Basically health and clothes

For me, it was health. I always liked the way I looked and thought I was dressing cute when I was heavy (though its much more fun to shop now!).

But over the summer, my doctor suggested we do a bunch of health tests....thyroid, cholesterol, sugar, etc. And my sugar was high. Pre-diabetic high. My A1C level was high and she told me I had two options: lose weight or get diabetes.

My grandpa had diabetes and unfortunately, died from complications a few years ago....and I didn't want that to happen to me. Since I actually could do something about it...I decided I would.

I tried from June to September calorie coutning and working out...but the pounds weren't really budging. I was able to do more excersize, so I was physically improving....but in order for my diabetes risk to decline, my weight had to go down. One of my professors had done MRC during my first year of grad school and lost a lot of weight, so I talked to her about it and decided to join.

My doc told me for every 20 pounds I lost, my risk for diabetes would decreast 20%, and so far I've lost 40 pounds! So 40% less risk for me to get diabetes! YAY! (PS. Today I'm wearing the dress I wore to high school graduation!) *photo attached* http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...0413-00041.jpg[[/QUOTE]

Wow!!!!! just Wow!!!! ........Speechless

The primary reason is for health, and appearance definitely plays a part. But the thing that motivated me to do something about this RIGHT NOW is very shallow. An old "friend" made a snarky comment about how good I looked back in high school and the amount of attention I received, and then compared it to how she and I look now and how the tables have turned. Our reunion is in June and I can't wait to be back to my old self. I'm embarrassed to actually write that.

First of all.. RazorbackBritt - You look amazing!! And I'm so old, I don't have anything from high schools except a Band Letterman's jacket :-)

So not sure it was ONE thing that got my butt in gear... I moved back to Arkansas last year and started seeing my old family doctor that I had seen from pretty much the age of 5 to 21 and even came back from Florida for Spring Break and had major surgery when I was 24... so now at the age of 37, he asked me what I was doing about my weight. I said, "watching it". He didn't think it was too funny and neither did I but what else was I going to say. He ran a full blood panel on me and even sent me in for a pelvic ultrasound to check for Polysystic Ovary Syndrome. Thank goodness, the only thing that came back off was my blood sugar, which put me a pre-diabetic state.

I was debating bariatric surgery - Sleeve Gastrectomy. I actually went to a seminar several years ago and was told I'm not eligible for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass because I've had 2 feet of my small intestine removed. And Lap Band is just a bad thing to get! But my insurance doesn't cover the Sleeve because it's too new. My doctor is totally against any of these surgeries so he recommended MRC. He said that a lot of his patients have gone there, lost weight and kept the weight off. I went back to him for my ingrown toe and at that point, I had already lost 9.5lbs and he lit up like the 4th of July! My mom had an appointment with him, the next day, and he just went on and on about how proud he was of me.

I seem to be going on and on.. another reason - I sure would like to buy a bra somewhere else besides a catalog or Catherines. Sure, I want cute clothes but for me, having a nice supportive bra is really what I want.. one without 5 clasps in the back or wide/thick shoulder straps. I'm single, no one would be seeing it but me... or maybe they would if I lost all this weight and went to Mardi Gras! HA! J/K!

On a sad note - my cousin, Missy, passed away Sunday, April 3rd at the age of 38! Her funeral was Monday. I really wish I could have been there, she lived in California - which is where I was born, so we grew up together until my move to AR but then every summer until about the age of 18, I went out there and she was the one I would always run around with. I got to see her this past Thanksgiving, which was great. Anyway, her death certificate was delivered to the family yesterday... Cause of Death - "Lap Band Placement" ... So I'm kinda doing this for her, now.

I think I'm done :) If you couldn't tell, I'm a talker! Like the Energizer Bunny.. I keep going.. and going...

After my long rant.. that's one thing I forgot to add.. a Class Reunion. It dawned on me last week that my 20yr Class Reunion will be next June. I'm not going to look the way I did back then... I'm going to look even better :D

Thanks for all the sweet words you guys! Made my day! :-)

Well, despite my allergies bothering me (I took the dog on a 2-mile walk last night and enjoyed the beautiful weather and blooming trees/flowers--until I woke up all congested this morning), I dragged myself to the gym and had a really decent workout today.

