I'm stumped. I'm not so sure what is the answer. I'll do some poking around and get back to you if I find an useful answer. You should email the people at Medifast as they probably could answer your Medifast question..

Welcome to MF. You will do well. Follow the plan...........never entertain the thought of eating off plan, and it will get easier and easier..

For lean and green, buy a digital food scale. It will be your best $20 investment. Weight your meat AFTER cooking and weigh your veggies instead of measuring with a cup. Here is the link to the veggie weights:.

Read and post to the boards and the blogs often. It will keep you focused. One of the girls on here Ambycakes is about your age and I think your starting weight is close to her's. Look her up, she is an incredible example, and she has great recipes..

Best of luck to you, but you won't need it. The Medifast powder is almost magical...

Welcome to MF. You have received great information from the above posts. Decide that you will do this! It is so much mental as it is physical. I started just above your start weight although I'm a tab bit older.

Use your optional snack if your hungry, sip on a cup of ff broth if you're not feeling well and remember the feelings you have those first few days because you're never going to want to feel that way again! You can do this..

Lisa..

All of the above is wonderful information. I personally invested in a $15 individual serving blender from WalMart. It is a great investment. I put 8 oz of water in it, then my shake mix and add 7-8 ice cubes to make my shakes. They turn out perfect every time. You will do fine on the plan if you stick to the plan! Welcome aboard and good luck on your venture.

It is amazing how much information is here!..

Hey MissItal,.

Welcome to MF...I too got my food in about 6 days. My sister started a few days ahead of me so I started a low carb diet while I waited for my food to come in. I think it made the transition a little easier because I was thru a lot of my sugar withdrawals. I anticipated my food coming in on a Monday so I vowed to start the morning after the food arrived...unfortunately for me...it was Friday, and I had yummy plans for the weekend...but I started anyway.....if not it is too easy to keep putting off for another day..

I'm not going to sugar coat it...the first three days totally sucked for me. I was hungry and it was hard....day 4 got much easier and by day 5 I felt good...and it was much easier to stay on. The food tastes better by then too...its takes a little getting used to. In the recipe sections of boards you can find some good recipes...turning oatmeal into pancakes, or cookies, etc. But 2 big hints.....the chocolate pudding tastes much better if you make it a few hours ahead of time...and the soups (especially chicken noodle) tastes much better if you let it sit for a while. Some people who work have made it and put it in a thermos for lunch.

And the weight comes off pretty quick. I went off unfortunately in June after 3 months (had lost 40 pounds) and then blew it during my 2nd beach trip and never went back on.....I finally restarted last week....and again after the third day everything got much easier and felt much better. Good luck!!..

Hi there!.

I just completed my first week, I learned so much from everyone on the boards, the support and information is priceless, if you are ever discouraged come in here.

I lost 9lbs and already feel 100 times better, I have type 2 diabetes and my sugar levels have been perfect!.

I'm happy for you, you are doing something that will be life changing...

My main advice is to IGNORE YOUR TASTE BUDS the first 2 weeks!! The packets will just not taste like anything you're used to, but let go and trust that soon they will be something you crave (really!). Follow the great advice everyone has given you here so far and you will see losses right away!..

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Medifast Ava! All of the previous posts of advice are spot on. You really CAN do this. Here are my own thoughts and opinions on starting MF. I would suggest spending the time before your Medifast arrives, purging your kitchen of the foods that tempt you the most. If family or friends complain about the lack of 'goodies', give them a choice, 'would you rather have a cookie, or have me lose a pound ?' I would buy and precook chicken, weigh it and freeze individual servings so you always have a go to L/G meal. Be a scout, always be prepared! For me, the first few weeks I didn't want to complicate things or experiment around with the medifast meals.

(ie: the frosted bars or puddings) Once I settled down into Ketosis, I found the sweeter things did not trigger cravings in me and slowly added them in. I have used the recipes in my second month and tried to be more creative. Drink your water, and put a nightlight in your bathroom, you will need it! Most of all, be honest with yourself, no excuses, no justifications for cheats. Be selfish! Take care of your needs first, then take care of other's. (they will thank you for it later) Be kind to yourself, this is a huge undertaking and a commitment to your health.

Lastly, use this wonderful tool, My Medifast, the boards, the blogs, the individual success stories. It makes a huge difference. Everyone here wants to see you succeed and that includes me!..

Take a Deep Breath,.

Realize, if WE can do this, YOU can too..

