Congrats Jen!! What an awesome accomplishment.

Chickadee--that is amazing! I am really amazed at how much you've lost so far!

Thanks for the welcome Jen! :) And congrats on your accomplishment! I hope to be as succesful as you on this plan.

Wow, busy weekend. Congrats Jen!! That is awesome. Chickadee, also doing great! Hi to the new peeps...now running back to the grill before my turkey burgers burn. First BBQ of the season! Grilled up some chicken breast (more blackened that I had planned, but oh well) a couple of steaks for later in the week, and a few turkey burgers for tonight. Life is good, and I love setting things on fire. Ok, not myself...been there, done that, lost the eyebrows, but food, I love to cook outside.

I start maintenance today. I feel great that I was able to eat out this weekend and spend all day at the zoo and was able to eat sensibly (basically OP, little too much cheese & bread at supper) and just adjust the next day by cutting out most of my carbs and any of the added fat (no cheese). I also had one of my best 3 mile runs ever yesterday...I kept thinking "a year ago I had 35 more pounds when I was training for the Warrior Dash...that would be like carrying one of my kids for the entire run!" I felt so good, my arthritis isn't happy with me today, but I"m happy.

So I'm trying to decide how to continue tracking my food. I've been using my own paper sheet that I made so I could fax it in. I don't think I'm going to continue faxing unless I start having problems. I've started tracking on MFP which is helpful. I also have a "fitbook" my sister gave me when I hit my goal of the first 15 lbs. It gives you a place to track food, workouts, goals, etc. It is strange not to have any weight goals (besides maintaining) or even any girth goals. The thing that worries me about the fitbook is that I don't know how well it will work for planning out my meals. Maybe I"ll plan my meals on MFP at the beginning of the week then track them in the fitbook. I don't know if I would use fitbook if I didn't have it...but I think she has one and wants to get on track.

For those of you on maintenance, what is the biggest mistake you made or others made when you switched to maintenance? Figuring out exactly how I want to track my food and plan my meals (i.e. keep using the same paper? MFP? Fitbook?) is my first concern.

Good morning ladies! I weighed in on Saturday and had lost another 4.5 lbs. I can't wait to sign the 30 lb. board.

My doctor recently prescribed me Metformin because I have PCOS/Metabolic Syndrome X. Question: Is anyone else taking Metformin for this condition? If so, what have been your experiences with regard to weight loss/health while taking this medication? I really don't know what to expect. Thank you in advance. :^:

Wow it's amazing what I miss being away for a weekend. First of all Congratulations to Jen for making goal. :bravo: That is great.

Also congratulations to all who have lost.

I had a busy and crazy weekend. I went home sick from work on Friday and went to bed. I made myself drink a meal replacement shake for lunch on Friday and did eat Friday evening but it was forced. Then on Saturday I was starved all day. I ate stuff that I shouldn't have eaten and hadn't eaten in months. I don't know what I was thinking. I did have all my protein drinks and water. So when I weighted on Sunday morning on my scales at home there was no gain. I got it together on Sunday and am back on program. I am close to being at goal and don't know why I went crazy on Saturday. :dizzy: Today has been good so far and I will go in tomorrow and see what kind of damage Saturday caused.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Congratulations! :cheer: Way to go nwcgina! :cheer:

Congratulations Jen! :cheer: Way to go! :cheer:

Great job, guys! Jen and Chickadee! Welcome to the new comers!

I did WI on Saturday and lost 2.5 pounds, which is great! I'm feeling better and having more energy. Played with my kids all weekend... and today my back is sore, but I'm okay.

Question... yesterday we took our youth group at church to Orange Leaf (self-serve yogurt and toppings) and I splurged a bit... had about 1/4 cup of yogurt with some chips on it... savored every bite and then had a sensible dinner with salad and chicken. This morning, I did the Meal Replacement shake and am going to be a good girl until my WI on Wednesday, just to make sure!

I'm still struggling a bit with the guilt of eating off plan, but definitely not as bad as before. I know it was planned, not in response to emotions or stress, and that I CAN and WILL get back on the horse!

Have a great week, all!

Rachels77, I have to say I don't have guilt when i get off plan. The two times it has happened have been spur of the moment things (and one tiny partly off plan that was planned out in advance, but just the meat). To me it gives me strength to get back on the horse and keep going. Kind of an "ok, I had my fun, now to get serious again."

