Right on Chickadee! :D

I was going to say basically same thing....coming here to read everyone post has helped tremendously with keeping me on track. I am not losing as fast as others and still doing meta balance, but I am able to stick to it and am feeling good. I was actually down 1.5 pounds when I weighed in on Tuesday. I met with the counselor that signed me up whom I really like and I feel she understand me needs. She mentioned the possiblity of switching to meta protein if my weight loss stalls. I made a appointment to see her again on Saturday. I like the idead of meeting with the same person each time I go in so I don't have to re-hash my struggles each time (plus I there is one counselor that I don't care for - just wants to push the pills).

Originally Posted by Chickadee

Hi everyone
I don't post much, but just wanted to say how helpful reading everyone's posts is to me. I agree that this time of year is hard, but as so many people have pointed out, it's way better to be on track this time of year than gaining weight to worry about later. I work in a school and have been given quite a few mugs filled with chocolates and baked goods. I haven't touched any of it, in part thanks to reading this thread!
As we said in the '70s, keep on truckin'!
Chickadee

Hi..
Want to say, good work, not touching any of the goodies... Be proud of yourself for the discipline, and it will all pay off at the end. I just told one of my empoyees to get away from me with the Christmas candy before I hurt him.LOL. So now they are in back having all the goodies, candy, cupcakes and you know all that "stuff". There was a party at one of the shops in center here, and they went while I stayed put.
Nice hearing from you Chickadee and please post more often..

Patzi

I needed some good news this week and I got some today. First, my cat is hanging in there. I know her time is short, but I'm going to do everything I can to help her and live with no regrets that I didn't try it all.

Next, I can now say I weigh less than I did on my wedding day! I don't know what made me do it, but I weighed myself on my wedding day so I would always know what that number was...147. At my weigh in today, I was down to 145.5.

Oh, yeah, and they asked me to be in a local tv commerical for MRC. ;)

Jen...
Glad about the kitty... and my goodness, look at you at 145.5.. That is such an accomplishment.. I am so proud of you and what an honor to do the local TV commercial.. You will be an asset to MRC for sure.. Be happy and be proud of yourself. What an inspiration to this group.
Patzi

Awesome!!!to JenB72

I have two holiday parties this weekend but am feeling confident I'll be ok. I just have to remind myself of the bigger (or in this case, smaller) picture. :)

WI this afternoon was down 3 from Tuesday. Mostly water weight I am sure but moving in the right direction.

Teacherlady - FWIW.....Natalie's Nibbles is cute and catchy but I like Cooking Skinny best. Plus, it will generate better results in organic search. If you're looking to make some part-time income with the blog, Cooking Skinny would be the best selection. I also like bigdog's idea of adding 'by Teacherladay (successful MRC client)'. If you add that to the title, it will help increase your relevancy in search engines for MRC recipes.

Teacherlady....I love this idea of yours about blogging about your food and recipies. I actually loved the idea of calling it seven parts full. Please make sure once you have this blog up and running to post a link here so we all can read it. I am dying for more recipies that are fun easy and fabulous. And don't require the supplements from the center. I also agree with Big Dog you should put in a tag line about MRC and your weightloss...that way its searchable.

Hi, I'm new. I've been on the MRC plan for 4-1/2 weeks now and have only lost 9 lbs, but spent $1279.95 (no wonder I'm having a hard time paying my bills). Every time I go to the center they tell me I need another product to get better weight loss. My finances have had it and I've about had it too. I've stayed on program faithfully. Any advice out there. I'm thinking the so-called protein drinks have too much sugar (under the caption of fructose - but as an RN I know that the body doesn't distinguish. Sugar is sugar and the calories are the calories. I'm desperate. Sorry this is such a downer, but I'm at wit's end.

Fantastic, Jen!!! can't wait to see you on TV! i bet it is so much fun buying new clothes - you look incredible!~

Burlingtonlady - just tell them you can't buy anything else and make sure you get every penny worth! find a consultant you like, show them your food journal and get them to help you w/ your weight loss. ask them for advice on everything and congrats on the 9 lb. loss!!! i lost an average of 1 to 2 lbs a week (Metaslim) and was happy with that..lost 3 lbs a week a few times but not the norm for me. .i didnt take any of the supplements, just the HNSs... since you already bought the supplements, i would use them..
Good luck!

Hi BurlingtonLady-- and welcome!

