Originally Posted by Galadreal:
yeah, mine was 625 to start out, but I have alot more to lose. And although they told me when I started that I would need to buy the drinks they did not say how many or how much. Originally they said I should take up to 2 a day, then when I went to the class they said 3-5 a day.

I do like that they take my measurements, (down 10.5 inches total at the 8 week mark) and that they take muscle mass. Honestly most of the classes I have been to have not been that great. The cooking class I went to had 2 recipies, both which relied heavily on the HNS, and neither of which I liked. Plus she had already made the stuff and it came off as more of a sales pitch to buy their stuff. The other one was a fitness class, where the instructor was speed walking...I fell far behind but at least hubby stayed with me, he had to drag me up a few hills.

i'm sure you will get other advice but seriously, just stop buying their stuff and follow the plan. so many people on this forum have done the same thing and were not made to quit, just tell them you already have the HNSs. Be strong!

Galadreal..
I agree with Big Dog. Refuse to buy their stuff. I have never made recipes using their HNS. I always substitute real food for their stuff and it has worked out fine. I only took the HNS , cortitrim and Fat and Carb blocker when losing the weight. Refused everything else, told not in my budget. The HNS I have been told is part of their diet success.. I do take one a day and a creamy on occasion and now on maintenance take a fat and carb blocker if I am out eating. But stay strong, and you can do it with out taking all the stuff to make their foods in their cookbook. Any time there was a class on food or they had a sample, I took recipe and revamped it to my liking.. I did buy a chocolate product they had to make brownies, but they do not have it anymore and refused to buy their chocolate pudding to make the brownies , so that was a waste of money, but did use the chocolate in my coffee. Now, this is my opinion for me only on my weight loss. You will have others that will disagree with me, but it has worked for me without costing a fortune and they can't make you quit. I truly believe if you just buy the HNS that is all that you need to make the diet work. Nothing else.
Patzi

Happy Friday!!
 

hey, everyone, Happy Friday! i do want to say everyone that knows me knows i'm not a poster child for MRC (to quote Camaswa) and want everyone to know that i did follow the plan and lost weight successfully w/ MRC for 17 weeks. i do not believe in the supplements they push and i've never cooked w/ any of the HNSs and i've never bought any of their HNSs (except for one box of Choc. pudding and a box of Chicken Noodle soup packages) i bought the Phenatrim but didn't use it. $79! i still have it but scared to use it...may try it on a weekend when i'm not going anywhere..have a very low tolerance to medicine...
anyway, starting out i ordered the Protidiet Pink Lemonade in the large container from Diet Direct which is comparable to their clear HNSs. drank that 4 times a day and had one creamy a day (the creamy was the generic chocolate Pure Protein from Walmart) then a lady named Rocky on this forum introduced me to Syntrax Choc. Truffle which is 0 carbs, 0 sugar and 23 g. protein so i started using that as the clear HNS 3 to 4 times a day.

All this worked for me. But everyone is not the same and i do not want to mislead anyone at all because losing weight and being successful at keeping it off is very important to all of us. Listen to Jen, Patzi, Gina, Tamika, Camaswa and all the successful ladies on this forum. Follow the plan, talk to your counselors, read and reread the program materials. Track what you eat daily using whatever you will continue doing. i like my fitness pal online. others are more successful with the form MRC gives you or make your own.

just want to say, Do what works for you. but because you are paying for MRC's advice, use those counselors and ask questions. if something isn't clear to you, ask them - you are paying for them to give you advice. go to their website, go to their facebook page. Ask questions on this forum.

i read what is on here and i learn something new everyday and stay motivated. when i lose weight, i rush to this forum and tell you guys first! LOL, you are more important than my DH who will be like, dang i'm not going to have pizza for a long, long time... haha!

also, don't cheat yourself, we can all do this....i had to start out like, i can do this for one day...then the next day comes...i can do this for one more day...etc. etc. then next thing you know, you are tripping over your pants that are suddenly too long and having to pull them up so you aren't flashing your drawers!:dancer:

Originally Posted by patzi:
Galadreal..
I agree with Big Dog. Refuse to buy their stuff. I have never made recipes using their HNS. I always substitute real food for their stuff and it has worked out fine. I only took the HNS , cortitrim and Fat and Carb blocker when losing the weight. Refused everything else, told not in my budget. The HNS I have been told is part of their diet success.. I do take one a day and a creamy on occasion and now on maintenance take a fat and carb blocker if I am out eating. But stay strong, and you can do it with out taking all the stuff to make their foods in their cookbook. Any time there was a class on food or they had a sample, I took recipe and revamped it to my liking.. I did buy a chocolate product they had to make brownies, but they do not have it anymore and refused to buy their chocolate pudding to make the brownies , so that was a waste of money, but did use the chocolate in my coffee. Now, this is my opinion for me only on my weight loss. You will have others that will disagree with me, but it has worked for me without costing a fortune and they can't make you quit. I truly believe if you just buy the HNS that is all that you need to make the diet work. Nothing else.
Patzi

Yeah Patzi, but that is kind of the problem. I get all my supplements and vitamins through my husband's job (he works at a neutraceutical company), but I cannot keep up with the HNS, the extra 120 or so a month is just out of budget right now.