Go to the tools Section on this site and review the Quick Start Guide and many many other down loads..

Keep it Simple,.

It's just 5 Medifast Meals a day, 1 Lean and Green and up to 3 condiments a day..

Drink 64 oz. of water a day..

Space out your meals every 2-3 hours..

What worked for me was every three hours..

Eat even if you aren't hungry, ironically this can happen..

You can do this, and know everyone is here to support you..

Dan..

Hi Ava! Welcome to Medifast!.

Most groups are open to newcomers, so feel free to browse in here for a group, or go into the Clubhouse forum, and see if there are any there that appeal. You are totally able to join more than one group if that appeals and you like forum support. I'm in 2, and love them both - September Starters in here, and then Shaker Sisters down in the Clubhouse. First posts on the thread usually tell you more about the reasons that the group formed, and often if they are looking for more new members. Or just ask, people around her are very nice!.

If you like personalized attention, you might want to consider a health coach. You'll see them posting on the boards, or you can sign up on the TSFL site. I personally recommend finding one you like or getting a recommendation from others on one that is good, so you get a helpful one. I love mine, and appreciate the help she provides me and the sense of accountability that I have in checking in with her. I can also call her if I'm having a struggling day or can schedule a chat too if I want. PM me if you want info.

You can also join Challenge threads. Some of them are in full swing, and others pop up all the time. it's just extra accountability and helps you add in some short term goals as well. Plus, the camaraderie is very nice!.

As far as the other advice, people have already offered up some great stuff. Things I learned quick:.

- split your lean and green if you are hungry or struggle to eat too much at one sitting. A lean and green might not sound like much, but can be a tremendous amount of food as your body adjusts to the program. Splitting also makes it easier closer to 2 hours per day, and you'll find out which works better for you..

- Egg beaters are probably the most filling lean, so I tend to eat them when I'm feeling really hungry..

- Foreman grills are fabulous for medifast. A lean in minutes.

Grilled veggies are also awesome!.

- Skipping a meal because you went off plan is not advised. Finish the day with the 5-1, and get right back up. Going off plan is delaying your success. You only fail if you give up..

- Everyone is different in what they like. You'll quickly know what will work for you on plan. I highly advise doing custom ordering rather than the variety pack if you end up being picky like me. I can't eat the oatmeal or soups. And I go crazy for 1 item and have 1 a day, which doesn't go far when you only got 1 box of something.

- Stash your food where you spend your time. I have portable Medifast meals in my purse, desk, and soon, in the car - oh this weekend, when I did not bring my purse for a "quick" run to the grocery store and my hubby added 5 additional stops. We had to run home so I could get food since I needed to eat and didn't have it on me. This is really true for people who work or go to school, in case you forget your daily stash..

-It's smart to put 5 meals into a quart baggie for the day, so you can quick grab 1 on the way out the door. I am not a good decision-maker in the morning so I do this once a week.

Hope that helps! Best wishes on your weightloss journey!..

Ava,.

Today is my first day on the plan....i have had oatmeal, bar, and chicken noodle soup so far. Haven't really felt hungry at all today, but I usually don't...i just like to snack and eat what I want when I want..

So far, the bar has been the best meal for me in terms of taste. I am so excited and ready to make a change in my life so I am ready to deal with the change in tast to achieve this goal. I am 39 years old and weigh 232 (the most I have ever weighed). My goal is 140 pounds..

Good luck Ava...we can take the journey together since we are newbies together...

Hi Ava!.

I'm in my 6th week and feel great!.

Shipping takes a full week for me...I'm in Nevada..

The first few days were rough, but you'll make it through! After those first few, it's easy peasy..

I didn't experiment with Medifast recipes until this week. They're really good, but I have a hard time sticking to the condiment limit if I use a packet of Splenda here, and a dash of this there. I try to eat the meals just as they come and save my condiments for my L&G..

When I first started drinking the shakes, they had an odor to them that was unfamiliar. The taste was GREAT (especially when I blended them in my magic bullet with ice), so using a straw helped get past the issue. Now they smell very regular to me..

Must be the soy smell that I wasn't used to..

Good luck! You'll do great!!..

Hi Ava,.

I am on Day 11. Knowing that the first few days are hard, I chose to start on a Friday so that I could rest and nap and only be grumpy with my family. Really only the last half of day 2 and day 3 were bad. I woke up on Day 4 and felt great!.

