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03-05-2013, 09:57 PM
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#136
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 433
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Lots of frustration out there. Here too. I was trying the metabolism miracle and my weight kept climbing...not because the plan was bad, but because I was eating way too much cheese and nuts and still cheating eating more carbs than I should yikes. And I was drinking huge amounts of diet soda and not enough water. Water is key for me.
I had a friend contact me asking what program I used to lose weight. She's using WW and has grown frustrated since she still cheats and then doesn't lose. I told her the pros and cons of MRC. We talked a lot and both of us realize the huge emotional issues tied to eating we need to work on...and a lot of that manifests in mindless snacking (hello, it's almost 9pm and it's a good thing I rid the house of chocolate...) So we made ourselves a few rules for the week and see how it works:
1) Only eat the three meals, a snack in the afternoon if more than 5 hours between meals (I almost always need this)
2) No sweets. None. For now.
3) No diet soda or artificial sweetners (again, I was relying too much on those type of beverages and not enough water).
Those were the rules we agreed on. And just having those has helped immensely. I feel good and I'm not constantly thinking about food. I don't overeat at meals, but I know meal time is eating and the rest of the day is for whatever else, not snacking. I'll weigh at the end of the week and see how it's going (I am tracking my calories, too. We said said we didn't have to, but it helps me). But I am also basically keeping to 11-20 grams of carbs per meal like MM suggests, just now allowing myself unlimited proteins/fats.
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03-07-2013, 05:48 PM
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#137
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Not giving up!
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 251
S/C/G: 123.5/no scale/happy & healthy
Height: 5'8"
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Healthy/Protein version of McDonald's Shamrock Shake
I'm really enjoying being on the calorie based menu and not being restricted to certain foods anymore. I'm taking it slowly, keeping mostly with the meals I learned to make while on plan, but making little changes here and there. For instance, only 2 oz. of chicken with my lunch yesterday since that's all I needed to make a tortilla wrap with. White onions and red peppers instead of green onions and green peppers. I've been having larger portions of vegetables with my meals. Today for lunch I used a chicken sausage from Costco instead of the MRC cookbook faux turkey sausage. MyFitnessPal helps me make sure I'm still getting a good balance of fat, carbs and protein.
Eating really lean, healthy main meals (I aim for 300-400 calories) saves calories for snacks, or every now and then a treat. I really freaked my 4 year old out when she saw me with a Cadbury Cream egg! But you can buy them individually and each one is 150 calories.
So I bought the Syntrax Vanilla Bean Torte protein powder that BigDog is always talking about, and for my birthday I requested and received a variety pack of Torani sugar free syrups. Today after my workout I made my protein shake into a faux Shamrock Shake after reading this blog entry - been wanting one since I saw the signs up at McDonalds, but I checked the nutrition info and whoa! Even if I got the small with no whipped cream or cherry on top, I could still only have half to get it within a doable range. Not worth it! This version was only 110 calories, 6 grams of carbs, 3 grams fat, and had 15 grams of protein. And I got to have the whip cream and didn't have to share it.
Protein Shamrock Shake
1/2 C milk (your choice - I used Great Value brand Vanilla Soymilk - 45 cal)
1/2 scoop Syntrax vanilla bean torte protein powder (50 cal)
1 1/2 Tbsp Torani sugar free vanilla syrup (since I don't have peppermint - 0 cal)
1/4 tsp peppermint extract (omit this if you have the peppermint syrup - 0 cal)
2-3 large ice cubes (0 cal)
1 (5 gram) serving of ReddiWhip dairy topping (15 cal)
Blend everything together, adding ice last to get it cold and frothy, and topping with the Reddiwhip. Yummy! Again, only 110 calories (see other stats above).
Last edited by Going4Fit; 03-11-2013 at 06:31 PM.
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03-07-2013, 11:19 PM
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#138
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Motivated Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,105
S/C/G: 210/204/180
Height: 5'8"
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Hey guys! What book are u talking about? Ji want to read it
Just got my order of Syntrax vanilla bean torte and also a new flavor- double stuffed cookie. Also got some PB2 with chocolate- WOW !! Really good on slices of golden delish apples and I added some to my protein shake for a treat.
The Shamrock shake sounds great!
