Originally Posted by iowahawkeyemom:
I can't understand why I do the things I do. Was strict on protocol since Monday and for some crazy reason, last night I decided to "sample" a girl scout cookie. They were even out in the garage in the freezer! Of course one lead to two and then watch out. I think I inhaled 5 cookies total! My eating was so fast it was just like inhaling! Well, kicked myself in the butt as soon as I wiped the crumbs off of my face and told myself to let it go and get back with the program. I was doing so well and the scale was down almost 5 pounds since Monday. I've got to keep drinking my flavored teas to statisfy my sweet tooth.

Everyone have a great weekend!

I do the same thing. I'm in maintenance, but I will have something that I know I shouldn't have and then have another. WTH? I have to keep remembering the saying "Just for today, I won't have_____" and let me tell you, that list is long! Some days I don't want anything off limits, but others, I just can't get enough. That's where another saying comes in "One is too many, but 100 is never enough"

AmyLew, good to see you back. Long time no see! Good job with getting recomitted.

Originally Posted by janedocmom:
Oh, Iowahawkeyemom, I do feel your pain. Even though I am on maintenance now, I am doing similar things, i.e., binge, Phase I, binge, Phase I, etc like a seesaw. You have done so well up to now. You need to remember that when you are tempted with the "first" bite :dracula:, RESIST! I tend to be an all or nothing person, too, but I am trying to change. From experience, the first bite is the killer :boxing:. When I am tempted with the first bite, my mind goes into a food fog and all rational thinking ceases from that point forward. Some people can modulate themselves, but it seems as though you and I can't. I marvel at darbs who can go off and on and continue her weight loss journey with the same zeal and commitment as before. I know that I am having difficulty embracing that this is a journey like she said and, unfortunately, think of it as a race. I am trying to change.

As a suggestion, from one who has been there and a fellow "all or nothing person", you have to stay the straight and narrow until goal. If not, you will be in and out of ketosis like a swinging door and then you may not have the commitment to keep on going. You are doing fantastic :cheer: and you can get to goal, but you have to remind yourself that you can't succumb to the carbs :devil: because it is a slippery slope that makes it so difficult to stop :woops:.

Hope I am not overstepping my bounds :soap:and projecting my issues on to you, but those carbs can make you a crazy person :dizzy: and kick you out of ketosis if you let them!

Good luck!
:hug:

Originally Posted by AmyonIP:
I do the same thing. I'm in maintenance, but I will have something that I know I shouldn't have and then have another. WTH? I have to keep remembering the saying "Just for today, I won't have_____" and let me tell you, that list is long! Some days I don't want anything off limits, but others, I just can't get enough. That's where another saying comes in "One is too many, but 100 is never enough"

AmyLew, good to see you back. Long time no see! Good job with getting recomitted.

It truly is a mind thing. Thank you both for the help and no janedocmom you didn't over step at all! Thank you AmyLew for the welcome back also! I keep telling myself that I WILL reach goal and need to stop this rollercoaster that I find myself on all the time. Then I tell myself, it's only food! I just need to fill my body with the good stuff and succeed at this. Eat only what your body NEEDS and quit the bad stuff. It is worth it!

I've noticed on tv lately all the commercials for fast food. No wonder America is over weight. I take note that I don't want to go back to being a zombie and following everyone into places like that. I actually think IP is saving me money by not buying all those bad things that you can throw in your grocery cart and those trips thru the drive thru places. I know it's saving my health also.

Thanks again and it's great to be back!

Originally Posted by iowahawkeyemom:
I can't understand why I do the things I do. Was strict on protocol since Monday and for some crazy reason, last night I decided to "sample" a girl scout cookie. They were even out in the garage in the freezer! Of course one lead to two and then watch out. I think I inhaled 5 cookies total! My eating was so fast it was just like inhaling! Well, kicked myself in the butt as soon as I wiped the crumbs off of my face and told myself to let it go and get back with the program. I was doing so well and the scale was down almost 5 pounds since Monday. I've got to keep drinking my flavored teas to statisfy my sweet tooth.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Water under the dam.....but on a better note down 5 pounds...keep it up!