First, let me start off by saying that 9 lbs in approx 1 month is actually very good for this plan, and it sounds like you're actually doing a very good job following the plan. If you want to lose more weight quickly, it starts to get unhealthy and more difficult to maintain.

Secondly, let me say that THIS PLAN WORKS. I am proof of that. I lost 70lbs in 9 months, and then lost another 12lbs over 3-4 months of my maintenance (while I was trying to find a balance between gaining and losing). HOWEVER, I am not a big supporter of all the supplements they sell (sometimes in a very pushy way). They are overpriced, may/may not work, and may even be dangerous for some people to take. While I lost the majority my weight, I did it with the menu plan, the protein drinks, and my own multi-vitamin and fish oil supplement. The last month or so of my plan I stalled out for a while, so I did take the phentatrim supplement and it seemed to help me lose the last 10lbs so I could go on maintenance. But other than that, I was supplement free. The plan works without the supplements, but the center makes more money off of selling them, I think, than anything else. It's frustrating, because it's a good plan, but I also understand that it's a business, too.

That being said, don't take any supplements you don't want to. You seem to be doing well on the program with your weight loss--stick around with this community and the menu plan, and re-evaluate in a month or so. Make sure you give it a solid chance to prove that it works. If the consultants continue to try to sell you supplements, just tell them "I'm broke," or "Maybe next paycheck," or "Let me see how I do for another week or two, and then maybe I"ll try that," or "NO. NO NO NO NO." ;) Usually my first couple of reasons were sufficient, but there was one consultant with whom I had to be extremely firm. Also, if there's any particular consultant(s) who are extra-pushy with selling the supplements, then just try to find one who isn't and request them for your weigh-ins. You don't have to weigh-in with anyone you don't feel comfortable with.

I hope you will stick with the program a little longer, as well as stick around this board. We're all very supportive and full of ideas and suggestions--and I wouldn't have survived 9 months on plan if it weren't for these ladies!

Good luck!

I will absolutely post the link once I get it up and running! Right now it's a 3-way tie between 7 Parts Full, My Own Taste, and Cooking Skinny. Also, my husband threw in a new one: String Beans and Skinny Jeans! ;) Hopefully I'll make up my mind by this weekend.

Oh, I love String beans and Skinny Jeans, Teacherlady!!

And Burlingtonlady, if you spend some time scrolling through these MRC threads, you will see many, many posts on the topic of the supplements and how hard some centers push them. Stay stong! It could get outrageously expensive and you really can do it without all that. I'm sure you know that what really counts is the protein. And a decent vitamin. You're doing great! Any more than 2-3 per week and you risk muscle loss, which you DON'T want to have happen. Keep coming to the boards!

Jen-that is awesome. You are doing so great...and soon to be local celebrity:)

I am down to my lowest weight EVER! I know in 5th grade I was 110 and by high school I was 190, so somewhere in the middle school years I passed through the 160's. I saw 168 today...half way there in less than 2 months. Unbelievable. I'm noticing a few unhealthy things...like when I got home at 10 last night I hadn't had supper and was really tempted to just not eat. I knew that was an unhealthy road to start traveling down. I also had to go buy new bras yesterday as I noticed the girls were not as happy:o I'm waiting until I'm at my goal weight and can maintain it before I splurge and buy some expensive ones. I want to hit 167 before we leave for our trip next week and if I can maintain through the trip, that would be awesome.

OH! And last January I set 3 goals (not resolutions, goals). 1. Pay off our debt by the end of the year (looks like we will do it). 2. Run the Warrior Dash in June (did it, loved it, doing it again this coming year). 3. Weigh 170 or below. I had them posted at my desk at work. When I quit in August I threw the paper away as I had not lost any in 8 months so I figured I wouldn't get there...and wow! I got there:carrot:

I agree that's a lot of money. You do have to start saying "no" to the supplements. My mom is running into the same thing, everytime she goes they get her to buy something else with the promise it will help her lose faster. Then the next time she goes the next counselor will tell her something different, ask her why she's taking "THAT" and switch her to something else. I told her she needs to find one counselor she likes and stick with it. From the start I told them I didn't know if I could do the diet b/c of the money...and all they've ever asked me to buy is the HNS. They highly recommend a multi-vitamin and fish oil, but she was perfectly fine with me using my own. I also started using a B complex to try and help with energy and hunger.

As for the fructose...yes, all sugars are basically treated the same in your body. And this diet doesn't fully cut out sugars...you get fructose in the fruit you eat. But the HNS are mainly protein...but your body does need some carbohydrate to use the protein properly. Don't be afraid to use your medical knowledge to ask questions and be a little cynical so you make sure you are getting good answers for "why".

