--Start December Thread--

Happy Holidays, y'all!

I get to go to another WI tomorrow, scared again bc I did not do so well OP yesterday or today. Lastnight I made chicken and since I can't cook it on the stove with olive oil, I put water in the pan bc otherwise they stick. Chicken ended up tasting like crap and it was getting late, so I did the worst and had mac n cheese. Im so mad at myself why couldnt I have just said no. Then today I woke up late and did not have time to pack a lunch for work and they only have bad stuff at the deli. So lunch went bad to. I think tomorrow I'm going to try to eat a meal replacement bar for lunch.

I see a few of us have moved on to WW instead and that makes me wish I would have tried them first. This diet is very restrictive and is getting harder for me to follow rather than easier. At $400 I can't afford to just quit and go to WW. I'm on the green menu does anyone know if it's the least restrictive or not?

Happy December Everyone!

Well in spite of the holiday flub, I'm officially down 81 pounds, I'm so excited! I wanted to make 200 by Christmas, and I have 11lbs to go, don't know if I'll make it, but I keep plugging along.

Just a word to those struggling, this plan works, yes, it's restrictive, but it does work, for me personally I need the restrictions, because I'm a all or nothing person, I need a plan laid out because my life is busy and I don't have much time to plan.

I have went off plan occasionally, and because I'm a all or nothing person, when I go off for the day, I really go off! Not just a slice of pizza, but 3! These are very rare occasions, once every 3months, but even with these set backs I have still lost.

We are overweight because of our eating habits, and our self esteem. We have been program to tell ourselves we can't do it, "I was born to be fat!", others have told us, your beautiful, even if your heavy! This programming lurks behind everything we do, and is that little devil voice that says, I'm not worth the investment!
Even after losing 81 pounds, I still have those voices, and self image problems, I still look in the mirror and see a fat person, but I feel 100% better!

This may be tmi, but I'm sharing anyway. Not only do I feel 100% better, but I can do things that I couldn't do at 292, like, wipe my butt!; tie my shoes; breath; cross my legs like a lady; keep up with my granddaughter; wear a size 18; not ask for a seat belt extension when I fly; and not be embarrassed because I asked. I can finally see my koochie! I have knees! Well, you get the picture.

I've been on since June 9, 2010, everyday is a struggle, but the milesstones are worth it! I don't know if i'll every see a skinny person in the mirror, but that's really not what I'm working towards, I'm working towards having a life, with no limitations! What a day that will be!

Good Luck everyone! It doesn't matter what food plan your on, you still have to work at losing the weight!

I don't know much about the green menu, because I'm on the beige (for people over 200 lbs). I do know that they have some menus that are less restrictive, because I was miserable at first, too, and they said they could switch my menu, but wouldn't see as aggressive a weight loss.

Don't give up-- it's not even so much that the diet is restrictive, the problem is that we're not used to planning and having backups. That's part of why we have weight problems-- because we usually just go the easiest route when it comes to food and meal planning.

I had several days like what you described early on. I have since learned to ALWAYS have a back-up meal ready to go. For example, Lean cuisine has a turkey and green bean meal that--while not on plan because of the sodium and sauces--is a quick and easy emergency meal for me (that is a better choice than PB&J or mac & cheese) for when I burn my meal, or don't have time to pack something for lunch. I also keep plenty of bars and shakes with me. Even if I've already hit my 3-shake/bar limit for the week, eating another bar is better than eating, say, the lasagna being served to me at a required "working dinner" meeting at my job. Also, I try to make several dishes ahead of time and freeze them--such as my MRC friendly buffalo meatloaf (that I created on my own!), the MRC Texas chili, or so on.

The other thing to remember is that it will become much less restrictive once the weight has come off. I was so miserable at first, but I just kept telling myself, "This is just until Christmas. I can have rice and potatoes and onions again (in moderation) after Christmas." Of course, this was before I decided to re-enroll and add 10 weeks, but still. Mark off on your calendar when your weight loss menu ends, so you can see a light at the end of the tunnel. It's a lot easier to bear, then.

