Hi Ladies,

I'm still hanging in there. I have a few questions for you pros.

1. Cravings - I have stopped using all the center's drinks and supplements now. I use body fortress from wal-mart and take a multi-vitamin, b-complex, and flax seed. Things are still working for me with the changes, but I feel like my cravings for off plan items have gotten a lot worse lately. Is this all in my head? Is this normal after a while? Is there something you all take to help curb those cravings?

2. New Green Menu - Is there anyone out there who would be willing to send me a copy of the new green menu? I talked with my consultant about it the other day. She said her manager told her they have the new menu, but she's not giving it out yet because she hasn't had a chance to train the consultants on it. (I would assume it is as straight forward as the old one, but I guess I could be wrong.) I understand if no one is comfortable with this, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. Can anyone tell me their thoughts on it? Is it worth me trying to track it down or continuing to bug my center about it? (I do the mail in program.) Do y'all like the new menu or should I just stick with the old one?

3. Motivation - How do you ladies keep motivated to keep pushing forward? I have some days where I just feel like it is hopeless and I want to just go on a binge eating frenzy. Then, afterwards, all sorts of feelings of guilt and remorse set in and I panic that the scale will go back up after my backsliding. Any advice on pushing through those episodes?

I'm grateful for any input. Thanks for the encouragement and congrats to all on your success.

Oh I am trying so hard to keep by new attitude and not let little weight fluctuations get to me. You would think I would have learned that by now. For me the scales are like damned if I look, dammed if I don't. It makes me super-motivated when the number is going down, but when it goes the other way, I still havent learned to fully be ok with that. I went up about .4 two days in a row to 162.8. Still lower than this time last week... Yesterday i nibbled on grapes kind of mindlessly (THEN saw they arent even on the green sheet...) I also drank some wine. Like I said, I am a slow learner. I did however write it all down and even circled every off-program item to force my accountability. i go in to the center in about an hour, and i will make my profile current with whatever number i see there.

My weekend plans are to get a lot of exercise. I purchased Brazil Butt Lift DVD set - ha, I totally fell for the infomercial! Has anyone seen that? omg! So I am going to give it a try after the husband leaves the house.

camaswa-I did that on my food logs...circled OP items or put a frownie face by it...that way I and my counselor could see at a glance if I had 0, 1, or lots of mess ups...helped keep me from putting my head in the sand.

eb-I don't know that using different protein powders caused cravings (I'm using body fortress and pure protein now that i"m on maintenance, I did use the MRC through the program)...but adding any new foods I have a bit of adjustment with cravings. Also, 2 days before TTOM I am constantly starving/craving. Motivation? I just put my mind to it that I was doing this program. I had a friend that lost 100 lbs and only went truly off plan 1x for a weekend and so I thought "if she can, I can." Days when my motivation dwindled I'd think "can I do it just for today?" And I would do it for that day and then the next then the next. When you start looking too far down the road it seems hopeless. 35 pounds seemed insurrmountable, but one day at a time I did it (and down 70 from my highest).

I do the same thing with my menu.....circle the off plan foods with a frownie face I also put down if I have a migraine or something else going on. I feel the same way about the scale - damned if I do and damned if I don't. I am trying to break myself of weighing every morning, especially if I am been 100%on plan. If I don't like what the darn thing says I give it the bird...LOL!

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I was only going to use the HNS's from MRC. I noticed on some of the bars I bought from diet direct that the nutritional info was different (even though it looks like the same darn thing!) and the drinks from the center say they have fiber in them but the ones from direct direct did not. So, really trying to stick to the plan 100%. I had a counselor tell me that the reason I was not losing was because I was not taking their supplements (vitamins and krill oil specifically). So I purchased them from MRC and told her I was skeptical that theirs would make a difference. I am still skeptical and think it was a concindence but I lost 2 pounds last week (my average is .9 pounds per week). Anyway, I want to get these last 12 pounds off instead of dragging on so that is why I am doing what they tell me.

WI yesterday (things got crazy and couldn't post) but I guess you could say I've taken to stabilization like a fish to water. Ding dong me forgot my WI clothes. I was bummed because I knew what my scales said yesterday morning at home. Anyway, they weighed me and even in my jeans, I still weighed what I did on my home scales...down a pound. It would have been even less had I had the right clothes.

It's amazing how much easier this gets when you don't have the daily stress of trying to lose weight and apply what you've learned all through the program. Now that I'm not really trying to lose weight anymore, it's just falling off. Go figure.