Been at my new job 2 weeks and been so busy I haven't been able to get all my water in. New job is property mgmt and realized having to pee all the time and walking the properties isn't a good idea! Lol! When I get more settled in, I'd like to get another mini blender and keep it in the kitchen at work to make sure I get more shakes in. Still getting used to having to be at work at 8am after working out of my house for 10 years... Don't miss sales at all!
Hope everything is going good for everyone!! I need to catch up on the posts this weekend
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03-09-2013, 07:42 PM
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#139
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Not giving up!
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 251
S/C/G: 123.5/no scale/happy & healthy
Height: 5'8"
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LOVE PB2 and PB2 with Chocolate! My new favorite products for sure, and I'm thrilled my local grocery store now carries them in the health food section. I am a peanut butter fanatic, and it was the first fat I introduced back into my diet when I was allowed it on stabilization, but now in maintenance I hardly ever want to spare the calories for it. 190 calories for 2 Tbsp of Skippy, vs. 45 calories for 2 Tbsp of PB2, and way less fat and still plenty of protein! I've only just tried it re-constituted and I like it that way too, but it's best in recipes.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal
1/4 Cup (20 grams) old fashioned oatmeal (75 calories)
1 serving (12 grams) PB2 with Chocolate (45 calories)
sweetener of choice (I use 1 serving of Splenda or Truvia - 0 calories)
2/3 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I use Silk brand - 20 calories)
Combine all ingredients and microwave on high 2 1/2 minutes.
Prepared my way it's only 140 calories, which leaves plenty of calories for more protein, (eggs, cottage cheese, a protein shake) and some fruit on the side. And it's delicious!
Last edited by Going4Fit; 03-11-2013 at 06:27 PM.
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03-10-2013, 04:46 PM
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#140
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Maintenance Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 369
S/C/G: 211/191/175
Height: 5'5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Going4Fit
LOVE PB2 and PB2 with Chocolate! My new favorite products for sure, and I'm thrilled my local grocery store now carries them in the health food section. I am a peanut butter fanatic, and it was the first fat I introduced back into my diet when I was allowed it on stabilization, but now in maintenance I hardly ever want to spare the calories for it. 190 calories for 2 Tbsp of Skippy, vs. 45 calories for 2 Tbsp of PB2, and way less fat and still plenty of protein! I've only just tried it re-constituted and I like it that way too, but it's best in recipes.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal
1/4 Cup (20 grams) old fashioned oatmeal (75 calories)
1 serving (12 grams) PB2 with Chocolate (45 calories)
sweetener of choice (I use 1 serving of Splenda or Truvia - 0 calories)
2/3 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I use Silk brand - 20 calories)
Combine all ingredients and microwave on high 2 1/2 minutes.
Prepared my way it's only 140 calories, which leaves plenty of calories for your protein, (eggs, cottage cheese, a protein shake) and some fruit on the side. And it's delicious!
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WOW! That does look yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipes
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03-10-2013, 05:01 PM
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#141
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Maintenance Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 369
S/C/G: 211/191/175
Height: 5'5
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[QUOTE=Tamikl;4662588]There is also a product out there called "Better N Peanut Butter." They sell it in regular, chocolate, and banana flavored. It is real good, too. 100 calories per 2 Tbsp...so not quite as low in calories as the PB2, but still better than regular for all of us!
Well, what a peaceful Sunday. So far so good with meal choices Of course, it is only early afternoon where I am!
I work out at Curves now, and enjoy it. I love the distraction of vistiting with all of the ladies there, but I also have an accountability piece with this key you use to keep track of your performance on each machine. I plug it in to each machine I use and at the end of my work-out I get the results of my effort for that day. Very motivating! I am so glad we have a Curves here...the gym scene and lifting weights wasn't my thing.
I love the almond milks...and I also enjoy the calorie FREE Walden Farm products. It is amazing to see myself shop at a grocery store now adays. So different than before. I feel like I have learned so much out of this process with MRC and going forward, I am confident at least that I know what is healthy now. I love what it is teaching my 3 kids now, too. We are their example, and I just hope and pray they see what we do now and carry the healthier habits with them. They don't complain at all when i introduce items and they actually get a little bent out of shape if mom orders them a pizza and I have something different. They think that if it isn't ok for mom to eat, they shouldn't either....lol. They are still kids and I think should be able to enjoy those treats sometimes...but old habits die hard (or did for me) and so the sooner they choose better, the easier it will be for them in the long run I suppose. I just don't want them paranoid about eating treats occasionally.
