Hi Everyone!
Just a quicky this morning... We are having a picnic today at our house for the holiday so I have been busy these past couple of days! I had my 6th weigh in on Friday and according to the coaches scale I am on track with my scale at home, I lost an inch of my chest and waist which isn't much because I had gained 2 inches on my waist and chest the week before due to TOM!
So Coach is putting me on phase 2 this week to just experiment and see if I do better with weight loss on phase 2. I am also going to start exercising Monday, just toning. Hopefully this will work!
Hope everyone has a great holiday!
:)

Originally Posted by Susie_Bee:
I'm back from my daughter's party at the daycare and I stayed IP! There were plenty of raw veggie platters and I brought a salad that was OP (except from some raisins, which I just ate around). I avoided everything else and I had my bar when everyone else had dessert. I declined alcoholic beverages (wine or beer ) when offered to me and nobody even questioned it. I carried my own water bottle around me with the whole time and refilled it as needed.

Here is my recipe (not sure if it may already be posted somewhere on this board):

CHINESE STYLE SALAD

Ingredients:
1 cup raw mushrooms, minced
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 cups raw spinach, rinsed, dried, stems removed
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1 cup bean sprouts
1 green pepper, diced
3 stalks of celery, chopped fine
3 Tsp fresh parsley
1 cup cashews (optional - I left them out)
1/2 cup dried raisins (I just ate around them)

Dressing:
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 clove of garlic, minced

Instructions
(I made the dressing the night before to allow the flavors to blend.)
In a large bowl, pour the lemon juice on the minced mushrooms. Add alll remaining vegetables. An hour prior to serving, add the remaining ingredients.

Bon appétit !

WTG Susie!!! :carrot: I knew you could do it. That recipe sounds great but for some reason the past few posts that you've posted there's missing words. I'm not sure why but there's blanks in your sentences. I'm trying to make the words that are missing but can't figure it out. I put a blank in the last sentence so you can see what I mean. Unless you're doing it on purpose to play a game with us...lol.

What a great sunny day today. Yesterday they were calling for more rain but I just checked the weather network and there's only a 10% of rain now. It does look a little cool but suppose to go up to 23 degrees celsius this afternoon. I might just go out and try to do some more painting...but my back is killing me this morning. I have a sciatica and it bothers me once in a while. I think I just slept wrong last night. Hopefully it will get better so I can actually get something done today.

Have a great day everybody!! Stay positive, motivated, you can all do it!!!

Originally Posted by blkbmr06:
I've lost over 30, size 16-size10, not one person has said a word. Well, one said, "did you change your lipstick color?" I figure, I'm doing this for me, no one else so I better not pout!

Trust me on this... they notice. Some people just don't want to say anything. I don't know why people are that way. Someone asked me one day if I had lost weight and I replied that I had.

The person who was with her said, "I thought you had, but didn't want to say anything." For goodness sake, why not? I don't understand some people.

Originally Posted by Newpair:
I tell myself that everyone around me is just jealous. Everyone wants to hate on this diet program even though it clearly works! My Fiance hugs me every morning and tells me how skinny I feel to him :hug: and it gives me a boost. I really don't need people to notice how much I have lost because I get that affirmation from my Love each day. I also have a coworker who is doing this with me and each time we see eachother on break we say " Gosh you look thin today!" Its goofy but it makes us happy.

I think that's beautiful! Have you noticed that people hate on things that they don't really understand? Sure, this diet works, and while it is certainly unbalanced, it is not a 'forever' diet. I think that people get the idea that we have to eat this way from this point on. I wouldn't even try to explain it to them. When asked, I just tell people it's a high protein low carb diet. The usual reply is, "Oh... like xxx Diet." I just smile and say, well.. sorta. I don't explain unless they ask specifically because I don't want to hear the negativity. If your doctor thinks its a good idea (mine does) and you're keeping healthy, feeling good, etc., then there isn't anything to worry about.

I am very fortunate to be married to a wonderful man. He is considered a very handsome man by many and is 16 years younger than I am. (OK.. I'm a Boomer Hottie and a Cougar--what can I say? :lol:) We have been together for the past 17 years and in June we will be married for 15 years. He thinks I'm beautiful (fat as I am now) and continues to brighten my day with words of encouragement and love. He has been all the support that I need.

You will find that people who genuinely love you and care for you will be supportive of you. That is why this group here is so wonderful. Here we are... a group of people who don't know each other, but who love one another and care about each other. We've all walked in each others shoes, more or less, so we've all been there; done that. It doesn't get any better than that, my friends.

Thank you for being supportive of me. I hope to continue to be a friend to all of you and support your efforts.

:hug:

Originally Posted by albertamel:
I'm on day seven...I made it a week and I'm proud of myself. my coach can't weigh me in until Tuesday, but according to my scale I'm down about 10 lbs! Yesterday was the hardest day as far as cravings and wanting to cheat went, it was terrible! I never noticed how influenced I am by social media and by the billboards and such. I wanted everything that I couldn't have. BUT, I didn't have it.
I'm also encouraged by all of you making it to onederland. I have a long way to go, but I hope to make it!

That is FABULOUS!!! You're on your way and I'm so proud of you! Doesn't that make you feel so proud of yourself? Gosh, you made it through one of the worst weeks! You're on your way, girl! Keep up the great work!

Originally Posted by BoxerFit:
HI IP Friends,

I just signed up for this forum and been on IP for 2.5 weeks. Looking forward to a summer of weight loss and hoping to maintain this winter.

W1 - 6, W2 - 3

Good Morning and welcome! You've come to the right place. Looking forward to your participation in this wonderful group of people.