Pulled muscles in back...Bellydancing hates me. Going to go home, take muscle relaxer and sleep for the weekend. Sleeping on my back hurts...maybe I can prop my arms up on pillows and sleep on my face. No mowing, yardwork, or exercise for me this weekend. May have to wait on bleaching and dying hair pink too. I just don't want to move right now.

I think I have finally found the right diet for me and am mentally ready for it. I spent the morning reading post from previous months and am feeling so positive about this. This morning I got out of bed and actually felt lighter and my knees didn't hurt as much. I swear I felt my butt shrinking!!!

I am on the beige menu, if I follow the portions and timing of meals and HNS I don't feel hungry. Thanks to all the regular members for all the positive and informative posts, they really help!!! This is my new favorite site!

EB - on cravings... I do crave chocolate and sugary/carby stuf around TOM and sometimes if I'm stressed. I try to drink extra water and occupy myself with something else (taking a walk, cleaning house, planning my healthy meals, etc...) to keep my hands/mind busy. If I still want it after the next meal time, which I usually don't, I might have a nibble... but 99% of the time the craving passed.

My motivation has been looking at previous pictures of me on FB and hearing my kids say how fun I am now to play with, since I've lost the weight...

I still struggle with beating myself up occasionally about off-plan choices. And it stinks, but I'm realizing that weight loss is so much a mind game also... positive talk and reinforcement mean so much.

Rowdy - Congrats! Yay for shrinking booties!

Galadreal - I hear you about the back. Mine is just now feeling back to normal... take it easy, friend. Rest and drink your water! Healing thoughts your way!

EB102106...

You say you do the mail in program. Is there any way you could go to a meeting once a month? That may keep you more focused. When I was losing the weight I went twice a week, and when I hit maintenance, I go once a week. I don't have to go that often, but I need to account for my weight, like weighing in and talking to a consultant. I have a friend that does mail in, but does travel once a month to the center and said it has helped her.

Any time I had problems with cravings, etc. I told my consultant and she would tweak my diet for the problem on hand and it worked.

I agree with all rachels 77 said. Make sure you journal every piece of food and
drink, as that will keep you accountable to yourself . We are not perfect, we are human, with our ups and downs, and do the best we can.. You need to want this for yourself and if you keep telling yourself how important you are and want to make this challenge, it will work for you.Make yourself in charge of your own destiny, and no one can do this but you, as you have the power. And if you have success, celebrate each success you achieve and take a minute to pause to enjoy it.. You are worth this, don't ever forget that, and it is soooooo worth it.. If you have a setback, shake it off, and move on and fill yourself with positive energy. As far as green menu, I personally would wait till consultant had it in the center and had the knowledge to guide you.. This is all my personal opinion, but so want you to make this.. I used all MRC drinks, shakes and bars while on program. I did not use others. If there is anything I can do to help you,please feel free to ask. Patzi

Jen, that is so interesting that you are losing easily now that the stress of weigh ins is off. I guess that means we should all just do what we are suppers to do and the weight will eventually take care of itself. I do hate the stress of the scales.

At the center I lost 2 this week and 2 last week. Now I am exactly back where I was when I started melting down a few weeks ago. My profile is the truth again! I hope to keep this momentum going through May and then stabilize. Hard to explain my logic, but it feels good to me. I'm pretty close and just don't want to get fixated on a number but more on how I look and bodyfat percentage. It may not even take till the end of May, who knows.

Happy Friday, all

My Titantic dress is vintage with no spandex and heavy with sequins No zippers > just a little hook at the back. My DH had to help me out of it! When I tried it on the other night. Lol. I have a big hat and thinking I'll wear my high heel granny style boots instead of sandals. Some people show up in their night shirts or gowns with life preservers on. The menu is incredible. Oysters. Lamb. Salmon. All served tapa style by waiters. Of course I'll be drinking cocktails and will try to not fall in the pool w the sinking ship at midnite... Sunday will be water water water hns hns hns
Salad and protein!!
Just ordered the syntax vanilla bean to mix with frozen berries. (raspberries strawberries or blueberries). Have to run to Publix for more pink grapefruit that I eat every am with Splenda and cinnamon with my eggs cooked in olive oil PAM. My staples seem to be water, syntax nectar, eggs, grapefruit, frozen fruit, broccoli , salad mix, ginger dressing, grilled chicken, flank steak, Greek yogurt, nature valley protein bars (10 g protein). If I get hungry I'll eat Greek yogurt w cinnamon and splenda or with berries,grapefruit or oranges. Instead of Melba toast or lite bread. I'll eat fruit. And this is from a girl that lived on peanut butter crackers, cheese and crackers and popcorn. And peanut butter and honey toast! I will have small quantity of bread or tortilla chips w salsa when we go out to eat. When we go to the movies (not very often),I'll have popcorn and pop rocks forcdinner Pop rocks are only 35 cal and 8 g sugar. (they make me laugh).
Ate at Outback last night and my DH wanted to get the onion loaf for an app. I was like get it and eat the whole thing. That is just nasty! We got the spinach chicken flatbread and I always get the 6 oz sirloin broccoli and blue cheese chopped salad. I know I should not eat the pecans, etc but I do and don't gain. Now if I had gotten the sweet potato I would have gained. Thank goodness I don't like white potatoes becuz my DH's loaded potato looked sinful. I do want to say that usually I take part of the steak home and don't eat a lot of bread but ate all of it. I will have to watch that I don't continue to do that because I do know how easy it is to add on a little more food and next thing you know the pounds are back on in a skinny minute! Yesterday I only had replacement shake in am and bar for lunch knowing we were going to dinner.

