Ladies, I did the Connections class in Lincoln the last time around. I thought week one was a waste, but, got something out of the others. Week 5 was a real eye opener for me. I'd suggest you keep going, especially if you are struggling because she talks about roadblocks and things like that. I did get something out of it and felt like it was worth my time, I hope you will too.

Have you done the metaquick previously? I'm interested to see what results you had previously as well as this go around. I hope it works well for you and it helps get you back on plan. I have no doubt you will make it, you have done such a great job already!

[quote=rip;2972050]It seems that so many, including myself, are struggling this month. I really think it has to do with the cold weather coming and our bodies wanting to store as much as it can. That's my thought and I'm sticking with it as I have no other reason that I am not losing. I am not gaining but not losing. I will WI on Sat. morning I hope I see at least a little change

I think I will jump on your coat tail with this thought, and make it mine as well. It's getting very discouraging to watch the scale hover and I keep seeing it go up a few then back down to pretty much right where it was. Somedays I just want to throw in the towel. It must have been some mental thing this morning because I was thinking I would stop and grab some tuna, fruit and veggies on the way to work, got here and realized I didn't do it and wouldn't have time to leave. Had someone grab a chicken taco salad from Qdoba without everything but hot sauce, so hopefully it was better than eatting nothing, even though I didn't have any fruit.

I was wondering if I was the only one who was feeling like the class was a waste. I truly thought like I was going to learn something, but didn't. I'm typically going to the Tuesday classes so I'm hoping it won't be so bad. I have high hopes and expectations.

I have tried MQ before but the circumstances were very different... I tried it the 1st time after being on the program about 1 1/2 mo. when I hit a plateau after losing 20 lbs... I was absolutely 100% OP and had been in a plateau for 2 weeks when my counselor suggested the MQ... I did it for an entire week and didn't lose a single pound... Talk about disappointing! I went back to eating my regular menu and w/in a few days had dropped 3.5 lbs so I had a bad taste in my mouth about it for a short while but b/c I have been struggling to stay OP after my weekend extravaganza, I felt it would be an appropriate way to handle it and it's working so far... I've lost 2 lbs since starting it 2 days ago, could be coincidental but I certainly know this is the the first time I've been 100% OP for 2 days in a row in a long while and I feel good about that! :0) I know that last time I didn't lose b/c I was in plateau and sometimes you just have to ride out that storm as patiently as possible, this time it was about the carbs and calories I was consuming Off Plan.

Anyways, I'm using MQ this time in an effort to break that carb craving cycle... It's helped... I've stopped thinking about the carbs already and it's stopped the grazing I was doing... Yesterday was tough, headaches, withdrawl but today I'm on it!

Our area is having a huge seafood festival this weekend but I think that will be just too outrageously tempting as far as foods so I'm avoiding it like the plague... We're probably going to go to the Greek Festival tomorrow b/c a friend of our daughter's will be performing greek dance there and we love the festival so we'll likely go to that but I intend to be very, very, very good. I'm hoping for a big drop this week and will try to stick out the MQ as long as I can to get it...

I am going to give it one more try. If next Thursday is not any better, then I'm done. I couldn't get out of there fast enough last night....I had better things to do. Have you gone to any of the food classes? I just noticed them on the calendar. Maybe I will check one of them out later on. Are you doing your homework from class? LOL

Oh I hope so. I will give it another try. I hate to be so judgemental, but I was expecting more. Maybe the first night was just a "get to know ya" night. Thanks for the info....I will hang in there then.

Wow... MQ is really working for me this time, I went to WI this morning and was 187 - and I was wearing jeans which I never do on WI day! Down 3 lbs since last official WI, 7 lbs since Monday! I was also in ketosis for the 1st time in a long time and the carb cravings are gone, thank goodness. She measured me and I've lost 65 1/4 inches total, only 4 more since last measurement but 1 1/2" came off of my waist, 1 off breast area (not surprising, I saw those going down - had to buy new bras) and the rest distributed around other areas. Unfortunately though, she did the Tanita and it showed I've lost about 4 or 5 lbs in muscle over the last 2 mo. Not cool and seems counterintuitive considering I've been running so much but I think I was burning muscle for energy, not always fat. I told them I was starving, LOL! I know I need to start doing some toning and lifting exercises but I don't enjoy that much and have been bad about not doing it all along. I guess I'll have to get with that program soon.

