Basically you will go over what you can and can't eat and why. They will go over the grocery menu and your selected menu plan you are on. Any questions, this is the time to ask!

Memorial Day Special!
 

My center is doing this and it appears FL too - but you might check yours.

In observance of Memorial Day, we will be closed on Monday, May 30th. To guarantee all of our amazing client's success through the holiday, we will be offering free weeks of program just for weighing in!

What you need to do:

Come into the Overland Park center to weigh in sometime between Thursday, May 26th, and Saturday, May 28th. Then come in to weigh in again on Tuesday, May 31st!

Just for coming in on Tuesday, you will receive ONE FREE WEEK of program!

FLORIDA ADDED:
If you are down from your last weigh in, you will also receive an additional THREE FREE WEEKS of program! It's madness!

I didn't hear the same from Overland Park but I can ask when I go in Saturday.

Yes, they said it was similar to the pina colada from the cookbook--they just changed it up a little. Yum!

Well, the graduation party was a great success. The center outdid itself. I can't believe I left my recipes there, but when I pick them up on Tuesday, will post them. The lunch was delicious and quite a feast.

There was green iced tea and a pink lemonade mixed drink that was delicious.

Barbecued chicken in crockpot
tortillas( these were used to put barbecue chicken in(chicken was like a pulled chicken)
chips made from tortillas
string beans
spinach salad with strawberries and a delicious dressing
coleslaw
watermelon..
a tray of raw veggies with a dip
cheese cubes( 2) on a toothpick
I think that was it.. Everything was delcious
Everyone had their picture taken with their graduation certificate, then we had a group picture.. I would say there were 25 people.

It was wonderful talking to other people and talking about all the different challenges.. I really enjoyed myself.

Patzi

Momoffour -- It sucks that not all your friends are very supportive. Downright childish, even. :(

One thing that really helped me (although it's not for everyone) is to chart my calorie intake and weight loss on livestrong.com. When I would hit a stall, I would look over the weight loss chart, which also allows you to map your net calories (intake after exercise) over the weight chart. One pattern I noticed for myself was that my best drops occurred when my net calories had a drastic variance. For example, if I ate at the top edge of my MRC caloric intake for a day (say, 800-1000 calories when I was on beige menu), then eat lower-cal OP foods and do my exercise the next day, then I would have a 2-4lb drop at the next weigh-in. If I net approximately the same number of calories every day, my body tends to hang on to the weight.

Knowing your body, it's patterns, and what works best for it is the best thing you can do to help yourself when you hit a slump and regular MRC plateau-busting tactics (metaquick, changing up proteins/veggies from what you regularly eat, adjusting or adding supplements/pills) don't seem to be working.

Don't give up! We believe in you! :hug:

Our Center, here in Bentonville, AR is doing the One Free Week thing but didn't hear about the three weeks! I will have to ask. I'll take as many free weeks as I can get!

So I'm sorry for being so in and out lately, but between moving and finishing our house, I have no time. Plus, there is no internet at my MILs where we are spending 3-4 nights a week while we move.

But I wanted to share with you....you all have celebrated my victory in becoming a Zumba instructor and getting a teaching job...so I wanted to show you these two videos I filmed of Zumba routines. Zumba is mostly latin music, but the Zumba music is copy protected and I can't film and put it online...so these are a couple non-latin routines of mine. They are low to mid-intensity, but fun!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/...12619&comments

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brittn...12619&comments

PS. if you want more videos and fitness info....you can "like" my Facebook page- Brittney Lee Zumba.

I'm hoping to add a video a week. You could Zumba along with me at home with that!

YAY!!! I love reading your posts. I was thinking...if she can resist candy, then I can resist the Donuts at work. You are great inspiration!! And since weiners arent allowed, they have a carrot.....but wait, carrots arent allowed either.....where the heck is the dancing zucchini???? :)

How do you know what is a low end vs high end? I thought it was all about an equal caloric intake. I still have a lot to learn.

Protein Question, I need 6 oz.
For example, say I have 5 oz fish, can I brush them with an egg white?
If I have 4 oz pork loin, can I add a boiled egg??

Hi Chasing Skinny.. love the name by the way!
I went through this stage and the center really doesn't want you to mix your proteins but if you do, then it's 1/2 & 1/2 and really the only one that works out evenly is 3oz. Cottage Cheese & 3 oz. of the other protein. I haven't done the egg white or boiled egg thing but just make sure the portions are 1/2 of what it would normally be.

