Hi, everyone,
I've been on MRC since Nov. 1, 2008 and have lost 28 pounds. My original goal was 30, but I'm thinking I'd like to extend it to 35 before starting stabilization. I only have a few days left on my program, but because I had foot surgery four weeks ago and haven't been able to exercise, the center manager was going to consider extending my program.
Judy suggested I look at this thread to get inspired to lose the few more pounds and then join your discussion. I've read every single post and am inspired by all your success. Since it looks like you would like a little more activity, I'll continue to lurk until I can officially join you!
Congratulations to all of you, especially those of you who had tremendous amounts to lose and did it. You are inspirational. And those whose health has improved--that's what it's really all about, isn't it? I'm using you all as my role models.
This week I'll attend a class at the MRC on eating and stress. I used to teach stress management, but not in relation to eating, so I'm interested in learning what they suggest.
Keep up the good work, everyone, and I look forward to joining you soon!
Meiho

Lv2ski: Wow! You did it and are now ready for stabilization. Way to go .

Check with your MRC Center about making up the class and having your picture taken. I can't imagine that they wouldn't work with you when you have an out of town ski trip planned. Would they let you attend the session at another MRC center, as our Greeley one is on March 28th. They want you to succeed, so should be pretty accommodating.

Meiho: Glad to have you on the Maintainers thread! And congrats on getting this far. I've got my fingers crossed that you will get to extend your program. If not, most people usually lose another 5-6 pounds during stabilization IF they don't do as I did and cheat.

Please share with us any tips you might learn from the MRC eating and stress class. I only attended one of the classes (on anger, which I don't usually have!) during my time on plan (I have this thing about "psycho-babble", so had a negative pre-conception of others that might have been helpful. I generally eat because I'm bored, so tried to find other stuff to do when I was sitting around (like get on 3FC on the computer!). There may have been a class on boredom, so I will watch to see if any come around again.

Have a great day, everyone.

Judy
Gma to 4

Morning!

You know, I woke up this morning just fine.... I thought I would have trouble but I didn't. HOWEVER! I am now SOOOO sleepy! Can't this day be over yet?

Went to meet with my MRC person on Saturday to get my stabilization plan and weighed in.... I lost another 3lbs! So, now I've lost 180.5lbs and weigh 174.5lbs! So cool. Anyway, got my plan and am ready. I haven't done my startches at lunch yet because I wanted to plan it out.... Tomorrow, I'm going to have Jumbalaya with brown rice. I can't wait. I've decided that I don't want to do any of the white flour/sugar things right now. I'd rather not get into them at all because I feel like they are so unhealthy but I'm sure the day will come. I'm starting off with the choices like the brown rice, the whole wheat pasta, the couscous (I use the whole wheat/brown one), and maybe the oatmeal.... so, wish me luck. I'm off. Oh, I just knew I couldn't only eat 8 animal crackers! Wasn't going to happen!

See, it's an all around wonderful thing. I learned a lot about it when a friends husband was going through Cancer treatments and they explained how cancer 1) can't survive in oxygen rich cells and 2) cancer thrives on sugar. Obviously not all sugars, like those found in fruit, etc... but you get the idea. For me, when I cut out white flour/sugar, I just feel so much better. Overall just better... It's amazing how food choices can effect you.

I'm so happy to be here!

Great job!!!!

Went to WI today and was down another 0.5 lbs - so they signed me up for Stabilization class this month! Yea! For the past month my weight loss has slowed down to a crawl - and I have been on plan all of the time. Do you have to continue losing weight during stabilization? I was hoping to be in maintenance by June.

Meiho - I took the stress class at my center and it was pretty good. You learn that when you are stressed the body craves carbs and sugar. They give you some solutions to counter the stress/cravings.

Thanks to everyone for the welcome. I feel like I'm "cheating" by being on this board when I'm not really into stabilization, but this seems like such a nice group that I WANT to be with you all, legally! Talk about motivation!

I had posted on another board what an incredible motivation I had a few weeks back. One reason I decided to do MRC was because both a neighbor and my massage therapist had lost wonderful amounts of weight and looked great having gone through the program. Soooo, I started in November. I went for a massage a few weeks ago and my MT went ga-ga over my weight loss. She had lost 65 pounds. I told her that my size 14 pants were all too big and I didn't want to spend money on clothes because I was going to lose more weight.

She came over to my house and dropped off FIVE pairs of size 8 pants, almost brand new, because she had purchased them on her way between size 20 and size 4. Talk about motivation! I couldn't quite fit into them, so I hung them all on my bedroom door so that I saw them every time I was in the bedroom. Now I can wear them all--in fact, they are starting to get a little loose in the waist!