Originally Posted by Joliebug82:
Hey, ya'll! Been MIA for a while, but still on protocol (perfectly the last three days, yay!). Good to see everyone making progress!

How have you been? Wondering where you were at.

Well...home from my "Cruisin the Tropics" wine day. I was doing well....off plan but eating meats and cheeses for snacks and meals and then boom...too much wine tasting guard went down and I ate pizza. Oh well....that is behind me...100% on plan today. I love that this is a marathon....and I learn so much about better choices. Life happens.:carrot::carrot::carrot:

Here's to a perfect IP week! Come on ladies:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot:

Finally! A thread I will join in on the conversation haha hello ladies, how are you all finding the program after being on it for so long? It looks like all of us had great success so far =))
Those of you in maintenance how are you finding it? Is it hard at all?

Originally Posted by darbs7:
Well...home from my "Cruisin the Tropics" wine day. I was doing well....off plan but eating meats and cheeses for snacks and meals and then boom...too much wine tasting guard went down and I ate pizza. Oh well....that is behind me...100% on plan today. I love that this is a marathon....and I learn so much about better choices. Life happens.:carrot::carrot::carrot:

Here's to a perfect IP week! Come on ladies:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot:

You can do it darbs!!! :carrot: I know it's hard but the pay off is so much better than anything that tastes good!!!

Well ladies, I've made a decision...I'm going off plan. I've been struggling with this decision for quite some time now but I've finally decided to stop. I took myself out of ketosis about 2 weeks ago and have not been able to get re-commited enough to get myself back in so at this point I'm just throwing a lot of money down the drain. I'm not at goal but I am happy with what I have done so far. My husband totally supports me and that makes me happy. I'm going to spend the summer maintaining and excercising and if I still want to lose more in the fall then I will start again with alternative products. I haven't used them yet because of a sense of loyalty to my coach, (she is a friend-not a clinic), but this is a lot of money to just maintain my weight.

I admire all of you who have been on this plan for 6 months or more. It takes a lot of commitment to maintain this lifestyle in our society of temptations so Bravo!

Originally Posted by AvaLynn:
You can do it darbs!!! :carrot: I know it's hard but the pay off is so much better than anything that tastes good!!!

I know...I had scheduled this as a cheat weekend. I have one more planned for April 15-20, but I should be below my goal by then. But when I return from that I will go back to phase 1 for another 4-5 weeks and see how far below I can get by Memorial Day weekend and then I am phasing off. I can't believe I am only 8 pounds from goal...I am so excited.

Jody, we had another thread going, but it was closed up for over the limit in posts....you might want to read through it...similar title...just closed up about a week ago or less. Great ladies in this group.

Originally Posted by Mamadancer:
Well ladies, I've made a decision...I'm going off plan. I've been struggling with this decision for quite some time now but I've finally decided to stop. I took myself out of ketosis about 2 weeks ago and have not been able to get re-commited enough to get myself back in so at this point I'm just throwing a lot of money down the drain. I'm not at goal but I am happy with what I have done so far. My husband totally supports me and that makes me happy. I'm going to spend the summer maintaining and excercising and if I still want to lose more in the fall then I will start again with alternative products. I haven't used them yet because of a sense of loyalty to my coach, (she is a friend-not a clinic), but this is a lot of money to just maintain my weight.

I admire all of you who have been on this plan for 6 months or more. It takes a lot of commitment to maintain this lifestyle in our society of temptations so Bravo!

I totally understand your struggle I have been in a major struggle for 2 months now. I took a different approach...I planned cheat events every 2-3 weeks and then I am trying to be perfect in between and lose 3-5 pounds during that time. This is so hard...so hard. But you should be very proud you have done very well and take a break and then come back in the fall when you feel fresh and ready. good luck to you and check in.

Originally Posted by Mamadancer:
Well ladies, I've made a decision...I'm going off plan. I've been struggling with this decision for quite some time now but I've finally decided to stop. I took myself out of ketosis about 2 weeks ago and have not been able to get re-commited enough to get myself back in so at this point I'm just throwing a lot of money down the drain. I'm not at goal but I am happy with what I have done so far. My husband totally supports me and that makes me happy. I'm going to spend the summer maintaining and excercising and if I still want to lose more in the fall then I will start again with alternative products. I haven't used them yet because of a sense of loyalty to my coach, (she is a friend-not a clinic), but this is a lot of money to just maintain my weight.

