:cp::cp::bravo::cp::cp: :dance::cloud9::dance: :cheer2::cheer2::cheer3::cheer2::cheer2:

Thanks Liana!

How was your first day on maintenance, Slipfree?

I haven't really been planning any big changes for right out of the gate . . . but tonight, as my husband and son were chomping on their corn-on-the-cobs, I did smile to realize that I could be having one exactly a week from today. :D

As for the blessed P3 breakfast, I'll be trying the lemon-ricotta pancakes tomorrow. Got some cherries in our CSA box, so they will be the topping. Yum.

Well, had a few wines yesterday in celebration, so today was actually a phase 1 day. Looking forward to my yogurt/fruit breakfast tomorrow.

Fresh corn sounds good. Enjoy your pancakes and cherries, yum!

Field day tomorrow! Pretty busy and active day. Should be a fun, but long day.

Good for you, SF! I'm glad you celebrated. Good luck on the field trip tomorrow. :twirly:

Had the lemon-ricotta pancakes for breakfast today. LizRR, you rock! :drool:

I did make a few changes since I was working with slightly different products:

1 egg
1/2 c. fat free ricotta, separated
1/3 c. Silk almond milk unsweetened vanilla
4 pkt Splenda
juice of 1 lemon + zest of 1 lemon
1/3 c. Hodgson Mill whole wheat buttermilk pancake mix
1 tsp butter
1/2 c. sweet cherries, pitted and chopped after measuring.

Mix together egg, 1/3 c. of the ricotta (and reserve the remainder for a topping), milk, splenda, and lemon until mostly smooth. Stir in the pancake mix until fully incorporated, but still lumpy. Heat pan or non-stick griddle to 350*. Ladle 8 (yes, 8!) pancakes onto griddle and flip when ready. Serve with 1 tsp butter, the remaining ricotta, and chopped cherries. Yum.

* I accidentally omitted 1 egg white, so I took it out of the recipe above. That would have brought the protein up to a better level. It was still good as is. I used somw EAS shake for coffee creamer, so still got in enough protein.

397 calories, 57 carbs (50 net carbs), 11g fat, 24g protein.

Sounds delish. Few more days and then I can have a relaxing breakfast.

First day of maintenance went okay. Feeling really bloated. Only had carbs for breakfast. IP bar for lunch since we were at Field day. Had my fat rich meal for dinner, so wanted that avocado! Avocado chicken arugula salad.

That's so funny. I just came across a shrimp & avocado salad recipe today and it looked so good to me.

I wonder what the bloating is from . . . though that seems to be a common occurrence early in maintenance. I'm sure you'll be back to normal soon.

My maintenance dinner salad had avocado, Grana Padano Parmesan, macadamia nuts, and Bleu Cheese Dressing. (The fat meal, lol)
Avocado must be on sale these days for everyone...:D
Time to start posting your menus on Maintenance What are You Eating thread, Slipfree ;). Give us some more ideas...

Liana

After a a bad WI yesterday w only losing. .7 of a pound I am not going to have any restricted items the rest of the week. That is the only thing I can think of that I added in that won't allow me to lose anything. New day new start. Have a great day ladies!

Hi Heather --

I can't tell how long you have been on the plan, etc., but any loss is a good loss. Some weeks will be big, some will be small . . . and some may even be a gain. It isn't anything you are doing (assuming you are following the plan); it is just our bodies fighting it from time to time. Keep at it, and you are almost always rewarded with a good loss in the next week or two.

Think carefully about taking away your restricted item, especially if you are early on in the plan and have a good amount to lose. Some people feel as if they lose better with they include a restricted. Other people need that slight indulgence to keep to the plan long term. The plan is written to accommodate 1 restricted per day. Trust the plan and don't make it so stringent that you can't follow it for the long term.

That said, this is the thread to talk about phases 2 - 4. You will get better feedback and community if you post this on the daily chat thread.

Keep with it, and good luck!

My bad thought this was daily chat.

Liana, I will post my menus when I get back from vacation. We leave this Fri.

So, it has been 6 days since the switch to maintenance. Of course, TOM and high humidity have come to taunt me on the scale. I am retaining tons of water, but that is pretty normal for me during this time of the month. Just have to have faith that the maintenance protocol works.

Heading for vacation tomorrow. Planning on a more relaxed approach, but not crazy. Expecting to do a week of Phase 1 when I get back. Full intention of staying within my 5 pound leeway.

Sylviesgirl, how is Phase 3 going? Ready for the transition to maintenance?

Sounds like the heat and TOM are colluding to make you work your "mind over matter" muscle, SF. You are right -- it is just water. Now I would put it out of your mind and do what you know how to do. All your IP tools are at your disposal should you need them upon your return. Somehow, I think you will come back in good shape, though.

P3 is going great. I did come down with a bad stomach ache yesterday and lots of bloating -- might have been the new multi-vitamin I started yesterday, but I also blamed the pumpkin pie breakfast and put the second helping in the freezer for a while -- that'll teach it. Took the same vitamin today, so I guess I will see if it was the culprit or not. I want to take new foods very slowly. I had lots of stomach and digestive issues going into IP. They all went away, so I know I can feel good if I eat the right way. I'll add back one thing at a time and see what flies. I'm not going back to those issues ever again, if I can help it.

I can technically start maintenance Saturday, but I will wait a couple of extra days. My husband and son are out of town, so I would rather stay on the straight and narrow until I am busier and back in routine. I have held onto that extra 1.5 lbs since hitting goal, which I am not loving. As TOM started yesterday for me, same day as my WI, I still can't tell if it is "real" or not. Either way, I'm still within range.

Have a great time -- and, by the time you get back, I'll see you on the blessed maintenance thread!