Awesome job on the 160s Gina!Woohoo bigdog..You're welcome on the chocolate truffle. I just ordered another bottle (went through mine super fast). I have a big package from DD being delivered today. Super excited. I love to get their stuff. I ordered the Twisted Cherry in place of the Fuzzy Navel..we shall see but it was delayed and won't be here 'til Monday.

So sorry about the gain Tami, but at least you learned from it. I don't relish the fact that I have to eat this way forever, but I DO enjoy thinking about how great I'll look & feel all the time. I know this is a lifestyle change and I lost focus of that last time I did the plan (3 years ago). I'm totally committed this time to making this a forever change. You'll be able to splurge occasionally, but we'll have to always be careful and mindful of what we eat. You're doing great. Keep it up!
Love the Seven Parts Full (only b/c you told us what it meant).. :) I will definitely check out your blog when it's up and running. LOVE new ideas.

Awesome job for your friend Patzi! That is so wonderful to hear. I hope she does great on maintenance. So amazing that she's off all those meds. My dad is diabetic and was just put on another pill b/c his fasting sugar was 168 last week. I keep trying to tell him to eat right and he doesn't listen. I worry for him and hope I can help.

Way to go Jen! Glad to hear about your kitty and so awesome to be at a lower weight than a past milestone in your life! It's funny how we remember those kinds of things. I was around the same weight as you when I got married :). And OMG..so cool about the commercial. Are you going to do it? That would be so great. You could post a link for us if you do it! :)

BurlingtonLady:

I know how you feel. My center is almost all pushy sales ladies, but my consultant was told on my consultation that I am working Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (pay off all the debt) and this didn't really fit in the budget. My contract money was several gifts of christmas money from several people and the HNS' would be hard enough purchasing. Cher really does a good job...I think this would help...here's how much it cost...check and see if you can but we understand if you cant. Everybody else is right that you don't want to lose more than 10 lbs a month or you risk losing muscle weight, also find a councilor you like and let them in on the fact your on a budget. Make it quite clear that its your way or the highway. You always have the option to do call in's. I'm not too sure how that works, but you can weigh yourself at home and call it in. They can pressure you all they like over the phone, but your not going right by the cash register on your way out....Hang in there...we're all here to help.

TeacherLady...your husband is so creative...I actually think I like his new suggestion the best! I would totally read a blog called string beans and skinny jeans.

Keep it up ladies!!! I go in for my weigh in in about an hour...I have 1 lb to hit before my first milestone. (FINALLY!!!) And it's been a little less than a month. Had a good night last night at work...no cookies, no chilli con carne with fritos...just had my two chicken breasts. One with sugar free mandarin oranges and one with hungry girl foldit flat out sliders. I've gotten really sick of my vegetables lately so I haven't cooked any in two days. I know that is completely bad of me, but I only know how to steam frozen vegetables in my pans I have and I don't know how to cook squash or any of the other veggies we can have and I love. Need some good veggie recipies ladies!!! HELP! Gotta go my puppy Punky Brewster is jumping on me...that's a lets play mama! Hope everybody has a great day full of success staying OP and losing weight!

Personal Update..I hate to mix it all together b/c I like to post to people individually too. :)

I weighed in today @ 146 (down 1.5 more from Tuesday). Super excited as I had a holiday breakfast yesterday and managed to do pretty well with it.

I have a ton of stuff coming from Diet Direct today and I'm very happy about that b/c (unlike a lot of people) I really like to use the proteins to cook with. I can do it without, but it makes it easier for me to get them all in. I like to get 3-4 a day and I'm not a big fan of just drinking them. This way I cook with them, or have a pudding or chocolate drink and I can get my 3-4 per day. I ordered a Twisted Cherry supplement that will be here Monday. Can't wait to try it. I hope it's better than the Fuzzy Navel.

I had a great long talk with my center manager today (SHE IS AWESOME). She looked up restaurant menus for me for all the places I'll be going to for different holiday get togethers over the next week. She helped me pick out stuff and I'm so glad b/c I was really worried about what I would eat at these places. Since she does this all the time she was able to give me a TON of great options.

Also, my center does not have the super chocolate fruit replacement (they don't carry it anymore) and she said that I could use the chocolate pudding instead. I'm trying to figure out how to make that brownie you all talk about! Suggestions please.