I actually don't even worry about the calories at this point. MFP keeps telling me I am not eating enough. I put in what I eat. On plan, off plan everything. There are ways to customize it, but right now I'm not even worried about it. What I love is the line graph showing me my weight going down. I have to say I stare at it like ten times a day. Plus, this shows cholesterol, carbs, protein, fat, calories, everything. And like Big Dog said...it helps me when I go out to eat to pick healthier choices. I also pair it with a restaurant app that gets update pretty regularly. They have most fine dining and fast food chains and it shows exactly what you are eating.

i asked a couple different consultants at the center that question (re: Metaslim) and they kept telling me MRC isn't about calories...but a chemical combination per meal.... i told them i tracked online and just wanted a ballpark to doublecheck. the first week diet was approx 800 and metaslim was about 1100 is what they told me. so i use that as a ballpark. ask your center and see what they say...i'm sure we'll all get different answers (plus it depends on what type of meat you eat - fish is lower cal. than steak... of course) when i have a perfect On plan day w/ 4 HNSs it came approx 1100 if my protein is low at the end of the day, i'll eat some more chicken or cheese...the more protein i have, the more i lose...

Hahaha! This is exactly what I used to do! I use livestrong.com (considering switching to MFP, though, because I heard their droid app is better and they have less advertising on the site), and it also allows me to put in my measurements at different times and see the line graphs that show my measurements for various body parts going down.

Oh I know...I so want to grab my chart from my consultant and put in my beginning measurements to start tracking that. We've measured once OP now and I have lost 12 inches over various parts of my body. I am waiting for the day I can have a ribbon like yours. I love your pics!!!!

Wanted to check in really quick (it's late and I should be sleeping). I went to a German restaurant Sunday and ate on program with a salad but I had a tomato soup that must have had cream in it (it was too good), and the dressing wasn't just oil and vinegar as I asked, it was a vinaigrette I believe. Anyway..after that I ate 2 cookies and a tiny piece of chocolate. For some reason I thought that was reason to totally screw up Monday and I had chicken nuggets for lunch, then pizza and dessert @ dinner. Now that that's out of the way (I had to confess my sins, LOL)..I'm back OP today and have to stay that way b/c I know Saturday and Sunday will be VERY difficult for me. I have to say I'm quite irritated b/c, yes, I know I cheated, but for crying out loud..I was up 3 POUNDS today. THREE POUNDS b/c of 6 nuggets, 2 SMALL pcs of Hawaiian pizza, and a small slice of Sara Lee cheesecake. It's not like I binged all day or for several days. I was actually only up a few tenths of a pound after the German restaurant. Maybe the drinks on Friday were still catching up to me. I guess that combined with the soup, dressing, cookies and Monday's debacle made for a 3 lb gain today. With that I'm only down 5 lbs since joining MRC @ the center on 11/21. Still down a total of 10 since 11/8, but ughghghghghgh! Sorry, had to vent.

I wanted to know how you all eat your Fage (or Greek, whatever brand) yogurt? I bought 2 containers to try and wondered how to make it taste better. I love the Greek yogurt with honey and fruit and all the bad for you stuff, but how do I make the plain stuff more palatable? I want to have it for lunch one day this week. I have 3 more days to be POP before more temptation, and I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the holiday weekend b/c both days/places they're serving ham. I could probably manage to have turkey Christmas Eve b/c it will be at my house, but on Christmas Day it will be at my grandmother's. I have to get a good plan going for these days.

Rocki-I've never had the greek yogurt, but to make ricotta or cottage cheese a dessert type of a thing I put in splenda, a little rum or almond or vanilla extract, and a little cocoa powder. Maybe that would work for the plain yogurt? And the three pounds...when you reintroduce a bunch of carbs, your body stores some of it as glycogen in the muscle for energy. Glycogen attracts water, so often when you first lose on a low carb/high protein plan, it's water/glycogen. When you reintroduce carbs you can gain some back just with replenishing your glycogen stores. So once you get back on track, they'll be gone again.

It would be perfect if Metabolic Research would tweak the My Fitness Pal sight and make their own for all their clients. Loving the MRC lifestyle, but journal with MFP! Have a very Merry Christmas!

ok thanks...I'm still learning and all the info that I get from you guys is really helpful.

Thank you Gina..It's still very difficult for me to understand how we can lose well but gain so much back quickly. I'm still struggling just to meet the 10 lb board and I feel like I've been 85% OP. You'd think that even though that's not perfect, that it's way better than I was doing before and I should have been able to lose more..Just a bit frustrating, but thank you for the scientific explanations. It helps to understand it all.

Rocki...
It is not unusual to eat the food you did and gain? If I ate anything like that I would be up 2-3 pounds the following day and it takes me a week sometimes to get it off.. Just say you enjoyed it and try to stay OP and it will cme off . There are times I eat out and eat OP and gain weight two days later due to the salt content in the food. Ok to vent anytime, that is what we are here for.

As for the Greek Yogurt, I eat the fat free one.. I put fruit in with it, and sweeten it with Stevia, but if you use Splenda that will do the trick.

