I'm new here and am very thankful for finding ya'll. I'm desperate to lose weight. I've been gaining since I left the military 6 years ago and find myself now 50-60 pounds overweight. I've begun losing on WW a number of times but can't seem to stick with it and gain it all back. I think I just need a regimen and MRC sounded good, but I'm a bit lost on all the terminology. Can someone just give me the skinny? i.e. what the phases are (pre-conditioning and all these menus) and what the supplements/ drinks are? There's an MRC near by my work and it would be very easy to do it.
A little background, I'm a nurse who's now a paid geek, I work as a system manager for multiple charting systems in a hospital, i.e. I work the jobs of 4 people, I'm 2/3 of the way done with grad school, have a toddler and try to still have a life. I'm failing at the weight loss for everything else.
Help?

The skinny...MRC is a high protein, low carb, low fat, low salt menu-based plan. If you sign up, they give you a loose starter menu which they call pre-conditioning. You basically use that week to cut out caffeine (if you can) and other bad habits and get used to the way they shape their meals. After that pre-conditioning week they'll start you on a menu that is based on your weight. It has very specific weights (in oz) of serving sizes for protein, veggie and starch/fruit for each meal. With the meals (and between depending on the menu) you take a protein supplement. They are the key to the program. These are the main expense of the program after the initial fee. They can be purchased online for cheaper than in the center...but they won't encourage that of course. They'll also try to sell you other supplements, but the only other required supplements are a mulit-vitamin and an essential oil pil (either fish oil or flax seed oil). Those can be purchased outside of the center as well. I always buy mine outside of the center.

Your weight loss is measured on a scale that measures body composition as well so they can be as sure as possible that we're losing fat and not muscle. They also do body measurements to keep track of how we're doing.

Thats the basic run down. If we can give you any more info or if anyone thinks of anything i forgot...speak on up

Hvnlymzic, I just went online to the MRC and there are no centers in my area... Can you do this program totally online or do you initially have to go to a center for consult and stuff?

You can do it over the phone and email, you don't have to have a center near you to make this work. You can also get HNS sent to you from the closest center or order it from dietdirect.

jenkatt - Hvnlymzic did a great job of describing MRC. I think the only thing I'd add is that they emphasize drinking lots of water. A minimum of 64 oz per day, plus 8 oz for every 15 min of exercise and 8 for each 25 lbs you want to lose. A good rule of thumb is the oz equivalent of 1/2 your body weight - so I drink about 88 - 90 oz of water per day. Also, they encourage everyone to exercise 30 min / 3 times a week - which, since you were in the military I'm sure you know, makes a big difference.

Its a good program and there are lots of us to offer support and encouragement. If we can do it, you can do it!

Thanks for all the information. I'm a caffeine addict, the water thing is going to be hard!

Jenkatt, we'll help ya through it Start gradually. Start at 64oz and then add a few a day or several more a week. Don't jump straight to the big number it's too intimidating.

stocco, there are several around here who do the program over the phone. It just takes more personal accountability. This board is great for that. We'll report on our WI's to each other and support each other or challenge each other along the way.

Thanks ya'll. I'm going to try to make a consultation for next week (or whatever it's called) with the understanding that I won't start pre-conditioning until the 26th when I get back stateside. And I think that will work with school to, by then I will essentially be done with the semester and should have more energy and time to really put my heart into this. Right now with school and work I don't have the time I should.
Again, ya'll are amazing

jenkatt, I'd suggest that either you let them know that you don't want to sign the contract until you get back or that you'd like it dated for when you plan to start, that way you don't waste time on the contract while you're on the cruise. Other than that...sounds great to me and we look forward to having you around!

great idea! thanks for the big welcome