And of course, they made popcorn at my job today. Declared it a popcorn Friday and the smell has filled the whole of the technical services department. I honestly don't really want it, but it is kind of annoying.

Had a successful weigh in today. Whoop! Forgot to ask them a question while I was there so I figured I'd ask you ladies here. I'm going out to eat for the first time since I started. I'm nervous and have a plan to stay OP. But, do I need to take a fat and carb blocker? Advice please!

Want to share my lunch idea with you .. I am on maintenance, but you can change this to your program for sure.

Slice of WW 40 calorie bread put on top of bread the following
White tuna packed in water drained
Sliced avocado
Slice tomato
Slice of soy cheese
Put in microwave to heat up and melt the cheese.

Small salad with sping greens, cukes, etc. and strawberries throught it. FF dressing

Iced peach tea sweetened with stevia

Tuna melt was sooooo good. Something different.

Patzi

Galadreal re: your statement
Yeah Patzi, but that is kind of the problem. I get all my supplements and vitamins through my husband's job (he works at a neutraceutical company), but I cannot keep up with the HNS, the extra 120 or so a month is just out of budget right now.

I would speak with my consultant and tell them that you cannot afford it on your budget at this time, and want to do the diet without the HNS . My friend did that for three months when her husband lost his job and center was fine with it.

Patzi

KMCNair - I was always told to take the blocker if I ate out, even if it's grilled chicken, because the ways the food is prepared may have extra fat/calories. I've not taken them before Subway, but everything else I do.

Thanks rachel! Any kind in particular or just whatever I can get at walmart?

@kmcnair12-my consultant told me to look for a fat/carb blocker at Walmart that has a white kidney bean extract. I've never done one, but maybe should try it this weekend.

Traveled 600 miles last night b/c gpa is in the hospital and they aren't sure what is going on and it seems somewhat serious. So working on little sleep and trying to keep some kind of healhty habits while sitting at the hospital.

I take the MRC brand, so I'm not sure...

Gina - So sorry to hear about your grandpa. Hopefully you can get some rest!

Thanks gina and rachel. I'll pick something up before I go out.

Gina, sorry to hear about your grandpa. I'm a nurse and know how difficult times like those can be for families. Eating right and sleeping when you can is the best thing you can do to be there for him. Hang in there!

NWCGina - Sorry to hear about your Gpa. Prayers are with you and your family.

WI today and I was the same so I didn't get to sign the 70 pound board, YET! I will get there though.

Galadreal - I would talk to the center and explain your situation. I think they will be helpful and let you keep doing the program. You just won't have the guarantee would be my guess. You never know until you talk to them.

Just reading through many entries...I agree that buying all of the products from them is unnecessary....as there are other places you can purchase protein. However, the reason this program works is because it puts us into "Ketosis," which is fat burning mode 24/7, so long as you are maximizing the protein in your diet...along with menu choices given. This is why the HNS are so important. I don't think their supplements are so much in comparison. If one can't affort to do 3-5 HNS per day, then doing a couple is better than none. This diet CAN be made affordable...it is about priorities for sure...along with a very strong drive to want to succeed at it. If that drive is there, you will do whatever is necessary to lose weight, making sacrifices along the way. We chose MRC to help us, and part of what they encourage does happen to work. This diet is not easy...certainly need to enter into the journey with your eyes wide open:) But it is worth it...it HAS to be more important than chocolate and pizza...if it isn't, it won't work. For what it is worth....

Wow, good discussion on "their stuff.". And Tami got the bottom line right- the whole point of the HNS is ketosis. So you gotta get that extra protein, regardless of where you buy it. I won't repeat all the other comments.

Myfeelingshave totally changed about the center. Ever since the manager reached out to me over email (I HATE when they call you) I am making an appointment and seeing her exclusively. Mid-week, I email her how I am doing.
I don't have to wait and I don't have to hope and pray I won't get one of the young toothpick girls. Today I had a really small scale loss but my body fat took a very good drop and I can really tell in my clothes. In total I've lost 41 inches. I didn't write down the specifics, but I do remember the bust, waist and hips were each down over five inches. That's a lot! My waist is 32 1/2. All the 14s went in Goodwill bags today, I didn't even save one for working in the yard. Good bye. I am even close to the few ancient 10s I still kept around.

I still don't do the plan perfectly every day, but I am being much more accountable to myself and to the center, and it is paying off. I now regret wasting so much time - I've been in the 160's forever. Althoguh my real goal now is not so much a scale number per se but I want to see that bodyfat around 30% or less. Jen is at something like 24 now- amazing. When I think of the fat being around and in my organs, it just freaks me out. That is what kills people.

This evening I am planning menus for the week so Saturday morning I can get the shopping done and cook stuff ahead. I don't love doing that but it helps.