Originally Posted by JoAnne9597:
WTG Susie!!! :carrot: I knew you could do it. That recipe sounds great but for some reason the past few posts that you've posted there's missing words. I'm not sure why but there's blanks in your sentences. I'm trying to make the words that are missing but can't figure it out. I put a blank in the last sentence so you can see what I mean. Unless you're doing it on purpose to play a game with us...lol.

Thank you!

:lol: The words are not missing, they are typed in white font on purpose because they describe foods that are non-OP. You can see them by highlighting them with your mouse and pointer if you really want to see what they are but beware! I am not responsible for any cravings that may come out of doing this!

Originally Posted by JoAnne9597:
WTG Susie!!! :carrot: I knew you could do it. That recipe sounds great but for some reason the past few posts that you've posted there's missing words. I'm not sure why but there's blanks in your sentences. I'm trying to make the words that are missing but can't figure it out. I put a blank in the last sentence so you can see what I mean. Unless you're doing it on purpose to play a game with us...lol.

There are blanks in the sentences because she changed the ink color to white. This was done because these participar foods are not allowed on IP and out of courtesy to those who might have food triggers, she's typed them that way. If curiosity is killing you (it did me) you can left click on your mouse and drag it over the word to see what the word is.

Happy Sunday.

Just a drive by to keep myself accountable. The weekend has been fine, though the weather has been rainy so we're indoors all day. I always knew that lack of structure kills and the weekends are tough as I struggle to get all my supplements and water in- and of course I am always tempted by the kitchen. I'm staying true and I've lost another 2 lbs sine WI on Wednesday, so I'm happy. Hoping to be under 210 by WI keeps me very motivated!
Happy to hear that everyone is having a good weekend.
Thanks for the recipe SusieBee! I'll be using that for a work potluck coming up next week!

FINALLY broke through 20lbs lost!!! Actually blew past it by .6lbs.....I weigh myself daily....I am so excited, 20lbs in 6 weeks.....next mini goal is to hit the 170s, only 4.2lbs away!!!

Hi people. just a quick note. Doing good, got in a 2 hour gym workout yesterday and today. Yesterday did 100 mins on cross trainer, and some treadmill jogging and walking. Today did 15 mins cross trainer, 5 minutes rowing machine warm up, did 2km on treadmill - jog and walk break. Did it in new personal best of 13 minutes 42 seconds. Was delighted, few weeks ago it was 15 minutes exactly. Then did 8 or 9 different resistance training machines, ab crunches, hamstring and quad curls, shoulder press, bicep and tricep curls etc. Did 4 sets of 20 reps each. Looking forward to getting weighed this week, down 40 lbs now in 8 weeks, and feeling great but hungry, probably after all the exercise!!

Originally Posted by LaLibE:
How long/how many pounds lost until your friends and family started to notice? I'm trying not to have hurt feelings but honestly nobody has noticed the change in my body. My husband works out of town so I only see him on the weekends - I lost 18lbs since I saw him last!!! Also, my mother commented on a pair of jeans I was wearing the other day. I told her my sister (smaller than me but also on Ideal) shrunk and gave them to me... she said "I thought that she had lost some weight!" My sister had lost 3lbs!!!!!!!!!! I have taken off over 30 in the last 6 months and no mention. OK, now I'm done with my rant - it's my body and what everyone else sees is not important.

Sometimes people notice the change but they are a little shy to mention it unless its not true, then they feel embarassed. I just now have everyone notice I lost weight, it just started last week. I am talking about 60 lbs, lol now male patients even mention something and they turn all red, its so cute lol. Most dont ask me what I have done. The ones that did, I just told them I joined a gym and train 6 days a week, wich is true, plus I eat more healthy. That seems to satisfy their question. My personal friends know the more personal details.

Originally Posted by M0vingon:
Happy Sunday.

Just a drive by to keep myself accountable. The weekend has been fine, though the weather has been rainy so we're indoors all day. I always knew that lack of structure kills and the weekends are tough as I struggle to get all my supplements and water in- and of course I am always tempted by the kitchen. I'm staying true and I've lost another 2 lbs sine WI on Wednesday, so I'm happy. Hoping to be under 210 by WI keeps me very motivated!
Happy to hear that everyone is having a good weekend.
Thanks for the recipe SusieBee! I'll be using that for a work potluck coming up next week!

Gosh, I wish those of you who lived in these areas where you're having tons of rain could send some our way. We are dry, dry, dry and we need water desperately. Too bad that someone didn't think years ago of making a huge aquaduct that feed off these major rivers like the Mississippi, etc., and when there is a lot of flooding, they could open the gates and send that water to those areas that truly need it.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!

Hello and happy Sunday, IP friends!!

I'm entering the start of week 4, and I can't tell you all how helpful and supportive it has been to see all of your questions, tips and advice on this journey. I have lost and gained - and lost and gained - and lost and gained... so many times before and never really had a community of support along the way. Before, I had a "diet coach" who just wanted my money, and now I have a caring person at the clinic that I go to who has been through this herself and actually created her own tip sheet for each of her IP'ers. She also shows her own before and after photo, and I feel really confident that she can help me along the way.

I have a roommate who helps with the cooking and shopping, and of course I have friends and coworkers who understand that I am eating healthier and don't push me to join in group lunches and parties anymore. Knowing that I have support online anytime, everyday means that once I get closer to my goal, I know that I won't be alone! I won't go back to my old ways for many, many reasons - but most of all, because I know that I can't keep bouncing around my weight if I want to stay healthy and fit.

Here's to week 4 and another 4 pounds lost!