Hello all! I started on the yellow menu today too. I had to re-sign because I was a dummy and let myself gain 27 pounds in the year I've been on maintenance. I think I've learned my lesson though and am back on track. It sure can creep back on can't it? I know MRC works though and I am recommitted to losing it!

Day two and I've stuck to the plan perfectly. Didn't resign and am doing it on my own. I weigh myself every day (I know that you're not supposed to do that) and am looking to loose 10-12 pounds. I guess I should change my ticker to reflect the real scenario.

Day 4 went well. I rode down to the outlet mall outside of Houston with a friend, and I TOOK MY LUNCH! I felt like a bit of dork hauling my little lunch satchel around, and I actually left it in the dressing room at Jones New York and Eddie Bauer, but I was pleased with myself because I had a completely on plan meal, and I didn't spend any money eating out. Yea!

Mrs. Phibes, I know you've had your avatar photo a while, but I absolutely love it. You look absolutely radiant in that photo--you are glowing!

Thanks for the compliment. It was taken at my 40th high school reunion last September. The reunion was a lot of fun and I did feel very happy at the time to see all my old high school friends and visit the old neighborhood.

Congrats MRSPHIBES and STUCK IN GRAD SCHOOL. Keep up the good work. That is great willpower STUCK IN GRAD SCHOOL to take your own lunch.

I really got mad at myself today as I was fixing my salad at lunch from the yellow menu for putting myself through this. I am trying to keep my goals in mind so I stay strong.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Three pounds in three days. Even I am impressed. Tonight there will be a planned "outing" for my 10th wedding anniversary. Oysters and lobster and a glass of wine. Tomorrow I start the blue menu and will stick to it faithfully.

Congrats on 10 years and 3 pounds! Enjoy your celebration!

The celebration came in the name of 2.5 pounds. I know it's probably water weight so will wait until tomorrow to update my ticker. From now on I will only update it on Mondays and Thursdays (like weiging in twice a week). Today I start the blue menu.

Hang in there, Pat! I guess neither of us was really in the right place mentally to do it just once. I think the good thing, though, is that I feel much less like a prisoner of the diet this time around. Rather than being a major lifestyle change, it kinda feels like I'm finally eating normally again. There is only one thing that I've really missed, and I'm hoping that will just kinda go away.

Congrats on your 10 year anniversary, MrsPhibes. I'm sure those 3 lbs ARE water weight and you'll start seeing losses again in no time.

I think you are right. I learned a good lesson. I also feel the same way about the diet. I think once I get to the green menu, I'll not feel so bad. Only salad for lunch 4 days is really getting to me. But the good news is, this is the last day. I've almost made it through the first weekend and I have stayed OP!

Have a good week....

Back on the horse so to speak today perfectly on plan and did a 23 mile bike ride to boot. Will post my morning weigh in tomorrow on the bottom ticker. Surprisingly I haven't been too hungry.

Good weigh in (at home this morning). Lost a couple of pounds and I feel so much better. I'm not just talking about being thinner but the aches and pains (I attribute to inflammation of arthritis) feel better. I've heard that certain foods cause the inflammation (such as beef) and whatever it is is not in this diet (the first eight days anyway).

Great job, MrsPhibes! I agree with the aches and pains. I called for an appointment with a podiatrist last week expecting to start cortisone shots in my foot, and I'm feeling so much better after 11 days on plan that I'm not sure I need to go now. My skin is also much better already.

Do you drink additional HNS to compensate for your long rides? Or do you follow the beige menu protein? I'm curious how you keep your body from going into starvation (or how you have enough energy) to pull those off. I know that the 5-mile walk I do on a non-MRC diet wipes me out when I try to do it on plan.

I never got a copy of the beige menu so I'm not sure what additional I would get to eat. 23 miles is not a long ride for me. I usually have 3-4 HNSs per day and sometimes a little extra protein. Last night my MIL took us out to Longhorn for our anniversary. I ate the whole 7 oz. piece of beef (no prairie dust or sauce) and 2 small slices of their wonderful bread. Also had the new salad they offer that had a little bit of fruit and pecans in it. Today I only lost .25 lb. But I didn't go up either.

Also, my MIL told me I looked a lot thinner and she didn't even know I went back on plan. :-)

Here it is Monday and it was a less than perfect weekend. It's weigh in day (at home) and I gained. I'm not surprised since Saturday night DH and I went out for sushi and yesterday we split a shrimp ring and had champagne. It was our 10th anniversary/father's day. Today I hop back on a do good.