I know I don't handle guilt well, and I figure it is a pointless emotion, I feel guilty over too many things already (calling in sick when I just feel slightly cruddy, not giving my cats enough attention, not bringing anything to the pot luck parties at work) I figure feeling guilty about enjoying what I am eating is just silly. It was good, time to move on. Eat to live not live to eat, true enough. But you might as well enjoy when you do get to have a little splurge. You know it is not something you can do all the time, and just move on. When I talked to my center about going off plan last week they told me that was why it worked differently for everyone, and as long as I did not stay off plan everything was fine.

I have long rambling explanations, sorry. But the point is you should not feel guilty. You had some Frozen Yogurt, you enjoyed it, it is done and time to move on to bigger (ok, hopefully smaller) and better things. Everything in moderation, including moderation.

I'm nervous about today's WI. My scales were mean this morning, but they've always weighed higher than the center's. I've been 100% OP this weekend because I didn't want anything screwing up today's WI. I had not one, but two grilled chicken salads yesterday just to make sure. My problem...I haven't been quite "regular" this weekend. So, as much as I don't like it, I used the Super Fruit & Veggie Mix to help. I'm gonna be so bummed if it doesn't say at least 140. :(

Jen-that would stink! We know you're there, you know you're there...but isn't it funny that our bodies decide to be a little irregular or bloaty when it matters most??

This week instead actually moving to maintenance, we are specifically adding in a few other starches/veggies/fats. Even as I've added in stuff through stabilization, I haven't varied my starches. So we're going to take more time experimenting. I was surprised...I had eaten veggie pizza Saturday (giordano's) and thought she'd give me a hard time about that. She actually said she really liked seeing that, that it was a. planned, b. I went right back OP, and c. That it looks like mentally and physically I can handle adding in a meal like that every 1-2 weeks. I'm so happy with how things are going.

Tell me about it. I actually cried on the scales today. But, I'm happy to say, they were tears of joy. 140.0 on the button!

I'm officially in stabilization!!!

My before & after numbers on MRC (lost 16.5 pounds prior which is why it differs from the ticker):

BMI - starting was 34.4 Today was 23.3
Fat % - starting was 42.4% Today was 26.9%
Fat Mass - starting was 86.5 lb Today was 37.5 lb

and my favorite one:
Fat to Lose - 53.0 lb Today was 3.5 lbs for 25% Body Fat :cheer:

Jen that is amazing. Congratulations!!!!

Way to go Jen:dance: As well as Baby Doll and Rachels77

Jen...
Just amazing. Welcome to sabilization.. It is such a good thing.. I am soooooo happy for you. Enjoy your accomplishment.

Patzi

Awesome, Jen! We knew you were there!

Congratulations Chickadee!!! woo hoo!!!!!!
Gina, good job on the maintenance plan! :-)
fun weekend w/ the in laws! ate out alot but had fish and shrimp for all the meals and didn't eat the side dishes...fries or potatoes so did pretty good.
i heated up a couple Carblite Sugar free brownies for my BIL and put hershey's syrup on his and cool whip. he took one bite and said he didn't mean to be rude but they were terrible! HAHA!!!! then i told him they were sugar free, low carb, no butter, etc. (i actually like them but i like dark bitter chocolate and grainy stuff). fixed him a protein shake one morning for breakfast and one morning had eggs and he said a very very thin piece of toast w/ spray butter. poor thing said he was starving! we did drink alot of mich ultra so i prob. won't weigh in until thursday! but all in all, did pretty well :-) am drinking tons of water to flush out the beer but was a good time for sure!

Jen, those numbers are amazing! I love to see progress laid out like that.

I've been holding at the same weight for the last 3 days, so hopefully I get out of this plateau soon. :(

Hi ladies!

Wow...congratulations Jen:) That is truly awesome...your perserverence for so long is admired by me for sure!

Well, I recently took advice and bought the Syntrax Nextar variety pack thru Diet Direct...I had the Chocolate Truffle and LOVE it...where has this been all my life?!?! Now I have all these other flavors to try..:( but I have a big container of the chocolate on the way!! Thanks to Bigdog for recommending this...limiting to one per day will be a challenge!! LOL

Maintenance life going well..I have been a good, in control girl this week, and I think it will reflect in my WI tomorrow. I am really starting to enjoy this part of my jouney..feeling more confident each day, unlike when I started it. There really are a variety of GOOD choices we can make, ladies...resorting back to old eating habits isn't an option and really isn't missed because of the new choices I have introduced to my diet. Replacing the old with the new...a challenge at first, but worth it!! A mind-set that one should get in long before this stage tho....