Basically, I am grateful that this journey has influenced those that I love in a positive way as well....very much worth the effort.
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03-10-2013, 08:04 PM
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#142
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Started Aug 2010
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 692
S/C/G: 263/150/195
Height: 5'5"
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Hi ladies! Thanks for sharing the shamrock shake and choco-pb oatmeal! Especially the oatmeal, as I'm just trying to figure out more ways to incorporate that into my diet right now.
I got some disappointing news the other day. I had my doctor draw blood a few weeks ago to check my cholesterol level (I hadn't had it checked since I was considerably heavier and it was about 12 years ago--and it was about 245 back then). I was kind of excited to see the results, since I've been maintaining my weight loss and exercising so regularly.
I got the call from the nurse who told me that my cholesterol is at 240! UGH! My triglycerides were low and my HDL ("good" cholesterol) was high--which is good. But my LDL ("bad" cholesterol and a sign of heart disease) was still high. SO DISAPPOINTING! My dad and his dad had a history of heart disease and high cholesterol, and so did my grandmother on my mom's side, so I guess genetics are playing a large part in this for me. The nurse told me we'll re-check in 6 months, and that I should make sure I start to exercise regularly and modify my diet (obviously she hadn't checked my records). I told her I run 3x a week and do yoga 3-4x a week. She told me (very condescendingly) that I "still need to modify" my diet. I told her I've lost 114lbs and eat mostly chicken, fish, and veggies. She had no response, really.
So, since I usually eat an egg and a slice of Sargento low-fat colby jack with low-carb bread every morning, I'm going to switch to egg whites and try to add oatmeal (known for reducing cholesterol). I've already added a handful of almonds with my apple for my afternoon snack every day (supposedly also good for cholesterol reduction). I haven't been eating as much fish lately, so I'll try to do more of that, too. Other than that, I can't think of anything else that I can really do to lower my cholesterol without medication.
Anyway, here's an eggwhite/oatmeal recipe I found and tried this morning, since I wanted a protein source to put in my oatmeal (and don't want to rely on protein powders):
http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2...ull-ever-have/
I only had about 3/4 of it (and I omitted the butter but added stevia and cinnamon), and it was delicious! Plus, I wasn't starving by lunchtime, as I usually am.
I have some PB2, so maybe I'll try it with that tomorrow morning, and then eventually buy the chocolate PB2.
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03-11-2013, 08:28 PM
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#143
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Not giving up!
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 251
S/C/G: 123.5/no scale/happy & healthy
Height: 5'8"
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Okay, first of all I weighed in and was back down to my final stabilized weight (my avatar weight) that I reached before my "crash and burn" on maintenance. Remember, that was with a 100 calorie/day increase in calories (around 1350/day) the past two weeks! Seeing that I did it - made the right choices, got things in control but didn't need to resort to going to green menu - that really helps my confidence to know that I do indeed have the tools to maintain this new weight and even correct some small gains. I can do it! I'm adding another 100 calories/day starting today and will see how the next two weeks go.
Secondly, Tamikl!!! I feel so blessed to read such an uplifting post from you! I'm glad you're liking Curves - my weak spot is still trying to find an exercise that I enjoy and don't dread having to do. My current goal is to gain between 5 - 10 lbs of lean muscle and today was my first day at the gym starting an eight week weight lifting program (from a guide I purchased on-line at builtlean.com). Biggest hurdle was overcoming the self-consciousness of going to the gym and doing my workout in "public" without a trainer or friend/spouse there for support. So grateful to be able to place my identity in Christ, but it's a constant battle.
My grocery shopping nowadays is so different too! Much more time/money spent in the perimeter of the store. I'm going to press hubby to allow us to use some of our tax refund towards a new refrigerator - I really need a bigger one, and in particular a model with a much larger produce drawer for all the fresh veggies I go through now - so tired of how crammed packed it is and not being able to fit everything. Rough problem to have huh?
Super extra congrats on your family wanting to eat healthy because of you! My family hasn't gone there so much yet. I still cook separately for them. And in fact, I'm an enabler since I love to cook and bake homemade wonderfulness and I think I make even more of it to live vicariously through them.
teacherlady79, we haven't officially "met". So am I reading your avatar S/C/G correctly in that you lost 45 more pounds than your goal? That's great! How long have you maintained at 150? I feel so bad for you with the high cholesterol results - how disappointing that must be after all the healthy changes you've made since your last test. Sometimes life is just unfair. Kudos to you for plugging on and seeing what other dietary changes you can make!
