It's been a hard couple of weeks. I weighed in on Friday evening, (not a good time) and of course I was up. I knew I would be due to the evening WI compared to my usual AM WI. Anyway, I made them measure me since it had been a while. I'm down 19.5 inches. I was amazed. That made me happy. I need to buckle down and get the last 7 pounds off before Nov. 17th. That is the end of my 17 weeks. I can do it. This time of the year is so hard. There is candy everywhere! How do you all have the will power?

I hope to be where you are someday!

Pam

It's been a few days, but I thought I'd check in before heading out on vacation. :) We're heading down to the land of the big mouse (aka Disney World). We're taking the munchkin for her 2nd birthday since she definitely knows who he and his friends are now. ;) We're just going for a few days and then coming home and taking it easy the rest of the week.

Welcome to all the newbies! To all our vets, hang in there!

You are worth this!!!!!

Welcome!

This program does work...but it will be a challenge with a family. I mostly end up cooking 2 meals at dinner time. Mainly because many of the MRC recipes call for an HNS (ie: Tomato Basil...) and that is a high protein supplement necessary for my weightloss, but not necessarily the kiddos. I think the artificial sweetener thing may be an issue for you....the HNS drinks we are required to have, contain it, but also we are encouraged to use splenda in place of sugars...

You know, while parts may be sort of an inconvenience, the program is worth it. My husband eats everything I do....and my kids were never big on fancy meals anyway...so while we have stuffed peppers on program, they have chicken nuggets! LOL We are all happy....There are some things I make that we all have like chicken, fish, salads, etc....

Tami:goodluck:

Originally Posted by twobabiesinnc
Hi !
I am brand new! I just had my free consultation today and am hoping to start the program on Monday... I have an 11am appointment.
I am definitely nervous, but excited at the same time. I need to lose 51lbs.
I know that the preconditioning is pretty rigorous, but it seems that there are a lot of great recipes out there for later on.
My one question is... because some people said "diet"... do we need to use products with a lot of chemicals? I don't like aspertame or artificial sweeteners. Will this be a problem?
Also, anyone doing the program that has children?
How are you able to cook for yourself and your husband and have things for the kids? Do you just make things separate? I believe someone said something about custard with a protein pack. I don't think I should be giving that to my children.
Any thoughts?

I never cooked the recipes in the book if they contained the products that MRC sells. You can tell center you are allergic to aspertine, and they do have some of the HNS that have splenda and not aspertine, as it creates havoc with me. I can have it on occasion,but prefer not to. My husband eats what I eat,as I do not use the supplements in my meals.. My children are grown,so can't help you there.

Welcome and wish you the best in your challenge..

Patzi

What made you finally join MRC? or decide to lose weight?
 

i have a few reasons....
1. narrow hallway in camper!
2. found that i was hanging over on each side of my beach chair!!!! or would get up and the chair would be lifted a bit! like i was almost stuck
3. "mean" sister's horrible photos of me posted this summer and emailed to everyone
4. was getting hard to get out of bathtub
5. pants were getting shorter
6. could not fit into any of my clothes and the larger size clothes i had to buy, i immediately cut out labels (who was i fooling?)
7. hard to climb up ladder on boat
8. felt like a slug, felt heavy and yucky, no energy
9. comments from cashier - wow, look at all this candy! are you having a birthday party for your kids (hmmmm....i don't have kids)
10. hips, legs and knees hurt after walking....

The HNS (the one required part of the program) ... protein drink you use 3-5 times per day is all artificial sweeteners, etc. You may want to rethink this particular plan if that's a problem for you.

And don't stock up on food for preconditioning ... it's only for a couple days (my center had me do 3 days) and you won't have that many choices with the plan itself (for instance, only 1 fruit per day, 2 40 cal starches and stuff like that).

Pumpkin Pie! OP
 

Pumpkin Pie
1 pkg. vanilla creme pudding
1 slice 40 cal. bread
4 oz yellow squash, peeled, chopped and cooked
1/4 ts. pumpkin pie spice
1 packet splenda
1 egg
2 oz. low fat cottage cheese
3 oz. water
Spray small dish or custard cup with Pam. Place rolled bread in bottom of dish and bake at 350 for 10 min. until slightly browned. Blend remaining ingred. in food processor or blender. Pour over crust and bake for 10-15 min. until solid. Servings 1

lv2ski2004: 3 Fat Chicks

(note from Steph: the veggies with the egg and cottage cheese.... not sure which meal to put this with since technically we're not suppose to have veggies in the morning and we're not suppose to have eggs or cottage cheese at dinner.... and we're not suppose to have bread at lunch... I'll let you be the judge. Maybe it would be good for lunch without the bread)
Posted by Steph at 10:52 AM 0 comments
Labels: bread, cooked veggies, cottage cheese, egg, vanilla cream pudding sup

Hi ladies....

