JenB - I am on day 2 of a 5 day biz trip. It's getting tedious and there are snacks and candy all over the place. I just poured a cup of tea and stepped out to squirt an HNS in it. I was starting to want the candy till I snuck a peek at my iPhone and saw your message. JenB did it, I thought, so can you. Thats my mantra for the rest of this trip.

How incredible about your dress!!! What was your starting size? Imagine: size 6!

JenB72-- That is awesome! I do the same thing when I'm shopping, too--I grab sizes that I *think* I should fit into, and it turns out they're too big. That's definitely new for me!


I use livestrong.com. I like how I can track everything in one place, it's food database is huge (including restaurants), and the charts/graphs/data it produces is really helpful to look at my patterns of eating + weight loss/gain. Also, it gives me a little pie chart every day that breaks down the % of carbs, fat, and protein I've eaten--which is really helpful in keeping my carb intake in check.

Jen...
That is just awesome.... I am so happy for you.. You are an inspiration to this group. Isn't it wonderful having rings resized.. I had it done 2x and it felt good each time.. And a size 6, that is just a thrill... And ladies, I agree with Jen.. It is so worth it and you will be at your goal before you know it. Just stick with the program.

Jen... I am in a size 6. Can't believe it but I am, so for this holiday season, I bought myself some new dress clothes for the parties coming up and I will wear one for NY Eve... I am really excited..

Camaswa..
Delighted Jen inspired you. You can do it. I know you can..

Patzi

camaswa - Traveling and having so many temptations is anything but easy. I just had to have tunnel vision. Case in point, last night I didn't get to dinner until 9:15. And believe me, that menu was tempting. Then reality kicked in and I slammed it shut. I was not about to blow it so when the waitress came over, I ordered my grilled chicken salad. As for starting size, I was an 18 after my daughter was born.

teacherlady - That is something I guess I'm going to have to deal with for a while. LOL I guess it's a good problem to have. ;)

Patzi - Thank you (and teacherlady too!) for being an inspiration to me. Knowing that others got to maintenance makes me want to get there even more. Less than 10 pounds to go! :)



I'm posting my before (size 18) and "after" (size 6) pics. They went ahead and took the pic today for the contest although I have a few more pounds to go. I'm so excited to see the difference. When you live with it every day, you don't necessarily see the changes as much as when it's a Before & After.

Wow, Jen! You look amazing! Congratulations!

Jen, you look incredible and red is definitely your color! this is inspiring to us all!!!!!

Wow, Jen! You look FANTASTIC! The weight loss has also taken about 10 years off of you--you look quite a bit younger, too. Huzzah to you! :)

Absolutely fantastic, Jen! Everyone is right...you are an inspiration to all of us, and should be so very proud of yourself!!! The pictures speak volumes, don't they?! MRC didn't take a pic of me when I first started .....although I have some. I am anxious to see the differences in myself too...When you see yourself everyday, it is hard to see the changes but they are definitely there!!

All I can say to you is awesome...I have my WI tomorrow and am getting down to the wire myself :) Looking forward to starting Stabilization/Maintanence soon like you!

Happy Hump Day
 

I'm still here. Struggling a bit, but here. I browsed through pics so I could post how I looked @ 125-130 (what I got down to when I was working hard @ MRC 3 years ago), and another of where I am today (152). It shows this works, but you have to keep @ it like our awesome maintenance ladies!

Congrats to JenB, you look beautiful in that amazing size 6 red dress!

Way to go to everyone hanging in there right now. I know it can be hard. Keep it up ladies! It is SO worth it!

FYI..The "skinny" picture is me in September of 2008 @ 125lbs, size 0-2 Old Navy Jeans. The current picture is me in August of this year @ 150-155 lbs in my size 12-14 shorts that are one of the few pair that fit me right now b/c I got rid of all my "fat" clothes and got new size 0s, 2s & 4s. So depressing, but motivational right now. I needed to see the difference. I can't figure out how to get the pics on the same page..sorry.

