Aprons -- I was told that if I ate a protein bar at lunch to have a veggie with it. But, if it is for breakfast, it with a protein drink is ok. I don't think we are supposed to have one for dinner, but in a pinch I would also eat a salad with it. Sometimes it is the best choice we have!

I'm wondering if anyone else struggles with wanting a snack? I'm sure that I'm not the only junk food junky on here! But today I really struggled. Maybe it was because I walked down two or three candy aisles in the stores and walked by the bakery in the grocery store. I used to buy (and consume mainly by myself) tons of junk. Now we can't even have popcorn! What do you all do? I ended up going outside to water my garden and stayed out there longer than I had intended just because I didn't want to come in the house and be tempted by something. Well, I ended up caving in anyway. I don't have any junk food in the house, but ate 1/2 of a caramel nut protein bar just because it was the closest thing that I had to real chocolate in the house. I've been on the diet for 2 weeks and seem to struggle every other day! I sure wish that I had never gotten so addicted to junk food!

jlpNebraska -- Yesterday was tough for me, too. Had 2 Fathers' day dinners. But, one thing I do is drink a protein drink if I am hungry. MRC told me to eat a low-fat string cheese or some veggies. I have found if I will eat some protein and drink a glass of water the craving will diminish. Sounds like you handled it pretty good. You removed yourself from where there was any food, and you ate some protein. So, don't give up! I have really only had about 2 times that I was really hungry and was told to take my Big 3 a little earlier each time. That really helped. But, you can do this!Remember it took a long time to get where we are, and it will take a while to be where we want to be.

I hear you on the junk cravings... You did the right thing with removing yourself from the situation. Even if you had 1/2 a bar, that's still not horrible. Learn and move on. The thing that helps me the most is making sure I get my water in. I try to do 30-40 oz between breakfast and lunch, 30-40 between lunch and dinner and 30 after... (we have early dinner).

I'm a little more relaxed with my eating, but that's changing this week... I need to re-commit to watching every bite, not snacking unnecessarily and journaling like a crazy woman. I think that, if I'm honest with myself and write EVERY bite down, I won't eat as bad because then it's staring me in the face...

Did HORRIBLE on plan yesterday... hubby wanted Chinese for his Father's Day lunch. We hadn't eaten chinese in over a year (our kids were super excited) but, by last night, I remembered why I can't eat it anymore... ugh. Acid, stomach aches... pure yuckies, folks... I'll remember that lesson for a while!

Sotsmom- congratulations! That is fabulous! There is just something about that number 200 that is so psychological. I've been there, and was very close again before I got a grip. Love the idea of throwing the yo-yo away! I fully intend to do that as well!

Camping trip this past weekend was easier than I thought it would be. I didn't take the usual treats and with lots of good veggies and fruit, I did just fine. Although i didn't get much exercise- the campground had a sign posted about bears so I decided to stay on the road for walking by myself while the man was out fishing. Narrow shoulder and I didnt enjoy it, so came back. Instead laid around and read that book everyone is talking about (come on, ladies, you know the one).

Last Friday they did measurements and I haves lost 46 inches total. That's insane. Funny to realize that EVERYTHING gets smaller- like your neck and your knees!

Ummm yes, I do know the book you are talking about. I have not read it myself but my girlfriend was reading it on our Vegas trip and read a few paragraphs to me at the pool........

46 inches lost is impressive! The weight training is paying off - I had mine done on Saturday and am at 39 inches lost. Funny you mention the knee measurement - apparently mine has increased a bit and my counselor just could not understand why. Finally told her I don't care about my knee measurement - don't worry about it! Now if it was my waist..........

Faery, well, I can't say it's a great book (or even a good book, truthfully) but I definitely see why everyone is reading it! And there IS a plot, albeit totally implausible. I was going to stop after the first one, but my hairdresser told me a few things about book 2 that got me curious. Now I guesss I will have to go on to book 3.

How weird your knee measurements increased! And I'm with you-who cares! My waist has gone down a total of 7 inches. Summer pants I took camping would barely stay up. I am doing all manner of ab exercises with the trainer but not so much on the other days. I just don't push myself like she does. I wish trainers were not so expensive - I would have one 3 days a week if I could!

WOW, all of your Inch Losses are GREAT!! I just started at the Gym 3 weeks ago. Can't wait to get measured. Some pants are fitting much better. So I know it's working. I hear ya about having a trainer 3 times a week. That would be really nice. I have mine 2 times a month. What are u all doing at the Gym? I would love to know!!

Apron, we do something a little different every week, but always runthroughjust about every major muscle group. 20 minutes of interval cardio first on a spin bike, sometimes step aerobics, whatever. I did kickboxing for a while, but not enough to get good at it. I like old style freeweights and traditional exercises. I bought Brazil Butt lift DVD, but it is too hard to get through. I try it every few days.

here's a great article from an email i got from WW... (i subscribe to WW, Hungry Girl and MSN) and receive all kinds of tips via email. i have to stay constantly motivated! Summer is the hardest for me which is prob. why i started with MRC in August (to get summer out of the way to commit)


Summer Sabotage

Try these tactics and keep the "light" season from getting heavy.


Appetite tends to decrease as the temperature rises, so losing weight this summer should be no problem, right? Not necessarily. Unfortunately, barbecues, weddings, visits and vacations, this time of year can actually be a weight-loss minefield.


