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No one designs a skyscraper to withstand the direct hit of a fully fueled 767, and construction engineers agree that such an attack would have doomed almost any high-rise.
Each World Trade Center tower absorbed the impact of a jet with a shudder, as each was designed to do, and stood.
Inside, though, 2,000-degree infernos started burning, fed by thousands of gallons of jet fuel.
It then became a question of time. Would the fuel burn up first or would the steel columns weaken and buckle under the heat?
For the people on floors above the crash site, there was another critical factor: an ordinary fire would take two or three hours to burn through the gypsum wallboard around the stairwells -- but projectiles of plane wreckage almost certainly pierced through, letting in the fire and smoke. That trapped people on the upper floors.
The south tower collapsed 56 minutes after impact. The north tower lasted an hour and 40 minutes.
Someone probably could build a fortress skyscraper. ''Given enough money, we can design anything,'' said Dr. Charles H. Thornton, chairman of the Thornton-Tomasetti Group Inc. of New York City, the structural engineering firm that worked on the 1,483-foot-tall Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Continue reading the main story
But no one would pay to build one, and no one would want to work there. Such a building would probably have the aesthetic appeal of a containment vessel of a nuclear power plant, which is designed to survive the crash of a falling 747.
In the decades since the World Trade Center was built, however, new materials and building techniques -- some used on the more recent super skyscrapers like the Petronas Towers -- may have given people more time to escape.
The key would have been slowing the fires. The sprinkler systems offered little help.
Even if the pipes survived the impact, the sprinklers of a typical skyscraper put out a few hundred gallons of water a minute for half an hour, Dr. Thornton said, and water would have been useless against a fuel fire in any case. (Water and oil don't mix; droplets of water sink into the fuel, turn into hot steam and explode, and the fuel continues burning.)
By contrast, an anti-fire system at an aircraft hangar can unleash a deluge of 120,000 gallons a minute of water and foam -- which sticks to burning fuel -- for two hours straight, Dr. Thornton said.
Since extinguishing the fire is impossible, ''You have to build a more rugged building,'' said Dr. R. Brady Williamson, an emeritus professor of civil engineering at the University of California at Berkeley.
The main ingredients of any skyscraper are steel and concrete. Both are strong, but in different ways. Concrete bears more weight; steel can bend without breaking. The World Trade Center's supporting columns were made of steel, and the intense heat would have caused the girders to expand, distorting their shape and sapping their strength, leading to the collapse.
''It's better to build in reinforced concrete,'' said Dr. Mir M. Ali, a professor of architecture at the University of Illinois. ''If there is an impact, crash or explosion, it can absorb the energy better. That makes the building less vulnerable.''
But reinforced concrete -- concrete with steel bars inside -- is heavier. When construction began on the World Trade Center in the late 1960's, concrete was not a viable option because it would have required huge, unwieldy pillars to support the towers' weight. But high-strength concrete developed in recent years has made it more practical.
''The trend is toward more concrete,'' Dr. Mir said. ''The technology has substantially improved. An all-concrete structure would have lasted longer.''
Each of the two Petronas Towers has an outer ring of 16 7-foot-wide columns made of concrete and at the center of each tower is a 75-foot by 75-foot concrete core -- almost a building within a building -- that houses the stairwells and elevator shafts.
Concrete -- a mix of cement, sand and gravel -- is not impervious to heat. The cement expands at a different rate than the sand and gravel, causing cracks. Under intense heat, some types of concrete can flake apart at about three-quarters of an inch an hour, eventually exposing the steel inside.
''It ultimately would lose its strength,'' Dr. Thornton said.
The concrete core of the Petronas Towers may have remained intact under a similar crash and provided a better escape route than the gypsum-walled stairwells of the World Trade Center.
''In our buildings, most of the stairways are in the core, which is a very safe haven,'' Dr. Thornton said. The cores of the Petronas Towers are also pressurized to keep smoke and fire out of the stairwells.
In addition to building more fire-resistant structures, another protection against crashing airplanes would be to keep the jet fuel from entering the interior of the building.
At the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Abolhassan Astaneh-Asl, a professor of structural engineering, has been developing a new construction technique -- bolting half-inch steel plates to six-inch concrete walls -- to create buildings that can better survive earthquakes. ''The concrete wall prevents the steel from buckling,'' Dr. Astaneh-Asl said. ''The steel prevents the concrete from cracking and shattering. When you marry them, they become very good.''
In tests, a half-scale, three-story building proved capable of surviving four magnitude-9 earthquakes. While the wreckage of the 767's flew into the interior of the World Trade Center, the extra mass of concrete and steel walls would have absorbed much of the planes' momentum.
''Most of the fracturing of the plane will take place outside of the building, not inside,'' Dr. Astaneh-Asl said. That is the same fundamental physics that make the S.U.V. the lesser damaged in a collision with a motorcycle.
Much of the fuel would have then splashed against the outside of the building instead of igniting inside, Dr. Astaneh-Asl said.
The World Trade Center attack may lead developers to regard a terrorist attack as a risk to be planned for instead of an unthinkable one-time tragedy.
''The perception of the terrorist threat is where earthquake hazards were in the mid- to late 1960's,'' said Dr. Jeremy Isenberg, president and chief at Weidlinger Associates, a consulting firm that once helped design resilient military bases and missile silos, and now offers its expertise for federal and commercial buildings. ''It took a series of three or four damaging earthquakes to drive home to owners of buildings that they had financial assets at risk.''
Developers may now request that more resilience be built into new buildings and into old ones being remodeled, Dr. Isenberg said.
While perhaps not much can protect against kamikaze jetliners, other simple steps may help protect against lesser attacks. Large, heavy cement flower pots, like those placed around the World Trade Center after the 1993 bombing, keep a car bomb a safe distance from the structural columns. Concrete walls around loading docks and mail rooms can be thickened to protect against bomb blasts. Jackets of graphite fibers wrapped around columns make them less likely to collapse. Protective glaze can be added to windows to make them less likely to shatter.
In planning for new buildings, structural designers are now more likely to add more redundancy where the collapse of one column does not lead to the collapse of the entire building, as occurred in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
Dr. Thornton said that in one sense, taller buildings are safer than midrise buildings; taller buildings are less likely to topple because their builders generally provided more redundancy into the structures. The design of skyscrapers 50 stories or more, has been ''generally very robust,'' said Dr. Thornton. ''For 40 or less, it's not.''
But the taller buildings make a more tempting target for terrorists.Continue reading the main story


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Morning Report Stories
On a ranch, there's plenty to stand in the way of two men finding romance and their happily ever after—long hours of work, lack of communication, and the expectations of others. But for these cowboys, no obstacles can keep them from realizing their passion and love.
Luke's Present
Luke Murray and Simon Bryan have been running the Lost Cow Ranch together for twelve years, sharing a bed and a life, but since the aftermath of the flood, Simon is afraid they've lost their way. A wedding on the ranch makes them realize they want a deeper commitment to each other—one with rings.
Letters From a Cowboy
When Simon Wood comes to Tamar Ranch, what begins as animosity between him and Chip Henson soon evolves into something very different. They give in to their need, but they're taking a big risk leaving letters for each other. Soon Simon must choose between leaving the ranch to save Chip's job or taking an even bigger risk and going back for him.
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

subset: commoncrawl


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There are a number of things that distinguish Catholics from Protestant Christians. One of these things is a belief in purgatory.
Protestants think that simply accepting Jesus Christ as their savior (Solus Christus, Sola fide) guarantees that they will go to straight to heaven. Catholic Doctrine, however, says there are no guarantees.
Purgatory might best be described as an in-between state or place, so to speak, where some or even many souls go before they get to heaven. A lot of people do not understand purgatory, however, because it is rarely talked about. It's not a real popular topic for homilies either.
Many Catholics probably assume that they will have no choice but to end up 'doing time' in purgatory. They live their lives as if purgatory is a foregone conclusion, and there is no way to avoid it. But there is a path that leads straight to heaven: If we can live saintly lives here on earth, which is what we are meant to do, purgatory won't be a mandatory stopover for us on the way to heaven.
Catholic Teaching on purgatory is succinctly explained in the Catechism:
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
1032 then says that this teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, mentioned in Sacred Scripture, and that the "Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead."
So purgatory is not so much a punishment or a second chance, but rather a place or state where a soul is purified so as to be able to enter heaven and stand before God. Purgatory might even be looked upon as yet another gift of God's love.
Growing Spiritually
Over the years I have grown in my relationship with God to the point where I began to pray daily for my purgatory here on earth, in this life. I think of St. Paul who said in Philippians 1:21-23: "For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, [for] that is far better."
When I was in my twenties and early thirties, my spiritual life was very basic. It consisted of pretty ordinary things, like going to church on Sunday, giving to the collection, going to confession when I felt like it, and saying some prayers and reading some scripture. My spiritual life was not really based on becoming a certain kind of person or on finding a path to grow or mature spiritually. Instead it was solely based on what I did.
My walk with God was almost like a kind of employer/employee relationship. If I did certain things all the time, God would make sure that somehow I wouldn't go to hell, but that I would end up in heaven. And for a lot of people, this may be the way they live out their faith as well. But there is so much more to walking with God then just a basic 9 to 5 routine. What I discovered is that how I was living was not good enough because I was not truly alive.