JEN!! You look AMAZING! Very inspirational (especially since I'm having one of those "will I ever get 'there'" weeks).

so yes, it's been one of those weeks. Stayed at exactly the same weight for one week even though I've been strictly OP (even through 2 Christmas parties and huge cravings!). I think my TOM starts today, so that could be why. And I did lose another 1/2 inch around my waist in the past week, so I know that's good...but I had a dream that I stepped on the scale back at my start weight:( And when I look in the mirror I feel like I look exactly the same...even though just 4 days ago I realized how much better I looked...have lost a full clothing size and even got a compliment from my sister in law that never gives out compliments on how I was looking "very slender". So just one of those weeks...tells me I'm not satisfied to stay at this weight (even though this is my previous low since junior high). I just have to stick with it and know it will start dropping again.

I'm in for 5 lbs. before Christmas...with my weight this morning, that would put me around 167. That would be amazing. My lowest ever has been 169 and that was seriously for one day.

Jen~love it! Congrats on your hard work; you look fantastic!

Well guys, I weighed in yesterday and was up 1.5 pounds. I've really been struggling with getting my water in for the past several days because it's so cold. And then I realized I haven't pooped (lol!) since before my chicken gnocchi soup incident. And I'm a day or so away from TOM. So I'm trying to take all that into consideration and not get discouraged. Gotta get my water intake back up!

Congrats Jen, the Dress is beautiful and you compliment the dress so perfectly!

This morning I lost 1/2 a pound! I stopped all the pills for one week to see if I can keep losing weight, I dont want to be on pills if I dont have to. I will soon go to the doctor and see what can be done (if anything is needed) and hopefully RX will be covered.
I keep getting compliments on how I look and it feels good, my size 12 jean are starting to get baggy in the butt and hips so I am working towards a size 10!!! Since I hit 150 this morning my new personal goal is 140 and ultimate goal is 130!! I dont want to be too skinny but a healthy me!! I am hoping I can do this with out the pills that will just save me more money to buy small better fitting clothes!! Keep it going Ladies!! Great motivational site to be a part of!!

Jenni W.

1Bighog..Sorry for the gain, but keep your chin up. I'm totally with you on the water intake. It has ALWAYS been my biggest downfall! :( TOM is on his way out for me, so I'm hoping to be on the right track again. Hopefully yours will come and go quickly! :)

Jenni..Way to go on the 1/2 lb and cool that it was without pills. I can't take all the stuff they recommend. When they ask if I'm taking it I just say yes to everything, even though I'm not..Too many pills and too hard to swallow (literally). We're the same height and weight now and while I know everyone's body (and fashion designer) is different..I'm in a sz 8 Old Navy jean today. I hope you can get those size 10s on very soon. You're well on your way! 130 is an awesome goal. My body really loved 130-135..:) I'd love to "see" 115 but want to be around 120-125 for goal. Keep up the great work!

I went to the center today and was down a 1/2 lb from last Thursday. I lost 4, gained 1, then lost 1/2. Hoping I'm on the downward trend for good now. I spent a LOT of time with the counselor b/c no one else was there and I took notes and gathered a ton of information for foods, recipes, emotions, everything. It was very helpful. I really do love my center and at least 2 of the ladies there are awesome! They recommended the saliva test which I kind of ignored since I just had a full blood/hormone work up a month ago. I do need some supplies but I'll need to order online for a better price. I'm almost done with my chocolate truffle drink and I know I'll need more hot chocolate and chicken soup.

BIGDOG..What bars do you recommend from DietDirect, and what soup do you get? Just the clear, or the cream of chicken? I need to place another order (more chocolate and possibly a fruit punch or lemonade), but wanted to get some bars and creamy drinks as well.

Thank you everyone for the compliments! You are all so sweet!

For those of you that think it's going to be forever until you are near your goal, try not to think in those terms. Take it a day at a time. This journey hasn't been the easiest one. I have had my temptations and trials just like all of you. The trick is, when you fall off the proverbial wagon, you have to pick yourself back up, someway, somehow, and keep on going. This isn't an overnight transformation. I started back at MRC on February 23, 2011. That's 9 months, 14 days. 288 DAYS!!! I had a child in less time than that. ;)

What I'm trying to say is just stick with it. Follow the program and you will see results. It just takes time and commitment. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Losing weight is as much (if not more) of a MENTAL game as it is a physical game. Nothing's overnight, but with the right attitude, before you know it, you will get there.