Don't forget, dairy milk is a good source of protein in itself, so cooking your oatmeal with that instead of water gets you protein without the eggs. Adding the PB2 gets you even more! That's my one problem with almond milk - only 1 gram of protein per cup (vs. 9 grams in a cup of skim milk). Don't understand it when almonds are supposed to be a good high protein snack choice.
Bigdog, my husband and his brother started their own property management company last year. I hardly see him anymore! Have fun showing properties. My husband is hoping to do more of that part as the business goes on but right now he's the accounting side of the business so he's still a desk jockey.
Time to go feed the family!
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03-11-2013, 09:20 PM
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#144
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Started Aug 2010
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 692
S/C/G: 263/150/195
Height: 5'5"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Going4Fit
Okay, first of all I weighed in and was back down to my final stabilized weight (my avatar weight) that I reached before my "crash and burn" on maintenance. Remember, that was with a 100 calorie/day increase in calories (around 1350/day) the past two weeks! Seeing that I did it - made the right choices, got things in control but didn't need to resort to going to green menu - that really helps my confidence to know that I do indeed have the tools to maintain this new weight and even correct some small gains. I can do it! I'm adding another 100 calories/day starting today and will see how the next two weeks go.
teacherlady79, we haven't officially "met". So am I reading your avatar S/C/G correctly in that you lost 45 more pounds than your goal? That's great! How long have you maintained at 150? I feel so bad for you with the high cholesterol results - how disappointing that must be after all the healthy changes you've made since your last test. Sometimes life is just unfair. Kudos to you for plugging on and seeing what other dietary changes you can make!
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Going4Fit: I started with MRC in September 2010, then started stabilization in May 2011 when I was down about 70 lbs. I have been heavy most of my life, so I was totally satisfied with starting maintenance at 190lbs (my original goal). Plus, I never in a million years thought I could go lower than that and maintain it, as I weighed about 180 when I graduated from high school.
However, I wasn't happy with my physical fitness level (I was only doing yoga and some walking at that time), so I started running to train for a 5k. I didn't adjust my maintenance calorie intake because I felt like I could stand to lose a few more pounds. Then I started working on my yoga teacher certification program, too. So, between June 2011 and September 2012, I lost about another 40 lbs--much slower, because I was on the maintenance menu with only a 100-250 calorie a day deficit (usually on the days I exercised) and some weeks I lost, some I stayed the same.
So, to get to your question, I've been maintaining between 149 and 153 since about September of 2012. It hasn't always been easy, but I'm desperately determined not to go back anywhere near the weight I was!
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03-12-2013, 10:35 AM
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#145
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Sherry, Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,412
S/C/G: 194/172/158
Height: 5'-7
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Okay now i'm starting to struggle, i'm up 7 lbs geez, this is hard, i do so well during the days of the week, the nights i feel so hungry after dinner and the weekends wow. I just wish i could go back to when i started MRC and didn't have all the cravings, why can't we keep our brains in that mode!!!
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03-12-2013, 08:55 PM
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#146
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Started Aug 2010
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 692
S/C/G: 263/150/195
Height: 5'5"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skelley331
Okay now i'm starting to struggle, i'm up 7 lbs geez, this is hard, i do so well during the days of the week, the nights i feel so hungry after dinner and the weekends wow. I just wish i could go back to when i started MRC and didn't have all the cravings, why can't we keep our brains in that mode!!!
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If it makes you feel better, I really struggle on the weekends, too, just because I'm home and around more accessible food. I've made a concerted effort to just try to keep busy--away from the house--as much as possible on the weekends, to keep from giving in to temptation. I've also tried keeping "safe" snacks on hand, such as celery and lo-cal ranch, etc.
Do you have any kind of snack planned in the evenings? I always have an MRC cocoa, one or two squares of ghirardelli dark chocolate, and an 80-cal vanilla yogurt for my evening snack (about 8pm or so). It's a treat that I look forward to (which keeps me from splurging on other stuff during the day, because then I can't have my evening snack), and it keeps me from feeling hungry or deprived in the evenings.
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03-13-2013, 11:26 AM
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#147
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Not giving up!
