I like that it doesn't have preservatives, and the flavor is excellent. Yummy!

i am but when i see a gain, i've been going back to the green metaslim menu or doing medi-quick (usually on Monday after a weekend!!)
i can't seem to get below 164 but am ok with how i feel and how i look in clothes. As soon as i eat crackers, bisquits or bread though i can tell an instant gain! clothes get tight...i'm thinking carbs absorb all the water i'm drinking and i'm swell up at once! :-)

i feel the best when i'm eating salads, veggies, fish, lean protein...lite desserts dont' seem to make me gain but Carbs definitely do (nachos, chips, bread, etc.)
i will always drink my protein shakes (HNSs) - they keep me from getting hungry and are like a chocolate or vanilla shake - i mix my fruit and greek yogurt in the blender w/ the Syntrax powder. YUM!!

HNS's
 

My center told me that they have a new distributor for the HNS's - that is why they are different. They will no longer have the wafer bars and the Wild Berry Passion has been replaced with Wild Berry (which is not as good in my opinion). They also now have a blue raspberry liquid concentrate now - I have tried it is the past and it is a nice change. My center did not carry it until this past weekend so I guess it may have been available but just not at my center.

Speaking of the new HNS tastes, I got the blue raspberry this past Thurdsay and got to try it this weekend, I'm not sure most people will like it. It's in the tall package like the pomegranate and has an odd flavor. The flavors don't bother me too bad but all I is open and guzzle it down (no mixing). My biggest complaint is that it turns your tongue blue. I just resigned for a few more weeks, with all their changes I'm wondering if it was a bad decision. :( Ugh, I really like this program but I don't want to have to buy my stuff from all over.

I talked to my site manager on the phone this morning. She said I can bring in the remaining 4 boxes and exchange them for something else. I think I'll get the high-protein shake mix I like.

The manager said that she's gotten a lot of complaints about the change in product, but whenever she talks to the corporate office about it, they tell her that they haven't gotten many emails or phone calls about it. So, people are complaining to their individual branches, but corporate isn't going to listen unless people are contacting them directly (do they think the site managers are lying???). She told me to go to the emetabolic.com website and send them an email to complain, and encourage everyone else to do so, as well.

So, that's what I did a few minutes ago. Here's the direct link, if you'd like to drop them a note to let them know you're unhappy with the changes to the HNSs: http://www.emetabolic.com/contact.php

In the meantime, I guess I'll be ordering my cocoa from online for a while.

Thank you for the information...I just now submitted a complaint, so we shall see what happens. I agree that the more that do this, the better our chances of getting back products we have grown accustomed to having and like.

Have a great day, ladies!

Thanks for the info! I think I'll send an email also... it's ridiculous to change formulas when your program is so dependent upon the HNSs. Crazy.

Sots - Your sister and your family are in my prayers.


Just catching up on stuff... busy weekend. Some off-plan meals but I enjoyed them and moved on. Hopped on the elliptical at the motel and tried to get in as much water as possible... but I think I failed on that front. No biggie. Already downed my 33 oz this morning... will do another 60 or so and keep swimming... (hee hee, sorry... watched some Nemo this weekend with my girls).

Have a great week, all!

teacherlady (or anyone else who would like to express their opinion) - I also go to the center in Omaha and am just a beginner (on day 5). I saw your post about the hot cocoa and purchased a box, along with the double chocolate pudding and vanilla pudding for my creamy HNS. Since I don't know what they tasted like in the past, I might be fine with the taste, but it sounds like there are better things out there. Could you lead me in the right direction of the best HNS at MRC or let me know of other sites that have the same products. Have you found them cheaper than the 10 boxes for $100 at MRC? I will try to do some research, but am very interested in what and where everyone else purchases their drinks. I can see that this could become a very expensive diet and that has me a little worried. We can't be wasting our money on nasty, expensive drinks!

Changes to Metaquick?
 

Anyone know about a new menu for metaquick? I called my center this morning with a question about the new meta balance menu and they informed me that I could do metaquick with bars only. The counselor I spoke to knows that I have an issue with the shakes (they make me want to eat off plan!).

jlpnebraska, I have yet to find anything cheaper than what they have at the center, except once in a while when the websites that carry this stuff run a special sale. However, sites like familybariatric.com and dietdirect.com have the same products, just under different brand names. My guess is that MRC buys them from whatever company produces them, but has a contract to have them packaged with the MRC name on them.

Anyway, the ProtiDiet cocoa and the Family Bariatric brand cocoa are two that I've tried that are exactly the same as MRC's old cocoa. ProtiDiet's is a little higher calorie (by about 20 cal, I think), but also a little higher protein. I'm ordering the Bariwise cocoa from Diet Direct this time, as it's the exact same calorie/protein as the MRC cocoa and I wanted to get another product (chocolate soy crisps, yum!) that Family Bariatric doesn't carry (free shipping if over $49 purchased, so I wanted to buy everything from one site). These sites also have the clear HNSs (Protidiet makes the clear concentrate ones), bars (I liked the Bariwise ones), and puddings. These are just a few that I've tried. :)

Hope this helps!