Weighed in today and at 174!!! woo hoo! getting closer to the 160s every day! i'm refocused and am ON PLAN and getting all my water in! i haven't had a protein bar since Sunday and i do think that has really helped w/ the weight loss. i wasn't really using them to replace a meal alot of times and got into a habit of haviing one every night for dessert. now if i want a dessert, i have sugar free fat free jello (10 cal. vs. 180 cal. for bar and no carbs). Reading all of your success stories has remotivated me to continue to lose more weight. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Rocki, i like the chicken noodle the best and can eat by itself. the cream of mushroom by itself is nasty. i think maybe i'll use it to bake chicken or fish in. for the bars, i got the variety pack of Bari wise (but i was abusing them and eating too many). i have the Protidiet Hot Chocolate but i like the Syntrax Choc. Truffle better hot (and love it cold!) mixed w/ left over decaf coffee and ice - just like a mocha chocal. shake) i get the Protidiet Pink Lemonade (large container) - Love it!

Thanks, Jen. I know this is ALL mental for me. I "know" what I need to do...I teach it for crying out loud (well, a similar topic), but my behavior and stick to it-ness is what needs work. i haven't stuck to anything this long ever. Well, the one time I did lose 25 lbs, but I was motivated by wanting to have a better dating life...that motivation is gone now:) I have to remember I was tempted the first day to eat chocolate and didn't do it because I had paid someone a bunch of money. Now the motivation is to hit my goal for ME.

Jen....
I just saw a picture of you now and you look beautiful and what a shape. Sooooo happy for you, Jen. You worked hard and look at you today.. What a great site to see. Thanks for sharing that with everyone.

Congrats to all those that lost weight, and for those struggling, hang in there, just come on to this forum for motivation. That saved me many times, when I thought I was going to blow it.

Hope everyone has a great day and think thin.

Patzi

BigHog, alot of times to get my water in if i know i'm having a super busy day is to drink a huge glass first thing in the morning - like even 32 oz. (or 2 bottles) i'm outside sales so do know all the pitstops! :-) my DH laughs because at home, i'll have a bottle of water in each room and always have water in the car. i bet your weight gain is all water. and for the other problem, try that Smooth Tea..it's really good (Walgreens and Walmart has it) or and TOM will def. cause water retention. just stay on plan and after TOM, you'll see a loss. i'll bet ya! :-)

new to MRC
 

Hi all! I just started MRC 11/25/11 and I am down 7 pounds so far. I purchased the Ketostix to check for ketones and so far i'm negative. Are any of you positive and if so how long did it take you to get there? Thanks :)

I've actually never been positive and talked to people who have been successful on this and never did either.

Rocki,

Thanks for the encouragement, it is appreciated very much! I havent seen 139 since I joined the Military in 1997!! So this will be interesting when I hit 140 and just see how good I look. I am doing this 1. for my health, 2. for my kids, and 3 forthe trip to the hawaiian islands this summer, I want to look really good in a bathing suit!! I want my hubs to drool! LOL, sorry, he is working overseas and my new figure will surprise him! He only know how much I weight!
Tonights dinner was the VHP drink, I added some frozen strawberries to help the tast ans some splenda. I know fruit is not on my dinner portion! The VHP shakes do not seem very tasty unless I change it up. Any one got some good recipes to share??

Welcome and congrats on the loss! I'm almost at my goal weight and rarely, if ever, went positive. If I did, it was minimal.

I usually mix my VHP drink with one of the HNS drinks. I've done Wildberry and Orange. It definitely helps the taste, but it does take some getting used to.

Earlier today I thought I was literally starving to death on this diet...my stomach hurt so bad, felt like I was going to pass out, and I was at the mall of all places...nothing I could eat and about an hour from home. I thought "I am going to have to change this." On the way home I realized it wasn't hunger, it was the stomach bug:( This sucks!

Was this the vanilla VHP shake? Ick. I never could get myself to come close to enjoying that one, even with an HNS added to it. It wasn't terrible with some of that Mio water flavoring in it, though.

