September Thread
 

Happy September, Ladies (and men if there are any lurking out there ;) )!!!!!

I'm setting my mini-goal for September. 7 pounds! I was looking at my numbers and lately it seems to be 5-6 pounds a month. Much slower than what I'd like, but at least it's progress. :) So, if I can get at least one extra pound, I'd be happy.

Hope everyone has a great month!!!!

Little Edie - Ambien sounds so scary. And you didn't even get to enjoy the cheating. ;) 3 pounds is awesome and hopefully, it will be more now that you're off the Amby.

Stone3973 -Gotta love re-sign specials!!! You can do this! Hang in there, girl!!!

Candi - Or is that "Stripper Candi?" LOL You may never live that one down. The things we will do for a good number on the scale. Talk about dedication! I hope things go better than anticipated on your Friday WI.

Tami - Ahhh!!!! 1 ounce?! You are totally gonna sign it next time. Just stay strong and don't let anything stand between you and that 30 pound board. :)


Took advantage of my center's August re-sign special. I re-signed for another 17 weeks for $99. Talk about crazy, I signed up on February 23 for 17 weeks, but between the contract snafu (in my favor) and always taking advantage of the holiday time specials (losing weight over certain holiday weekends and get 3 extra weeks of program time), I went from 17 weeks to 27 weeks! So, this go around, I'm starting with 17 and provided I lose weight between today and next Tuesday (totally doable) for the Labor Day weekend, I will get 3 free weeks and have 20 weeks program time to lose 20 pounds. Gotta love it!!!

I know stripping isn't for everyone but to get to that 80lb board, I just HAD to do it. And I will probably do it again :o I will draw the line at taking off my shirt and just have to remember that old saying my grandma used to say - You never know what's going to happen, so always wear clean underwear! :D

I updated my ticker to include my September goal.. 13lbs! Let the games begin!

Have a great day!

Bring on September!!!!!!!!!! We can do this, ladies!!!

Tami :)

I can't believe it is September already. I jumped the gun on the Sept goal in another thread but will put it here. I had just joined last month when the Aug goal was started and wasn't confident enough to start then but I am ready now. My goal is 10lbs this month. Came close to that last month and am really going to push to get it this month. Hopefully I can eat food since right now even the smell of it makes me sick. At least I can drink some shakes. Good luck this month everybody.

My September goal is 165-- 11.5 lb. loss, which is ambitious for me. That will put me at my pre-pregnancy weight, though, and only 20 lbs. left to lose after that! I can't wait.

I'm in for ten pounds this month.

I've been very OP for three days now so I'm off to a great start.

My other goal is to attend the MRC classes. Since I worked 3pm to 3am or 7pm to 7am the last time, I never made it to a single class.

This time I'm going to get all I can out of it.

Good lunchtime WI. Lost 1/2 pound in 2 days. :)

Started week 2 Stabilization on Monday. Added fruits 3 times a week to my extra carb 3 times a week. Weighed in today - maintained...I did cheat this week though. :( I was happy with my no gain!

Good luck to all of you for your September goals! My goal is to not gain during stabilization! Ha!

I don't do good in setting number goals so my goal for September is to stay on program and keep up my exercise. I am off to a good start on exercise(it has to pay off). Also weigh in 2x a week and drink my water. This will be a big accomplishment. Gotta get the most for my last 17 weeks.

Good Luck on everyones goals and stay focused.

Candi..
There is a lady that weighs in at my center, that insists she weigh in with
bra and under pants only. She does this twice a week,for as long as she has been there. She told me it makes a difference.. I always wear same pants, but with a lightweight shirt.

Everyone seems to be very positive for this month... How wonderful that is.

June , if you need any help with stabilization, just ask..

Wishing you all a great day and a great weigh in.

Patzi

HI ladies--I've been thinking about this whole "stripping" thing--lol--so I WI with nothing on this morning and saw a number that I haven't seen in over 10 years! Not that I'll be stripping in public, but it's really amazing to see how much your clothes weigh!

I'm going to make a goal of 10lb for September. August was just a big 'ole mess for me, but I think I'm back on track now. I also re-signed for 17 weeks, so I have until just after Christmas to get rid of 47 lbs. That really sounds like such a long time away, and unreachable goal. I know it isn't, but I wish I was a little closer. I'm bored. lol--although, I get bored easily. (trying to convince DH that a new car would make life "less boring"--he doesn't think so)

Have a great month, everyone! Save the stripping for emergencies!! :)

I'm going for 10 pounds this month too. I fell short last month, but this month I am determined to do it. I cheated today (had a starbucks mocha) and I hate that I did that, but I'm going to exercise extra tonight to try to make up for it.