Forgiving Sins and Sinners
As a young man I went to confession quite frequently, but maybe not for all of the right reasons. There were certain habitual sins in my life that kept reoccurring and causing me to feel guilty. This resulted in my seeking out the sacrament of reconciliation for the same things over and over, so much so that I became embarrassed! I began to drive out of town to find a church that I had not been to, just so I could confess to a priest who did not know me!
One time during confession, I finally told the priest all of this and when I had finished, he said, 'You must realize, that Christ not only forgives sins, but he also forgives sinners.' The priest went on to explain how forgiveness of sins is like the prodigal son coming home, whereas the forgiveness of sinners is like the prodigal son staying home. In other words, forgiving the sin changes how one stands before God in regards to a certain sin, but forgiving the sinner is more of a conversion that takes place inside of a person which prevents those sins from being committed anymore. Any change that is going to occur and endure must have an element of conversion contained within it.
True Conversion
I began to pray that I could experience true conversion deep down inside where it really matters. In addition, I started to make a more concentrated effort to relate to God, not just as a homework assignment, but in my life here on planet earth. I made a practice to memorize certain bible verses such as: "But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" (Matthew 6:20-21), and "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke: 21:36).
Verses such as these taught me certain things about my spiritual growth and development. I realized that following Christ is more than just a set of requirements and heaven is more than just an eventual destination. Rather, following Christ is a relationship that involves my entire person, one that receives His entire person in return. Heaven is not simply my eventual destination but my personal destiny and the fulfillment of my being.
Laying up Treasures in Heaven
I began to focus on more than just doing penance for the sin of the moment. Additionally, I try to focus on giving of myself as Jesus gave of Himself. I also began to realize that laying up treasures in heaven was more than just being rewarded for doing good. It was a much deeper union with God because of a greater capacity to love.
Eventually I began to grow spiritually in ways that produced a longing to be with God. Everyday life became a new opportunity to desire union with God above all else. I began to learn the true meaning of self-sacrifice and self-denial. I took notice of the examples set by St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Theresa of Calcutta, and focused on the little things of everyday life that come our way. Nothing is too small if done out of love for God. I realized that learning to love God with all of my heart and soul and mind and strength is possible if I allow the Holy Spirit to work inside me.
Praying for Purgatory Here on Earth
I now realize, as I meditate on who I really am, that I do not obey naturally and normally all of the time without giving temptation or disobedience a passing thought. Even if I am staying free of mortal sin, I still seem very capable of venial sin without much forethought at all. That kind of person, that expression of self, cannot live in heaven. But it can be purified and prepared for heaven.
I have begun to experience that process right here and right now. I pray every day for my purgatory here on earth according to God's will. Even if I do not completely avoid the purification process in the life to come, that does not mean I cannot work towards that goal.
I practice things like daily mass and frequent reception of the Eucharist, along with Adoration. I also have masses said for those who have passed on, especially those who may be in purgatory with nobody to pray for them. Remember what Jesus said, "The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you" (Matthew 7:2).
Loving God
I believe that the love I give to God and to others out of love for God will be returned to me. Since I cannot outdo divine love or God's grace in generosity, just maybe, by doing things like having masses said for others, especially those who might be forgotten by everyone else, God will take this into account for me.
I now spend extra time in Eucharistic Adoration, where Jesus is really and truly present, and I pray that I might not be temporarily separated from him in purgatory. And I pray to become more saintly, so that in the end, I may not need purgatory at all. I pray that before my life is over, I will have learned to love the way they do in heaven. If I can, maybe I can skip purgatory and go straight to heaven.


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Paper No. 5409 Dated 26-Feb-2013
By Dr. Subhash Kapila
The projected drawback of United States and NATO Forces in 2014 has once again rekindled Pakistan Army's imperial pretensions over Afghanistan. Post-2014 scenarios being discussed in the strategic community paint dismal scenarios of Afghanistan re-emerging as a global and regional hotspot with destabilising spill-over effects all around.
Paper No. 5384 Dated 4-Feb-2013
By Dr Subhash Kapila
The United States "Global War on Terror" launched by the United States in the wake of 9/11 Islamist terrorists' attacks on New York and Washington marked the first decade of the 21st Century and overwhelmingly determined United States strategic, foreign policy and political policy formulations, virtually to the exclusion of anything else.
Paper No. 5378 Dated 26-Jan-2013
By B.Raman
Paper No. 5373 Dated 20-Jan-2013
By Kazi Anwarul Masud
Pakistan could have descended into chaos if the political crisis that suddenly emerged recently had not been resolved.
Paper No. 5370 Dated 19-Jan-2013
By Col R Hariharan
[Here is a summary of my comments to print and television media on the India-Pakistan standoff on specific issues raised by them on January 15 & 17.]
On Indian Prime Minister's strong statement and later developments
Paper No. 5369 Dated 18-Jan-2013
By B. Raman
It is difficult to satisfactorily analyse and assess Allama Tahir-ul-Qadri, a Canadian cleric of Pakistani origin, who has suddenly returned to Pakistan to start a street movement against the civilian Government and traditional political parties on grounds of widespread corruption and bad governance.
Paper No. 5367 Dated 16-Jan-2013
By Bhaskar Roy
The gruesome killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops and beheading one of them along the line of control (LOC) on January 8 was a planned and calculated act.
Copyright ©2012. All Rights are Reserved.
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Since I never went off plan, I can't answer that. I'm sure that there are some that lost weight. Whether or not they maintained it after MF??? You will get lots of responses on both sides I'm sure, some likely very heated.
I hope you get what you're looking for. My opinion is that staying OP DEFINITELY works...
Exactly what De said. OP works. Not-OP may work, sort of, some of the time, for some people..
Why mess with what works?.
Also, it's EASIER to do it 100% than it is to fight the daily battles about whether you're going to have just one bite of this or that. It's settled. You're not...
I think I've been projecting my own history on to other people. For me in the past, if I've 'cheated' on a diet early on then that pretty much spelled my doom. I guess it would help me, and maybe others, to know that other people have had a different experience. This is something that I'm really wondering about, I hope people see it as a honest question and not a judgment..
I completely understand and agree that staying OP is the best bet and I have personally stayed 100% on plan, but I see so many people that are struggling and I was just wondering about it...
I cheated with off plan foods in the first 10 days, but have not since. I have had a bad day here or there where I ate too much Medifast food or protein, but absolutely nothing off plan. I think the first few days are the hardest and easiest to fall off the wagon. I don't think it means anything for long term success, just that you gotta get up, keep trying, and learn something from the mistake. I'm happy with my results so far and expect to go all the way to goal and thru transition. And if I slip AGAIN, I am going to get right back up and keep going...
I've been on the Medifast program since April 19th 2010 and I've gone off plan (in a bad, bad way) for about a week and once again for one day. I've also had days where I've missed meals, measured my L&G incorrectly and so on and so forth. However, I'm still proud to say I'm about 55lbs down so far. I have a history of eating disorders of every kind and to be able to stand here about six months later with a near-healthy BMI is just amazing to me. Yes, I messed up a few times but I still see myself as a winner.
I honestly believe that Medifast is a learning experience for many or most. Not everybody can do 100% the first time out and I don't think it's fair to expect everyone to be able to. There's a reason we're doing Medifast in the first place and it's certainly not because we had perfect eating habits before! I agree that being 100% takes the stress away from "should I or shouldn't I" but sometimes people slip up and make an off-plan mistake..
I think the best thing to do is just TRY to do 100% and if you succeed, AWESOME! ^_^ But if you slip up, don't stay down. Get right back up and make the choice to get BACK on track right after your mistake! <3.
As Winston Churchill said: "Never, never, never give up!".
My first rodeo I was 100% OP and had wonderful results and kept off the weight well until a horrible family crisis' happened.
But, even before then, if I gained 15 pounds, I would back here on the 5&1 and 100% OP again, and would lose it all..
Back again, and this time, 100% OP.
This is my 10th day on Medifast and I have lost 14 pounds.
LIME green kitty head speaketh the truth...
I do not eat 100% on plan, ever. I am currently in my 8th month on medifast. I tried medifast 3 years ago and was only able to go for 3 months 100% on plan (with occasional cheating) before quitting. (And I was miserable the whole time). I don't believe I've ever been in ketosis since I started in March 2010. I've eaten out at restaurants maybe 6 times, for lunch or dinner (with alcohol), and I've eaten birthday cake and ice cream at least 4 times.
Eating outside the boudaries of the medifast plan may not work for anyone else, but it works for me. Good luck with however you choose to get to goal!.
What a great question. My answer is yes!.
It's been 7 months for me and I've lost 47 pounds and am 3 pounds away from my goal of 152.2 at 5'9" tall. I don't feel as if I've failed because I've lost weight more slowly than others. In fact, I think I have a better chance of keeping it off long-term because I've integrated little things throughout my weight loss like extra protein, or alcohol (wine, vodka or gin) or an occasional carb and have stayed on-track..
Now I've never pigged out or had multiple meals or lots of desert but I've cheated. I think if we talked more honestly about why we cheat or how to cheat wisely, I think it would be easier and create even more support for all..
Now others will be most displeased with these confessions and have empirical studies about how bad it is to cheat and how it screws up your brain and the process of Ketosis but I feel it is what has allowed me to keep going..
Thanks for thinking about your thinking and putting it out there!!!.
