[camaswa]

I am in the Chicago airport on my way back west from Atlanta. I had a couple pretty bad food days. The first day I was so jetlagged I could hardly keep my eyes open. They had lots of sugary snacks at the breaks and I just dove in. It perked me up for about two seconds. Then I felt terrible. I did enjoy good meals and made reasonable choices (no grits or fritters!). And except for the jetlag day, no sweets. Had meal replacement shakes several breakfasts. So we will see. I just find it so difficult to stay focused when I travel on business. Right now, the priority is getting home and preparing for the week ahead. I think I will wait a day or two to weigh, I always retain water when I fly. This weekend I will do lots of lemon water and lots of veggies.

[nwcgina]

Alrighty...eating ahead of time it is. camaswa, you are so right that the food isn't anything good. My own chicken salad at home is much better and healthier. I'll do a diet soda while there or a coffee with HNS hot chocolate and enjoy the conversation. Besides, found out we aren't eating until 12:30, which is later than I like to eat lunch. Thanks Jen & camaswa.

Next week we go to Nashville to meet Dave Ramsey...been contemplating for a month what I'd eat while we were down there. At first I was thinking I would purposely allow myself to go off plan for one meal of pizza at Chuck E Cheese with the kids...partly out of celebration and also its TTOM and I never lose then anyhow But now I'm rethinking. Not sure if I can handle going off plan...and I'm so close. but at the same time...

[patzi]

Tamikl

Hi Patzi Thank you for your information...just curious....do you still drink HNS daily? If so, how many? I sure hope I can eat peanut butter without too much of an issue!! I love it! This morning I mixed a 1/2 of a banana with my vanilla Greek yogurt and loved it!!

Tami..
Only HNS I drink now is the cocoa at night. If I am trying to get a few pounds off that I gained, I do two, the one at night and then I make a huge container of peach tea, or blueberry, or mango, or some nice flavor tea and add a HNS in that and drink that during the day.. That is it..

Fruit with yogurt is sooooo good.. I experiment with Greek Yogurt, and add the chocolate powder we make the brownies with to it, some sweetener and sometimes a small amout of Walden Farms carmel .. Yummo on that. Also add some of the strawberry sugar free fat free jello powder, some fruit and sweetener to yogurt and that is good , also. Share what ever you tried.. I am always looking to try something new.
Patzi

[JenB72]

Originally Posted by camaswa

I am in the Chicago airport on my way back west from Atlanta. I had a couple pretty bad food days. The first day I was so jetlagged I could hardly keep my eyes open. They had lots of sugary snacks at the breaks and I just dove in. It perked me up for about two seconds. Then I felt terrible. I did enjoy good meals and made reasonable choices (no grits or fritters!). And except for the jetlag day, no sweets. Had meal replacement shakes several breakfasts. So we will see. I just find it so difficult to stay focused when I travel on business. Right now, the priority is getting home and preparing for the week ahead. I think I will wait a day or two to weigh, I always retain water when I fly. This weekend I will do lots of lemon water and lots of veggies.

Slips happen. I've been told by my counselors, above all else, even if I slip, get the water in.

The important thing is getting back on track and it sounds like you have a good plan. I'm with you about the sugary snacks. They tend to make me sick to my stomach after eating them. It's weird I used to eat them no problem.

[LeoTheLioness]

Good Morning Fellow Losers!
This is going to be a lengthy post - I gots (yes gots) some stuff to "say."
At weigh-in this a.m. I lost 0 lbs. but I've lost 6.5" overall!

As my counselor reviewed my food journal, she explained MRC plans are designed to keep you in ketosis so the weight comes off fast. Having a little of this or a little of that of the things that are not on plan throws your body out of ketosis and therefore either slows weight loss or makes you gain. NOW I UNDERSTAND.

I am proud of myself for being painfully honest & documenting the "cheats" over the past week - a Southwest Salad from McDonald's, carmelized onions in my sauteed green beans, drizzling BBQ sauce on my grilled chicken and one fat chocolate covered strawberry - LOL! *Sure was good!* Over the last few days, I'd also not have my last meal of the day until almost 9:00 p.m.

I also learned I need to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up (I'd slipped back into my habit of not eating breakfast or drinking a.m. HNS until 10 or sometimes as late as 11 )and either drink an HNS or have a meal no longer than 3-4 hours apart.

I attended their cooking class last night and sampled the following:
Sweet & Sour Sauce (4 Grape HNSs & 1/2 c. French's Mustard) - Yuck
Turkey Meatballs w/Jalapeno Cheese - Good.
Parmesan Crunch - OK
MRC Ranch Dressing - Good
Lemon Dessert - Yuck (Not Lemon Snow. This was a recipe the instructor came up with.)
The best thing about the class was learning about a store close to my home - "The Tasteful Olive." They sell flavored oils & vinegars so you can make your own salad dressings, marinades & vinaigrettes. They also ship anywhere in the U.S. I'll be going there tonight!

Lastly, here are a few more strategies I plan to incorporate:
1) Drink an HNS or eat breakfast within an hour upon waking up
2) Drink an HNS or have meals no longer than 3-4 hours apart
3) Go to your local grocer and see if they carry the line of "Walden Farms" products. They should be in the gluten-free section of your grocer. These products are fat-free, carb-free, and gluten-free. They also have a website. *I'll be getting their BBQ sauce today & will let you know how it tastes.*
4) Do not skip meals
5) Try to have dinner no later than 7:00 p.m.

OK, I'm done now. Sorry it was so long, but I've come to kinda depend on you guys for support & feedback. I appreciate you!

