Welcome back to the Daily Chat thread - post your plans for today, share what's been happening, ask questions!

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NSV = Non-scale victory
TOM = time of the month
WI = Weigh-in
WF = Walden Farms
OP = on plan

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More Recipes Here Mix'n in the kitchen...Recipes from the Rainbow
MiX'N' iN THE KiTCH'N.... Recipes from the Rainbow Volume 2
Fun with Ideal Protein Packets
Fun with Veggie Purees!
Ideal Protein Diet Recipes #4
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Good morning, IP friends! I'm heading out for a business trip all week. This is my second trip since starting IP, so I "think" I've planned a little bit better for it. Last night while I was packing I had to try on clothes to make sure they fit. What an awesome thing to have to do! I started IP in size 16 and have flown past 14 and can now fit 12's but they are slightly snug. It was fun to shop in my closet and think about how I will be able to wear so many items in just a few weeks! I am SO glad I decided to start this diet. It's really awesome.

Have a great OP Monday!! I hope there are many NSV's and pounds lost for all.

Congrats on your losses. It is an awesome feeling. I am ready to clean out me closet yet again. The funny thing is that I really thought everything I kept would still fit me but I have undergown a lot of things. I am excited to watch as you continue to shrink. This really is a great program.

So, last night as I looked in the mirror all I could see was a chubby person. I kept telling myself that I am just getting used to my smaller size now and it is all in my head. But I really thought I looked so fat! I mentioned it to DH and he assured me that I am not fat. Lol. This morning I looked in the mirror and didn't see the same fat person staring back as last night. I am not kidding, it really freaked me out. I suppose this is a normal thing after losing weight. It canreally mess with a person's head.

Congrats again in you success in moving off P1
Maybe it's a good thing.. Or at least normal?? When we stop worrying we may let the guard down that brought us to goal. Daily, I'm afraid when I look in the mirror of who I might see.

Terrified "she" will be looking back at me....

I totally do the same thing. I know I'm smaller - I'm on the second ring guard I had to have installed on my wedding band and have lost like 5 pant sizes but it's really hard to see it sometimes. That's one of the reasons I'm trying hard to wear clothes that fit - if I run around in the same baggy old clothes, I feel like the same baggy old person.

Good Morning everyone, just had weigh in #18...down 2.6 this week!!! Yahoo

I do this all the time. When I look at clothes, when I look in mirrors, when I meet new people. Then I remember that I'm at least 4 sizes smaller than I was back in June and I should be proud of that! I have a ways to go yet but I'm close to halfway!

Good Monday morning all!

Had surprise company drop in on Saturday - which was fun but tiring, got very little done this weekend.

Have a NSV - a co-worker had given a few bags of clothes that she's outgrown and one of the items was a cute hot pink pair of skinny jeans - that I thought I would never in a million years fit. Well - they fit!!! I will be wearing those with a cute sweater on casual Friday - woohoo!

Have our WI for the biggest loser challenge at work this morning, not really looking forward to it. Don't feel great things this week - it's coming up to my TOM so I feel bloated and yucky. We'll see what happens.

Happy Monday!
Jo

How much does TOM affect you guys? I just had my IUD taken out and have forgotten about this not so fun week. I feel bloated and gross and don't think the scale has moved... I'm wondering if I can attribute it to TOM or if I need to start adding in some exercise.

Hope everyone had a good OP weekend!

I had a NSV of sorts.....

I spent the entire weekend in the hospital with mom as she got very sick. In the past, I would self-medicate with food, sweets that kinda thing to help deal with the stress. This weekend, I was able to stick to plan other than having an extra packet on Sunday when things were really bad. The vending machines did not appeal at all.

This is very encouraging to me as I will be finishing phase 3 this week and moving into maintenance. This just helps reaffirm the fact that YES, I can do this and that I am stronger than my past.

Good luck everyone, and have a good OP day.

Good morning!!

Two NSVs to report this morning... I am wearing a MEDIUM shirt!!! And I noticed this morning after I got out of the shower that I can wrap a normal sized towel completely around myself without there being a gap at the side!

Hope everyone has a great week!

I am the same way with clothes. I try to hold off as long as I can to buy new clothes since we drop sizes so fast, but I always feel better on the days that I am wearing something that actually fits me properly!

Congrats on your losses and PurpleMomster you rock those hot pink skinny jeans!

Now a question for you all. Have a bunch of potato puree packets. I have found some great recipes from you all but do not have much time. I would love to add something to make it feel like a Mexican savory soup. Thinking taco seasoned lean beef or turkey. What else would you add? This program is making me cook and I am definitely a newbie in the kitchen. Suggestions?

Second weigh in today. Pretty excited!

Have a good day all!

Way to go!!

We definitely need to see a picture of you in those hot pink skinny jeans!!! They sound awesome!

Good luck on your WI, I'm sure you will do great.

TOM definitely affects my losses that week. But it catches up the following week. I don't think that adding exercise will make a big difference, in fact, some people report that too much exercise causes them not to lose as fast. Make sure you add a packet after exercise.

Wow, that sounds really stressful. I know that's always been my go-to - eating when stressed. Good for you for sticking to plan. Hope your mom is doing ok.

Way to go on the medium shirt and towel!!

Good luck on your weigh in! I'm sure you will do fantastic!

I love the potato puree packets, and lots of the recipes are really quick.

I made a mock sheppard's pie (google lamberjules, she has awesome recipes) and used mashed cauliflower, but that would be great with potato puree. You can season it with taco seasonings, add mushrooms and peppers to the meat, and make it more Mexican!

Not sure how the potato puree would go in a soup, although I'm curious to see other suggestions.

The artisan flatbread made with potato puree is awesome, and pretty easy to make. If you made a thick soup with the beef or turkey, you could dip the breadsticks in it. And you can flavour the bread with different spices too. Recipe and review are in my blog.

Wishing a quick recovery for your mom.
Parent stuff is so hard!

How fabulous that IP has given the sense of control that you didn't have to add one more stressor (overeating) to the mix for the weekend. I love how strong ketosis makes us feel! It is so hard not to eat junk in hospitals (amazing how much junk is available in them...aren't they supposed to promote health and healing??? Not so much, I guess!). In the big scheme of things, an extra packet was probably just fine, and certainly better than ANY alternative!

I hope mom is better today

Morning all, sounds like everyone soldiered on this weekend, which is really great. I am heading out to another business trip this week, and I know it'll be fine but I'm in W4 now an still very hungry. I just get hungry and don't know what to do about it. Even if I have my celery or cucumbers in between protein, I still am starving. I drink water, herbal tea, it's just a challenge for me. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Sounds like undergrowing clothes is the theme for the day! I too, went to get dressed this morning and suddenly pants that I wore even last week were way too baggy and falling off my hips. Putting all the size 16s away tonight, and going shopping at lunch for some inexpensive 14s to get through the next couple of weeks. This is really working!