Good luck on your journey!..
I definitely fall in to the cheating category. First week? Giant bag of full fat popcorn. A week later? Fruit and cookies. I never measured a thing. Still lost weight. I decided to take things a bit more seriously and stay OP.
I know it's cuz i'm closer to my goal weight, but hard to remember that sometimes..
I'm one of those people who wasn't 100% on-plan...I never went crazy and binged or anything...but I personally don't believe in the low-fat thing so I didn't worry about the odd pat of butter or chicken skin...I ate unrestricted celery (the horror!!! hehehe) and often ate more protein and veggies than strictly "allowed". I would say that I was 95% on-plan (on average) but 100% healthy. Worked great for me! Best of luck!.
My first three weeks I was off-plan out of ignorance (I thought it was 1 veggie serving not 3). I have intentionally eaten off plan foods on 3 or 4 occasions and am sometimes off plan out of laziness (i.e. I don't weigh my meat or veg or I skip a meal or I have 6 condiments or an extra snack)..
Could I have lost more if I had been more strict? Probably. But I am okay with where I am. I understand the consequences of food so much more than I did pre-MF and I look at every mistake as a learning experience...
While I have no empirical studies whatsoever, I can only report how the 5/1 worked for ME....a chronic, life-time dieter who always always managed to regain the lost weight. I stayed 100% OP the entire time I was doing the 5/1 & I completely lost my appetite & my obsession with food disappeared. THAT was the beauty of staying OP....relief from obsession. Cuz once maintenance rolls around & more choices become available, it's quite easy to get the obsession fired up again. That's what has killed me in the past. Thanks to staying OP with the 5/1, I lost my taste for those junk foods that kept my weight problem & food obsession alive & well.
I now eat plain, simple L&G type foods & that helps me with 2 things: It keeps my weight managed and it keeps my food addiction in it's cage, where it belongs. Until Medifast came into my life, I didn't think such a thing was possible frankly.
I think it is best to just do the plan 100%..
However, I also think it is essential that people know that just because you are not 100%, or you have gone off and "cheated" that does not mean you will not succeed long term. I have my moments. I am not going to put this 95 pounds back on though...
I just wanted to add a comment about the word "cheating". Whenever I eat something that is waaaaaaay off program I don't tell myself or anyone else that I'm cheating. I spend a little time thinking "Do I really want to eat so off program today? Is it worth it to slow my weight loss this week or not? Sometimes the answer is yes, and sometimes it's no. I'm trying to think long-term, how will I handle situations when I'm not trying to lose weight, and just be a person with a healthy relationship with food..
I have cheated at least once a week. As a couple of people have stated..it wasn't a CRAZY binge out session or anything but definitely some stuff that was not OP. I read a comment the other day on here where someone was very much stressing out because they licked some icing off a cake they were making. I can not imagine being that obsessed with what I put into my mouth. Eventually I want to get to the point where I can have a small piece of cake and not feel like I haven't been satisfied. I want top be able to eat EVERYTHING again in moderation and I think that with Medifast we learn to eat smaller and more sensible.
I have full faith though that I have conquered this need to consonantly be eating food that I shouldn't.
I am happy with the weight I have lost thus far and if I would have lost more by nor for being super restrictive..Im ok with knowing that. What Im doing works for me and you have to find that for yourself.
Good luck all..
I really want to thank everybody who has responded to my question. I was initially hoping to bolster my faith in other people, but maybe I was trying to bolster my faith in myself. In any case, your responses have really changed my perspective and empathy level. My intent was not to start a 'cheating' vs 'no cheating' debate but rather to gain some insight, which I certainly have. Clearly there are many paths to success...
[Jenn, I promise I am not laughing at you.].
Bwahahahahaha!!! OMG I tried to picture ME as a person with a healthy relationship with food and I just fell out! Too funny. SOOOOO not part of my universe, or Life Plan, or anything else. I really believe I will always be someone who has to be watched and kept in check in order to keep my weight off. I don't expect it to be painful every day forever, but I do expect that especially in times of stress I will need to manage my impulses carefully..
I am so happy for you that you can envision this for your future. Way to go!..
In my head, I've always felt there was a difference between people who modify the plan in a way that I would consider off-plan, but still stick to it consistently, and people who blog about having a pile of cookies on Day Three, but quickly remind everybody that nobody's perfect. One to me is making a serious attempt and the other is not..
I can see being very successful with the first route, but I'd be surprised if the success level is very high with the second.
I'm a 100%'er because I don't have the mental energy to fight with myself constantly over what I can have and what I can't...
Even the Medifast book says that you may not always stay on plan. The point is to just start up again the next day fresh and go after your goals. I have not cheated yet (this time) - but I know that I am only human and may have some eggnog or Christmas dinner if I am fairly close to reaching my goals then. I am hoping though by then that my behavior will be better, and that I will just eat enough to satisfy myself but not go overboard like I did before with all my good intentions flying out the window and eating everything in sight!..
I haven't been anywhere near perfect. It's an every day struggle for me not to eat things I shouldn't. When I make a mistake I just get back up the next day and keep going. I don't think that just because a person does the plan 100% that they will have any easier time maintaining. Obviously we all have food issues or we wouldn't be here. I have learned quite a bit about my eating habits during this plan and that is what makes a difference.
If you are one of the 100% people that's great but it's also important to realize that just because you fall doesn't mean you will completely fail. You just have to pick yourself back up and keeping on working toward your goals...
That's cool Freya! Sometimes I laugh at myself also!!.
I acutually meant exactly what you said. I'm constantly telling myself that food is fuel, that's ALL IT IS!! Not to cure boredom or as any kind of reward. To me having a healthy relationship with food will mean that I need to eat consciously. One of my issues with food is that I was not eating anything in moderation. I might sit down to an essentially healthy meal, but eat so much of it, it became unhealthy. I know for my weight loss to be permanent I will always have to track my calories, carbs, fat, activity level ect..
For me and my medifast experience it is how one defines "cheating". I use the medifast meal replacements as part of my reduction plan. Some days I am by the book, some days I am not. But all the days in the past 8 weeks (with the exception of just a few) have been clean, healthy eating days. Clean, healthy eating and exercise is what gets the pounds off and the clothes fitting for me. Now this is just my personal experience and I know what works for me.
Now I do not have fruit or yogurt every day, but I do work it into my healthy eating reduction plan. Again, just my personal experience and what works for me. Everyone needs to find what works best for their journey to optimal health..
Happy Melting..
I can't speak for anyone else, only for my own experience. I have been OP since July 10 and have not eaten anything off-plan - not one spoon-lick, bite, nibble, nothing..
For me I see eating off plan a slippery slope and my thought process is 1) I am spending a lot of money on this and I have to respect the process and 2) I need the discipline of eating only what I am allowed. If I give myself permission to lick the peanut butter sandwich knife, then the next day it's a bite of sandwich, then a half a sandwich......
I have lost 33 pounds in 12 weeks, so it's working for me!.
I certainly am not judging anyone who eats off plan - if they can do a little bit and be satisfied and go back OP afterwards, more power to them! I know I can't so I don't. Plus I tend to beat myself up somethin' fierce if I am not perfect (another story altogether)..
Best of luck to you, whichever way you choose to go...
This is how would describe me too. Since June 17th I have been 100% OP. I am afraid to go backwards so my fears help keep where I need to be.
I just dont want to have to start over. It was hard enough getting started the first time in June...
Rather than "cheating", I prefer the term "being human". I agree with a previous poster that the "cheater" mindset can be worse than the actual cheating. You know...I cheated so I might as well cheat the rest of the hour, day, meal, month....
Personally, I fear that I make mistakes every day; primarily with figuring out how to count "mixed veggies" or a salad with more than lettuce in it. I'm still in the mode of freaking out every time the scale doesn't move like I think it should. I've lost 10 pounds and I still secretly think it's a fluke! Having said that, I did eat a slice of apple the other day. It's apple season and it was so delicious and, frankly, worth it. But, that's once in 6 weeks and I don't plan to repeat it. Slippery slope and all that!..
I probably "cheat" most days. I tend to eat extra veggies. It hasn't impeded my weight loss, and I make no apologies for it...
I just want to Thank You for starting this discussion thread, it is very interesting reading and I am glad that everyone is keeping it 'nice'.
I tend to eat off program during times of stress, but I haven't eaten anything off plan, only plan foods in excess on occasion. I don't think this is better and I would like to do better, I am working on my emotional eating issues and hope to get better and better at this..
The highest I have gone is 1500 calories which is nothing like the thousands that I used to eat every day, I feel bad and that is not good for my emotional state, I have to allow myself an extra meal sometimes in order to stay away from non plan foods..
It was helpful for me to hear that other people have 'messed up' and were not 'perfect' Thanks Again for the discussion thread..
I guess I don't stay 100% op because I don't really count spices and things that have well, nothing in them! LOL I watch the sodium in those things and add extra water....
I've had a party where I kinda made sure I stayed really close to op but the salad was full of everything! I was picking out stuff then I just gave up and only picked out the fruit and left the cheese and meat.... I figured if I stayed with just protine it would be ok! That night I also had maybe 1/8 tsp of sweets.... if even that much! LOL I felt like a criminal! BUT the next day I was down .5! I'm getting close to my goal though so if I start to stall I will change how I look at things.... If I start to lose only 1 lb a week I may try to tighten it up but if I'm still only losing a little I'm just going to go with it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm even in ketosis...... or if I'm just losing because there are so little calories!..
