Okay... so TO is over! I'm proud of myself because my husband really wanted to take the family out for dinner last night at the favourite authentic Italian pizza place. I ordered a salad with a lemon vinaigrette on the side. It was super yummy! I love ordering salads out because they have so many bits and pieces that I don't normally take the time for at home (cilantro, little bits of red onion). It was great to wake up this morning feeling like I am on the right track of moderation. Really enjoyed my Greek Yogurt and raspberries with a few almonds for breakfast. I split the protein portion so that it was 3/4 c of Greek yogurt and 6 almonds.
@Barri- Well it's great to have someone around who has had such similar experiences to my own! I found with IP, that while it definitely works it was reinforcing a terrible binge/ restrict pattern... mostly learned in maintenance where a free day is followed by the Phase 1 day. It really taught me a lot about healthy choices and watching the carb (starch) intake which I had never realized was so important previously but eating healthy is a lifelong commitment. Phase 1 does not seem healthy to me. Too few calories, too many packaged/ processed foods. Hence my return to LAWL. I know I will always need to watch what I eat but I also need to live a bit. And it is great that this program allows for an occasional glass of wine or piece of pizza.
For me the only real difference that I noticed between the number plan and the gold plan is that the gold plan allowed me to pair my food choices as I wanted and the number plan denotes how I should plan them. I preferred the gold plan in this way as I didn't really find that the number plan offered greater losses for having more restriction. So, while I'll try and follow the set meals... if I'm not hungry for more I'm not going to eat it just because it's part of that set meal. That just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
@Trying- It's funny that we both started the exact same day! What was your breakfast this morning??
@Shy- Firstly, Congratulations!! You have done an exemplary job of showing what a positive, moderate attitude can do. Get to goal, while still living along the way! You give me hope that such things are possible
Secondly, in regards to the stabilization process...
With my Costco order came a booklet that explains the different stages. The Rapid Results stage is the one I believe you've been following up to this point. The next stage is the LA my way- which the booklet states should be followed after losing 20 pounds OR reaching goal.
It really isn't too much different from your current eating plan it just allows for an extra ounce of protein and there are a bunch of starches/ vegetables that are now allowed. In my experience of maintaining what you're doing is maintaining... You watch the scale, enjoy having a bit more when you have company or vacations and cut back when you see the number on the scale rising. I do remember that my clinic said when you hit maintenance they start adding in an extra starch and a bit of extra protein and then leave it for a week to see how it affects the scale and keep adding back until a level number is reached. For the bar replacement I think it was an extra fruit & starch. Definitely the extra fruit but I'm not positive what was in addition to this... I think it was a starch but I can't remember for sure... Maybe try calling LAWL to go and ask?
@Tracy- my mindset is fairly similar to yours... just doing whatever works and qualifies as healthy eating. I have a problem with sugar as well and am fairly leery of trying to incorporate the bars again as having one always makes me want another 5
At this point I'm thinking of knocking down the bar intake to one a day or find out what the replacement for a bar is for sure and use that instead. Also, I'm considering adopting a bit of the WW protocol that allows extra points. I would do this by eradicating one of the two bars allotment daily. I figured roughly the amount of points we are eating on LAWL everyday and with one bar it works out to 26. My daily goal on WW. It would allow me a bit of wiggle room on the weekends or for birthdays etc. And as I know that one of the things I really need to work on is not being so all or nothing I think this would really help with that. Have to see... for now I just want to stick to the plan
Hope everyone has the sun shining on them today!