Hey, 4 pounds is 4 pounds! Great job.

Welcome home... hope you had a blast.. take some aspirin, drink some water and get some sleep... best suggestion I can give you :0) Those 2.5 lbs are likely just water weight and will come off quickly now that you're back on 100%

OK, that sounds like something our fiftieslady would say... do you two know eachother? LOL... you're crackin' me up today!

Wow Nabeelmalik... that's impressive! You're doing great ;0)

Alright now, I do not typically complain. Usually, I just ignore little things like this but I've just gotta say something here b/c this has been bugging me for days and i just have to say it... last Friday I went to WI and did very well, was down another 2 lbs giving me a total of 54.5 lbs... YEAH! The counselor I was with is one that has occasionally frustrated me with her attitude but I typically just dismiss it. For example, several times I've been in the center and she asks how do you think you did, I usually reply great, I've been keeping track at home and I think I've lost a few lbs this week... this always seems to annoy her and one time she actually said "We prefer you not to weigh at home b/c that takes the joy out of your loss from us b/c you already know how you've done and are less excited b/c of it"... what?? We then went to the scale, indeed I had lost 3 lbs and she purposely (at least in my mind) said in a very monotone/blase voice "3 lbs, thats good but you already knew that"... didn't jingle the tambourine or anything... how rude and petty!! I was a little surprised, felt a little bit ashamed like I had done something wrong and didn't say anything to her. I tried to be compliant and not weigh at home after this but to be honest with you it just works better for me to watch at home as well... helps me stay motivated and on track! Well, last Friday when I went for WI she asked how I did, I said "100% OP and trying hard", she then asked about HNS and I said 3-4 as always, 5 on running days and finally she asked about the vits/supplements. I explained to her that I have d/c these, only take Flax, MV b/c I just needed a break from all the pills for a little while. Her answer? Wow, I guess you better be 100% OP and take all the HNS you can b/c w/o the other supplements you don't have the metabolic boosters you need to lose this weight so you'll need all the help you can get! WHAT??? Give me a break please! And ofcourse it didn't end there, when I got up to the front counter she asked what I needed, I purchased 3 boxes of HNS and as she was ringing it up she said "that's it, only 3 boxes? That's all you need?" Ummm... yes! I felt so silly and started to explain that I had lots of powdered drinks at home I'm still trying to finish but I prefer the concentrates and like my creamy at night so I was purchasing these to supplement the stock supply at home but have plenty of HNS to drink. What in the world?? I don't know about any of you but I thought all of that was just plain ridiculous and really uncalled for. I know they make there money by selling HNS and pills but do they have to make it that obvious? My opinion is that they are there to support me, not just sell me supplements and surprise me with my lbs lost... I feel their support should be alltruistic and without judgement otherwise why go? Now I want to add in her defense that it is not all negative with this counselor, she sometimes compliments me in other ways, saying how different or good I look but this is limited and the negative vibe I feel always seems to outweigh it.
Anyways, part of why I'm saying this is because I've begun to question the value of going to WI's for me at this point. I've been thinking about this all weekend and this week wondering if I should renew when I run out of plan in October. I'm not sure what to do b/c I really wanted to lose the 100 lbs then go through stabilization and maintenance but events like this really put me off. I know, I should just try to avoid her, see another counselor etc.. I'm just a very non-confrontational person and know that if I say anything word will get back to her and that makes me uncomfortable. I'm also afraid of changing anything that I'm currently doing, afraid the weight loss will stop etc if I don't go in. I guess for now I'll just try to see other counselors w/o making a big deal of it and try to stick it out until it's over then hopefully I can make it to stabilization and maintenance with them and then be on my own. I know that's the right thing to do... just venting I guess :0) Alright, enough for now!

I feel like you are being pressured into buying things and to dance to her tune. So fricken what if you weigh in at home? I hate to break it to her but this is not about her! It is about you. You go there to add a facet to your weight loss program, their support and guidance! Not to be a hoopn' an a hollern' to stroke her ego! I support you in whatever you decide to do, however, if I had someone that makes me that uncomfortable, I would talk to the manager and let them know. Then ask for a particular person who has been unfailingly supportive to make appointments with them or just to not see her. A good manager should be able to arrange that without office politics coming into play. Explain that you don't want to make a big deal out of this and want to keep it confidential. If they want to keep you as a client, then they will respect your wishes. You are paying for their services and should never have to explain why you don't want/need to buy something at every visit. Simply asking if you needed anything is sufficient. I don't think this is about being confrontational, it is about setting boundaries. She might just want to look into selling used cars
Ok, getting off my soapbox.