I love these sweet pickles I get from Walmart...they are sweetened with Spenda...anyways, pickles are now a "free" item on MRC menu for maintenance, so that has been a treat for anyone that likes pickles! Were never OP during weightloss, and don't know why a "free" item now due to salt content?! Even my counselor was confused by that...bot no calories, fat, etc...just the sodium issue. I also like those 0 calorie jello's...already made ones. Fun to snack on also...my favorite..the 40 calorie fudgesicles:) Every afternoon ladies:)

Yes, Maintenance is good...certainly a time to look forward to for all that are working hard to get there! Keep it up ladies!

Hi...
I weighed in and stayed the same, making me 5 pounds under goal. I am happy with that , as this week I experienced eating a large candy bar, gained 2 pounds 2 days later, but was able to get it off... I did not enjoy it, so will go on to other things..

I did speak at a maintenance class, and all I can say is... There are people that did not learn anything by being on MRC. They did not learn portion size, moderation, and they cheated throughout the challenge , but did make it to
maintenance, but now, they eat what they want,any portion they want, with no planning and are gaining weight back.. So, no matter what I said I did to maintain, they did not want to hear it. Others, were very interested . Someone told me it was the most ridiculous thing she ever heard going back on green menu if one did endulge to get weight back off, or doing a day or two of shakes.Said it was nonsense. Well, there were more that agreed with me, so she was lost on her own, and the ones that agreed won out . I did it, will not do it again, as it is too stressful, trying to talk to people that you know will not care what I did or how I did it to be on maintenance. But all in all went well, as I feel I did help some people and gave them the incentive to go on and get back to where they should be and what they tried so hard to get to. I find people that are having a difficult time, did try to do MRC. not like it was told to us to follow, but their own personal diet without following the diet as it should be, but they did make it to maintenance, but cannot stay there.

I want to congratulate all the losers, we sure have quite a few.. And welcome to any newbies.

Patzi

I'm so proud of you for giving the talk, Patzi! I know it must not have been easy given your uncertainty beforehand. As for those that didn't "get it", they are only hurting themselves and will end up gaining their weight back. What you said really rang true with me. MRC is about the food, but it's also about learning the disciplines needed to sustain the weight loss. If you don't learn that, it is going to be much harder to keep the weight off.

Chocolate Truffle...

May I ask how y'all use this? Do you make a chocolate drink from it, use in coffee, etc.. Just curious.

I tried the Caribbean something, can't recall the second word, from the variety pack and I like the coconut taste.. I made a lemonade from lemons, mint from garden, added a scoop of Caribean and some stevia.. It is so refreshing...

Patzi

Hmmmm
 

Well am at 19 lbs and 30 inches. I am excited about the inches, but disappointed by the lbs. it's my own fault. I have cheated, grabbing a few chips here, a bite of cookie there, etc. I just cannot give myself permission to cheat anymore. I will not make my goal by d-day if I keep going like this. It has been a tough couple of weeks. 2 trips to the er for my 4 yr old, a stomach flu sweeping theology the house and ttotm.
It has been 6 weeks now, lost 10 lbs the first two weeks, then 5 the next, then 1 1/2 the next few. It is frustrating. But I just have to reconnect with that girl who powered through the first two weeks.
I admit I daydream about food - and you should see my pinterest.
Have to remember how great thin feels. Reading about all your success rally spurs me on!
Congrats Jen!! Goal - its amazing!!

Kate

Tami - glad you are enjoying maintenance. Sounds like you will be very successful.

Patzi - I'm glad you gave the talk. I have learned a lot from you in the short time I've been a part of this forum.

I went to WI today and my day off program was not kind. I was up 1.5 :mad: But I'm back on track and have been for the past 2 days. I have added some weight bearing exercises to my routine and am a little sore form that. I'm thinking that may also account for some of the gain. I'm hoping for a loss on Friday at my next WI. I'm 10 pounds from their goal for me and 15 from my personal goal. I am considering purchasing another 4 weeks to meet my personal goal. Also I don't think I can or want to go on to stabilization until I at least meet their goal.

Y :moo:

Ha ha hi love autocorrect. Not sweeping theology- sweeping through the house.

Hello all,
I'm brand new to the program...as of 3hrs and some minutes ago :)
Wondering if any one has meal ideas while on pre-conditioning?!
With being hispanic and all, I LOOOVE me some tortillas lol, yet I'm
thinking having them might pose a bit of a prob.
Thank you all in advance
:D

Not a good Monday in any way shape or form. My new phone ran out of juice early in the day so I had to keep it off almost all day, but I turned it off when I went out to wait at the curb for my husband, he usually texts me when is about a mile away. This time he called to say he could not get the key to turn in the ignition. Not putting enough forethought into it, I figure what the ****, it is only 4 miles, I can walk. So I started hoofing it, in the bright and sunny 75 degree weather. I had actually dressed nicer than usual in a a light peasant blouse and jeans and sneakers. About a mile down the road the sidewalks ran out so I was forced to walk on the slightly slanted angle that led down into a ditch full of water...or on the road where there were no cars coming. Which apparently from 5 to 6:30 is not often.