Hope this helps.

So Amazing Britt! You look great! Not quite sure I can move like that, but I'm going to try! Thanks for sharing!

This is a repost.. I had a problem posting this, so I am reposting it, if it is duplicated, please disregard

Well, the graduation party was a great success. The center outdid itself. I can't believe I left my recipes there, but when I pick them up on Tuesday, will post them. The lunch was delicious and quite a feast.

There was green iced tea and a pink lemonade mixed drink that was delicious.

Barbecued chicken in crockpot
tortillas( these were used to put barbecue chicken in(chicken was like a pulled chicken)
chips made from tortillas
string beans
spinach salad with strawberries and a delicious dressing
coleslaw
watermelon..
a tray of raw veggies with a dip
cheese cubes( 2) on a toothpick
I think that was it.. Everything was delcious
Everyone had their picture taken with their graduation certificate, then we had a group picture.. I would say there were 25 people.

It was wonderful talking to other people and talking about all the different challenges.. I really enjoyed myself.

Patzi

Thanks for the advice. . . I actually noticed a few weeks ago that you mentioned tracking your calories on livestrong.com and decided to track my food/exercise/water ect. at sparkpeople.com (because I've used it in the past and love it). I think it will really be helpful in finding patterns and I have been amazed at how large difference there is in calories depending on which proteins I choose.

Mariah

You are all so amazing - thank you for your words of support. The board has been really active today and I need to go make dinner, but wanted to say congrats to Candi on the loss and the great example you are!

Patzi- The party sounds awesome and I look foward to the recipies.

Britt - Thanks for the workouts, I think I will enjoy Zumba"ing" with you!

New comers - welcome! This plan does work and you could not have come to a better place for support!

Update - I did WI today and maintaind. I was happy not to gain, but am still 1 lb from the 30 board. We did measure, etc today. I lost 7.5 lbs in May (7 lbs fat) which I am thrilled with and am down 5 inches which is good. (29 lbs lost and 39 inches in 12-1/2 weeks). I have gained confidnece, energy, and had a great time with my consultant. I will continue to stay OP. I had a great loss early on and this the first time my body has really resisted the weight loss. I also tend to lose a lot of weight at one time and then go awhile before losing again (instead of a nice steady loss) so I do believe that when I sign the 30 lb board I will be well on my way to the 40 lb board as well.

I am a bit jelous of those who have the chance to earn free weeks . . . our center is pretty new and so far has not given out weeks for anything! They are diong drawings for various supplements this week which is nice, but I really would love an extra week or 2. I think I will have to make a suggestion and see what happens. . .

Bye for now, hang in there and stay OP!
Mariah

Glad that you did not gain, and the inches you lost is awesome.. I can't recall if you said if you tried Meta Quick to get you going again. If not, I would highly recommend it. You are sooooo close to the 30 pound board.

I am in Florida and nothing was said to us about earning free weeks. Yes, by all means make a suggestion.

Good luck to you, Mariah, hang in there, and I know the 30 pound board is just around the corner for you.

Patzi

Thanks for doing this.Look forward to it.

Patzi

chasingskinny -- this ^ is what I mean by high end vs. low end. If I spend a day eating all the higher calorie proteins, then exercise the next day and focus on eating all lower calorie proteins, then I tend to notice a bigger difference.

For those on maintenance, try adding a small amount of that Special Chocolate drink that you make the brownies with (recipe Mariah gave us),into coffee, it is a real nice taste. Yesterday at the center one of the consultants suggested it and said it gives a mocha type flavor, not really, I would say more like a chocolate flavor, but nice... I have iced coffee some afternoons and this is a change. Coffee in maintenance is free..

Patzi

So frustration is setting in,my last two weigh ins are flatlining...less than a pound each!! help http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar098...150/188.2/.png

Mariah - you are doing fantastic!! 39 inches lost?!? That's amazing! And that 30lb board will have your name on it soon! Just keep up the great work. I think it's a great thing you are still losing inches even if that 1lb is being stubborn.
:hug:

jmgirl-- a plateau at this point (about 2-3 weeks in, or about 10-18 pounds in) is totally normal. Frustrating, but normal. IT happens to all of us. You just have to keep plugging along, and know that this is just a phase your body has to go through in order to keep losing. If you were to lose large numbers every week without giving your body time to adjust, you would have even more problems. Right now, your body is probably retaining water to keep the fat cells from collapsing--but it will eventually expel the excess water and you will continue on your weight-loss pattern.