Soooo, today I went to the store and was able to find two pairs of size 6 on sale. I tried them on and they are just a bit too tight, but since I'm aiming for another 10 pounds of loss, I figure that's even greater motivation (since I paid hard cash for them!). Hope it works! I did buy two new belts since my old ones are wrapping around so I have to put them in the side belt loops and that looks really dorky!

I'll let you know about the Stress and Eating class I'll attend on Thursday, the 19th (I got anxious, but checked my calendar, and it's not until next week.)

Thanks for your friendship and support.

And, good going, Judy!

Meiho

COmom-
Where in CO are you? I am the same way I wanted to lose a few more but hey I might yet! We'll see what happens. I have heard that you do lose a little more on Stabilization. That's kinda what I'm hoping for, but then again I could be very happy where I'm at. Good luck with everything!

Good job~

Hi Ladies! Wow, look at all the activity on the maintainers thread - I love it!!! I went in on Saturday and said I was done - I wanted to change my goal weight back to 160 (from the 155 they adjusted it down to). I saw a current picture of myself and didn't like how thin my face was getting. 160 keeps me in the healthy range - just not in the middle. They said that would be fine. I knew I had picked up some weight this week with BLT's just because the picture freaked me out - now, it could really be because I was taking mucinex for a really bad respitatory cold and even though I was increasing my water, I was really dehydrated. They asked me to be strict over the weekend on the green menu & then come back today for a tanita & measurements and start week one. On Saturday afternoon I was at 165.5, weighed in this morning (with no blt's over the weekend) and was at 163. I stopped fighting my body and my body stopped fighting me!! So I am officially in stabilization!!!

Denise, what a powerful visual about cancer and sugar. I am going to rethink my carb choices now. I had popcorn for lunch & think I accidentially grabed a kettle korn 100 cal pack - those darn things aren't labeled & I threw the boxes away a long time ago. It just tasted sweet to me. I was really full and lunch and about 45 min later, my stomach started growling. Popcorn didn't trigger me last time - so it must have been kettle korn - darn it! In fact, I don't remember any of the stabilization foods triggering me and I tried to get a good variety.

I'm really excited about adding in foods. I have a theory. As my running distance and time is increasing, I was really starting to wonder if I was putting myself into starvation mode. So, this week I am going to run on my extra carb days. I'm really thinking I will lose more than the 6 lbs during stabilization & will probably end up at the 155 afterall.

Welcome to the new ladies! I look forward to chatting with you during the new part of our journey. Judy, thank you so much for keeping this thread beating. Meemo - how are you doing? Haven't herd from you in a while.

I was so sleepy this moring - darn time change. So, I'm off to the gym for a very rare evening run. Had my extra carb so I must run. A little nervous, I've been out for 2 weeks due to the congestion. I just hope it doesn't take me long to get back to where I was. Have a good evening everyone!!

One more thing - after my tanita - I'm now officially in a healthy BMI & fat percentage range (although I'm at the high side still)!! I've lost 100.5 inches overall.

Shine on-
Congrats on the measurements! Isn't that amazing! Everytime my 16 year old grabs my ribbon & wraps it around herself it amazes me!

Good luck with stabilization this week! I'm soooo excited to start yet soo very nervous! I'm hoping thru that process I finish losing those last few pounds!

It is so great to see so many of the stabilization newbies on this thread. Welcome to all of you...I'm sure you will have a lot to share!

Meiho, Glad you are posting over here. Stabilization is just around the corner, so you've earned the right to join us. And what a great NSV. Those size 6 pants will fit in no time!

I can't wait to hear about your Stress and Eating class next week.

Gina, Welcome back to Stabilization . This time, you've really done things right and look at your success...over 100 inches lost and in the healthy BMI and fat percentage range. You must feel terrific! I'm so glad you are enjoying the running and are able to increase your time and distance.

I'm glad you are listening to your body about your goal weight. My son and DIL started MRC last summer and just finished stabilization. She set her goal weight at the lower range for her height and doesn't look as healthy as she did 5 to 10 lbs before that. She actually went below her goal weight during the stabilization phase and is in a size 0. She's had several colds/sinus infections one after the other and seems to be having a hard time fighting them off. The thing that worries me is that she is so concerned about putting on a pound or two that she obsesses about it. My son is the one who signed up for the program, so she never saw an MRC counselor. I'm just hoping that her weight loss doesn't result in an eating disorder to prevent gaining any weight. I sure don't want to become a MIL from **** (like the one I have), so I have to be careful with what I say and how I say it.

I truly believe that this process is more about health than being thin. I know how much better I feel and how much more energy I have. It is such a blessing to have all of our 3FC friends chiming in with encouragement, suggestions and just plain love

Judy
Gma to 4