Husband called me often, told me he was going to walk to the house (another 6 miles) and get the other car. I had to remind him that we had roadside assistance on our insurance and he would need to call them to get help because my phone was beeping at me that it was dying.

He and the tow truck picked me up right at the 3 mile mark, just past the interstate overpass(no sidewalks, thank goodness the shoulder was bigger there). And as nice as light cotton peasant blouses are, they are not good to keep out the sun. I am lobster-Gail now, and blistered on my toes, and have a migraine that feels like I was whopped in the head with a large bag of hot water.

By the time we got to the car dealership and shop to drop off tiny car, and got the taxi there to take us home, the center was closed, so no WI for me yesterday. I was tired and sore, Husband was tired and did not feel like cooking, so we ordered delivery and I stayed home today to bask in my lovely red glow and headachey badness. He went to work and then stopped on the way home for more veggies, we were out of broccoli.

The dealership will not have our car fixed until Friday or next Monday. I am just glad I grilled over the weekend, tonight, leftover steaks and broccoli or salad...or something that does not require much work. Now that I have come and complained I am back to the couch to slather on more aloe and flop about like a dead fish.

Well...I started the program on Friday, and I am pre-conditioning until this Friday. I start the actual program on Saturday. I went to weigh in this evening and lost 7 pounds! I am hoping this is indicative of how my entire journey on this program will be! I also went to the making the connection class. I want to learn how to eat accurate portion sizes, and then I want to maintain, so I am going to take advantage of everything the program offers. Also, can someone tell me how to get one of the weight loss tickers?

Hey PianoGirl, alot of what you lose during the first week will be water weight. Cutting out all sodium, and taking in more water will make you lose weight very fast. It is a little slower once you start really losing the weight.

As for tickers, you have to be a member of 3fatchicks for at least 20 days and do a minimum number of posts..but I can't remember how many exactly.

Either way, best of luck, and welcome aboard!

Hi Everyone!

I haven't been around the boards much lately, but decided to check in tonight and see how everyone is doing. Excited to see Jen made it to goal! :)

Maintenance has been easier than I ever imagined it could or would be. I'm not sure why or how, but it's like I've had a big "reset" on my brain, and I'm totally okay with not eating whatever, whenever. I don't feel deprived at all. Instead, I feel better about myself when I eat well throughout the day. More importantly, I am fueling my body to do activities that simply make me feel good.

Amazingly, even with the stress of having switched positions in my district in January (big change=major food trigger for me in the past), I have maintained and/or continued to gradually lose (I'm now 25lbs under my original goal, and skinnier/more physically fit than I've ever been in my life!).

I ran another 5K race on St. Patrick's day, and I'm signed up to run a 7K in May. I also started my yoga certification training last month--it's two weekends a month until the end of June. I'm excited to get my certification! I've already started teaching yoga to school bus drivers (who have a lot of physical complications, I'm learning), and I plan to start a teen program next fall at the high school I work in.

The best part is that, as I mention my fitness accomplishments or post pictures of myself on facebook, I've had more and more people come out of the woodwork and tell me that they've been inspired by me to either eat healthier, become more physically fit, or lose weight. I've NEVER been an inspiration to anyone for any of those reasons. And I have to say, I think my maintenance has been more successful partly because I feel accountable to these friends who "look up to" me for these reasons now.

I'll try to keep checking back here more regularly, but I also wanted to say "thank you" to all who have been here throughout my journey--these boards were a lifesaver for me many times, and you all motivated and inspired me along the way. :)

patzi-you hit on exactly some reasons why people fail to maintain...not wanting to make lifelong changes. People may say they do...and even if they aren't going to do exactly as you did, it's ignorant to say someone's way of maintaining is ridiculous, especially if it's working. I don't go back to the green plan like you do, but I've learned from you to decrease intake of certain things for a few days to get back on track. I experimented with pasta last night and I was up 2 lbs today. So pasta will be out for a while, which is fine for me. It wasn't that great. I've learned lots from you, so thanks!

teacherlady-I'm with you that being "inspirational" to others is going to keep me on track. I know of 5 or so specifically who have truly changed what they are doing because of my progress. If that doesn't motivate me to keep on track...awesome with doing all the fitness stuff. I love fitness. In the past I tried to lose using fitness, but always overate as a "reward"...so never lost. Now I'm using fitness to feel great and help maintain.

