I would also like to know what its like on maintenace,just curious thats all.i am usually sensitive to carbs.Do you have to eat a lot of carbs?Is the breakfast lunch dinner remain in the same pattern?i would like to know what kinds of foods and how much portions you can eat?

@flowergirl - you absolutely need the HNS. You can buy them on dietdirect but usually not any cheaper than purchasing at your Center. I, too, tried many diets to only lose minimal weight. This program works if followed. I drink the suggested water .. 64 oz + 8 oz for every 25 lbs of weight loss needed. Adding in 8 oz for every 15 mins of intense working out. I have taken MRC6, Enhancer, Fish Oil (my own) and a multi-vitamin since I joined MRC in November. For me, this has worked beautifully. And I tried to max my HNS daily. The HNS and MRC6 help with keeping the hunger pains away.

Melba Toasts are generally near the salad dressings in many grocery stores. Although I have found them in the cracker area in Walmart.

The first couple weeks on the program is the toughest! You can do it .. Good luck!!

Touchbase
 

How did the weekend go for everyone?

I had to do another party this weekend, but I feel I did better than the Frito fiasco weekend :) I did have some spinach artichoke dip, but my sister is fairly health conscious so it was made with low fat items.

Still hoping to lose a few more pounds at tomorrows weigh-in; we'll see!

Ladies I happy to say I was finally able to renew my program for 10 weeks!! I have been trying to do this on my own since octoberish and it just hasn't been working for me. i'm excited because my program runs out just before my birthday so I've got a birthday goal!! :woo:

My boyfriend practically begged me to go back, he is so supportive. He said 'you were so much happier when you had the program to go to, with all the extra support.' The center manager, said he is one of the most supportive spouses there, he comes in with me from time to time and asks questions :) He even cuts my veggies up into serving sizes for me when he does the shopping! He really tries to keep me on track. Unfortunately he's a southern boy who weighs less than my goal weight! and loves his fried foods and carbs. its so hard not to eat stuff he or I cook for him :( So I am excited to have rejoined and also nervous that I won't succeed.:dust:

Teacherlady: That corti-trim is great, I notice when I don't take it, I'm very grumpy and irritable. It really helps regulate my mood :) I hope it helps you too!!! :carrot:

Hello all. I'm new to MRC and this program as of Feb 23. After 7 days of pre-conditioning and 3 days OP, I am down 9 lbs. So that is pretty exciting! My DH joined as well, and is down like 12 lbs. It's a HUGE life change for us, as I was a dedicated Weight Watcher. Lost 75 lbs on that program several years ago, but want to get the rest off and DH just won't do WWs. So here we are.

I stumbled upon this site, and have been lurking in the wings for over a week. Looks like a great, supportive site.

I am kind of disappointed that I'm on a "slower" plan (Meta Slim Balance - white sheet), due to some medical stuff. Anyone else on this plan? What has your experience been (avg wt loss)?

It took me awhile to find Melba Toast at my store too. I shop at Publix and the one I go to puts it on the bread aisle.

Of course, there's always Amazon Grocery. Here's a link to the Melba Toast they sell ... Melba Toast at Amazon.

HTH!

I'm in Savannah also! If you need to find something OP, let me know and I should be able to help you.
I also shop at Publix and at first I had a difficult time finding Melba.
Keep going!

Great Job!!!! I am also on the Meta Balance plan. I started off doing the Meta Slim Plus, but because I am exercising more than 200 minutes a week they switched me over. At first I was a little disappointed in the slower losses because I was losing at least 5 pounds or more when I first started without exercising. I have now accepted the slower losses, around 2-3 pounds a week because I know this is better for my body in the long run. I think that it will help me keep it off in the long run because it is taking longer for me to lose so maybe I will appreciate the hard work that I have put into this. Just keep your chin up and know that this is a healthy way of losing. Keep up the great work!!!

Thanks! Do you know what the difference is? Compared to my DHs, looks like 6 small meals vs. 3 larger ones....and I get dairy. Wish I understood more behind who gets what, when. Also, do you adapt so that you can make some of the recipes? Seems like they all require a HNS, which I technically can't have at main meals. Looks like you've had great success!

I lost the 2nd 1/2 of my 70lbs on metabalance. I didn't use the cookbook much - I'm always rushing around so I lived on chicken breast salads, turkey medallions wrapped in low carb tortillas (Sam's club), eggs and lc toast, etc. I mixed a mixed berry HNS in my plain yogurt for an evening snack every night before bed. It's a great menu and you will have more energy. It makes more sense the longer you do it. Congrats and good luck!

Please ask more specific questions if there is anything you want to know.

Maintenance looks very similar to the losing menu except that you have more options for carbs and in slightly bigger amounts (graham crackers, starchy veg, etc). You go to calorie counting, officially, but it's more like exchanges (pro/starch/dairy for breakfast, etc). I have felt the best when I've followed the b/l/d pattern. On every maintainer website, the one thing that I see over and over again is that maintenance looks exactly like losing, with a few hundred more calories/day. I work out a lot, so I can carry a higher calorie load. People can maintain at 1200, 1500 or 1800 cals/day - mine is 1800. A typical day would be:
B - 2 eggs, 1/2 bagel, 1c skim milk
S - 1 apple, 2 babybel light chesese
L - grilled chicken panini on lc bread, salad, 1T dressing, 1/2 c fruit
S - balance bar or veggies/hummus
D - clean protein (4oz), 1/2 c rice, veggies
S - 1/2 c low cal ice cream

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Thanks for posting this! Another reason to follow this program through to maintenance. The losing plan doesn't last forever and some old faves get to come back. :)

Happy Monday, Everyone! I am happy to say I "survived" this weekend. My 16 month old daughter is sick and hubby had to work all weekend. A month ago, I would have thrown in the towel and resorted to emotional eating given all the stress. However, I stuck to my guns and stayed OP. What a great feeling!
:carrot::carrot::carrot:

You should be sooooo proud of yourself! Well done!

This wasn't a bad weekend, but I did go off-plan one time (had 1/2 packet of that powdered creamer in my coffee at church on Sunday morning). Hope it doesn't throw me off.
I was so tempted to buy this really cute top in a size small at a local thrift store, but I didn't. Did any of you buy clothes that you assumed would fit at your goal weight? Was it motivation for you? I'm dying to shop for clothes, especially since it's almost garage sale season (I'm a mega-thrift-shopper). I've never been thin, though, so I don't have any idea what size I'll be when I reach goal.

Congrats to everyone staying on plan, big losses and before and after pics.

Welcome to all the newbies.

I didn't do so well yesterday but am on track today. I'm down 4 lbs still and hope to get 4 more off this week. We'll see. I didn't make it to the gym today b/c of a meeting and I have to be on the phone for work in 9 minutes (work from home).

Is there a link showing the other plan (with dairy) that some are on? Can someone post that? I really think I would do better with that with my work out schedule. I want to workout and run way more and think that plan might be a good solution for me. PLMK if you have it so I can write it down.

Thanks ladies! Have a great Monday!