[ford4life69]

i was having some problems getting stopped up so they increased my flax to 9 a day *i was just taking 6 cuz that's what the bottle i got from United says to take* and yesterday they said i cld try the internal cleanser. since it was only $13 i went ahead and got it and i'll start that next week. don't wanna try something too new when i'm going to be out of town on the weekend.. like always....

i may ask them about the green menu next time i go in - see what they say cuz i really don't like losing so little per week when i feel like i'm torturing myself to do it.

[ShineOn]

Originally Posted by ford4life69

i was having some problems getting stopped up so they increased my flax to 9 a day *i was just taking 6 cuz that's what the bottle i got from United says to take* and yesterday they said i cld try the internal cleanser. since it was only $13 i went ahead and got it and i'll start that next week. don't wanna try something too new when i'm going to be out of town on the weekend.. like always....

i may ask them about the green menu next time i go in - see what they say cuz i really don't like losing so little per week when i feel like i'm torturing myself to do it.

I liked the internal cleanser. It didn't give me any "bad" side affects, just made it easier to go. I took a couple at night before bed with 16 oz of water. Morning was much more pleasant

[tmlmommy]

Hello everyone~

Congrats to everyone on their successes this week.

I just went to my WI and I am down another 2 pounds since Tuesday. So I dropped 3.5 lbs this week.I feel good since Tuesday I had the counselor who was a bit rude with me. It is my day 26 and I have lost 11 LBS!!!!! and the counselor today told me I am right on track where I need to be.

I can't believe I have lost over 10 lbs in one month. That fact alone is such a motivator for me. It took me a year to pack on what I just lost in under a month. It really opens my eyes and has me fully believing now that not only can I get my goal of 170 but I can probably do better and get back into the 150's like I was 6 years ago before my son was born.

And I am SOOO excited to be getting so close to being under 200!!! I might be able to do that in the next month!!!

Another thing I have noticed is before I started this diet, I used to have an upset stomach EVERY night after dinner. I would go through a 75 count bottle of tums in a week. Every night I just had a nauseous feeling and since starting this plan I haven't been nauseous at all (except once when I tried the tomato supplement it gave me indigestion).

Well here's hoping everyone has a great OP weekend!!!!

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyzjydO/]

[sharriannia]

Wow so many successes this week!!!! I count the plateaus as success because you are going to burn inches!!! I have made it on program for 2 weeks in a row for the first time!!! Bad news is I have to work overtime and I have less time to cook for next week, but I can grill 4 pound of chix on Sunday I think. So how many ways are there to serve chicken??

[wanttobeskinny]

Originally Posted by ford4life69

i was having some problems getting stopped up so they increased my flax to 9 a day *i was just taking 6 cuz that's what the bottle i got from United says to take* and yesterday they said i cld try the internal cleanser. since it was only $13 i went ahead and got it and i'll start that next week. don't wanna try something too new when i'm going to be out of town on the weekend.. like always....

i may ask them about the green menu next time i go in - see what they say cuz i really don't like losing so little per week when i feel like i'm torturing myself to do it.

I know what you mean, I gained a pound last week because I had a lowfat latte and did not take in 72 oz of water. Sometimes is so discouraging because I feel, too, that we are so restricted. But we need to keep going, any other diet would make me lose 1-2 at the most, per month. So we should totally be happy with 8 per month.

[Rocki]

WOW! You ladies are kicking butt this week! I had an off day today but I'm okay. I have an interview for a new job on Monday so I'm a bit nervous about that and I'm going to dinner and a movie tomorrow with a friend (a bit nervous about that). I don't handle eating out well. Who was it that made those "mock gummy bears" and how did you do it? Was it a fiber fill jello with extra gelatin added? I wanted to try that tomorrow and maybe bring a small baggy of 100 calorie popcorn in case I try and cave and buy something at the theater.

I have an interview on Monday and am nervous for that but hope it goes well. Oh, next weekend I have a 3-day scrapbook event at an Embassy Suites and they have the cocktail hour (2 hours) every night and breakfast, lunch and dinner is part of the even as well. Please send me some will power dust. I've been doing so good and need to stay on track. I'm so close. Only 6 lbs to go b/c I WI yesterday and was at 126! WOOHOO! I'm just 1/2 a lb away from my lowest of 125.5! If I had stayed home today (instead of working with my dad) I would have been OP!

[alexasmama]

WOOHOO!!! I finally got under 190 at today's weigh in! I officially weighed in at 189.8-- not too much under 190, but I'll sure take it! I'm only 3.8 pounds away from not being considered obese anymore-- and only 15 pounds away from my prepregnancy weight (175) which is my short term goal. I have been doing MRC for 3 weeks now and have lost 18 pounds since I started so I'm averaging a little more than 5 pounds a week. I'm sure that average will slow down a little, but I am PUMPED!!!

I just had to share my exciting news!

