…the journey so far.

Welp, I’ve been avoiding coming over here to tell y’all, because:

A. I don’t want to scare off any newbies to BistroMD, because of what I post next.

B. I’ve been wrestling with the decision myself, didn’t want to post much so I’d be sure I was making my own best decision.

C. I’m sad I’m gonna miss my “Bistro Buddies.”

Yup. I’m going off BistroMD. I have about 2.5 weeks’ of food in the freezer and when that runs out, I’m done. I emailed my CSR yesterday to say that:

1. Based on what I’m hearing about the new packaging and how things are showing up, I’m not excited. There has already been a decline in the quality of the packaging since October (more and more of the boil-in-bags have splits in them, causing rice to be soggy or sauces to stream out into the water altogether) and I understand this new packaging is even worse. That doesn’t thrill me.

2. None of the new menu items work for a gluten-free diet. Or at least no one can confirm that they do, yet. I’m told some *might* be gluten-free, but no one can confirm this, because they’re all so slammed with handling complaints over the packaging and the quality of the new food items. Which, further makes me less than enthused because even if any of the new foods happen to be gluten-free, would I even want it?

3. Portions have gotten smaller while prices have gone up. I had some meals still in the freezer from October when my first December shipment arrived (I was on hold for all of November, due to traveling and an overstock of foods left over) and when I laid two of the same meal from the different stocks next to each other, it was clear. Less food. AND they’ve changed the preparation of some things I *loved* before. The potatoes in the Turkey Cranberry dish are totally inedible now, and I LOVED them before. They now have a dusting of some orangey powder on them and don’t taste like actual potatoes at all. They taste like “buds” shaped into potato-looking things and held together with this weird powder. Bleh.

I have again been on hold all of January, to test out whether I could lose weight on my own, using one BistroMD meal per day and then calorie counting, otherwise. I still had meals left from October and then of course all that came in during December. And I *still* have plenty of meals left. Because I’m not enjoying them as much. I’m not eating them as often. And that’s potentially problematic. So, why keep getting them? IF I could lose on my own, maybe that’ll help with money and my issues with the food quality and packaging, as well as give me some variety that I’ve been so desperately craving (keep in mind, I’ve been eating exactly FIVE different meals, every week since 2/15/08, on BistroMD. That’s all I could have, gluten-free and based on my taste preferences. Yes, there were a few other gluten-free meals–like a total of nine to choose from–but I didn’t like them after I tried them the first few times).

So, I haven’t lost much since “going on my own,” but I also haven’t gained, and I’ve been using a really cool iPhone app called “Lose It” (FREE!!) to track my exercise and calories, and it’s been a real eye-opener for me. It’s helping me stay VERY accountable (even more than I already was, which was already pretty great), and I’m also doing my four times per week of Jillian Michaels on Wii Fit, plus getting in some walks and other exercise when I can.

Honestly, I’m nervous. Really nervous. I mean, Bistro has worked so well for me! But it’s also changing… and not for the better. And I don’t have the money to stay patient right now. I know that’s so unlike me! I’m usually so, “Give ‘em time to work it out. They’ll make it right,” but I think the timing of all of the above is just intersecting at a time when variety is really important to me, and money is getting tight. (I know it is for everyone.)

I’d like to keep posting on this thread while I eat the last of my Bistro meals (one a day for the next nearly three weeks, bringing me to a full year on BistroMD, technically), but I know I won’t have anything to say that helps newbies other than words of encouragement. I’m good at that.

I’ll be reading with interest all of your posts about the evolution of these new menu items and the packaging. I didn’t “leave” BistroMD, I just told them I’d like to go on “extended hold.” They’ve asked me to check in once a month to stay on hold or check in about the new menu items being gluten-free, etc., and of course meanwhile I’ll be keeping up with your reports on the shipping and taste issues. There may be a great time for a comeback. We’ll see!

But hopefully, I’ll lose a little more weight on my own and feel really confident about my ability to manage this lifestyle. I guess this could be WAY scarier if I hadn’t already been doing so much “on my own” throughout the BistroMD diet process.

I started out with seven days plus snacks.

Then I went to five days, no snacks. So, obviously I was doing the rest on my own.

Since I’ve had a backlog of meals for the past few months, obviously, I’ve been eating even FEWER than ten BistroMD meals per week. More like five or six!

So, to have lost 50 pounds with the HELP of BistroMD is different than having lost it 100% “ON” BistroMD. What I’m saying is that I could feel a lot more frightened about this transition if it hadn’t been so gradual. I guess, though, I have a “safety net” issue going on. At least with BistroMD coming each week, I knew I was on target. Now it’s up to me a whole lot more.

(But really, isn’t it always up to us how well we follow any sort of plan? Wherever it comes from?)

Okay, so there’s my big long post. I think I’ll cross-post it at my blog. It’s due for an entry.

Hope I hear lots of good news about BistroMD’s changes here soon. Meanwhile, wish me luck and I’ll try to check in and hopefully post good news.

Please know that I have NO regrets for my (nearly a) year on BistroMD. The food has been amazing, the customer service has been top-notch, and I’ve had RESULTS without much effort. This has been wonderful for me and I really am glad I found BistroMD — and YOU fine people to share in the journey — so that I could have such great success in 2008. I’m looking forward to shedding these last 20 pounds this year, hopefully by summertime.

Much love to you all!!

Filed under: BistroMD, emotions on January 17th, 2009