Karen,

I know exactly how you feel...at my center there WAS a counselor who would pretty much do the same dance as yours...if I said I needed nothing she completely lost interest and practically push me out the door hoping for the next client to boost her sales quota. Finally enough clients complained to management and she was booted out the door! Please do not let this insignificant person ruin your success...she just might harbor ill feelings of jealousy etc. because you are doing GREAT! I have tried MRC 2 times before joining back in Feb. I did not succeed because I thought I could complete it on my own. I never went through stabilization or maintenance, therefore did not succeed on this program...you have invested a great deal of energy, time, and money for you... do not let anyone take that away from you, no matter what! You are doing an amazing job, and if you are concerned about the counselor finding out you have complained just write a letter to the management explaining your situation and experience so you do not have to relive the moment or be uncomfortable. Keep up the great work! Genell

Yikes I am so sorry that you are having probs at the center. I did the first time thru too. I just want to tell you that my biggest regret is not going all the way to stabilization. They do a survey with each Body comp and always ask if I am learning a good lifestyle. I ALWAYS tell them NO! I am learning some good habits, but this diet is NOT a lifestyle. I do not know anyone that can eat this way (on the active diet) all the time as a lifestyle. If you do the diet on your own you will do well....but when you go to adding food in.....without supervision it will be very hard to find a balance and keep the weight off.

Oh Karen....I am so sad to hear about your experience you are having with this counselor...I'm beginning to think she has to remember who is paying her wage. If MRC is truly wanting success stories, they have to stop thinking about the all mighty dollar, and instead their clients. Everytime I visit the center, I see clients leaving with bags of supplies they purchased...I sometimes wonder if it is all about the money? The program works, there is no denying that, but we all know it is not cheap.

My biggest concern is losing so fast and maintaining this. I truly don't want to live on this plan for the rest of my life. That's what scares me. I know the support is very important and the weekly weigh ins keep us on track. And it is so easy to fall off plan and cheat. I sometimes wonder if you can follow the diet without these expensive protein drinks? Maybe just add more protein to the plan? I'm too new to know all these answers. I only signed up for 17 weeks, which I am so glad. It was funny how when I first went in, I was not given the 17 week option, just the 24 week option. Then when I didn't sign up at that time, the phone calls I kept getting about joining. I had planned to after my vacations were through, but I guess they didn't believe me. Finally during one of the the calls, I was given the option of signing for the 17 weeks, and then if I wanted to sign up for another 17 or 24 weeks, the cost would be only $79. So I went into it with that mind set, but when I verified the $79 cost, it was taken off the table...which I thought that was fishy....oh well....they have me for 17 weeks...after that, I will really decide if I want to sign up for another $99 or just go on the maintenance plan. I really haven't had any bad experiences with my center, except the girls are so young and quite slim who work there, so it's really hard for me to think they have a real understanding in what I am feeling on a particular day. But, that said, Karen, if that would have happened to me, I would be feeling the same way as you do now. You are a great example of success for me, and I really don't like you being treated that way. Please hang in there and you can count on us for your support. We stand behind you in whatever decision you make. Thank you for sharing this experience with us...we all need to be aware of how these centers work and what compare what we are told by our own centers to others. That's how we learn...that's how we lose.

FL, someone mentioned to me (i don't remember if it was the manager lady--robin?--or one of the girls) that several of the employees at our center have gone through the plan... but it's definitely hard to believe! there are a couple of girls who look like they never had a weight issue in their lives. it does make it kind of hard to relate.

Karen,

If I've learned anything from this message board, it's that those who go through stabilization and maintenance DO stay successful. I've no doubt you can get the weight off yourself but I'd finish the program I paid for and get all my money's worth out of it if I were you.