So I'm up 2 lbs after adding in pasta yesterday (restoring my glycogen...should be a good run tonight:)). I don't really like pasta that much, it's just something my family likes. But it will be out for a while. I also didn't quite get in all my water yesterday which is not normal for me, so getting back on track today.

Oh, but this was happiness yesterday. I don't frequently check my body fat %. At the beginning I was about 36%. I checked the beginning of January and was a 30.2%...not bad, but I was hoping for lower. Yesterday I was demonstrating in class how to use the machine and my number came up....27.5%!! I've always wanted to be at 25% but always, always been 33-36%. I'm so close. My goal is to see 25% when I recheck this fall (I only have the equipment at school and only teach through April.) I almost wanted to dance around the class...but I was sitting in a room of 21 year olds who are for the most part very, very fit, many of them college athletes, so 27.5% is high to them. But I was happy. The exercise is paying off now that I've lost the weight.

COchick - I just posted in the "Hit a plateau..." thread my tip sheet for breaking them. Check it out and hope it helps! :)

Tami - What I would give to eat a pickle, but I think I'll never be allowed to do that. Even though I hit my goal, I still have high blood pressure. It's a genetic thing, not a weight thing. I'll always have to take a pill for it, but at least it's only one now.

Kate - Hang in there, Kate! My biggest piece of advice is to just use this as a learning experience. You built up your habits over a lifetime and it's going to take time to build up good habits. Take it a meal at a time...a decision at a time. Re-commit yourself and it will be the best feeling in the world.

ynapier - Everything will be ok. You're back on track and that's what matters most!

zugeily - Welcome!!! Hope to see you here often!

Galadreal - Yikes! What a day! I hope things are going better. :hug:

PianoGirl78 - Great job! As Galadreal said, it takes 20 days (to the minute) and 20 posts. Tickers are a great motivational tool I learned. While you can't attach one to your signature at the moment, you can start one (I use Ticker Factory) and then when you hit that days/post mark, it's ready to go and all you have to do is copy the code into your signature. :)

teacherlady - Natalie! Great to see you again! 25 pounds under?! You and Patzi give me such hope for maintenance!

nwcgina - Congrats, Gina!!!! That's awesome!!!! :cheer:

Congrats on the losses, Ladies!

Patzi - I admire you for giving the talk. It's so important for others to hear your story and your advice. What they do with it (or don't do) is their decision... but at least you offered it to them. You're right - it seems like people haven't connected it with a complete life-style change... they may be destined to do a diet-cycle for the rest of their life.

Gail - I appreciate your advice. Sorry about your crappy day, but I also think it's awesome that you were able to walk the 3 miles... How many of us could not do that before getting healthier?

Gina - Go You! Love the story about the body fat,... awesome!

BigDog,

I was wondering, what kind of personal blender do you use? I usually use my frappe maker (the ice crushing frappe setting, without the brew) but it does not chop fruit that well. There are so many on the market I was just curious if you could suggest one.

Thanks

This is just my luck. Got offered a new job yesterday, pays $8/hr more and is almost exactly what I want to do. Accepted offer this morning. Put in my resignation (2 months notice...yes, months) today, had my boss call me tonight to tell me she was sorry about my decision but they had been talking about me for a new position at the hospital...community education. You can probably tell on the boards that I LOOOOOVE educating on health topics. And usually at a hospital they want you to have an RN (because of some other areas usually linked to the dept). So my dream job I've always wanted. Wouldn't pay as much. Bah! But I'm sticking with the original offer. Not just the more money, I think I need to work for a different company for a while. I'm a little jaded with how some of the things have been going. She did leave it open if I was ever interested to make sure to call her...

I have a Kitchenaid which I rarely use.. I use my Ninja most of the time, and the Magic Bullet, I take with me when I travel. Happy with both of them.

Patzi

Also, what is this pumpkin pie recipe someone mentioned before, using spaghetti squash, because I made some of that tonight for dinner but have alot leftover. I have been looking through the recipe thread but cannot find it.

Thanks.

Galadreal-Here's how I've modified it...this would make a 9inch pan...4 servings (4 oz protein, 4 oz cooked veggie)
1 vanilla pudding supplement (I started just using 1 tsp vanilla extract)
4 oz water
2 c. cottage cheese (I used ricotta...the last batch I used plain greek yogurt and that was nasty...my favorite is ricotta)
16 oz cooked spaghetti squash
2 Tbsp splenda (or other sweetner)
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 egg

Blend in blender until smooth. Cook in 9 inch pie pan at 350 for 1 hr. If you don't make it with the pudding supplement, I like to make up the pudding and put it on top...