Hi everyone..I am happy to have found this site.
I did MRC 5 years ago and lost about 35lbs and kept it off till now...ugh!
SO..I had a friend that went to Slim4life so I thought I would try it. Now 4 weeks late I have only lost 8 lbs, I am constipated, discouraged and starving!
PLUS..I only lost 5 inches. Back when I did MRC after 4 weeks I had lost 16 inches. At slim4life you take the same nutrient supplements, just different packageing. SO now I am so discouraged, I called MRC and I can come back for free for 8 weeks if I just fill out the survey so I have an appt. tomorrow.
I had to stop going to Slim4life but I was not loosing at all plus it is double what mrc is.
Anyway, I feel like I am new at this again and now I am 52 and feel like it might take me longer to loose. Any one else in their 50's and if so, is it slower loosing? Also, not sure what supplements I should purchase tomorrow.
Any feed back would be great and thank you in advance!
DonnaDee
Anyway, I feel like I am new at this again and now I am 52 and feel like it might take me longer to loose. Any one else in their 50's and if so, is it slower loosing? Also, not sure what supplements I should purchase tomorrow.
Any feed back would be great and thank you in advance!
DonnaDee
Being over 50 myself (closer to 60 - eek) yeah, it gets slower with age. And I'm finding that it's a little harder for me to stay on track this time around - I think it's less about age than the fact that mentally I've "been there done that" & my brain is resisting - plus physically it's less of a shake-up to my system this time around.
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!
What are fiberfills? I swear, you gals teach me more about the program then the staff at mrc. I don't feel like they educate me about anything.
Thanks ladies. I wouldn't be here without you.
I tried slim4life before mrc too and there are a lot of similarities, but i think MRC is waaaaaaay better. they staff is more educated and at slim4life they were a bunch of overly tan, leathery, old, smoking ladies in scrubs and lab coats. At mrc the ladies look like real people and you can actually see their own before and after pics from when they did the plan themselves. The girl that counsels me when I go in is about my age and height and lost the same amount of weight that I want to lose. It makes it easy to relate! Plus they don't force me to buy anything. Overall the attitude and atmosphere is classier and friendler. I've lost about 17lbs on MRC in 4 weeks and 18.5inches.
OK, I am supposed to go out of town next week to visit family for 6 days. No one knows I am doing mrc. I am scared to death of making bad choices. Any advice?
I plan on taking my supplements and hns with me.
How do I resist temptations?
What are fiberfills? I swear, you gals teach me more about the program then the staff at mrc. I don't feel like they educate me about anything.
Thanks ladies. I wouldn't be here without you.
It's a drink (tastes like punch) that is supposed to have lots of fiber. It helps you feel full but also helps you go to the bathroom if you are having problems in that area. That is why it was suggested to me. You can have up to 3 of them a day. They will know what they are at the center if you ask them. You can buy a box in with your 5 for $55 deal. I think it all depends on who you get at the center. Some of the ladies are more helpful than others. Be sure to tell them if you are having any problems with anything (ie hunger, fatigue, etc.) and they will probably suggest something.
Thanks so much for your words of wisdom! I began the program 10/4/2008 and find it very easy to follow, so far (lost 7.5 my first week but sure I'm not going to see the same Friday at WI).
Thanks also to the 3 Fat Chicks for pulling together such an incredible site! I've been reading posts for the past several days and find the communication helpful, inspiring and motivational.
So I've been thinking that with newbies every week, it might be good to have a thread dedicated to advice for them (might serve as a good reminder for us more seasoned veterans as well!).
1. It won't always be easy. No use trying to pretend it will - there will always be temptations, there'll always be stressful situations. Expect them & when possible, come up with a strategy ahead of time to deal with them. On the tough days remind yourself that you're doing a GOOD thing for yourself - keep a positive outlook on this big change you've made in your eating habits!
2. It won't always be difficult either! Some days are a piece of cake. And really, in one way it's crazy easy. They give you a list of foods. They tell you how much of each you're allowed to have, and when. All you have to do is choose wisely.
3. Check your menu every time you eat. It's too easy to forget you aren't supposed to have beef or pork for lunch. Or how much is in a serving of blueberries. So in the beginning, especially, check that menu every meal. I taped a copy of the menu inside one of my kitchen cabinets so it was always handy. (It's still there, in fact!) And that leads to...
4. ALWAYS WEIGH/MEASURE YOUR FOOD!!! It's so easy to cheat yourself out of your full amounts (or to eat too much) - always weigh & measure. Somewhere down the road you'll be able to eyeball it, but weigh & measure!!!
5. Give it time to work for you. It's always easy to get discouraged in the beginning, especially since we almost all experience a plateau early on (in the first 2-3 weeks). It's easy to say "Oh well, this didn't work either." But stick with it. It DOES work - if you give it a chance.
