Life has gotten so busy and I haven't been on in a while...
JStuckly my hopes and prayers are with you guys...

Well I have been on program for about 24 days now and down 10 lbs!! Went to WI today and was very excited.. I am getting bored with the foods and I need to find new receipes to try in the cookbook... I want to try some foods with the creamies mixed in but I don't want to give up my favorite creamy of hot chocolate at night.. It seems like that excitement at the end of the day is what is keeping me sane with all of the big diet changes that I have done. Other than being more moody than usual everything has been (almost) easy with the program. I do need to add more exercise.

Everyone keep up the good work.. I always look forward to the different posts.

Thanks on the photo. That was taken last month at my 40th high school reunion. The reunion was the second of three reasons why I wanted to lose weight. I was thin in high school (thinner than now by about 25 pounds but it would have been 50 before MRC).

I never had much luck with cortisone and tried it twice. Both times it gave little relief and caused me to have a temperature. But I do have results when I take Celebrex. Glad it helped you though, exercise helps move things along when not to mention mental attitude. I had to not bike for a week twice this summer and did not like it one bit.

Question regarding the plateau at the beginning of program. How long does it usually last? I'm staying OP 100% but the scale has not moved in 10 days. I lost 8 pounds the first week OP and tried to remind myself that it wouldn't happen that fast all the time, but no weight at all?

Jennifer-Do you know if they are running your body calculations using the Standard setting or the Athletic setting? By default my center uses the standard setting, but the original manager started me on the athletic setting. While the weight is the same with both settings, there is a huge difference in my predicted weight (approximately 30 lbs) and my body fat/lean muscle mass percentages depending upon which one they use. The athletic setting seems the more plausible of the two measurements for me, but I certainly don't exercise 10 hours a week.

Here is what I found on the Tanita FAQ page (http://www.tanita.com/FAQ.shtml#16):

Q: Why is there an "Athlete Mode"?
A: The Athlete mode was developed to provide a more accurate reading for athletic body types. Athletic body types are physiologically different than standard adult body types, due to muscle mass and hydration level differences. Athletes tend to have greater muscle mass and tend to be more dehydrated. These differences would skew the body fat reading high, when taken with the standard Adult mode.

Tanita defines "athlete" as a person involved in intense physical activity of approximately 10 hours per week and who has a resting heart rate of approximately 60 beats per minute or less.

Tanita's athlete definition includes "lifetime of fitness" individuals who have been fit for years but currently exercise less than 10 hours per week. Tanita's athlete definition does not include "enthusiastic beginners" who are making a real commitment to exercising at least 10 hours per week but whose bodies have not yet changed to require the Athlete mode.

Since you are so active and have been working to build muscle, why you ask them to run your body comp using the athletic setting and see if it gets you in a stabilization-friendly zone?

Sending good wishes to JStuckly and ShineOn...

Hello everyone! Okay I have probably just come off the worst week OP! Last week was my daughter's 16th birthday and then I turned around and had 3 days of meetings! a couple of those meals were not on program but did the best I could and tried to make wise choices. Then we had to travel to Houston for Hubby's prospective job and the weekend went fair. I tried as hard as I could to make wise choices but last night totally bombed! Not only was it the wine but they ordered chocolate cake for desert! I took of the smallest sliver and ate it and resisted the portion hubby left. I'm dreading the scale tomorrow. I won't be able to go weigh in until Tuesday so hopefully I can get some of this off by then. The good thing is we were moving the whole time but not sure if it will make much of a difference.

Sorry ladies had to vent! Now it's on to make dinner for my family and get ready for a week.
I did go to the grocery store and stock up on healthy foods!!

Tina

That's exactly what you do. During stabilization you're working your way towards a maintenance menu that's a healthy, balanced menu. You gradually add a few items to your weight loss menu until you're ultimately on the maintenance menu.

Alloramadai

I have been op for about 20 days and have only lost 8.6 lbs. I feel the weight is coming off very slow also. My weight stayed the same for about 7 days just keep drinking your water and try and get some excercise in. The scale will start to move....

I have lost 40 lbs in the last 12 weeks since I started MRC. I am noticing things slowing down a bit and that gets a little hard. I haven't had any "cheats" on the program because I just want to get to my goal asap. With 29 lbs to go, can I still expect some weeks with loses bigger than 1-2 lbs? Or am I probably just slowing down for good? I do have to say that I love this program and it's so worth it!

Schoon? Shannon? Are you out there?

Gina: Are you back home? Is everything okay?

I am here to confess. I have become so complacent in the last week that I am frightening myself. I am doing what I should do...sort of. Today I had a WI of ZERO pounds lost. I haven't had a plateau yet, so I am due, but the complacency isn't helping.

I need to shake it up a little. I am setting a goal of exercising three times this week and drinking 100 ounces of water this week. Anyone else want to throw their goals out there?

Do most of you feel like you have a lot more energy since you've been on the program? I'm 31, and feel like my energy is that of someone at least 10 years my senior. I used to have SO much energy...I'd love to know how you honestly feel...

My goal is to get through Halloween without going off program. We always have a get together on our cul-de-sac and this year is no different. Pizza, wine, beer...........I'm worried about my will power. Maybe by talking about it, it will help keep me honest. I'm not worried about Halloween candy, just the pizza!