Good afternoon all,
I haven't been able to keep up with all the discussion since Monday afternoon when I found out I needed to be in Washington DC the rest of the week. I had to rush to finish my work clothes (I wash them separate to help prevent fur on them) and pack up and go. I am on a train back to Philadelphia at the moment because I was rewarded with some Phillys tickets and the game starts at 1!
I ate dinner before I left home Monday and had my snack in the car. Yesterday I went out with a coworker and got some grilled sea bass with green beans and arugula. It was SOOO good. I am quite happy I have a go to fish since I really don't like fish. I am going to try incorporating fish at least once a week in my diet...too bad sea bass is so expensive :(
Then we went to another coworkers photo show/fundraiser. There were lots of snacks and cakes and chocolate there but I resisted. I did get my husband Carmel corn cooked in bacon grease. He should enjoy that. There is a buffet place across the street from my client site that has a Mongolian grill in it. Stir-fried veggies for lunch the rest of the week! I am just having them use a little bit of soy sauce and some sesame oil to cook them. Easy solution for my lunchtime veggies-I wish it was this easy everywhere!

My TOM come on with a vengeance over the course of the morning-a day early. Thanks to all your comments I was prepared-somewhat. My husband is meeting me at the ballpark with some extra 'supplies' and some midol. Such a dear!

I am still sad about not weighing in. I hope my client for next week makes up their minds what days they want me so I can schedule one for next week. I am confident my home scale is very close to my coaches (I checked last week) so I will weigh in Saturday around lunch since I will be home.
My May is quickly filling up-first 3 weeks are already booked up! Then June/July I will be working out of my parents house and helping with party and wedding stuff. My mother talked to her coach and she will allow my mom to buy packets for me so I don't have to bring enough for 6ish weeks-woohoo!

My mother also lost weight again this week-she lost 0 her WI#3. Another 3 pounds for her-I am SOO happy for her. It looks like she is one of those that are extra sensative to carbs. She was usually drinking 2 of the chocolate shakes a day and it seems it was just a bit too much for her. She didn't have that problem weeks 1 and part of week 2 because she was working through her samples. Oh well!
Now to read through the rest of your lovely posts while I finish my train ride!

Oh for those of you with the big 'C', have you tried adding just a bit more oil to your diet? That fixes me right up. I notice it really only works on me if its not cooking oil, but oil in sauces and dressings that help!

WI #1 today - lost 5.6 pounds.

Have not lost any inches. Here's to a great week of losing more fat and inches!

[QUOTE=gaya2081;3816507]There is a buffet place across the street from my client site that has a Mongolian grill in it. Stir-fried veggies for lunch the rest of the week! I am just having them use a little bit of soy sauce and some sesame oil to cook them. Easy solution for my lunchtime veggies-I wish it was this easy everywhere!

QUOTE]

I love that Mongolia BBQ in Chinatown! It is soooo good. Have them add garlic to yours too. They have fresh garlic ready in a little pot next to the sauces. I had them add it and it was so yummy! You can probably eat the meat there too. I have no idea since I'm vegetarian (well eating fish and shrimp now, so not total vegetarian, but they only had other non-seafood meats there when I went). Have fun at the game today!

Funny. I thought she was referring to Soho at 13th and K. I used to work right next door...

That request just made my week!!!! :rofl:

I second that request!!!!!

This really did make me laugh out loud! Last night my daughter & youngest son (the only ones in the fam not doing IP) decided to go to Fuddruckers for supper. Later, when I picked up my son from his music lesson I asked him how supper was, then 'what did you have?', and 'what did Laurissa have?'

He gave me that look, and said 'Seriously, Mom?' I just burst out laughing!

hey everyone - finally got my sig (woooot). Have had a rough few days on the water intake but am gonna set a goal of 12 cups a day until my next WI a week from tomorrow. Had 3 days last week of 12 cups and my water % went up a full % but i'm still almost 3% below where they want me to be. Also noticed that I lost most of my weight those 3 days I drank the most - not sure if that is connected or just coincidence but might as well give it a shot.

GL to all for an OP week.

Please don't get discouraged! For me, my weigh ins are on Mondays if I weigh anytime during the week the scales show no loss or even a little gain but come Mondays the losses most definitley show. This usually happens to me now(not in the beginning) every week and when it's my 1 week weigh in time it's most always between a 3 to 4 pound loss. It's really weird in a way but that's what happens. So now, I wait untill my 1 week weigh in to avoid that discouragement. It was hard to stop weighing each day but just put your trust in the diet, it will come off. My coach had mentioned to me(when I was weighing all the time and got stressed seeing no loss) that when you weigh daily and you don't see any loss it sets off stress hormones in your body which can in turn affect your weekly weight loss, this is what helped me to stop stepping on the scale.