Thank you for the info. I sent them a note too.

i joined last August and only bought like prob. two boxes of stuff from the Center. some chicken noodle soup HNS and chocolate pudding. everything else i order from Diet Direct. the Protidiet brand seemed to be the closest compared to the MRC brands and the Wonderslim come pretty close. i like things in bulk so bought the large container of Protidiet Pink Lemonade and large container of the Hot Cocoa. then discovered the Syntrax Nectar (love the Choc. Truffle, Latte and Vanilla Bean torte) and have only used those for the HNSs (0 carbs, 0 fat, 70 cal. if you use 2/3 scoop). The center didn't like it that i wasn't buying my stuff from them but they were out of the good flavors and i liked the variety that Diet Direct offers. i've gotten the Roadside Lemonade also from Syntrax. if you go this route, just try not to tell them you are buying online if you can avoid doing that. i was told there would not be a guarantee and they wouldn't continue my contract since i wasnt buying from them if i didn't reach my goal in 17 weeks. i lost about 30 lbs in 17 weeks and then 6 more on my own to reach my goal of 164. i still pretty much follow the metaslim plan and love it! i used the center to weigh in and they did give me some good advice but the turn off was all the pills (i bought phenatrim and didn't use it) - i use all my own vitamins and didn't buy any more from them. i kept telling them the plan was working and i didn't want to get dependant on the pills plus i have a low tolerance to medicine.
to be fair, the center is an hour away so it wasn't like i could just pop in so easier to order stuff online for me. if it was closer, i would have prob used them more and weighed in more. i weighed in once a week. these ladies on this board have helped me the most with menu ideas, shake ideas, motivational tips. sometimes i'll "confess" on here just so i can move on and get back on plan.

Good luck and we'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. read some of the posts on the previous months and check out the link to recipes. very helpful!

Sent email to "corporate" about the flavors and packaging changing. I have noticed the change in taste but has anyone else had problems opening the "pouches"? I have to use scissors to open:( Did not eat OP all weekend so I'm anxious to WI this week.

Thanks teacherlady! I will check out those sites. Do you think that the Bariwise bars taste better than those from MRC? And when can I have chocolate soy crisps??? Day 5 seems so far from the good food!!

I'm curious as to what Metaquick is.

Thanks, too, bigdog! I appreciate all of the information. A lot! I live 2 hours from the center in Omaha and so I do not get in on the classes, etc. that they offer. I do not feel like I am being able to take advantage of what I have paid for, so I am looking for ways to cut costs and corners. I do think that the diet works though, so I would like to keep up on it as best as I can afford. I was suckered into purchasing the Big 3 (Phentratrim, Cortislim, and MRC-6). I haven't started taking them yet because I have been losing weight and had some fatigue symptoms to start with. I'll wait for a plateau to start them. I am kicking myself for buying them, but I also have a friend on the diet, so maybe she could use them too. I sure hope that I do not have any adverse symptoms from the pills. I also have a low tolerance to medicine/herbal supplements, etc., so we'll see. I would like anyone's input about the hoodia. That is one of the ingredients that I am a little concerned about. I really appreciate everyone's helpfulness on this site. I question the knowledge of some of the consultants that I have worked with. A few of my questions have gone unanswered and I think that if you are working for the company, you should know the scientific reasoning behind each and every part of the diet so that you can counsel the clients. Don't worry, bigdog, I won't spill the beans if I purchase items elsewhere online. I figured that would not please MRC. But, to my knowledge, we did not sign anything saying that we would exclusively purchase products from them (I will have to go read the contract). Thanks, everyone, for all of your help!!

P.S. I tried the hot cocoa today for the first time - in a blender with ice as kind of a frozen hot chocolate treat - and I thought that it smelled and tasted very artificial. Since I have not tasted the old version, I can't compare, but this one needs some work! i understand why you are all complaining! I have been very happy with all of the clear HNS, other than the peach mango also tasted very artificial. I was surprised by that since the others didn't really seem like that.

I honestly think that Bariwise makes the exact same bars that MRC sells--plus a few extra. I really liked the Bariwise bars, myself. I think you can have the chocolate soy crisps starting whenever you can have bars/shakes. I really liked the soy crisps, but I usually just limited myself to when we'd go to the movies or people would be snacking during a meeting at work or something. I liked them especially because it takes a while to eat the whole package (because otherwise they'd be messy, like eating Nerds, lol), so they really lasted.