Actually, I had called in sick to work because I felt overall crummy when I got up (allergies) and I needed a "me" day. So it was nice to go work out right after lunch, rather than at the end of the day.

Anyway, I actually had energy and enjoyed my run--which hasn't been the case for the last week or two. I thought maybe it was because of the phentatrim I started last night, but now I"m wondering if it's simply because I went right after lunch--which meant my blood sugars were a little better than they are at 4pm. Hmmm.

I called my sister after my workout to tell her (she's a nurse), and she suggested that I eat half an apple or a little bit of yogurt right before my normal 4pm workout next wednesday to see if that helps. Not OP, but if it actually makes my workout more meaningful (and I"m going to burn it off anyway), it might be worth it.

Btw--so glad I took a "me" day--I slept in a little (an extra hour of sleep does wonders), watched a little trash tv, caught up on laundry, got my workout in, and am in a much better mood than I've been in a couple weeks. :)

Everything. I was physically and emotionally tired. I just had a ton of tests done and I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Additionally I had to do a sleep study and now I have to sleep with a cpap machine. Has anyone tried actually sleeping with this thing? Not fun. I did try to exercise and visit a nutritionist - spent $1000 and gained 20 lbs.

I couldn't walk up 5 stairs without being totally winded to the point it would take me 10 minutes to catch my breath. I couldn't keep up with my 3 year old, she would ask me to do stuff and it was a chore getting off the couch. And for the record - sex for me was uncomfortable - I hated it.

I was tired of being limited to 4 stores to buy my clothes and by the time I reached a size 24 I told myself I would not keep buying clothes to accommodate my weight gain. So I was in the same clothes for over a year. I had one pair of jeans and one pair of dress pants I had to wash daily.

So when I first went in to MRC I decided it was TOO EXPENSIVE; another excuse. It took me 6 months to actually sign up. One night I just added up all the money that I spent on "keeping me fat" .. On average $50 a week on eating out, $100 a month on cable tv, $175 a week on processed foods loaded with starches and sugars!!! Grand total of $1075 a MONTH on crap!!!

I thought the $100 for HNS and $125 grocery bill - minus cable tv was MORE reasonable than wasting $1000+ a month. Plus I've lost 24.5 lbs in 50 days .. and I carried my toddler down a full flight of stairs without being winded at all for the first time last week.

Ok, I am so happy to report that I have been 100% on plan while being in the hospital with Jayen, but the day before at the Mall of America was a huge bust. We ate at the rainforest cafe with the boys. I ordered rotiseree chicken with steamed veggies. Then when it got to the table I realized that they put oil on their veggies. I asked the waiter to make some without oil and they ended up making broccoli for me. But when we were done eating the lady came back out and said I didn't even think to tell you that there was oil on the chicken. It wasn't olive oil so I didn't think you should mind. YEAH RIGHT! Then, we walked past Wolfgang Puck's and my mind immediately went nutz! I haven't had that since our honeymoon and was completely in love with it then. My husband let me order the bbq chicken salad, then we walked by the godiva chocolate shop and I HAD to show my husband how good the chocolate covered strawberries are. Oh my goodness, it was an amazing off plan day. Now today I am craving sweets and everything I can't have yet.
Hopefully we can get some answers and get out of here soon so I can stop cooking out of a microwave and get some variety.

First is health, then it was the way I looked. I was so sick of wearing tunic tops and baggy clothes,that one day I said that is it,I need to do something about it, and I did.. I did not gain weight from overeating,or eating junk type food,it was from sickness in my family..My sister had Cancer and I was going back and forth to California and my daughter,as young as she is had a stroke, and she ia up North,I live in Florida,so I was always in a plane,going from coast to coast and trying to run my business in between and take care of my hubby..I never ate a regular meal,always food on the run, not bad food, but no balance,and I gained the weight .
Patzi

The CPAP is not a fun machine.. I lasted about 2 hours each night with it on.. for about 2 weeks and then I just couldn't do it. I know I should and need to using it still but I didn't sleep at all with that thing on my face.

