Steve Shepherd Success Story

I have been overweight for the last 14 years of my life. I enjoy eating and cooking immensely.

Just before January 1, my weight peaked out for the second time at over 300 pounds. I was short of breath, out of energy, had knee pain from arthritis and was having chest pains at times. As a preacher, I have spent a lot of time in hospitals and waiting rooms helping families whose loved ones were going through heart bypasses, knee replacements and other surgeries related to those problems.

I looked chubbier than the Pillsbury Dough Boy and I knew it was time.

I had seen my eye doctor lose a lot of weight over the past year and I asked her during one of my exams how she did it. She explained to me about Medifast Weight Control Centers.

Being the skeptic that I am, I put it off until my wife won a free introductory program. Then we decided that we would try it together. We have been on the program since January 7 and really enjoy the way we diet together and give each other support.

I had to reprogram my brain to cook smaller portions, not to eat until I feel full, watch the sodium contents on labels and avoid many of the things that I enjoyed. After the pre-diet conditioning, learning to fix the things we “need” off a list of “approved” food items gets easier the longer we are on the diet. Learning to eat out is interesting, simply watching the portions, asking questions and avoiding certain items generally does the trick. Learning to cook some recipes we’ve been given has been fun. Adapting some of my personal recipes and eating the proper foods, not just meat and potatoes, has been enjoyable and has given my wife and me a new lease on life.

I have recently seen people that I have not seen in a while. They cannot believe that it is little old me! My blood pressure is miniscule. My cholesterol is down. My stamina is almost where it was twenty or thirty years ago! Now many of my friends and church members call me “The Incredible Shrinking Preacher” or “Skinny”. Look at me NOW!

By the way, I have lost 115 pounds and 96 inches in 1 year and 9 months.