I also have put some stevia and a scoop of that chocolate drink powder that MRC makes brownies with and that is real good. If you are not sensitive to artificial sugars my friend eats hers with apples,carmel flavoring and some cinnamon.

For you ladies that use the MFP, out of curiosity what is your total protein usually for a day? I am interested in anyone that is on the metaslim last menu or on maintenance..

Wishing you all a great day and a great weigh in.

Patzi

Thank you Patzi. That's what I was afraid of. I really wanted to sign the 10 lb board this week. I think I can do it if I stay OP. I was down 2 lbs today from that junky food! Woohoo.. Thanks for the info on the yogurt. I don't have the chocolate powder but I do have a few flavored stevias as well as tons of extracts. It will make for a quick and easy lunch. Might even drink my nasty veggie powder.

One more holiday challenge under my belt! Last night's party with my work group (only 8 people, so we all sat around a table- no mingling to stay away from the food!). Out came an endless supply of bar food: nachos, wings, hot pretzels and cheese dip, fried calimari, etc. Right in front of my face. Are you ready for this? I did not take a single thing. The event was at a brewery and I also did not sample their "handcrafted seasonal ales.". I did however power down several glasses of wine- not eating is stressful! I could have done better on that front, but in all, I'm proud! And today I am DOWN .8.


No time to comment on others posts right now- bus is arriving. Great day, all!

GREAT JOB Camaswa!!!!

Hi ladies!~

Well, from what I am reading...regarding those of us that are messing up a bit...I think what is becoming clear is that we all are learning how to go forward fixing those mistakes, and to me, that is ultimately what "Maintenance" is all about!

I can honestly say now that I know what I have to do when I return from a trip, have a few OFF program days, or following the holidays!!! This is knowledge I did not have when I started MRC....I knew certain foods were to be avoided, but when I did give in to them, I didn't exactly know what to do to regain control of the consequences on the scale.

What a gift!!!! If I choose to have that slice of pie on Christmas, that is OK because I now have the tools and feel confident that whatever effect it has on the scale can be reversed No more beating myself up over being human...especially this time of year....

My WI is today...and I believe I am in a much better mind-set to handle it...no matter what

Have a great day, ladies!

Hi..
Here is a recipe I used when on Meta Slim and to this date.. I make them and freeze them and they are delicious.. You can substitute whatever you have to for whatever plan you are on.. Will also post this into regular recipes file.
I bring these to barbecue and have them vs. other meat host or hostess is
offering.. Being in the south, we barbecue all year and that is how I like mine
cooked.
It is Rachel Ray's recipe.




By: Rachael Ray

This burger mixes up two diner favorites: Greek salad, which sits on top of the burger; and spanikopita (spinach and feta pie), which is in the burger itself. Ingredients:1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), 1 turn of the pan, plus some for drizzling
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small red onion, 1/2 chopped and 1/2 thinly sliced
3 medium garlic cloves, 2 chopped and 1 crushed
One 10-ounce box frozen spinach, thawed
2 teaspoons dried oregano, lightly crushed in the palm
11/3 pounds ground chicken breast or ground turkey breast
1/4 pound crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon grill seasoning, such as Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick (a palmful)
1/4 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced, plus one 2-inch length of cucumber—peeled, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 plum tomato, thinly sliced
1 cup coarsely chopped arugula
Hot pepper rings or pepperoncini (optional)
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 crusty rolls, split
1 cup plain yogurt, preferably Greek
2 whole roasted red peppers, drained
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley (a generous handful)
10 to 12 pitted Calamata olives
Chips of choice, for serving
Directions:1.Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the EVOO (1 turn of the pan) and the butter. When the butter melts, add the My Big, Fat Greek Burger chopped red onion and chopped garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the onion and garlic to a large bowl to cool.

2.Wring the thawed spinach dry by twisting it in a clean kitchen towel over your sink. Break up the block of spinach as you add it to the cooled onion and garlic. Season with 1 teaspoon of the oregano (one-third palmful). Add the ground chicken and feta, then the grill seasoning and a healthy drizzle of EVOO. Mix it all together, then divide the mixture with the side of your hand into 4 equal sections. Form 4 patties, each 1 inch thick. In the same skillet, cook the patties over medium-high heat for 5 minutes on each side.

3.Combine the sliced cucumber and tomato with the sliced red onion, arugula and hot pepper rings. Dress with half of the lemon juice and EVOO to taste and season with salt and pepper; reserve.

4.Toast the rolls. Place the chopped cucumber in a food processor with the crushed garlic, yogurt, the remaining oregano and the remaining lemon juice. Add a little salt and process until smooth. Transfer to a small dish. Rinse out the bowl and return it to the base.

5.Place the roasted red peppers, parsley and olives in the food processor, season with salt and pepper and process to a paste. Remove the blade and reserve the paste in the processor bowl.

6.Slather the roll bottoms with the yogurt sauce. Place the cooked burgers on the sauce and top with the salad. Slather the roll tops with the red pepper–olive paste and serve with chips of your choice.


Patzi