Just checking in..celebrated my birthday in style and very much OFF program for the most part. So, I have just been getting myself right back on. I have my WI on Wednesday this week, so keeping my fingers crossed that not too much damage was done!! LOL

I am enjoying all of the different recipes being shared! Always fun to try new ideas.

When Patzi shared that she made no recipe that required HNS, it made me worry...because all of them I make do require it. It makes me wonder how this is suppose to work when we are taken off all of the supplements? Hmmm...maybe that is why she didn't cook with them. Guess I will have to figure out some subsitutions when that time comes.

A suggestion that you mix sprite zero with an HNS is brilliant! Very yummy!!

I am not all that creative, so these tips are wonderful!

Hang in there, everyone...and welcome to all who are new to the program!

Tami

Hi There! Thanks for the info on Diet Direct and Nashua. Who do you get the orange drink from? I couldn't find it on either site. I saw the pink lemonade on the DietDirect site for $26.99. Also, do you every buy the chicken broth/soup clear supplement online in bulk? That's something else I enjoyed when I was doing the plan. I'm going to order some products and get started on my own. I know I can do this with all the support here and the paperwork I already have plus new info posted. Thanks.

hi, Rocki, it's on Diet Direct. Syntrax Nectar Natural Orange. it was $38.99 for 34.4 oz. (36 servings) they have more flavors too if you don't get the Natural (Latte, twisted cherry, etc.) and it's cheaper at $34.99. the Orange: one level scoop is 90 cal., protein 23 G, fat 0, sodium 50 mg, Potassium 120 mg, Fiber 0, Sugar 0 - i put it in the blender w/ ice and water and it makes a frothy shake :-) if you mix it w/ vanilla protein powder - it's like a dream cicle! i don't even crave sweets on this diet because i'm always creating new protein shakes that taste like dessert. :-) i was totally a chocaholic and had to have sweets every day so this is a huge accomplishment!

Tami: I don't use HNS in any of my recipes, even if they call for it. I've used no salt added tomato sauce or tomato puree instead of tomato basil. And I found an organic, cage free chicken stock that only has about 200mg of sodium compared to the ones that have 500mg. But for the most part, I don't make casseroles or anything like that. My main reason for not using them is the $$. I would rather spend that money on the HNS that I drink. Hope this helps.

bigdog: Thanks for posting the pumpkin pie recipe. This is the one the center had. And I asked the center about what time of day you could eat this and they said you could have it for dinner. The 2oz. Cottage Cheese is a minimal amount and it's ok to do "on occassion".

As for meals - since my mom moved in, she eats what I eat. She has other things that she adds to her meal but the protein & veggies are usually always the same. I don't have any kids but I know some people have posted on here before that they just make mac & cheese or rice or something extra instead of cooking 2 completely different meals.

I hope everyone is having a good week! I went for WI this morning and was up 1lb. The consultant did a body comp and it was 1lb of water weight. I walked a little over a mile last night and 1/2 of that mile was uphill so my calves were burning. She suggested to not do the uphill every night and especially not the night before a WI.

As I was getting ready to leave, the center manager stopped me and asked if they could put my pictures and bio on their facebook page. Made me feel real good - so of course, I said yes. And they are also going to post my top 10 list on there, too.

Ok - guess I better get back to work! Wish I could hurry up & win the lottery! :D

Had maintenance weigh in today and gained 1/2 pound, no reason. Brings me to 4 1/2 pounds under goal. Did not try anything new this week. Trying to be reasonable with eating as my daughter is coming home next week for 5 days and would rather use it then.

Candi.. Please let me know when your bio is on facebook..You are a great inspiration.

Do not remember who brought this up.
I have been on maintenance since May and I take no supplements, maybe an HNS on occasion, and I have not gained my weight back, so I would not worry about that, and I never used the supplements while cooking now or while I was losing weight. I don't think Candi does either.. I cook regular and just stay with what is on program. So the supplements to make a meal are not necessary all the time, or not at all, really . The choice is yours. If I use the cookbook, I substitute something healthy for the supplement they require, and it comes out great.


Wishing everyone a great weigh in.
Patzi

I had my first WI of the week today and was down 3.5lbs from last Thrusday. I got to sign the 20 pound board which was my personal goal this month.

I use the no salt tomatoes also and they are great. I use them to make salsa that is OP. Still not as good without the onion but WAY better than no salsa at all. I have also found a no salt broth that is "low" in sodium which I also use in recipes. This is a life style change and I have to have something that I can do while on maintenance and beyond.

Congrats on signing the 20lb board!!
:dancer: