Congrats on officially hitting the 140s!

For myself, I'm seriously stuck in the 190s. I've gotten as low as 190.2 (2 days ago) and now I'm back up a lb. Sigh... breathe and have faith. It will happen eventually!
I realised this morning that as of today I am starting my 5th month of IP. Man, time flies!

So, yesterday was... OK. The day wasn't so exciting. It was a pretty easy start. I seem to be hungry at the late afternoon and evening. On to day 2!

The adoption event went really well. We found homes for 7 of our dogs this weekend and potential adopters for 4 more. I did a great home visit yesterday to a family interested in our Old English Sheepdog/Standard Poodle puppy (aka Sheepadoodle a puppy). It was such fun watching there 10 year old girl take care of him and play with him. The mom is originally from Montreal and said she grew up wanting an Old English. Unfortunately, as a result of the climate down here, they are not such common dogs. I think, after having spent plenty of time with them, they could offer him such a great home. They really seem to have given a large amount of consideration to timing, what type of dog they were interested in and why, and what accommodations they would be willing to make. As a rescue foster mom, that is so nice to see. We see so many who want to impulsive adopt and those who are shopping. SO, let's just say my day went very well and felt accomplished to the purpose of the day.



Congratulations on the loss! I know at the end stages no matter how small the loss is, it is so well earned. Your pictures are amazing! You really have changed SO much!

Hey there,Treena! Yes, that last 15 pounds is horribly challenging for some people. It seems to be a really decision point for some people about whether or not they picked the right goal. As you say, it is just your body signalling you "it's almost time!"

Fortunately, you have a supportive coach. Mine was telling me I was cheating because I was no longer losing 3 pounds or more a week. HA! I was so rigid I was in tears to be insulted like that. At least this time I know what to expect and have a new "coach".

You have done great following the program! Congratulations on all your success!

YEA!!! I am so happy for you! Busting through to the next 10 pound mark is always such a good time! I remember when you started, you have done a fantastic job of staying focused and your efforts really show.

I LOVE Broccolini! It is so good grilled, lightly misted with olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and a little fresh lemon juice. YUM.

LOL.... I read your comment about what "doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and out of nowhere my brain added, "or puts 15 pounds on you!" WHAT?? Guess you can tell how I feel about how my body responded to the past months of stress. :P

Food Dreams. I still remember dreaming about blueberry pancakes during my 11th week. It was so vivid I woke up crying. I was so worried I had just messed up nearly 3 months of effort! LOL

Hello! I guess that makes three of us "Carla" gals on this board and thread. ACTUALLY, I think there was another Carla when I started and through the middle of 2010.

I commend you for finding a use for that nasty PB they make. I tasted it and thought nothing was worth the $3.00 I paid to try and eat that. LOL

ShowgirlAZ,

I just love Old English, we had 2 (brother and sister) when our daughter was growing up and they are the most gentle, fun dogs. I miss them. The female lived until 8 yrs ( bone cancer) and the male lived a healthy 14 yrs. I think a mix with a poodle would be adorable.

He really is a cutie. I am concerned about the potential for bone cancer given the prevalence in the OES. They say both diet and early "fixing" impact that. We can't wait as long as I would like to have him neutered (given that he is a rescue pup) but, we have waited to the early recommended point to give him the best long term chances. I also have had him on a diet more designed for dogs that experience rapid bone growth so we can try to slow him down a bit and create a more dense bone structure. Hopefully, the little guy (Frasier) will have a long life like your male did.

He has all that steady, calm, happy energy of the OES. I really only see poodle in his lighter bone frame and smaller head shape. I may be also seeing it in that he is black and white as opposed to the grey tones but, poodles will start black and sometimes fade to grey during the first year so, WHO KNOWS what his final colors may be!

Can I ask your experienced opinion? Do you think a young OES type male puppy would do well as an only dog in a family with 2 young, grade school age, children and no other dogs? I am thinking yes but, that is my only question if it is possible he should be put instead with older children or dogs. The family is definitely committed to started early training with him and has a very active lifestyle which he would participate in so, I THINK, he will be challenged enough physically and mentally to not develop to many bad puppy habits. Thoughts?

Hello... I am not experienced ...just a newbie looking to you all for wisdom.
Can I ask if any of you exercise and how much if you do? I have heard conflicting things... "Dont exercise or your body will go into starvation mode"...but I am thinking exercise like 20 min on an ellipitical would be good.
Appreciate any comment.
THANK YOU ...for the wisdom!! Love to read your support for each other.

Do a thread search for "exercise" or "working out". There are quite a number of discussions about this very topic.

Hello All! Happy Monday!

So, as most of you know, I started phase 3 on Friday. Friday and Saturday went great. When I woke up on Sunday I was sick, sick, sick...tried eating my breakfast, but couldn't keep it down. Infact, I couldn't keep anything down...even water. I slept most of the day, so didn't get very much into my stomach (tried eating supper, but that didn't go too well either). I felt better this morning, but only managed about 1/3 of my breakfast, I bought the rest to work with me, thinking that I might be able to force it down...but, I just threw it in the garbage as it was turning my stomach a bit just to look at it. I'm thinking I feel sick because my stomach is empty (although, I am able to keep water down now).

My coach is out of town until Thursday, so I wanted to ask you guys if you think I should just carry on with phase 3, or revert back to phase 2...? I just don't know what kind of damage I have done (if any) - this is the first time I have been sick while on the program. Has anyone else gotten sick while on phase 3? what did you do?

Thanks in advance for any help with this!