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 251
S/C/G: 123.5/no scale/happy & healthy
Height: 5'8"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skelley331
Okay now i'm starting to struggle, i'm up 7 lbs geez, this is hard, i do so well during the days of the week, the nights i feel so hungry after dinner and the weekends wow. I just wish i could go back to when i started MRC and didn't have all the cravings, why can't we keep our brains in that mode!!!
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Do you have a plan? Remember, we are in caloric burn mode now that we have gone through stabilization and are in maintenance. So the way to think now is a pound equals 3500 calories. You need to create a calorie deficit every day to start shedding those extra pounds. You can simply cut some calories every day, how many is up to you, but keep your total above 1200 calories. And if you want to be sure to maintain muscle and get cravings under control, then be sure the calories you cut come from carbs, not protein. And of course you know another way to create a calorie deficit is by adding or upping your exercise. It's going to be slower weight loss this way, but remember this is a lifestyle, not a diet, and there's no need to go to extremes anymore.
I've only been doing this a month, but so far what I've found that works for me is like teacherlady: I save calories at the end of each day for a bedtime snack. For me, I've been saving about 300 calories. That leaves me plenty of options for a whole mini-meal, really, and I get a lot of satisfaction thinking about how I'm going to "spend" those calories at the end of the night. But I have to be careful to eat lean and healthy during the day, because it's surprisingly easy to eat up an extra 300 calories over the course of the day otherwise.
This is where the way we learned to eat on green menu comes in handy - if I eat the same kinds of things I ate while still on plan (minus the HNS's), I've found that most meals are about 300 calories, or only take a bit of tweaking to be at 300 calories. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at 300 calories = 900 calories, which leaves 300 calories for a bedtime snack and drops you clear down to the 1200 calorie minimum.
This method also puts you right at the range of eating 80% clean that the center recommends (75% clean if you use the entire remaining 300 calories for a treat). I like to use about half the 300 calories for a treat and half for a protein/carb snack combination. I've found several ways to do this. For the treat: an MRC pudding, a lean protein dessert shake like the Shamrock shake I posted earlier, a Cadbury Creme egg, a FiberOne bar (or any of the MRC meal replacement bars), a microwave mug cake, or a SkinnyCow ice cream sandwich just to name a few. For the remaining calories: fruit and cheese, PB2 on a low-cal tortilla or with pretzels, cheese and pretzels or a quesadilla made with cheese and a low-cal tortilla. Jerky and cheese or jerky with fruit. I really like the mini babybel lite cheese's - just let them get to room temperature then they are so rich and creamy and only 50 calories.
Of course it's fun to splurge the whole 300 calories on just a treat every now and then too!
Then the important part - go to bed! The longer I stay up past my bedtime, the more likely I am to lose control and start sneaking back into the pantry for more, and when it's late and I step on that slippery slope when no one's looking (because they've all gone to bed), I always fall.
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03-13-2013, 05:24 PM
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#148
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Maintenance Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 369
S/C/G: 211/191/175
Height: 5'5
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Hello ladies
Great tips for sure. A plan does work, it is sticking to the plan that is the challenge some days.
I had a WI today and maintained...so all is well at the moment.
I am sorry for the struggles I see some facing. This process IS hard, and maintenance is, too. If it helps, know that I understand and relate very much. Some days are better than others, but this new lifestyle will be challenging....but worth it. WE are worth every effort!
I told my counselor today that her putting my back on the Green menu would feel like punishment or a time out...seriously. I am so done with that, but it certainly makes sense that if we need to lose a little bit, that menu would be a good guide.
I know now why I did the 30 day magic plan...to learn from it that I will never allow myself to mess up so much to have to do it again!!
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03-14-2013, 09:55 PM
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#149
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I can do this!
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 107
S/C/G: 242.5/137.5/145
Height: 5'3
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My fiance took my food scale on the road with him for the time being. I went and bought another one because I figured we'd still be weighing things on stabilization and maintenance but I'll return it if I don't need it. I am not sure, do you guys still weigh things or can I get by without it when I hit stabilization?
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03-14-2013, 10:51 PM
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#150
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Not giving up!
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 251
S/C/G: 123.5/no scale/happy & healthy
Height: 5'8"
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On maintenance you're counting calories, but you need to know portions to count calories so I absolutely still weigh things! It's the best way for me to ensure I'm getting the correct portions. It's just become a way of life for me.
I use my scale for baking too, especially bread baking, as it's faster and more accurate to weigh flour then scooping.
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