Hang in there! We've all been through it. :hug:

Patzi, At what point do you add caffeine back into your diet? I am very excited to start stabilization next week.

Teacherlady gave a great explanation about what is probably happening, but I wanted to let you know you are not alone. I've been fighting for almost 3 weeks now to lose 1.5 lbs so I can sign the 30 lb board and honestly have found it fustrating . . . But I have been focusing on previous succeses, how I feel, inches I've lost, the fact that I have collar bones, being very honest and open on this board and in my consults and staying OP. This may not be happening as quickly as I want it to, but it will happen and does it really matter if it takes a couple of weeks longer than I want it to? Hang in there, stay OP and keep going!

Mariah

I'm in NE Florida, and I finally saw something about it at my center on Tuesday. If you go in on Friday, you get an extra week. If you also go in next Tuesday plus lose weight between the two weigh in's, you get two more weeks for a grand total of 3 weeks added on.

Rzrbackcandi, I wanted to let you know I really like your Food Dairy Sheet. I am just starting out. I will go to my food class tomorrow. Could you email me a copy of the sheet? I really appreciate it. I need all the help I can get. :D

andonaldson at hotmail dot com

Patzi- can't wait for the recipes. I would love to know how to make any kind of BBQ sauce. I have definitely been missing that.

Britt- Thanks for the lessons can't wait to try them at home.

Last week of school and I am doing everything I can to stay away from all the good-bye treats from the kids. This is torture, but I have recommited myself. I have 8 lbs to go and am going to get there!! I made a chain with my kids that I will pull one loop off for every pound I loose until I get there. My birthday is in two weeks and all I want is one beer! I'm hoping I will be back on stabilization and one beer won't set me back 5 days.

On a side note, I just got my wedding ring back yesterday. I had to send it in to get sized. I lost so much weight that it kept falling off. I love that I have it back but love even more that I went down 1 3/4 sizes!!! It is all sparkly and shiny and it that extra little motivation I need to finish this out!

Just sent it your way!

HA! Helps if I attach the document! I hate it when I do that. Now, you should receive it.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

wow, thanks. Lower calories as in fish and chicken. Higher would be option 2 and bison, turkey? or am I thinking wrong?

Went for weigh in today and lost another 3 pounds! I start blue menu tomorrow. Any great ideas for the creamy supplements? I keep hearing about this brownie recipe? Hope you guys are having a good day, it is storming like crazy here.

That is awesome about the ring, what a motivator. And happy early birthday :D

Flatlining is a normal part of the process, even though it is extremely frustrating. Less than a pound is still a loss, so just celebrate in the fact that you are staying on plan and feeling great. The scale is only one part of the journey to a happier and healthier you. :hug:

Coffee was a free item when I finished stabilization and was given my maintenance diet. You have six weeks of sabilization and then if you are happy how that is going, you can do maintenance.

Patzi

Thanks Rzbackcandi!!!

Nicole-that's great about the resizing of your ring!!! Keep up the great work. Happy early birthday! :carrot:

So I have been with MRC since the beginning of march, but due to a job loss I am not able to by the HSN. I have tryed to use the Whey Protein and gained about 2lbs back, so I finally talked to my center today and told them what is going on. They put me back on the pre-condtitioning menu till I am able to afford my HSN again, which hopefully will be with the next month as my new job starts next week. So after all that I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has re started the pre-conditioning menu once you have been on the other menu's for a while. I am so afraid I am going to gain weight, as I have been loosing very slowly...

I posted the Barbecue Chicken recipe in the recipe section. Will try to post one recipe a day.
Patzi

Hahaha! I started noticing that right around 30-40 lbs, too! I Still catch myself "fondling" my collar bones when I'm not paying attention. I'm just not used to seeing/feeling them! ;)

Me too! I hadn't been able to wear my ring since October sometime because it got too loose, and more so when my fingers were cold. I was afraid I would lose it. We have a wedding to go to this weekend, so I decided to go ahead and get it resized last week; just picked it up on Tuesday. I went down about 1 1/2 sizes. What a difference!