I do slice it thin and then bake it with a little oil and whatever spice I have a feeling for. One end of the Kohlrabi is really tough and hard to even get the peel off. I am looking for a mandolin to slice my veggies, right now I am using my meat slicer. Works but slices are a little thick on one side. I also slice them and make frenchfries with them... so far that is my favorite new veg.

Pxlkitty - havent tried broccolini, is it similar to rappini? tried that and didn't really like it. I will have to look for the broccolini

Brummie- I am sorry you aren't feeling well, I hope it is a virus and you get over it right away, and not because you are on a different phase. Good luck my friend.

Minewgoal - You are doing great, with all your stress. Hope you hear soon about the job. It took me a long time to get over the 190s as well and now have been stuck in the 170s for over a month...maybe today is the day.

Have a great one all.

I dont think there is a better bread out there for small children. We got 2 because my husband and I both worked. The dogs had a large fenced yard and a garage to go into if the weather was not good (so funny though they loved laying in the snow). My daughter was in first grade when we got them, she named them Chip & Chomp. I had several nieces and nephews younger and we lived in a neighborhood with lots of kids. The sheepdogs always looked after them when out playing and if one of them fell and was crying, the female would be at the back door "tapping" immediately. The kids dressed them in "human" clothes and hats and put them in strollers and walked around the block (very easy going). My mother was blind and without formal training the male, would lead her and bark if there was a step or if he thought she was in danger, he also would sleep at the foot of her bed when she stayed with us and would guide her to the bathroom.

If you are now able to keep food down, I would probably try going back to phase 1 and make up very diluted protein drinks (orange, pina colada, blueberry). You would be getting some nutrition and carbs and your body isn't so unfamiliar with that process. You could also step back to phase 2 and make a chicken soup with vegetables and have that for a few meals. It doesn't have to be too heavy in the veggies or, you could puree them to make more of a creamy texture.

Try the raspberry jelly warm if you have any. It can sometimes help.

If you are on phase 3 you are starting to have the big breakfast SO, if you want to add some carbs to your day, say a piece of dry whole grain toast, it sometimes calms the stomach, do it early in the day.

Some people do ok using plain yogurt when they are sick, Odd I know, but, you could try using it in the morning with your toast.


The common recommendation when someone is sick is a bland or BRAT diet. Basically, bananas, rice, green beans, broth, applesauce, tea and toast. If you think you can manage some of that see how you could work it in with the phase 3 morning process and then try to do some broth, chicken, and vegetables for lunch and dinner if you think you can tolerate it.

SOMETIMES, people respond well to using a bit of fresh ginger sliced and brewed in hot water as a tea. It tends to calm the stomach and has a slight cleansing effect.

I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you so much, my friend!! Wow! just look at you! You really do look like a different person from your before picture! I'm so very very proud of you!

Thanks Carla! I'm sooooo glad you are back!
I have some ginger powder here at work, so I think I will whip up a tea. I cant believe I didnt think of that! (my mom used to give us jamaican ginger beer when we felt nauseaus as kids...yeah, we lied sometimes just to get the ginger beer!) I should have remembered that. I think I will also try your toast suggestion for lunch.
I know this sounds ungrateful (because so many are still trying to lose weight), but I really dont want to lose anymore, I am really happy with where I am at, so was worried about needing to phase back into phase 2 (or even 1). I weighed myself this morning and was at 136 (which was likely from my starvation yesterday) - I would really like to stick around 140 - so hopefully staying on Phase 3 and going into Phase 4 will balance that out

Thank you so much!

I hope the ginger trick works.

Just remember, you are on phase 3 not phase 4. You can only add the carbs early in the day, you want to create the single insulin spike in the morning.

Given you are sick, try to get food in but DO NOT carb load. It will defeat the purpose of this program. Remember you can always use the packets instead of heavier real protein. So, if for later in the day you need something use the drinks, soup, or restricted packets. Again, having a homemade soup as a dinner that uses a low sodium broth would be fine.

DO NOT have the extra carbs in the evening. Try to stick as close as possible to a phase 2 or 3 dinner. and a normal snack. It will help keep your blood sugars level and in a good place for the morning.

I hope tomorrow is a better day and you can keep moving on phase 3!

ahhhh...I feel way better (even a little hungry for supper in an hour). I had the ginger tea just before lunch...didn't think I would be able to stomach the tuna, so had a pack of white cheddar ridges with my veggies and salad. I think that may have done the trick!

Back to phase 3 tomorrow!!

Thank you so much Carla! You really are a Superstaaaar!!

YEA!!! I am so happy for you that the tea option helped. I hate feeling sick to my stomach. Probably hate that worst of all the types of being sick.

I am sure you will do great tomorrow.

Pxlkitty- Congrats on the 140's!!!!!!!!!
2Ride- Loving your new avatar- what an unbelievable difference!!
LongDivision- I mix raspberries in with my greek yogurt, and when I say mix I mean mash so that they are no longer whole and are completely at one with the yogurt then I add a 1/3 C of granola- this really helps with texture, taste and adding protein... Hope this helps- it is still tart but the granola adds sweetness...
Welcome Back Carla...
Brummie- I hope you're feeling better... and able to fully phase 3 it again...good for you being happy where you're at- that is what we are all striving for!
I had my first WI in Phase 3 today and went down 1.5 to the shock of my coach who immediately wanted to see my diary... I will admit I was scared of gaining in Phase 3 and while I ate everything that was required I had 2 eggs as my lunch protein almost every day and had tuna for supper 5 out of 7 nights... Bah... Just can't wrap my head around it being okay to NOT lose and maybe, yes, I have to admit maybe, I would like to lose a bit more... very hard to say 'when'... but this weekend is my girls weekend and there will be alcohol involved- although after not having had any in four months I don't think it's going to take much for me to max out