The "Experienced" thread continued again again...
 

Opening a new Experienced thread as our last has been closed.

:D Thanks!!!

Good morning everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Yesterday I had a real good NSV, kind of funny but good.

I was getting my dogs into my vehicle to go to the offleash and my old one was peaking around the corner of my fence at a neighbor and her dog that were walking up. The neighbor said " oh good that is your dog, I thought it was a stray", Joanne use to live here" I pointed to myself and said I AM Joanne... She said oh my gosh I didn't recognize you... made me laugh... She also was just about unrecognisable as she had lost weight too, unfortunately she doesn't know why and is having tests run. We chatted for a while more until my red dog started getting impaitent and wanted to play ball. It was nice to know I have changed that much, but my prayers are going out to her that everything is okay.

If we all could hold the feeling of accomplishment of moments like this we would all remember why we are on this wonderful journey.

Have a Great day.

I don't know what is considered "experienced" but I decided at almost 14 weeks in I could start posting here. (Even though I still have questions sometimes myself.)

What a nice story about your neighbor! I love those types of compliments. I had a guy at work who has been on vacation back in his homestate for awhile and yesterday he said, "Wow, what happened to you? You look great!" Kinda was bittersweet because I was excited someone else noticed but I wasn't sure about the "what happened to you" part. Part of me wanted to say, "did I look like garbage before?" I took it as a compliment though and was happy about it all day.

Speaking along those lines, my mom and I were talking last night and she mentioned something about all of the good compliments I've gotten and how it kinda torks her because she's always thought I've looked nice. Of course you have.....you're my mom! She said she is happy for me and loves hearing the compliments but she wonders what they saw before. Oh mom!

I am sure that you have always looked nice, it's about the health! My weight never difined "who" I was, I just feel better being less of who I was..lol

I hear ya! My first goal was for vanity reasons but the more I lose the better I feel and the more I want to lose so I can feel even better.

Moms are like that, but and Bella is right you always looked nice. Now me after looking at before and after pics man why didn't someone tell me... why did my eyes lie to me... feel so much better now and I know I am healthier.:hug:

[QUOTE=Bellamack;4050777]I am sure that you have always looked nice, it's about the health! My weight never difined "who" I was, I just feel better being less of who I was..lol[/QUOTEI]It didn't define who I was but it sure slowed the real me from getting out:D

This should make you smile. I was driving up Wayne Gretzky Drive today and saw two dogs frolicking on a front lawn. One looked like your black dog, the other was reddish. I thought for a moment it might be your place. But then I saw the woman watching over them and she was very heavy. I also realized that the red dog was likely a young boxer. So my experience was the opposite of your neighbour, I knew the person wasn't you because she was heavy.
I hope your neighbour checks out OK with her weight loss. It is a whole different ball game when you lose and don't want to.
Pat

Did make me smile.... my old girl doesn't play much anymore. You would recognize Red Dog if you saw her, she always has a ball in her mouth and chasing one, or barking at someone to throw a ball...

I really hope everything is okay with my neighbor too, she has been great support when I was having roommate issues a few years ago.

[QUOTE=2RIDEROLLERCOAST;4052920]Moms are like that, but and Bella is right you always looked nice. Now me after looking at before and after pics man why didn't someone tell me... why did my eyes lie to me... feel so much better now and I know I am healthier.:hug:

RollerCoast, I had to come hunt you down!!!....I was looking at the spreadsheet and saw you lost 6.5lbs!!!!....that is awesome!!!...I know you are going to say but I gained 4 last week but that doesn't matter you lost that plus 2 more great job!!!

My DH will never know how much I weighed before I started IP, but a few days ago we were talking about someone who weighs about 100 lbs. He said, "You can't weigh much more than that." I smiled like the cat that ate the canary and said, "You're close."

[QUOTE=wuv2bloved;4053106] Thanks WUV, I have been lurking but didn't have a lot to say lately. Yes 6.5 is great and I will take it, and since I totally confused my coach I am hoping this week I will at least get a 2 or 3, would like to be in the 140s but will not get on the scale this week at all.
Thanks again.

Don't you love that!? My brother in law guessed me lower than my goal weight right now. I'll never tell.......

[QUOTE=2RIDEROLLERCOAST;4053447]6.5? How did I miss that? That's awesome! I can't wait for the 140s...........

[QUOTE=ItsAboutTime;4053481]Don't you love that!? My brother in law guessed me lower than my goal weight right now. I'll never tell.......

Thank you, I snuck it in yesterday, when no one was looking. I am getting close I can feel it.