[WorkingARMom]

Originally Posted by ShineOn

I posted this on the maintainers thread but thought it might help with those of you who are struggling - thank you Judy for the reminder. It's long, but so was my journey!

I walked through these doors, on the arm of a friend, weighing in at 262 lbs and feeling like there was little to no hope of losing weight. I had been diligently trying to lose weight all year by consistently working out 5-6 days per week & meeting with a nutritionist every 2 weeks. This wasn’t my first attempt at losing weight, I had tried Atkins, weight watchers & once, in the early 90’s, a Dr monitored, extremely low calorie protein fast (I lost 60 lbs in 3 months and put it back just as fast with a measured & weighed 1200 calorie diet and 60 min of exercise daily). I was convinced that dieting did not work for me and I would just try to eat healthy and accept myself for who I was.

I had come to terms with being overweight and found my self-esteem in other areas of my life. In reviewing the letter I wrote to myself at the start of my MRC journey, I stated “I’ve never felt like I’m defined by my weight. It doesn’t interfere with my relationships or my professional successes. But if I were to be brutally honest, I do think that people look at me differently. I am aware that I am the fat friend.”

So what brought me through the doors? It was a health scare! I have been type II diabetic for about 7 years, controlled through diet & exercise. But my LDL cholesterol had been rising at a rapid rate. I was very proud that I was in my 40’s and not on any medication, but the Dr’s were becoming increasingly insistent that this was approaching a dangerous level & I needed to take the meds!! Then it was suggested that I would be an excellent candidate for weight loss surgery. That sent me over the edge. My mother was the 6th person in the US to have weight loss surgery in the 70’s and the first to survive it – after they lost her on the table for over 3 minutes hooking her intestines back up. I know we have come a long way medically, but there are still extreme health risks with these surgeries and I was terrified!

Another quote from my letter to myself “I really want to give this 100% effort. I hope it works, but as I’ve aged, it is harder for me to lose. It’s hard to think of being 180 lbs. It seems so unrealistic! But, I feel like I’m running out of time – being healthy is so important to me.” At my initial consultation, they told me how much I could lose and in what time frame. I told her that I didn’t believe her, but I would do exactly what they told me to do. I would eat dirt if they could guarantee I could be that weight!! Lucky for me, I didn’t have to do that!!

This journey of personal discovery has been amazing. I signed up to lose weight and came out the other side completely transformed. Through the classes and one-on-one consultations, I have learned how to eat – yes EAT! A major problem was I would typically go up to 7 hours in between meals. I learned how to cook. I really don’t know what I ate before. We ate out for most of our meals and cooked convenience foods at home. I bought fruit & vegetables, but threw out more than we ate. Now I can throw together a gourmet looking meal in under 15 minutes and my family is thrilled! I learned about my “relationship” with food. I never thought I had food issues, but they reared their ugly head about 50 lbs into the program. I started to fight it and had to deal with issue of self-sabotage. I ended up re-signing twice. Then I made it to the end of stabilization and had to have a heart to heart with myself. I had slipped and started fighting the program and myself again. Thru not following the plan during the holidays, I had put on some weight and just didn’t feel comfortable starting maintenance yet. Do I consider these failures, yes and no. But I tend to learn more through my mistakes than through my successes. I’m very happy that I was allowed to stumble and fall because I got up and kept going – all in a supportive & guidance filled environment.

Was it expensive? I guess it’s all how you look at it. My initial fee was an investment in myself and my health. The amount of money I spent on supplements was an extra expense, but we saved so much in our monthly food budget that it ended up being a wash. And I was facing a life of medications for weight related issues. So the more important question is how much have I saved – I guess I’ll never know for sure, but my quality of life is priceless!!

How about the results? 180 lbs seemed so unrealistic to me – I could barely imagine it. I now weigh 162 lbs at the start of stabilization knowing I will lose about 6 more pounds during this 6 week process. I just had my annual exam with my stunned doctor. I have dropped 55 pts off of my LDL cholesterol - without medication!!! I am now in normal ranges for everything. Overall cholesterol of 148, blood pressure averages 96/60, A1C level dropped from 6.8 to 4.8 – not even technically considered diabetic anymore – all without any medications AT ALL. I’ve lost 101.5 inches and went from a 24W to a loose size 8. And, I have achieved a lifelong dream – I ran a 5k. That one seemed impossible, I couldn’t even run a half a block before. In fact, I was pulled out of running at age 14 for back problems, but I hate being told I can’t do something. I am now training for a 10k and looking forward to running marathons.

Am I done? Have I “crossed the finish line”, “spiked the ball in the end zone”? No, are we truly ever done? I have learned that my relationship with food is as serious as any other addiction. The difference is now I recognize it. I have the skills in place and the support structure to deal with it. I have come out the other side fully aware, fully equipped and determined to embrace my new life and the new me. MRC doesn’t just show you how to lose weight, it treats the whole person and then holds your hand for a full year to make sure you make permanent changes.