I admire all of you who have been on this plan for 6 months or more. It takes a lot of commitment to maintain this lifestyle in our society of temptations so Bravo!

I so understand and I'm sure most of the others do too. It is great that your husband supports your decision and I'm sure you will do fine this summer. You are right, it is a struggle. Every single day for me. Please stop by and keep us posted as how you are doing. Take care, we are here for YOU!

Hey, gals. I've been ok. Busy as all get out with kids (who are driving me up the wall) and working on a new book (editing) as well as finishing up some old ones. Just kinda blah lately.

Mamadancer, you've done so well and come so far, and I totally understand.

Darbs, wow. 8 pounds! You're rocking it even with your planned cheats.

AvaLynn, I love the blonde hair! How's the coaching coming along?

I fiddle-farted around with cheese today, weekends are hard for me. I know it's weird and maybe crazy, but I love Mondays. :D

Originally Posted by Mamadancer:
Well ladies, I've made a decision...I'm going off plan. I've been struggling with this decision for quite some time now but I've finally decided to stop. I took myself out of ketosis about 2 weeks ago and have not been able to get re-commited enough to get myself back in so at this point I'm just throwing a lot of money down the drain. I'm not at goal but I am happy with what I have done so far. My husband totally supports me and that makes me happy. I'm going to spend the summer maintaining and excercising and if I still want to lose more in the fall then I will start again with alternative products. I haven't used them yet because of a sense of loyalty to my coach, (she is a friend-not a clinic), but this is a lot of money to just maintain my weight.

I admire all of you who have been on this plan for 6 months or more. It takes a lot of commitment to maintain this lifestyle in our society of temptations so Bravo!

I'd say you're at the perfect weight for you right now. NO reason to feel even faintly uncertain about your decision. Congratulations.

Originally Posted by janedocmom:
Oh, Iowahawkeyemom, I do feel your pain. Even though I am on maintenance now, I am doing similar things, i.e., binge, Phase I, binge, Phase I, etc like a seesaw. You have done so well up to now. You need to remember that when you are tempted with the "first" bite :dracula:, RESIST! I tend to be an all or nothing person, too, but I am trying to change. From experience, the first bite is the killer :boxing:. When I am tempted with the first bite, my mind goes into a food fog and all rational thinking ceases from that point forward. Some people can modulate themselves, but it seems as though you and I can't. I marvel at darbs who can go off and on and continue her weight loss journey with the same zeal and commitment as before. I know that I am having difficulty embracing that this is a journey like she said and, unfortunately, think of it as a race. I am trying to change.

As a suggestion, from one who has been there and a fellow "all or nothing person", you have to stay the straight and narrow until goal. If not, you will be in and out of ketosis like a swinging door and then you may not have the commitment to keep on going. You are doing fantastic :cheer: and you can get to goal, but you have to remind yourself that you can't succumb to the carbs :devil: because it is a slippery slope that makes it so difficult to stop :woops:.

Hope I am not overstepping my bounds :soap:and projecting my issues on to you, but those carbs can make you a crazy person :dizzy: and kick you out of ketosis if you let them!

Good luck!
:hug:

wow, this is a GREAT post! thankyou for that.... this past weekend i decided to totally go off plan and did the sushi thing again... this was the first time I had such an awful 'reaction'..... I am chalking that feeling to the carbs?? after we ate, we went to the casino for an hour... while there, i suddenly started to feel so 'weak'....and felt like a rush of sorts was passing thru my arms??? it was sooo wierd... I felt like crying........ and we left. On the way home I slept all the way, and it was early in the evening... I had never felt so bad. Back on plan the Saturday, and did well... Then sunday had a major PEANUT BUTTER attack... i almost did not recognize myself... I knew what i was doing, but like you said, after the first 'bite' you go into like a fog...and its an almost scary feeling of loss of control. Now Monday morning,and I am starting all over again... trying to get into ketosis... omg. up and down over and over....... it is not easy... but one day at a time.... thank god for this forum.

