solid food!

Just wanted to share that last night I ate my first solid food in 9 months.
It was an HMR entree - which while provided by HMR are real food meals akin
to a Lean Cuisine or WW meal but more nutrient dense and with fewer
calories. They're used to help teach and practice portion control and are
also supposed to be easier on the digestive system for those of us coming
off of the fast.

I haven't officially begun the transition to regular food yet since I'm
still a few pounds away from my fasting goal. Last week I had one of their
meal replacement bars which was chock full o' sugar and all I wanted to do
was eat 10 more of them so I was getting worried. Because of my concerns
about "tripping the trigger" and whether or not I'll be able to control
myself once I get to food, the nutritionist in the program recommended I
start practicing with entrees.

The result was great. I truly enjoyed the soybean chili (190 cal - no rice
or pasta in it) once I added a dash of garlic tabasco. I was able to eat
slowly without shoveling it down my throat, and I even put down my spoon a
few times during the meal to give my brain a chance to catch up to my
stomach. Rather than obsessing over the other entrees in the pantry and
tearing into them, my hunger was satisfied and I went on with my night.

Instead than 7-8 shakes a day, I'll be down to 5-6 with an entree until I
reach my fasting goal. This will still be around 800-900 calories which is
what I've been at on shakes only. Next week I'll try an entree with rice or
pasta to see if it triggers the urge to eat more. Thanks again to everyone
for their continued support!

Jennifer
300/157/140

Congratulations! I'm sure this is a scary part of the program for you since
it's been awhile since you've had solid food. Take it one day at a time and
you'll be just fine. You've spent this time learning how to manage this
transitions so now it's time to put it into practice....you can do this.

Beverly


"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...
Just wanted to share that last night I ate my first solid food in 9
months.
It was an HMR entree - which while provided by HMR are real food meals
akin
to a Lean Cuisine or WW meal but more nutrient dense and with fewer
calories. They're used to help teach and practice portion control and are
also supposed to be easier on the digestive system for those of us coming
off of the fast.

I haven't officially begun the transition to regular food yet since I'm
still a few pounds away from my fasting goal. Last week I had one of
their
meal replacement bars which was chock full o' sugar and all I wanted to do
was eat 10 more of them so I was getting worried. Because of my concerns
about "tripping the trigger" and whether or not I'll be able to control
myself once I get to food, the nutritionist in the program recommended I
start practicing with entrees.

The result was great. I truly enjoyed the soybean chili (190 cal - no
rice
or pasta in it) once I added a dash of garlic tabasco. I was able to eat
slowly without shoveling it down my throat, and I even put down my spoon a
few times during the meal to give my brain a chance to catch up to my
stomach. Rather than obsessing over the other entrees in the pantry and
tearing into them, my hunger was satisfied and I went on with my night.

Instead than 7-8 shakes a day, I'll be down to 5-6 with an entree until I
reach my fasting goal. This will still be around 800-900 calories which
is
what I've been at on shakes only. Next week I'll try an entree with rice
or
pasta to see if it triggers the urge to eat more. Thanks again to
everyone
for their continued support!

Jennifer
300/157/140

Very cool, Jennifer! It's really interesting watching your progress!

Chris

Hi, I am new to the group... but have been lurking around for about 2 weeks.

I started the HMR program about 5 weeks ago, through a dietician and under
the supervision of my endocrinologist. They have me eating 5 meals a day...
either the shake, soup or 1 bar. In addition, I can also have up to 2 cups
of raw low-carb veggies, SF jello or popsicles and broth. I guess I am on
about 600 - 700 calories a day. I've lost 24 lbs so far in 4.5 weeks. I
take vitamins and fish oil every day. I also work out at Curves 3-4x a
week. The dietician does a body fat analysis weekly and told me that I am
losing 2 lbs of fat for every lb of muscle, which is pretty good.

Do you like the program? Do you find it hard to stick to? I am glad to see
someone here that is doing something similar to what I am doing. Do you
work out as well? Any hints, since you've been doing this for so long, that
can keep me strong??

Thanks!



"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...
Just wanted to share that last night I ate my first solid food in 9
months.
It was an HMR entree - which while provided by HMR are real food meals
akin
to a Lean Cuisine or WW meal but more nutrient dense and with fewer
calories. They're used to help teach and practice portion control and are
also supposed to be easier on the digestive system for those of us coming
off of the fast.

I haven't officially begun the transition to regular food yet since I'm
still a few pounds away from my fasting goal. Last week I had one of
their
meal replacement bars which was chock full o' sugar and all I wanted to do
was eat 10 more of them so I was getting worried. Because of my concerns
about "tripping the trigger" and whether or not I'll be able to control
myself once I get to food, the nutritionist in the program recommended I
start practicing with entrees.

The result was great. I truly enjoyed the soybean chili (190 cal - no
rice
or pasta in it) once I added a dash of garlic tabasco. I was able to eat
slowly without shoveling it down my throat, and I even put down my spoon a
few times during the meal to give my brain a chance to catch up to my
stomach. Rather than obsessing over the other entrees in the pantry and
tearing into them, my hunger was satisfied and I went on with my night.

Instead than 7-8 shakes a day, I'll be down to 5-6 with an entree until I
reach my fasting goal. This will still be around 800-900 calories which
is
what I've been at on shakes only. Next week I'll try an entree with rice
or
pasta to see if it triggers the urge to eat more. Thanks again to
everyone
for their continued support!