Jen - I bet you're good at shopping too. I want to get all the free weeks I can - this stuff is expensive!

Let's get'er done!

I wish they did the extra weeks of program for losing over a holiday-- talk about motivation to stay OP! At my center, you get 2 extra weeks for going to six of their classes, and I'm about to get my sixth one this month.

As far as stripping-- in a case like Candi's where you're so close and have been pushing for it, it's not a bad idea if only for morale. However, it seems kind of silly to me. I mean, it's not like taking off your clothes actually makes you have less fat, lol. In the summer, I've always WI in shorts or a skirt and a light shirt. One time I had jeans on, so I took a pair of gym shorts to change in to-- only because I didn't want to gain or have the center think I had gained. When fall approaches and I'm wearing jeans all the time, I'll just bite the bullet one WI, and then I'll always have jeans on after that, so it will be consistent. This is one of the reasons I weigh at home, too-- I can do it naked in the morning, after going to the bathroom, and I get the most consistent results possible, so even if the MRC scale doesn't cooperate for whatever reason-- drank water, different clothes, different stuff for breakfast, different time of day, etc.-- I know exactly where I'm at from my scale at home.

WI today and lost 1.5 lbs, which means I "maintained" this week b/c I was up 1.5 on Monday--most likely due to TOM (glad to see that go)!

My September goal is to lose 5 pounds, before I begin stabilization at the end of the month. 10 pounds would be great, but it's coming off so slowly these days, that's probably unrealistic! My program is up on 9/17, but I'll get one more week if I WI Tuesday, and I plan to do that. I am right at my original goal, but had them lower it by a few pounds because I am not quite satisfied yet!

Good luck to everyone as we begin yet another month on this journey!

Hello all,

I'm still here. About 3 weeks ago, I hit -20 lbs, but wanted to be sure that it was a true loss (I weighed in at a different time/much less food in my stomach/system, etc.). Anywho, next came PMS and TOM and its accompanying water weight fluctuations - no matter how much I thought I deserved a loss. So, there's been a lot of up and down as far as the scale goes (according to my home scale). I haven't been to the MRC center, but plan on going to weigh-in tomorrow. Anyway, I just wanted to check in and say hi. I still read almost daily, but got behind as far as replying and had to give it up because it was so much going on. Tomorrow will be 9 weeks on plan. I seriously doubt I'll be at -27 lbs, but I'm learning to be okay with that. I thought that since I had so much to lose, that it'd come off easier, just by my changing my eating habits. And it's not, so there's some frustration there. I hate TOM because whenever it comes on, I lose 2 weeks of weight loss and backtracking.

I didn't join in the August challenge...but will throw my hat in the ring for an 8 lb loss during the month of September.

My husband and I were on road for business yesterday and ate lunch and supper out.. Ate OP , and this morning I gained 1 1/2 pounds. It will take 2 days for that to come off, but it will come off. I have never declined myself from eating out while on losing weight and now on maintenance still eat OP while out. However, as we have said before in posts.. They marinade meat all day in salty stuff, and even if veggies are steamed with no butter , no salt, do not know what they do before hand.. But it will come off for sure. So, never be apprehensive of eating out if you eat OP . What I ate that put on weight is.... Lunch.. No good choices, so had a salad, told them to double it,and got a shrimp coctail and put shrimp on top of salad, and had one of Diet Direct's FF dressing packs with me, and iced water.

Supper.. Ordered chicken grilled dry, no seasonings, and veggies steamed no salt no butter and a side salad with my own dressing.. Veggies at dinner did not seem to be steamed dry, but they insisted they were. Beverage was iced tea with stevia sweetener that I always have in my purse.

luvs2read79 Good for you in the September challenge. That is such a step forward...

Wishing everyone a great day and remember think thin.

Patzi

Good Morning!!!!! Almost a 3 day weekend. :cheer: Does everyone have a plan to stay OP this weekend?

Junie - Congrats on maintaining!!!! It must be such a mental switch from wishing the numbers go down on the scale to wishing the numbers stay the same. I hope it goes well for you. :)

stone3973 - I think that setting goals doesn't always have to be about a number. If it works for you to set non-scale goals, then go for it and we will be here to support you.

