StuckInGradSchool --

I agree with TheLish. Sound like you have an allergy that you need to get to the bottom of. I know allergy testing is expensive, but sometimes allergies can escalate into life-threatening reactions. Your skin will erupt when you have had something that your body thinks is "toxic". It is the way to expel it from your body. The skin is a huge organ of elimination.

(I get hives from strawberries. Fortunately they are easy to avoid. I always ate strawberries, and loved them until one day my body coldn't handle them. In otherwords, the allergy happened when I was an adult. It wasn't something I knew as a child, and it came as a shock!)

Other allergies can be not so easy to deal with, but your body is definately at war with something it considers dangerous to you. Best bet is to get tested.

Treysmama --

Congratulations! Your first 10 pounds! Yay you!

I love to eat out too. See if your center has a "Eating Out in Restaurants" class. Mine does, but I haven't attended yet.

Problem for me now is I can't afford to eat out and pay for MRC also!

I visted the Lakewood center today and officially signed up. Everyone at the center was very friendly and welcoming and I didn't fell any pressure to join or buy additional supplements. So here goes Day 1 of preconditioning.

Ok so I just tried a Double Chocolate Pudding supplement and it was gross! Am I missing something or does anybody else agree? Maybe I should try a different flavor.

I started MRC in May, but I am brand new to this. I have enjoyed reading the posts over the last month or so. Figured it was time to get involved instead of just reading!

I was doing awesome on program! THEN I went on vacation last week. I did not do well traveling. Has anyone ever "restarted" the yellow menu in the middle of the program??? Good idea? Bad idea?

Thanks for any help!

Hi lookingforaloss! Glad you joined us! I am going to have to let someone else answer as I have been on the beige menu for the last 120 days, but just wanted to say hello!

Hi as well to MRChopeful! Sorry I can't get the smilies to work at this moment but just wanted to wish you well on your MRC plan! Look forward to reading about your success!

i am seriously thinking about switching to weight watchers for something different.....i have hundreds of dollars of products from MRC.....if anyone here would be interested in buying them, my email address is: [email protected] no one is interested, might put it all on ebay.

Stuck in Grad School Sounds like an allergy to me. If you have insurance, they should help with the cost of testing. It could be a number of things from the spices used and even other things like fish they cook with but you didn't eat.

Suz175 We all get bored with it. Especially for me after I have a good loss. Crazy huh? You would think I would be renewed with my loss but sometimes my mind is resisting what my body needs.

SkinnyWallet You will fly, my friend and the beauty of your flight will be one to remember! Learn and that is something that can never be taken away. Just think of the different perspective you have when flying, huge things on the ground look like small toys from the air. Wonder if your problems look as small while flying? Let me know.

Congradulations on your loss! Just think of how well you are going to look when he gets back! That alone is exciting.

I didn't like it as a pudding but used it some recipes and it was ok then. I like using the vanilla cream when making shakes with soda.

From what I have heard, just get right back on with your reg menu. The gain is probably from water retention and that will flush out of your system. Someone wrote that it takes the amount of calories in 3 pizzas to gain one pound of fat.

Maybe I'll see you at the Lakewood center. I went in today and weighed in around 2pm, then I went back at 6 pm for a class. I was thinking about you and wondering if you made it in. Good luck/best wishes. I generally weigh-in on Mondays and Thursdays, and go to classes those nights also. The time I go in varies, as I am self-employed and my schedule varies from day to day.

Preconditioning is interesting. Some people lose during it. I didn't. I only managed to transition to half-caff coffee, I need my caffeine fix in the morning, but I did get off diet soda, sugar and salt. Felt a heck of a lot better without that stuff, but I probably would never have quit it on my own. I have been averaging almost-not-quite 3 pounds per week, and I have lost 12 inches overall. I took a week off plan when I had out of town company, so I do not count that week. I didn't gain during that week, but I only lost 1 pound. So I am pretty sold on the program.

Let us know how you do.

Hello Misim....I'm sure the beige menu must be for the over "200 club"....you mentioned being on it for 120 days already...are you bored with it? Are you starving on it? I will be on that when I join and just curious how it is working out for you. I hope there is quite a variety, because I'm assuming you are on it till you are out of the 200's. Am I correct?

You are correct. From what I know the beige menu is for those over 200 and then I was put on the green menu once I got down below 200.

Hi Fifties Lady! Thanks for the welcome!

Lori- Thanks for the info. I am sticking to my regular green menu, but thought maybe going back to the yellow menu would jump start my weight loss again. Thanks again for the help!

Hi Fifties Lady; Yes I have been a member of the over 200 club for 4 months. At 250 the menu changed in that the 10 am and 3 pm protein snacks were eliminated. This was fine, because I think I was hit or miss with them anyway. I have 6 ounces of protein and on green menu I believe it is 4 ounces.

I haven't really asked a lot of questions about future menus as I thought I would take the entire 24 weeks to lose 72 pounds--I got 14 to go! Gotta tell you though stepping into Onederland is a huge motivator along with a medical procedure that I will probably get scheduled soon.

Maybe you and some other posters can relate, but I tend to do very well with restrictive programs. I know what to eat and I tend to buy the same veggies, use the same proteins. I stick to my list and don't bring home the food options that can get me in trouble. I even get the same HNS flavors each time. I do get creative with my melba toast options however, lol!

I have to say that I have never been hungry on this plan because the protein at every meal really curbs my hunger. Of course there are times when I could open up the pantry/fridge and start snacking, but it wouldn't be for hunger, more probably boredom, so I try to stay occupied. And for me having the restrictions means no guesswork and I don't have to get creative with meals. But on Sunday I have a bit more time so I do try to play with some of the recipes. I can also say I am more likely to partake in the blt--bites, licks, and tastes than when I first started. Now I counter it by gum chewing or straight up walking out of the kitchen and staying out.

I also figured out that I have to make exercise a part of my life and after doing an exercise dvd or going for a walk, I am no longer thinking/obsessing about food and I feel in control. And I am going to need to bolster that positive thinking because I so want and need to be successful with this!

Thank you so much...this was so very helpful to read your post. I am so excited to start...the success stories are fantastic...including your loss...I am so amazed by you.

I understand what you mean about having a "set of rules" to go by...I think that is why I was so successful with the SB diet when I tried that a few years back...I followed each daily meal by the book...(I am kind of doing it all again, except knowing how terrible some of those meals were, I just can't follow it as I did before...just can't gag down some of their recipes...lol) I think MRC will be good for me and I'm like you...I will shop for just what is on my menu plan. The chewing gum really does work while cooking..that always helped...(sugarless of course). The walking is the the best of all....I know it's hard to talk yourself out of it...but once you get on the beaten path, you are so happy that you pushed yourself to do it....I always feel so much better after I get back from the walk...and the water is doublely delicious. Another thing I found very helpful, is to brush and floss right after dinner...that will keep you honest too....I mean who wants to floss ten times a day???

Again..you were super in your response and I will put this in my note taking box. You have a nice day now.