My bottom line is health (though I having more energy and being a fun, cute mom are high on the list).

About 5 years ago I lost 80 lbs on LA Weight Loss and then the center closed. I maintained the loss and was training for a 1/2 marathon about 1-1/2 years ago when I had a "Thyriod storm". My thryroid went crazy (no one knows why). I walked into the ER and within 20 minutes was physically fighting off 3 male nurses, my husband, 1 doctor and 2 female nurses while they tried to restrain me. I spent a week in the hospital. After that we spent 4 months trying to control my thryoid (and many aweful side effects) so finally we decied to use radioactive iodine and "desolved" my thryiod. The treatment and adjusting of medications basically left me without a thyroid for 6 months while the weight piled on and I could not do anything about it.

I spent about 1 year trying various plans to lose weight with no success and finally decided to give MRC a shot.

I also want to be able to shop in any store without wondering if they will have anything that will fit. I want to run with my 12-year-old son to help him train for soccer. I want to really play with my kids and teach them take good care of their bodies.

Mariah

WI today and down another 1.5 lbs (21.5 total). Yeah! Today is my birthday and instead of cake I made a layered pudding dessert for my family (which they loved) and used the MRC pudding to make a layerd dessert for myself as well. (chocloate on the bottom and I added some cherry extract to vanilla pudding. It was wonderful and I have another serving of it for tomorrow.

Congrats to all the losers!

RAZORBACKBRITT - your picture looks amazing!

Struggling Nicole - you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the doctors can provide you with the answers you need.

Mariah

Sleep apnea runs in my family (dad and brother so far, though sister is probably undiagnosed), so I was worried about this, too. I was snoring terribly before I started losing weight (hubby would sometimes get so frustrated he'd go sleep on the couch in a huff and be pissed at me in the morning). Now that I'm down 50+ pounds, I don't even snore at night anymore (unless I'm sick)! Yay!

(**TMI alert**)
Also, my libido sucked when I was heavier. I didn't feel sexy, I didn't like being naked, it was uncomfortable and I was always too tired. Now, hubby can't keep his hands off me and I feel super sexy. And, I'm stronger and a little more "bendy" now that I"ve been doing yoga, so we've been having fun experimenting with some new positions. :)

Woohoo! Sounds like fun! I'm hoping my libido kicks in fully. Right now, it's picking up, but very slowly. Hopefully, when I am slimmer, I'll feel sexier and more "in the mood." Glad things are going...*ahem*..."well" for you :o

For me, it was health. I always liked the way I looked and thought I was dressing cute when I was heavy (though its much more fun to shop now!).

But over the summer, my doctor suggested we do a bunch of health tests....thyroid, cholesterol, sugar, etc. And my sugar was high. Pre-diabetic high. My A1C level was high and she told me I had two options: lose weight or get diabetes.

My grandpa had diabetes and unfortunately, died from complications a few years ago....and I didn't want that to happen to me. Since I actually could do something about it...I decided I would.

I tried from June to September calorie coutning and working out...but the pounds weren't really budging. I was able to do more excersize, so I was physically improving....but in order for my diabetes risk to decline, my weight had to go down. One of my professors had done MRC during my first year of grad school and lost a lot of weight, so I talked to her about it and decided to join.

My doc told me for every 20 pounds I lost, my risk for diabetes would decreast 20%, and so far I've lost 40 pounds! So 40% less risk for me to get diabetes! YAY! (PS. Today I'm wearing the dress I wore to high school graduation!) *photo attached* http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...0413-00041.jpg[[/QUOTE]

WOW! You look fantastic..
Patzi

LOL I love this!! I am so hoping my libido comes back strong. Ever since menopause and the weight gain, I have not been very interested, but have noticed, just after losing 11 pounds, that it might, possibly, kinda, sorta, maybe, be coming back??? Lord I hope so and I guarantee my hubby would be overjoyed! LOL

For me, it was health. I always liked the way I looked and thought I was dressing cute when I was heavy (though its much more fun to shop now!).