RaRaF - A number you haven't seen in 10 years?! I hope you are celebrating. Stay strong through September. Take it a little bit at a time and you'll be at 47 pounds before you know it.

coarkkayaker - You should see me at store. LOL I go straight for the clearance racks. ;) And while I'm not an extreme couponer, I do love my coupons. I love combining sale prices, BOGOs, and stacking coupons. I only wish we had double coupons down here. Recently, between all those things, I saved over $65 at the grocery store. Woohoo!

tkdtara84 - I hope they change their policy and start doing holiday weekend giveaways for you. What a motivation to stay OP during a time when people are having cookouts and partying. Makes it just a bit easier to stay disciplined knowing you are about to face a weigh in and get something more than just a number out of it. ;)

Goneforgood1128 - That's great that you were able to get your 1.5 pounds back off. Very encouraging. I totally agree with setting a more realistic goal. I would have love to have set my goal for 10, but after looking at what my monthly average has been lately, mentally, I needed to shoot for something I knew was attainable. Then if I get somewhere between my goal and 10 pounds, then that's awesome, and I will be even more determined than before.

luvs2read79 - Good luck at your weigh in today! And while you may not be at 27 pounds, you are at least 20 pounds lighter than when you started and there's is definitely something to be said for that. You are taking control of your life. Hang in there and know we are always here for support. :hug:

Patzi - I'm glad to see someone else who "invents" an OP meal at a restaurant when it doesn't seem like there are any choices. Sounds exactly like something I would have done. And, I'm with you. Just because we are going through this journey doesn't mean we have to live our lives in a bubble until we reach our goal. Life would be pretty dull. I have never given up eating out and I'm still going strong. It's just learning to make new choices that's the struggle sometimes, but it can be done.

Have a great Friday!!!

Question - is anyone out there taking the Ubiquinol? It was my coach’s solution to my being a zombie in the mornings since I can't have coffee anymore to get that caffeine fix. I didn't buy it ...yet...wanted to see if there are any users out there and what they think of it.

coarkkayaker-- this is just my opinion, so take it for what you will, but I would much rather add caffeinated coffee back in than take some sort of chemical drug. How much coffee do you need in the mornings? Many of us still have it without it affecting WL. Some of their supplements have quite a bit of caffeine in them, so unless you're guzzling the coffee, I'd just add it back in. I personally drink a diet coke every so often without it seeming to cause any harm. You might try it. Coffee seems "safer" to me than a drug. You might also find that one cup will do it since you've been weaned from the caffeine.

I lost a pound at WI today. I had hoped for more, but my home scale wasn't budging at all, so I'm thankful for the pound. I'm having a girls weekend and meeting a friend somewhere. I plan to do metaquick the whole time except for one dinner tomorrow night at the Cheesecake Factory. I'm going to let myself eat what I want, including cheesecake. I'm just going to try very hard to stop when I'm full, and there will be no other cheating-- just the one meal. I'm hoping to maintain over the weekend.

Hi Ladies--WI today and was down 3.5lbs--so I'm officially at 35 lbs lost. YAY! :) Now, on to the long weekend. I just keep thinking, slow and steady wins the race. This was my biggest loss for quite a while, so I should be feeling great--but I have this headache and my cure for headaches is usually food. Not so much anymore, but I did have some ice cream. I don't know why, other than I just wanted it. So--back OP for dinner tonite so I can earn a free week come Tuesday. :)

Have a wonderful long weekend everyone!

coarkayaker:
I'm with tkdtara--I haven't given up my caffeinated coffee while on this journey. Of course, everyone is affected differently and for me it hasn't made a difference. That said, what I did cut way back on was the creamer I was adding! I was one of those faux coffee drinkers who always had a little coffee with my cream! Now, I allow myself only 1 of those individual creamers and I buy the sugar free syrups (Torani) to make up the extra sweetness (it doesn't take much of those). I actually like it better now!!

Well, I weighed in today and was down .05 which I was shocked because my scales at home had not moved. So gotta maintain the loss over the long weekend.

Tami I don't know where you are going on your trip but in my area(of the South) we have Zaxby's, it's a chicken finger place and they have a great grilled chicken salad with a lite vigarette dressing( I ask for no fried onion toppers) also we have Ruby Tuesday they have a great make your own salad bar. Just a suggestion if you come across these restaurants.

coarkkayer I read somewhere that if it says decaffeinated it has to state
100% naturally decaffeinated because some decaffeinated drinks still have caffein in it. So maybe if you drink decaffeinated coffee it may have enough caffein in it to get you by. I agree with everyone else I wouldn't take caffein pills.