6. Know yourself. Some of us can get away with small cheats from time to time (raising my hand as a chronic cheater here...). Others realize that we can't cheat - one small one leads to more & more & then we're derailed & can't get back on the track. So know yourself. I daresay 99% of us who walk in the door at MRC have been on plenty of other weight loss plans, and we've learned a lot about what we can & can't do. Use that knowledge & experience!
7. Drink your water!!! Besides helping with weight loss, it's great for your skin - and who doesn't want great skin??? Drink up!
8. Exercise! You're spending a lot of money to do this - why wouldn't you maximize your chances for success by adding some type of exercise to your routine? Do a little, do a lot, do what you enjoy - but do some exercise.
9. Don't start with a bunch of supplements at first. Start with the basics - a good multivitamin & flax oil capsules (which you can find anywhere). You'll be making a big change in your eating habits, so you probably won't need to take a bunch of stuff in the beginning. If your loss slows & you're following the plan properly, then you can add some of the extras to see if they'll help (but add them one at time so you can gauge what works & what doesn't - we're all different). In the end, the more you can stick with the basics the better - and the cheaper!
10. Look for less expensive alternatives to the supplements they sell. Vitamin & mineral supplements can be found anywhere. There are online resources for finding reasonable substitutes for most any supplement you can get at MRC. You're required to buy your minimum MRC protein drinks (what we refer to as HNS - high nutrient supplements) from MRC to keep your guarantee intact, anything else you can get elsewhere.
11. GO THROUGH STABILIZATION! ALL THE WAY THROUGH! Your program includes stabilization and a year of maintenance. I can't stress enough the importance of this. I know right now it probably seems like that's a long way off, but remember this. They'll help you add foods back into your daily menus. And at the end, they'll give you a good basic menu that you can use for life. And use that year of maintenance you get as well - if you find yourself creeping up a bit, get in there & let them help you get back on track. You paid for it - USE IT!!!
Okay - that's 11 from me - I'll probably think of more but I'll give y'all a shot at it - what's your best advice for newbies?
Thanks Meemo-I have printed for my bulletin board!
What are fiberfills? I swear, you gals teach me more about the program then the staff at mrc. I don't feel like they educate me about anything.
Thanks ladies. I wouldn't be here without you.
I feel the same way...
I left the center (After I sign up)...but a bunch of bottles and nothing else.
Reading this blog...I have learn that about the abbreviations, when I have to go and WI (I did not know, and is not in the paper they gave me, I have to go in once a week).
It has been two week since I sign up and I have called the center three times asking how's and when's... because I am ignorant to all that info.
This blog is a savior for me!...from now on...I'll pro-active!
I feel the same way...
I left the center (After I sign up)...but a bunch of bottles and nothing else.
Reading this blog...I have learn that about the abbreviations, when I have to go and WI (I did not know, and is not in the paper they gave me, I have to go in once a week).
It has been two week since I sign up and I have called the center three times asking how's and when's... because I am ignorant to all that info.
This blog is a savior for me!...from now on...I'll pro-active!
Have you had your food class yet? That's when you'll get a LOT of your info.
Hi ladies! I have to agree that this site is awesome! I, too, was a previous MRC client back in 2000. I had great success, but just when I went from a 14 to a size 8, I was diagnosed with a chronic condition. I was scared and thought the diet, with all it's protein, had caused it...so I quit. Now 8 years later and more educated about my condition, I'm ready to get back to a healthier me.
The center closest to me closed several years ago. Fortunuately, I learned that MRC has a mail order program. You work with the center closest to you, which for me is in another state. The girls are very supportive, but I do feel I'm missing out a little with them being so far away.
I'm glad I found this site! I feel that this will be the additional support I need. BTW, I'm down from 186 to 168 and on day 43 of my program! Thank goodness I didn't give away all of my smaller sized clothes!
I am in my pre-condition week and go for my menus on Friday. Will my diet change much form pre-condition week? I need to buy groceries tomorrow and don't want to buy things I can't eat.
I am in my pre-condition week and go for my menus on Friday. Will my diet change much form pre-condition week? I need to buy groceries tomorrow and don't want to buy things I can't eat.
Thanks!
At my center the pre-conditioning was just cutting out caffeine, sugar and adding in more water so yes, the diet changes drastically once you get your menu. I would wait if I were you. I was excited to get started but I had to hold myself back to wait for my food class Good luck!!
You can have up to 3 of them a day. They will know what they are at the center if you ask them. You can buy a box in with your 5 for $55 deal. I think it all depends on who you get at the center. Some of the ladies are more helpful than others. Be sure to tell them if you are having any problems with anything (ie hunger, fatigue, etc.) and they will probably suggest something.
Good luck!!
