Carla I think you are very normal, I had days when all I wanted to do was put on my old comfy clothing and just stay there. The fortunate thing I have a great friend that said I looked like a bag lady and gave me clothing from sizes 14 to 5. It became exciting again and I cleaned out my closet took everything to good will, you will love this it just makes you realize what a complishment it is. I still have days when I still see me as the old me, and then there are days like today I wearing size 12 pants (that are getting too big) and a tight longsleeved t-shirt that I love cause it has the oilers on it... now that also was a little issue as the guys were looking at my oiler logo and commenting... on the oilers but I could see them on my chest... so that was interesting to experience again... kind of want to say YOHOO my eyes are about 1/2 foot higher??? When I hit this last plateau of mine I kind of felt the same way as you too but you just have to suck it up and move on... I did and I am losing again. Try different things with the diet, I keep going back to the recipes to try something new... that helps a lot.

I bought the coffees at Walmart and ground them there. Also have a big bag of raspberry chocolate Second cup coffee. I have english toffee, and caramel, peanut butter and peach right now for syrups.. what I did on the weekend is used my coffee as the water for a chocolate pudding, with ice and caramel syrup through it in my magic bullet and had a thick iced cap for breakfast... it is really good that way. I also have splenda flavored singles for coffee, french vanilla. Enjoy... I also use extracts and had a peppermint one the other day.

I am SO proud of myself!
two days ago, I really felt down. I was losing weight so slow, and I felt like this diet doesn't work for people who have a smaller amount of weight to lose.
And the Body Fat % charts all told me that I was OBESE. (32% or higher) and it just doesn't seem right...but...I was just in an overall foul mood. I was even going to post this big feel sorry for me post.
But then...I went in for my weigh in...(not even expecting 2 lb loss, being as I weigh myself every day and had been at 147 for 4 DAYS) and lo and behold...I had lost 3.4 lbs, and 1% body fat!
So I guess the moral of the story for me is....I'm going to try to not weigh all week, cuz it just messes with my mind. And the diet DOES work! You just have to be patient...oh and also, for me I find I lose weight one week and inches another...so next week i'm not going to be so hung up on losing weight, but definitely inches, cuz those are what are noticed!

I agree with niknak, talk to your doctor VERY SOON and ask her to check the diet out. I know you can have problems with kidney stones, etc. because of the high protein content on this diet. BUT, if you drink TONS of water you should not have a problem.
You do what you need to do but do not jeopardize your health. You need to talk to the doctor.

WI yesterday, -3.2 lbs! That makes up to my two weeks of gains and then some.

My husband and I decided to go to Vegas for our 15th anniversary next month. I am really excited as we have never went anywhere like this before. We have only spent one night away with out the kids, and I think that was about 9 or 10 years ago.

Have a great weekend everyone!

I shop a couple of times a week for veg. I have in my fridge most always... cilantro (I buy about 4 bunches every time as I make a pesto type sauce I use for just about every meat I cook.) zucchini, kale, cauliflower, peppers. Lettuce and cucumbers and onions. And now I add Kohlrabi when I can find it. I make Fries out of kohlrabi with a little bbq spice (mix chili powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and a little splenda)... I also use this when I make kale chips. I also suggest you might try celery root, you peel it cut it up and boil it, then you puree it and it might be the creamyness you are missing. I have also made rice out of my cauliflower. and I love roasting all these veg together. I have also tried daikon chips and radish chips you really have to play to see what tastes good for you... Hope that helps.

You know I keep saying I couldn't weigh in every day as I get down if I haven't lost anything... I know just leave it up to my coach... but I do measure as my coach doesn't measure in all the places you should... doesnt do my neck (anymore) my sterum, my calves, or my ankles.. I think if you are fine with knowing that there may be no losses every day and accept that it is fine to weigh yourself every day. I get bent out of shape when I gain so I really really try to stay away.