Bigdog, remember when they hassled you for eating a grapefruit at breakfast?? I just thought of that when you described your staples. Haha. Doesn't that seem like a long time ago in terms of what we have learned?

Regarding cravings you have all probably heard this before: HALT - hungry, angry, lonely, tired. I do think just about every craving stems from one of those feelings. The craving is simply the desperate desire to change how one's feeling. For me, I would have to add another H for hormonal and another T for tipsy! Most of the time food doesn't fix the feeling but it's so difficult to remember that. Cravings can be so powerful. I guess the trick is knowing how to prevent getting them. Easier said than done, but really a key to this.

isnt that funny!? i used to "cheat" by eating my grapefruit in the am instead of at lunch! and would slip and tell them at the center and get a rash of sh**! and would sneak the greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese...glad they figured it out at the Center what we knew all along. LOL!
let us know how the Brazil Butt lift dvd works - too funny!!!! i need a really good work out for my biceps and triceps...i have like bat wings since i lost weight!!! i have weights - and even the shake a weight just have to actually lift them!

so true about feelings and hormones.. - i find i don't eat when i'm sad or angry...usually when i'm tired and bored... and when i'm happy and drinking cocktails!! actually more the day after when i'm trying to soak up the alcohol. :-) actually i don't drink that much and when i do it's only a couple drinks or mich ultra lite beer... i am now a light weight!!! plus i really hate to be bloated and full. i remember all those years dieting and not realizing when i'm full...it's like w/ this protein diet, if i overdo it, i immediately feel it and don't like that feeling at all! i like the almost flat stomach and not feeling like i'm going to bust out of my clothes like before.
bought some new dress blouses the other day and they are too big~! especially in the bust and back...i liked that they were loose and comfortable but realized i've worked hard to lose weight and need to buy more fitted clothes. i still feel a little self conscious w/ fitted stuff...and need to get over that....

Brazil Butt Lift - about 10 minutes into it i realized if i kept going much longer I would not be able to walk later. My thighs were on fire. And I am not really sure about doing THAT many squats, you are basically doing a variation of squats and lunges the entire time. My knees started to hurt too. maybe i will just start with 10 minutes, then try to go a few longer every time till I can do the whole thing.

About fitted clothes - I tend to buy clothes that are too big also. it just doesnt occur to me to try on a medium or a 10 sometimes. And it doesnt help that no two brands seem to fit the same. Even Levis - the waist of the straight-leg 12s was perfect, so i got a 12 in the boot-cut, which stretched out so much I was hiking them up all day and the extra fabric in the crotch looked like i had a certain package goin on down there.

Thank you all for the comments and advice. It's great to hear how and what others are doing to "survive" this journey.

Patzi - I love what you wrote. I am going to print it and put it on my fridge! And I think you are right. I should probably wait for the counselor on the new menu. I just haven't gotten a whole lot of support from the center this time around. Staffing has changed since the last time I did this and sometimes I feel like I know more about the program than most of the new counselors. But, there are a couple I do enjoy talking with, so I will try again. I live about 4 hours from my center, so I will try to look at the monthly visits, but may just need to start making more frequent phone calls.

camaswa - I had not heard of HALT before, but think this might be very helpful. When cravings hit, I need something to help me stay grounded and push through, so maybe this will do the trick. I find the most difficult days (obviously) are when I'm not prepared or something unexpected happens in my schedule. I just don't adjust very well. Maybe this will help me to not just throw my hands up, but to actually assess the situation and make a good, or at least better, choice than I have in the past.

nwcgina - I love the "can I do this just for today?" concept. I think I have read that here before. Thanks for the reminder. Lately, I've had days where I need to say "can I do this just for this meal?". Whatever works I guess.

You ladies are all so awesome and such an inspiration. Thanks again for the advice and encouragement.