getting to the point where I need to los 103 .5 pounds, my mind and body were pretty comfortable in a routine that centered around eating.  Social events, evenings out, quiet nights at home, all involved food.  And now, I'm faced nightly with turkey burgers, salads, tuna, broccoli, etc..

What I try to do in these situations is to remember a few great things about Medifast

1. It's temporary.  No, I can't go back to my old habits, but with the skills and discipline learned here, I can moderate my intake and actually enjoy many of the same foods I ate before the diet.  I just can't clean the table.
2. It's working.  34.5 pounts in 11 weeks.  2 pants sizes smaller.  Discovering that I actually need my belt to hold up my pants.  Proven weight loss is great.  Seeing myself thinner is better.
3. Cravings pass.  They really do.

Jason