Hey there ladies. I know how each of you feels I too have struggled. I did not have the willpower like Iowahockymom to only eat 5 cookies, when I do it I do it right (I ate the whole box). :(

Anywhoo, I struggle with moderation. I LOVE sweets and all sorts of carby fried food. I have had people on this diet say that their taste buds have changed and they no longer like that stuff. Well not me. I love it just the same. I worry because when I go off plan I litterly EAT EVERYTHING. It is alarming how much I eat.

But....GOOD NEWS... Tomorrow will be ONE week back on plan. YAYYYYY!!!! I am excited. I was able to pass on a lot of tempting things this weekend and managed to stay on plan. I was up to 183 after my two week break (not bad considering all the crap I ate) and this am on the scale was 175!!! Yay for me!!! I plan on staying on plan and hopefully will be at least back to my 168 when I phased off the first time.
I have a confenrence to go to on April 15-16. I am going to try to stay on plan as much as possible. We shall see.

Originally Posted by LOSINGFORGOOD2010:
wow, this is a GREAT post! thankyou for that.... this past weekend i decided to totally go off plan and did the sushi thing again... this was the first time I had such an awful 'reaction'..... I am chalking that feeling to the carbs?? after we ate, we went to the casino for an hour... while there, i suddenly started to feel so 'weak'....and felt like a rush of sorts was passing thru my arms??? it was sooo wierd... I felt like crying........ and we left. On the way home I slept all the way, and it was early in the evening... I had never felt so bad. Back on plan the Saturday, and did well... Then sunday had a major PEANUT BUTTER attack... i almost did not recognize myself... I knew what i was doing, but like you said, after the first 'bite' you go into like a fog...and its an almost scary feeling of loss of control. Now Monday morning,and I am starting all over again... trying to get into ketosis... omg. up and down over and over....... it is not easy... but one day at a time.... thank god for this forum.

I had to schedule planned cheats every 2-3 weeks just to keep myself motivated in between. It is crazy when you have been on this diet so long and lost a significant amount of weight and are so close to goal....it becomes very difficult to adhere. I cheated with pizza on Saturday night and then I was perfect all day yesterday and so far today. I have never tested my ketones ever...but I don't feel like I am out of ketosis. Weird.

Originally Posted by mepeterson:
Hey there ladies. I know how each of you feels I too have struggled. I did not have the willpower like Iowahockymom to only eat 5 cookies, when I do it I do it right (I ate the whole box). :(

Anywhoo, I struggle with moderation. I LOVE sweets and all sorts of carby fried food. I have had people on this diet say that their taste buds have changed and they no longer like that stuff. Well not me. I love it just the same. I worry because when I go off plan I litterly EAT EVERYTHING. It is alarming how much I eat.

But....GOOD NEWS... Tomorrow will be ONE week back on plan. YAYYYYY!!!! I am excited. I was able to pass on a lot of tempting things this weekend and managed to stay on plan. I was up to 183 after my two week break (not bad considering all the crap I ate) and this am on the scale was 175!!! Yay for me!!! I plan on staying on plan and hopefully will be at least back to my 168 when I phased off the first time.
I have a confenrence to go to on April 15-16. I am going to try to stay on plan as much as possible. We shall see.

So happy that you saw the week through. Keep going and work on that all or nothing mentality. I never ate large quanitities, but my all or nothing was Either completely on or off the diet and if I was off....I would be bad all day then the next and the next and the next. I am trying to change that....I can be good most of a day and then have a treat or dinner out with friends and then be perfect the next day. Even my cheats are very protein and fat dense (and very few carbs....except the pizza and martinins I had Saturday night).


YOu should be proud:D

Well, I am back at it for three more weeks and then my next cheat event is April 15-20 (New Hope, PA wine tour and then Atlantic City). I hope that I am below my goal by then. I don't know what damage I caused this weekend because I always stay away from the scale for as many days as possible after a cheat. When I return from Atlantic City I will go back to phase one for 4 to 5 more weeks and finish up Memorial Day weekend...I will go to phase 3 for 2 weeks and then maintenance for the summer. I hope to be 10-15 pounds below my original goal when I start phase 3.

Here's to a good week and good recovery for those of us who strayed yet once again:devil::dizzy: