Hi Sailorsgirl! I'm sure you didn't post anything wrong. I've been on the program for a few weeks and noticed that over the holidays people kind of laid low and there didn't seem to be so many postings and replies.
I feel the pre-conditioning is more to get you in the right mindset to start the program. I didn't lose much if anything on pre-conditioning. I followed that menu for about 4 days. It is a list of the foods we all know we should eat - lean protein, hi-fiber/low cal bread/ vegetables/ fruits and lots of water. My menu is white.
My next menu is yellow and is for days 1 - 4. Breakfast is 1 oz hard cheese, 1/2 small orange, 1 slice hi-fiber/low cal bread (I use Sara Lee Delightful Wheat) or Melba toast.
Mid morning - 1 HNS & fiber drink (I mix them together)
Lunch -1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese or 2 oz hard cheese 8 oz salad veggies with MRC dressing (I just use the low cal spritz dressing they have at the grocery store - 10 sprays)
Mid afternoon - 1 HNS & fiber drink
Dinner - 4 oz white chicken or turkey (no skin), white fish or white water packed tuna 4 oz salad veggies 4 oz cooked veggies and bread/melba toast
evening snack - 1 HNS
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My next menu is blue and goes from day 5-10
breakfast is the same but an egg prepared with no oil can be subbed for the cheese
lunch is 8 oz of salad with 4 oz of the lean protein
dinner is the 4 oz lean protein, 4 oz cooked veggies and slice of bread
The HNS/fiber is used the same way as the yellow menu.
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The final menu I have is green and it is a detailed list of the protein, veggies, fruit, starch etc that can be eaten at the meals.
I would suggest you contact a center and ask if they have an email/mailorder program. My mom and sister don't live near enough to a center and when I go to see them at the end of the month, I am taking some supplements for them to try and get them in touch with my counselor here. I haven't attended any of the classes yet - my work schedule kind of clashes with their schedule
It may seem a bit expensive at first - but I've done other programs and they really don't cost any less and I feel this program is already helping me get a handle of proper portions for when I hit maintenance. And I do think the protein is the key. I've seen some info about ordering the protein from another source - but I'm getting mine from my center
I've already lost 13.5 pounds

(16 days on the program) and am in a smaller size pant. I'm lucky as so far it has been really easy for me

I think it helped that I was fed up and have been following the program to the letter! And seeing the results so quickly has only made me more determined to get to my goal and be in a bikini on the beach in Hawaii at the end of February!
Hope this helps - keep posting and reading the posts. The folks here are really nice and have tons of good ideas!
