Yes, keep me posted. I'm trying to determine if I should take cortitrim to help me push toward my goal. I'm not taking any of the supplements at this point but I'm getting anxious that I'm not losing like I wanted. I did toss the ice cream last night and I'm trying to stay STRICTLY OP.

I love the 2 meal plan - I'm on it, just switched to it last week because I don't like being forced to eat 3 meals a day. I'm sticking with this - you can skip either breakfast or dinner with just an MRC Nutra bar. You can cut the fruit on the 2 meal plan.

Yea Lisa you are in Raleigh? You go to the one Six Forks or Cary? I'm with Rachel on Six Forks.

I've been going to yoga at Prairie Life Fitness at Midtown Crossing. Stacia (who also teaches at One Tree Yoga and the yoga place in the old market) teaches the beginning class on Monday nights, and Thea teaches the I-II class on Fridays. They are both excellent teachers!

I've been doing the cortitrim for just over a month now, and I really think that's what has helped me over the plateau "hump" I was dealing with last month.

Hi..
A comment on eating out. Any time I have gone out since starting MRC or when away on business meetings,I have stayed OP, and each time I gain weight.. This is so frustrating, but there is nothing I can do about it.I always take a Fat and Carb blocker when eating out, and if there is nothing I can eat,I eat a salad only, and have a bar on way home .

I ate out last night.I ordered grilled chicken,grilled dry, no seasonings, no fat,and steamed veggies, no butter and a small salad. Had my own salad dressing with me, and put an HNS in my water.. I weighed in this morning and gained 1 1/2 pounds. One counselor told me that they marinade food in restaurants, and for me, it is probably water weight from the salt in marinade of chicken, and who knows what they do with veggies, and she said she knew of a restaurant that kept their salad in iced salted water for crispness.

I was away three days one time and ate OP ,came home and gained 2 pounds.

Just wanted to reveal this, in case anyone becomes frustrated with same situation,it does happen.. Just stay OP and go on to the next day,and if it does not come off,do a day or so of Meta Quick.. The weight will come back off.

Patzi

Ha! I knew it! There's been times I've gone to restaurants and only got a salad--brought my own dressing and ate a bar on the way home--and still gained. I jokingly told someone that there's so much sodium in restaurant food, they probably dunk their salad veggies in a bowl of salt before serving it.

Apparently, I wasn't too far off...
:mad:

So now I guess I'm really confused about splitting the proteins. A couple of you posted your center told you not to do that. I've been splitting the proteins since day 1. I guess I need to ask another consultant to see what she says.

I had a really tough day at work today and started eating my lunch at 12:45 - before I knew it, it was 1:45-2:00 and still had my apple & Chocolate pudding (HNS). I ate the HNS and at 2:30 took a bite of the apple but then thought I shouldn't be eating the apple. I didn't eat much of it. I asked the consultant tonight and she said to eat everything within an hour. If you can't eat it within an hour, then don't eat it.. especially with fruits & starches but definitely eat/drink the HNS. I also missed my afternoon snack, 2oz. of turkey - she told me to add it to my dinner. She also said if I feel hungry during the day, since I'm on a $$$ crunch and can't really afford to use more than 3 HNS each day - to have a serving of sugar free jello. :?:

I just want this program to work and I want to do everything right. I know it'll get easier but right now I'm just really confused.

Wi today and I lost 1.5lbs! After being completely off plan during all the horror of the weekend with my horse, I actually lost more than a pound. Maybe I should go back to my old non-eating habits when on a plateau in the future, it sure seemed to help.

During one of my classes recently the manager was talking about her experience on maintence and mentioned that she had asked about how the baked potatoes were prepared if she ordered it plain with no butter. After finally speaking with the chef she found out they soak the potatoes in salt and melted butter for a couple of hours, bake it and then coat it with butter while it is waiting to be served and this how they serve a "plain baked potato with no butter". I find this really fustrating and it makes me angry. We really do have to do our reasearch and demand acurate answers (the waitstaff rarely knows how the food is really prepared). It should not be this hard to get a healthy meal when eating out - especially considering how much it costs to eat out.

I think I'm done ranting now.

Mariah

I go to the Cary center. We actually live in Harnett county. I don't think I've met Rachel before.

Well, now we know!! This is good to know, because it is frustrating. At the beginning of the program, I avoided eating out because of this.

Do you think the weight gain is water weight only, though (if you stayed as OP as possible)?

Good morning! I'm new here. The comments, questions and answers in this forum were the biggest factor in my decision to join MRC. I've been losing more slowly than I'd like, but as I am only 3 1/2 weeks into the plan, I am not discouraged. Reading of the struggles and successes of everyone is helping me keep things in perspective. Thank you for taking the time to post!