My very first week on Medifast I had 3 events to go to. One was a house concert (I was playing), which was wonderfully catered. The food was part of our pay. The second was my best friend's son's birthday party. The third was a family dinner. I ate off plan (in the sense of eating foods not on plan) at each of these meals.
I still lost 15 pounds that first week. I don't think I have gone a week without eating off plan.
I am an emotional eater. Boredom, stress, depression, happiness - all triggers for me to eat. Somehow being on Medifast has allowed me to understand this in a way I never did before and to be able to make better choices. As my relationship with food must change, why not start now? For me, being able to make choices about non-plan foods and still be successful is more empowering than sticking to the Medifast plan set out for us by someone I've never met. I am starting to feel like I can succeed in keeping the weight off once I get to goal...
I do not follow the Medifast plan exactly as written. I go to a center and the plan they have written for me does not include cheese. I eat cheese nearly every day. A sprinkle here or a sprinkle there. I never weigh or measure my food. I eat salad dressing on days when I eat beef.
It has taught me to eat 6 smaller meals per day. It has taught me to eat until satisfied rather than stuffed beyond belief. The best thing is that it's taught me how delicious healthy food can be. I can't wait to incorporate non-MF foods back into my daily life. I'm so excited to live my new healthy life enjoying fruits, veggies, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and healthy whole grains.
I have 100% confidence that I will never go back to my old eating habits. When I first started MF, I fantasized about the pizza and burgers I would eat once I reached my goal weight. Now I fantasize about the awesome body I'm discovering through this process! Everyone has to find their own way to weight loss!..
I am a believer in the plan 100%, at least everyone needs to start it that way,,,just my opinion,,,however, I do know in lots of cases, a Dr or Medifast nutritional support will change up a person's plan to help with their loss, or in some cases, to work within a health issue. to me, this is still on plan. binging, drinking,,,,then that is "cheating",,(I hate that word!!) and for most will definately slow the weight lossOn the other hand, I know several people on these boards who have done the occasional binge with bad food and drink, and are near goal weight, or have been maintaining successfully for a good amount of time. Even knowing this, I still support 100%,,,,but I don't judge those who choose otherwise...
I cheated badly my first week on the program (a slice of pizza, chips, multiple beers), and now cheat sporadically (but only with extra protein and the occasional carb-free alcoholic beverage). I don't have a lassies fair attitude about it like some people "(whoops, ate a cheeseburger!"); I take the diet seriously and I stay within the guidelines of daily carbs and calories..
My cheats also are only cheats in the sense that they're not on the Medifast plan. They are, however, on my very slightly modified Medifast plan so, they're planned.
The fact is, it works for me; I'm still losing and I'm not eating horrible stuff. I have a lot of respect for people who follow the plan to a T. But I've chosen to modify it slightly, and it's working...
I follow the plan to a "T". To do otherwise, in my opinion, means I'm not willing to do whatever it takes to lose the weight. If I'm not willing to do whatever it takes, then I'm more apt to give up when the going gets tough. And it will..
Coming from a high starting point, I could adopt the attitude that as long as I'm going in the right direction everything is A-OK. But I know my body. I know that my body will get to a certain point and then decide not to lose anymore. So I stay 100% because I know that if I do this I will continue to lose..
This program is not just an eating regimen, there is quite a bit of head work to be done. If I'm modifying and making my own rules I'm essentially saying that 20 years of research and input by Johns Hopkins Cardiologists is hooey and I'm gonna do it "my way".
I'm not playing around the edges of this thing. I'm fully committed..
Look at the veterans, the long-time maintainers. ALL of them advocate strict adherence to the plan. This is not by "chance". This is not a "coincidence". Am I saying that 100% adherence guarantees long-term success? No. There are also those that had adopted 100% adherence and then gained their weight back later.
I'm investing thousands of dollars in this program, and into myself. I am not going to waste my money and stretch the program out by weeks or months in order that I can have "what I want" to eat on occasion. I am getting what I want. Long term success and health.
And that is my opinion...
Sorry had a duplicate post. Just erased the duplicate!..
I think that statement say it all in a nutshell. Keep up the great work!..
O lordy what a can of worms post!.
I'm not even going to read through all the responses b/c a lot of times people say hurtful things. maybe that wasn't true this time, but i'm not going to chance it..
Here's my experience:.
I have had some weeks of being 100% OP. and by that I mean measuring every morsel I put into my mouth, all of which was explicitly stated in documentation that it is "allowed." no extra condiments, no questionable snacks, no laughing cheese, etc..
I have also had some weeks where one night of the week I have had a couple of whiskey/diet cokes at events (hard liquor is carb free. not caloric free.).
Many weeks I have eaten cheese. many times not "approved" cheese, though I logged it..
Sometimes I have "gone off plan" by substituting extra protein for one of my MFs. rarely, but sometimes, I have "gone off plan" by missing an Medifast all together b/c of scheduling or poor planning.
After four months on the program, I attended 2 weddings in 2 weeks. the first wedding I had 2 glasses of wine. the second wedding, my sister's, I had -what I consider-my first honest to goodness cheat.
I survived all day with no problems. that night, in my childhood home where all my bad habits began, freaking out over the state of my life, I had a giant brownie. my first sugar since June 1st. then I went back on plan the next morning..
I can't tell you if my weight loss will be permanent. I hope so. then again, as a former "Low carb eater" in years past, I plan on eventually moving out of Medifast to a Low carb/south beach style eating for ever. it is what works for me. and as an actress, body shape is important to my work..
That's my story. good luck...
I think this is very insightful, Dynamite. I have gone off plan a couple of times in 9 weeks, but it was either a little extra protein or a no-carb drink.
I'm thrilled with my progress. I think I am learning alot.
One thing I have learned is that I will not have a starch/grain, though. I can't. My very very occasional off plan choices were logged, planned, and measured and kept in the protein/no carb drink category. A starch would be a disaster for me, personally. That whole notion can just wait till the very very end of transition because I will have alot of stuff to work through with respect to carbs and myself..
I'm in no way "advocating" off plan choices, but rather I am answering your question...
I started the plan on Friday last week. Lost 2lbs right away and stopped. I cheated with a small piece of apple pie on Monday. My meal log says I am eating less than 1000 cal a day I would think at first I would drop more than 2lbs. Any sugestions??..
Without knowing how much you have to lose it's hard to answer that. However, my bet is that you stalled because you had apple pie, which would have put you way over on your carbs. It can take a couple of days for it to catch up to you. Medifast is more about carbs than calores. The program puts you in a mild state of ketosis which helps you burn fat faster. You carb levels should be between 80 and 90 carbs per day and your calories under 1000...
My family is on Medifast and they cheat and cut corners, and depending on the person, they've been relatively successful with weight loss. One person is now in the upper 130's at 5'7 down from 165 and has stayed there. (But refuses to go into maintenance because they are not at 'goal' yet, but also is still having difficulties sticking to the program 100% and losing the rest of the weight), another person has lost 40lbs (they are quite heavy) and they don't stick 100%, another has lost 30 with the same approach. I am 100% and have almost lost 50, and my aunt is 98% and has lost about the same and is now 3lbs away from goal.
From what I've seen with my family who cut corners, they all continue to lose weight, although slower with longer plateaus, but have not lost what needs to be lost to get to goal although they began the program before I did.
In my mind it's everyone's decision which approach they want to take, but I took the 100% route 1) to get the best results the fastest and 2) to make a real lifestyle change so that I don't find myself needing to get back on the 5&1 some point in the near future. I want to be healthy and stay that way without having doubts that that might never happen for me lol. Whatever works for you, right?..
I think you have to be very careful how you define "succeed", and who you ask for advice. After all, opinions are like... well, everyone has them, and they're worth exactly what you pay for them..
I would argue (and hey, it's easy for ME to say, since I've been maintaining for nearly a year now) that if the person offering you an opinion hasn't lost the weight and maintained that loss for some reasonable period of time that they haven't proven their approach is "successful"..
Of course you should take ALL advice with a grain of salt. I'm just suggesting that taking the advice of people who are still in the process of losing weight - mostly "again" - may not give you the kind of usable information you're looking for..
So all that said, and offered with a big grain of salt on the side, here's my opinion - 100% on plan works. It always works. If you stay on plan, you WILL lose weight. If you fool around creating your own plan, it MIGHT work, kinda sorta sometimes for some people depending on the phase of the moon, the state of the tides, your sun sign, and a bunch of other undefined variables. If you're like most of us, you've been doing your own plan for all your life - and you're fat. It didn't work.
What's your goal? Why is it important to you? Who do you love, and who loves you? And why, oh why is that cheat food more important to you than any of those things? Those are the important questions to ask when you're deciding whether a cheat food or meal is worthwhile to you. Obesity kills. That simple. You're trading off your life for a cheat. Why?..
Every diet I've ever done before let me eat unlimited amounts of *something,* even if it was just celery. This allowed me to continue to know I had the safety of being able to "fill up" and feel better, even on the diet. MF, followed strictly, actually forces me to confront my addictive behaviors and emotional relationship with food..