WI tonight and down 3 lbs. Got to sign the 10lb board. :) Good luck to every on this weekend.

tdktara--Cheesecake Factory makes a mean grilled chicken breast unless you're tired of chicken. Also they have a low-carb cheesecake that is very good.

Fluffy--congrats on three pounds lost! What a way to start the weekend.

stone--a half a pound is still in the right direction! Wishing you an OP weekend!

RaRaF--That's a great loss! How motivating for you!

coarkkayaker--I'm considering the Ubiquinol because I like the idea of keeping my heart healthy. My mother had a pacemaker at the age of 55 and I think anything I can do to ward off the evil heart disease spirits will appeal to the superstitious side of me.

Tami--Just remember that whatever you do this upcoming week can be undone. I ate what I wanted on my vacation but I walked hours every day so I think that helped. I think I gained 9 lbs on vacation but lost 11 the next week. Do what you think is best--we'll be here to support you when you get back.

Patzi--Your determination and confidence is enviable. I was thinking about you at my food instruction class tonight.

Well, I'm up 1.5 pounds according to the official MRC scales but it was after two meals and 100oz. of water so I'm not going to change my ticker for that since I plan on weighing in the mornings from now on. When I weighed myself at home this morning I was down another 1 lb. from Wednesday so I feel pretty good about it.

And,wow, I'm on the yellow menu for four days. I had always heard about the yellow menu but thought it was just another name for the beige pre-conditioning one. I couldn't have been more wrong! But I'll get through it. I bought some fiber drinks to fill my belly-that always worked for me in the past. I also bought some MSM for my joints since I was looking at that at the pharmacy anyway. And since I bought the starter kit I also got the NEW cookbook (such an improvement on the one from two years ago), trace minerals (eh, can't hurt), and the MRC Healthy Woman Multivitamin (even though I have my one a day already).

I also got my....drumroll, please....PINK TOTEBAG! It's the little things in life that make you happy, ya know what I mean?

My only obstacle now is the huge Shia LeBeouf cake I got for my daughter's 14th birthday. I became a food pusher at the party and tried to give away as much of it as I could. Although actually, sweets don't really tempt me so I think I'll be okay. Now, if it were a Hugh Jackman cake, I could not be responsible for my off plan diversion. Sorry, I have no resistance against him.

Okay, I'm set for a few days. I hope everyone who has a WI tomorrow has a loss.

Coffee...
Since this was brought up, I will tell you my story with coffee with losing weight.. I was in the weight challenge for 4 months, and I thought I would try a SMALL cup in morning some soy milk for lightner and some stevia for sweetner.. I did and never told center, and I still lost. I never went over the 1/2 cup as I was trying to get off blood pressure meds, and I know coffee with caffeine is a no no with HBP. When I was off the meds, I upped the cup to 1 cup a day, and still lost weight. When I had a stall or a gain, I knew it was not the coffee, as I was not abusing it and it was not a foreign item I was
taking. Now this worked for me and does not mean it will work for everyone. I never told center I took coffee until I hit maintenance, as I was experimenting with it, and did not want to be sidetracked by them.

Now.....My friend could not drink coffee while losing, as it made her crave sweets and carbs, and she kept gaining, so she got off of it.Another friend
gained while drinking coffee, so did not drink it. No craving, just gained, so you see everyone is different.

So, it was not OP for me, but other than the coffee I never went off program while on challenge, so I kept coffee in my diet. Before drinking coffee, drank non caffeine teas like chai, etc. Something with a nice taste with it and nice
when sweetened.

But remember, it is not that great for you, and it does not work for anyone, and I did not have one drop of it till I was off high blood pressure meds.If it made me gain weight or crave, I would not think twice but not to have it, and when one comes off coffee, there are some side effects like headache, etc. but that is not everyone..At beginning I did have horrific headaches
coming off of it.

As we speak now, I am drinking a coffee with soy milk, stevia, and some pumpkin spice in it. You will be able to do this when you hit stabilization, I believe. Can't recall of fhand. Do I think it is better not to have coffee while losing, I have to say, yes, I do...

Patzi

I went for my first WI and I was down 8.5 lbs. Oh yeah!!!!:dancer: I was so happy. I skipped preconditioning and went straight to the beige menu. It was He*# the first 3 days but worth every minute of it for the weight I lost. I know now it'll be slower because the first WI is water weight but it still feels good. :D

I went ahead and bought the cookbook, flipped through the pages first and found several recipes that I'd like to make. A lot of the recipes called for the chicken bouillon and cream of chicken HNS's so I bought 2 boxes of the coc and 4 of the cb and guess what....They were out and now it's on back order, dang it. I was wanting to have some yummy food and now I have to wait until TUESDAY, GRRR! :cry:

Well wishes to all and lets get these pounds melting away!!!!

