vegs
 

Thanks for the tip,I will try that. I do know from canning that blanching helps keep them firmer.

scales
 

About those scales. A person weighs less in the morning than they do later in the day,no matter what they do. I have scales also,but only get on them usually before I go to weigh in so I can see if I am on the right track.Of course my scales,doctors scale etc is all different than the MRC's scale.

Hi..
Had maintenance weigh in today and stayed the same, putting me 5 1/2 pounds under goal, so am happy with that.. This week I experimented adding more squash and pumpkin to my diet, to see how I would do, and no weight gain with it. I gain weigh when I eat starchy veggies, but maybe my body is finally accepting it. My greatest thrill is what should I add to my diet this week. I think I have told you I can have two glasses of wine with no weight gain, but do take a fat and carb blocker.

There was a woman I was speaking with while waiting my turn and she was 220 pounds and has lost 75 pounds, and wants to try and lose another 10.
She showed me a before picture and she looks like a different person.

A man that was waiting his turn was 240 and lost 90 pounds, and he has started stabilization. He also looks great.

So you see , this diet is wonderful.. It works if you work it. I thought this would be a boost to y'all to know about people having great losses.

Wishing everyone a great weigh in and a great day. Think thin.
Patzi

Tami - First off, big hugs! :hug: This can definitely be an overwhelming journey at times. Here's my advice for what it's worth. You just hit your original goal. Celebrate that! That is an accomplishment in itself. :) Congratulations!!!! You said you feel good about 160, but the center wants you lower? My thought is to explain to them your concerns. Tell them, for now, you want to set your sights on 160. It is what you are comfortable with and mentally prepared for. If you want to stop there, then that's it. However, if you get there and decide you want to try for another 5 or 10, then that's YOUR choice. Take your goals in small portions so they don't get overwhelming. Above all else, don't let one counselor's thoughts about switching your goal de-rail all your progress. You've come too far. We're here for you! :)

Fluffy in Florida - If you are struggling, then that's the time to post more around here. We definitely understand what you are going through and may be able to give you the encouragement you need to make it through a difficult time. :hug:

shemyvonne - To get me your e-mail address, you can either post it here (and delete it after you receive the packet) or participate in the forum to the point you get to PM.

bigdog - If it makes you feel any better, a 20 ounce bottle of water weighs 1.3 pounds!!!! So, just think of it this way...you're gonna have a great weight loss next time! :D

birdfeet - Welcome and congrats on the 40 pounds! Keep it up!

patzi - Thank you for such encouraging stories and doing great this week! You are definitely giving me hope for maintenance! :)

I'm still chugging along staying 100% OP. I've had a bit of a sore throat this week and my body temperature is up 0.5 to 1.0 over it's normal. Not a fever, but elevated. I'm getting all my water in and then some to help the soreness out. I was warned by my counselor that my weight loss may slow a bit due to this because my body is focusing it's energy on getting better. But, as of this morning, I'm down to 152.4. However, tomorrow will be a calculated cheat. It's my munchkin's 2nd birthday!!!! For me, it's going to be extra special because the doctor's told me when she was born that the 2nd birthday would be the milestone birthday for her. Preemies are considered to be on par with other babies born full term at that time. So, to celebrate this, I will take my F&C blockers and have a slice of cake to mark the occasion. After that, my OP life goes on. I'm not using it as a license to go crazy eating off plan. That's the thing that has finally clicked and I have hopefully learned. ;)

Hey Ladies! There are so many new people on here, I can't keep up!

I've been really struggling to stay OP at all. Today though, I decided I HAVE to do this. It's not going to fall off on it's own and I can't wish it away...so I must do the work to get the results I want! We have a cruise in January that I want to look and feel better for. I'm tired of being so self-conscience in my warmer clothes and swim suits! So, today I've done really well. I need to get in some more water and drink an HNS--I'm really hungry right now! Tonight we have a Ladies Night Out sponsored by the YMCA. I'm a little nervous about the dinner. I have a hard time eating with other people. I tend to give in because everyone else is eating. Last years dinner was a turkey sandwich, fruit and yogurt I think. Guess I'll stay away from the yogurt, eat one slice of bread and skip the fruit.

Patzi-thanks for all your encouraging words and motivation. You are very inspiring to me and I really enjoy reading about how you are doing.

JenB72-you are very encouraging as well! You are doing so well...makes me want to stay OP so I can have awesome results like you!

Tami-CONGRATS on making it to your original goal!!! :) I say stick to your guns and stay with the weight you're comfortable with. No counselor can tell you what to do with your body. I lost about 70 lbs. after my first kid, but where I got to was so low that I couldn't maintain it at all. If you know you can stay -happily- at 160, then do it!

Everyone else-thanks for helping me stay on track with your stories and information! I need it all :)

My youngest daughter's 4th birthday was this week and we have her party on Sunday. She wants Pizza Hut pizza--that will be a big temptation for me! That reminds me, what are the fat and carb blockers everyone is talking about? I had the Big 3 set, does that include the blockers too? I'm out of it now and debating if I want to get it again.

Have a great weekend. I probably won't be on here much, hopefully just to read answers to my questions!

