Listening to a cbc radio programme today about Mayor Rob Ford and overcoming alcoholism. The guest on the programme is a recovering alcoholic who used to be the Attorney General of Ontario.

He says the breakthrough comes only when one is finally willing to surrender.

I think that's true for weight loss, too.

Very cute! You look great with short hair! I've been thinking too of chopping my hair off once I hit goal. Once upon a time I had a pixie cut, but I've been trying to grow it forever. My hair has never seemed to want to grow past my shoulders.

Okay I have to share today is break through the slumps day! As of this morning I am officially slightly more than halfway to my goal!!!!!! I finally lost some weight and I ony have 10lbs till onederland, well 9.7 technically lol!!! I am so excited. I also noticed that my newly acquired 16's are already a little baggy... Feeling pretty darn good today to be out of the 2teens and into the 2singles... can't wait for onederland! I am going to make it to my onederland goal by my trip darn it!!

Way to go! It's amazing how similar our losses are! At this point I have chosen to go a little lower than you so I am still waiting for the balance to shift where I have lost more than I have left but I also see onederland on the horizon! Weighing I two days early this week so not expecting a huge change but hoping I will be past the 40 pound mark. I have to have at least lost .5.

That is awesome!! Congrats

Very cute!!!

Congrats!

For me, the last few days have been a demonstration of weight loss being non-linear: I've lost more in the last five days than I did the entire 10 days before. My scale puts me in the 220s, and I suspect my official WI on Thursday will, as well. I might even be down 50lbs total this week, which is halfway to my "official" goal.

I used to wear mine short when I was young. Then when I was heavy, I just felt round and dumpy. It was nice to get it cut again and not feel that way.

I think I'm going to change my goal too, but I want to see how hard this next 40lbs is, this first 40 was pretty simple but I know the lower you get the harder you get. Plus I am taking my vacation in June and I suspect I will gain some weight as I plan to eat P3 but I also plan to have some cocktails on the beach. So I will be starting over P1 on June 15 and we'll see how it goes. My new goal will be 150 if all goes well and I'm hoping to reach it at the same time I finish student teaching so end of November will be a huge celebration! LOL Of course I will be happy if I get to 160 by then cause I expect there will be some slowing. There are 29 weeks between now and when I'm done with school, and I'm taking a week off so I'll gain some I'm sure. 2lbs a week will put me close in 29 weeks!

Congrats on everyone's NSV's AND scale victories, too! I was excited to hear that my hubby (who is doing more like a Phase II alternative IP) is down 12 lbs in 3 weeks (same as me...but no surprise since he's a guy and can lose weight MUCH easier). I'm so proud of both of us for making healthy choices and for being good role models for our kids.

I am the weight I was last summer, so it's been wonderful to fit back into my summer clothes. I'm really noticing my body shifting with fat loss, so my clothes are fitting more complimentary than they did last year. Next goal will be for these clothes to get TOO BIG...but for now I'm happy to just be able to breath when I button pants again.

Nothing makes you feel fatter than your belly being seared in two by too-tight pants!

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I look forward to this journey. Although my goal is to lose weight, the only absolute thing I want to accomplish is to make it on this plan for 3 months without cheating as I only have about 20 pounds I want to lose. I know I can do this, and look forward to chatting with you all

I got a migraine this afternoon. I suspect (hope) that it's just the layer of fat I'm burning through; I haven't had a migraine in a couple of years. Suggestions? I know I still need to eat my dinner when I feel up to cooking it.

Welcome! I have followed the IP protocol using alternatives and "real food". I definitely do not recommend two bars daily, and with Quest bars, you need to be really careful with which types are compliant. Not all varieties are. Here is what a typical phase one day looked like for me:

B: EAS AdvantEdge shake OR ProtiDiet dry cereal
L: three oz cooked lean protein and two cups veg OR ProtiDiet soup
D: 8 oz lean protein (usually 6 oz cooked-measure raw) and 2 cups veg
Snack: a Quest or Detour (lower sugar) bar OR ProtiDiet pudding, bar, or wafers

Amen to that! And yes, supplements are vital. IP recommends omegas, calcium, magnesium, and potassium to start. Check the protocol sheet for the supplement info.

Ha! Love this!

Adorable! Your cut is fantastic!

Excellent! Glad you pushed through it!

Thanks, I was beginning to feel pretty stuck in the teens... I've been up and down and up and down for a couple of weeks, always ending down, but only a pound or so it was getting discouraging... but ALAS I have made it one step closer to wonderland, it makes me very excited!

Not sure if this is the right place. But I have been reading this site for about two weeks now to get started on the alternate ip plan. I think I have everything listed. Checked. Organized. Printed out. Favored. Tagged. You name it I researched it EXCEPT the vitamins. Can anyone direct me to an exact list of what I need to buy/take? I have searched everywhere but I haven't found the right post. TIA!!

Ok just read above about a protocol sheet? Can I get a copy of that please? Or a point in that direction.

Check out the links in the first post in this thread. The protocol sheets will be there.

Welcome!