Hmm... I need to find out myself. I don't know what is the answer to that question. I'll do some research and get back to you if I bump into an decent answer. You should email the people at Medifast as they probably could answer your Medifast question..

I know how you feel. I started a thread a while back on my dad going raw. He is very overweight with diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.. you name it! He actually agreed to do the challenge which is several steps ahead of your mom. He lasted 3 weeks so I am very proud of him but he did not lose any weight so I think he got discouraged, and I just found out yesterday from my mom that he went out to Costco and bought himself a HUGE rotisserie chicken and ate it all with the skin!!! blahhhh..

It's just so saddening because we all know how much SAD Medifast food affects the body and we don't want to see our family sick...

Sometimes people are just afraid of change and don't want to move out of their comfort zone. Continue to do what you do, don't pressure her just plant the seed and continue to water it, you might be surprised what grows. Be encourged you seem to be a caring daughter...

Hi Elle, funny about the hot dog! lol. I understand completely what you're grappling with. My Mom has a host of health issues too long to mention. She takes good care of herself, is spiritually grounded, understands metaphysics, stays educated on most things related to nutrition and doesn't eat junk. It's healthy Medifast food for the most part, but it's all cooked! Maybe that's an oxymoron. lol.

All of that massive advertising about meat for protein and cow's milk for calcium being all you need runs deep. It takes a very strong individual to want to break through that programming and reclaim their health. If their health is already ailing and you've got emotional eating happening as an additional challenge, it makes it even harder to overcome I believe. And then add in the whole out of control pharmaceutical dependency, God is doctor mentality. It's a lot..

I have given up on trying to convert my family and friends who aren't eating particularly well in my eyes. It is futile in my opinion and in fact, pushes them further away. Folks are very sensitive about the Medifast food they eat - it's not unlike talking about religion and sex. It pushes buttons, both unconscious and conscious. And their unconscious reactions are usually what you receive when you try to change others. I simply let them ask me questions and like you, I bring raw dishes with me to gatherings or family dinner night.

And if there's interest, I make gentle suggestions on things to try or I give them the recipe. Raw chocolate desserts are always a hit!.

I still hit brick walls with trying to share with my sister who's experiencing issues with her cervix that green smoothies will cure her completely and that it would benefit her to detoxify her body with raw foods. She just turns up her nose and says she doesn't believe in that "holistic stuff". I just shrug my shoulders now and don't take it personally. It can be frustrating but you have to just live and let live, even if it doesn't agree with your own lifestyle choices. I forget who mentioned it on this board, but it was really wise advice along the lines of....

Enjoy your family and loved ones while we're all here and don't worry too much about how they're eating and living their lives.

Send your dear Mom much love and see her the way you envision her being...you just may be surprised that she may turn things around on her own. It's happened with a couple of friends of mine when I backed off - one is a raw foodist now..

Life is long, enjoy it!.

Peace,.

Crystal..

I know what you mean, my husband eats hamburgers, fries, hotdogs with chili and won't eat any fruit or vegetables. However, I made him a big smoothie the other day with just fruit and he loved it, and asked for another one today, but this time I snuck in a bunch of kale, he never knew it, and drank it right down...

I agree it is difficult to discuss issues like this because it can be really offensive to some people. I can relate, since I have been offered advice on numerous occasions about eating more protein/meat/whey at my gym - HA!!! I have to remember that this advice is coming from people who really believe their Medifast diet is best and want to help....

So far I have let my own health/well-being and enjoyment of my way of eating serve as an example, and have found that people will come around on their own... When people see the results, then they become interested.

Plus I will make raw food/bring stuff to potlucks and gatherings and partys - and people are usually really surprised at how delicious the Medifast food is!.

Ellesgarden - you are doing so well by bringing samples of Medifast food and by showing her a way to health through your own example - hopefully she will find more foods she likes and become more adventurous!.

Isn't it funny how resistant people can be to just trying something new. I too have brought raw cookies/desserts somewhere and had people refuse it because I mentioned it's raw - now I keep quiet and if they ask about it, I tell them!!!..

OK gardengranny, that's really funny, you little sneak!.

Ellesgarden... You just keep on loving your mom and being patient, and hopefully she will take some baby steps in the right direction!.

Something I told myself recently that may not be helpful to you (but I'm sharing in case it is!) is that people can die at any time, without warning, whether or not they're healthy. And yeah, healthy people usually live longer and happier lives... But you just don't know what's going to happen. All I can do is my best for me and hope that others will do their bests for them. But sometimes they're just not going to follow..

I'm thankful for all the days I am lucky enough to enjoy with my loved ones that are not so healthy. It sort of helps (with my husband in particular) to remember that my father died young... and no amount of Medifast diet changes would have kept him alive longer..

And I'm extra thankful too that I'm ready to be healthy, for.

Me.

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