I'm sort of a witch myself and if I am perpetually inundated with negativity from one person, I'll usually call them on it. Just avoid her if you can or say, "I'm happy with my progress and I would have thought you would be too." Most of the time I don't let others' discomfiture bother me (this counselor sounds like she has some control issues), but I've leaned not to let certain people talk to me with a consistent negative tone.

And by the way, GREAT JOB!!

Thanks everyone,

I appreciate your help and comments... I hated to complain but needed to just get that one off my chest. Yes, I think she does have some control issues, actually at one point months ago I went home and told my husband how manipulative I felt she was. I have been seeing other counselors but it's been random, I usually go on Sat's and I guess they rotate b/c it's never the same 2 each weekend.

Little Edie... that is exactly what I'm afraid of... I'm one of these people that will put up with these little comments a few times but once I'm fed up you're going to know it and I'll call you on it in a heartbeat... politely but succinctly... the only problem with that is I usually really say what I'm thinking and am very honest and open about it but sometimes regret it afterwards and start to feel "guilty" as if I had misperceived something. Darn guilty conscious Catholic thing I guess! Taught to always feel guilty and repent, repent, repent LOL.

Anyways, that's not always the case, sometimes I don't feel guilty if I'm angry enough and put up with it long enough but with subtle insults like this I might feel guilty for saying something later, hence the reason I'm avoiding it right now. Unfortunately, I also think it's bad to avoid it until it comes to a head b/c one day it will, undoubtedly. It's funny, I'm a pretty layed back person and others get that vibe from me and also take that as someone they can take advantage of or walk on but that is not the case... I try not to sweat the small stuff but if I start to feel like someone is rude, insulting, walking on me I will set them straight pretty quick and can be a bit sharp about it as well. I'm easy to work with, very level headed, "even-kiel" as my surgeons say but everyone knows that what I say is what I mean and that's what I expect. I'm about 1 visit from doing just that with this lady and felt maybe it's best to avoid her rather than get involved a confrontation I might regret later.

I think I'll call and ask when my 2 fave counselors are there, actually I have no problem with any of the others, just the one so it shouldn't be too hard to schedule an appt with one of them instead.

Alright, thanks for the help ladies and have a great night!

One more thing,
I agree completely, I need to stay with it through stabilization and maintenance. I was thinking of just going to stabilization at my originaly goal of 72 lbs then into maintenance and then trying later to get off the rest of the weight - all b/c of this I guess - but all of you are right - that's crazy and I should not let one negative person deter me or stand in my way. I will persue that 100 lb board and then go through stabilization and maintenance and not have to see her the whole way if I don't want to!!

Leah, you are right, a few have been through the program, so they understand. Especially the cook, Linda....she lost over 100 pounds. Some of the real young ones though I wonder, but actually, they have been really nice. I've yet to meet one to look down her nose. I did have a couple that were not familiar with the white menu, so had to look it up to see what all I was allowed...it would be nice to have a counselor that at least knew the menu...so far, that is my only complaint.

Karen1234,
I won't go on other to say I think you have been treated wrongly and I agree 100% with what everyone else has stated. The girls at my center are great and I also wondered about these young thin girls. A couple of them then produced pictures of them before and I was shocked, they had all been through the program.

Please hang in there and go through stabalization and maintenance, the people at my center say how important it is and my dr. verified that for me last week. She said I must go through that because the ones that don't tend to start gaining back and the ones that go through it are fine.

You are in this for you. Try to get one of the counselors you like and maybe you can explain your issue to her and request a specific counselor. I know at my center you can make appointments for specific times and I bet you can request your counselor also. Chances are the rest of the staff think they same about her as you do.

Hang in there you are doing fantastic. Don't let her get you down. If it was me I would probably do something like never buy anything from her, just politely say you are good then stock up when you get a good counselor. I don't know if they individually work on commission or not, probably not but it would be a small way to stick it to her.

All,
On a lighter note I just wanted to let you know that I actually fell asleep laughing last night after reading all the posts. I like when we can find some light-heartedness in all of this struggle. Karen, Lori, Fifties you crack me up!



Started MRC 5/9/09

On second thought just tell her you have more damn money than you know what to do with and really enjoy spending it to lose weight and want to continue on this path as long as you can.

Amen!