plus it has way more protein which is great! 23 g vs. the 15 or 16 for clear HNSs.... i try to get in at least 3-4 HNSs a day so i could just add more ice and water and a little less of the powder. or maybe you could add diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Rite and make like a mock ice cream float? didn't someone mention a diet chocolate soda drink? i mix diet sprite w/ the vanilla or the diet orange soda w/ vanilla - it's so good especially using a blender so it's all frothy :-) i'd also like to try some of the extracts like coconut and banana - add no calories but taste...

Thanks camaswa! Looking forward to more info on this board.

You could add it to a diet soda...I did that with my grape HNS yesterday to see if it would taste like a real Dr. Pepper (added it to Diet Rite)...didn't taste like Dr. Pepper, but did taste good. I may try the chocolate today...though I think pure chocolate would be better than the chocolate PB...but choc PB with banana extract...now that sounds awesome.

wish i could figure out how to make choc. pbutter cookies from the protein powder! i'll have to google and see what i can come up with :-) i tried to make the snickerdoodles using protein powder instead of the pudding mix and they were so disgusting!!!!! eggy and tastes like sawdust! bleah. i am cooking challenged so still trying! (my DH is a chef)

Hi,
I'm new to MRC, but not to diets or 3FC (although I haven't been here in ages!) Over the last year, I've regained about 20 pounds from my lapband surgery in 2004 and am uncomfortable. I'm on day 3 of the first week and down 6.5 pounds since preconditioning. I think this is a plan I can follow, but I feel very weak. Is that something any of you have experienced? Any ideas on how to make that go away?
Thanks and nice to meet you!
Chickadee

I felt weak during my first week when I was on yellow. I think my body has adjusted. Getting in the HNS drinks does help.

I felt weak and dizzy when I was preconditioning. My first menu was (is) yellow and with the addition of the HNS drinks, I feel great. Have you started taking any yet? How many? I'm just on day 3 of yellow and I get two a day, but I can have two more if I need. Day 1 & 2 I only needed the two, but today I'm going to have an extra.

Thanks for your replies. I'm on the beige menu and am supposed to have 3 HNS a day, so I have been. I have the option to do two more if I want, but I haven't. Mostly because I am very, very sensitive to artificial sweeteners and have to dilute stuff quite a bit. Maybe I should try more? I'll give it a shot and see if it helps.
I'm so glad I found this forum!

Been having those moments where I love, love, love how I'm eating...but then those BAM! moments where I miss things like cupcakes and pizza. Sigh. But put a tbsp of tomato sauce on my chicken to try to satisfy the craving. Now if I could come up with a fake cupcake...

I really want to catch up but don't have time to read everything. I hope you all had an awesome weekend. I wondered if any of you have played around with mixing this diet with a more Atkins type plan. I'm not advocating it, or saying it's good or bad. I just want to know if you've tried it, and what have you seen? I'm REALLY bad at sticking to anything lately. I get hungry (even after all my HNSs for the day, including creamies)..I *try* not to cheat, but am not always successful. I was really hungry today and had sausage for breakfast (one patty) instead of egg, then I had a cheese stick @ dinner along with my chicken. THEN..I had a flax seed muffin (one minute muffin many people eat on Atkins). I had them made up from last time I tried that diet and I needed something other than more protein. I had my HNS but also had the muffin. I'll see, over the next day or two, what the damage is.

I know many of you have been saying you'll add in an extra protein, but is it always an "approved" protein? And what do you think about mixing the other proteins in? Good, bad, indifferent..what's your opinion (whether scientific, or just personal)?? Thanks everyone!

Oh, I do want to add that I am down from 159-154.4. Tuesday will be one week on the plan.

Rocki,
The consutants are adamant that you shouldnt try to take ideas from other plans. But, like you, I sometimes feel so hungry. I dont get the people who say they never feel hungry on MRC! It would seem to me that because this is a ketogenic diet, you should keep your extras to protein. I dont know about those muffins. Maybe a protein shake would be better and the volume would help you feel full?

great weight loss! i agree w/ Camaswa...if i get really hungry, i'll stick to more protein (cube of cheese or slice of turkey breast or boiled egg.) or will take a couple bites of a protein bar... if i feel like i haven't had a big enough salad for lunch or dinner, i'll drink a low sodium V-8 or another HNS. don't think we r supposed to drink V-8 but if i'm on the road, i'll have a V-8 and cheese for lunch. figured that's better than McDonalds! this morning, i woke up and told myself i was sticking to the plan, i've paid alot of money, have been successful so far so told myself to stop playing around~ :-) day 1, let's see what tomorrow is going to bring ~

just tried one today...ran out of my Diet Direct supply of wonderslim bars..($10.99 for 7 bars) .

bought them at Publix 3 for $4 (prob. cheaper at Walmart) ... 180 cal., 4.5 fat, 20 G. protein, 2 G sugar.. Chocolate Deluxe. they were out of Peanut Caramel... but the Chocolate is fudgy delish! more protein - yay!

compared to Wonderslim bars (which i think are compared to MRC choc. bars)
Wonderslim CHOCOLATE
Serving Size: 1 Bar

Supplement Facts: (Per Serving/% Daily Value)
Calories: 150, Protein: 10 grams (20%), Total Fat: 4.5 grams (7%), Saturated Fat: 3 grams (15%), Trans Fat: 0 grams, Cholesterol: Less than 5mg (1%), Sodium: 70 mg (3%), Potassium: 40 mg (1%), Total Carbohydrates: 21 grams (6%), Dietary Fiber: 4 grams (16%), Sugars: 13 grams.

if someone has the nutritional info for the MRC bars, please share :-)

Are these the meal replacement bars?

Re: the decision to use "non approved" protein (or other items). I am so new to it that I am really trying to stick to the plan (except using my own protein powder for my 3rd HNS of the day)...because at this point I would have no idea what to let in and what to keep out. If I am hungry I usually grab a colby cheese stick or protein drink. But I know there are situations where I'll have to choose what is "best available" which may not be the "best choice in the world."

I did get a South Beach and Body for Life cookbook at the library. I figured that they are both a lower carbohydrate/high protein eating plan, I may be able to find some interesting meals that fit within the MRC plan. Especially need some soup ideas that don't use the HNS's...I want to find recipes I will continue to use even when I dno't buy the HNS's anymore.

i've checked out the Jilliam Michaels (i think it's the right name) :-) it's late and i shouldbe in bed! book and have looked at the South Beach cookbook too because i like to have more choices too :-) have you bought the MRC cookbook? i ordered a used copy from Amazon. instead of the HNS supplements, i'll use chicken broth or just canned tomatoes or sauce...
alot of times w/ the protein bars, i'll either use it as a meal replacement or eat my veggies and a bar for a meal. or divide it up and eat a little bit at a time when i'm craving chocolate... they are great on road trips! my DH usually won't eat breakfast and wont stop to eat lunch until late so i'll do a protein shake or bar on the road.

i have always used my own protein powder for the HNSs :-) check out the link MRC recipes and the link more recipes....lots of great recipes so you don't get bored. i love the vanilla protein mix w/ diet orange soda!