coliep and disgal -- I am also there with you. I'm 5' 4" and 54 years old -- so I think I'm pretty good where I am at. I've been here for about three weeks losing maybe 1 or 2 pounds a week. My goal will probably not be where it is set. Today I am going to Phase 2 -- come what may. I think your body tells you when enough is enough -- and my head is accepting it now.

Thanks for this thread! It does make maintenance not seem so impossible!

Hello. Maintenance is not impossible. I think its a little more time consuming now than before. On Phase 1, we had a complete diagram of what we could eat and we had the packets. Looking back I think it was easier because of the packets and the limited list to choose from. The trial and error to find something that we could eat that was OP ALL THE TIME. It did seem frustrating at first but I think that was because my body was so used to eating all of the carbs and sugars, it was rebeling. It's also a little harder when you have to cook for other people in the home that are not OP. I went into Phase 2, then marched on to 3 and sailed on to 4.

My body also told me when it was time to stop Phase 1. I reached a point where I wasn't losing any weight and maybe a 1/4 inch and there. I hadn't lost 90% of what I wanted to lose, but my body said enough was enough. Now, I just make better choices and when I mess up, I beat myself up for a day or so, get back on track and keep going forward.

Thanks for letting me stand on my soapbox!!! LOL

Woot woot!!! You rock Ladies!!!! Life is good!!!

My son took this picture of me today. These jeans used to be so tight and now they are loose. Feels so good!!!

You're a skinny person! Good job!

Thanks! it was a lot of work but totally worth it!!!

2Ride,

Every year CCN/Money Magazine put together a list of the best small towns to live in in the US. Small is defined by population and Louisville is around 18,000. They look at lots of things like schools, jobs, unemployment, location, surrounding attractions, cost of housing, etc. We are actually in suburbia, 4 miles from Boulder and about 25 miles northwest of Denver. Louisville placed 5th in 2005, 3rd in 2007, 1st in 2009 and 1st again in 2011. It really is a nice place to live...close to the mountains.

I have made Kohlrabi everything, I just can't seem to get the chips crispy and strong enough to hold a dip. I'll survive. I know you will be a Maintainer very soon and look forward to keeping up the conversations!

SusanK2,

You look awesome. Great picture. You must feel wonderful.

Becca & LoneLoser,

I also got very hungry when I was within 15 lbs of my goal weight. I was 54 years old at the time. My face was looking gaunt and I felt pretty good about my size 6's. I told my coach I was ready to phase off. I moved to phase 2 the next week and continued to lose. After 2 weeks of P2, I moved to P3. I lost a little more there and dropped to size 4. I have maintained about 130 give or take about 2 pounds since March. While I am not perfectly following IP phase 4, I do track my food with MFP and am able to stop any creep by doing a few very low carb days. I take pilates classes 3 times per week. Maintenance is doable because I didn't pick a goal weight that was impossible for me to maintain. You really can go back and lose more if you are unhappy at your current weight. Good Luck to you.

Have a great week everyone!

Lynn

Your small town sounds beautiful... I really was just kidding but very impressive that cnn put it on the list.
Kohlrabi, have you tried the pizza stone? it is a very fine line between burnt and crispy. I find if I cut them thin but not too thin they get the crispyness and I dip them in cilantro sauce. I have a meat cutter that I use, as I don't have a mandolin yet. still looking for one of those. Have a great night.

Well my husband and I went to Vegas for a couple of days to celebrate our anniversary. My legs feel like we walked a 100 miles! What a great place to visit! We stayed on the strip and visited the casino's downtown one night. We also did a lot of shopping. It was nice to get away and just forget about everything and just spend time with my wonderful husband. I didn't take a computer with us, I wanted to unplug while we we were gone, but I missed this forum and am glad to be home.

We did not eat very well while we were there, luckily it was only 3 days. So I am gonna do phase 1 and 2 for this week and "detox". And hopefully catch up the happenings on the forum and on some sleep.

Have a great day everyone!

Thanks for all of your advice. Tomorrow, I will be off of the official program. I cheated badly all weekend. But I am back on track today. I did order a bunch of Chocolate RTD shakes this morning from New Lifestyles. I think they are very similar (if not the same) as IP's.

I was 150 lbs this morning, but after seeing pictures of myself from this weekend, I do think I want to try to get down to 135. So I will have some work left to do. Hopefully, I will be back in here soon!

Wow! Hello everyone!

I logged back in here expecting to "lurk" a little and I found this wonderful thread!

I did IP from March 14th until June 11th. I stopped just short of my goal because I was having nausea/dizzy spells that went away when I had carbs (toast or soda crackers).

I maintained just fine until about 2 weeks ago... I was on vacation and made some bad choices... It is so easy to fall back into my old ways. Give me an inch and I take a mile!

My weight is now at 149.4 lbs. My lowest point was 143 lbs.

I am at the point where I am debating between just being careful and trying to get it back down or going back to phase I and trying for a new goal of 135 lbs, which is what I really wanted all along.

My birthday is in mid-September, so I am thinking that if I do go back to Phase I, I should wait until after that day! I can handle Thanksgiving better than my birthday... it's rude to refuse when someone buys you a birthday cake and I don't want to be going in an out of ketosis! If I do it, I want to do it 100% - health permitting, of course!

I am still getting tons of compliments about my weight loss and I am feeling good in size 8-10 (depending on the clothes). My clothes still fit from two weeks ago, so that is a good sign... I think...

I am so happy to have found this thread and to have an opportunity to come clean and get inspired by the rest of you as I was all along this journey!

Welcome back Susie!

Susie--How did you eat when you were maintaining? Did you follow Phase 4? Did that work for you scale-wise and lifestyle-wise? I'd like to think with a combo Phase 3/Phase 4 lifestyle, I can lose another 5 lbs then be into the routine of maintenance. If your goal is just 6 lbs less than you are now, do you think you can do it with Phase 3/4? If you truly want to lose 14 lbs, I can see wanting to go back to Phase 1.

Thank you for this, my coach thinks I am at this point, I am happy to hear you are doing great at maintaining. As we all get close to there I think we all think we will revert back to our old selfs and I for one do not want that to happen, so it is very nice for this thread and people like you letting us know all is well in maintenance.


Welcome back Susie.