But over the summer, my doctor suggested we do a bunch of health tests....thyroid, cholesterol, sugar, etc. And my sugar was high. Pre-diabetic high. My A1C level was high and she told me I had two options: lose weight or get diabetes.

My grandpa had diabetes and unfortunately, died from complications a few years ago....and I didn't want that to happen to me. Since I actually could do something about it...I decided I would.

I tried from June to September calorie coutning and working out...but the pounds weren't really budging. I was able to do more excersize, so I was physically improving....but in order for my diabetes risk to decline, my weight had to go down. One of my professors had done MRC during my first year of grad school and lost a lot of weight, so I talked to her about it and decided to join.

My doc told me for every 20 pounds I lost, my risk for diabetes would decreast 20%, and so far I've lost 40 pounds! So 40% less risk for me to get diabetes! YAY! (PS. Today I'm wearing the dress I wore to high school graduation!) *photo attached* http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...0413-00041.jpg[[/QUOTE]

Look how cute you are! You look great!

NICE! Libido was never an issue for me or my boyfriend LMAO - so things are definitely good in that area (now after 24lbs lost) .. I may pick up the yoga now that you mention some of the benefits :dizzy:

Going to a restaurant for the first time...
 

I have been avoiding restaurant's like the plague, since I started MRC. I'm on my 4th week and currently on the MetaSlim Plus Level 3 plan. I was chatting with an old high school friend and we set a lunch date for tomorrow. He picked La Huerta.. which is a local mexican restaurant. It's going to be so hard to say no to chips & salsa but I think I can do that.. I just don't know what to order off their menu. I know I can't do rice & beans.. so I was thinking of their chicken salad. I'm already planning on taking a bottle of water in with HNS and just asking for a cup of ice. And then have an apple in the car for me to eat as my fruit.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to eat at a mexican restaurant.. besides chips, salsa, chimichangas, enchiladas and sopapillas? Which are all my fav's! :?:

I do Mexican all the time at home since it is my heritage - but I try to avoid restaurants because they cook with things like butter, lard, rich sauces, etc. I'm not sure how Level 3 is different from Level 2 - but I can have flank steak which is a type of fajita meat. It is more fatty than skirt steak, but still on the list to do.

I normally do fajitas and ask them to only cook in the veggies, and I ask for only fresh salsa if they don't add salt. Otherwise I take my own homemade pico and I bring in my fruit - they normally don't mind. Additionally you can totally have a fajita salad provided they don't soak their lettuce in salt ice water to keep it fresh. You can also call the restaurant ahead of time and figure out what you're eating so it's not overwhelming for you or the waitress.

Plan ahead!! You're doing a great job!!

At Mexican- I order fajitas (no onions) and no tortillas....and ask for a lettuce and pico salad instead of rice and beans. I've been to La Huerta (at least the one in Fay) before and they have no problem making substitutions for me.

So metaprotein has done its job. I broke my plateau! Woohoo! I lost 2 more pounds on it! So today is my last day on it as I travel to Alabama for a friend's wedding.

I will say no to wedding cake, I will say no to wedding cake, I will say no to wedding cake....

This is what I received from Center on eating out at Mexican Restaurant

Mexican restaurants offer grilled chicken, steak and shrimp.Order your meat with a side of grilled vegetables and a salad. At dinner, a small side of black beans can be substituted for your bread.When ordering salads omit the fried tortilla shell. In general, you want to avoid : sour cream,salsa, guacamole,
rice, olives and chips.
EXAMPLE: Grilled chicken salad: add extra tomatores:leave off anything not on program. At dinner add black beans.

Hope I am not too late for your luncheon with this information.

Patzi

Congrats! And if I can say no to chips & salsa, tomorrow at lunch... Then I know you can say no to wedding cake! :D

Have fun & travel safely!

Thanks! You're not late.. lunch is tomorrow at 12:30.

Thanks for the tips! I may go buy there a little later to see if they have a take out menu. I've eaten there before but I always know what I want.. so now, it'll be a little challenging. And I've told my friend that I'm on a diet but don't want to freak him out if I start to order with substitutes.