I was contemplating eating to feel better the other day, when under emotional strain. I said to myself, "How am I going to learn if I don't LEARN?" If I keep doing the same thing, short-cutting dealing with my emotions through food, how will I be forced to find healthier ways to deal with my feelings? And I must learn, or die yo-yo-ing..
Cheating is only cheating myself out of a chance to learn a new relationship with food and my feelings. I can't imagine wanting to squander this precious opportunity to practice something new. For what, an egg roll? A piece of fruit? Who cares? It's just food, and I'm not dying...
In 22 weeks I've lost 87 lbs. I've gone off plan 4-6 times. Two were 4/2 days where I had unexpected dinners with friends/family and I wasn't telling people what I was doing yet. The other 4 were times when I made choices off plan ranging from a single light beer to a gourmet meal where I made better choices than I normally would have but definitely not on plan. I think in the long term it might have cost me a couple of weeks in 5/1 extra. I do feel as though each time I went off I learned more about unexpected triggers for me.
I owe this plan to myself. I logged it all and disclosed it too-only to maintain my own sense of integrity here. Those 2 large spikes on my graph here are constant reminders to me. Part of me wishes I hadn't done certain things in those 22 weeks-but a more conscious part realizes that if I spend more than a little time thinking along those lines that I'll consume myself regretting every mistake over the last 35 years or so. Great question.....
Yeah, I wonder myself sometimes why some "cheat" or why some gain the weight back and comeback here time and time again...simple answer..."food addiction"! It always going to be a battle with food and Im sure for most of us it will be, but either way we are not perfect and sometimes people use "food as comfort" and I'm one of them people but since I have been on Medifast I have stayed 100% OP and thats the way I choose to do it! This program costs a lot of MONEY and well Im not going to keep coming back and back again to lose weight...I figure if I cant maintain this weightloss after losing all this weight when I'm at goal...i might as well take a rope and hang myself LMFAO! But either way, since being on mf, definitely teaching me that FOOD DOESNT HAVE TO CONTROL MY LIFE LIKE IT ONCE DID!.
So whether somebody falls off track or regains some of the weight back, doesnt make them a bad person...WE ALL HAVE FAILED ON DIETS it doesnt have to be just MF...but either way thats why we are here to get healthy and try and stay that way!..
I have only been on three weeks but I have been totally, faithfully and anally OP.
I have a dear friend who lost about 60 lbs on Medifast and she was my main inspiration to try the program. She not only lost it like a Medifast champ, but she has kept it off for two years. She is my hero. BUT...she told me after she lost her first 20 lbs, she allowed herself one cheat day every weekend. She said she would not go insane and mainline a whole cheesecake, but she would, for example, get enchiladas and a margarita when they would go out to eat. Maybe she was lucky...maybe her metabolism could handle it.
I have decided, though, because of the way I think, going OP will just not work for me. I lost 70 lbs on WW only to go off plan during vacation and wham, bam and before I knew it, it all came back and then some. For me, if I cheat even a little, it is easier for me to tell myself the next time would not be a big deal either...and the next time...and the next time. I have to have black and white without even a shade of gray. That is why I think this has worked so well for me so far...
Oh, goodness. I have no idea where exactly I fall in this discussion. Personally, I choose to do it 100% on plan but that is because I am finding that keeping the carbs just right is making me feel better. Its a reasonable way for me, but maybe not for everyone..
What I think is that the 100% versus "cheat" discussion is really not the relevant one. It doesn't really matter which way you lose the weight, it's really more about how you are at the end when you go back to real food. BOTH ways will ultimately fail if the person continues to have obsessive issues around eating.
Someone can stay on plan 100% and, wow, lose a ton of weight very quickly, but that doesn't mean a thing. What matters is how prepared that person is for their endless future as an eater of real food. If someone goes through the program obsessional about the plan because they are terrified that one little cheat will spark an eating binge, then they haven't really changed a thing and at some point in the future they'll fail.
OTOH, if someone is much more easy about food and can stay on Medifast for the most part, with a few choices to eat off plan, and then get right back on without going through hell or have to wrestle his/her demons to the ground again, then that person most likely won't have to worry as much about going wild once they end the diet.
OTOH, (I've got lots of hands! I"m an alien!) If someone is going off plan because they CAN'T STOP THEMSELVES and they CANT give up whatever, then they are much like the first person who is on plan 100% yet terrified because food still rules them..
I think the more important discussion has to be around figuring out how not to be obsessional and compulsive people. I think Medifast gives us a really good chance to get there because it takes care of the blood sugar issues and over time it will slowly help our bodies adjust back to normal levels of hunger hormones. Once we get our bodies calmed down then we potentially have the space and time to get our heads and our souls calmed down. Medifast at it's best is a time out while we figure some things out...
This is what I know. I can only speak for myself..
I stayed 100% on plan for over 8 months. 99% of my days were 5+1. I had a few 4+2 days, which are on plan, when I went for some strenuous hikes that required more energy than 5+1 offered me.
I experienced weight loss every week I was on the plan. I did not have any stalls. I only had two weeks where I lost 1 pound. Every other week was 2 or more pounds.
I made goal in 8 months. I lost a total of 108 pounds. I dropped from a size 22 to a size 6. All of my blood tests come back in extremely healthy levels. I can run and exercise without any shortness of breath.
Today I still have an eating plan. I follow it daily. I write down everything I eat. I don't eat anything that I haven't paid for with my daily metabolic calorie level or by extra calories I've banked through exercise.
On Black Friday, I will have maintained my weight loss for 1 year.
All I can say is what worked for me. Boy did it work! After 30 years of obesity, a poor relationship with food, and yo-yo dieting, this is what worked for me. One off plan slip would have led to another and I would have been back to 246 pounds. That's what my history tells me. I needed to break that cycle.
Fight the good fight every day!.
Month 1: -8, 5, - 2, - 4 = -19.
Month 2: -3, -2, -1, -3 = - 9.
Month 3: -4, -2, -4, -2 = - 12.
Month 4: Scaleless in Maine = -11.
Month 5: -2, -2, -3, -2 = -9.
Month 6: -2, -3, -4, -1 = -10.
Month 7: - 2, -2, -2, -2, -2 = -12.
Month 8: -2, -2, -2, -2 = -8.
Transition: -20 (for a total of -108).
GOAL: Black Friday, November 27, 2009.
Current Weight is 138. I am healthy!..
Instances like this make me wonder how important ketosis is to our program. your friend, for example, threw herself out of it once a week and lost 40 more pounds...
Ketosis seems to *help* but it's certainly not *necessary* for weight loss. We're eating 800-900 calories a day. Most people should lose weight no matter what at that calorie level.
I think the bonus of ketosis is that you don't feel the hunger so badly, which makes it way easier to stay OP...
Of course 100% on plan works best. THAT is a no brainer. I believe most people want to stay on plan 100%. Of course there's the young, party type person who has 15 lbs to lose that it isn't worth it and will go off plan, but I do believe for the most part...very large people who have carried their weight for a long time have an addiction.
I feel their struggle and feel compassionate towards them. They are literally killing themselves...
Aw darn....I licked the chocolate ganache off my finger last week. The flavor exploded in my mouth and I realized what I was doing. I actually ran to the sink to rinse off the rest.
I have not been 100% on plan. Sometimes when we go out I end up with too much protien or vegetables. Or too much fat. I try to be extra careful with the carbs, but a few found their way into my mouth. That first 7 days was not fun, do not want to repeat that..
That said, I did suck down my Medifast fruit punch while the family was enjoying Leatherby's ice cream last weekend. Um, and Cold Stone the weekend before. Darn...they eat a lot of ice cream!.
I did find that if I stayed on the lower end of the calories I lost slower, but I'm not a small person (nearly 6' tall). I have been adding a lf cheese stick to bump up the calories and am losing faster and I'm not as hungry...
I am chef instructor and have to taste numerous off plan items as part of my job. This does not mean that I am gorging on desserts (I am a pastry chef) but I am definitely consuming some things that are not 100% on plan, even if it is just a few spoonfuls. When I started Medifast I knew this would be the case and I am ok with it. I am careful about everything else I eat and try to walk/excercise each day. After the first ten days I have lost 8# so something is working out right. The bottom line is that even with the tastings I am eating controlled portions and better food than I did before the program.
I am determined to break that cycle...
I was on the program for 4 months before reaching goal. I NEVER cheated, not one day. I went through Thanksgiving and Christmas without cheating. However, since I've been maintaining, and knowing how much I've grown to love fruit, anytime I think about going back on Medifast (to lose the last stubborn 5 pounds), I get antsy because I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP MY FRUIT. I know in my heart that Medifast works without hunger pains if done correctly (not even one little extra bite) and that I will only be hungry for about three days before the hunger pains subside and the weight drops off BUT I keep thinking, why fight it????It's only five pounds...
All that to say, I dont understand why once the momentum kicks in, why would anyone want to cheat???? It is so much easier to follow the plan as written and watch Medifast work it's magic.....
I've had to look at this like I looked at quitting smoking - it's been trial and error...and if I have a relapse, I get right back on the wagon. I've been smoke-free for two years, and some days it was more of a struggle than others...and so I expect it to be with my new, healthy eating habits for the rest of my life...
But I wonder how much faster she would have lost it without those days on the other hand, if those days allowed her to stay on the program when she might have given up ....