Good luck! finished my first month at MRC and have my husband on board so all good! :-) ordered the recipe book online yesterday to offer me more variety to keep me going (they didn't have any at the center! :-( and really wanted it before i go on vacation next week) we are camping so will be cooking alot.. have been losing slower now but still losing and that's what counts! thinking i prob. need to step up the activity and limit the protein bars! supposed to have only 3 a week and it's been a every day thing. not good!

Little Edie, you are too funny...thanks for the belly laugh - it's smaller but still jiggled! :-) btw, i drink the lite Folgers coffee, half caffeine/half decaf. didn't affect wt. loss... i need that one cup in the am then i'm fine. i mix w/ a tablespoon of the cappucino HNS...

Happy September, Everyone. It's all about staying 100% on plan this month for me. I had great success in August til the last week...took daughter to Boston for college and each day added a little more off plan eating. I walked a lot and didn't binge, so hopefully, not too much damage was done. Yesterday back home was just a total bust, tired, depressed, just feeling blah so I caved and hit the carbs hard.

Anyway, I'm resetting by doing the 10 day conditioning menu again...today is day 1! I'm bracing myself for the hunger and cravings but hey, I can do anything for 10 days!! Then I'll check the scale.

My September goal is 10 pounds...quite doable...but means focus all month.

Sending everyone virtual willpower as Labor Day weekend can be challenging.

Planning ahead for vacation
 

we are going on vacation next week and i have stocked up on HNS (my usual Pink lemonade clear HNS for 3 x day) and creamy HNS (Choc, Vanilla shakes..) have the chicken noodle soup too if i get hungry...we are camping so am stocking the pantry and fridge in the camper w/ lots of veggies, salad stuff, lean protein, cheese, tortilla shells, canned ckn, frozen ckn breast, lean hamburger, melba toast... have the protidiet bars to eat when my DH is eating fudge and brownies! i do have to limit those so will eat half for "dessert" and hide them so i don't eat too many! i will be having some cocktails so mix my pink lemonade HNS (i buy the large bulk container from diet direct.com) w/ sugar free 0 cal. margarita mix and tequila (shouldn't tequila be counted as a veggie since it's made from cactuses, right?:-)) boiled eggs and my cinnamon toast (love it!!) or cheese toast.for b-fast. cut up veggies and cheese (hard or cottage) or lean meat for lunch w/ berries ...dinner-ckn kabobs, or tortillas, lean hamburger w/ one half of sandwich thin (give the other 1/2 to the pups) planning on drinking tons of water!
What is Meta-Quick? i may go back to week two meta slim menu and lose some quick weight before i go (have a week!) what are your thoughts and suggestions for other menu ideas... i would love to find a comparable OP item that would mimic a bratwurst!

Bigdog:
Please tell me more about the sugarfree/ 0 cal margarita mix! What brand? Did you get it at the liquor store? Thanks!

Believe it or not, I actually have done Joe's Crab Shack pretty much OP. I got a Chicken Caeser Salad (grilled chicken) and had them hold the Caeser dressing (TONS of calories). I used a bit of honey mustard instead (one thing I haven't given up) and still managed to lose.

Tamikl...

My sister lives in the San Diego area,and I was there for 10 days, and I never had a problem eating OP.. I also agree with Jen about Joe's Crab Shack..I got same type of salad, had them hold the dressing, as Jen said, that is so loaded with fat and calories, and I had some light dressing they had there at the time.. So, you will not have any problem in that area.

Patzi

my girlfriend got it for me from Walmart... it's Jose Cuervo brand and it is so good! i like tart drinks but if you want you could add splenda...i add some of my pink lemonade HNS ... :-)

please post the Zucchini chip recipe. my center was out ofthe recipe book!! and i'm headed on vac next week and want some OP crunchy stuff. i had to order it from amazon...they always seem to be out of stuff...anyway, thanks.

p.s. gravy and biscuits for dinner? even as a little girl, i demanded (sweetly of course) that we have veggies at every meal. my fave was "trees" (broccoli) i'd eat the whole bag. crazy kid!!!

Jen, i never could find the Walden Farms dressing but found Maple Farms Honey Dijon Fat free dressing and it is sooooo good. i usually hate lite dressings becuz they r too sweet. it's 35 cal for 2 Tbsp., 9 g. carb, 8 g. sugar...no high fructose corn syrup. (at Bi-Lo)