See I never come to this thread cuz I don't feel like I am experienced enough to be here, I do lurk in it sometimes. When I was looking at the spreadsheet I noticed it, so I knew she came on this thread so I had to come congratulate her. I knew she was feeling kinda down with the gain from the previous week so just wanted to say how proud I was of her for sticking to it :)

[QUOTE=2RIDEROLLERCOAST;4053491]Congratulations on the great weight loss 2ride. You will be in the 140's before you know it. Also on the great compliment from your neighbor, sure does make you feel good to get compliments like that. Sorry to hear about your neighbors health, hope all goes well with her.
I also am like what you said about looking back at my starting pictures, and why didn't someone say something. I look at them now and I didn't realize I was that size, my eyes were lying to me as well .I hated getting my pictures taken it was always the cameras fault that the picture looked awful LOL

samyswan I vowed I would never tell my husband my weight either, but we started IP together and then I thought if I just own up to it and tell him it will make me more accountable on my weight loss journey and want to loose this weight. I truly think it was the right thing to do for me because we tell each other our losses each week after weigh in and set our next goals. It is great to be doing the IP program together, we talk about different foods we like and it makes the meals easier, although he has now reached maintenance this week and I will be on phase 1 for awhile yet.

what's posted on 3fc, stays on 3fc. People have always guessed my weight way lower, even the guy at Six Flags gets mine way off, I have always exercised and I think that helps.

2ride-awesome loss! You are soooooo close to those 140's!

Game On for me- swithching sooner to alternatives as my hubby's car broke down and he has mine at work. My official WI was supposed to be at 2PM, I just weighed here (my scale matches coach's) and I am down 1 lb. I am starting alternatives tomorrow, I also am switching to weighing first thing in the morning, as I weigh at 2PM now and who knows how much water I have drank by 2 (alot) and I have had both breakfast and lunch. So, next week the weigh-in my be a better number just because I weigh less in the morning and then I will go from there. OK all my coaches, Wuv. 2ride. ItsAboutTime. Patns. Wayward. Jennydoodle (haven't heard much from her lately) CRACK THE WHIP ON ME! lol

sorry to hear about the car breakdown. Congrats on the weight loss this week. Good luck with the alternatives you will do fine. Let us know about some good ones as I am planning on doing some also soon. When I weigh at home I like the first thing in the morning nothing to eat or drink yet, better than later in the day at the clinic.
When I went to my Dr. he gave me a goal of higher than what I have set here, he was surprised at what my current weight was and thought it was lower than what it is. I also have always worked out and have a large frame structure. Good luck with the alternatives!!

Make sure you put that ONE pound on that spreadsheet missy!!..very proud of you!

thanks 2011weightbegone & Wuv. Wuv, what spreedsheet, I am so bad about the computer and my hubby has Master's degrees in engineering and computers, he is a high end DBA and I am a computer DUH. lol.

The car is a joke with everyone we know. His car has 360,000 miles on it and it won't give it up. I have to admit that until this point, it has only needed routine stuff. He went to put it in gear last evening and the shifter broke off, well, we couldn't even push it out of the way, as you couldn't shift the gears. lol. got it towed. Hubby found a used shifter and our mechanic will install today for less than $200 and hubby says that is just 1 car payment. I want him to get a new car, I am afraid he will be stranded in the snow this winter and he says not to worry, I have a cell phone and towing. Everyone he works with laugh about it all the time. Both of his back doors are bolted shut, as deer have run into him. too funny :)

LOL...The Halloween Spreadsheet....I'll go put it on there for you....no worries....You know I got your back:D

[QUOTE=2011weightbegone;4053768]I envy you sharing this journey with your DH. I admit it's silly pride that's kept me from sharing my beginning weight with mine. And, I like it that there's someone in the world who thinks I weigh 40 lbs less than I really do. LOL Good luck to you both.

[QUOTE=samyswan;4053956]No one ever believed me when I said I weighed 388lbs when I found out. They were all like there is no way on earth you weigh that, I said YUP that is what the scale said and now that I am down to 307 then think I weigh 250,,,they just don't get it!....haha

[QUOTE=wuv2bloved;4053982]I have never met you personally, but by your pictures I would never have guessed your starting weight either. You are doing so great in your weight loss journey and your pictures are showing your awesome progress, you are such an inspiration to all of us. I know our weight is only a number on the scale they say, everyone will have a different weight goal for their own size and frame, and loosing the inches in this program is something else too. My DH has always guessed me as lower but he has never known the real weight until starting on IP program. I guess as they say you can't tell a book by its cover LOL. I always look forward to your advice on here and I think you would make a great leader and I would love to be able to go to your clinic.