The chocolate one was way better, IMO--not as much aftertaste. You have to drink it really cold, though. I usually blended it with water in my magic bullet, then added 1-2 ice cubes and blended again. That makes it cold enough that it's pretty darn good. :)

Hi, everyone! I know I haven't been responding to people lately, but I have been reading everyone's posts and I'm thinking of you guys. This week has been crazy busy! I have two very part time jobs; I usually work my first job just a couple of days a month and my second job is only 6 hours a week, but this week I've worked Tuesday morning & evening at job #2, Wednesday morning at job #1, Wednesday evening at job #2, I'm working this morning and tonight a job #2, then job #1 again tomorrow. Oh, did you guys know I also have four kids in 10 sports/activities and I play in a concert band and I have a concert tonight????

Anyway, so I did start my period yesterday and I am terribly crampy today! I do not usually have cramps. This is my first cycle on MRC (well, my first one was while I was in pre condition)...is it a coincidence that I'm crampy or could it be the diet?

Hi ladies!

Well, I had my WI yesteday and was down 2lbs!!!:carrot:

I am really trying to buckle down so that I can give myself permission to start Stabilization by the end of the year....

Anyone out there getting real tired of eggs? Heck!! I don't know what someone on this diet would do if they didn't like eggs...lol I think I need to get more creative with my meals, because I am getting in a rut lately with what I make and it can get old:(

I agree that the chocolate shake is the best..and I add so much ice that it is frothy like a chocolate ICEE..makes it yummier for me:)

I so enjoy reading all of the posts...many of them make me laugh because I so relate!!! So good to have people out there that "get it!"

Have a great day:wave:

Tamikl...
Congrats on your weigh loss. A good one... I never tired of eggs, as I kept my menu varied as there is plenty of food we are allowed... Are you talking about eggs for breakfast you are tired of? If not, please tell us the meal , and the board will be able to help you replace the egg item.. I am on maintenance, but am on green Meta Slim menu till Monday , my choice due to 2 parties coming up, but this morning had a slice of toast, with cottage cheese on top, sprinkled with cinnamon and stevia for sweetener and put in
microwave till cheese melted. Had an HNS with that, and coffee.
Yesterday, I make these mini egg quiches and bake them, they have spinach , egg beaters, cheese in them and I take two of those with a slice of bread. I also eat 2 turkey sausages with bread for breakfast.. Just to give you some ideas. On the mini quiches, I make and freeze 12 of them and where on maintenance have a minimum of two and sometimes three.

On vanilla shake, I agree Chocolate better, but if you have bought it, add some diet creme soda with it, and if allowed on your program, some of that super chocolate drink that we make the brownies with and some nutmeg and beat it up. Also another idea , if allowed, beat up with strawberries and a tropical fruit HNS or a wildberry one.

Readytobea10...
Great weight loss... I have never been asked to do the Ketostix and if I had I would have refused. This is just a personal thing.. When I signed up they were never mentioned, and somone had said they are in bathroom, and at one weigh in they were indeed in bathroom, but I have never used them in losing weight. Welcome, by the way. Wish you the best in your new challenge. This is a great forum for support so please keep active with us and ask any questions you may have.

It is so difficult to get everyone in and if I have missed anyone that has lost weight or having difficulties, I do apologize..

Everyone have a great day, and great weight loss.

Patzi

What are the brownies and the chocolate drink to be added?

Weighed @ home today and was 149.9.. Woohoo..Finally in the 140s again. Super excited. Can't wait to see 139.9, then 129.9! :)

Hope you all are having a great day! Sea World tomorrow night, so I have to plan that out and make sure I have my "stuff" with me :)..

Breakfast party next week, then Christmas (Eve and Day family parties to attend)..then Dec 29 a HS reunion of sorts for the locals or other who are in town. Have to stay strong!

The chocolate drink that you can use to make the "brownies" is the Super Chocolate Powder. I think it's meant to replace fruits... NOT to be confused with the nasty-tasting veggie replacement powder! I haven't found this powder on Diet Direct yet, so I think you can only get it from the center...

