Today I weighed in for a total of 14 lbs gone since I started Medical Weight Loss Clinic's program on June 19.

I was pleasantly surprised that I could use my FSA to pay for the program.

By weighing in today, Monday, and last Friday, they award a free week to encourage people to stay on plan and weigh in. It was a holiday weekend.

 The program requires three visits per week with a urine ketone test to make sure you're not losing muscle, which would show as ketones in the urine.  So far, so good.

Next week I see the doctor there for the first time.  This visit will determine if I can drop down to one prepared meal daily.  I started out on the Fast Track menu, two meals per day that I prepare from scratch using specific measurements of each nutrient.  This is designed to teach portion size and food preparation for long term success. The rest of the intake is nutritional supplements in the form of puddings or shakes, depending on how much water you add, also soups and fiber supplements.  My favorite fiber supplement is a berry flavored drink, it's not fibery at all.  Just tastes like kool aid. I spent over an hour with the registered dietician designing my program.  There is an optional appetite suppressant that can be used, which I declined.  I'm trying to get OFF medication, after all.  Plus, I am not hungry, so I don't feel like I need it.

I am experimenting with recipes.  The hardest part for me is planning ahead and working nights.  What I have found works is taking all the food with me that I am supposed to consume, and then grazing through my lunch bag throughout the 12 hour shift.  I have to learn to drink all my water (eight 8 oz glasses daily) and eat my fruit if I'm having it that day, early in the "day" so I am not running to the bathroom when I need to be sleeping.  Fruit is supposed to be consumed at least five hours before sleep.

I decided to do this program because it works with my food allergies, it provides the accountability I need, and it is medically supervised and nutritionally balanced.

I'm also OFF MY BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION.  I was getting dizzy after the first week, and discovered I was 92/60.  Without meds now I am 130s over 60s and 70s.  I see my family doctor tomorrow, which will be fun.  Weight loss plus no blood pressure meds = happy patient AND doctor.