[Fluffy in Florida]

All good pointers there. The one I try to stick to the most is not having more than 3-4 hours between meals from breakfast to dinner. I find I'm not hungry when I do that.

Good luck on your journey!

[JenB72]

Originally Posted by LeoTheLioness

Lastly, here are a few more strategies I plan to incorporate:
1) Drink an HNS or eat breakfast within an hour upon waking up
2) Drink an HNS or have meals no longer than 3-4 hours apart
3) Go to your local grocer and see if they carry the line of "Walden Farms" products. They should be in the gluten-free section of your grocer. These products are fat-free, carb-free, and gluten-free. They also have a website. *I'll be getting their BBQ sauce today & will let you know how it tastes.*
4) Do not skip meals
5) Try to have dinner no later than 7:00 p.m.

Great tips! Thanks for posting!

[Tamikl]

Originally Posted by patzi

Tamikl

Hi Patzi Thank you for your information...just curious....do you still drink HNS daily? If so, how many? I sure hope I can eat peanut butter without too much of an issue!! I love it! This morning I mixed a 1/2 of a banana with my vanilla Greek yogurt and loved it!!

Tami..
Only HNS I drink now is the cocoa at night. If I am trying to get a few pounds off that I gained, I do two, the one at night and then I make a huge container of peach tea, or blueberry, or mango, or some nice flavor tea and add a HNS in that and drink that during the day.. That is it..

Fruit with yogurt is sooooo good.. I experiment with Greek Yogurt, and add the chocolate powder we make the brownies with to it, some sweetener and sometimes a small amout of Walden Farms carmel .. Yummo on that. Also add some of the strawberry sugar free fat free jello powder, some fruit and sweetener to yogurt and that is good , also. Share what ever you tried.. I am always looking to try something new.
Patzi

So max of 2 HNS per day...sounds like a good plan

Your recipe ideas for the yogurt sound great! I hope yogurt isn't one of my "gain" areas....I like the stuff! I have all kinds of Walden Farms items...did you know they make a carmel syrup now? Yummy!

Thank you for your tips, Patzi...I feel like I will be holding your hand tight going forward. I hope you don't mind!

[LeoTheLioness]

I went to the store & have the Walden Farms "Thick & Spicy BBQ Sauce" in my hot, little hands!

With much apprehension, I shook it up, tore off the seal, unscrewed the cap & smelled it. The vinegary aroma 'caused my tastebuds to go, "Oh No!" (I like a tomato-based sauce as opposed to a vinegar-base).

I stick my knife in the bottle. Taste.

DELICIOUS!

In my mouth, it started off with a sweetness & finished with a kick of spice. LOVIN' IT! This will be a staple in my pantry & I can't wait to try their other products!

$4.09 per bottle @ my grocer and well worth it!

[nwcgina]

I also love the Walden Farms bbq sauce...I loved it on chicken. I just finished my bottle using it to make some "baked" beans (pinto beans made from dry with bbq sauce mixed in...) The ketchup isn't bad, either. The dressings I wasn't as excited about. Our local grocer carries the dressings but not the others. I live in the middle of no where small town (just had a super walmart open which is a big deal for here...excited for more produce options).

My lunch/playdate...I ended up going to Subway to get a salad and brought that with me. Worked out great...it was yummy, I didn't have to make it, and didn't have to sit there & watch others eat. So yeah, yeah, yeah for good choices.

[patzi]

Tami..
When you get to maintenance, you can try this recipe, as I don't recall whether sugar free/fat free pudding is on stabilization.. This is an old WW recipe and I made it to take to the racetrack with me for dessert during the races. I have a cooler in back of my car,so it works out well. I am using Jell-o products .

32 oz.container of FF Plain Yogurt. Mix in a package of instant SF, FF pudding,anything except chocolate,as it does not work with chocolate. When I make it I mix all in a bowl with a whisk, and then put it back in the yogurt container, and eat from that.. I am using banana tonight..

I did not know that Walden Farms made a barbecue sauce.. I wish I had it now, as I am taking chicken tenderloins with me..

Patzi

[patzi]

Thank you for your tips, Patzi...I feel like I will be holding your hand tight going forward. I hope you don't mind!

Tami...
In answer to the following if I can be of any help at all at any time,please feel free to ask.. No problem at all..I am glad to do it. No, I did not know about the carmel syrup.. Thanks for the tip.

Patzi

[bigdog]

at weigh in this am, i was at 170.0 are you kidding me?!! i was thinking i should strip down naked so i could see that dang 169.9!!!! anyway, w/ everything going on at least i haven't gained - and i was 170.8...planning on really stepping up the water this weekend and focusing on staying on plan. it's been crazy busy at work (yay!) being in sales- that is a good thing! have been slacking on the water and so many meetings and family get togethers, have missed a couple days of exercise - the best thing is that pretty much anything i grab out of the closet i can wear now and don't have to try on a zillion things looking for something that fits!! i'm still motivated and i've been w/ MRC for 6 months! Happy Friday!

[nwcgina]

bigdog-grrrrrr! You will totally see the 160's next time. And boom, soon you'll be at your goal.

[skinnyfarmer12]

So excited to read all of these last few posts! Really got me excited to take off the next twenty pounds. Have lost 30 since joining in November and was starting to have a little problem with acid reflux and was getting sloppy with my eating. Came here a read these posts and popped a prilosec and geared up for the day! So happy to finally move to the other side of 200 and will not let a little acid stop me from reaching my goal. Thanks everyone!