[QUOTE=samyswan;4053956]Thanks samyswan. This is the first time my DH has ever been on or had to diet and it is great to do this together as in the past I have done many diet programs by myself. Hopefully doing this together will be the key for us both to be able to keep the weight off by helping each other.I have never in the past told anyone my weight except for the diet programs I joined. I put it on here to help give me somewhere to be accountable to. I figured if I could tell everyone that reads 3 FC my weight I should be able to tell him. I realize now it is just a number and now when we are talking about our weight loss I can honestly say to him, I have lost whatever the amount is I have lost at that time.

[QUOTE=2011weightbegone;4054008]Thank you! Well I think I have my own clinic right here on this site! Your DH loves you no matter what size you are. You are so right, you an never tell whats in that book by looking at its cover :)

[QUOTE=wuv2bloved;4054031]I probably should send you the $$$$ I am saving by using alternatives now. :D Your advice is excellent and it's free! can't beat that deal!

Hi everyone. Checking in from San Diego. I've been eating gigantic breakfasts for a week and weighed myself today. I'm 145.5, and that's on my brother's scale. I won't log it as official anywhere other than fatsecret, since it's not my home scale.

I hope everyone is doing well. We are off to Coronado Beach in a little bit, and then having Mexican for dinner. I want to have something "interesting", since I rarely eat things other than chicken and beef. I certainly hope that they are willing to do something with grilled vegetables and not make me order additional things instead of the rice and beans. Wish me luck!!

BTW, I know that I've been bad about following the posts of everyone else. I promise that I will catch up when life settles down a little.

[QUOTE=patns;4054143]Y'all having success is enough payment for me. Hearing the losses and strengths that y'all are getting amazing, no amount of money could replace that!

It's been a crazy week and I'm finally catching up on reading everyone's posts.

I lost 4 lbs and 3 inches this week! That feels great after a few slow weeks! I traveled for work - made the best of the choices presented me and then we had a funeral for my husband's grandmother and again, I tried to navigate the choices before me as much as possible to remain OP.

Hoping to pick up the pace on the weight loss in October, would really love to move to phase 2!

Hello all my experienced IP friends! I need your help. My weight loss has slowed to a CRAWL. Seriously, a crawl. I am losing less than a pound a week and my coach and I cannot figure out why so I was hoping that some of you may be able to shed some light on this issue for me and perhaps have some suggestions. I know my body will lose the weight how it wants to lose it but I want to make sure I am not doing anythign to hamper my weight loss.

This is what a regular day looks like for me:

Breakfast- Chocolate RTD in coffee or by itself, potassium calcium and multi
Lunch- Restricted and 2 cups of veggies (cucumber, spinach or peppers) I usually have two cups of ONE type of veggie, maybe that is my issue and I should add in some more variety
Dinner- 7 oz of protein (chicken breast, lean turkey, extra lean ground beef or fish) and 2 cups of vegetables steamed or cooked in one teaspoon of olive oil (zucchini, turnips, brocolli, cauliflower) Again, I usually have two cups of one vegetable. If I don't cook my veggie in olive oil, I have some lettuce and put oil and vinegar over the top of that- I usually have some sort of lettuce at least once a day- I also have my multi and two cal-mags at this point
Snack- Either a vanilla RTD or jello and two cal-mags

As far as activity wise, I don't do much. I weight train 2-3 times a week and walk the dog a few times a week. I might need to increase the amount of walking I do.

Any suggestions? Perhaps I just need some more variety in my diet. I have no idea at this point but I am hoping to get some help :) Perhaps my body just needs to go through an adjustment period at this time.

OH! And I also have at least 120 ounces of water with 16 of that being green tea in the afternoon. I have around two teaspoons a day of splenda in my coffee.

Lalison, I feel your pain! You and I have very similar numbers. I have been super critical of my food, water and exercise intake as well. Not sure this will help you, but things I'm trying include: 1. Moving more - trying to get more walks in - seems to help my numbers, 2. Drink more - I found that while I typically drank 3 to 5 liters, I was dwindling to 2 or 3... 3. Eating more fish; less red meat.... after analyzing my food in MFP, I thought I needed to keep my calories under 900.

Good luck to you! Cannot wait to get to Phase 2, 3, and 4 with you!
Jo

Hi, I don't know if I can help you much for the last 3 months my weight goes up then it goes down a little then up again and so on. I have bounced from phase 1 to phase 2 to phase 1 and now back to phase 2. Try something other than jello as I believe I read the ones we eat for cellulite don't get absorbed into our bodies (please correct me if I am wrong)... Now some questions for you? How long has this been going on? What have you tried? Have you tried bootcamping? did that help? I have tried skipping red meat doesn't really seem to help. I went on the maintenance thread for help, go have a look there for more suggestions. At this point if I don't lose over the next 10 days my coach is going to the head trainer for help. Has your coach asked anyone what they think? You can see by my weigh in weights the issue I have, is yours like that? Check out what the ladies said on maintenance...