It does get easier and less frustrating, I promise! Hang in there!

I love this!

I keep frozen broccoli available for a quick soup .. with the Chicken & Vegetable soup and some cheese .. Broccoli Cheese soup! Raw cucumbers are always good to have on hand. As TeacherLady said, cook foods in larger quantity and freeze. Grilling chicken breasts ahead for a week makes life so much easier. Keeping organized is the key.

You can do it!!

TMarshall - OMG! I never laughed so hard. How true!!

Haha - me too! tmarshall, I LOVE that you put it out there like that - WAY TO GO!!! It's amazing what you realize you've missed when you can discover it again

Thanks for sharing and not holding back!!!

The different colored menus are just for different programs. One is for people over 200 pounds (although I started at 209 and never saw anything but the green menu).

ShaddenA- what do you feel is restrictive about the green menu? I feel like I have lots of variety. Chicken, bison, fish, turkey, some pork and beef in moderation. Using your meats, do different things....ground turkey into meatballs, burgers, taco meat, meatloaf....

Just curious what you think is restrictive....maybe we can give you some ideas. Also, instead of olive oil, try some Pam spray....a few sprays are fine to coat your pan.

I originally started on the white menu, for people over 250 lbs. Then I switched to the beige menu.

If you are only just over 200lbs, they'll probably put you on the green menu, since you are so close to 200.

I can't find my beige menu, so I attached the white menu to this message. It's the same as the beige, only it adds an afternoon snack. Beige menu has no afternoon snack.

I'm pretty sure the only difference between green and beige menus is serving size. Beige gets 6oz of protein at every meal.

Did weigh in and measure today....up .5 pounds (not worried...I lost like 4 last week total..and I've been OP) and I have lost a total of 30 inches!

I am just a bit concerned though...because things are slowing down. This past month, I only lost 7 pounds and 3 inches...the month before...10 pounds and 12 inches....

Did your losing slow down at all or did it remain constant?

For you that have not gone thru the menus, I really suggest it. I started with # 1, and do a few each night.For ones that have not seen the menus, let me share this breakfast one that I really like.

1/2 cup egg whites
1/4 cup oatmeal
cinnamon to taste
splenda to taste( I use liquid stevia)
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all of the above ingredients, pour into a preheated nonstick skillet.
Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. It will look like a big pancacke.
Flip over and cook for another minute or less, just to cook the egg.

Can spray with ICBNB, or the butter spray. I did that, added some stevia
and cinnamon on top. I really enjoyed it and with the HNS was filling.
I was just thinking, if we are allowed sugar free maple syrup that would be nice. Enjoy
Patzi

Hello Ladies... It's been forever since I've been on.. well on here and on program. I fell off the wagon in September and it rolled back and ran me over. I just went back today to resign and start again. I am up about 10 lbs.. It comes back so easy.. Good news is that my inches are down all over... Not sure how that happened, but I'll take it.

I'm not sure right before the holidays was the best time to start, but I figured I'd do better dealing with them on the program then off it.

Challenge number 1 is the work christmas party this weekend... I'm planning to eat before I go... and try to lay off the alcohol..

Nice to see you all again!! Here's to less of us all by the end of the month..

Happy December! Weighed in on Tuesday (which technically was November) and was up 1.5, but I'm not crying about it, I'm owning up to it. I went OFF plan with a capitol OFF for 4 days surrounding thanksgiving. Monday morning I was back. I'm on day four of totally OP. Feeling more energetic and positive. I didn't feel good about myself after last week. Ive been getting in a ridiculous amount of water and will weigh in again on Saturday. It usually takes about three days for your body to get back into the swing of things so I'll be hopeful for Saturday!

Last night we Metabolic ladies participated in the downtown Christmas parade in Longview, Texas. That's me with the 55 pound sign.
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