I don't know it's a slippery slope for me, it has to be pretty much all or nothing. I can wait for the other stuff until t&m. it's not like I don't know what off-plan things taste like i'm sure they taste pretty much the same as they did before mf, so ....
Plus, i'm cheap LOL I don't want to do anything that's going to make me have to pay longer than I have to...
I don't know it's a slippery slope for me, it has to be pretty much all or nothing. I can wait for the other stuff until t&m. it's not like I don't know what off-plan things taste like i'm sure they taste pretty much the same as they did before mf, so ....
I found after I transitioned that I enjoyed leaner, healthier foods much more than poor choices. What I thought would be a "treat" certainly was not in the end. I would feel bloated and awful and actually had retrained my palette for some things.
I am now losing an additional 10 pounds and find myself more frustrated at times than I did during initial weight loss. Not sure why, but I accept this is my choice and stick with it. I've been more tempted to go off plan however and hate that feeling!..
I think you said it well. The OCD tendancies that many of us face can be repeated in the OCD of 100% OP as well. The REAL journey is retraining yourself how to live in the gray area because the real world is never black or white.
A "cheat" does not mean you have to torpedo the rest of your day/week/month... Owning your choices and learning how to make better choices the next time is the real journey. The fact is, once you get to T&M and then completely off MF, you are going to have to live in the real (gray) world and be confident and practiced at making good decisions if you want to keep the weight off for the long term.
I was there the first time I did MF. I maintained for over a year and then life came knocking (beating) at the door and I lost control. It's all part of the journey. I learned from the missteps I took how to set myself up for a longer lived success this time around. I feel confident that the success plan I have designed covers the bases and will support me long term..
I truly believe that conscious choices is where the REAL work toward success is to be done. For instance, the first time I did Medifast I had a friend that I met every Wednesday while our girls were in Girl Scouts together and we would go to a local place and share a house specialty appetizer (homemade kettle chips fully loaded with all kinds of totally off plan goodies which I will not name so as not to tempt anyone's resolve) and two beers.
I made a conscious decision to keep that routine with my friend because it is important to have balance and not totally divorce yourself from your "former" social life (as long as it was an emotionally healthy one). I had a salad (my green for the day) and 1 Mich Ultra. This was a planned event and one that I made consciously and that I monitored by making sure my other choices were adjusted to keep within proper numbers by choosing leanest meats and lowest carb veggies and no condiments or snacks on that day..
Another instance was Thanksgiving that year. My uncle was a French trained pastry chef and he made all the desserts for our family feast. Many were his signature items I had enjoyed on several occasions in the past, but one dessert was new. He said it was so time consuming he was unsure he would make it again. I made a conscious choice that this was a dessert that I would have 2 bites of so I could celebrate his passion with him. It turned out that my uncle died (way too young) unexpectedly less than 2 months later.
Some may call these two situations "cheating" and my reasons "rationalizations". However, I see them as triumphs because these were learning rungs on my ladder to success. I grew with these decisions in a positive way that has helped me to have a more healthy relationship with food and I am satisfied with that progress..
I guess to me it all boils down to your motivations for your actions that makes the difference between advancing your growth in a positive direction with your food relationship for long term success and "cheating". The choices I have made have all been motivated by doing the mental work I need to do to learn control and restraint and balance where food is concerned. They have helped build my confidence in myself that I CAN do this and I will succeed..
Something (good) teachers do is called "backward design". You plan with the end in mind and backwards engineer that result to create your curriculum. It has worked with my students for several years and it is what I have applied this second (and final) 5+1 go round for myself...
Great discussion..
I lost ~90 lbs and only went off plan 3 times for planned special occasions (i.e. a luau in Hawaii)..
DH lost 50 lbs and he was never truly 100% on plan. He often had rice or a baked potato and occasional deserts..
I believe that the key is to know YOURSELF and what will or won't work for you. I am 100% positive that I would not have been successful if I had consistently gone off plan. If going off plan derails you, then don't do it again. Of course, that is easier said than done...
Ultimately, it comes down to one's own measure of success. I'm down 50 pounds in 3 months. For me, it boils down to success and how I feel about my efforts. I am proud enough to go forth with the next 50 pounds. Regardless of the efforts, one determines pride in the next moves, for themselves. And off program doesn't mean failure...it's a choice.
Real life means we make choices and live with them.
The only concern I have with the two sides is when one chastises the other side. What's the point of criticizing someone's confession about anything? I feel that anyone who comes here and shares their success or struggle is deserving of support, regardless of my opinion. I, for myself, can be prouder of stepping outside the line of the program than of being on a "high horse" about how I'm doing on this diet. How hard is it just to be kind, forgiving and supportive to those who seek it?..
I have cheated quite often but it's usually been extra L and G or extra Medifast food. I still have lost at a nice pace and didn't even catch much grief for it at the Medifast center. It'd probably be different if I were eating candy bars or something. As much as I would like to be 100 percent all the time, I'm not going to beat myself up for not being one of those people. I've done a great job and am thrilled with the results I've gotten.
Good Luck!..
You are soooo right. The last time I did Medifast there was a group of bullies that organized themselves to go pounce on anyone uttering a single word of "off plan" speak or empathy from any poster toward anyone who "confessed their food sins". It was a named club on the clubs board (whom I will not name here) that has since disbanded and apparently, from what I read on the board posts, imploded upon themselves toward the end which I found quite ironic and karmic. They even created a dictionary posted in their club "manifesto" with derogatory names they called people who cheat and people who try to offer support in a positive way to those who go off plan among other words..
The boards became a very ugly, unpleasant, and unmotivating place to be while this group was in action. I made a decision for myself to quit using the boards entirely at some point because I could no longer stand to be exposed to the destructiveness and emotional upset caused by these bullies.
When I came back to MF, the first thing I did was lurk on the boards to see if the bullies were still organizing themselves to abuse people whose opinions were different than theirs. Once I was confident they were no longer in action, I began participating on the boards again..
The fact of the matter that we can all agree on is that we are all here on a journey to lose weight and mend our personal relationships with food. Beyond that, we must all respect and tolerate that there are as many paths to success as there are people using Medifast and it's not our place to judge (or police) people for their personal decisions...
LOL, you gotta be in a pretty bad place personally to get your jollies picking on a bunch of people whose worst transgressions were slipping up on a diet plan...
LOL... It was pretty pathetic, but isn't that how bullies always operate? They beat others down about what their own personal insecurities are...
Shauna, the story about your uncle and the pastry brought tears to my eyes!.
I've always said that there is no food worth sacrificing my health anymore. I have also experienced overeating the "good" and "right" foods, and I'm humbled by all our struggles. There is a price to pay for everything: staying OP means giving up spontaneous treats and free eating, and eating freely might mean giving up health (or at least quicker results). But, ultimately, each person has to decide for themselves where they will find balance..
Now that I'm back on Medifast to reach goal I'm remembering what I've loved about it from the beginning - the simplicity and elegance of the masterfully designed program. It works when I work it!!.
I think it's a matter of balance and priorities...what might be ok for some is not for others..
I'm just happy so many are finding success within this wonderful program, and I wish us all smooth sailing toward goal and T&M!!..
Very good read! I've seen this post for a week , I'm glad I read it...
I am not 100% OP...I've been on Medifast for about 4 weeks and I'm down 14.3 pounds...I have not binged or completely gone off of Medifast ANY of those days, but I have allowed myself a little more protein a few of the days, I've had alcohol a couple of times, and I always eat more veggies then I probably should...it hasn't hurt me and I'm losing. Granted, I'm losing slower than most do, but I'm happy with my progress AND....I have made some GREAT CHANGES to the way I look at food, the choices I make with eating, and I drink SOOOOO much more water now Medifast has helped me so much...and I'm happy with how I'm doing. I think this is a personal journey and as long as we are making healthier choices and eating our Medifast meals daily and not going "CRAZY" with our "cheats" here and there, we will keep working it! Good luck to all of you!..
I agree Goddesslynne,.
What draws me to Medifast is the elegant simplicity as well. I have a very stressful and busy life as a teacher and knowing that the portioning is all done for me and all I have to do is grab and go makes the program very easy to fit into my unpredictable life...
Aren't comments like this exactly the type of thing you consider bullying? Lots of things have changed on these boards, the saddest one is the attack of those that were successful doing the program 100% and the treatment of many successful 100% vets in maintenance who have been driven off the boards by those "opposed" to bullying. It works both ways you know. We shouldn't have to keep our opinions to ourselves, any more than those who chose to NOT be 100% should have to. It has become a major taboo on these boards to be in the 100% group and to suggest to others that it's worth trying, and I find that very sad..
I have honestly never met a person on this program who is a rule follower that is insecure at all about the program, or their lives in general. The people that I know, both in real life and here in the cyber world are extremely strong and focused people, determined to do whatever was needed to get to the goals they set for themselves. We all know that the program works. What so many have never understood, or choose to ignore, is that all we ever want is to see everyone here share the success that so may people who have followed the plan as written have seen. Can everyone follow the program 100%? Of course not. Will it work for those that don't follow the plan 100%? I'm sure there are many that will meet their goals doing Medifast their way, and there will be those that don't.
We're all here for the same thing and I will continue to give my support as I always have. Promoting this program as written. Will I smack down someone for eating too many veggies? of COURSE not! But go snarf down a cake or go on a booze binge, well, then all bets are off!..