Other suggestions that I got that have really helped:.

1. Soak the soups- I put mine in water in a tupperware in the morning and nuke at work at lunchtime and they're great..

2. Get a little blender and blend shakes with cold water and ice. I got a little $20 blender and carry it to work with me..

3. Don't try the oatmeal your first week. I just tried it yesterday and even with the advice of adding more water, letting it sit and adding splenda it was not my favorite..

4. Mix the eggs and water and let sit for a few minutes and cook on the stove instead of the microwave. Sometimes I add an egg white to improve the texture..

5. When you need motivation, read the discussion boards!.

Good luck!.

Kelly..

I prefer oatmeal as a bar or a "muffin" without adding extra condiments or your protein. The recipe is in the recipe section (imagine that.

).

There is a massive link somewhere about what I wish I had known...or something similar....

Click here.

For the link..

GeorgeForeman Grill.....Lean in minutes..

Tofu and EggBeaters......for those "hungry days." 15 ounces and 2 cups respectively..

(play with the tofu....I marinate and bake it and can make it tast like a buffalo chicken cutlet).

Splurge on your Lean if it's only for you. For instance, Seafood in Montana is a LUXURY....however, for 5-7 ounces/meal....very affordable..and what a treat!.

I start soaking my soup the night before....one of the little things I do to get myself set forthe next day. Tupperware container as suggested is good, though I prefer an old Spaghetti sauce, glass jar, with a SCREW ON LID. I have now cleaned the Maryland Crab off my walls and ceiling TWICE now....I didn't learn the first time, hence the change to a screw on lid! lol (that's twice in the first week, mind you!).

Try things you think you don't like in different ways. For instance: I hate the Vanilla shake (plain) but love the vanilla pudding....I Love the chocolate shake but hate the chocolate pudding....I doctor up my vanilla shakes by either adding a Starbuck's VIA packet, or making it into cookies. The chocolate pudding I just add more water and ice and drink it as a shake. YUM!.

If you don't like something in the first couple weeks, set it aside and come back to it. Believe it or not, your tastes will change....hated the pancakes the first day....within 3 weeks, one of my favorites..

I fill to gallon water jugs and keep one in the fridge and one near me.....I challenge myself to get through the first and into the second one daily. (I've built up to between 1-1/2 and 2 gallons + EVERY DAY..

I am only in my 4th week, but these are just a few of the things I've figured out so far. Good luck to you!..

GeorgeForeman Grill.....Lean in minutes..

Tofu and EggBeaters......for those "hungry days." 15 ounces and 2 cups respectively..

(play with the tofu....I marinate and bake it and can make it tast like a buffalo chicken cutlet).

Splurge on your Lean and Green if it's only for you. For instance, Seafood in Montana is a LUXURY....however, for 5-7 ounces/meal....very affordable..and what a treat! Same for fresh Asparagus!.

I start soaking my soup the night before....one of the little things I do to get myself set for the next day. Tupperware container as suggested is good, though I prefer an old Spaghetti sauce, glass jar, with a SCREW ON LID. I have now cleaned the Maryland Crab off my walls and ceiling TWICE now....I didn't learn the first time, hence the change to a screw on lid! lol (that's twice in the first week, mind you!).

Try things you think you don't like in different ways. For instance: I hate the Vanilla shake (plain) but love the vanilla pudding....I Love the chocolate shake but hate the chocolate pudding....I doctor up my vanilla shakes by either adding a Starbuck's VIA packet, or making it into cookies. The chocolate pudding I just add more water and ice and drink it as a shake. YUM!.

If you don't like something in the first couple weeks, set it aside and come back to it. Believe it or not, your tastes will change....hated the pancakes the first day....within 3 weeks, one of my favorites..

I fill to gallon water jugs and keep one in the fridge and one near me.....I challenge myself to get through the first and into the second one daily. (I've built up to between 1-1/2 and 2 gallons + EVERY DAY..

I am only in my 4th week, but these are just a few of the things I've figured out so far. (Though it seems I can't figure out how to work these boards....I sometimes hit the wrong button and either post half finished, or twice! Sorry everyone! ).

Good luck to you!..

Hey welcome! Dont worry many of us have been there. I started out on Medifast at 358 pounds and at that point I was desperate to try anything, and well here I am...although I'm not the best inspiration out there for you now, but I have lost almost 100 pounds through mf! It can be done if you are 100% dedicated to the plan! I wish you success!.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!..