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I AM DETERMINED TO BEGIN STABILIZATION I only have 2 lbs to go and I am being super strict this week so that I can attend this month's stabilization celebration.!! I am Really excited but SCARED!! I can't continue being so very strict for much longer! I don't need to binge or anything, but boy do I miss pasta...does that ever return?? Or rice?

Good news - yes, they both return ;)

Thanks! That brings newfound determination!! :D
I see you and I are on the same path! (Start weight/current/goal and height)

2 lbs to go and I can officially be a member of this sub group :D Can hardly wait!!

First of all WAY TO GO!! You must feel terrific! I am a bit worried about being at the goal weight they set for me (as I've NEVER been less than 143 even in HS!!) Did you have any say in what the final goal to maintain was? I know we have to stay within 6lbs of our final goal and I'm not sure if I can even get there!! I've plateau-ed 146 for weeks now!!
Just wondering how it works!

Well, for me, I just had to get a healthy BMI, not hit my goal weight. I still haven't hit my "goal weight", but I've been at this healthy weight since June, so I guess this is where I'm at. They didn't do much for me to switch to maintenance, just handed me a menu and said WTG. They only took my final body comp because I requested it. Of course, it was the same as the day I started stabilization, so all good I suppose.

Starting on Week two of stabilization!! YEAH!! They did my measurements and I lost a total of 33.5 inches!!
Adding fruit and a starch. I was glad to read that it felt like too much food for others as well. Is it ok to skip some additions during stabilization or is it reccomended to wait until maintenance?

I got to start week one of stabilization on Saturday!! I usally do a smoothy with my fruit at lunch, so I just couldn't force down an extra starch on day 1 - I ended up having it as a snack between lunch & dinner. The center said they would prefer I not do this so early in the program :(

Since we can have fruit & starch together, does anyone have any great menu ideas? I was thinking an apple crisp modified to mrc standards might work. Has anyone tried this - any suggestions?

I was dying for popcorn, but popcorn with lunch just doesn't sound that appetizing. Just looking for fun food choices in this new phase! Hope everyone is doing well on program.

I'm thinking you must be on maintenance now so are you thinking about starting a thread for that?? I still have one more week to go!!! (that and I'm not sure how to start one haha) I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...what's the weather like out there??

Wow! Your 6 weeks are flying by! How have you found doing stabilization? I'm suprised at how quickly they are taking away the HNS and I'm dealing with a little hunger issues. Yesterday I saved the 2 HNS for 1 hr before dinner and in the evening. That seems to be my worst hunger period. I find that I'm reallly planning what I'm going to eat for the starch & fruit choice a few days in advance! I've been debating between a bagel and animal crackers for today's lunch for two days :) And I'm really curious to see what week 3 brings.

I'm not sure how to start a new thread either. But I thought the perfect name would be MRC Maintainers.

It's odd I still can't believe how fast all of it went!! I have been LOVING having the dairy back. (I really missed my lattes!!) The 1/2 bagel addition was quite the treat as well!! I'm mostly doing what I have been doing the whole time with those choice additions. I've been craving carbs though and I don't always remember to take the guggul which is supposed to help with that. So I have had some cave in days!:devil: cookies are my vice!
Have you tried putting your ns in knox geletin? It makers a big portion that fills you up!! ( I generally put 2 tbs whipped cream on it :o NOT on program but hasn't seemed to effect it, as I've done it since the beginning! Just make sure it has >1g carbs/sugar the real stuff is the best!!)

So yes I think a maintainers thread would be awesome as I'm sure we will all have different issues come up as we continue along our healthy path!! maybe someone will tell us how to start one! ;)

I get dairy back on saturday - I can hardly wait. My husband was betting I would take the fat free frozen yougurt option - but that doesn't sound that good for breakfast! Milk seems like such a treat at this point! I haven't had any repeats in the new fruit or starch choices yet. But man, I've been really hungry! They told me today to have an extra HNS if I really need it. I think my issue with the HNS is I always maxed it out - it really helped my sweet tooth. I just need to get creative with my choices. I'm trying to figure out how to make an apple crisp on plan for lunch. Any ideas?

