Thank you all for your kind and supportive words. It means a lot to me as I continue to process everything.

My supervisor sent me home for the week so I have been trying my best to keep a normal routine outside of working. Which means that I went and weighed in today... lost 3 pounds since last WI for a total of 13lbs in 16 days. Also lost a total of 15 inches, all in the torso so that is very gratifying.

@Tripletmom, I read your other post and I will be honest, I was very skeptical signing up (even tho a dear friend lost 80lbs on MRC) and still, despite obvious progess, have some doubt. Most of that is around my ability to continue to stay OP, not so much in the program itself. Good Luck

Suzie, you should totaly check out belldance with Neena and Veena. I use some of their older DVDs, Arms and Abs and Hips, Buns, and Thighs that I got years ago, and they are awesome. Most of the time, like with the rib slides you don't even realize you are working out your core, but the next day you do not want to move...so you may want to start out with their Basic Moves and Fat Burning DVD, each DVD comes with 2 workouts on it. Honestly the first time my husband tried doing the fat burning with me he made himself sick, it is really intense if you are not use to it.

I know you can get them at their website bellytwins.com, but I think you can also get them from amazon for alot cheaper. I love these things, but I want to steal their clothes. And they have awesome bellydance routines that run through the credits.

Good lord, I sound like an infomercial. Sorry! I just think these work well.

Welcome to all our newbies , congrats to all our "losers" :, and
big hugs to those of you going through rough patchs .



Great quote from MRC on their FB page I thought was worth sharing if you hadn't seen it yet:


If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results. - Jack Dixon





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Sara, I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.

Congrats to all those on stabilization. I am amazed at your success!
An down 16 pounds since I started on Valentines Day. When I hit 20 I think i am planning a night out to the movies and to be honest - a Mexican food cheat. I did cheat last Thursday. I had a f&@$ it moment and got pizza on the way home. I only had 2 peices of pizza and still lost. I won't be repeating that hopefully.

For what it's worth, one of the biggest things our counselors have taught us is when you hit mini-goals do NOT reward yourself with food. As they've told me, rewarding yourself with food is setting yourself up for disaster. It's things like that that put us all in the position we're in. They taught us to try to find other ways to reward yourself. We had a thread on this a while back. Ladies were getting mani's or pedi's, a new outfit, things like that. It's totally your call, but I thought I'd share what we've been through.

I have been hunting for diet recipes that my husband will actually eat and like. He has been very supportive about my diet but gets bored with food very easily. I found a recipe for "Mock" mashed potatoes yesterday. When my husband tried it, he thought I had actually served him "real" mashed potatoes. Here's the recipe:

1 head cauliflower
1 tablespoon fat free cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon straight chicken base
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh or dry chives, for garnish
I Can't Believe Its Butter spray

Set a stockpot of water to boil over high heat. Clean and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Cook in boiling water for about 6 minutes, or until well done. Drain well; do not let cool and pat cooked cauliflower very dry between several layers of paper towels. In a food processor, puree the hot cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic, chicken base, and pepper until almost smooth.

Garnish with chives, and serve hot with I Can't Believe Its Butter spray.
Serves 4-6

I am gonna be honest, my husband and I have "date nughts" and on those nights I go OP, I don't go nuts and eat like crazy, but maybe order a pizza or go out and enjoy a burger before we go see a show. It does slow me down something fierce. But at the same time, on a night when I want to just relax and enjoy my husband's company I don't want to worry about how much or how little I am eating. I figure as long as I stay reasonable and understand that I will need to be accountable for what I eat then it is not a problem.

In truth I am saving up, I have a coupon for a free chocolate massage (90 minute deep tissue massage with coco oil) that my husband got me for Valentines day. I figure when I hit the 20 mark (maybe 30, I am only at 8 now) then I will go get a massage. It is alot more expensive than a night out and an ice cream cone, but damn it feels good.

Hi...
I was told the same as Jen from my consultant about rewarding myself with food when I lose... It is not a good thing and could lead to bad habits while on your journey... Best to stay OP , that is the way to getting to maintenance. Best to reward yourself with a manicure, some clothing, etc..

Want to say welcome to the newbies, and congrats to all that lost weight, and those that are struggling, hang in there, it is all worth it.

For you newbies, I am on maintenance 9 months now..

Patzi

Thanks for the advice and I know y'all are right. The way I quit smoking was to promise myself a cigarette after I had quit a week, and when I got there I didn't want one - then a month, a year , etc. finally it was in 3 years after I finish the bar exam I will have a drink and one glorious cigarette. I didn't want one. I guess when I think the option is off the table I tend to panic and backslide. Of I keep it my head that I can have it on special circumstances, I will work harder for it. I can't promise I won't partake. But that big plate of chicken tacos and black beans helps me get through the grilled chicken salads and cottage cheese.

But gracious I don't know!!! I guess we will see.

On the other hand a massage and a facial does sund awesome!

If you are gonna reward, why not reward big?

I'm with others that I haven't rewarded with food...my mom does after a good weight in and hasn't been as successful and I'm afraid she hasn't made the same life long changes. Maybe you still go out for mexican, but do chicken fajitas with only one shell and lots of the chicken/veggies. i actually didn't "reward" myself at all along the way, the weight going off itself was the reward (and now the clothes I have to buy since I've never been this size). I see my salads, veggies, protein as a way of life...yes, I'll be adding more, but the habits I'm adopting are going to follow me a long time.

so I had the strangest interview experience today. No questions about my strengths, weaknesses (I was expecting at least a little of the standard interview questions). As I expected, the director was really trying to convince me about why I should consider them...and after a rough morning at my current job it wasn't going to be hard to convince me (I didn't tip my hand). But it ends up being up to the athletic director at my school, but at last indication he's going to take my thoughts into strong consideration. I was hoping they'd ask something about some kind of difficulty I'd made it through and I would have talked about my 30+ pound loss (in my field, that would be considered "professional experience" as well). Lots to consider...I love my co-workers, but at the administrative level at my current job there is a lot of incompetence...I'm on the 4th CEO since I started 3 1/2 years ago...and he's just interim. And every new CEO I have to justify my job...and the other place is pursuing me.

Hi there. I need you to know that I personally understand. I realize that we shouldn't reward ourselves with food....but there was a period of time in my personal journey when that worked for me and helped my progress...didn't hinder it. My progress was slower at times, but I was ok with that too so long as I wasn't feeling deprived. I became quickly unsuccessful when I felt deprived. Basically, I WI once per week and if I had a loss, I would treat myself to something that day only. I drive in for WI from out of town, so gave myself permission to go out to lunch. My counselor was fine with this plan and it worked for me. That is what is important in this journey...needs to work for you. If having a "cheat" keeps you from getting burnt out and quitting the program, then do it...sensibly. Obviously, not everyone agrees with this mentality, but we are all different. I wanted a small Frosty, not a manicure...lol. Hang in there...one day and meal at a time. It is a marathon, not a foot race!!!

Are you all able to drink the water requirements daily? Have you noticed water consumption effects your weekly weight loss? I'm really struggling to drink it all, and I like water. :-(

Before starting the MRC diet, I drank over 64 oz. of diet coke everyday. When I quit drink diet coke, I had a difficult time with caffeine withdrawal. I ended up buying a thermal cup with a straw. I keep the glass full of ice water so I can sip on water all day long. This seems to help.