Follow Ruth's amazing Medifast body transformation - 100.7 Jack FM San Diego Radio & DSC- sandiegojack

Ruth's Medifast Update: Aug. 2012 

In case you haven't heard by now, I've reached my goal of
losing 100 lbs!

Here I am minus 101.2 pounds!!

Here's what I looked like when I began in June 2011.

I wanted to reach that goal before the end of June, but I didn't actually do it until July. Better late than never, right? I was very disappointed in not reaching my goal in the allotted time, but realized I put too much pressure on myself to hit a certain number by a certain date, instead of letting it happen the way it did. Because of that, I've lost the least amount of weight per month since I started on Medifast! I was definitely living in fear and not trusting myself. But hey, trusting me in a weight loss program is still new, despite doing the Medifast Program for one year now!

Not sure why I did that to myself, so I called a friend for help. He also lost 100 lbs. on Medifast, but reminded me -- it took him two years to do it. He told me to stop being so hard on myself and focus on a small number, like losing 2 pounds a week, instead of focusing on losing 100 pounds. So I applied what I've learned all these years in 12 Step programs and went back to one day at a time.

Just to show you a comparison, I've lost as much weight as our cute, little Mexican Leprechaun, Elaina, weighs in total! Here we are together and I'm trying to lift her (101 lbs)!!!

Here we are waving goodbye to that 101 pounds!!

Yes, the jeans I'm wearing there are a bit too big for me. I'm between sizes right now and the next smallest one doesn't quite fit - yet!! (Usually that's what gets me to exercise!)

Just to compare, here's what I looked like at 299 pounds in June of 2011 on my first day at the Medifast Center in Mission Valley, San Diego, CA.

Pretty remarkable, right? Nothing has ever worked for me long enough to make a difference. I always felt way too hungry and just couldn't tolerate it longer than 2 or 3 months. At 299 pounds, I had given up hope of ever being thin again.

Please don't wait as long as I did to lose weight. Medifast seriously works!! These folks have it all figured out, so I just follow their directions and do the best I can every day. Can't ask for more than that, right?

I still love getting to eat 6 times a day, plus a snack. That's one of the biggest reasons I've been able to be successful on Medifast.  And check out the great new food items they put on the shelves this week: 2 kinds of cereal, mocha shakes and new pretzels and cheese puffs!

Yes, I cried when I stepped on the scale and saw my number began with a 1 instead of a 2. It was the first time that happened since the early 90s. Medifast seriously helps you lose 2-5 pounds a week!

The other reason Medifast works for me is having my own counselor. All of the Medifast counselors are educated and trained nutritionists. My girl, Colleen, has helped me over every plateau I've encountered. Every time she would tell me to do a specific thing to get past that particular plateau, I'd lose weight the following week. These counselors are well trained and know their stuff! If I had simply ordered the Medifast food online and not gone in to one of the Medifast Weight Loss Centers in San Diego every week to meet privately, one-on-one with my counselor – I would've given up long ago. Left to my own devices, I would've quit if I was on my own. I wouldn't have a clue how to get past a plateau, but fortunately my counselor is very experienced at helping deal with this.

This is me in June 2009

The counselor's at the Medifast Centers in San Diego are also great at making suggestions to help me with my weekly challenges; like going out to dinner with a friend, attending a work party or the celebratory cake at work. These life events take a bit more planning and preparation now, but aren't impossible.

One area that's still giving me trouble … I keep resisting exercising. I actually lost 50 pounds without doing any at all, but hit a plateau where I was told to begin walking. I've walked a few times a week since then (most weeks, but not all of them). I probably "should" do other things, but I keep resisting. I ask other folks what they do when they're resistant and have heard some helpful suggestions so far.  I know it's progress and not perfection, so I plan to live the Medifast way until I lose a total of 140 pounds, which should (hopefully) happen by the end of 2012. Then I will begin to add more real food back into my diet until I can do so without gaining weight. Then I'll be in the final phase, maintenance, for one year.

My co-worker Chris Boyer lost 25 pounds last fall on Medifast and faithfully shows up for his weekly maintenance appointment. Lo and behold – he hasn't gained any of that weight back! There's something to be said for being accountable. I keep a food diary and write down everything I drink and eat, plus the amount – every day – no matter what.

Look at our group shot from (2010)  two years ago when we first started at Jack-FM, compared to July of 2012.

So far, I've lost more than 90-pounds, thanks to the Medifast Centers of San Diego!

Today, June 1, 2012, the scale matches the number on my CA driver's license! That was a big milestone for me, since it's been a lie for many, many years! I probably weighed more than 50 pounds over what I wrote on my DMV form, sheesh!

Another big milestone: I'm now shopping for the smallest clothing size at the big girl store! Before my success on Medifast, I wore the largest size they sold and at the end, even that was too tight on me. Today, I am wearing the smallest size they offer!! I've gone from a 28 to a 14.