Has the journey been easily? Absolutely not, but true change never is! Has it been worth it? I can’t even begin to express to you how big the YES is! Are you worth it? If you’re reading this, you’ve already made the first step on this important journey - I would say YES!

ShineOn - I always thought you were an inspiration. But this is awesome! Thanks for posting it here. BTW - I like the new picture.

[shenanigan]

Originally Posted by thelish

Hi all! I have been off the wagon for quite a while and need to get back on. I thought I was going to restart at Thanksgiving, but ended up overwhelmed by other things and went back to my emotional eating ways. But I am on the road back and this is my first stop!!

Any advice about restarting???

Shannon, I see that you are back too, how is it going!

Hugs to the MRC family!
Alisha

Glad you are back too! I had a great 3 week start and lost 5 pounds. Now I am slowing down, because I find it really hard to go more than a week totally OP. But I am still losing inches, even though I am not losing pounds. hang in there with us!

[Tara415]

Hello everyone! I am new to this site and MRC. I start pre-conditioning this Monday and then I attend the food class on Friday. My first week on their food plan starts March 30th. I'm excited and a little nervous as well!

I was curious if anyone had suggestions on which protein drink flavors to try the first week. They gave me a list of all the choices to choose from and it was a bit overwhelming.

Tara

[KeepinOnandOn]

Originally Posted by Tara415

Hello everyone! I am new to this site and MRC. I start pre-conditioning this Monday and then I attend the food class on Friday. My first week on their food plan starts March 30th. I'm excited and a little nervous as well!

I was curious if anyone had suggestions on which protein drink flavors to try the first week. They gave me a list of all the choices to choose from and it was a bit overwhelming.

Tara

Welcome!! The first few weeks are so exciting! Just stick to the plan and you will see some big losses in the next few weeks!

I only like the concentrates. I like the way they taste the best and I also like them for the convenience. If you don't really shake up the powders they aren't real good but the concentrates you just have to mix with a spoon. Also, the concentrates only need to be mixed with 4 ozs. of water which is nice since you have to drink so much water anyway. I love the kiwi melon and mixed berry concentrates the best. The only one I don't like at all is the green tea/cranberry. If you end up choosing something and then not liking it your center probably has a trade box. Just ask them for it and you can trade the ones you don't like.

Keep comin back and posting!

[alexasmama]

Originally Posted by Tara415

Hello everyone! I am new to this site and MRC. I start pre-conditioning this Monday and then I attend the food class on Friday. My first week on their food plan starts March 30th. I'm excited and a little nervous as well!

I was curious if anyone had suggestions on which protein drink flavors to try the first week. They gave me a list of all the choices to choose from and it was a bit overwhelming.

Tara

Welcome Tara! I'm glad you found us here on 3FC-- I have got to tell you that this place is so encouraging and helpful on your MRC journey! I have seen some great results in just 3 weeks, so I'm sure you'll do great too if you stick to you program!

As far as drinks, I really like most of them. Wildberry seems to be a favorite of many (tastes like Hawaiian Punch) and the lemonade, pink lemonade are good. The concentrated drinks like mixed berry you don't have to mix with as much water so it is a little easier to drink. If you are looking to make any of the recipes from the MRC Cookbook, pick up a chicken boullion because a lot of the recipes call for that. I personally haven't had it yet, but I know a lot of people use it to cook!

Good luck!

[Shelby63]

[QUOTE=Rocki;2663856]WOW! You ladies are kicking butt this week! I had an off day today but I'm okay. I have an interview for a new job on Monday so I'm a bit nervous about that and I'm going to dinner and a movie tomorrow with a friend (a bit nervous about that). I don't handle eating out well. Who was it that made those "mock gummy bears" and how did you do it? Was it a fiber fill jello with extra gelatin added? I wanted to try that tomorrow and maybe bring a small baggy of 100 calorie popcorn in case I try and cave and buy something at the theater.

I'm the one who made the mock gummi bears. I used the strawberry banana jello with at least 3-4 packets of knox gelatin. You just mix the two gelatins together. Add all the water called for (no boiling-just cold) at the same time and stir until mixed. Then you heat the mixture in a saucepan until melted. Pour into a small container and cut in cubes or pour into little button shapes. It would count as one HNS.

[lv2ski2004]

Congrats to everyone on their losses and NSV's! You guys are all doing awesome! I've had a pretty good week! Been a little crazy with skiing, spring break and company. I'll see how the WI goes on Monday and I may ask to repeat week 1 of stabilization b/c I feel like things were totally off this week. We'll see what they say!

Have a great rest of the weekend!
Tina

[happyjo]

Hi folks,
I'm new to this site, but not new to MRC. I went kindof through maintenence, but ended gaining some weight back. So I'm back in the swing of things again. Question for anyone that can help me. Does anyone know the recommended about of Fats, Carbs, and Sugars that you can have in a salad dressing?
Thanks