For the brownie, you mix 1 scoop super chocolate powder with 1 creamy hot cocoa packet, add 1/2 tbsp olive oil and 3 tbsp water. Mix with fork until batter consistency. I press mine into a small plastic container, then microwave for about 30-40 seconds. It comes out just like a gooey-ish brownie that you can eat with a spoon. Yum!

I'm on maintenance, so I eat that every night with a coconut-vanilla yogurt, and that's my dessert. On Metaslim, the brownie would = 1 creamy, 1 fruit, and some of your olive oil allotment for the day.

I got sick of my breakfast eggs for a while when I was on the plan. It got to the point where I almost had to gag them down. I switched to cottage cheese and a slice of toast for a while, until I got sick of the cottage cheese and went back to eggs, lol. The other thing I would do sometimes is take 2oz of cheddar and 1 slice of 45 cal bread and make a 1/2 grilled cheese (or a tortilla and make a quesadilla), or I'd just eat the cheese with a slice of toast. I LOVE cheese, though, so I thought that was yummy. :)

If it makes you feel any better, I actually look forward to my egg breakfast these days. I'm on maintenance now, but I fry up an egg over easy and put it on an Orowheat Sandwich Thin Mini (50 cal per "bun," and the perfect size for an egg sandwich) with a slice of Sargento low-fat colby jack (torn up to fit on the bread). Quick & easy to make (I start the egg on a med-low heat, then go and get dressed, checking on the egg), and a portable breakfast sandwich! This should work on Metaslim, too, though I'm not sure the Sargento cheese slice is 1 oz--you'd have to check on that and adjust as needed.

They haven't had me test for ketones yet. (I am on day 13). But years and years ago when I did Atkins, I had to be around 20-30 g carbs per day to get in ketosis and I've been tracking my calories since I started MRC and I am getting 60 carbs a day. Way too many for me to go into ketosis.

Also, I have read that drinking a lot of water will make the strips register negative. You could be in ketosis but your water consumptioin could be diluting your urine so much it doesn't show on the strips.

But everyone is different and this is just my personal experience :)

Well, I finally broke my week long plateau...unfortunately it was with the help of the stomach flu:( Anyone had experience with how to get back into eating after having the stomach bug. Today it's still pretty fresh and I don't want ANYTHING that is OP. I'm hoping tomorrow is better. My mom mentioned that her center told her if they got sick like that, that they would extend their contract a week (I'm guessing it messes with your body/after being this sick I'm okay with eating whatever will actually stay down). Thoughts?

I finally had a chance to read the post from the last couple of days.

Jen - great pictures, congrats on the weigth loss.

I went to WI today and stayed the same. I was told not to worry too much about it. I was still averaging just under 4 pounds a week. I was not too concerned about it. I have been OP recently and know that it will come. I'm starting to get a little worried about the holiday. We are going to be traveling and I have some great cooks in the family. It's going to be tough to resist. But I will have to remind myself that I will be able to enjoy the treats next year and it's not worth the sabatoge it would do right now. Let's just hope it works!

Thank you for the meal ideas...I love the cheese options in the morning, but then it messes me up at lunch when I love to have cheese with my salad...etc...if only we could have cheese at all meals!!!

Dinners aren't an issue for me...I love trying new recipes out of the cookbook, but I also have my favorites like stuffed peppers :) Love those!

I just need to mix up breakfast/lunch a bit....

Here is a question...when you are on Maintenance, does your eating schedule look much the same as while on the diet in terms of fruit only at lunch, no veggies at breakfast, etc...? Will I be able to have PBJ on Maintenance for lunch? LOL I have really missed those :) Anyways, just wondered...cause I am assuming that not too much is different once on Maintenance, just wondered about those details.

I never thought I'd say this but I miss salt more than I do sugar or carbs!

I started the program on Nov 14th and I'm doing great.

My center gives you a ketosis dipstick at every visit. I don't think it's an invasion of privacy, I like to see that all my hard work is paying off. And, if it shows you are not in ketosis for some reason they will be able to help get you on track. It's cheaper than me buying them and testing at home :)

Does anyone have a good Quiche recipe they have experimented with? We are doing a family holiday brunch and I'd like to make something that's good for me and that I can share.

Patzi...could you share the mini egg quiche recipe with me please?