I am truly sorry if you feel you or any others have been attacked for doing the program 100%. I have the utmost respect for those who can do the program 100% from the beginning and stay there, I just don't feel that it is reality for most of us..
I have only been on the site since August of this year, but the feeling that I get from posts is the opposite, I feel maligned for NOT doing 100% and I am concerned for those who come here and don't 'get it' right away and drop the program before 'getting it' because they feel that they don't measure up to the 100% 'ers..
I am here the the long haul, no matter how long that takes, so you can't scare me away, but sometimes it does make me hesitant to report my transgressions, as I feel I must..
I don't post very much. But I do read a lot. I don't know what it is about forums that can bring out the **** in people. I have read stuff that people were down right rude! People come in here for help not to b brow beat. ( it's just as easy to say ... I do it this way,it works for me...
) someone on here said something that rang so true "we didn't get here by being perfect... How true. I've been op since I started in July ...that's me..
Personally, I do not believe anyone ever is 100%. There may be those that abide closer to the "by the book" guidelines than others....but I really do not think any one any where has ever weighed every single piece of meat (do they take their scale to the restaurant or what??!??!) and measured out every condiment...(oh let's see I can have 1/16 of a teaspoon of cinnamon AND 1/32 of a teaspoon of oregano ....and..?!?!?!) Never chewed a piece of gum and had sugar free jello on the same day?!?! or wait let me cut this pickle in 5ths so I can also chew my gum today.... get my point?.
Different people consider "100%" by their own judgment...like Oh I was 100% EXCEPT for the day I had blah blah blah...well then it's simply NOT 100%...maybe 99.999...but not 100%.
I agree with whoever said the point is to conquer this thing and not live in such dread that ONE bite of something will send us spiraling but to LEARN on this journey. I think it's important to do our BEST every day. Stick as close as YOU CAN to the program as written but don't fall apart if a situation is such that you eat a sliver of a carrot in a salad at a restaurant....because the truth is that one tiny sliver knocks you off of the sacred 100%..
I don't believe people fall off the wagon. They CHOOSE to jump off. I don't particularly like the word 'cheat' ...it is a CHOICE ...albeit a bad one. The only person you are 'cheating' is yourself anyway. "Cheating" implies to me that there are two entities involved...the one setting up the 'rules' and the one who is either chosing to abide or not abide by them. In this journey YOU are the one who sets up your destiny.
Anyway....I'm two years beyond goal and thankful everyday for Medifast. I feel really good now about being able to eat wedding cake at my daughter's wedding....and I feel really good about deciding to get back on to 5/1 for now to take myself to an even lower goal weight.
Wishing you all the BEST for the REST of your life!..
Well, I'm sure this won't be popular, but here goes..
Probably in my second week, I started eating 1/4 cup of roasted, non-salted sunflower seeds (already shelled). I have eaten them for almost four months now and have lost 35 pounds. (205 to 170....5"7"). I guess I would have lost more, but it has been easy for me to stay OP otherwise. The seeds are very filling and satisfying. I eat them very slowly so it takes a good long while to eat them all.
I feel like it takes the place of a LOT of bad stuff I could be eating instead..
So, for those of you who are really hungry and having a hard time, you might give sunflower seeds a try instead of a cookie or chips! Those of you that can stay OP...you are great, but realize there are those that need to figure out how they can adjust their eating with a liveable option..
Please don't bash me......it is just what has worked for me and MAY help someone else and keep them from quitting altogether...
The first time I did this program I did it for 3 months. For about the first 2 I was 100% OP. After that... not so much. In about 3 months I have gained back 15 pounds, and I am back because I have more to lose..
I know there were some days I wanted to gouge my eyes out just from having to eat 6 times a day, and other days I felt dizzy and added in some extra chicken. I think if you have no health issues and no problems etc 100% is going to give you the best result. Success is different to every person, and honestly as much as this time around I am going to do my best to stay 100% OP I know my body well enough that if I feel I need more protein I will have it.
Is that the best way? No. But, for me it is what works. Who knows, maybe I won't have any dizzy days 7 weeks into the program. I have learned some skills from this program that have kept me from gaining it all back and then some. Bear in mind only 5% of people who do this diet for the first time, take it off and keep it all off and maintain..
Embrace that weight loss is part of your life journey! For your health I encourage everyone to do this plan 100% because, well that is how drs wrote it, but when I have spoken to my dr about issues we came up with what would work for me. I chose to go Off plan and party for like... 3 months. I feel that making a choice to come back, do it again is success, realizing that for me this will be a life long thing, but after a couple weeks on Medifast food almost becomes such a small part of my life it changes everything about me! One of the best things for me was hitting the day where I realized I was no longer food obsessed, and sometimes, food annoyed me..
I don't really worry about 100% accuracies in anything but I do suggest it in this plan. If you are struggling, talk to the dietitians, and see if there is something that can be done to help. Most importantly don't beat yourself up. Unplanned eating (sorry I dont like he C word lol) might happen. The most important thing is to get back to it and give yourself the gift of yourself! you deserve it..
I was able to go off plan a few times and get right back up the next morning and be on plan again. It was all in the mental and emotional place I am now. I worked extremely hard on that before I began to make physical changes. I knew I had some issues I needed to work through. I was ready for this. I don't ever say things like lost this forever, etc.
I can only take maintenance one day at a time just like I took the weight loss phase.
To answer the original question I think different people will be successful in different ways. The important thing is to know ourselves and be honest with ourselves. We are only fooling ourselves if we are not honest about what works or doesn't work for us...
This is a GREAT thread and want to thank everyone for reporting your experiences. Wow, ya'll are amazing people. I tend to forget how difficult it is for others because it was so easy for me. Thanks for opening my eyes a little...
Koko7...ur right , 100% op r by the book, no i'm not. I don't always weigh my food. and I know I have more than 2 tbs of half and half everyday in my coffee! LOL..
Yes! I do take my scale to restaurants. I do weigh every darn thing that goes in my mouth. I have, with a crystal clear conscience, been 100% ON PLAN for 5.5 months. This works for me. It also works for many others here. We are not bad or mean people.
For others, the way is different, not bad, just different...
Beemer - Don't let her get to you.
Koko - Yes, I DID measure everything I ate. I don't chew gum and gave up mints for 5&1. My condiments consisted of splenda and an occasional use of basil or pepper and baking powder, which I DID count as condiments. I DID measure and weigh every single thing that I ate. The assumption that just because something is hard and takes a lot of self discipline makes it impossible truly irks me. This is how I am in all aspects of my life.
Did I have to give up things I love? Absolutely. I started at the peak of summer fruit season. Damn near killed me seeing all that healthy fruit in the stores every week. Gave up wine as well. Even in maintenance I can count the number of times I've had a glass of wine or a cocktail on my fingers over the last 3 years.
Did I ever once feel deprived? NOT ONCE!.
When I say do the program 100%, I don't necessarily mean to do the 5&1. There are lots of programs offered by MF. Some members have had to alter the plan a bit per physician or Nutrisystem recommendation. What I mean by do the program 100% is pick a plan and then DO it. As laid out in the guidelines provided by Medifast and/or your physician or NS.
Don't ever tell me that there is no way anyone can be 100% OP all the time. I think you'll find that the most successful maintainers on these boards chose to do their program that way and carry forward the lessons they learned into life after MF.
Wishing everyone here success with whatever program YOU have chosen and am cheering you ALL on to reaching your goals...
These two statements don't seem to jive together but maybe I'm missing something...?.
When you say "I never felt deprived" with such emphasis in the context of explaining that 100% OP is possible I feel like it implies that 1. if we feel deprived we're doing something wrong, 2. that feeling deprived is our fault somehow because we're tempting ourselves with off plan food, 3. that we shouldn't feel that way because we chose to be on the diet and therefore should never doubt that choice or resent the need for it..
You are a very special person if you never, not once, felt deprived on the plan. I am glad your food issues are less complicated than mine, but feeling deprived and learning how to handle it is part of my process. And making mistakes is also part of my learning process - it's how I taught myself over time to stop binging in the first place. I am a type A, goal oriented person too but my eating issues have an emotional component I have to grapple with that makes the process less straight forward..
I appreciate you sharing your experience but you might want to consider how you frame it because there seemed to be a lot between the lines that I'm not sure if you intended...
[quote=NightOwl2]Feeling deprived and learning how to handle it is part of my process. And making mistakes is also part of my learning process - it's how I taught myself over time to stop binging in the first place. QUOTE].
This is spot on, and really spoke to me. Thanks so much for your wisdom, Night Owl. Bless you!!.
I just want to remind people who feel beat up on either side of this debate, that we're (almost) all a bunch of addicts here.
Addicts going through withdrawal are mean sometimes. The boards are a safe place to let that out while hiding behind a computer screen. We stay MediMean while working through learning how to handle our emotions without burying them in food. This is true for people who are 100% (acute withdrawal) or 75% (withdrawal alternating with the comfort of a fix followed by shame spiral followed by withdrawal)..
Also, fat people have a tendency to be insecure. There is a lot of "hiding" that drives the need to gain weight. We feel safely invisible when larger. As we lose weight we feel exposed and vulnerable, even more than we did when we started. So then we read into others' words and feel attacked. Which sometimes we are (see MediMean above) and sometimes we're not..