Food is often the focus of our summer entertaining, and it's easy to lose sight of how much you're consuming. When you're at a party, before you pick up a plate, scan your options, suggests Susie Klein, MS, RD. "Think about what you really want, then get a plate and follow through on those choices."

Size does matter, so keep portion control in mind, says Ellie Krieger, MS, RD. And while you may be tempted to take a vacation from sensible eating while you're enjoying time off, Krieger advises that you merely loosen up rather than abandon your diet plan altogether. "When you're on vacation, allow yourself a little treat." Here are five more strategies for staying on track all season.

BYO
When invited for to a barbecue or picnic, contribute a chopped vegetable salad or some other healthful dish. That way you'll know there's at least one item on the menu that's tasty, filling, and low in calories.

Sit down
Rather than grazing throughout the party, get a plate, take small amounts of the food you want, sit down and enjoy it. Calories mount up, one nibble at a time, when you're hanging out at the buffet table mindlessly eating as much finger food as you want.

Get moving
After eating, leave the table — and the temptation — and do something active. Take a walk on the beach, play catch with the kids, start a volleyball or softball game, toss a Frisbee or football. Take the focus off food while you burn away your meal.

Quench with care
On a hot day it's easy to down glass after glass of lemonade or punch, but unless you've made it yourself and know for sure, be aware that it's probably loaded with sugar. Summer favorites such as smoothies and frozen margaritas can also be highly caloric. The best way to quench your thirst is with water. Make it flavorful by adding slices of orange, lemon or lime.

Treat yourself
Delectable doesn't have to be decadent. Indulge with lobster (hold the butter) and other fresh seafood. Corn grilled in the husk is flavorful without added calories from butter. And it wouldn't be summer without watermelon. It's sweet, fun to eat, loaded with nutrients and low in calories.

Camaswa and Faerychic,
congrats on all the inches lost - way to go!!! maybe your knees are getting muscular so a couple more inches :-) i need to get a paper tape measure..the metal one is a bit dangerous! haha.
going camping this weekend fri to mon in the mountains of VA,meeting up w/ my family. planning on cutting up a bunch of veggies to put in camper frig - i know we'll have BBQ, hotdogs, hamburgers. im def. taking my mini blender and the Syntrax powder and case of water. will have to partake of some Mich Ultra too (did i mention i'm meeting up w/ my family?) i don't take drugs :-) so have to take some beer w/ me! LOL! we are planning on hiking to the waterfalls and since we are camping on the river side, it's a long walk or bikeride to the pool and fishing pond, so i'll be getting some good exercise in. 8 hour trip so will have some cheese string, veggies, fruit to munch on.... Tradition is we stop at McD's so we can get the dogs some fries and my DH a burger... i usually get the Happy Meal and give the fries to the dogs.. i love their toys!! that i keep on my computer desk :-) i did notice last time they gave me apples and just a few fries which was great thinking on their part!

About 3 months ago, Mickey D's changed their happy meals to include apples and a mini fry in them instead of a small fry and cookies. My son was so happy since he hated choosing between the fries and apples

got the Berry salad from Wendy's last night...not sure of the nutritional value...kind of scared to look! it's grilled chicken, blueberries, strawberries, almonds (of course you can leave those out but sooo good) and FF raspberry dressing. also have shavings of really good romano (i think!) cheese
it's better than a gourmet restaurant salad! at least around here in my small town. you alsohave the choice of getting a full or half size. i usually get the full size and save part of it for the next day. it really is a big salad!

bigdog - I saw that salad advertised at Wendy's and wondered if we could have one. I'll have to question MRC about it. Will Wendy's give you the nutritional info if you ask for it? I suppose that it's online somewhere too.

Today was a day of repeating, "Nothings tastes as good as skinny feels!!" I loaded up a huge platter with baked goods for a funeral and didn't even have a crumb!! I have noticed that while on the MRC diet I don't have the urges to cheat as much as I did on other diets. Maybe it was just the time of day though. I can pass on stuff in the morning, but bring it out at 5 p.m. and watch your fingers!

While I'm on here, I would like to warn everyone about the evils of the scale. Many years ago I lost 40 pounds and got on the scale about every day. When the scale didn't show me what I wanted to see, I got terribly depressed and once even threw the scale out the back door. Really! The mental stress of dieting evolved into bulimia and then I really had a problem. PLEASE, everyone, don't take dieting to extreme and don't depend on the scale so much. I suppose that a tape measure could be equally deadly. Take it one day at a time and if you look good, your clothes fit, and you are happy - things are going in the right direction. It's often a slow process and a new eating lifestyle that needs to be learned. It won't all happen overnight or even by next week. Just don't get phobic about losing weight. . . it can be a dangerous game.

Well, that all said, I'm wondering how you all find the energy to work out? I am still feeling fatigued and usually only have enough energy to complete the tasks of the day, let alone go to the gym. I'm on day 13 of the diet, so I keep thinking that the fatigue will go away soon. No luck!

And how in the heck do you all drink so much water? I have never been a water drinker, so 64 ounces is a lot. Rachels77 - you drink enough water to float a boat! I don't think that I could do it. I kind of feel water-logged at about 50 ounces! But trying to push through for the good of the diet. . . .

bigdog - I agree with the article's warning about summertime (or any time) drinks. You can consume more empty calories drinking things than you would believe.

Everyone who has posting lately seems to be doing a good job dieting. Way to go everyone! Keep it up! Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!!!!