Well I just got started with MRC for two weeks now starting December 8th. I guess I am just wondering if I can ever be small. I have never really been at a healthy weight. I have struggled with this my entire 23 years of my life. I don't want to do it anymore. How is it that my office breakroom is covered in food and I struggle so much. Everything seems so nice and good. I want to start over. I want Christmas to be done so the goodies will go away. I want to start working out. I need to just try and do everything I can every single day. Part of me wonders if it will work. I see all of these other people on here that have made it. I wonder how long it took for everyone to get there. I am scared that this won't work. I am struggling getting my water in while I am at work. Gotta regroup.

It's really rough at first, and I went through a short period of rebellion at about 4 or 6 weeks into the plan. I really didn't see a change in my body or how I felt for about the first 20-25lbs, which was really discouraging. At 26 lbs, I made a consultant do my measurements, and I was floored (I had only noticed a slight change in the fit of my clothes). By 30lbs, I suddenly dropped a whole size on top and almost 2 sizes on bottom. Now, the more I lose, the more positive and motivated I am. It's a lot easier to stick to the plan when you see it working--and other people notice, too.

I started my plan on August 30. Technically, I'm supposed to be down 51lbs by 12/27/10 (end of my 17 weeks). I'll be down 40lbs, which is totally thrilling to me! I actually didn't even think I'd make it this far, and the fact that I can see a light at the end of the tunnel (I re-signed for an additional 10 weeks) really makes it easier most days.

I went through exactly what you're describing when I was early-on in my plan. I just got tired of all the work and planning it took to stick to plan, and I got mad--really mad--that I have to work so damn hard just to get to a normal weight. Especially when I hit the realization that I'm always going to have to work hard to stay at a normal weight. I'm always going to have to think about what I'm eating, plan ahead, and abstain from foods/treats that I loved to eat all the time. It's not fair--really, it's not--that there's something wrong with me that I can't be like my best friend and eat a mix of healthy and unhealthy and be the same weight as she was in high school.

It's not fair, but it's the hand I was dealt. This program works if you work the program, and you can be as small as you would like to be as long as you are willing to make some life changes as you go. Just stick with it,

This is my biggest fear. Am I forever going to look at food and wish I could have just one bite. Am I ALWAYS going to want something I CAN'T have?

I wondered the same thing--and often still wonder this. I"ve pretty much come to terms that--after I lose the weight--it's not going to be that there's food I CAN'T have. Instead, I'll have to look at it as food that I can only have once in a while, and in moderation at that.

I love rice and potatoes. But it would be unrealistic for me to say that I'm never going to eat them again. I simply won't eat eat them as much. Certainly, I won't be eating an entire meal out of them anymore. Same thing goes for cake--I won't be able to just think "Hm, I crave cake right now" at 10:00 at night, then make the cake and eat virtually the whole thing within 24-48hrs. If I go to a party, or I'm making the cake for someone else, I can have a bite--or even a slice. That's it.

I think it's more about retraining our bodies and minds to be able to have just the one bite. It will also probably be a little bit of bargaining with ourselves, rather than deciding to "have it all." For example, on Thanksgiving, I let myself have mashed potatoes, some cranberry sauce and some pumpkin bread. Not much--just a little of each. But I passed on the pumpkin pie, dinner rolls, and sweet potatoes. To eat it all would have been ridiculous (albeit exactly what I have done for the last 30 years, lol).

It's going to be all about making BALANCED choices, I think. At least, that's what I've kind of learned from everything Debi (hatesthesweatpants) has said about being on maintenance so far.

Jade, I give you credit because you are starting this program during the most difficult time of the year. I had a very difficult time at work last week with so many treats around. It started with our faculty party at school. I ate too much there but thought, well, it's one meal. As I was leaving I saw a teacher who instead of going to the party went for a run outside. It's about 50 degrees here so that's doable. And, I thought, well, perhaps next year I'll be active during that time instead of eating. You know, start thinking like a thin person. After binging for about three days with junk, I had enough. My body felt bloated and I realized then that I needed to start thinking like a thin person once again. And, I feel so much better!
I started MRC in January of last year. I lost over 50 pounds with them and it took about 9-10 months. I was at the point in my life that I thought that I would never lose weight again. I still weigh myself daily because I need to see how the choices that I make affect the numbers on the scale. That helps me but I understand that doesn't help others.
Holidays are a struggle, for sure. What has happened has already happened. Now it's time for you to be in control of that food that lies before you. It really is such an empowering feeling to be in control of food instead of food controlling you.

Is it ok if I borrow this quote. I am filling my MRC folder with quotes that help me get through some of the harder times. This is a great one!

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I would love to lose 50 pounds. What else did you do besides MRC? Did you workout so much a day or week? I am so scared that MRC isn't going to be enough.

Teacherlady- your posts have been an inspiration for me since I started this. Thanks so much for the information. I appreciate it.

I want to do this for myself. I am angry for letting it get so bad and making it harder for me to lose it. I am ready for the holidays to be done food wise haha.

MRC really is almost enough. I work out 1-3 times a week. I do it because it makes me feel good. I do notice more loss when I work out, but I lose most weeks when I don't work out too. But working out with help you keep your muscle mass and lose fat, as opposed to losing muscle.

Believe in the program. You paid all this money. Give it a good try. I will second Teacherlady and say that the first 20-25 pounds I almost didn't notice. I was disappointed that most people couldn't tell and I hadn't lost a size. But I'm at 30 pounds now...and it seems that everyone is noticing and telling me how great I look. Give it time.

This is a hard program - no doubt about it. But I just tried to look at each day for what it was. It's horrifying to look in the past, and discouraging to look in the future sometimes, so I just looked at each day for itself. Pretty soon, I was 7 months, 70lbs and at goal. You WILL be able to do it - just try not to stress too much. My favorite saying is, "Lean into the pain." The difficulty will be worth it when you have your new body! I was so tired, depressed and exhausted when I started. Today, I worked out in the a.m., took my kids sledding in the mountains and was sprinting up the hills, ate 1/2 of a caramel apple on the way home, and had so much energy, I went for a run when I got home. YES you will be able to enjoy the foods again, but just in moderation and after a hard workout! You gotta do the work first, though.

Another quote: "We do what we have to do so that we can do what we want to do." - Denzel Washington