I think part of the problem is that most of them are trained on the plan, but they really don't know any more about the reasoning/science/research behind it than any of the rest of us who have been on the plan for several months. They aren't medical people, and they aren't knowledgeable enough to make changes to the plan/menus. In other words, they don't know enough about it to think for themselves and problem-solve. Don't get me wrong, there's a few consultants who have done research and are well-versed in weight loss and the research behind this plan--but most are not.

Another problem is that--at least at my center--there are several consultants who have either never done the plan, or have never been significantly overweight (I'm thinking of one gal at my center in particular--she just doesn't get it when I tell her about my cravings/struggles. She thought I was crazy when I triumphantly described my "truffle smash" from last Christmastime. Another consultant at my center--a guy--totally didn't get it when I told him I started to eat that bagel, then made myself spit it out and throw it out the window. Again, some consultants have no concept of the psychology of what we go through, other than what they've been told/taught--they haven't experienced it, and are therefore unintentionally hurtful/pressuring.

I'll be interested to see what happens for you. My guess is you'll initially stay the same or gain, but it will hopefully re-set everything for you so that when you go back on plan you'll see strong losses again. Hopefully.

That's what I'm hoping for. I hope to shock my body into thinking, "What the deuce is going on?" Hopefully, the influx of calories will trigger a metabolism surge and keep my body on its proverbial toes.

***TMI ahead*** Whatever the case, this junk eating sure did trigger something, as I had the biggest bowel movement I've had in 2 months (even better than when I was taking the max allowable fiber while on plan).

And, by the way TEACHERLADY, I totally agree with you about the consultants. They're doing their best, but when they're not informed about alternatives, it makes it difficult, not only for them, but for all of the clients who struggle. I asked what other people have done when their weight loss slows, and all the consultants say, "They just keep on following the program." Come on! Give me something I can work with!!!

LMAO! I'm sorry, but I find bodily functions to be hilarious.

I had a box of sour patch kids at the movie theater last night, and by the time we got home, I had a huge amount of gas rolling around in my belly/gut. Not painful (thank God), but it felt really really weird and was actually audible. My husband even woke me up (I dozed off while he was reading in bed) and asked if I was ok, because my gut gurgles sounded painful. Then, he woke me up several times because I started farting in my sleep. Loudly. And stinkily.

Apparently, I can't handle straight sugar like I used to.

I am seriously guffawing! That's hysterical!!!

ROFLMAO! Y'all are cracking me up! I've spent years with all sorts of intestinal issues. I had my gall bladder removed when I was 19, diagnosed with spastic colon when I was 21, had 2ft of my small intestine removed due to arterial thrombosis (blood clot) when I was 24. Then if that wasn't enough, diagnosed with Diverticulosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome when I was about 29. So, when I said I needed to go to the bathroom.. I really meant I NEEDED to go! I just learned to live with all the gas and diarrhea.. thought it was going to be a way of life for me. Oh and eating high fiber things - not a good thing for me. An apple could have set me off!

Anyway - now that I'm doing MRC, I'm more regular - only going once a day, if that.. just about 2 weeks ago, before I started, I was going (mainly diarrhea) at least 5 times a day and that was a "good" day. The bad days were going in to the bathroom about every 5 minutes for at least an hour straight. And that was just the morning time.. after I ate lunch, it would start all over again. SO thankful for MRC.. not only losing weight but losing having diarrhea everyday! My life is better already!

Rzrbackcandi,
That's fantastic that the eating plan is working for you! My dad has IBS, Diverticulitis and Chron's Disease, so I recognize a lot of your bathroom issues. When we'd go on vacation, we knew to pull the car over ASAP when dad said he had to go.

I really hope MRC can clear up your digestion issues for good! Keep it up!

That's fantastic!

My mom had her gall bladder taken out almost 15 years ago, and she was diagnosed with diverticulosis last fall. She's been having gas issues for years, and diarrhea issues for about 3-4 years. And she's been insulin-dependent diabetic for 2 years.

I'm going to try to move her to eat more MRC-style (if possible--she LOVES her carbs, is a non-compliant, stubborn diabetic) and see if that helps her. Then, maybe, she won't have to wear Depends even though she's only 65!

Thanks Ashley!
If your dad is like me, then he knows where every bathroom is in every place before he goes into it! Which I think is pretty sad.. but like I said, it was a way of life. I'm still going to stay away from the fiber pills/drinks that MRC has, for now. If I feel like I just can't go, which I think I would be a miracle, then I might try it. :-)

Wow that is seriously off plan! I hope this works for you!

It is amazing the difference in centers. The area director for the centers in KS and MO stated that no one can manage the centers she has unless they are within 20 lbs of goal weight (from being on the plan) - because I asked about a position there. So all of my consultants have been on the plan. They also employ nurses - my center doesn't have one, but there is one at another center about 40 minutes away.

They also give great advice, that "seems" to work for me now. You have to remember I'm only 40 days into the program though. For example - I still had swelling in my ankles after upping my B6 to twice a day. So they suggested the Super DIM - and within 4 days my ankle measurement went down 1/2 inch.

If any of you need me to ask my staff or the nurse any questions, please feel free to shoot me an email & I will be more than happy to do so!!

My center is only about a year old so many of our consultants are actually from the center in Belleveu, NE (about 2 hours away) and our Manager is from Lubbock, TX. They are currently hiring/training people to take over these positions but I was told it is very slow going because they required that all consultants have completed the plan and are on maintenance.

Mariah

They may have all been required to complete the plan, but they have not all had to lose a significant amount of weight. I asked one of the girls from my center before, and she said she's always been pretty athletic and only had to lose about 10 lbs.

She's also the one that told me that the replacement bars and shakes were TOTAL meal replacements, and not to eat vegetables with them. Even though it says right on the top of my menu that the bars and shakes generally replace a starch and protein from a meal. I was corrected several weeks later (by a consultant from Bellevue, NE, haha) and told that I could eat veggies with the meal replacements.

I asked my center about busting through plateaus and here's my marching orders for the week.


1. No cheese! Yikes! I don't eat eggs. So, I'll be eating foods from group 3 for breakfast (chicken & turkey mostly). Meal Replacement Bars are ok.

2. No group 2 foods (beef, crab, lobster, lamb, pork, etc.) at all.

3. No high density veggies like broccoli. Stick to Green Beans, Squash, & Zucchini.

4. No citrus due to the sugar content. Keep to berries for the fruit selection such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.


We'll see what happens.

I'll definitely keep these in mind! Thanks!

For breakfast this morning, I had turkey sausage, 2 eggs, and one slice of bread. Not too bad.
Lunch was a microwave meal of buffalo chicken snacks, a 1/2 bag of popcorn, and chocolate chips.
I didn't have any HNS today, but will start again with the mandatory 2 tomorrow.

It was after lunch that I finally felt like my body was getting the wake-up call, so I went back on plan for supper. I'll be back on plan the rest of the week, and I'll be sure to check in with my weight loss.

I want to thank each of you! Thank you for your support! Thanks for not saying, "Ooh, that was a stupid idea." Thanks for the encouragement! I hope this little experiment can help someone else. I mean, regardless of my weight loss, whatever happens is still some kind of result, right? If I gain weight, people will know NOT to do this. But, if I pick up my pace of weight loss, maybe someone struggling won't have to wait 9 weeks to start seeing results again

I'll keep you all posted!