Keep up the great effort everyone. You are doing so well. Yes, we all have setbacks from time to time, but the bigger picture produces something much more wonderful. To feel amazing, healthy, energetic, youthful -- there is no dollar amount that can top that. So CHEERS everyone. Keep up the extraordinary work and summer 2011 is your OYSTER! oooo, oysters, yum -- woops! sorry, got off track. CHEERS, Joy2MeNu

Welcome OnionEyes!

Good luck on your journey!!! :welcome2:

I'm so happy that I was able to add a signature :-)

The past couple of days have been so hectic at work. My blood pressure has been 145/90 the past two nights that I have gone into the center and I'm assuming it's because I've been so stressed out. I go tomorrow for not just a WI but they are going to measure me again and I guess do all the BMI stuff. I'm just afraid with all this stress it won't be good.

I hope everyone has a great day! I'm praying mine gets a little better.
~C

So...I lost a pound! (Finally!) I have been on the meta-protein for one whole day, and lost a pound. Hoping this continues and meta-protein was just what I needed to break this blasted plateau. Amazing how one little pound can make you soooo happy.

Mariah...
I agree with you 100%. I always ask questions before I order something, but when on the road for business, sometimes it becomes difficult, and if too difficult, will not eat out, but eat a bar when I get back to my hotel room.
I always gain weight when eating out, and I know it is due to the prep pn the food.. So, rant all you want, it is justified.. I never knew they did that with baked potatoes..Mercy me. I have a friend, when traveling, tries to find a raw foods restaurant, as she says, the food is organic and they don't put "Stuff" on or in it before serving.. She does not eat raw, but this is her choice. Many times I order baked or broiled fish, nothing on it, and I can still taste the salt when it is served. I specify no salt, just plain and dry, but they do marinade it, I am sure.

Patzi

Yeah :carrot:

Well that totally confuses me - I was never told I had to eat it in a certain amount of time, because I am the same way - it takes me forever to eat. Also I never had an afternoon snack (because I'm not hungry or normally still eating lunch around 3ish) - so I used that 1 oz cheese throughout the day to top stuff off with. The old manager said it was important to stick to the program and not "play with it" or "move it around".. although she's gone so ... now I have to confirm.

SOOO TRUE! I lost 3 on Monday - and today nothing. I told them I would rather have lost 1.5 on Monday and 1.5 today.

I am assuming my increased exercise is affecting my loss since I started more on Monday, but when I asked one of the counselors last week if I could do the treadmill for an hour everyday on the MetaSlim Plus Level 2 - she said that was NO problem - just to drink more water (and she's the one of the best counselors there).....

Woohoo!!!! That's awesome!

I think all the consultants need to get on the same page with everything. I'm going back tonight for Mexican food samples & recipes.. so I'm going to ask again. I was going through the info that I got during food class - under the Protocol & Guidelines it states;

"The menus have been fomulated to give you a particular combination of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. If you substitute or move foods, you will get an entirely different combination that will result in slower or no weight loss. To achieve maximum results, check each meal against your weight loss plan."

The consultant said that you should try to eat everything within an hour because your body starts to break down food differently the more you prolong things.

Just hope I can get this thing "right" but then I don't know if there is a right "right" ??

As crazy as it sounds, the signature ticker has been such a motivation for me. I love being able to watch it slowly inch to the right.

Just stay positive about the WI and measuring. Think of it this way, it can't be anything but good considering you've lost over 10 pounds. Every inch, no matter how fast or slow it comes off, is a step in the right direction. Good luck!!!

Grocery Class & Restaurant Night
 

So in my confusion and dismay I forgot to tell you guys about the grocery class they started at my center along with the suggestion to start restaurant night!

They gave us a hand out of tips and tricks when shopping at the grocery store, along with some instruction on how to read food labels and what "limits" to stay under while on program! I forgot my sheet but will post it later. We also requested a list of "hard cheeses" - because one lady was eating cheddar, but the only hard cheddar cheese is like the super sharp (which is too much for me). Hopefully I'll get that soon too.

Additionally we decided that we would have "restaurant night" at our center. Basically theme night, mexican, chinese, bbq, etc - and one of the counselors goes out with us to show us how to order off the menu. She said it was something they did at another center - and she decided she wanted to take it on for our center. Will share when we go!

Please give us the list of hard cheese. At my center, they know I use shredded mild cheddar, parmesean, and mozzerella. They told me the mozz wasn't totally ok, so to use it sparingly (like when I make the cauliflower pizza).

My first REAL temptation..
 