Jennifer
300/157/140

"Beverly" wrote in message
...
Congratulations! I'm sure this is a scary part of the program for you
since
it's been awhile since you've had solid food. Take it one day at a time
and
you'll be just fine. You've spent this time learning how to manage this
transitions so now it's time to put it into practice....you can do this.

Beverly

Thank you. I really do feel a lot better having done this. It's not always
going to turn out this well, but I made it this far!

Jennifer

"Ignoramus16012" wrote in message
...
I hate to ask such a question, but, how do you pass stool on a liquid
diet?

Do not answer if you feel embarrassed...

i
223/178/180

The shakes are made from powdered egg whites and other foods. Once food is
in the gut it all pretty much is the same. The rest you'll have to study
from your biology textbooks.

Jennifer

Glucophage XR... that is what makes it work for me. I take it at night,
before bed!! Also, I eat some veggies (broc, cauliflower, celery, peppers,
tomatoes, pickles). However, you did ask Jennifer, not me.

"Ignoramus16012" wrote in message
...
I hate to ask such a question, but, how do you pass stool on a liquid
diet?

Do not answer if you feel embarrassed...

i
223/178/180

In article , Jennifer Austin wrote:
Just wanted to share that last night I ate my first solid food in 9
months.
It was an HMR entree - which while provided by HMR are real food meals
akin
to a Lean Cuisine or WW meal but more nutrient dense and with fewer
calories. They're used to help teach and practice portion control and
are
also supposed to be easier on the digestive system for those of us
coming
off of the fast.

I haven't officially begun the transition to regular food yet since I'm
still a few pounds away from my fasting goal. Last week I had one of
their
meal replacement bars which was chock full o' sugar and all I wanted to
do
was eat 10 more of them so I was getting worried. Because of my concerns
about "tripping the trigger" and whether or not I'll be able to control
myself once I get to food, the nutritionist in the program recommended I
start practicing with entrees.

The result was great. I truly enjoyed the soybean chili (190 cal - no
rice
or pasta in it) once I added a dash of garlic tabasco. I was able to eat
slowly without shoveling it down my throat, and I even put down my spoon
a
few times during the meal to give my brain a chance to catch up to my
stomach. Rather than obsessing over the other entrees in the pantry and
tearing into them, my hunger was satisfied and I went on with my night.

Instead than 7-8 shakes a day, I'll be down to 5-6 with an entree until
I
reach my fasting goal. This will still be around 800-900 calories which
is
what I've been at on shakes only. Next week I'll try an entree with
rice or
pasta to see if it triggers the urge to eat more. Thanks again to
everyone
for their continued support!

Jennifer
300/157/140

"Perple Glow" wrote in message
news:Ym8bb.395891$cF.121818@rwcrnsc53...
Hi, I am new to the group... but have been lurking around for about 2
weeks.

I started the HMR program about 5 weeks ago, through a dietician and under
the supervision of my endocrinologist. They have me eating 5 meals a
day...
either the shake, soup or 1 bar. In addition, I can also have up to 2
cups
of raw low-carb veggies, SF jello or popsicles and broth. I guess I am on
about 600 - 700 calories a day. I've lost 24 lbs so far in 4.5 weeks. I
take vitamins and fish oil every day. I also work out at Curves 3-4x a
week. The dietician does a body fat analysis weekly and told me that I am
losing 2 lbs of fat for every lb of muscle, which is pretty good.

Do you like the program? Do you find it hard to stick to? I am glad to
see
someone here that is doing something similar to what I am doing. Do you
work out as well? Any hints, since you've been doing this for so long,
that
can keep me strong??

Thanks!


Keep up the good work! I started 1/9/03 and have lost over 140 pounds. I
like the program because of the classes and the support. The first few
weeks I found it hard to stick to, but it got much easier over time. As a
matter of fact, it's too easy to stick to, very safe which is why moving on
to food is such a big deal for me. The immediate gratification of dropping
weight so regularly helped make it easy for me to stick to. I haven't had
any veggies, they aren't allowed in my plan yet, but will be soon. I
learned how to use the jello and sf/ff pudding along with extracts and other
flavorings to make some great & creative things with the meal replacements.
I highly recommend the mousses, chicken chips, and cookies. I didn't have
luck with the bars, they only made me want to eat more.

The minimum exercise commitment is 2000 cal/wk. and I've never gone below
that since starting, even when I had the flu. I do a lot of different
exercise, including going to Curves regularly. As I have lost more weight
I've been able to do more intense workouts like running. The exercise is
extremely important. I've seen people on this program who don't exercise
and they look like hell.

Attend the classes religiously. Do the assignments even if they seem
stupid - which some did at first. Really work on the environmental
controls. Understand that you need to make lifestyle changes and that when
HMR is done you can't go back to the way things used to be. Use all the
support you can, including this group. Feel free to contact me if you need
more info. There is another HMR person in this group who is also extremely
helpful (Bicker). Stay in touch!

Jennifer
300/157/140
remove "this" to email

"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
Very cool, Jennifer! It's really interesting watching your progress!

Chris

Thanks. I'll keep y'all up to date.

Jennifer

"Ignoramus16012" wrote in message
...
I am curious, are you not unbearably hungry on 600 calories per day?
Just an ignorant question. Congrats on your progress, I hope that you
will lose weight and keep it off forever. I would add daily walks in
addition to curves. You will need it to keep weight off...

i
223/178/180


I hate walking. I prefer to run 3 miles in the morning before work. (or
Power Yoga, Tae Bo, biking after work, volleyball, etc...)

Jennifer