Good luck to you, I know how hard this is believe me... but we will get there

eventually!:hug:

Try changing your routine. I think our bodies become accustom to what we eat - maybe you just need to surprise it! Posssibly a larger breakfast and lighter dinner. I know this is hard, because I am not a big breakfast eater! But - just a suggestion!

I can think of a couple of things, but I don't know that they will help. I'd try them for a couple of days, though

-- Eating 2 (of 4) cups of the same vegetable doesn't matter at all, unless they're all high carb vegetables. I'd try 2-4 cups of spinach, or spinach plus mushrooms, bok choy, or cucumbers for a couple of days. Whatever, make sure you don't go over 30 real carbs a day including the IP products.

If you aren't moving around a lot, try to get in 8-10,000 steps a day. The dog will love it. ;) And if you're not getting much activity, maybe 120 grams of water, give your weight, is too much. The formula is 1/2 oz pure water per pound and if you're compensating for 24 ounces of coffee and tea that gets you to about 100 g -- when you're not exercising. Hope this helps a little.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! This has been going on for the past month. I have never been an incredibly big loser and have never lost anything over 4 lbs in a week during my whole time on this diet. My body seems to like the slow and steady path. I tried bootcamping in the past and it slowed my losses incredibly. My body tends to need a bit higher carbs though maybe now that I am much closer to goal, it needs a bit less. My coach is very against no restricteds and requires that I have one daily but I could always go against her wishes. Haha. I will really try anything at this point.


I never thought I could be getting too much water! I was thinking I should incorporate more activity. I think I will start with trying to get 8,000 steps a day and work my way up to 10,000. When adding in walking it isn't necessary to add another packet, correct? Since walking isn't a strenuous activity.

At this point my weight is still going down but under a pound every week. I have yet to have a gain on the diet, which I am extremely thankful for but my weight just isn't going anywhere.

I never thought about having a bigger breakfast. Maybe for a few days out of the week I should have my protein for breakfast and have products for lunch, dinner and snack. That might shake my routine up enough for my body to start losing again. I think protein and one cup of veggies for breakfast a few days a week is a good plan and I will try that this next week! Thanks!

I really appreciate you all chiming in to help. I will let you know what I end up changing up and if it helps me at all! So far I will be moving more, incorporating bigger breakfasts and being more aware of my water intake. If it comes down to it, I will try a week of bootcamping and see if that helps.

Thanks again!

You're right, no need for another packet if you're walking, unless you're hitting 4+ miles an hour for over 45 minutes. Even then. . . ? I've always preferred a generous breakfast and tapering off later in the day. I don't hesitate to have a little salmon an egg for breakfast if I'm hungry. I just factor it in to the rest of the day. Having said that, I only do it about once a week. Good luck.

Hello ladies,

It seems NOTHING will work for me. I followed your suggestions and I haven't budged!

My coach wanted me to add in more substantial veggies so I have been eating more brocolli, zucchini, peppers, etc. She was worried I wasn't getting enough because I was eating cucumbers so often. This change hasn't seemed to have done anything for me.

I cut my water back to 100 oz as was suggested here, which my coach agreed that I may be getting too much. This also hasn't helped.

I haven't gotten quite enough activity. I am slowly working it in so maybe that will start to show a change as I get more and more.

I have started changing the time I eat my protein. I had a few days of breakfast protein and a few of lunch protein and that still hasn't shocked my body to move.

I'm just not sure what is going on and I am getting very frustrated by it. I feel the diet is a waste of money if my weight simply won't budge. I know I should be patient but I have been on this diet for 9 months and I am getting very tired of it.

My birthday is this week and my coach is allowing me a cheat day, which I have decided will simply be a serving of dessert rather than a full blown cheat day. However, I am worried with such slow losses that this will just screw me up even more.

Anyways, thanks for letting me rant! I truly appreciate all of the support that you guys have given me.

I feel your pain, Have you tried going to phase 2 for a while? I did that for about 3 weeks and it worked for a while but I am still having slow down issues as well. This last 10 days my coach has said nothing other than what is on phase 1 sheet, no splenda or WF or additives to your drinks. I am thinking this hasn't really done anything but who knows. If I still haven't lost 5 lbs my coach is going to the head trainer with my diet and see if there is something we are all missing. I will keep you posted.

Perhaps I should go to phase two for awhile. I will talk to my coach about it tomorrow. I guess I should also get back to being strict on protocol, like you said. No stevia, no mio, no WF. Yeesh. Time to have a real talk with my coach. I am ready to be done with this but apparently it isn't done with me yet.

I know losing 100 lbs takes time but I am feeling very impatient!

I hope you figure out what works for you, 2ride!