I went out to the ballpark to watch my nephew play some baseball. I had just left the center and since I'm able to have meal replacement bars, I bought a box. I also bought more liquid HNS. So I grabbed a bar and the mix - went to the concession stand.... the smell of frito pies, hot dogs, nachos, sunflower seeds and popcorn! OMG! But I stepped up with my $1 and asked for a bottle of water. My sister in law was laughing at me but she's so proud of me. After the ball game, they were all going to dinner. I told them I already ate mine and I was going home. :carrot:

Those sounds like great classes! I would really like the restaurant night.

Please let us know about the cheese because I've been eating the Sargento Colby/Jack cheese sticks. My center told me those were fine, along with shredded mild cheddar.

~C

Way to go! I'm proud of you!

This is a huge victory! Every time you have an experience like that, it makes you stronger for the next one. Good for you! :cheer2::cheer3:

So, my trainer just opened a new gym and wants to put my before/after pictures in the front window! What?! Yea! More encouragement to all of you...that girl to the left in the green shirt did not want to leave the house 1 year ago. MRC was my last resort and I didn't think it would work for me even 20-30lbs in...but I kept plugging along and here I am sailing through 6 months of maintenance!

Sometimes, our best victories can't be measured with a scale. That is awesome!!!!! :woohoo:

Congratulations!!! You'll have to take a picture of your pictures up in the window so we can see. :)

That's Awesome! Truly and inspiration.

Bleh. Just ready for this week to be over.

Don't know what my deal is, but the last 2 days I've had difficulty forcing myself to drink my water. Which is weird, because this hasn't been an issue for me for months.

Also, I've had on/off stomach ickiness going on. For no apparent reason, my stomach will just feel "off." Not totally nauseated feeling (though sometimes), but just icky feeling. And the water sloshing around in my belly doesn't help. :barf:

I didn't feel good on Wednesday, but still forced myself to go workout. Usually that makes me feel better, but it just made me feel dizzy and icky this time. My blood pressure has always been totally normal (low-normal when I was skinny), and it has gone down to low-normal since I've started the program. My sister (a nurse) told me that there's really no such thing as blood pressure that's too low, unless you're passing out or not breathing, lol. Mine's been running about 94/53 to 108/68 lately. I think it's what's making me dizzy, and I just need to be more careful when standing up, etc. Better too low than too high, I guess.

Mostly, I think I'm just grumpy because I haven't felt "normal" all week and I'm just really wishing I could hurry up and lose the last 10 lbs and be DONE--but it's taking FOREVER. :mad:

Also, this is totally unrelated, but just wanted to see what y'all think:

I'm debating between getting a Kindle and getting a Nook.
I was just going to get a Kindle because the reviews on them have been strong since they came out. My boss and several other people I know have them. But then one of my co-workers (a fairly techy one) told me she got a Nook because other people in her family have them and the Nook allows book sharing (Kindle does not). I love the book sharing feature--except that other than my one co-worker, I don't know anyone with a Nook to share books with. I wish Kindle allowed book sharing--then there would be no debate.

I also read online that Nook utilizes the android format, which means B&N may eventually develop the ability for Nooks to also act as tablet PCs (at least for websurfing). However, I also know that Kindle is experimenting with a websurfing feature as well.

So, I'm debating-- tried-and-true Kindle with easy-to-read format, or a Nook (which still has strong reviews) with a cool book sharing feature that only works with other Nook users, and the possibility of tech advancements making it more like a tablet.

Input? Advice?

I'd like to get one before we go on our belated honeymoon in June. Also, I'm tired of having stacks of books (I read a LOT) sitting around my house, taking up space.

Teacherlady... I really do hope you start feeling better! I know it stinks to have stomach issues. I know my blood pressure is the lowest it's ever been, since I joined the program. I was usually 130/90 - last week it was 117/79, which I thought was amazing. But this week when I went in, it was 145/95.. and I was extremely stressed so I think that's explainable.

Just keep up the great work and we are all here for you!

~C

Teacherlady - I had the same debate at Christmas over the Kindle or Nook. I went with the Nook and really like it. I already use it for light web surfing, facebook, etc. I have not tried the sharing yet but that was one of the reasons I chose the Nook. Mainly I really liked the color screen. It is a bit larger than the Kindle which I actually liked since I have trouble with smaller fonts. More print fits on the page. What helped me decide the most was going in to a B&N store and getting a demonstration. They each have there own pros and cons. I had only seen a Kindle prior to getting the demo and that is what was the deciding factor for me. You may hear that you can read a Kindle in bright light and not other e-readers. The Nook has an anti glare protective screen that prevents that problem and I have been able to read mine in many kinds of light, even the dark without an extra book light. Good luck choosing, either one you will really enjoy.

Deb...
I start maintenance next week, I believe, and you have been an inspiration to me. How wonderful, your picture in front window.. You should be very proud of your accomplishment.

Patzi