Anyways, I plan to do MQ a few more days/as long as I can stand it. It's not terrible, just boring I guess, then hit the green menu... Only 37 lbs to go to goal! I see the light at the end of the tunnell... it's far but I see it :0) I also run out of program this week and will have to buy more, my center is running a deal - buy a large herbal and get 17 weeks for $99 otherwise it's $99 for 10 weeks. Either way I still have to purchase my maintenance program for $99 when I'm done so basically another $200-250 No matter how you slice it. I don't know if I can get to goal in 10 weeks, not at the rate I was going over the last few months but if I run less I might be able to, it's a tough trade. Something to think about I guess.

Okay, you've all talked me into trying Week 2 of Connections. I knew the class would be taught by a mental health professional. I just presumed that she would have been on the program in the past or at least taken the time to learn about the program, but I was mistaken! Her 'schpiel' seemed so well-rehearsed and she even admitted that she tries to be a comedian in class. I used to teach STOP classes and can tell you that those two things will immediately turn your class off! Humor is okay, but we're not at the Improv!

There were other things that almost made me get up and leave, but I stuck it out...I guess it was the 'respect rule' that kept me there!

Like you, FL, I'd heard this class touted by everyone at MRC, so I was really expecting much more. Plus, I'd just had an overall crappy day, so that probably had a lot to do with it.

Thanks for letting me vent. I'll be back to class on Tuesday!

-- JJ


PS -- FL, so glad things are looking better for you! You had me worried for awhile and I'm happy that you're going to stick with it!

I don't like Connections either, although I hadn't told anyone until now. Last week was my 6th class and I was so happy I was done. I had to force myself to go every week. The woman who taught our class was very nice, but had never been on the program, sometimes read to us from her sheets of paper and says lots of "umms" and "you knows". I don't like structured classes that I am forced to go to, so that was part of my problem also. Plus, most of us in the class I am sure have been on lots of diets through our lives and already know what they are teaching us, although I will admit it is always good to hear something again, even if you already know it.

I've been having a really hard time the past 2 weeks with program and it finally came to a head this week. Things at work this week were abnormally stressful and it happened to coincide with my TOM and let's just say the floodgates of my appetite opened up wide. It began Tuesday afternoon and it 'ended' last night or this morning when I was up 8 pounds in 4 days. You name it I probably had it. It's so hard now not to go and eat the things I bought on an 'emotional shopping trip' the other day but I'm trying hard not to. I want to get back OP but yet I want to eat the rolls/chocolate/ice cream. It's SOO scary for me becasue I'm close to being done, yet I'm so far away as I don't have the emotional connection yet that I thought I did. All along I was 100% OP and didn't allow myself to have those little BLTs or cheats and maybe that's part of my problem, I don't know. I was very frustrated with the program as my losses had all but slowed. I was also burnt out on the C25k program that I had started. I completed week 7 but also realized that it's just not me. I'd rather just walk and possibly do short runs (3 or 5 minutes) and walk between. I'm much more comfortable with that. Therefore I haven't exercised at all since last Saturday. Another 'stressor' for me right now is I'm hosting 15 people for my son's 2nd b-day party at my house on Sunday evening. This is the first time I've ever doen that and it's taking its toll on me. Fortunately, I decided that I jsut wanted to do party trays to minimize my stress so thankfully I don't have to worry about that. But having to make sure the house is clean is another stress and having to pick up all my 2 year old's toys is another story as you mgiht imagine.
I can tell you that the food I ate tasted really good but it also made me feel like crap...literally. I was SOOO tired and groggy by the end of the day and I hated that feeling. Last night I went to bed at 9:15 and could have went to bed at 8:15. I know it was from all the sugars/carbs in my system. Also, my clothes are fitting tighter and I don't like that feeling.

I knew I needed to 'face the music' and go to the center this morning. I did and must admit that it was VERY hard. Fortunately I got my favorite counselor and ask soon as I sat down I started to tear up. I don't know why?! Maybe it was just admitting what I had done who knows. She's the one that mentioned the 'emotional connection' missing and I think she's right. I may need to get some professional help and i think she may be right. luckily the counselor wasn't hard on me or anything. i was relieved!