Today, I eat lean protein and fresh veggies everyday, along with 5 Medifast meals, plus a snack! Getting to eat every 2-3 hours makes ALL the difference in the world to me. I am NOT hungry all the time like I was on every other diet I've ever tried.

I'm planning to reach 100-pounds gone by my one-year-anniversary since I started my journey on Medifast last June 25th. I should hit my goal weight (160) by the end of this year - 50 more to go in total. I am SO committed to this, because the Medifast Center in San Diego is showing me a different way to live. I couldn't have done it without them! If you've been putting off losing weight, do yourself a favor and call them for a free consultation.

Beginning of this weight loss journey at 299 lbs

How on earth did I get here?! It all started on March 3, 2011 when I quit smoking (for the fifth time). I immediately substituted food for cigs and started eating - a lot. My MD says it's normal to gain 12 pounds when you quit smoking, but I gained more like 25. 

I was already extremely overweight, so I was worried about my health and finally ready to find a new diet. I wanted someone to tell me exactly what to eat and when to eat it. Enter the Medifast Centers of San Diego! They told me how they could help me and I signed up during my free consultation. I became a paid spokesperson three months later after losing 30 pounds.

My journey on the Medifast Program started in June 2011, so it's been 11 months of eating six times a day, every 2-3 hours. So far, I've lost 85 pounds!! When I started in June of 2011, I weighed 299 lbs.   Today, May 1, 2012, I weigh 215!  My next exciting goal post is: 208. That's the lie on my drivers license! It was some random number I plucked out of thin air that sounded like a good weight to me. I'm pretty sure I weighed more than 250 at the time.

My goal on the Medifast Program is to lose 140 pounds, making my goal weight 160. I'm hoping to get to my goal weight by the end of 2012. I haven't been at that weight since I got sober in 1987! When I gave up drugs and booze, I went for the food. Now it's all in the past. 

Here I am after losing 35 lbs

The Medifast Program has taught me portion control, healthy eating and how to take extremely good care of my health. I've have learned to enjoy eating small meals which are high in protein and low in calories, fat and carbs. 

Yay! Here I lost 50 lbs

I check in once a week at The Medifast Center in Mission Valley with my personal counselor, Colleen. Without her help, I would not have lasted this long. I would've given up at the least little bump in the road. She's helped me through every plateau I've had - meaning the few times where I stayed the same weight. Each time she gave me suggestions that changed my course of action to ensure more weight loss the following week. Colleen keeps me focused on the positive changes I've made and keeps me going. Having a counselor means I'm not doing this alone, trying to figure it out by myself. Her help has been invaluable.

Tada! Down 75 lbs...I'm getting closer to my goal!

My life has completely changed

Before and After Medifast:

Before: I used to be tired ALL the time with no energy at all.  

After: Now I have more energy than I know what to do with! Here's a shot of Chainsaw and I getting our dance on!

Before: I couldn't walk to my car without getting out of breath.
After: Now, I walk 2 to 3 times a week for 15 to 30 min. I'm also planning to walk a 5K this summer! 

Before : I took medicine for my high blood pressure.
After: My blood pressure has returned to normal and I no longer need to take the meds!

Before: My knees and feet hurt almost all day, every day.
After: They rarely, if ever, hurt now!

Before: I hate to admit this, but I couldn't even stand up for more than 5 min at a time.
After: Last week I stood up for almost an hour folding laundry.

Before: I use to crave a lot of unhealthy, fattening foods. Even worse, I use to give into those cravings.
After: ALL of my food cravings went away after 2-3 months on MF! I miss a few things now, but don't physically crave them anymore. That never happened to me on any diet before MF.

Before: Use to eat carne asada fries and pizza fully loaded - weekly! After: Now, I eat delicious steamed veggies, fresh veggie salads and lean protein every day. Now I love turkey burgers, chicken breasts, all kinds of fish, shrimp, lean hamburgers, filet and salmon. I grill everything on my Foreman Grill and add various spices and seasonings for added taste.

I eat Medifast food 5 times a day and lean protein with veggies once a day. Check out my favorite Medifast foods.
It's SO GOOD!

Sugar Free Fudgesicle

Peanut Butter Bars

Hot Chocolate

Chocolate Puddings

Mustard Pretzels

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Blueberry Oatmeal

Medifast have 8 locations in San Diego:
Carmel Mt Ranch - 858-314-8660
  El Cajon - 619-345-1551
  Mission Valley - 619-377-9924
  San Marcos - 760-687-9259
Chula Vista - 619-202-5208
Encinitas - 760-453-0802
Carlsbad / Oceanside - 760-417-5035
Temecula - 951-297-9602

Do you have a Medifast success story you would like to share?? Leave your name and I'll mention it on air. Email me at ruth66@kfmb.com