I had an interesting comment from my Sister-in-law yesterday. As we were packing her house up for her move, she said "I miss the old you, where we would sit down and eat junk together!" That was a huge compliment. She sees that I have made a lifestyle change and as hard as it is, it pushes her to be better. When we had a break, instead of reaching for the bag of Doritos (which were calling my name all day) I had a protein bar and she had a protein shake! Job well done!! I also got 6 hrs of continuous exercise. The only downfall was when they ordered in pizza for dinner and I wasn't prepared. Seeing as how I am on maintenance I had a couple of pieces, but am back to protein and veggies today!

Have a great day. I am excited because I am only 2 mo. away from keeping this weight off for 1 year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Good call on hiding the scale -- I was a scale junkie and what it did for me was turn me into a crazy b with a serious itch -- The diet is bad enough for the mood swings (at least in the beginning) but adding the scale was an exercise in absolute futility. My moods would depend on what a scale said..I finally decided to take the power away from an inanimate object (I was also irritated with myself for giving so much power to something that gave little in return...I wouldn't put up with that from a boyfriend/friend etc so why would I put up with it from a scale) Now I only weigh myself once a week - usually weigh on my home scale before my weigh in to see how far off my scale is from my coaches. I am a much happier person during the week. I have been on the program long enough to know that some weeks are stellar and some are well....just ok (see my ticker at the bottom)-- but it is the bigger picture that deserves the energy and attention and not necessarily the number everyday on a scale. I also find when I am not stressing about the weight loss I do a better job loosing. I think all of us who have been on this program will tell you to relax, work the program and re-adjust expectations -- for most of us the journey is taking longer then we thought...but the lessons learned during that time are the stuff that makes maintenance possible. As for what to do... try giving up restricteds for a week (I find I have to do something for at least a week to see a difference). If that doesn't work... try having them in the morning every other morning... add a hardboiled egg to your day in the afternoon...add some extra olive oil to your salads (sometimes extra fat and protein kick start weight loss again) The trick to this diet is controlled flexibility and understanding that what works for you this week may not work next week...just keep at it, keep experimenting and BACK AWAY FROM THE SCALE :lol:

I don't think that universally any of us can say what your body will do during TOM...everyone is different in that regard -- some still loose, others gain -- I have done both. As for veggies... try searching the recipe threads to see get some ideas for veggies, unfortunately this program is very veggie heavy so you may want to try a new veggie every week - or try preparing a veggie a different way - say roast them or skewer them and put them on the bbq, or saute them with some spices. (some of my favorites... cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, roasted brocolini, blanched broccoli rabe/rappini, pureed fennel and cauliflower), Your tastes will change (they need to in order to help you on maintenance) Boredom on this diet is a real momentum killer..try to figure out ways to work this program and make it as exciting as possible. (new recipes, veggies, spices, meats, cooking utensils..something fun) I know this is hard, what I tell myself when I am feeling down... there are very few "naturally" healthy/thin individuals in this world...most of them have had to work (or starve) to some degree to maintain a thin physique. The truth is, this diet is work, and for those of us doing this diet the odds we will have to work this diet everyday going forward, even in maintenance, is high. Trust the plan.... I promise if you work the plan you will see results, some weeks will be fantastic and some might not be so great...but look at the overall loss, see what it feels like to shop for smaller sizes, take photos of your progress,...sometimes the NSV (non scale victories) are more motivating then the scale...GOOD LUCK...it gets better. This program works better and quicker then anything I have tried and I am grateful for having stumbled upon it...it has changed my thoughts, my body, and my outlook.:hug:

Tomato Basil Soup
 

Whoever said the Tomato Basil Soup is palatable is so WRONG!
I tried putting a multitude of veggies in it along with the cider vinegar, some fresh rosemary and fresh basil and some red pepper flakes.
I think I would have been happier with just the veggies. So gross.

I've posted some updated pictures, They are pretty scary. The last one is from 2 weeks ago. I'll try updating soon, I am just so camera shy which comes from years of being a chub.

Little number
 

I just noticed the little number in the upper right hand corner of the post. Now I know where I left off! It was a DUH moment. Sometimes it takes me a while!
Mary
:p

You look FANTASTIC... I love these before/after photos they are so inspiring (look at you with your salad and spritzer bottle :lol:). I am in awe of everyone who is brave enough to post pictures...and I am grateful that you all do it helps me everyday!!!! Congratulations to you....btw you look about 10 plus years younger (talk about a huge NSV) Thanks for sharing!!!

I discovered a couple of days ago that at the top the the thread there is a link that says "View First Unread". If you click on that it will take you to were you left off. Very useful. It does not look like a link, which is why I never noticed it before.