I was thinking something along those lines, but I think I'd use something like the Uncle Sam's cereal (which I have on hand) or the "Just Bunches" from Honey Bunches of Oats, crunchy & a little sweet. And I'd run it in the toaster oven for the last bit of cooking to keep the topping crunchy - those are just personal preference things, tho.

I got my week 4 menu and I'm not too excited about any of the new veggie choices - escept the colored onion and green peppers. I lived so long without carrots & peas that I'm not sure I want to add those back in :D Good problem to have I guess.

I had a couple chocolate slips this week - I'll blame that on TOM ;) so I've only lost a 1/2 lb. The vanity part of me really wants to sign that 100 lb board!

Any ideas on making smoothies without the supplements? The HNS has really become my crutch so I'm trying to ween myself off.

Are you looking to flavor them or get protein from a different source? For flavor you could use the DaVinci sugar-free syrups, or some crystal light (dry, not already mixed) but not sure how much it would take for that). If you're looking to add some protein, you could try some egg whites - 1/2 cup is about the same protein & calorie count as an HNS (and cheaper) - you could use 1/4 cup so you aren't getting quite as much protein.

Mostly flavor. The crystal light is a good idea. I've just used the HNS as a sweet tooth fix for over a year. Not quite sure how to live without them :D Also, I like the pudding mixes for the consistency it gives. So I need something to thicken it a little more. Adding the cottage cheese helps a little. Just not as rich as the cottage cheese and pudding together.

I started to panic yesterday. My morning weight bounced up to 164 (I've been weighing in on my home scale about 162). So I started thinking I needed to tell the center I need to slow down on adding foods back in and maybe repeat a week. Then this morning, I was at 160.2. I really worked on getting the water intake back up and it obviously was a temporary bounce. Adding all these foods back in is a little scary. I have a lot of loose skin which appears to be belly fat, so I immediately went to the unrational thoughts that I was gaining weight again. Then I had to remind myself that my 8's are getting loose. Even with the jeans fresh out of the dryer. I'm ranting and rambling, but that's how my head feels this week. I do not trust my visual body image at this point. I know I need to relax and just follow the plan. On saturday, I add a 100 calorie starch back at every lunch. It seems like it's going really fast!! And I need a kick in the butt - my exercise has been non-existent this past month. I've been really physically active with moving furniture, painting, gardening & home improvements. So it's not gym exercise, but I've been gettting exercise. Just feel like I need to get back to the toning and running again. Ok, I'm done rambling. Hope I can look back on this part of the program as necessary learning steps and maybe this will help someone else too. Am I the only one going through these thoughts on stabilization???

I am pretty far from stablization, however i would like to know if you are still required to use HNS when you are on stabilization and after that? I'm just trying to get an idea as far as budget once i get to my goal.. ( might be something that will motivate me even more to get there faster :) do you still take all the vitamins and stuff, or do they slowly start taking you off of those too?

You decrease your HNS as you go through the weeks of stabilization. The vitamins are always good to take, the other supplements you decrease as well. Basically, once you hit maintenance you're pretty much down to your menu and vitamins/minerals/herbs (none of the things like enhancer/MRC6/cortitrim/etc).

Thank you! Thats good to know.. Like i said more motivation to get to where i need to as fast as i can.. COST will go down quite a bit :) Knowing that makes it easier to swallow spending what i am on HNS and stuff...
Thanks so much!

LauraSerendipity - I was doing 5 HNS per day. Week 1 of Stabilization, they cut me down to 3, week 2 they cut me down to 2. I'm in week 4 now & have only been doing 2 per day when I'm hungry, most days are 1 and they have been fine with that. They want you completely off by the time you are done with your 6 weeks, but of course, they stress you can always add 1 if you are hungry since it's high protein & low calorie. I'll always take my multi-vitamins & MSM. I'm still debating wether I'll cut down the flax seed oil. It has been great for my dry skin. Hope that helps.