Metaquick is used mostly for a plateau-buster. It consisted of a replacement shake + HNS for one meal, a bar + HNS for another meal, and then a regular, on-plan dinner + HNS. You can not do this more than 7 days in a month, I believe, but I never needed to do it more than 2-3 days to bust a plateau.

I only bought the phentatrim toward the end of my active weight loss, when I hit a long plateau and needed a boost to try to get the last 10lbs off. I was like BigDog--I didn't want to get dependent on a bunch of pills, and only turned to them when I was really stuck in a rut with my (lack of) losses. That said, the phentatrim worked awesome for me. I was worried it would make me jittery or irritable, or give me some other side affects (as other diet pills have done for me in the past), but it was totally fine. I didn't feel different at all, really.

The contract states that you will purchase HNS drinks from them, as they are a required part of the program. I bought from online a few times, and the Omaha center never questioned me about a lack of purchases--I don't think they looked too closely. I still bought a box here and there, mostly so they wouldn't even notice. Anyway, if you use alternate products or purchase them elsewhere, the only thing that does is void the "guarantee" in your contract (they "guarantee" a certain amount of weight loss within a certain time period, as long as you follow their diet perfectly, or they will give you additional weeks of the program for free). It doesn't mean you can't stay on the plan or re-enroll or anything.

Bigdog thats so awesome your in maintenance, I was only asking because I saw you could have alcohol and I thought boy I need that plan. But figured you were in maintenance and thats why you could have it.

Day Four and I'm off to a great start. 7 1/2 lbs lost, amazing! I'm looking forward to getting on the green menu though.

How does everyone get those weight loss tickers to show up in posts?

SonnyRae you have to have 25 post, I believe, before you can use the ticker. Keep posting and you will be able to add it. Great loss so far! Keep it up.

Thanks once again, teacherlady! You're full of advice! :) I'm sure that the center did not give me any information on the MetaQuick plan since I'm just starting, but it's nice to know that it's there. They didn't mention the replacement shakes to me at all either. I was a little frustrated the first day that I went to the center because I didn't feel like there was a lot of scientific diet knowledge being passed along, more like she was trying to make a sale. I was already pretty much sold before I got there though because I had found this site and read everyone's testimonies.

I feel better about using the Phentratrim after your comments and will hold on to it until I need it. I am a little surprised at the cost of their supplements, but dieters are emotional thinkers and they have us for sure on that one!

I priced the ProtiDiet drinks and bars last night and will now go back and look at the Bariwise. I'm sure that there is one manufacturer who is making all of this for the different brands. The flavors are all the same if you look at the brands, so I'm surprised that the tastes would be different. They can vary the formulations though and that could change the taste.

Had mainlltenance weigh in and stayed the same 5 pounds under goal..
All the HNS packages have changed. They are all large now, where some were smaller.. One lady waiting to see a consultant said the flavor has changed. I will see. I only take one HNS and one creamy a day. Will check the ingredients also.. I have one of the older boxes left.



Patzi

Newbie here
 

Just wanted to say hello to you all. I have started MRC about one month ago and have lost 16lbs and 11.5 inches so far. I have been reading the forum for awhile now and just wanted to thank you all for the great information!

I had maintenance weight in today and was down 1/2 a pound. I'm good with that and am enjoying maintenance. Keep up the losses. This program is great if you follow it.

There is actually a lot of good scientific background on the diet that some of the consultants are pretty well-versed in, but they don't always share it with clients right away, because honestly some people just don't care--they just want to lose the weight. And, some of the consultants aren't as well-versed in the science, I think, partly because some of them haven't done a lot of training or research because they haven't had weight issues. There's a few really good ones, though, and the site manager, Thea, is really good. I don't know if Char is still there, but she really knew her stuff. Wendy is also pretty good. There is also one other middle-aged woman who knew lots--I think she's read a lot of research outside of MRC training, too--but I don't know if she's still there.

Like I said, some of the consultants are really really knowledgeable, and some aren't. Weigh in a few times and figure out who you really like (I loved Char and Wendy because they were really knowledgeable and didn't try to force sales on me) and then stick with them as much as possible--you are allowed to request certain people when you arrive, you just have to be prepared to wait longer for them. :)

Had my first weigh in today and i was down 3.8 lbs. Yippee!!!

ynapier... Glad you are enjoying maintenance. And congrats on weight loss.

Welcome nyght and congrats on your weight loss. Great diet .

FutureMrs.C.. That is quite an accomplishment.. Congrats to you and wish you all the best in your challenge

sonnyrae. That is a great weight loss.. Be proud of yourself.

If I have missed anyone, congrats to all those that lost weight.

Patzi
maintenance member

Thanks Patzi.

I start the blue menu tomorrow. It's not looking a lot different; at least I get to get a "creamy" one in. I'm feeling a little depleated right now, but I'm not too hungry...just kind of exhausted. I think there was another newbie that was feeling the same way. Any others finding this out? I'm pretty active (walk a lot, swim, volleyball, tennis) and I think I'm not getting enough calories in.