Tamikl...
If you are not on maintenance, just adjust recipe to suit your plan. My friend gave this to me a long time ago. May be a South Beach Diet recipe, as that is where she lost her weight.

VEGGIE QUICHE CUPS TO GO( made in a muffin pan)

1 package (10) oz. frozen chopped spinach
3/4cup egg beaters
3/4 cup fat free mozarella cheese
1/4 cup choppled green peppers
1/4cup onion

Defrost spinach and drail well so there is no excess liquid. I squeeze spinach
till no moisture .

Spray muffin pan with Pam or whatever spray you use.

Combine egg beaters , cheese, peppers, onions in a bowl. Mix well.Seasoning is your choice.

Divide evenly among muffin cups.. ( I usually get 10 cups filled), as I like mine
big.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. My oven takes longer than 20 minutes, so check them as cooking.

Tami.... You can use any type of cheese. I use soy cheese,as certain cheeses I sometimes cannot tolerate, and any type of veggies.. If you can't have peppers and onions on plan, used broccoli . Last week I made with cheddar type cheese, vs. mozzarella... I use herbs in there, also for taste.

3 drops of hot pepper sauce may be added to the mix if you like a hot taste.

Many times as I am off to work,I take two of these as I am going out the door, with an HNS & a slice of toast and eat on way. I keep them warm in an insulated small container that I have.

They freeze well.. I make them and freeze them and use as needed.

Hope this helps. If you change recipe around, let me know, so I can try it.
Patzi

Oh gosh, this week-long biz trip has not gone so well where the diet is concerned. I have started every day OP and by dinner it's out the window. I mean, I'm still choosing the low-carb things and skipping starches and desserts... But the fat and wine are over the top.
The wine thing has been the biggest downfall. I haven't exercised and just sat all day (or been flying) so I think I craved it more just to unwind. Then I have never been someone to just have one glass. Two minimum... Well, the good news is I'm heading home today. Tomorrow I will just have to get on the scales and face the facts, whatever they may be. This is one lesson from Patzi's posts: if you do face the scales, you learn what foods and actions make you gain and which ones you can get away with.

Heading to weigh in..was down to 148.6 on home scale before things got "moving" for me in the digestive area! :) Sorry, TMI..but hoping an even bigger loss will show on center's scale..My home scale is almost exact with theirs, so that's great for me..**ETA** I weighed in @ 148..woohoo..So excited as I haven't been this weight in 3 months, and my lowest this whole year was 146 back in July..

TGIF everyone! Patzi..thanks for that recipe. I'm going to try it today (well, after I get some frozen spinach b/c what I have is sauteed in butter sauce).. Sounds yummy though.

Not sure...I had the same thing a couple weeks ago and gained 1.5lbs which I thought odd. I haven't been able to shake that damn gain either (wi again last night at same damn weight) I didn't get offered another week but maybe your center will be better. I slowly had to get back into it but I wasn't able to eat for 4 days and it lasted 5. Good luck and feel better soon.

On maintenance I have anything I want in moderation.. If it makes me gain weight then I consider it a trigger and don't have it. I do not count calories, but just eat normally.. I never over indulge in anything.. That is the key. Eat in moderation... If you have something, have a normal size amount and see what it does to your weight.. I try new things every week, and let y'all know if it worked or it did not work.

I have a slice of baked oatmeal every afternoon and do take a fat and carb blocker with it if I take a more than larger portion. I find it is best for me to take an HNS with a carb, then do not need a fat and carb blocker, but I like my coffee in afternoon with the baked oatmeal.. Also, when I have baked oatmeal, I do not have the bread at night. It makes me gain. Carbs are a big trigger for me.. I would rather have a good portion of baked oatmeal and have no other bread during the day.

Do you recall I tried the trail mix and gained weight so curbed that one for now. Will try it at a later time and see what happens.

You will find what works for you in maintenance, and I am sure once you have lost the weight, you will eat in moderation, as you will not want to gain the weight back.

Hope this helps you.I forgot to say, I eat healthy. Don't eat any fried foods, fast food , etc. I will have a piece of candy on occasion, will try a piece of pie on occasion, but during week , I do eat very healthy.

Patzi