solid food!

I drink alot of water and eat a handful of veggies if it is unbearable. I
am monitored weeky. I get blood work done every month to check everything
out. In addition, I am seeing a shrink 2-3x a month to help me deal with
eating issues. You are right, I need to probably walk more. It is hard
enough to fit the curves into my busy work schedule.

"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

In article Ym8bb.395891$cF.121818@rwcrnsc53, Perple Glow wrote:
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

Thanks Jennifer.

I don't think that there are classes offered from the center I am going to.
I am in Dallas, Tx..... Maybe I'll look around to see what I can find here.

In regards to exercise, I bought a few beginner yoga dvd's and the mat,
blocks, etc. I am going to try it out. In addition, I bowl 1x a week on a
league. Its better then sitting in front of the TV and doing nothing! I
have a very stressful job and work 50 hours a week. It is tough enough to
just make myself leave work to make it to Curves before they close. I would
like to eventually work myself up to more exercise. However, at my weight
of 260 (5'9"), I need to lose more weight so that my back and legs don't
hurt..... I have a bum knee. I have a pool and did swim and exercise with
those noodle things. However, it is getting too cool outside to swim now!

Not to sound stupid, but why do the people that don't exercise look like
hell? Skin too loose and saggy? Their general health isn't good?


"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...

"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

"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...

"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

Congrats, Jennufer! You've done an amazing job, one I'm not sure I could do.
I don't think I could go that long without solid food.

Martha

"Perple Glow" wrote in message
news:EE9bb.530987$Ho3.90415@sccrnsc03...
Thanks Jennifer.

I don't think that there are classes offered from the center I am going
to.
I am in Dallas, Tx..... Maybe I'll look around to see what I can find
here.

In regards to exercise, I bought a few beginner yoga dvd's and the mat,
blocks, etc. I am going to try it out. In addition, I bowl 1x a week on
a
league. Its better then sitting in front of the TV and doing nothing! I
have a very stressful job and work 50 hours a week. It is tough enough to
just make myself leave work to make it to Curves before they close. I
would
like to eventually work myself up to more exercise. However, at my weight
of 260 (5'9"), I need to lose more weight so that my back and legs don't
hurt..... I have a bum knee. I have a pool and did swim and exercise with
those noodle things. However, it is getting too cool outside to swim now!

I love yoga. Any activity is better than none. I started slow and worked
myself up and you will too as you find things easier to do.

Not to sound stupid, but why do the people that don't exercise look like
hell? Skin too loose and saggy? Their general health isn't good?

The two people I know who did HMR with no exercise were pale and haggard
looking by the time they were done. One worked at our school and the people
really noticed it and refered to her as "sickly" looking. They couldn't
believe the two of us were on the same plan.

Jennifer

"MH" wrote in message
...

"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...


Congrats, Jennufer! You've done an amazing job, one I'm not sure I could
do.
I don't think I could go that long without solid food.

Martha


Thanks. It's really not as hard as it sounds once you get past the first
few weeks, especially with the HMR shakes and soup. They're very flexible
because they can be made into shakes, pudding, and mousses and baked into
cookies and chips so if you're creative enough you don't really miss food
all that much. I will admit after that chili last night I realized how much
I miss my veggies. I'm looking forward to the transition back to food so I
can eat asparagus again.

Jennifer

I have to say Jennifer it must take some courage to do this. I guess
you're now approaching the relly hard part and moving towards a way of
life for the future. Do keep us posted as I'm really interested to
hear how it goes.
My first thought was for your digestion. My system has been seriously
damaged by years of bingeing and dieting, and the worst times are
switching from one WOE to another, so I can't imagine what switching
from liquids to solids would be like.

janice
233/161/133

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:10:15 -0500, "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

"Ignoramus8142" wrote in message
...
In article , Jennifer Austin wrote:

"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 forgot to answer your other question - the HMR stuff is suprisingly
satisfying. I experience very little hunger on this program. A doctor who
is a patient in my group said that if someone had told him or one of his
patients had said that he cold be satisfied on 600 cal/day he'd think they
were crazy. It has to do with the fact that it's nutritionally good food
that really satisfies the body's needs. The emotional hunger is another
story and that's what I've always experienced and am learning to deal with.

BTW, you like walking and I don't mean to put it down. In a pinch or if I'm
tired or just not feeling like working out, I make time for a walk. I'll be
doing a lot of walking this morning because I'm going out to help my husband
with a job. Now that it's fall, we'll also be returning to the Porcupine
mountains for a weekly hike (5-8 mi.). That's where I took the picture from
my website with my dad & DH with all of the beautiful fall colors.

Enjoy the run...I'm off to be a land surveyor.

Jennifer

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:10:15 -0500, "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.

I started writing this reply with the intent of toning down your
support for HMR product. You know I love HMR. I'll go to the mat for
HMR. However, I didn't think that what you said there was true.
Well, I was actually surprised to find out that it was much more true
than I thought...

HMR Turkey Chili is 230 calories and 22 g of protein, and that's about
the best HMR has. You're correct that that's a better ratio of
protein to total calories than any Lean Cuisine product. (This was my
first surprising discovery this morning.) Weight Watchers doesn't
even provide such information on their web site, so it seems that they
can't do any better.

However, HMR does have some entrees that don't compare as well. The
Lasagna Primavera is 220 calories and only 11 g of protein. About 85%
of Lean Cuisine products compare better than that, and those that
don't tend to be things like the Egg Rolls and Pizza.

So, yes, I suppose that most HMR entrees are more nutritious than Lean
Cuisine's and WW's offerings. A bit of an eye-opener, given that I've
basically stopped using HMR product in favor of the frozen options.

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 can just imagine what would have happened if I went from the fast
directly to some of the choices I'm making now! LOL!

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.

Those are snack replacement bars -- NOT meal replacement bars. I hope
your HMR coach will back me up on that. They do count as MRs, but
IMHO, they shouldn't.

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 Benefit Bars aren't even GOOD snack replacement bars, IMHO. Most
of my friends in my program quickly switched to Luna bars as soon as
they were in Maintenance and therefore able to craft their own Bigger
Box.

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 love the wheatberries!

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.

Many of the entrees lend themselves to being dumped atop veggies, once
you get to Healthy Solutions. Robbie especially, to this day, loves
the Chicken Pasta Parm over steamed broccoli.

Jennifer
300/157/140

That just says it all!


--
¤bicker¤
"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than
to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
- Carl Sagan

People are, of course, welcome to place whatever irrelevant
limitations on their ability to enjoy something that they wish.

"Jennifer Austin" wrote
Just wanted to share that last night I ate my first solid food in 9
months.
snip
Jennifer
300/157/140



Way to go Jennifer - you are amazing. I love hearing about your plan and
your current transition.

Best wishes for your continued success!

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

On 21 Sep 2003 02:28:47 GMT, Ignoramus16012
wrote:
I hate to ask such a question, but, how do you pass stool on a liquid
diet?

It was such a non-issue that I had to ask my wife how it was because I
didn't remember. It was just-plain-normal, but just less
"production". Same-ol'-same-ol' just with less mass.


--
¤bicker¤
"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than
to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
- Carl Sagan

People are, of course, welcome to place whatever irrelevant
limitations on their ability to enjoy something that they wish.