I never had veggies in my house before doing IP and had a very small list if what I liked. I learned to defiantly season veggies they are so much better. ROASTING veggies has changed my life. I would buy 1-2 cauliflowers, 4-5 lg bunches of broccoli, 1 red pepper, 2 fennels, 12 brussels sprouts, 2 tomatoes, 2 yellow squash, 1 zucchini
clean and cut up all veggies preheat oven to 375
I do one whole sheet pan of broccoli, mix w/ a slight bit of extra virgin olive oil and season well, onion powder, pepper, sea salt and whatever other seasonings you like bake for 10-12 minutes mix up and bake for another 10 minutes.
next i do an entire sheet pan of cauliflower the same as the broccoli, but this I cook a bit longer 12-14 minutes then toss around and bake another 13 minutes.
for the softer veggies i season the same way but cook for less time because they can get mushy if you overcook.
never liked brussel sprouts till I tried them like this they are delish, you can cook these for the same time as broccoli
As for the asparagus I sauté in a hot pan w/a bit of extra virgin olive oil sea salt, pepper and onion powder till nice and tender keep an eye on these and keep moving them around in the pan, I like them to be a bit al dante.
Yellow squash and zucchini are phenomenal on the grill, add you seasonings too and EVOO.

Now I know it seems like a lot but I do this 2 times a week eat hot from oven first night then store in fridge and eat roasted veggies or roasted veggie salads for the week. Some times I just re heat the squash and zucchini and eat on a plate.
The asparagus I munch on straight from the fridge.
1 roasted red pepper is also good chopped up on my salads for a few days.

I also use the roasted broccoli and cauliflower in the leek and chicken soups really yummy.

sometimes I just blanch my broccoli quickly in hot h2o, give nice color and better texture then you can add to chicken broth w/garlic and basil for a snack. I also use the blanched broccoli in my salads.

It defiantly helps to be prepared and not caught off guard, then its super easy to fix up salads and veggies for the next couple of days w/o worry.

Hope this helps you good luck to you!

Survived FIL's 60th b-day party last night. I was expecting to have to pay big $ for a tiny plate of lettuce. However, I ended up eating a tasty buffalo burger with pickles sans bun. YUM-O. For those of you not familiar with buffalo/bison meat, it's much leaner than beef.

I chill 10oz. coffee overnight then in the am I mix the coffee with a packet of chocolate drink, I use immersion blender so i don't get clumps. Add to ice its delish.

Thank you brandam6, joseyM, brummie, disgal, 2riderrollercoast...amazingly enough, you all brought tears to my eyes...DEFINATELLY having an emotional moment and had to call my older sister...LOL

I'll work on this, I know it will pass - I'll referr to your posts when it happens again ...I've made an appointment for a pedicure for 4:30 today to make me feel better and VIP is taking me out for supper. (he's not sure what to do with me, LOL but he has told me I have to finish it).

Thank you so much!!!!
sounds yummy, gonna try making them tonight

awesome! thanks, gonn try this with ground turkey

You're not a downer. and how beautiful that you can envision your feelings so clearly. I'm thinking there's been a point or will be a point of doubt/fear for all of us. I'm encouraged for myself that you've said it out loud. I could recommend a glass of water but somehow see myself wearing it.
Better and Better.

thanks! it was me...

Congrats! Enjoy your day!

Carla, I think we all have that fear of losing weight. It may be rooted in different issues for each one of us, but we all bump into it during the process. I have huge fear of gaining back and of hating how my body looks when I'm done. Not that I loved it when i was heavy, but I didn't have to feel like I'd put in a bunch of work for a result that still didn't please me. Heck, i deal with those thoughts daily.

You know what's lurking there and you're talking about it. You'll pull through it and we'll be here with you.

Happy Friday! I'm loving my Fridays off. I went shopping today and bought a few things to get me through the next few weeks/months/however long it takes. I needed seomthing to wear to a wedding shower tomorrow, so I picked uo some new capris and a couple of tops. The pants were a 12- which is a size I haven't worn in at least 15 years. They are a bit snug, but not obscene and they'll fit for a while.

Yesterday I called the Dr's office for the results of my lab work. At my last physical, my Dr was threatening to put me on cholesterol meds because high cholesterol runs in the family and my total was 5.8. 6.0 is when she starts pushing for meds. This year my total choesterol is 4.39 (169 with the U.S. measure). I was so thrilled.

So, I got new clothes and a healthier body. Really, you can't beat that

FEELING LIKE I CHEATED...but didn't! Looks like hardly anyone is online....hmmmm, I am married, two kids, this is Friday night excitement. Anyway, just had a 6 oz burger, grilled (added a McKormic spice pack that comes with the little tubs measured out- NO sugar added to them- 6 spice combo, it was Mexican Cassarole), grilled portabella mushrooms w/seasalt, chopped garlic, spray butter, and a cucumber. OMG...HEAVEN...red meat, did not have to "choke" anything down, was licking the plate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!