The MF Community

A couple of days ago, there was a posting on the discussion boards about "being on medifast for 5 months (or was it weeks? I forget) and not losing a pound - what am I doing wrong?"

The first few posters were all about support: "Have you talked to your doctor?" "Have you talked to MF?" "Have you diligently been recording what you put in and what you put out?" etc.

And then came the nay-sayers. The people who, like me, had gone researching the poster and their responses: "You just created your profile." "You aren't real." "You are hurting the people who are honestly trying." "You are a troll."

Yet still there were people interspersed who wanted to offer comfort or solutions.

I didn't post on that thread, but what I wanted to post was, "THANK GOD there are so many people with heart and brains. Those who are empathetic and caring about the individuals. AND those who are pragmatic and thoughtful and protective of the process."

I love that about this community. It takes all kinds to get us to goal and for every time I want to shake someone or ignore them - two more people step up and offer a word of encouragement or a alternative solution for the next time.I am an excellent spin doctor - in the very best way. I am cursed with being able to look at things from multiple points of view, which is why so many games are easy and so many diets end up being frustrating. But this ability is helpful when I find myself frustrated. Sometimes I don't like the other point of view, nor do I understand it, but that doesn't mean I can't see it.

I am just shy of one month into MF and I hope every day that I can keep my blinders on and just do the program. This isn't WW: counting carbohydrates and calories and fat and protein is a slippery slope. This isn't the Miracle Diet: balancing carbohydrates and fiber isn't going to get me to goal. This isn't a cleanse: I can eat cooked food and raw food and protein and veggies. This is MF and they have given us very careful lists of veggies that are ok, proteins that are ok, fats that are ok, and packages of food to consume. It is time to trust in the program and not deviate. It isn't ok to look at a label and say, "it has the same carbohydrates and protein as X, which is on plan; so it is ok." Not all carbohydrates (or proteins or fats) are created equal.

I say this because now it is time for me to mindful of my mindset. At one month in, it is the typical time when I start to "game the system". Deviations, for me, are when I find ways to slip in the sabotage. No one is harder for me to say "no" to than myself. I think it is going to take becoming a super-convert. My tone on the blogs and discussion boards will be in this role. And I am super glad for the balance that everyone else will bring. 

In my MBA program we discussed being "Unconsciously Competent" and "Consciously Incompetent", with the goal, of course, to be consciously competent. It is important to be mindful of every choice including ones point of view.

What is your role? What is your point of view? How are you handling "the system"?