My Take Shape For Life Plan

Last month I was going through years of family photos to create a slide show for my husband’s 55^th b-day when I began to notice the weight that had crept up on me over the years. Some of the earliest were what I had considered my “fat” photos. Oh no, THIS WILL NOT DO! 

Then the day of the party, Jenny and her husband Aaron show up looking simply amazing! Go ahead; click here to check out their photos on her site. Doesn’t she look hot? And Aaron…ouch! When I saw the change in them just since Christmas I had to talk with Jenny about the Take Shape for Life program and Medifast Meals. 

Now, those of you who know me well know that I can be a bit of a health nut. I can pontificate endlessly about the lack of nutrients in our 21^st century food, the paradox of gardening organically while living ¼ mile from Hwy 26, and other trials of the American diet. Although no longer the extremist I once was (I now masticate rather than drink my meals) I am quite serious about whole foods, healthy eating, and nutrition. For myself, I practice mindful eating. I don’t frequent fast food establishments for moral as well as health reasons. I subscribe to George Mateljan’s the world’s healthiest foods site and mostly eat basic simple foods.

But when I saw those photos and how my girth has increased over the last 7 or so years it was obvious to me I was slipping somewhere. Not only do I consider this additional weight unhealthy and unsightly for me, lugging it around is not easy on muscles weakened from fibromyalgia. I decided it was time for severe changes.

First and foremost, I had to get my mind right. We all know the secret for maintaining healthy weight is a balance of calories in to calories out. Obviously I have slipped away from proper serving portions for my activity level. As a Health Coach, Jenny is passionate about helping women (and men) develop healthy eating patterns. She is the first to say that the TSFL is not a way of life eating plan. What it is is a swift kick in the behind for those of us who have neglected the discipline of proper food portions. It is a program for those who want results FAST! For those who are unfamiliar with TSFL and Medifast, it is a doctor recommended rapid weight loss program that’s been around for some 28 years. The program consists of five Medifast meals/day and one “Lean & Green” meal. That very evening I sat with Jenny and discussed the Take Shape For Life program and made out my first order.

This evening I arrived home welcomed by a large box on my front porch. I carried the box in with one hand…this is a month’s worth of food??? What have I gotten myself in for? As I opened the box and pulled out the cartons one by one I realized this is serious stuff. There are bars, shakes, soups and even pudding. For breakfast there is scrambled eggs and oatmeal. Jenny went over the “Lean & Green meal choices with me. You know what? I can so do this!

My goal is to lose a minimum of 65 pounds on the full TSFL program. Once I have reached that goal I will re-evaluate where I want to be and decide when to begin the transition phase back to normal eating.

I purchased a new battery for my pedometer this weekend and have started my 10,000 steps again (another great habit I stopped). It may take me several weeks to get back up to the 10,000 steps/day, but TSFL recommends going easy the first week or so anyway.

During this weight loss time I will also be creating an eating plan for life. In addition to George’s site, I discovered the Meals Matter website. This website allows the user to upload favorite recipes, then create meal plans, menus and shopping lists from those recipes or search the site for others.

I know that I do best when eating 6 smaller meals per day. So my goal is to spend the next few months creating healthy meal plans that will be ready for me to print and prepare once I have reached my goal weight.

Jenny thanks for your tips and advice, your encouragement and support. I am so excited about making positive steps in getting my weight and my eating habits back on track! You rock girl!

Here are my before photos. Believe me, I’ll be posting updates.

No butter for these rolls!