Yes, it's tough. There are a lot of ways to struggle with addictive relationships to food, eating for the wrong reasons, and trying to become more healthy. Yes, sometimes people are going to be complete screaming jackholes on this board. But try to remember that there is a LOT more support here than negativity. Even if something looks like a personal attack, I promise you, it's more about the poster's stuff than about you. And it's very likely that the poster is sincerely trying to help you see a way that worked for them, to let go of food obsessions and regain control.
Have a lovely OP day, all!..
Yeah, I noticed that about 5 minutes after I posted, too late to editSEEING the fruit was hard, not eating it was not. I didn't miss that taste. Something about seeing all the beautiful colors in the store could get to me. Maybe you consider that a contradiction. I honestly did not feel deprived by not eating it. I keep a bowl full on my kitchen counter for my family and it never once bothered me.
It was a choice I made. I just learned to avoid the fruit section at the store and that took care of the problem. It was there waiting for me when I hit goal, as I knew it would be...
I have talked to many medifast friends who, also, modify big time. They have done really well too. I need to stay on the plan, so I can guarantee myself a loss. It is the weight loss that gives me the steam to stay on medifast.
By the way, and yes, I am bragging, I have almost no appetite and my sweet tooth is about 1/6 of what it was...
I still consider myself 100% OP and there have been times that I have taken a bite of off plan food,if I was hungry I might have a piece of protein like a bite of chicken but I don"t freakout about it.In 2 months I've probably done it a handful of times and I'm still down 25lbs...
I am trying so hard to understand, but I dont. H. why do you think koko's statement was directly to you? She said she did not know anyone who.... You responded like her post was addressed to you. Could you have told her "well now you do know one who does medifast 100% - - me!" instead of getting so mad at her at her and changing the thread? In my opinion I see you arguing a lot with posts. Why is that?.
When the arguing starts the thread changes and we lose some benefit. The arguing is hurting the threads..
I stay on the plan % 100 and KoKos post made no negative impact on me at all. These posts are going out to everyone on medifast - - - like radio waves. That post did not have anyone's name on it. Why did you answer her like she was saying you did not follow 100%. Why did you answer her like you were furious with her and like she was personally attacking you?.
I may not post, but I do read the threads. And the arguing is terrible for medifast...
You are going to be a great lawyer. Your thoughts are logical and concise. I love it!..
Why are you breathing life in an argument that was over days ago?..
I remember this group very well. I was so happy when I read it had gone away. There is a person remaining who posts often, but the tone is not as offensive as when the group was together. Power in numbers perhaps? It was a really sad state of affairs & I have to say I am thrilled that the boards seem to be much more open to folks who utilize the medifast meal replacements whether that be by the written plan or as a reduction plan that works for them. If we purchase these products we all have a right to be here. I find reading about a person's journey very helpful for me no matter what that reduction journey may look like.
The board has changed for the better indeed.
Happy Melting..


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Ep. 82 - Blood, Sweat, and Tears... and John Mayer's Legs
Big thanks to Ryan Johnson for sending in indie builder info!
PRS Sonzera and JMOD 100 (stab: Way Huge Red Llama)
Sonzera comes in 20W combo, 50W combo, and 50W head
Focused on "affordability" with amazing tone.
More American amp voiced
Combos are 1x12
50W head and 20W combo = $800, 50W combo = $900
20W: 2 channel, 6L6 power tubes, 50W EL34 power tubes
Two channel, each w/ bright switch. 50W features independent reverbs per channel
J-MOD 100 - John Mayer signature amp
100W, 6L6, single channel w/ switchable overdrive and FX loop
"Tone is huge and clear" sounds like tons of headroom
No reverb built in, FX loop was designed around using external tanks
Accepts EL34, 6CA7, and KT77 tubes
2x12 closed back cab w/ Celestion G12-65 Heritage
Amp: $5990, Cab: $1090….. kay
Suhr JM Pro (stab: Old Blood Noise - Haunt Fuzz)
Based on a Jazzmaster but with a slightly smaller body
Slightly different contours as well
Available in HB or P90 models
Available with trem or tuneomatic bridge
3 way selector, volume/tone/tone
Pedal Genie
Lovepedal Dover Drive
Keeley something 1962X
Builder 1: Industrialectric // http://www.industrialectric.com/
Where they're made: Toronto, Canada (stab: Walrus Audio Jupiter Fuzz)
Builder: Andrew Ferrari
Industrialectric is a small company run by Mr. Andrew Ferrari in Toronto, Canada. They're really for the adventurous musician, the "screw the rules" type of player. They're lo-fi, they're noisy and brutally beautiful. His pedals are guitar, bass and synth friendly. Alessandro Cortini, of Nine Inch Nails fame, demos one of Andrew's pedals on That Pedal Show (Will provide link).
Current Run of Pedals:
RM-1N: Reverb and Dirt machine. The RM-1N features 9 knobs, two switches and a momentary switch--Plenty of control that ranges from clean and lush, or dirty and chaotic.
Level - Overall output of the pedal
Reverb Mix
Reverb Depth- How deep and massive the Reverb will sound
Feedback - Produces longer Reverb trails and oscillation
Pre-Gain - The Gain stage introduced into the Reverb
Post-Gain - The gain stage introduced after the Reverb
Drone - THIS KNOB WILL GENERATE A MASSIVE NOISY OSCILLATING DRONE, SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE TO THE CIRCUIT AND STARTS WORKING WHEN TURNED ALMOST UP. YOU CAN GET MORE RANGE WHEN DRIVING THE GAIN STAGES INTO IT
Reverb Output 1 and 2 - PANS BETWEEN OUTPUT 1&2 OF THE REVERB MODULE, WHEN THE KNOB IS IN THE MIDDLE IT COMBINES BOTH OUTPUTS. THIS IS MEANT TO BE A VERY SUBTLE CHARACTERISTIC AND IF YOU HAVE KEEN EARS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENT TEXTURES
Hi/Low Switch - SELECTS BETWEEN A HIGHER OR LOWER FREQUENCY OF THE REVERB
Reverb Length Switch - WHEN THIS SWITCH IS ENGAGED IT DISABLES THE FEEDBACK KNOB AND THE REVERB MIX, REVERB DEPTH, AND REVERB OUTPUT KNOBS CAN BE USED TO DIAL IN VERY LONG REVERB TRAILS AND INFINITE DECAY!
ECHO DEGRADER: LO-FI Delay Madness (stab: Earthquaker Disaster Transport)
CONTROLS: OUTPUT The overall volume of the effect
TIME The time of the echo repeats, from a very tight reverb tank/tub sound to extremely slow and very degraded, crunchy, repeats.
REPEAT / BLEND This is one of the unique parameters of this pedal, it serves as the overall volume of the repeats as well as the dry and wet blend of the echo and can serve as a nice warm boost.
TONE / THRESHOLD The other unique parameter of this pedal, it serves as an overall tone control and a threshold for oscillation and many other functions when combined with other parameters.
DEGRADE This control will cut down the signal going through the delay and can act as sort of a comb filter static noise sound. In other settings it will produce arpeggiated delay rings and in others sound like a really old screaming destroyed tape machine when the stability is thrown off.
TAPE STABILITY This control emulates how a tape can produce subtle pleasing modulation to being completely torn up and thrown off of the machine!
TAPE INPUT These modes are very interactive and dynamic with how loud or heavy your signal going in is. If playing guitar, you can produce subtle to very drastic modulation based on how hard you hit your strings. This switch works in conjunction with the tape stability control.
TAPE FIDELITY There are two modes with this switch, in the down position the repeats are full with tape noise. In the up position the repeats are of a higher frequency and more lo-fi and noisy.
MOMENTARY FOOTSWITCH This footswitch can be used as a killswitch, stutter switch, trail switch, oscillation, and can modulate the tape stability function when used together.
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS - What sets the Echo Degrader apart from other delay pedals is that it has the ability to repeat your signal for a long time without going into oscillation. These lengths vary from pedal to pedal because the components are all made differently the lengths aren't always the same. You can essentially make beats and orchestrate a whole song out of it! It's a lot like a loop pedal but very organic and it evolves over time. There a infinite possibilities with this pedal
His 3rd pedal is a wild Synth madness pedal based on the Schumann PLL. It's hard to describe but if folks are interested they can check the site and KNOBS did a demo of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldll03Ocg8o
You can find Andrew's pedals at Axe and You Shall Receive...a Canadian retailer.
Prices: RM-1N $280 + Shipping , ECHO DEGRADER $260 + Shipping, 4046-M $330 + Shipping
Also at Big City Music in the US
And East Stomp Boutique in Europe
Also, check out ILoveFuzz.com for threads related to these pedals: http://ilovefuzz.com/viewforum.php?f=246
KNOBS also did a 4 minute feature on Andrew where he talks about design philosophy-- an excellent watch : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csCh_9zICoE&t=4s


text:
Journaling reads: There are days when it seems like the dishes will never get done, the toys will never get put away, and the children will never stop fighting. In the grand scheme of things, however, none of that matters one bit. What does matter is that within these four walls, amazing memories are being formed every single day. This is where we laugh. This is where we love. This is where we live... THIS IS HOME.
Journaling reads: Not a day goes by that I'm not incredibly thankful for the privilege of being your mommy!


text:
Rejoice in the things that are in the present; all else is beyond thee.
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text:
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