feeling a bit overwhelmed!

Hi, jbenfield2 and paxaqua (and thanks, Lassiegirl and buzycybill!!)
As was noted, don’t worry about foods with which you are unfamiliar or organic versions. The Menu Planner lists have plenty of common fare. We do encourage you to eventually upgrade to non-refined, relatively unprocessed food types (i.e. whole grain) if you can. Further, you can read our articles about other foods, and if you still don’t wish to try them, no worries. There are plenty of things in this program that can be to your advantage.
jbenfield2: Regarding your meal replacement, we prefer that your meals are based on whole foods rather than supplements, but if you really like yours, it can be incorporated – though, again, we hope you select one based on whole foods and without artificial sweeteners. If you would like to post the name, I would be happy to check it out for you.

I just joined and went through the choices for the 1st week menu… I made quite a few substitutions from the “suggested” but still scored a green heart… I believe that’s key to losing weight sensibly by revving up your metabolic rate by combining all the proteins & carbs & free foods/spices. And you’re right, eating 6X a day seems a bit overwhelming, but I have planned to shop every 3-4 days and “bundle” the food in the refrigerator on a day by day basis. Sounds ambitious, eh? I am looking forward to the challenge and to better eating and to losing weight sensibly WITHOUT feeling hungry! And, LOL, what are some of those grains & beans? Guess I’ll have to “study up” & visit Whole Foods! Good luck to all!

Esmile: I loved your comparing this eating plan as filling up our gas tank with healthy foods, etc.

We have worked hard at eating 6 meals per day, only medium sized portions, nowhere as large as we used to eat. The first week was difficult getting used to, sometimes I wouldn’t feel hungry when it came to snack time but I ate it anyway, it took a few weeks for my body to adjust but now I really enjoy the 6 meals and look forward to each one – I think of it as keeping the fuel tank of my body filled up with good gas/petrol so all through the day I’m energized and burning fat with the good foods I’m eating, rather than only eating when I’m running out of gas and feeling hungry. This mentality has really worked for me in the 3 weeks I’ve been doing this, and I look forward to continuing it for the rest of my life, this isn’t just a temporary diet!

Hi Silverlady55, we are in NZ too, starting our 4th week of the program, yes it gets easier and more enjoyable, after 3 weeks my wife and I have both lost weight and feel much better in our clothes, our energy levels have increased as well as our toilet habits, our bodies are really reacting positively to all the good nutricious foods and increased exercise (20 mins per day), it’s really worth it.

You all must keep at it, as you experience the results you will be motivated to continue on…your whole lives!

Hi jbenfield2 and paxaqua, I too agree that my first day was a tad frustrating. I apparently skipped something when I first registered and ended up with a Ready-To-Go menu plan. Yes, LOTS of food to deal with but I found that substituting things that were hard on the menu from the offered list made it doable. I already had a lot of fruits and veggies in my frig, a freezer full of lean meat too (also cake mixes and lots of ‘bad’ foods. I put them way out of sight in the back)so I used that as my base and every week I plan to add something to my pantry that is new. This week I bought flax seed and a nonstick frying pan. After a week I lost 2 1/2 pounds so I can say that my first week was a success even though I did all that substituting.

Don’t give up. I told myself I would try it for two weeks. If you haven’t already done so, go to Groups and join one or two. It can get you some faster replies if Ossie is backed up and read, read, read, all the info that is here. I spend at least 15 minutes each day reading the responses from other people’s questions and the articles from the studies.

I hope to see you around here. It has gotten a lot easier for me once I got organized and found my way around the website.

I totally agree, the choices are overwhelming and I don’t know what half of them are either. I’ve been a member for a week and am not really liking the choices. I think I’ll just go back to my own lifestyle with the foods I’m more comfortable with, just cut back and make sure I stay active. I know losing weight takes time but I didn’t lose any and I did everything I was supposed to. I don’t know where I have to go to say, “I’m done” because there doesn’t seem to be a place to connect unless you write here. An app for “getting in touch” would be nice.