Very possible- if you still feel this way in a week or so, talk to them. Ask about MetaBalance. It's more calories and more frequent eating. It is slower however. Just be careful they don't try to sell you supplements that they can't prove.

You can also put your stats under your name -go to Edit Profile. I update that instead of a ticker.

Kiwi Melon HNS
 

I recently purchased 10 boxes of the ProtiDiet kiwi melon HNS for $8.75 a box from nutmegstatenutrition after they changed them at MRC. I do not like the new ones since the formula changed. The ones that Protidiet have are very much like the old ones at MRC. Again, they told me that they changed suppliers. They no longer have the peanut butter wafer bars that everyone loved at my local center either.

sonnyrae - I am on day 8 and have been feeling very tired since about day 2. My daughter has a masters degree in food science and told me that it's because my body had been running on carbs for so long and now it is feeling depleted and has to learn to run on protein/fat. She gave up sugar and flour (she always tries weird things like that to lose weight and try to be more healthy) and said that the second week is always the worst when undergoing a major change. She said to expect to be tired and crabby. She also thought that I should be having headaches because I ate so much junk in the past. I haven't had any headaches and don't know if I'm crabby, but I sure am feeling like crud. I am not very hungry and almost have a bloated feeling. When I have to face my chicken and vegetables at lunch and dinner, I almost feel sick. I'm guessing that is because I would rather have pizza and pasta and desserts. But I believe that we can get past this and feeling better as our bodies adjust. I've invested too much at this point to cheat or quit. So, it's onward and upward! I find that when I feel the worst if I go outside and do nothing other than walk around the yard or pull weeds, etc. I feel better. It's mind over matter. Good luck, sonnyrae.

CWOMAC - I have been researching prices for products online and think that I am going to order from nutmegstatenutrition as well. I was interested in the big cannister of ProtiDiet pink lemonade at $19. Everyone keeps mentioning the changes in the formulas. I like the MRC kiwi melon that I purchased two weeks ago. What is different between the old and the new? ProtiDiet seems to have the same nutritional values as MRC, so maybe I will try a few other flavors. I have found that nutmegstatenutrition sells it for the same price that ProtiDiet does and you get free shipping at $79.99 where at ProtiDiet it's $120. I have found 4-5 brands that are essentially the same as MRC, so it pays to shop around.

Jlp, your daughter's feedback sounds right to me. I have heard that before. At first I thought I would have to give up. That said, I do not think it is enouh calories for some people who exercise a lot. I really don't.

Funny that you are now doing the same "weird" things as your daughter: cutting out sugar and carbs! Hang in!

Old & New
 

The old kiwi melon is in the shorter package and has a more green color to it. The newer kiwi melon is in the tall skinny package and is more yellowish green and is a little more thin.

It's the same with the Orange concentrate - I loved that for breakfast and now it's changed so much I have to chug it to get it down... blech.

Doing well today. Up a few pounds due to my planned off-plan "cheats" over our weekend trip. No biggie. Drinking the water and getting the salads to get things going in the right direction this week. Feeling great and moving on!

Also, as you know, stress plays a HUGE roll in my weight loss... on top of the cheats, I discovered my kids' precious kitty was killed this morning. Apparently she got into my husband's vehicle sometime and he didn't realize it. So, I've been worried about what to tell them all day... they will be devastated as they (like me) are animal lovers...

I have actually had headaches, and that totally makes sense. I'm probably going through carb/sugar withdrawal!

Also, being a newb may be a good thing. So far, all the drinks I've tried are pretty tasty (green tea, orange, pomegranate, peach mango, lemonade).

I find the Pink lemonade one to be atrocious at MRC. won't be getting that one again.

SonnyRae-I felt the same way the first week. My poor body got so used to deserts and carbs everyday that my withdrawals were just bad. But it gets sooo much better. I am in my 3rd week or so and feel fine now.

Has anyone tried the pink lemonade from Proti Diet? Or anything else from them that you can recommend?

The Protidiet pink lemonade is excellent ! I buy the large container from diet direct. I get the Protidiet hot cocoa too. They also have the protein oatmeal that is good in large container

WI today - weight same as last week but did get measured and I've lost 53.5" - yes!:carrot: Tomorrow we leave for Canada and will drive 2.5 days pulling our boat then travel 25 miles across water to the fishing camp. Needless to say this isn't a weekend trip - thank goodness we are retired. We will definitely be eating a lot of fish. I've spent last few days figuring our meals so I can stay OP as much as possible since I won't be able to jump in car and go to grocery store if I forget something! Would appreciate prayers for safe journey up and back. Wishing the best for everyone on your life's journey to live better. :goodluck: Take care