Nichole

I am new to MRC and this site. I started PreConditioning on September 24. My husband started at the same time. I have lost a total of 15 lbs so far. I have learned a lot from reading the post on here and appreciate all the useful information. I had WI today and was down 1.5 from the last WI which was Tuesday. I was hoping for more but I will take any loss. I would love to sign the 20 lb board this month. I have set that as a goal. So far I have not had major issues staying OP but it's only be 3 week (or will be tomorrow). Thanks for all the inspiration you guys have given me so far.

Jen, happy birthday to your little one and congrats on that 2-year milestone!!! what a miracle, huh? You must feel great about that. And that little piece of cake is not going to stall you, besides that is the way you will need to think in maintenance, so why not get a little practice in now!

Bigdog, hang in. YOU know you are losing. I am starting to keep side-by-side records of center WIs and my own naked post-pee ones. There are variations but the trends reveal themselves. Just don't let them make you feel bad at your center or try to sell you something. I hope you get a really good loss soon, you deserve it. You are always so upbeat.

i had my best drop yet today at the WI: 3 pounds! So even though i had to take prednazone for 12 days, I still lost 5 pounds during that time. I am so pleased. I have been really heads-down and OP, but this weekend I have a pretty big social event that will be challenging. I'm not exactly advertising that I am doing this program so I am nervous. Its a sit-down dinner party, then out to a play, then back to their house for birthday cake. I thought I would eat something first so not starved, pass on the carb side dish (let's hope its not a pasta main course) and just take a bite or two of the cake.... I will be having some wine, I can tell you that for sure. Have a good weekend all.

Hello Ladies~

Thanks to those with such words of encouragement :) I pulled out of my slump by getting focused back on "Tami's" goal. I have made my first goal, and that is awesome....I just need to stay focused and not allow myself to get so discouraged.

It is so nice to come here and read all of your entries...I relate so much to many of them!

Let us all keep up the good work..one day at a time :) Thank you for being there for me, too:)

Tami

"I will be having some wine, I can tell you that for sure". LOL at that. you are like me....i'd give up my carb for a mich ultra beer! haha headed to an Oct. fest today and the bud man loves me so i have to drink some beer (so i don't insult him) LOL!! i'll also have my bottles of water in my big purse too so will be drinking tons of water. planning on having a big salad w/ grilled chicken before i go. oh, yeah and wearing very tight jeans that i can now get into. the thing w/ tight jeans is you really can't eat or drink too much without feeling uncomfortable! :-) i'm shopping out of my own closets now! and when i continue to lose more weight i had those clothes to choose from too! sizes in my closet range from 10 to ? anything over a 12 has the label cut out so who knows?! :-) went out to dinner w/ my DH last night and it was so nice to grab a pair of jeans and shirt and they fit! had a salad w/ bronzed tuna on top - yum!

that's fantastic!!! congratulations on your loss!!! when i'm at a dinner party and they don't have the choices i need to stay OP, i'll start taking stuff apart. like w/ sushi, i'll eat the seaweed, crab meat or whatever is in it, and leave the rice. pile on the wasabi! :-) take the skin off fried chicken..take the bread off sandwiches - w/ a pasta dish, eat the meat and veggies out of it, leaving the pasta. i try to vision that stuff as FAT...ewwwww gross and leave it on the plate. i do love desserts and will take a bite or two... at a sales meeting the other day, i grabbed a diet coke and left the warm chocolate chip cookies!! that's a first for me! but believe you me, i walked away quickly because if i was in the room for much longer they would have been in my belly for sure! and they had cheeteos there!!! yep, little orange fried fat thing a jiggies...left them too. hmmmm...discovered a little thing i never thought i had....willpower. YAY!!!!!

60 day survey
 

had to do the 60 day review and when my counselor asked me what the center could do to help me more, i told him it would be very helpful to provide more recipes, food ideas, what to select when eating out at various restaurants. (in my 60 days at MRC, i've gotten one suggestion from them and that was cinnamon toast) pitiful. the rest have been from all of you on this board. even when i wanted to order a MRC cookbook, they were out of them so i ordered from amazon (1/2 the cost so that worked out) he told me he eats the same thing every day..weighs his lettuce and has boiled chicken and i think eggs for b-fast. the other counselor told me she doesn't diet but takes over a $100 of supplements a month. did mention she eats the choc. pudding every night. when i tell them the variety of food i eat OP, they are like hmmm...that does sound good. i don't know, maybe they don't like the fact i don't buy HNSs from them or the supplements and aren't that gung ho to see me? i try to just go in and weigh in and get out. lately they take my blood pressure every single time. i did tell him that i get alot of tips on what to eat online and he said oh, great ! the MRC site? (i said sure! that's right - no way did i want him to know i go on here and talk about them) LOL! he then told me the MRC on FB is offering a contest where you can get a free hormone test. OH BOY!!!! woo hoo i reminded him i took the hormone test already...hmmmm..if i remember correctly i paid $100 for it. the results showed that i needed to spend $100 plus on supplements that they sell each month. go figure! wow. i am woman - i have hormones. i could have figured that out on my own. :-)
anyway, I love this Plan, i'm losing weight. i love all of you guys and everything you share... you are my motivation!! i do envy you that have wonderful counselors.
so if anyone is experiencing some of the same stuff i am, just remember, dont get discouraged - this is ALL about YOU so let's all think THIN !

Thank you Jen, wish you could clone yourself and be my counselor! :-) congratulations on your loss and success....wow, very motivating to stay OP and step up the exercise.. thks for sharing!

Awwww....thanks! :thanks:

Loving the new pic JenB...you look awesome!!