I'm just starting out so I'm sure that those foods will soon be calling my name. So far I have opted for avoidance whenever possible. . . I'm not quite sure how to avoid food when people are trying to give it to you, other than to JUST SAY NO or maybe wear a sign that says "Do not feed me!"

I decided to keep all of my receipts from MRC in my billfold next to my debit card so that everytime I go to purchase something I am reminded about how much money (time, effort, etc) I have put into this program. So far it has stopped me from buying things for myself that are not on plan. I am also keeping my stones (I got my first one today) in with my change. I only use the change in my purse for 2 things . . . parking meters and vending machines and I am hoping that feeling that stone as I reach for the quarters will keep me from making poor choices at the vending machine.

I don't know if this will work for you, but these are some things that have worked so far.

Mariah

So I rejoined MRC last Saturday and boy did I pick the wrong week to go back OP!! TOM came earlier than expected and I got really lonely and sad and I had a not great day and a really bad day. Not even a week in and I've already digressed from the program! This is what I was afraid of, the slip up and the carbs. I really need this to work and I can't seem to stop thinking about food!! AHHHHH

This is great .. I did use to listen to music at work, I rarely use my MP3 anymore because we don't have anyway to load music & commercial radio sucks. I also am very famous for skipping breaks and eating lunch at my desk due to work load - but I will try to get out now that the weather is turning awesome! Today is 60 degrees! Thanks for the suggestions!

WI today and I lost 4 pounds this week for a total of 11.5 lbs in 15 days. :carrot::broc::dancer:

Mariah

Mariah..
What a great weight loss. Great work and I am very happy for you.
Patzi

That's awesome!!! Congrats!!!

Rock on Mariah!

I have been really pondering my eating habits and what makes me eat unhealthy. I like rewards. When things are tough and I feel I dealt with them, then I reward myself with a treat (usually a candy bar or something else unhealthy). When I had a good workout, I rewarded myself. I realized that these rewards were my way of feeling good. I don't know if it would be beneficial for any of you, but I have started rewarding myself in other ways. I bought myself a new shirt today for getting half way through my husband's deployment without killing myself or the kids. I rewarded myself with flowers after my son got out of the hospital. I have found other things the I like that are more rewarding than the candy and other things I shouldn't be eating. My demons are slowly being overpowered. I am taking control and I love it. They are still there and will always be there, but they are not in control... I am.

Hi everyone. I have been reading the threads on this board for awhile, but just joined MRC today and thought I would actually join this board as well for help and support and to say thanks to everyone here for posting as it made a BIG difference in my decission to make the leap and actually join MRC. :)

This is AWESOME. Congrats on admitting that to yourself and doing something about it! I really had to get over the fact that junk food is NOT a treat or reward. It's actually the exact opposite! When I eat candy, I am hurting myself, not rewarding myself. I am actually "treating myself" when I eat something healthful. Good job - it takes time but the demons can be quieted! I still fight the fight every day, but like I've said before, it's like exercising a muscle. The more you exercise that "NO" muscle, the stronger it will get.

Thanks Debi! I agree 100% about the will power muscle. I heard yesterday at my center that when you given into a craving like a sweet, your body craves that sweet taste for up to three days. It is a vicious cycle. Praying for everyone to face their demons and have the strength to win!

I'm the same way and I am working on a "new reward system" Have "rewarded myself" with raspberries this week. I love them, they are very expensive right now, but they are also great for me. But I need to work on "non-food rewards" so that I don't fall back into a bad habit. I like the flowers idea, I love cut flowers, but consider them a splerg, so I think when I hit the 20lb lost mark I will buy myself a nice bouquet.

Anyone else have some "non-food reward" ideas?

Mariah

WELCOME GOALBOUND. This board is a wonderful source of information, support and encouragement and we are glad to have you join us.

Mariah

Can you tell me how much fiber is in each of the fiber drinks and what they cost? I forgot to ask yesterday and my center is closed until Monday. I checked out Benifiber and Chrystal light even makes a "fiber" drink (it's yummy too) and I was just wondering how they compare in amount of fiber and cost.

Thanks,
Mariah

momoffour,

Can u pls post u r recipes that do not have HNS in them

R

Hi all,

I am having a hard time excercising and would greatly appreciate all tips to motivate myself to do it.

Thanks

r

Regarding rewards how about buying new smaller size shirt/pant/skirt

Thanks Mariah!

Weighed in. Up 1 lb, which was to be expected after my Thin Mints debacle. I didn't eat enough to actually gain a pound, though, so I know it's from retaining water from the extra carbs, which is heartening. I know what I need to do and I have a little more determination to follow through the rest of this weekend.

I had been rewarding myself with pedicures, massages, new clothes, etc. when I hit a milestone or feel I did something right. I don't know--I think I need some new ideas.

I do sometimes eat to reward myself, but I also eat when I'm stressed. Ideally, I should get up and walk around or something rather than eating, but when I'm at work on a deadline, I can't always just stop what I'm doing to relieve my stress. I think that's why I tend to turn to junk food. It's something that relieves my stress even while I"m working. :( Any other ideas?

I reward myself with craft supplies, musical theatre tickets, and plants. I'm a bit too nervous to buy clothes right now, since I'm still dropping weight, though I did end up buying two tops at thrift stores. Also, when I reached my 1/2 way mark, I bought myself a set of earrings that I've been wanting - nothing fancy, just sterling silver so they won't turn my ears green after a shower :rofl:

As far as motivation for exercising, I find that the worst part for me is putting on my gym shoes. Once I finally get my tennies on and double-knotted (geez, what a lot of work! :D), I'm typically too lazy to take them off. So then, I might as well work out. I take a good book with me if I bike - which helps pass the time, too. Also, what kind of workouts are you doing? I did the C25K, but can't say I enjoyed it, though I did complete it. I'm more of a dancer, so I've got loads of dance party videos that truly do make working out enjoyable.
You could also try lifting weights during the commercials of your favorite shows, or doing jumping jacks, lunges, or squats during commercials. Just a thought.

Find something you really love to do and don't worry about whether or not you'll be good at it. I've hiked, taken dance, 2 years of karate, etc. I find I'm more motivated to go to the gym because it helps me reach new goals in my fun hobbies.

I really had to work on myself psychologically with this one. My first instinct when I'm stressed is to eat. Guess what? That's a natural, evolutionary reaction (or call it instinct if the word evolution bothers you). You're body, when it feels stress, prepares for fight or flight. We have to learn to calm those stress hormones down. Whatever we have done in the past to calm them will be our first, neurological instinct. I had to really talk to myself and convince myself that there was no benefit to eating when stressed. It released TEMPORARY endorphins that made me TEMPORARILY feel better, but after that came guilt, sadness, feelings of failure---MORE STRESS!!!

So here comes the hard part. Now that you know it, you have to face the feelings. Arghhhhh!!! As a dear friend of mine says, "ya gotta feel to heal.". There is nothing wrong with being stressed or bored or angry or happy or lustful or or or... They're feelings. Deal with them. move on. Acknowledge the stress, acknowledge how it's making you feel, and convince yourself that eating will add to the negative feelings, not decrease them.

So much for my 5 bit psychology- it's helped me, I hope it helps you. It's a journey and it's work, but it's worth it!

Well, my weight has been zig-zagging back and forth between 187 and 185 for almost 2 weeks now.

It's been over 7 years, since my weight was less than 184. Well, this morning my scale completely skipped 184 and went straight to 183.8. I'm lighter than I've been in 7 years!!!!! Yay! :D

:jig: :cb: :cp: :hat: :cheer2: :cheer3: :broc: :cheer: :celebrate: :woo: :balloons: :trampo: :carrot:

I also had a weight on my scale this morning I haven't seen since junior year of high school....7 years ago! Metaquick is working for me....my home scale finally got out of 169...and actually this morning I'm showing 167.4! I remember distinctly weighing 168 my junior year....so I'm less than that! Let's just hope it holds so I can make it MRC official FINALLY and sign that darn 40 pound board!

I have been in pre-conditioning since Friday and when I got on the scale this morning, it showed I had dropped 4 pounds already. (My scale told me same as theirs Friday, so I am assuming this is right) Is this water weight or am I really losing weight already????

Goalbound- during preconditioning, I think we lose a lot of water due to the cutback on carbs, sugar and caffiene. But they tell me at my center that your body can get into fat burning mode in 3 days...so if you started Friday, it hasn't quite been 3 full days yet...but every body is different.

mandiana and Razorbackbritt - Congrats on the loss! Keep making good choices and you will reach your goals in no time.

Goalbound - 4 pounds lost is 4 pounds lost whether it is extra water you've been carrying around or fat does not change the fact that you are 4 pounds lighter than when you started. Yeah!

WI on Saturday and hit the 25 pound mark! I was so excited, but what made it even better is that my center has a 25 pound weight vest for you to try on when you hit that point. Holy cow was it heavy! I didn't realize how much 25 pounds really was. It is nice to have that weight off my body. It also gives me great motivation to keep going.

Question about stalls and in between meal snacks????
 

Well I am on day 15! I think the hardest part is over, but right now I am struggling in the evenings with sweet cravings. I have cheated twice by having and extra creamy (crispy soy crisp). I did not feel as bad since it was the on plan creamies. Now I am reflecting and in the last two weeks I have lost a total of 7lbs...0.5lbs of that in the past 7 days. Is it normal to see this kind of stall at the beginning or have I stalled by eating the extra creamy two days during the last week?

What does everyone else do when they feel like they need a snack in between meals? Sometime the HNS just does not cut it....:?:

My weight loss also stalled at the beginning of the 3rd week. For the 3rd and forth weeks I gained and lost the same 2 pounds over and over. Now, in the beginning of my 5th week, I'm beginning to see steady losses again.

I've switched to jello for one of my HNSs during the day. Feels more like food. :-) I've been using the HNS that is a jello, but I want to try making my own jello using Knox and some of the other flavors available.

Congratulations on your weight loss! :-)

:)Great idea! I am really liking the mixed berry hns the most right now.. so I may give try making some jello with it. Thanks so much for the feedback! Congrats on your weightloss also!

NSV: I have the cutest pair of yellow jeans (yes, yellow) that my mother-in-law gave me last october. I've only worn them once because I had to seriously squeeze into them and had a massive muffin-top. I wanted to beckon Spring today, so I threw them on and, holy smokes, they're a bit big! In fact, the waist is so loose that I may not be able to wear them again. Sadness, because they're adorably fun and springy. But, hey, I'll DEFINITELY take the size drops. Ha!

That is so great!! Congrats!

I went shopping this weekend. Actually twice. On Sat, I went with some girlfriends. It was so funny, I'm so not used to the size I am now. I was taking L and XL stuff to the dressing room, only to have to come back out and get a smaller size. I bought several M tops where I was buying L and XL. I also bought a size 10 pants! They are a bit snug, but are my favorite brand and were on clearance...so I'll save them for when they fit in a couple weeks.

On Sunday, it was our first anniversary, and my husband took me shopping. And again, I kept grabbing stuff too big. He eventually said, grab what you think you'll need..then go down a size. ha! We did eat out for dinner, but I didn't go too crazy. It was at PF Changs, and I'm a little bloated from the salt, but feeling good.

Shopping is sooo much more fun now that I don't have to be super selective about the styles and stores! Hang in there ladies, there is a light at the end of this tunnel...or heck, in the middle. I'm just over half way there and so much happier with myself!

Hang in there - I'm in the same boat with work stress. I am technically on vacation this week, but I do so lousy at home without the structured meals, times, etc - that I'm all off just sitting at home.

I did do two things over the weekend - I brought a radio into work - and it does help with the "noise" in my office. Also have some stress balls & sugar free gum which I'm allowed 3 per day.

At home I made a board (next to my 3 year old's potty board) and for every day I make it 100% on program - including water intake at 90oz or more, vitamins, eating on schedule, eating the entire amounts & not snacking or cheating, I give myself a star. If I make 20 stars I reward myself, with something out of the ordinary (not food related). For example my first reward is a movie by myself - because I always have to go with kids & or people who fall asleep.

I recently got the jello and having that helps. I also tried making "snow cones" and slushies by shaving some ice and using the Blue raspberry concentrate as my "snow cone syrup". For an icee I just add a little water to get the consistancy I want. I think that the grape, mixed berry and kiwi would work well too.

Mariah

I love this idea, I have always enjoyed receiving gold stars and it would be good to be able to really see if I have been on plan or not. Also the idea of rewarding myself with time alone is very appealing. Between my husbandd, 4 kids (whom I homeschool) and the cat I'm lucky to bathe alone! I think a trip to the bookstore or library (the budget is a bit tight right now) BY MYSELF would be a wonderful reward.

Mariah

Sorry this reply has taken so long. There are a couple of recipies from the cookbook at http://www.emetabolic.com/recipes/recipes.asp that do not contain supplements and there are some that do have the supplements. I do have some that I make that are not in the cookbook and I will post a few on the recipies thread either later today or tomorrow.

Mariah

Congrats to everyone on your losses and a big hang in there to those who are stuck. This too shall pass. :hug:

WI today. Ended up losing another 1.5 pounds. I'm offically in the 180's. :carrot:

Didn't expect that considering it's TTOM and I'm sick but I'll definitely take it.

Yeah!! Congrats !!! Good job!!

Mariah