Thank you!! :) Yeah i am getting worried that once i stop taking stuff like the all day and mrc6 cortitrim etc, that i will gain weight... But i just need to focus on getting there, and then i can worry about staying there :) he he

I started to panic a little when they started adding in all these foods so quickly. While on plan, if I had anything extra I would gain a pound or two. I talked to them about my concerns. I just couldn't get my head around how they can add so much food back in & I wouldn't gain. They reminded on how I couldn't believe I could lose this much weight so quickly and to trust them and just follow the plan. I took a deep breathe and decided to trust again. The first few weeks, I lost 1/2 to 1 lb, then on week 4 I dropped 5 lbs! I had a little self-sabatoge this week. Prior to MRC, I wouldn't even had recognized that. But for the most part, the variety of food & the "automatic" choices I make now, make me believe I can eat like this and be satisified. I feel like my head is re-programmed enough to maintain this for life. In a way, I'm glad I had to re-sign 2 more times. I think I needed the extra time to beat it into my head :lol:

Had close to an OP meal last night at Golden Corral but the sodium killed me. I had a 4 lb bounce up on the scale this morning. I have to admit I had some off plan choices this week and it cost me. I have to repeat week 4 over :( I guess it's not the end of the world, but dang! I wanted to be off stabilization by cruise time. So I'm in a pouty mood even though I know it's my own fault :p

You know, I think that's one reason they give us the program one step at a time - so we can focus on the task at hand, rather than thinking ahead (and possibly "eating" ahead).

I know how you feel. My weight has been going up and down by like 3 lbs every week!! It's a bit scary. The last thing I want is to gain it all back :?:

I am so happy this thread is here, I hit goal today and on Nov. 17 Ill start Stabilization. I could start sooner but I paid to the 17th and I feel like I would lose money if I start any early pulse I would like to lose a few more in case Stabilization adds a few....

Like yall I am a little scared, I got this menu I am on down! and I am not one for change. How did yall keep up with everything? and Ideas to get the mind ready?

How close do you get to your goal weight before you start stablization?

You should be within 5-7 lbs of your goal weight - most people lose about that much during stabilization.

Ahh okay! Well I start my first menu tomorrow so I have a ways to go! Was just curious!

Hey....
I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share the food additions with me that are on the stabilization menus. I am 1/2 a point away on BMI and my program has ended. I cannot afford to resign again, and they won't let me stabilize because the BMI isn't right on 24. I just want to know what to add back in and when to do it so I can wean myself off this HNS. I think it really sux that I reached all my goals and can't stabilize because of 1/2 a point, but I guess they know what they are doing. Thanks.

Jennifer

bump (no real activity on the maintenance thread, but some of this might be of interest to those asking about maintenance...)

I went in today and lost 1 lb this last week. They said it was time to start my maintenance phase. I'm a little bummed because I'm still at 173 (a bounce from my very long absence/vacation). I guess I've been hanging out at week 6 for far too long. They're going to start me on Saturday. I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to go back to my green menu. I just need to relax and get through my Vegas trip & Christmas/New Year's. I'm really not comfortable in the 170's - much happier bouncing around in the 160's!

I'm just finishing week 1 of stabilization. I waited to start it until after we came back from vacation. I will WI on Thursday and hopefully start week 2 then.

That's great. What do you think of the add on's? Does it seem any different from the last time you went through this?

I never did stabilization last time as we moved back to England for a few years---then I gained all the weight back & more :(
So this time around, I'm thrilled to be able to complete the program. I just did the starch at lunch add on this week--I did animal crackers & graham crackers because I really wasn't that hungry! Actually, none of the starches at lunch really appealed to me--I guess that's a good thing!
The fruit at lunch seems to really fill me up. I got on my home scale this morning and I'm down but of course, on the MRC scale, I'll be wearing clothes so will weigh more ;)

I'm curious to see what week 2 is!

Well, I won't ruin the suprise for you, but all the ad ons freaked me out at first. But they were right, I really didn't gain from the ad ons. If I had stayed OP during vacation, I would have been holding steady. Even with week 6, I've been shaving off 1 lb per week.

My favorite was the starch at lunch. You can now make a full toasted cheese sandwich (with the diet bread). You can make the apple bake with a crumb topping (melba toast). I have been falling back with the mini bagels with my salad. And sometimes, I just like having a bag of 100 calorie popcorn after lunch. They also said I could do the 100 calorie chips. Not sure if the 100 cal packet cookies would be OP because of the sugar.

Everyone I've talked to who have gained back the weight said they didn't go through stabilization. It's amazing the process our bodies need. While on the green menu, if I had one thing off plan, I would gain a couple pounds over night. It's still hard to believe I can have an occasional cheat and not really affect the scale.