So I'm going to do MQ for 7 days and hope the scale will start going down again. Karen, I'm glad to hear that it's working for you! It's really hard for me right now b/c i just want to goeat stuff but i want to get this crap (literally) out of my system and get back to feeling better. I'm also going to start taking gougle (sp?) and chromium piccoloanate to help w/the cravings. I feel very emotional right now and want to turn to food but i want to do this for me too and be able to wear all my new clothes i've just bought!!

thanks for letting me tell my experiences this week.

noahsmama,
Sorry to hear you had such a bad week. Hopefully writing it down will help. You see the problems now you just need to fix them and I know you will. My girls are now 15 and 17 but you mentioning stressing about your 2 years old bday sure brought back memories. I would stress so much when I had their bday parties, is the house clean enough, will the kids and adults have fun. You name it and I stressed about it. But you know what? None of that is really that important. Everyone that has kids knows that you can not get a house clean with a 2 year old running around. People will be there to celebrate the birthday not criticize your cleaning abilities.

I hope work gets better for you. Just hang in there. You had a bad week now pick yourself up. Sometimes I think we try to sabbatoge (sp) ourselves and I don't know why. You have come so far just come a little bit further



Started MRC 5/9/09

Karen,
AWESOME! You are such an inspiration. I was down 1 pd. this week, aargh. But a pound is a pound. I had my measurements last week, down 61 inches. I wonder where it all goes? I imagine it just invisibly floating in the air.

I did have a good talk with the center folks today which was nice. Found out I was using the wrong menu, they forgot to tell me they changed it weeks ago. Maybe that is my problem. I am suppose to cut the afternoon cheese snack out. I would always have a cheese stick. Hard to imagine that 1oz a day is causing such a slow down but maybe they are right. My 17 weeks will be up on Oct. 24. I will then re-enroll for 10 weeks. I sure can't complain though because hopfully I will be signing the 70pd board on the 24th. 17weeks and 70 pounds, I am very pleased!



Started MRC 5/9/09

Good Afternoon Ladies,

First, we all need a Group Hug here!!!! So many of us are dealing with no losses, eating off plan and lots of stress to say the least. It's like something has hit us all at the same time. I just want to say we all need to not give up. I know when I posted when I was down, it really did help, and so many of you responded and encouraged me to keep truckin'...and that's exactly what I am doing. I needed all of you and and you were there for me....now I'm want to be here for you.

NoahsMama, I really want to reach in and give you a big hug. Your emotions are taking over right now and that is so easy to happen when your hormones are working against you. My gosh girl, you have lost 56 pounds since April, and you have that little black hot dress that you looked fabulous in. Just picture yourself right now in that dress and how great you looked. You are so close to goal, just 15 pounds, you can do it and we will be here for you every step of the way.

Karen, I am so glad MQ is working like a charm for you. Maybe because you are so charming, do ya suppose? You accomplished a great run and now all the inches you are losing is a great reward. You are "Our" inspiration here and keep us on track. 60 pounds and counting!!! So very, very proud of you.

LeahRuthie, You have been going through such a trying time right now, and you need the biggest hug of all! When someone is ill in your family, it takes so much out of you, and you are giving all you have to just supporting the ones you love. We all wish your FIL a full recovery and back on his feet very soon. Then we will all be here for you to give you our support to help you get back OP. And when you do reschedule your Mexico trip, you will have lost your weight and you will be looking mighty fine girl. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Lori, where are you? I hope everything is ok with you. We miss you and your lovely smile. Hurry back.

Ok ladies.....you all have a nice rest of the weekend and drink lots of water.

awwwww, lynn!! hang in there, you'll pull through! i've been doing the same thing dealing with my emotions about our family problems right now, and i finally went in to the center to face the music today, too. the girl i met with said she was really proud of me for coming in and that it's better to face it and move on than to hide and be ashamed. and she's right, i do feel much better. and i can't un-eat the crap i ate, but i can make better choices moving forward, and that's what we all have to do.

and i think you might have a point about not having allowed yourself any cheats or BLTs. i am a firm believer in a little cheat here or there (a cup of coffee, or maybe a bite of my boyfriend's dessert) because otherwise you'll feel deprived and cheated, you know? and that's not a good mental place to be. just some food for thought.

anyway, let's all move forward together! i'm only up 2 pounds from my three weeks of stress, so i'm excited to move on.