Thanks so much for all the advice! I started preconditioning on August 1, and my official program a few days later. I have lost 18lbs so far and am LOVING it. I don't feel hungry. I am so focused on the next few months. I am just looking at it as my job to lose this weight and be focused. My original goal was to lose 69lbs, so 51 more! I can't wait! I am taking flax, and multi-vitamin and the MRC 6. I am going to wait to try anything else until I need it!

Aspen

WOW! 18 lbs. in one month is AWESOME

Aspen WOW Congrats for you! !8 #s what a motivator, I had a rough start with MRC, although I am getting the hang of it now.....

Good for you... keep going!

bumping my own thread...how's that for ego???

I am new also, in my fifth day. I was doing great but ate a meal replacement bar tonight...will get back on tomorrow. Any suggestions for us "sweet tooth" people?? This forum is a great tool and helpful for me. Thanks Meemo for your input.

Don't beat yourself up. You don't have to be perfect (not that it's an excuse to make poor choices), and a meal replacement bar is not as bad as eating something completely OP. My center people tell me they would rather have me eat an extra bar for lunch (I'm on campus all day, so lunch is rough for me) than go off plan. I try not to, but if I have to, it's better than the slice of pizza from the cafeteria! Anyway, good luck with the rest of your week!

I have found that the sweets haven't been tempting. If I have that late afternoon crunch I use the soy crisps or have a pudding! But that is only if I didn't have the cappacino for breakfast. I try to save them now if I need that sweet in the afternoon. Hubby and the kids bought a Chocolate cream pie this weekend and I wasn't even tempted! YEAH!!! But those silly pillsbury halloween cookies have been haunting me! But I have resisited

Hello ladies...

I am starting pre-conditioning today!... I visited the center for the first time on Saturday (Oct 04, 08).
I need all the motivation I can get....

I am ready!

Any words of wisdom?

Welcome, Redtequila! I still consider myself a newbie also. I joined on 9/9 and officially started my beige menu on the 13th. It's hard to believe I've almost made it a month already. Best advice I have is to read a lot of old posts. Everyone here is full of wisdom and encouragement. It's fun to see how much everyone else has lost and to see that we all go through the same struggles (ie temptations, plateaus, etc.) The first 10 days are the hardest. It took a little while for me to find things I like that were on my menu. Once I did, it was a challenge to get the routine down of fixing food for my family and food for me. I've gotten into the groove now though so it isn't as much of a struggle. Right now the main thing for you is to cut back on the caffeine and sugar so you don't have headaches, etc. and to get used to drinking the water. I lost 3 lbs. during my pre-conditioning so that was nice. Good luck and keep postin!

I am in the same position. I know I am PMSing. It has been hard to stay OP this weekend. I am still stuck at the same 5.5 lb weight loss since week one. In fact, I go to wi today and I might be up a pound.
HELP!

Thanks for the newbie thread. It is very helpful

Has anyone actually gained weight during the pms TOM?
I am on day 11 today. The first few days went fine. I lost 5.5 lbs. Then all of a sudden I am starving, finding it hard to stay OP. I have gained 1.5lbs during the last few days.
Any advice?

I didn't gain weight but I was extremely hungry and my loss slowed down. I used an extra HNS to help fight the hunger. You can also have 3 fiberfills a day which help with hunger also and they taste yummy too!

I usually stall during TOM and fight with the hunger. Keepinon is right - use an extra HNS & up the water. I crave chocolate, so I'll make the death by chocolate smoothie which helps a lot, plus the pudding and soy mini crisps and the chocolate mint meal replacement bar (cut into little pieces and freeze) 1 or 2 pieces will take the edge off for me. With all that said - you are right in the pocket for hitting your first plateau (7 - 10 days). Think of it as the little devil on your shoulder he's doing everything he can to get you to cave and go back to the way you were eating before. Resist the urge and push through. The great news about my plateau's is I always had a great loss when it was done. Hang in there and let the angel on the other shoulder win!!

i loved your analogy with the devil on your shoulder...and letting the angel on the other shoulder win.!!! i am battling getting back on program and just feeling defeated like i will never win this weight loss battlle...i am a spiritual person...i need to apply this kind of like a spiritual war fare..who's going to win? thanks for your insight on that.