Patzi,

I can see how this is frustrating for you. And what makes it worse is that the center is not happy. They should be trying to help you, not telling you they aren't happy with the way the program is working.

I hope things get better for you. Are you still starting maintenance soon, or will they keep you on stabilization longer?

Most places have their menus online, even if it's just through a 3rd-party site. Here's what I found for La Huerta:
http://nwamenus.com/menu.asp?menu=La...loam%20Springs

It doesn't seem to have much for descriptions of the meals, but it's at least a start in your menu planning for tomorrow. :)

Thanks teacherlady. I went to this website earlier. It's been a few months since I've been there and they had added a lot of new things.. so I know the menu on this website isn't really up to date. I'm really just trying to stay OP because I will go for a WI tomorrow afternoon. I really want to sign that 20lb board but not sure if I've lost 3.5lbs since Tuesday.

I am on maintenance now. First week. I will weigh in tomorrow and report back..
Patzi

Oh! Great I can't wait to hear how it went!

When does your mind start catching up with your weight loss? I wish I'd taken photos to compare, but it didn't occur to me until after 20 pounds down. I'm only at 30 pounds down now, so I don't know that I'll see a difference in pics, but it's worth a shot.
How long did it take for you to notice a difference in the mirror?

That's a good question. I would like to know too.

I see a difference in pictures and sometimes in the mirror (but not for all things, like my thighs). But in my mind, I still look the same.

My friends and family really thought my -30lb pic that I took of myself showed a huge difference, but I only saw it in my face.

For me, it wasn't until after I'd lost 40 or more pounds that I really felt like I'd changed quite a bit. Even now, though, I'll be washing my hands in the restroom or something and look up and be surprised at how different I look. :) I don't know that my mind has caught up in how I think of myself (I still picture myself as being quite a bit heavier, until I stand in front of a mirror), but I definitely see all the changes in the mirror!

I have a long way to go.. and I may not see the difference in the mirror.. but I see the difference in my clothes. And I think that counts. I also feel the difference in just my overall body composure. I took some picks when I first started and plan to take them every month. They're the kind of pictures that you don't let anyone else see, if you know what I mean. ;)

I have a plan for my Mexican lunch date tomorrow...
 

I have been thinking about this all day and appreciate everyone's tips. My plan is to drink my veggie drink mix, right before I leave the office, so I don't have to order a salad with nothing on it, plus I'm just not that big into veggies. Take my HNS in with me, already mixed in a water bottle. And I will order Chicken Fajitas (no onions or tortillas) or a grilled chicken breast (probably with lettuce & tomatoes, just to make my plate look somewhat decent and maybe pick at it but not really eat the veggies). Then I will have an apple in my car that I can munch on during my drive back to the office.

I can do this! It's not a "think I can" kinda feeling I have.. it's a I KNOW I can! And that feels really good. :D

I did this same thing and every two weeks, take new pictures. I can totally see the difference in the mirror, but not in the pictures... How weird is that? I know I look different cause I am told all the time and I see and feel it and the clothes tell the story also, but not the pictures... weird.

My sister is on her way from Florida as I type this and we plan to go to Jefferson Texas for a couple of days. I sure hope I can manage to find foods that are somewhat OP while we are gone!

I really started noticing a difference at about 50lbs (or 2/3 of my loss). I know it sounds like a big number, but when I look back at the pictures throughout my loss, I can see the difference each month now. As for when it hits the brain, it didn't happen for me until a few months into maintenance. I was so used to hating my body that I kept finding things I hated ("now I look like a giraffe," "I have no butt"). It took a while to develop a healthy sense about my body and to not be so harsh when I looked in the mirror. I had to work on it.

Yay! I Did It!
 

My lunch date was great! And I'm so proud of myself. I showed up a few minutes early, the waiter brought out the chips and salsa... I took a deep breath in .. and the chips smelled so good but I didn't have any of them! I ordered the chicken fajitas and just ate the meat because I drank my veggie drink in the car before I went in. As soon as I got to my car, I took a bite out of my apple and finished that before I got back to the office. :carrot:

Now - just hoping for a good WI later today.